Major confesh: I’m not a massive fan of chocolate. Yes, there are certain times when a piece of chocolate is necessary, but on the whole, I could do without it. Instead, I like sweets that aren’t overly sweet. That’s a big reason why I enjoy eating cream puffs: because they aren’t too sweet. They’re also light as…
baking
Cornbread for Loaves, Cast Iron, or Muffins
Just in case you need a sweet, buttery bread to serve alongside your favorite dinners, I present to you: cornbread in all of its glory. I’m a Yankee; I never claim to be a Southerner. That said, no one has to be Southern-born to make a bomb cornbread. I’m proof positive. My cornbread is sweetish. It also…
Coquito Cookies with Coquito Buttercream Frosting
I thought pillowy soft cookies made with coquito in the batter to celebrate National Coquito Day just made sense. What’s that? Didn’t you know it was National Coquito Day? Why, yes, Friend! December 21st is National Coquito Day. I thought everyone knew about this completely made-up holiday!! I’m going to pretend I knew about it all…
Mantecaditos (Almond-Flavored Butter Cookies)
Hector and I went back and forth over this Mantecaditos recipe. I prefer a buttery, bite-size cookie because that’s what I grew up eating. On the other hand, Hector is more about a bigger cookie, with no concern about the butter to flour ratio. I bring you the offspring of the beloved cookie of so many…
Sweet Potato Puree for Cooking and Baking
Holiday baking this year? I know you are, you little baker-Elf, you. I’m guessing that you probably need a few cans of sweet potato puree. If you’ve ever used canned sweet potatoes to make your puree, you most likely know how bland and tasteless it is. That poses a problem, my friend. We have a…
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
This post shows the power of peer pressure. On Saturday, I did an impromptu online cooking class showing folks how to make my Boozy Spiced Cranberry Sauce. I left with a Pumpkin Cheesecake class scheduled. Did I intend to host a pumpkin cheesecake-making class? No. Do I love my readers so much that I let…
Apple Streusel Cheesecake with Caramel Drizzle
The image speaks for itself, my friend. This Apple Streusel Cheesecake is a creamy, spiced cheesecake laced with applesauce. Because I’m always figuring out ways to pack more flavor into my recipes, I went ahead and did us all a favor by topping it with my apple pie filling. Then I figured, “Why not go…
Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon-Sugar Topping
I was going to name these cookies “Pillowy Clouds of Fall Goodness,” but that didn’t have the same umph. You have to possess a serious amount of confidence to say something is the softest ever. Between the light-as-air texture of these cookies and the bold, spiced flavors inside (and out) of them, I’m over here…
Berry Tiramisu (Berry-Flavored Tiramisu)
My friend…we need to talk about this here dessert. There are some things I’m really bad at: math is one of them. One thing I’m not bad at, though, is pastries. Tiramisu is one of my specialities and I’m not trying to be cocky. This berry tiramisu is a riff on my classic recipe. Something…
S’mores Cheesecake- No Campfire Needed!
I don’t do “camping”. Bugs and I don’t get along. I also don’t like poisonous plants or the outside for that matter. I don’t like any of it. There are plenty of women who get excited at the mere mention of a camping trip. I am not one of those women, nor do I need…
