Category Archives: Recipes (Sweet)

Cute Little Creamy Jammy Coffee Cakes

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There are layers upon layers of goodness to enjoy in these little coffee cakes.
There are layers upon layers of goodness to enjoy in these little coffee cakes.

Moms are so accustomed to sharing everything — their food, favorite sweater, the family car, and most of all, their time.

So, this Mother’s Day, gift her something that she can call her very own, something she can indulge in selfishly, thoroughly, and completely.

I’m talking “Creamy Jammy Coffee Cakes.”

Bigger than a standard muffin but clearly smaller than a full-on cake that requires slicing, these individual coffee cakes are the perfect size to feel pampered with.

The recipe is from “100 Morning Treats” (Chronicle Books), of which I received a review copy. It’s by Sarah Kieffer, the Minneapolis creator of the award-winning The Vanilla Bean Blog, and the baker who popularized the famed pan-banging, cookie-baking technique.

This fun book is filled with all manner of homey treats to enjoy for breakfast, brunch, and beyond. You’ll fall for everything from “White Chocolate and Fig Pound Cake,” “Giant Carrot Cake Cinnamon Roll,” and “Brioche Bagels” to “Sheet Pan Danish” and “Cheesy Croissant Casserole.”

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Lemon Espresso Pie To Brighten the Day

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Two different layers of lemony goodness, plus hot fudge sauce, and vanilla-scented whipped cream, make for one outrageously good pie.
Two different layers of lemony goodness, plus hot fudge sauce, and vanilla-scented whipped cream, make for one outrageously good pie.

After all this merciless rain — including the destruction it has wrought even as it’s vanquished our years-long drought — it’s a relief to experience some sunshine, isn’t it?

Yet even on the dreariest, gloomiest day, there’s an ideal way to brighten things up majorly.

Just bake this “Lemon Espresso Pie” that dazzles and delights with a burst of bright sunny citrus in its thick, pudding-like filling, as well as in its crowning layer of velvety lemon curd.

The recipe is the cover star of the cookbook, “Justice of the Pies” (Clarkson Potter, 2022), of which I received a review copy.

The cookbook is by By Maya-Camille Broussard, chef-owner of the Justice of the Pies bakery in Chicago and member of the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Established 9 years ago, this is a social mission-based bakery that proudly started the “I Knead Love Workshop,” which provides elementary-aged kids from lower-income communities instruction on nutrition and basic cooking.

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Irish Teatime Bakewell Tart For St. Paddy’s Day — And Beyond

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A classic Irish tart especially for almond lovers.
A classic Irish tart especially for almond lovers.

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, all stomachs turn to corned beef and cabbage.

But mine? It’s squarely on “Irish Teatime Bakewell Tart.”

Buttery, flaky crust. Sweet raspberry jam. Plenty of crunchy almonds. And a thick layer of heavenly almond pastry cream. Who can resist?

This recipe is from “A Return to Ireland” (Hatherleigh Press, 2022), of which I received a review copy. It’s by Judith McLoughlin, an Irish chef who now makes her home in Atlanta, where she hosts cooking classes.

The book is a collection of both classic rustic Irish dishes, as well as more modern refined ones with Southern influences. See for yourself with a taste of “Irish Stout & Onion Soup with Blue Cheese,” “Low Country Watermelon Pickles,” “Slow Braised Shoulder of Lamb Stew,” and “Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Whiskey Truffles.”

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When Four Egg Custard Tarts Are Just Enough

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Creamy custard redolent of vanilla and nutmeg fill this little custard tart to enjoy all on your own.
Creamy custard redolent of vanilla and nutmeg fill this little custard tart to enjoy all on your own.

As much as I love to bake, there are times when even for me whipping up a massive layer cake or two dozen chocolate eclairs is just too much for my two-person household to handle.

To the rescue comes “Small Batch Bakes” (Kyle Books, 2022).

The thoughtful cookbook, of which I received a review copy, is by Edd Kimber, a London food writer and popular baker who was the inaugural winner of the original “The Great British Bake Off.”

The recipes are perfect for those who are single, live in small households or crave a sweet treat but don’t want the temptation of having trays of caloric leftovers around.

Instead, these recipes yield more modest amounts, such as “Blueberry Cream Tarts” (4), “Japanese Jiggly Cheesecake with Passion Fruit Butterscotch Sauce” (6 servings), “Date Night Creme Brulee” (2), and “Emergency Chocolate Chip Cookie” (yes, just one).

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About Time for Lemon Mint Cake

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Fresh mint and Meyer lemons (finally!) from my backyard star in this simple, satisfying cake.
Fresh mint and Meyer lemons (finally!) from my backyard star in this simple, satisfying cake.

I have known my share of late bloomers.

But my Meyer lemons? Well, they sure take the cake — literally.

Usually at year’s end, I watch the oval green citrus on my dwarf backyard tree grow ever larger, then slowly start turning bright yellow before taking on a warm orangey-yellow hue by February.

Not so in 2020. For some odd reason, they stayed dark green beyond that winter. Moreover, they remained like that throughout the entirety of 2021, and into the first half of 2022.

Could it be that like the rest of us, they simply needed to chill during the worst of the pandemic? If so, who can blame them?

After their extended hibernation finally ended, I was more than ready to finally use them to full effect in — what else — this “Lemon Mint Cake (Gateâu au Citron et a la Menthe).”

The recipe is from “Gateâu: The Surprising Simplicity of French Cakes” (Scribner, 2022), of which I received a review copy.

It was written by James Beard Award-winning writer Aleksandra Crapanzano, who grew up in Paris and New York, and has been a food columnist for the Wall Street Journal for a dozen years.

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