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    • in Recipes

      Honey Buns Bread Pudding Recipe from the Holy Sweet Cookbook

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      Food blogger extraordinaire Peabody Johanson shares her love of dessert with her new cookbook Holy Sweet! 60 Indulgent Recipes for Bigger, Better Desserts which includes this ultra-decadent Honey Buns Bread Pudding.

      I’m so excited to share this brand new cookbook with you today, authored by my pal Peabody, veteran blogger of Sweet ReciPEAs (and by veteran I mean a 15 year tenure of blogging!). I’ve always admired the recipes on her blog and felt a kinship for her love of nostalgic treats. She uses them to inspire other, bigger, better desserts, just like the book cover says!

      When I saw the Honey Buns Bread Pudding recipe on page 22, well. Pure nostalgia. Aptly from the “Inner Child” chapter in the book, it brought back a host of childhood memories, all of them warm and happy.

      Honey Bun pastries are pretty darn good on their own (Duchess brand is yeasty and perfect) but Honey Buns Bread Pudding? I was intrigued. 
      Preparing the recipe was easy with Peabody’s instructions, and I’m happy to say that this bread pudding delivered on all fronts. The baked pudding was custardy and fluffy, and a scratch-made honey caramel sauce drizzled on top really made this an ooey-gooey home run!

      I’ve been enjoying this cookbook so much, and I think it would make a wonderful Christmas gift for your favorite dessert-lover. Or, if you’re considering this for your own shelf, there’s a chapter on holiday baking, which would really be useful right now! 

      This recipe is easy to love, and so is Holy Sweet! With chapters like Inner Child, Candy Crush, and Cereal Killer (think Fruity Pebbles Crumb Cake), how could you not? You can find it right now at book stores and on Amazon. You can also read a little more about what’s inside the book on Peabody’s blog, right here. 

      Enjoy!

      Honey Buns Bread Pudding
      [Click for Printable Version]
      Yields about 8 servings
       
      Recipe from Holy Sweet! 60 Indulgent Recipes for Bigger, Better Desserts
      by Peabody Johanson
      (Page Street Publishing, 2020)

      2 large eggs
      1 egg yolk
      1 1/4 cups (300ml) heavy cream
      1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
      1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
      10 Honey Buns, cut into large cubes

      2 tablespoons (30ml) honey
      2 tablespoons (30ml) water
      1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
      1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream
      2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter
      1/4 teaspoon salt
      1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

      Preheat the oven to 350F.  Spray an 8×8 inch pan with nonstick baking spray. 

      To make the bread pudding: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolk, heavy cream, sugar and vanilla until they’re fully combined. Spread half of the Honey Buns cubes over the bottom of the pan. Pour in half the custard mixture and press the bread down to soak up the custard. Spread the remaining Honey Buns cubes on top of the bottom layer. Pour on the remaining custard and press the bead pieces down. 

      Heather’s note: I wanted my bread pudding to look exactly like Peabody’s in the book, so I kept one Honey Bun whole and nestled it in the center of the pan before baking.

      Cover the pan with the foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until none of the custard mixture is still liquid. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool while you prepare the caramel sauce. 

      To make the honey caramel sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the honey, water, and sugar. Heat over medium heat, swirling the pa, until the sugar is dissolved, about 2-3 minutes. Then bring the mixture to a boil and cook until it is a deep golden brown, 5-6 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully whisk in the cream, butter, salt, and vanilla. The mixture will spatter, so be careful

      Let the sauce cool to thicken. The honey caramel sauce can be served either warm or at room temperature. You can refrigerate it in an airtight container up to 2 weeks; gently reheat it before serving.

      Note: You can serve this bread pudding with ice cream to make it extra special. 

      link Honey Buns Bread Pudding Recipe from the Holy Sweet Cookbook By Heather Baird Published: Sunday, December 06, 2020Sunday, December 06, 2020Honey Buns Bread Pudding Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

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      Poached Pear Vol au Vents

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      This elegant, seasonal dessert will be the perfect ending to your Thanksgiving Day feast. Flaky puff pastry cases hold pockets of white wine-caramel pastry cream, and a fork tender poached pear rests on top of each puff. 

      I’m always an advocate for individual desserts, mostly because I enjoy having a mini cake or pie all to myself. Something about it feels special, like a bit more thought and effort went into composing the end result on my plate. These pear puffs may look like they took a lot of effort, but they didn’t!

      Believe it or not, this recipe came to me in a dream. This happens occasionally. I will bake all night in my sleep and wake up (tired) with a new recipe that I need to get out of my brain and into real life. This one has three parts, but each is a simple fix. All the components can be made ahead and assembled  before serving. 

      If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, then you may know how much I love poaching pears, not to mention wrapping them in puff pastry (see this recipe from waaaay back!).  I mean, what’s better than warming yourself by a simmering pot of spices on a chilly autumn day? I’ll tell you what – having a delicious dessert at the end!

      One thing I’ve learned is that most any kind of wine added to the poaching liquid will greatly change the character of the fruit. It’s not really boozy because most of the alcohol is simmered out as the pears poach; but it’s the subtleties of the wine that shine through after the fruit is rested and cooled. You can use just about any white wine, but a simple, inexpensive bottle of Italian white wine that tips to the sweet side (spumante) is more than adequate.

      Puff pastry shells are so easy to make using ready-made frozen pastry and cookie cutters. A few brands make the shells already cut out and ready to bake – but for this project those are too small. Making these larger cases is easy, and if you don’t have the right size cookie cutters, you could use a small bowl’s rim and a paring knife to trim around it, and a juice bottle lid (or similar item) to cut the centers.

      After the shells are baked and the middles removed, they are filled with delicious white wine-caramel pastry cream. I altered the recipe from these champagne cupcakes I made ages ago. This recipe has always served me well (it’s almost committed to memory!) and this time I added dulce de leche just before I finished it with a little butter. Heaven!

      Serve them with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top and a single mint leaf at each pear stem.

      Overall, the three components balance each other so well. There’s the lovely unsweet flaky pastry, the creamy sweet filling, and just a touch of tartness from the pear. Serve with a dessert fork and a fruit knife for easy dining. 

      Each element can be made ahead. Bake the pastry cases and keep them in an airtight container. Make the pastry cream and store in the refrigerator, and poach the pears, which can be kept in their liquid in the refrigerator for up to four days!
      Poached Pear Vol au Vents
      [CLICK TO PRINT]
      Yields 6 servingsWhite wine-caramel pastry cream
      2 tablespoons cornstarch1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream, divided
      1/2 cup (120 ml) sparkling white wine (recommend spumante)
      5 tablespoons (65g) granulated sugar
      1 whole egg
      2 egg yolks
      1/4 cup (3 oz.) dulce de leche
      2 tablespoons unsalted butterWhisk cornstarch in 1/4 cup of heavy cream in a medium bowl. Combine the remaining heavy cream, sugar, and 1/2 cup champagne in a saucepan; bring to a boil then remove from heat.Beat the whole egg and egg yolks into the cornstarch/heavy cream mixture. Pour 1/3 of boiling champagne mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly so the eggs do not cook. Return the remaining champagne/heavy cream mixture to a boil. Pour in the hot egg mixture in a stream, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens considerably. Remove from heat and add the dulce de leche; stir until melted and smooth. Add the butter and stir until completely melted. Let cool and cover with plastic wrap so that the plastic touches the surface of the pastry cream. This will prevent a skin developing on top.Poached Pears
      6 small firm but ripe pears
      2 tablespoons lemon juice
      1 cup (200g) sugar
      1 bottle (750 ml) white wine (or remaining spumante from pastry cream)
      2 cups (480 ml) water
      2 cinnamon sticks
      Zest of 1 lemonPeel the pears using a small paring knife, keeping the stems intact. Brush the pears with lemon juice so they don’t brown.In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, wine, water, cinnamon sticks, and lemon zest. Place over medium high heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolved; increase heat and bring to a boil.Add the pears to the liquid and simmer until fork-tender, usually about 20 minutes, but more time will be required for very firm pears. Remove pears to a wire rack or a plate to cool.Puff pastry cases
      3 sheets (1 1/2 boxes) puff pastry, thawed
      1 egg
      1 tablespoon waterOn a work surface, lightly roll a puff pastry sheet with a rolling pin until the creases in the dough are flattened. Cut five 3.5-inch circles out of the dough using a cookie cutter. Repeat the process with a second puff pastry sheet. From the last sheet of puff pastry, cut two circles. You should now have twelve 3.5-inch puff pastry circles.Transfer six circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a 2-inch cookie cutter (or bottle cap) cut a circle into the centers of the remaining 6 puff pastry circles, but do not remove the cut out centers.Beat the egg and water together in a small bowl. Brush the pastry circles on the parchment-lined baking sheet with the egg wash and top each with the circles with the cut centers. Chill in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.Preheat the oven to 400°F.Bake the pastries for 10-12 minutes, or until they are golden and well-puffed. Please note that some of the pastry cases may puff out of shape accordion-style. If this happens, set them upright and lightly press the case back into shape while the pastry is still hot. Gently dig out/lift out their round centers using a fork (you can serve this piece of pastry on the side, or just eat it!). Let cool completely before filling.
      Assembly
      6 mint leaves
      1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamonJust before serving, place the puff pastry shells on a serving tray. Fill each pastry with the pastry cream to the top; rest a single poached pear on top of each pastry over the cream. Using a small paring knife, make a slit to one side of the top stem and insert a mint leaf in the opening. Sprinkle a pinch of ground cinnamon over each pear and serve immediately.
      Make ahead: The puff pastry cases can be made a day ahead and kept in an air-tight container. The pastry cream can be made 2-3 days ahead, and stored in the refrigerator. The pears can be poached and cooled, then transferred to the refrigerator and stored in their syrup for up to 4 days. Bring pastry cream and pears to room temperature before assembling. Assemble just before serving.
      link Poached Pear Vol au Vents By Heather Baird Published: Wednesday, October 28, 2020Wednesday, October 28, 2020Poached Pear Vol au Vents Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

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      Giant Sticky Bun

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      More is more with this supersized breakfast pastry! Layers of cinnamon-sugared dough are swirled into a giant sweet bun and baked over a pool of bubbling brown sugar syrup and pecans.In 2014 I decided to transform my mother’s cinnamon rolls recipe into one giant pastry baked in a cast iron skillet. Turns out, that was a good idea. We loved it, you guys loved it, and many people have made it or have been inspired to make their own versions. I love when that happens. (See my Giant Skillet Cinnamon Roll here.)This week I returned to that idea with new inspiration and transformed my favorite sticky bun recipe into one giant sticky bun baked in a 10-inch cake pan. It has the same virtues as its predecessor, which is a greater ratio of soft, tender interior to crusty edge.

      A giant sweet bun like this is best served in wedges, like cake. Just check out those layers! It tastes exactly as you might expect – the center of roll is slightly gooey with a concentrated swirl of sugar and butter (just like any good sticky bun) with soft, tender layers radiating from its middle. The outer layer is just chewy enough to be called crust. All of this is covered with a brown sugar-maple and pecan topping that cooks into a sticky caramel.

      The ‘sticky’ part of this recipe is cooked on the stove top until all the ingredients are melted together. This is a quick, uncomplicated task. When the mixture is consistent, pour it into a 10-inch round cake pan. You could also use a 10-inch cast iron skillet if you don’t have a cake pan this size.Sprinkle on the pecans and let the topping cool slightly in the pan. When it’s cool enough and safe to touch, pat the pecans into the caramel. This makes an even bed for the sweet bun to sit upon.

      This part of the process is much like making cinnamon rolls. The dough is halved, then the rolling, buttering, and sprinkling of cinnamon sugar, commences. But instead of rolling up the sugared dough sheet jelly roll-style, you’ll cut it into 5 long strips (as you can see in the last photo, didn’t aim for perfection here!).

      Forming the bun is easy. First, roll up a dough strip from a short end, and then roll it into another strip. All the strips are wound around the first. The dough spiral is then transferred to the center of the prepped cake pan. The remaining portion of dough is rolled, buttered, filled and cut just as the first, and then those strips are wound around the dough in the pan.The sticky bun needs to stand, covered in plastic wrap, in a warm place to puff. It won’t completely fill the pan at this stage, but as the bun bakes in the oven it will expand to the edges.

      As my pastry baked, the center swirl popped up comically tall with the steam releasing from the caramel underneath. When it came out of the oven I placed a clean tea towel in the center and gently pressed it back down (I recommend you do the same if this happens – just be careful of the escaping steam!).

      Turning the cake out requires a large platter or dish with a lip to catch overflowing toppings. I used a 12-inch pie pan which worked well. A word of caution here – the sticky caramel straight from the oven is like napalm and can cause terrible burns. Be careful!

      Because the brown sugar topping is so caramel-like, I could not resist adding some flake sea salt on top. This really takes the flavor of the pastry to another level. It’s an option garnish – but a tasty one! 

      This pastry would be a wonderful addition to a special brunch or breakfast. It stores well if kept airtight for about 2 days and slices reheat easily in the microwave.

      Giant Sticky BunYield 10-12 servings, one 10-inch panSweet dough1/4 cup (60 ml) warm water (105°F-115°F)2 1/2 teaspoons (one 1/4 oz. packet) active dry yeast1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon (70g) granulated sugar3/4 cup (180 ml) whole milk, at room temperature4 tablespoons (57g) unsalted butter, at room temperature3 large egg yolks, at room temperature1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom1 1/4 teaspoons fine grain salt4 cups (about 520g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dustingFilling1/2 cup (110g) light brown sugar, tightly packed1 tablespoon ground cinnamon1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom4 tablespoons unsalted butterTopping3/4 cup (165g) light brown sugar, tightly packed4 tablespoons (57g) unsalted butter1/3 cup (80 ml) pure maple syrup2 tablespoons corn syrup1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) pecans, roughly choppedFlaked Maldon sea salt, optionalMake the dough: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the warm water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of the granulated sugar. Stir and let stand 5 minutes, or until the mixture bubbles and foams.To the yeast mixture, add the remaining 1/3 cup sugar, milk, butter, yolks, cardamom, salt and 3 cups of the flour. Mix on low speed until well incorporated. Switch to the dough hook attachment and beat on low speed while slowly incorporating more flour. When a smooth, elastic, and slightly sticky dough is formed, stop adding flour. You may not need to use the entire last cup of flour, (however, my dough required all of the flour to reach consistency). Increase mixer speed to medium and beat for 5 minutes longer with the dough hook.Form the dough into a ball and transfer to a greased bowl; cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place to rise, 1 hour (or until doubled). Meanwhile, make the filling and topping.For the filling, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom in a bowl. Whisk to combine; set aside. Keep dry mixture and butter separate for now.For the topping, combine the brown sugar, butter, maple syrup, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the butter and sugar are melted and a thick, syrupy mixture is achieved.Coat a 10-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. Pour the topping mixture into the pan and spread evenly. Immediately sprinkle with the chopped pecans. Let cool 5 minutes, then pat the pecans into the syrup mixture so they form a flat bed on which you can place the sweet roll.Assemble the sweet roll: Punch down the sweet dough and divide in half. Roll out one piece of dough on a lightly floured surface to an approximate 15×10-inch rectangle (about 1/4-inch thickness). This doesn’t have to be perfect, just do the best you can. Melt the butter called for in the filling ingredients. Using a pastry brush, cover the rectangle with half the butter. Sprinkle the butter with half of the dry filling mixture. Trim the edges of the rectangle to slightly square them off; cut the rectangle into 5 long pieces using a sharp knife or a bench scraper.Begin rolling a dough piece beginning at a short end, jelly roll style. When the first piece is rolled, lay it on a second piece of dough and roll up. Continue until you have rolled all of the pieces onto each other, and lay the rolled-up dough in the center of the 10-inch pan filled with the topping.Repeat the process with the remaining dough: roll it into a rectangle, brush with remaining butter and fill with remaining sugar mixture, and then cut into 5 long pieces. Pick up the pieces one by one and wind them around the center piece of dough in the pan. When all of the dough has been used, cover the pan and place in a warm area until puffed and approximately 1-inch away from the pan’s edge, about 45 minutes.Preheat the oven to 375° F. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and a thermometer placed near a center pleat reads 160° F. Tent with foil if it appears the dough is over-browning before the timer sounds.Have ready a large platter or plate with a rim (I used a 12-inch pie pan). Using oven mitts, immediately turn out the sticky bun onto the platter and carefully lift the pan away. The topping is extremely hot and sticky like napalm, so be careful. I don’t want you to get burned.Let cool slightly before serving. Sprinkle the top of the pastry with pinches of Maldon sea salt, if using. Serve slices of the sticky bun warm. Leftovers can be stored at airtight at room temperature for 2 days. Re-warm slices in the microwave at 20 second intervals.Note: A small amount of the sticky bun topping bubbled out of the pan during baking. Place a sheet of foil or a large cookie sheet on the rack below the pan to avoid drips in the bottom of your oven.
      link Giant Sticky Bun By Heather Baird Published: Friday, July 24, 2020Friday, July 24, 2020Giant Sticky Bun Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

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      Fresh Peach Cobbler

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      This simple peach cobbler is a summertime favorite. It’s a great way to celebrate peaches at their peak sweetness!There are a couple of peach cobbler recipes that I make regularly, but I’m adding one more to my repertoire. My usual recipe is this Skillet Peach Cobbler with Biscuit Crust. It’s a little involved and makes a big cast iron pan full of cobbler that is wonderful to share with company, but these days it’s just us. Smaller batches of baked goods makes sense for our household of 2.This recipe largely focuses on the flavor of the fruit, which is spiced with cinnamon and cardamom. This gives the filling a cozy home-style flavor (which, apparently I am way into this summer!).
      Many peach cobbler recipes rely on lots of melted butter to add richness, but here there’s just enough in the crust to make it a proper drop biscuit texture. I’m not saying this is diet food, but it’s somewhat lighter than you might expect.
      Fresh, ripe peaches at peak sweetness are best for this recipe. I used a mixture of white and yellow peaches. They are tossed and coated with a cinnamon and cardamom-spiced cornstarch mixture.
      This recipe calls for an 11×7-inch pan, which I don’t have (which was a surprise!). This oval baker is about 12×8, and it worked well.  A 9×9 square pan would also work.
      The drop biscuit topping will feel scant to cover the peaches, but there’s just enough and it puffs in the oven. I use two spoons to effectively pick up and place the biscuit dough on top of the peaches in the dish.
      Golden brown and delicious! The peaches become soft and even sweeter in the oven.

      This is such a classic home-style dessert that everyone loves. There’s absolutely no question that this cobbler should be served warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream on top!

      Fresh Peach Cobbler6-8 servingsFilling6-8 large ripe peaches, peeled and sliced (about 7 cups)1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar3 tablespoons cornstarch1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom1 tablespoon lemon juiceBiscuit crust1 cup (140g) all-purpose flour1/4 cup (50g) sugar3/4 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon fine grain salt1/4 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon lemon zest3 tablespoons cold butter3/4 cup (180ml) buttermilk, chilled*Vanilla ice cream, for servingPreheat the oven to 375° F.Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and cardamom. Whisk well. Pour in the peaches. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the peaches and then toss together to coat. Pour the peaches in a greased 11×7 baking dish. Set aside. For the biscuit crust, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda and lemon zest in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine. Add the butter and use a pastry blender or the tines of a fork to cut the butter into the flour mixture. When pea-sized pieces are dispersed throughout to flour, add the buttermilk. Stir together using a rubber spatula.Use two spoons to place portions of dough on top of the peaches in the baking dish. Use the back of a spoon to spread the dough evenly across the peaches (it’s okay if some peaches peek through the dough).Bake for 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the peach mixture is bubbling. Serve warm with scoops of ice cream.
      link Fresh Peach Cobbler By Heather Baird Published: Friday, July 10, 2020Friday, July 10, 2020Fresh Peach Cobbler Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

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      Triple Berry Scones

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      These buttery pastries are filled with summer’s best berries. Serve them with hot coffee or tea for a wonderful start to the day!Summer usually means at least one trip to our favorite berry farm, where picking a gallon is an easy pleasure and fingers turn purple-red from secretly taste testing the goods. We’re not venturing out much these days, so when I get my hands on fresh berries – even the store bought kind – I want to celebrate them! These scones are a beautiful way to use the season’s best berries.

      As a well-practiced southern biscuit maker, I’ve tried almost every technique for cutting butter into flour. Scones are very biscuit-like, and my favorite way to make them is with grated frozen butter. It takes a bit of work on the large holes of a box grater, but it’s well worth the end result. The frozen pieces of butter evenly disperse throughout the flour, and stay cold throughout mixing and forming. As the dough bakes, the cold butter releases steam which gives the pastry light, fluffy texture.
      I used whole blueberries, blackberries and chopped strawberries. I imagine whole fresh raspberries would work nicely in this recipe also.
      The mixed dough will be ragged and a little crumbly. You could knead it together at this stage, but I prefer to handle the dough as little as possible. Instead of kneading, I squeeze the dough together and pack it under my palms to shape it into a circle. Overworking the dough will lead to scones that are tough with a chewy texture, instead of light and flaky. If kneading feels more intuitive to you, use a light hand and knead just until the dough comes together.
      Cover and refrigerate the dough before cutting it for the neatest slices. It’s very important to use a sharp chef’s knife! You want the berries to slice without resistance. A dull knife will drag the berries through the dough and it will tear and crumble your neatly fashioned circle.
      Ready for the oven!

      The scones should bake to a light golden exterior, and come out of the oven in slightly less perfect form than they went in. Corners will not be as sharp. Remember, these are rustic beauties! They are supposed to develop crags and crackles on their tops.
      I loved these with a zigzag of confectioners’ glaze, but you could also dust them with powdered sugar. If you’re looking for something less sweet, then just leave ‘em plain!Be well, all of you! xo -h

      Triple Berry SconesYields 8 sconesScones2 cups (300g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar1 tablespoon baking powder3/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt6 tablespoons (85g) frozen unsalted butterZest of 1 lemon1/2 cup (3 oz.) fresh blueberries1/2 cup (3 oz.) chopped fresh strawberries1/2 cup (3 oz.) fresh whole blackberries1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy cream, plus more for brushing scones2 large eggs Glaze1 cup (114g) confectioners’ sugar2 tablespoons heavy cream1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; whisk to aerate and combine.Grate the frozen butter on the large hole side of a box grater. Immediately add the butter to the flour mixture and stir until the pieces are well-dispersed. *Alternatively, you can cut cold butter (not frozen butter) into the flour using a pastry blender or the tines of a fork.Stir in the lemon zest. Add the berries and toss in the flour mixture to coat.In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and eggs. Add the cream mixture to the dry ingredients. Fold together gently using a large rubber spatula until a ragged, shaggy dough is formed.Turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper or a lightly floured work surface. Using your hands, pack and form the shaggy dough into a 6-inch circle (alternatively, knead until the dough just comes together). Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.Preheat oven to 400°F.Use a large sharp chef’s knife to cut the circle into 8 triangles. Transfer the slices to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush the tops of the scones with heavy cream.Bake 20-22 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown. Let cool before glazing.For the glaze, combine the confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Whisk together until smooth. Drizzle glaze over the cooled scones. 
      link Triple Berry Scones By Heather Baird Published: Friday, July 03, 2020Friday, July 03, 2020Triple Berry Scones Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

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      Mini Apple Pies

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      There’s nothing better than classic apple pie, unless it’s having one all to yourself! These little individual pies are big on flavor, and their sweet, buttery pastry crusts bake to golden perfection.I return to this time-honored classic for every kind of occasion, but I especially enjoy making it on patriotic holidays. It somehow feels reverent and dignified, having an apple pie on our buffet on Memorial Day or July 4th. Its origins lie across the pond, but it has become an American symbol, perfected by the hands of our predecessors and steeped in tradition.Individual desserts have always felt special to me, so I decided this year we’d all have our own little apple pie. The apple filling formula is pretty standard and easy to mix up, but the crust recipe is different from regular pie crust. I learned to make pate sucrée in pastry class, and I’ve found it holds up well to nearly any type of juicy pie filling – and it’s perfect for mini pies!
      A food processor makes quick work of forming the dough and it helps keep it cool, as warm hands will melt the cold butter pieces dispersed throughout the dough. Once processed, it will need to rest 30 minutes before rolling. I used a large pastry cutter to stamp dough rounds from the pastry, but you could also flip over your mini pie pans and trim around them 1″ larger than the pan rims.
      These little pies will need to be vented, and you could do so by cutting a slit in the tops of the pies, but I wanted to make these extra-cute for our holiday.A reinforced vent hole can be made with two small, nesting cookie cutters. To do this, first cut a circle from the rolled pastry for a top crust; set aside. Then, use the larger cutter to stamp a shape from the rolled pastry (here, a star). Lay it on the top center of the circle. Use the smallest cutter to cut a vent hole through the stamped shape and pastry round. Now you’re ready to top a pie!
      After fluting the edges of the pie crusts together, cover the pies with egg wash using a pastry brush and immediately sprinkle with coarse sugar. This makes the top crust golden brown and crunchy!

      The thyme in my little herb planter is full of twisty green sprigs, so I added a pinch of chopped fresh thyme to the pie filling. This is optional, but I really love the flavor.I’m serving these pies directly from the little glass pans they were baked in. You can find the pans I used here, if you’re looking for a set of your own.Wishing you a safe and happy holiday weekend!

      Mini Apple PiesYields about eight 5-inch piesFor 8 pies, make two batches of pastry crust, or you can halve the pie filling recipe and make just one batch of pate sucrée to yield just 4 pies.Pate sucrée crust2 cups (10oz/284g) all-purpose flourPinch of salt7/8 cup (14 tablespoons/198g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed1/2 cup (3.5 oz./100g) fine granulated sugar1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract1 egg, slightly beatenPlace the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor, pulse to combine. Add the cubed butter on top of the flour and pulse repeatedly in short bursts until the mixture looks crumbly. Add the vanilla and egg and pulse until the mixture forms a ball to one side of the bowl. Remove the dough and flatten into a circle. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes before use.Apple pie filling1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar1/2 cup (106g) brown sugar, packed3 tablespoons all-purpose flour1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/4 teaspoon ground ginger1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg5 large, tart, firm apples, thinly sliced (tested with Granny Smith)1 tablespoon lemon juiceIn a small bowl, combine the sugars, flour and spices; set aside. In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Add sugar mixture; toss to coat.Assemble the piesEgg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp. water)Coarse crystal sugarPreheat the oven to 375°F.Roll the dough on a lightly floured work surface using a floured rolling pin. Cut 7-inch rounds from the dough and fit inside the pie pans. Fill each pie with the apple filling until heaping. Gather the dough and re-roll to 1/4-inch thickness.Cut more pastry rounds to fit the top of each pie. Cut a vent in the center of each pie using a small cookie cutter (or cut 3 slits in the top of the pie using a paring knife). Top the pie with the crust and press edges of the crusts together and flute. Brush pies with egg wash then sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake the pies for 15-17 minutes, or until the pastry turns golden brown.Allow pies cool before serving, or serve warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream on top.
      link Mini Apple Pies By Heather Baird Published: Monday, May 25, 2020Monday, May 25, 2020Mini Apple Pies Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

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      Three Ingredient Cream Cheese Mini Biscuits

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      These tiny biscuits are rich and buttery beyond words! Serve them when you’re short on time, or when you’re looking for a fuss-free bite.This year we’ll be celebrating Easter with a lot less people around our table, but I’m still holding tight to our holiday dinner traditions. I’ll be making a smaller version of Easter dinner with a turkey breast I found in the freezer, some scaled-down sides, and these lemon icebox pies in jars for a sweet ending.Last weekend I was able to replenish my eggs and dairy, but flour is still proving to be elusive. I was planning to make my favorite buttermilk dinner rolls, but ultimately decided 7 cups of flour for one recipe was too much to part with right now. Instead I’ll be whipping up these truly decadent cheesy mini biscuits.
      This is a recipe that’s easy to commit to memory. You’ll need a package of cream cheese, a stick of butter, and a cup of self-rising flour. If you don’t keep self-rising flour on hand, then a cup can easily be made at home with my recipe notes. 

      When measuring flour for this recipe, I recommend the spoon-and-sweep method. Spoon flour into the measuring cup until overflowing, and then sweep the top level with the back of a flat butter knife. This will help you avoid tough biscuits, which can happen with too much flour. You could also weigh 120g of flour on a scale to be absolutely certain you’re getting the amount right.
      These baby biscuits bake in a mini muffin tin (1 3/4-inch cavities), and you won’t even need to grease the pan! These biscuits butter themselves!The dough is lax enough to pipe into the cavities, but if your dough seems too firm to pipe, place batter in the tin using two spoons.
      Fill the cavities all the way to the top! The tops may look a little ragged, but you can smooth them down by dipping fingertips in water and then lightly tamping them down.
      Bake until the edges are puffed and lightly golden brown.

      These little biscuits are so rich and cheesy, they could almost be an appetizer or part of a cheese course! Although they are delectable warm, they are also quite good at room temperature. I might just serve these as an hors d’oeuvre when family and friends are able to celebrate together again.

      Three Ingredient Cream Cheese Mini BiscuitsYields 14-16 mini biscuitsThis recipe requires the use of a mini muffin pan.1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature1/2 cup (1 stick/113g) unsalted butter, at room temperature1 cup (120g) self-rising flour (*see note for substitution)Preheat oven to 400°F.In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually add flour beating at low speed, just until blended.Pipe or spoon dough into ungreased mini muffin pans (1 3/4 inch cavities), filling them full to the tops. If dough looks ragged, dip fingertips in water and pat down any peaks in the dough. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until the muffins are lightly puffed and golden around the edges. Serve warm.*Note: For homemade self-rising flour, combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour in a bowl and whisk in 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Use in this recipe as a replacement for self-rising flour.
      link Three Ingredient Cream Cheese Mini Biscuits By Heather Baird Published: Saturday, April 11, 2020Saturday, April 11, 2020Three Ingredient Cream Cheese Mini Biscuits Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Strawberry Jam Muffins with Cinnamon Oat Streusel

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      These eggless muffins have a tender crumb and a pocket of strawberry jam baked inside. The cinnamon-oat streusel topping makes them so perfect for breakfast!I’m not sure why, but when I wake up in the morning it takes a while for my appetite to kick in. My husband on the other hand, is ready for breakfast the moment his feet hit the floor. His preference is something sweet – waffles, pancakes, English muffins with jam or cream cheese pastries. Those recipes usually require a good amount of eggs, butter, and milk. Since we’re still carefully conserving those items, I turned to pantry staples once again – and these muffins are the result!
      The vanilla muffin batter is easy enough to whip together using a hand mixer, and it contains no eggs or butter. I used some canned evaporated milk in the recipe, but if you don’t have that on hand you can replace it with water, or even oat or nut milk.
      A dollop of jam is swirled into the centers of the muffins, and then each muffin is topped with a generous amount of streusel. Good streusel usually contains butter, but I used vegetable shortening which was just fine, but a little crumbly. If you have two tablespoons of butter to spare, then use that instead!
      I baked these in cupcake liners, which I prefer because clean-up is much easier. 

      This recipe can be endlessly varied with whatever jam you have on hand. I’m eyeing a jar of fig jam in the fridge that needs to be used for a second batch of muffins. I like these best warm, but not hot. Let them cool a little after you take them out of the oven, because the jam in the center is molten and will burn your tongue (I learned the hard way!).We really loved these, and I hope you will too!

      Strawberry Jam Muffins with Cinnamon Oat StreuselYields 12 muffinsMuffins1 3/4 cup (210g) all-purpose flour3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 cup (120ml)evaporated milk (can substitute water, oat or nut milk, or cow’s milk)1/3 cup (80ml) vegetable oil1 tablespoon white vinegar or cider vinegar1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/2 cup (120ml) water6 tablespoons strawberry jam or other jam (tested with Smucker’s Seedless Strawberry Jam)Streusel1/3 cup (40g) all-purpose flour1/3 cup (25g) old-fashioned oats1 tablespoon sugar1 tablespoon ground cinnamonPinch of salt2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening (or cold butter or margarine)Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a standard cupcake pan with 12 paper liners.In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt. Whisk to combine. Add the evaporated milk (or recommended substitution), oil, vinegar, and extract. Mix on low speed until thick. Add the water and mix again until the batter is smooth with a pourable consistency.In a small bowl, stir the jam with a spoon until smooth. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin and place about 1-2 teaspoons of jam in the centers of each cup of batter. Use a skewer to swirl the jam down into the batter (turn the batter over the jam with the skewer instead of swirling it throughout the batter).For the streusel, combine the flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Add the shortening and use a fork to mash the ingredients together until crumbles form.Divide streusel mixture among the tops of each muffin and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20-23 minutes, or until the tops are well puffed and spring back when pressed. Or test with a toothpick – it should come out with only jam clinging to the pick, and no uncooked batter.Let cool before serving. These are wonderful served warm, but hot-from-the-oven muffins will hold a pocket of molten jam, which will cause burns. Let them cool down before serving.Store in an air-tight cupcake keeper, or on a platter covered with plastic wrap.
      link Strawberry Jam Muffins with Cinnamon Oat Streusel By Heather Baird Published: Saturday, April 04, 2020Saturday, April 04, 2020Strawberry Jam Muffins with Cinnamon Oat Streusel Recipe LEGGI TUTTO