Hello!

Wow! It has been a while.  About a year ago, I started grad school. I knew that it was going to be time consuming, but I suppose I didn't realize that that would mean that I had no life altogether. Well, I have one more class this summer and then I write my thesis. So, this journey is coming to an end and I am really excited about that.

Suddenly, my time it going to belong to me and not to just work and papers. I will be able to read what I want, when I want to read it. I am going to be able to get back into running and of course... I am going be able to BAKE, BAKE, BAKE!

So, look forward to some more Bon Appetit recipes coming your way! It has been way too long since I have baked anything.

Here's to a slower pace and having the time to breathe!

See you soon.

Best,  Tiffiny

Bon Appetit Desserts: Brown Sugar-Almond Cake with Caramel Frosting

Hello! I made this cake last weekend, for the Superbowl and it was well received. Please make sure that you have brown sugar! I ran to the store to pick up a few ingredients for this cake and when I got home, I realized that I did not pick up brown sugar. I then had to make my own, because I was not going to get back in my car and make another drive to the grocery.

If you would like to make your own brown sugar, simply mix 1 cup granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon molasses and mix until combined. It's that easy!

I also made my own buttermilk for this recipe, because in the markets here, you can only purchase one quart (946 ml) and that is always way too much and then the rest ends up going to waste.

If you would like to make your own buttermilk, you simply combine 1 cup of milk and 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice. Stir together and let sit for 10 minutes. Measure out what you need, lumps and all!

Brown Sugar-Almond Cake with Caramel Frosting

12 servings

Cake

2            cups cake flour

3/4         teaspoon baking powder

3/4         teaspoon baking soda

1/4         teaspoon salt

1            15-ounce can pear halves in light syrup, well drained

3/4         cup blanched slivered almonds

3/4         cup buttermilk

3/4         cup sugar

1/2         cup (packed) golden brown sugar

1/2         cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

2            large eggs

1            teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4         teaspoon almond extract



Frosting

3/4         cup (packed) dark brown sugar

1/2         cup heavy whipping cream

1            tablespoon light corn syrup

1/2         cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1            cup powdered sugar, sifted

1            teaspoon vanilla extract


            Toasted sliced almonds

           Additional powdered sugar


CAKE: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Line pan with waxed paper; butter paper (I did not do this and everything turned out fine.... I just heavily greased my pan). Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large bowl.

Place pears and nuts in processor; blend to thick puree. Add buttermilk, both sugars, eggs, both extracts. Process until well blended (mixture may look curdled). Add to dry ingredients; stir to blend. Transfer to prepared pan.

Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 10 minutes. Run small sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto rack; peel off paper. Cool cake completely.

FROSTING: Combine brown sugar, cream, and corn syrup in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Boil 2 minutes, swirling pan occasionally. Pour mixture into medium bowl. Chill until cold and beginning to thicken, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.

Using electric mixer, beat butter and powdered sugar in medium bowl until smooth. Gradually beat in cold brown sugar mixture, then vanilla.

Place cake on platter. Spread frosting over cake. Sprinkle nuts on top of cake.

DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill until cold, then cover.

Sprinkle additional powdered sugar over cake.

**I do not have a food processor, so I ground up the almonds with a hand mixer and I diced up the pear with a pastry cutter and then mixed the two together. You do not need fancy gadgets to be a good baker. :) ** I also forgot to put the extra almonds and powdered sugar on top of the frosting. All was still well. **

P.S.- I am sorry for not formatting this post as usual, I am having major computer issues at the moment and it is amazing that I was even able to type this recipe at all, as my screen flashes on and off incessantly. It's all quite dramatic.

Happy Presidents' day to any Americans reading this and happy Monday to everyone else! Unless you are in Canada, then happy National Flag Day!

Bon Appetit Desserts: Pineapple Upside-Down Pumpkin Gingerbread

Well goodness me, it's 2016! In honor of the new year, I bequeath this recipe to you! May the new year be filled with more joy than sorrow. May it also be filled with cake, lots and lots of cake! I wish the best for you and yours!

Not my best photo!

Pineapple Upside-Down Pumpkin Gingerbread

10 servings

Topping

             Nonstick vegetable oil spray

2/3        cup (packed) golden brown sugar

1/2        cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

2           tablespoons frozen pineapple juice concentrate, thawed

1           teaspoon mild-flavored (light) molasses

1           ripe pineapple, peeled

Cake

2           cups unbleached all purpose flour

2           teaspoons baking soda

2           teaspoons baking powder

1-1/4    teaspoons ground cinnamon

3/4       teaspoon groung ginger

1/2       teaspoon salt

1/2       cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1          cup sugar

2          large eggs

1/2       cup mild-flavored (light) molasses

1/2       cup canned pure pumpkin

1/2       cup boiling water


            Whipped cream


TOPPING: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan with nonstick spray. Combine sugar, butter, pineapple juice concentrate, and molasses in heavy small saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, whisking until sugar dissolves and syrup is smooth; boil 1 minute. Pour evenly into prepared pan.

Cut off 1/3-inch-thick round from pineapple; cut out core. Place round in syrup in pan. Stand pineapple on end. Cut lengthwise into 1-3-inch-thick slices. Using 3 round cutters of different sizes, cut out rounds from pineapple slices, avoiding core. Arrange rounds close together in single ayer in free-form design in syrup. (I did not have round cutters of various sizes, so I just did what I wanted.)


CAKE: Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and salt in medium bowl. beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add sugar and beat to blend. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in molasses, then pumpkin. Beat in dry ingredients just until blended, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Beat in 1/2 cup boiling water. Pour batter evenly into pan.

Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan 45 minutes. Place platter over pan. Using oven mitts or pot holders as aid, firmly grasp pan and platter together and turn over. Let stand 5 minutes, then gently lift pan off cake. Serve cake warm or at room temperature with whipped cream.

Christmas Baking 2015

Hello! I finished up my Christmas baking today, which is pretty good, since I started yesterday. The bad news is that I only made a few things. The good thing is, you may find the recipes here!

I am going to post links for cookies that I have made in the past, as well.

So, what did I make this year?

Czech Pernicky
In the Czech Republic, you can buy these treats at all of the Christmas markets. They are puffy and delicious. Originally made with rye flour, I believe. They are donned with the most beautiful and intricate icing designs. Pronounced per-knit-ski.

Butterscotch Fingers
This is a simple recipe to bring together and they taste wonderful!

Iced Oatmeal Cookies

We can all thank my best friend's little sister for this recipe. She brought them to  my cookie exchange last week. They are so good, that I had to make them myself! (Origin of recipe unknown at this time.)


2          cups old-fashioned rolled oats

2          cups all-purpose flour

1          tablespoon baking powder

1/2       teaspoon baking soda

1/2       teaspoon salt

2          teaspoons cinnamon

1/2       teaspoon ground nutmeg

1          cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1          cup light brown sugar

1/2       cup sugar

2          large eggs

1          teaspoon vanilla extract


Glaze

2          cups confectioner's sugar

3          tablespoons milk (I used more to thin icing to my liking, don't be afraid to do the same.)


Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray baking sheets with cooking spray and set aside.

Mix oats with flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugars.

Add in eggs one at a time, then vanilla.

Gradually add in flour mixture until combined.

Roll dough into 2 tablespoon size balls and place on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10- 12 minutes, or until bottoms begin to brown.

Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Glaze once the cookies are cool.


Glaze:

Mix confectioner's sugar and milk together in a medium bowl.

Quickly dip tops of cookies into glaze and let excess drip back into bowl.

Place on wire rack until glaze sets.

Store cookies in an airtight container.


Cranberry Swirl Bread  From Stiers Aesthetic
Makes one loaf

      

INGREDIENTS

Bread:

1/3             cup sugar

1                package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast (or  equivalent 2-1/4 teaspoons)

1/2             teaspoon salt

3-1/2         cups all-purpose flour

1/2            cup water

1/2            cup milk

1/3            cup butter


Filling:

1-1/2        cups chopped cranberries, fresh or frozen

1/4           cup packed brown sugar

1              teaspoon cornstarch

1/4           cup water

1              tablespoon butter

1              tablespoon lemon juice

Confectioner's sugar for dusting



1. In a bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with dough attachment, mix sugar, yeast, salt, and 1 cup flour (you'll use the other 2-1/2 cups later). If you do not have a stand mixer you can simply use a large bowl and mix sugar, yeast, salt, and flour together.

2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat water, milk, and butter, until butter is melted. Let cool until mixture is lukewarm.

3. Once cooled, add mixture to dry ingredients in stand mixer and mix on speed 1.

4. Stir in flour, one cup at a time, until a smooth dough is formed, increasing speed to 2.

5. Mix together until dough comes together in a clean ball. Shape dough into a smooth ball, transfer to a large lightly greased bowl. Cover and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. (Baker's note: If your dough is too sticky add more flour, one spoon at a time. If you dough is too dry, add a little olive oil.)

6. While you're waiting on your bread to rise, combine cranberries, brown sugar, cornstarch, and water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens, about 10-15 minutes. Make sure to cover slightly as your cranberries will start to burst.

7. Remove from heat and stir in butter and lemon juice; cool.

8. Punch down dough and turn onto a lightly floured surface.

9. Roll into a 10x20-inch rectangle. Spread the cranberry sauce out 1/2-inch from the edges. Starting at one of the shorter sides, tightly roll up dough, pinching sides as you go. With the seam facing down, use a sharp knife and carefully slice completely through the dough, lengthwise down the center, end to end.

10. Braid dough (with cranberry sauce facing up), and transfer to lightly greased 10-inch loaf pan.

11. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 30- 40 minutes.

12. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Bale loaf for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.

13. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

14. Dust with confectioner's sugar and top with fresh cranberries (optional), for a pop of color.




Previous Treats:

Peppermint Sugar Cookies

Gingerbread Men Cookies

Nantucket Cranberry Pie

Melt Aways

Spiked Eggnog Chews

Spicy Apple Pancakes with Cider Sauce

Snickerdoodles and Pepprakakor

Pumpkin Sugar Buns

I just discovered this recipe from The Candid Appetite. They looked so good, I had to give them a go!

This is what the buns look like, when you run out of cinnamon and cannot make the cinnamon sugar coating and are forced to ice them instead.

Pumpkin Sugar Buns Makes 24


Dough

1/2          cup warm water (about 105ºF to 115ºF)

2             (1/4 ounce) packets active dry yeast (or 4-1/2 teaspoons worth)

1/2          cup milk

1/2         cup sugar

1            teaspoon salt

1/4         unsalted butter, melted

1            cup pumpkin, purée

2            large eggs, lightly whisked

2-1/2      teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

5 to 5-1/2   cups all-purpose flour


Filling

4            tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2            tablespoons granulated sugar

2            teaspoons ground cinnamon


Coating

6            tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2         cup granulated sugar

1            tablespoon ground cinnamon


Instructions

1. Dissolve the water and yeast in a medium bowl. Let rest in warm spot until frothy and foamy,a bout 10 minutes.

2. Warm the milk, butter, and sugar in small saucepan until sugar dissolves. Set aside to slightly cool. In a large bowl, stir together the milk mixture, salt, pumpkin purée, eggs, and water/yeast mixture, until evenly combined. Add the pumpkin pie spice and half of the flour in batches, mixing until well incorporated. Add as much of the remaining flour as needed to form a smooth and somewhat sticky dough. It should pull away from the bowl while mixing. Knead on high for about 8 to 10 minutes to form a soft dough. Transfer to well oiled bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap and damp kitchen towel. Set in warm spot and allow the dough to rest until doubled in size, about 2 hours.

3. To make the filling, in small bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon. Punch the dough down and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Cut in half and then roll each half into rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. Brush with half the melted butter and sprinkle with half the sugar mixture. Roll into a tight log, lengthwise. Cut into 12 even pieces and place in well oiled muffin tin. Cover both muffin tins with plastic wrap and let rest in warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350ºF. Bake the buns until golden brown and puffed up, about 20 to 25 minutes. make sure your oven racks are spaced far enough apart as buns tend to rise high while baking. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on cooling racks.

5. Meanwhile, make the coating by mixing together the cinnamon and sugar. Brush or dip the cooled buns in melted butter and then roll them in cinnamon sugar. Serve immediately or or cover tightly with plastic wrap. Will keep at room temperature for 2 days. You can also freeze the baked buns and then thaw and roll around in butter and sugar when you are ready to serve and eat.