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Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of chocolate chip cookie recipes out there. So, what makes this recipe different? Because chocolate chip cookies can be made with melted butter, that means that they’re the perfect vehicle for brown butter. Brown butter is butter that is browned in a saucepan – that’s it! Very simple, but it adds nutty and caramely flavors and smells to the butter, giving whatever you bake…
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Apple Cider Donut Muffins
I love baking with apples. And there’s nothing more quintessentially fall than an apple cider donut. That doesn’t mean, however, that they can’t be enjoyed year-round. Frying donuts at home can be a daunting task for an inexperienced baker. These baked muffins take the hassle of frying out of the equation completely by baking in muffin tins. These muffins give us a delicious donut texture and taste without having to…
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Gingersnaps
Ginger is my favorite spice, and not just because I’m a redhead! I suppose it seems natural that I would enjoy baking with this spice as it’s such a big staple in Asian cuisine. Beware: these gingersnaps are addictive! They’re nice and crisp and full of flavor. If you don’t like crisp gingersnaps, you can substitute butter for the vegetable shortening for a soft cookie. These are an easy to…
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The Best Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is easy to make and a wonderful holiday favorite. Because pumpkin pie is a custard, the biggest worry that bakers have when making it is that the top of the pie will split and crack as it cools down. Well, thanks to this recipe your pumpkin pie will come out smooth, delicious, and crack-free every time! The recipe is adapted from one sent to me several years ago…
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Pie Crust
Pie crust is another recipe that can feel intimidating for newer bakers but is really quite easy to make! It’s a versatile part of baking as well. You can make sweet pies like apple or pumpkin, or you can use a classic crust like this as the top for a savory pot pie (just don’t add the sugar when making it). The key to baking a flaky pie crust is…
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Amazing Banana Bread
Banana bread is a very popular recipe to make for beginner bakers and those who buy too much fruit that they can’t quite finish before it goes bad. There are probably a hundred or more variations of banana bread on the internet. They all have one thing in common: ripe bananas. The riper, the better. My banana bread recipe also includes brown sugar and a combination of spices to help…
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Berry Ricotta Cake
My friend Cyrus and I have been friends since high school. He’s a Pampered Chef independent consultant and does live cooking shows (via Facebook Live during the time of the pandemic). I was pleased that he asked me to come on to one of his live cooking shows to share this recipe for berry ricotta cake. This is one of my favorite recipes, especially in the summer. This cake is…
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Easy No-Knead Bread
Nothing tastes better than fresh-baked bread. The idea of making homemade bread can be really daunting for a beginner baker, however, and that’s why I love this particular recipe. Because of the long resting time (over night), there is no kneading involved. This easy no-knead bread has a beautiful golden and crispy crust and a fantastically soft inside. Using a Dutch Oven helps with this, but you can also use…
