Baked Doughnuts

Oh la la la la. I have a new doughnut pan, so what do you think I've had for breakfast two days in a row? I love love love this recipe because you can glaze them, sugar them, or dip them in any crumbly goodness you desire.  This is just a basic doughnut recipe which you could play around with and make fun variations! To make these you will need a doughnut pan. Mine came from target and was about $10-$13.

Makes 6 doughnuts

You will need:
1/3 cup + 2 tbsp. milk
1 & 1/2 tsp. white vinegar
3/4 cup flour
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp. melted butter (I always add a little extra)

To start:
1. Preheat oven to 450F degrees.
2. Combine milk, vinegar, egg and melted butter. Make sure you whisk it well so that the butter mixes in completely.
3. in a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients and mix them well. Pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture and whisk until smooth.
4. Fill the doughnut pan. Mine was nonstick, but you may need to grease yours. To fill the pan you can either use a spoon or a piping bag.
5. Bake for 8 minutes in the center of the oven. Allow the doughnuts to cool completely before topping.

I topped some of these by brushing melted butter on the tops and dipping them in cinnamon sugar. On others added chocolate ganache frosting! The possibilities are endless.

Happy baking!

Plum Tarts

In case it's not obvious by now, I absolutely love plums paired with short butter crust! This recipe is the perfect thing to ring in the autumn weather! Making pastries can be tricky, but I think you'll find this recipe to be fairly simple!

For the crust:
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 stick softened butter
1 tsp. baking powder
1 & 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2-3 tbsp. cold water

For the tarts:
24 plum slices (any color is fine! I used red)
12 tsp. brown sugar (roughly)
1 egg
Brown butter frosting OPTIONAL

To Start:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 F.  Line a 9x13 baking sheet with parchment paper.
2.  In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and 1/3 cup brown sugar.  Cut the butter in using a pastry cutter or large fork. The mixture should be crumbly and clumpy. Add the cold water and knead dough. (If the dough is too dry, add a little more water. If the dough is too wet add a bit more flour.)
3.  Roll the dough out on a floured surface until it is about 1 inch thick.  Use a medium sized drinking glass to cut out 8 pastries. Carefully transfer them to the baking sheet. Spread a small amount of brown sugar across the surface of the dough circles.Use the rest of the dough to cut 8 more circles out and place them on top of the other ones on the baking sheet.
4. Make an egg wash by whisking an egg and 2 tsp. of water together and lightly brush the pastries with it. Spread a small amount of brown sugar on top of this layer of pastry.
5. Place 3 plum slices to each pastry, pressing them in slightly.
6. Bake for 10-13 minutes or until the pastry is crusty and no longer soft.
7. Allow to cool completely before drizzling with brown butter frosting and serving.

These are so tasty! You can get away with no frosting, but I think it really compliments the tartness of the plum. It had a warm flavor which just reminded me of autumn in the best way. You'll be happy you made them!

Happy baking!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I love oatmeal raisin cookies and always forget how easy they are to make! This recipe calls all for ingredients you're likely to have in you're kitchen! There's nothing worse than having a craving for something but none of the groceries you need to make it.

You will need:
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter (softened)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cornstarch
1 large egg
1 & 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 cup oats
2/3 cup raisins

To start:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 350F and line a 9x13 baking sheet with parchment.
2. Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, sugars, vanilla, and egg. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, and baking powder and continue to mix.
3. Fold the flour into the wet mixture 1/3 cup at a time. Add the oats and raisins making sure they are evenly distributed in the dough.
4. Drop twelve 2 & 1/2 inch dough balls onto your lined baking sheet.
5. Bake for 13-15 minutes and allow to cool completely before serving.

Yields - 1&1/2 - 2 dozen cookies

I've been told by so many people that they love these cookies! The cinnamon and nutmeg really make them perfect. This is the ideal recipe to tuck in your back pocket for when autumn rolls around and you're needing something that tastes like fall! I like to pair these with chai tea lattes or coffee. I'm craving cold weather and sweaters just by thinking about these cookies! They're thick and warm and have have all the important qualities an oatmeal raisin cookie should have! I hope you enjoyed this recipe and enjoy these cookies!

Happy Baking!

Whole Wheat Plum Galette

I love this recipe! The short butter crust and plums compliment each other so well! I especially like it because it uses little artificial sweetener. It's beautiful and there are different variations you can try!

You will need:

For the crust-
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
5 tbsp. softened butter
2 tbsp. cold water

For the filling-
2 black plums sliced (30-33 slices)
2(ish) tbsp. honey
1 tsp. brown sugar

To start:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
2. Mix the flour, brown sugar and salt together. Cut the butter into the dry mixture using a pastry cutter or fork. Add the water and the mixture should come together.
3. Roll the dough out on a piece of parchment or silicone baking mat. It should be about 1/2 inch thick.
4. Arrange the plum slices on the dough leaving about 1&1/2 - 2 inches of dough on the edges.
5. Drizzle the plums with honey and fold the edges of the dough over them. This part can be tricky so take it slow. The dough should overlap and fold a bit which is normal.
6. Sprinkle the top with a teaspoon of brown sugar. I also sprinkled salt over mine and it was great.
7. bake for 25 minutes or until dough has become crunchy.
8. Allow to cool and cut it like a pizza to serve.

These are great for breakfast or to have with sweet tea and lemonade! They're simple, tasty, and healthy: a triple threat! I love them and I hope you do too!

Happy Baking!

Blueberry Dutch Baby Pancake

I love baking in my skillet! I've recently discovered Dutch baby pancakes and have been itching to make one. I chose to use blueberries in mine, but you can improvise other berries or just omit the berries altogether. This dish is neat because as it bakes, the edges rise up and fall like a pizza crust! Dutch babies are nice for brunch or breakfast with friends and an easy option for early mornings.

You make these in a cast iron skillet, but a round baking dish will suffice.

You will need:
2 tbsp. butter
1 cup fresh blueberries (Frozen can be substituted)
3 tbsp. granulated sugar
2/3 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup milk
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
OPTIONAL : Powdered sugar for dusting

To begin:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 400F.
2. Put the butter in the skillet and put the skillet in the oven while it's heating (2-3 minutes  or until butter is melted.) Remove the skillet and make sure the butter covers the bottom of the pan completely.
3. Evenly distribute the berries in the bottom of the skillet an set it aside for the moment.
4. In a mixing bowl combine the eggs, milk, flour, vanilla, and sugar. Sprinkle a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon in the mixture if so desired.
5. Pour the mixture over the blueberries in the skillet. If the berries get shuffled around in the pan, just use a spoon to redistribute them.
6. Bake the pancake for 20-25 minutes.
7. Allow it to cool a bit before dusting it with powdered sugar.

I really love Dutch babies and I think you will too! They have a warm flavour and fill your house with a lovely aroma. The variations of Dutch baby pancakes are endless, so it's fun to be creative with them! I served mine with fresh lemon curd and panna cotta (recipe soon to be posted!) I hope you enjoy this recipe and fall in love with Dutch baby pancakes. 

Happy Baking!

Whole Wheat Bread

There's just something so satisfying about making your own bread! This is great bread to have with jam and tea or coffee. It's perfect for serving with breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner! Wrap it in pretty paper, tie it off with a bow and you've got a nice gift for a friend!

You will need:
2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
3 cups whole wheat flour (plus some for sprinkling)
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
3 Tbsp. non-fat dried milk
2 cups + 2 Tbsp. warm water
OPTIONAL
1 egg
salt

To start:
1. In the bowl of your standing mixer dissolve the brown sugar into the oil and water. Sprinkle the yeast onto the surface of the liquid. Once the yeast is also dissolved, add the dried milk.
2. Using your standing mixer fitted with the bread hooks, mix the flour into the liquid. one cup at a time.
3. Once thoroughly mixed, turn the dough out onto a floured surface. The dough may be sticky, so you'll want to flour your hands as well.
4. Put the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in a room-temperature, draft free place. (an unheated oven works well for this.) Let the dough rise for two hours (or until doubled in size.)
5. After the two hours, pre-heat your oven to 375 F. Grease two 8x4" loaf pans or line them with parchment.
6. Punch the dough down to size. Make sure you flour your hands because the dough is apt to be sticky. Separate the dough into two even portions and place them both in the pans. If the dough is not sreading to edges of the pan, use your hands to spread it out. OPTIONAL- Beat an egg and wash the dough with it. Salt the top of your dough and slash it.
7. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Yeilds 2 loaves.

Happy cooking!

Baked Peaches and Plums

I love peaches, plums, and baking, so this recipe is just about my all time favorite! It's a healthy, yet delicious breakfast option!  The plums and peaches are so warm and gooey and just melt in your mouth.

This recipe calls for butter, but it can be omitted for an even healthier version.

You will need:
2 peaches
2 plums (red or black)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2-3 tbsp. melted butter
Cinnamon- OPTIONAL

To start:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 F.
2. Half your peaches and plums and scrape out the pits. Halving them can be tricky business.  Starting at the top of the fruit, make a cut that goes as deep as the pit and wraps all the way around the fruit.  Twist the two sides in opposite direction of one another. Be careful when doing this with the plums because their skins are more sensitive than the peaches'.
3. Place all the halves in a baking dish big enough to fit all the fruits. Lay them so the cut side is facing up.
4.  Sprinkle the brown sugar over all the fruit, paying special attention to the plums. They tend to be more tart than peaches. OPTIONAL- Sprinkle a little cinnamon over the entire dish.
5. Drizzle the melted butter over and in between the fruits.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

I loved this dish with some heart shaped egg on toast and good company! It's a simple, but tasty recipe that will impress your friends and family; not to mention beautiful! I love making baked peaches and plums and hope you find that you do as well! I hope you found this recipe helpful!

Happy cooking!

Baked Breakfast Cups

Its the most important meal of the day- make it fun and delicious! These are super easy to make. You probably won't even have to make a trip to the grocery store because these are all everyday ingredients!

You will need:
Eggs
Sliced Ham
Muffin Pans
Spray Pam
OPTIONAL: Bacon

To start:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease your muffin pan.
3. Place the ham in the muffin pan so it covers the surface. Feel free to use more pieces. OPTIONAL: Instead of ham, use uncooked bacon and
4. Crack an egg into each cup.
NOTE: If you don't have enough ham to fill all the cups, just crack an egg in the empty cup.
5. Put pan in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until cooked.
6. Remove the pan from the oven and let stand for 1-2 minutes.
7. Use a butter knife to remove the cups if they're having difficulty coming out.
NOTE: The yolks may be cooked through. This is normal.

These are so yummy and creative! They're great to take with you on the go; to work, school, or on trips. I hope you enjoy this recipe and learned a new creative way to start out the day!

Happy cooking!