Baking

Whenever I’m looking for interesting recipes, I always turn to Pinterest for inspiration. The other day, I pinned these pumpkin donut muffins and got pretty excited — the taste of a donut without the grease of frying and not having to buy a special pan to bake donuts. Awesome.

My husband’s first Father’s Day was the perfect excuse to make his favorite summer dessert, peach cobbler. There is no shortage of peach cobbler recipes online, with endless variations on the theme. My husband reassured me that recipes, in general but especially for this dish, were guides and not the gospel, as his “Big Mama” pretty much went by taste. I decided to adapt this recipe. It had a strong rating even after over 1400 reviews. How could I go wrong?

I just recently joined Pinterest. The thing I like most about Pinterest is the rush of creative ideas, interesting recipes and DIY projects I have at my fingertips. When I saw a ‘Phish Food’ brownie recipe, I immediately thought about my sister’s upcoming birthday. She isn’t much for sweets, and usually opts for carrot cake on her birthday, but she has always had a thing for Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food frozen yogurt. I can recall our early twenties when we lived together in Minnesota, every now and then a pint would spend a few days in our freezer as she’d savor a spoonful at a time. I thought home-made Phish Food-inspired brownies would be a perfect little something for her birthday.

For a few short weeks each year, it is stone-fruit season. As I previously highlighted the peach, when I saw these plums at the Farmer’s market, I couldn’t help but pick up a bunch and feverishly search for an interesting recipe to use the lovely purple jewels. Ironically, I found another UK dessert, so had to translate it like I did for my brownie recipe. With a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this cake made for a nice ending to a summer-night.

During both of my pregnancies, I’ve had this strange obsession with all things lemon. There are nights where I drool just thinking about a tall glass of lemonade. For someone who was never really that into lemons or lemon products, this pregnancy ‘craving’ is quite the newfound obsession.

For Rocco’s first birthday cake, I set out to find a healthier alternative to the ‘smash cake’ tradition. I was overweight as a young adult, so introducing my son to healthy foods and building a solid foundation of good nutrition is very important to me. Since beginning solids six months ago, I’ve all but avoided giving him processed foods or foods high in sugar.

I decided to make these scrumptious apple blondies bars because October is national apple month, and they are my go-to fruit — especially pink ladies. I’ve tried my hand at baked apples and apple pie, but that has been the extent of my use of apples, other than eating them raw with a little peanut butter.

It was my husband’s birthday this week. I had high hopes of making him a layer cake of his favorite German chocolate cake, but with a new baby in the house, time slipped away from me. Since cookies are my husband’s favorite baked-good, I opted to turn his favorite cake into cookies instead.

In honor of today, National Milk Chocolate Day, I started searching Pinterest for interesting milk chocolate recipes. Surprisingly, a lot of recipes don’t specify milk chocolate in their titles. It seems a lot more recipes use bittersweet or baker’s chocolate.

I’m a busy mom of two under two and a lot of times it’s a challenge fitting in a proper meal. My husband was out of town recently, and the only time I ate a full meal was when the kids were both napping, which I think happened, like once. During busy times, I sometimes grab an energy bar to tide me over to the next meal. The downfall of these convenience snacks is their price and (sometimes) their artificial ingredients. I decided it was time to try a homemade version, so I chose to make pumpkin spice granola bars.

My husband gives me the hardest time about my peanut butter consumption. As I began making these peanut butter and jelly scones, he moaned about the fact that I’m constantly making peanut butter recipes (I’m not).

Confession: I cannot have jars of Nutella in my house. It’s a problem. I just like it too much! So, when the company sent me a couple jars, I knew I had to use them right away. I have another recipe coming up in a couple weeks, but I had to use this other jar immediately.

I’m so excited to share this Argentinian alfajores dulce de leche sandwich cookies recipe with you! I’ve been dying to make a traditional Argentinian recipe ever since I got back from Buenos Aires.

Have you heard of chickpea cookies? Sounds gross, right? Well, they aren’t! I don’t know how it’s possible, but when you add just the right amount of nut butter, honey and chocolate chips, they really do taste like some version of a chocolate chip cookie.

Last week, I mentioned how excited I am to have a lemon tree in our yard. I shared 5 of my favorite lemon recipes, and I’ve been contemplating what to make next. When I saw this glazed lemon cookies recipe, I knew it was something I wanted to try. I’m such a fan of a vibrant lemon flavor. I love that this recipe calls for so much fresh lemon juice and zest.

It’s strawberry season and my family is so happy. Strawberries are my son’s favorite fruit, so I always stock up on them when it’s the prime season. This year, I went a little overboard and had way too many. That’s why I decided to try baking with fresh strawberries this time around.

Have you ever tried baking with Butterfinger® candy bars? I’ve always wondered how it would be to bake with them, so I decided to try making Butterfinger blondies. To my delight, these turned out even better than I expected, so I wanted to share them with you.

I’ve made blueberry muffins on my blog before, but it had been a very long time. The other recipe had a streusel topping and ginger, which is a great combo for blueberry muffins. But this time, I wanted something super simple. That’s why I decided to make these quick and easy blueberry muffins.

Fall is my favorite season for the weather and for baking. I love to bake with apples so I thought I would share my 5 apple recipes for fall I would make again.

Who else is excited about pumpkin spice season? It’s the most pumpkiny time of the year! The weather in LA is not very fall-like, but this is the best time for baking if you ask me. I love pumpkin spice baking recipes most of all. There is something so nostalgic about pumpkin spice flavors. Looking back on all of the posts I’ve written in the last 7 years, I realized I am kind of obsessed with pumpkin spice recipes. I have more than a dozen pumpkin spice recipes, but today I’m sharing my 8 favorite pumpkin spice baking recipes.

Did you know today is National Donut Day? Depending on where you live, you can score up to six free donuts today. None of the free donut locations are anywhere near me. I won’t be scoring any free donuts today, but donuts are still on my mind. I decided I wanted to find some baked donut recipes so I could still enjoy the donut goodness without all the calories.

I was talking with a friend about the holidays and he mentioned the best dessert he’d ever eaten was a homemade chocolate rum cake. Sure, the baker was actually a professional chef. But, I’ve never even heard of, let alone, had a chocolate rum cake, so I had to try. There are so many different chocolate rum cakes out there, but after searching through lots of recipes, this one seemed to have the most stellar reviews. I changed a few things up to make this my own, but I can definitely tell you it’s really delicious.

For my true chocolate lovers, I have the perfect flourless chocolate torte recipe is for you. This recipe is definitely for those people who love rich and extra dark chocolate. If you don’t love chocolate, this is going to be too rich for you. For some people, this recipe might not be sweet enough.

Today is National Zucchini Bread day! I’ve always loved veggie bread. Pumpkin bread (check out my pumpkin recipes) and zucchini bread are two of my favorite things to bake and enjoy because they are so simple to make and always taste delicious. My mom didn’t bake a ton when I was a kid, but she did always make the most delicious pumpkin and zucchini bread, so I suppose it has some nostalgic feelings for me. This is my first time trying a vegan zucchini bread recipe and I love how it turned out. Read on to see how I changed up this recipe.

Have you ever wanted to make chocolate chip cookies but you don’t want a bunch of them? Then this small batch chocolate chip cookies recipe is the one for you. These are some of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had. I honestly didn’t think anything could beat this chocolate chip cookie recipe (which is still one of my favs), but I think I like this one even more. Why do I think this is the best recipe? Well, I prefer it because you don’t have to refrigerate the dough. Whereas, my other favorite recipe is best if you refrigerate for at least 24 hours.

My family loves peaches. Honestly, I’m not really a big fan. But because they love them, I try to come up with new and interesting ways to bake with them. Often, I make completely scratch recipes. Sometimes, I prefer to do semi-homemade recipes like this cinnamon roll peach cobbler.

I love pumpkin spice recipes. I’ve made a lot of pumpkin recipes over the years, but I’ve never made baked pumpkin spice donuts before. There are other baked donut recipes I’ve made (like these baked lemon donuts) but never baked pumpkin donuts. Ironically, one of my most viral pins has always been this 12 baked donuts recipe pin. However, I’ve rarely made baked donuts.

If you follow my page, you know that I love making easy recipes with puff pastry. Puff pastry is such a game-changer for baking and cooking because it saves so much time and also tastes so good. My newest recipe is these apple roses with puff pastry. They are such a pretty recipe, such a great breakfast pastry or dessert option.

Just in time for Easter, these bunny cookies recipe using a classic sugar cookie dough and sugar cookie glaze will be a hit with your kids and family. These bunny sugar cookies are so adorable and such a fun project to work on with your kids or for those of you who love to bake.

If you’re looking for a classic dessert that’s both easy to make and sure to impress, look no further than homemade pineapple upside down cake. This timeless treat has been a favorite of home cooks for decades, thanks to its sweet, tangy flavor and iconic presentation. Best of all, it’s surprisingly simple to bake, even for novice bakers.

Indulge your taste buds in the perfect combination of sweetness and tang with this mouthwatering strawberry pound cake recipe. Bursting with fresh strawberries and topped with a luscious glaze, this dessert is a perfect way to start off summer. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of creating a scrumptious homemade strawberry pound cake, complete with a tangy strawberry glaze.

When it comes to baking, few flavors can rival the refreshing combination of tangy lemon and juicy strawberries. Lemon strawberry bars are a delicious treat that strikes the perfect balance between zesty citrus and sweet, luscious berries. In this blog post, I will share the best time to find strawberries for baking and some essential tips on how to make the most of fresh strawberries in your baking endeavors.

During the holidays, certain sweet treats always come to mind for me. Panettone is one of them. Although I’ve only made homemade panettone a few times, it’s a holiday tradition I always have at my table, even if that means buying it at the local store.

Have you ever had over-ripe bananas and didn’t know what to do with them? Of course, most people make banana bread, which is always a hit. But, I am tired of always making banana bread, so I wanted to try something new. I decided to try peanut butter banana cookies. I’m sure you’ve heard of people making peanut butter and banana sandwiches, but I wasn’t sure how the cookies would turn out. I was pleasantly suprised. While each ingredient is delicious on its own, when paired together, they create a harmonious flavor profile that is both comforting and indulgent.

Are you ready to elevate your baking game and create stunning treats that not only taste amazing but also look like works of art? Look no further than flower cookies! These delicate, buttery delights are not only delicious but also perfect for any occasion, from birthdays to bridal showers. In this guide, I’ll walk you through crafting the perfect cut-out sugar cookie recipe, decorating them with royal icing, and even delve into the world of jordan almonds for decoration and making the cute floral designs.

The other week, I did order pick-up and ended up with a bag of lemons rather than the bag of apples I had tried to order. Good news for me, I actually love lemon. So, this mistake gave me the chance to create a lemony dessert I haven’t made before. Making biscotti is super easy, so I did some research and found an awesome pistachio and lemon biscotti recipe I adapted to share with you. I’ll delve into the origins of biscotti, explore the allure of lemon biscotti, and share some other easy biscotti recipes.

When it comes to baking bread at home, many people shy away because they think it’s time-consuming or too complicated. But what if I told you that you could make soft, fluffy dinner rolls without the hassle of kneading? That’s where these no knead dinner rolls come in—a simple, stress-free way to get bakery-worthy rolls right from your own oven.

There’s something deeply nostalgic and undeniably charming about jam tarts. With their buttery, flaky crust and jewel-toned filling, these little delights have stood the test of time in British baking—and for good reason. Whether you’re making strawberry jam tarts for a holiday gathering or whipping up raspberry jam tarts for an afternoon tea, this treat is as versatile as it is delicious. In this post, we’re diving deep into the world of jam tarts: from classic techniques to creative variations like flower tarts and jam tartlets, consider this your ultimate jam tarts recipe guide.

If you’ve ever found yourself torn between a brownie and a classic chocolate chip cookie, then chocolate chocolate chip cookie bars are your new dessert obsession. These bars are everything you love about cookies — rich, buttery, gooey centers — baked in a single pan and loaded with double the chocolate. No need to scoop out dough or wait for batch after batch to bake. One pan, one delicious mess of fudgy, chewy goodness.

Nothing says “back to school” quite like apples—and what better way to celebrate the new school year than with back to school cookies shaped like apples? These adorable apple cut out cookies are perfect for teacher gifts, lunchbox surprises, or a fun first-day-of-school baking project with the kids.

It’s officially pumpkin pie season and this year, I’m turning up the heat. Classic pumpkin pie is always delicious, but after making it the same way for years, I wanted something that felt a little more exciting, more flavorful, and honestly… more me. So, I took inspiration from one of my favorite mini-pumpkin pie recipes by Cooking Classy and gave it a bold, cozy makeover.

Heart cakes are everywhere right now. Scroll Instagram or TikTok and you will see them instantly. Soft pink frosting, vintage piping, and playful decorations fill social feeds daily. A heart cake feels nostalgic and modern at the same time, which explains the trend. What makes this trend even better is how accessible it is.

A quintessential Christmas cookie is the peanut butter kiss cookie. This year, I wanted to try something new, so when I found this crinkle recipe, I thought it might make a good base for chocolate peppermint kiss cookies.

My baby boy, Rocco, turned two last month. For Rocco’s first birthday, I made him a low sugar smash cake decorated with cheerios. The cheerios were the dangling carrot to get him to try the cake. It worked, sort of.

I’m always looking for new ways to connect with my Italian heritage—most of the time, that involves trying a new recipe. I first heard of Florentine lace cookies, while watching America’s Test Kitchen.

How are you celebrating this 4th of July? We’re planning a pretty low-key long weekend at home with trips to the local splash pads and a few dips in our pool. We will definitely throw some burgers or brats on the grill and make some yummy side dishes, but I want to make some fun and festive.

Since we are spending so much more time at home, a lot of us are also spending more time in the kitchen. If you haven’t baked or cooked with your kids before, it’s never too young to start! As early as toddler and preschool age, your kids can join you in the kitchen and start learning some really important skills. There are so many benefits to baking with kids, I’m going to share 8 of them.