Category: Baking

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Why am I here sharing a pumpkin baked oatmeal recipe? 

I may be in my busiest season of life I have experienced in my forty years thus far. 

I am a teacher. A marathoner. A wife and a mother to two very involved athletes who can not drive yet. And that doesn’t even get me started on my hobbies (and ask my husband, I have a lot of them…) 

The athlete thing has made life the craziest though. Among other things, mornings are scheduled by the minute because it is easiest in our household if I am the one who gets the big kid to lifting AND shoot around AND jazz band in the morning. 

This means I need a breakfast I can depend on to fuel me for the day without taking an excessive amount of time to make. Enter the protein pumpkin baked oatmeal. 

This baked oatmeal has all the warming spices a gal could want on a fall morning, a bit of protein powder (easily skipped though if that isn’t your jam), and goes so dang well with some vanilla Greek yogurt (I dig a low sugar, high protein like Oikos). About 45 minutes on a Sunday leads to a delicious breakfast all week that takes less than 3 minutes to prepare.  

This time of year, it is so easy to roast your own pumpkin and if you have the freezer space to save some I recommend it much (Check my recipe here!) but canned puree would work just as well. 

Ready to start prepping your breakfast? Let’s go! 

Your Ingredients

  • 1 ¾  cup milk (dairy or non dairy) 
  • 1 cup roasted pumpkin puree (fresh or canned) 
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup maple syrup or honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • ½ cup chopped nuts (I use walnuts but pecans would work great too!) 
  • 1-2 scoops of vanilla or unflavored protein powder (optional) 
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips (optional) 
  • Vanilla Greek yogurt for topping 

Your Steps to Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Preheat the oven to 375 ℉ and lightly grease a 9×9 inch baking dish. (I actually really like my 11×7 inch pan, but I don’t know that everyone has one of those!) 

In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, egg, maple syrup, and vanilla. Whisk well, fully incorporating the pumpkin. Stir in the milk. 

In another bowl, mix oats, protein powder, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Incorporate into the wet ingredients. Fold in about half of the nuts and the chocolate chips, if using. 

Pour the mixture into the prepared dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the remaining nuts on top and additional chocolate chips.  

Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the center is set and the edges are lightly golden brown. 

Wet ingredients
A bit of milk and the dry ingredients
Ready to be popped in the oven!
Finished product!

Serve it up! 

This reheats so well and is the reason I love it. It gets popped it in the microwave for 40 seconds (we have pretty heavy duty plates though) and then put a scoop of vanilla Greek yogurt on top. I love that I have breakfast ready in a flash! 

I hope that it makes your way onto your table, whether you’re a busy parent feeding yourself or feeding a crew of children. It makes for a great breakfast all week long!

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Whip up this easy protein pumpkin baked oatmeal—perfect for busy mornings. Cozy spices, real pumpkin, and meal-prep convenience in one delicious bake.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ¾ cup milk dairy or non dairy
  • 1 cup roasted pumpkin puree fresh or canned
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup maple syrup or honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • ½ cup chopped nuts I use walnuts but pecans would work great too!
  • 1-2 scoops of vanilla or unflavored protein powder optional
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips optional
  • Vanilla Greek yogurt for topping

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 ℉ and lightly grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, egg, maple syrup, and vanilla. Whisk well, fully incorporating the pumpkin. Stir in the milk.
  • In another bowl, mix oats, protein powder, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Incorporate into the wet ingredients. Fold in about half of the nuts and the chocolate chips, if using.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the remaining nuts on top and additional chocolate chips.
  • Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the center is set and the edges are lightly golden brown.

Notes

This reheats so well and is the reason I love it. I pop it in the microwave for 40 seconds (we have pretty heavy duty plates though) and then put a scoop of vanilla Greek yogurt on top. I love that I have breakfast ready in a flash!
I actually really like my 11×7 inch Pryex baking dish for this, but I don’t know that everyone has one of those. 9×9 inch or 8×8 inch work just as well!
Keyword baked oatmeal, Breakfast, breakfast meal prep, meal prep, oatmeal, pumpkin, pumpkin recipes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other breakfast ideas?

Here are a few of my favorites!

JessLeave a comment

Cherry Rhubarb Crisp

This time of year, our yard and garden are FULL of all the fresh berries. Typically, we have tons of black and red raspberries, gooseberries, blueberries, and also currants. In addition, we grow bush and sour cherries. For years, the birds got to our sour cherries before we were able to harvest them (Big bummer!). This year, the trees produced enough that we were able to harvest several quarts of them (Big win!). With a new source of cherries, I needed to cook with them and got to thinking… While strawberries are normally paired with rhubarb, I couldn’t help but believe that these cherries would make an EXCELLENT Cherry Rhubarb Crisp. 

This is our new pup Bert (Our other pup is named Bernie. Get it? Bert and Bernie!)

He was so funny. We think he was hoping for a cherry to fall in his mouth. He loves fruit and vegetables. You can always find him begging for a baby carrot as a snack!

Cherry Rhubarb Crisp?

Let me tell you, I wasn’t wrong. The Mr has always been turned off by the strawberry rhubarb pairing. He says, “Rhubarb is SUPPOSED to be tart! Stop making it too sweet!” The addition of tart cherries (but you can totally do sweet if that’s your jam!) with just the right amount of sugar made for a crisp that he went back for seconds almost immediately. And let me tell you, when I have told friends about my effort to perfect my cherry rhubarb crisp recipe, they were instantly excited since it isn’t something you hear of often. I hope you’re excited to create this new flavor combination too! 

Let’s get baking! 

Your Ingredients 

  • 2 ½ cups diced rhubarb 
  • 2 ½ cups pitted sour cherries (but really, 5 cups of cherry/rhubarb would be good!) 
  • ⅓ cup white sugar 
  • ½ cup flour + 1 tablespoon, divided 
  • ⅔ cup brown sugar 
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 
  • ¼ cup butter, melted 

Your Steps to Cherry Rhubarb Crisp

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Grease the bottom and sides of an 8 inch square baking pan. Combine the rhubarb and sour cherries in a bowl. Sprinkle with white sugar and 1 tablespoon flour. Stir to coat the fruit. Set aside. 

Meanwhile, combine the remaining flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, and nutmeg in another bowl. Stir well. Drizzle in the melted butter and stir to combine. 

Once the sugar has pulled some juice from the rhubarb (about 5-10 minutes), spread the fruit in the prepared pan. Sprinkle the flour and oat mixture over the fruit. 

Bake for about 35-40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown. Serve on its own or with cream, vanilla Greek yogurt, and ice cream! 

Beautiful fruit!
Ready to be topped!
Let’s eat!
Ready for our close up!

Cherry Rhubarb Crisp

Tart cherries and rhubarb make the perfect summer dessert! This Cherry Rhubarb Crisp from Jess in the Kitchen is a fresh, easy twist on a classic.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ½ cups diced rhubarb
  • 2 ½ cups pitted sour cherries
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup flour + 1 tablespoon divided
  • ⅔ cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ cup butter melted

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8 inch square baking pan.
  • Combine the rhubarb and sour cherries in a bowl. Sprinkle with white sugar and 1 tablespoon flour. Stir to coat the fruit. Set aside.
  • Meanwhile, combine the remaining flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, and nutmeg in another bowl. Stir well. Drizzle in the melted butter and stir to combine.
  • Once the sugar has pulled some juice from the rhubarb (about 5-10 minutes), spread the fruit in the prepared pan. Sprinkle the flour and oat mixture over the fruit.
  • Bake for about 35-40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown. Serve on its own or with cream, vanilla Greek yogurt, and ice cream.

Notes

Really, any combination of 5 cups of rhubarb and cherries will work. Use what you have!
Keyword cherries, cherry crisp, dairy free, egg free, fruit crisp, Rhubarb, rhubarb crisp, sour cherries
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other sweet treats?

Here are some of my favorite rhubarb or cherry recipes! Or, head to my baking page to find more!

JessLeave a comment

Raspberry Coffee Cake

My goodness, it’s been a hot minute since I’ve been here. Life got a little “lifey” and I have kiddos that do alllllll the things. Cooking and baking just needed to take a back seat to navigating all the things in our home. But school is out and I am so excited to be back in the kitchen creating and in the garden growing. And if you ask me, this beautiful raspberry coffee cake is the perfect way to jump back into Jess in the Kitchen.

I love to bake and am not ashamed to say I have a bit of a sweet tooth. As I was digging through our big freezer for meal prep, I realized I had an immense amount of frozen raspberries from the 2024 season that I hadn’t used up yet. I immediately got to thinking, “What can I bake?” 

My little one had developed a love for various coffee cakes from local coffee shops, so this seemed to be the ticket. I gave it a go, and was pleased with the results. Then I tried again, and improved upon it, upping the sweetness just a bit for the Mr because, well, his sweet tooth is a little bigger than mine. Each time I have made this raspberry coffee cake since, the two of them eat it every day for breakfast with smiles on their faces. I hope it brings a smile to yours too! 

Ready to start baking? Let’s do this thing! 

Your Ingredients to Raspberry Coffee Cake

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar 
  • ¼ cup butter, softened 
  • ⅔ cup milk 
  • 1 egg 
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract 
  • 2 cups all purpose flour 
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder 
  • ½ teaspoon salt 
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 
  • 1 cup frozen raspberries (do not thaw) 

Streusel Filling and Topping 

  • ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar 
  • ½  cup chopped nuts 
  • Pinch of salt 
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cold 

Your Steps to Raspberry Coffee Cake 

Preheat the oven to 375℉. Grease and line an 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. 

Beat the ¾ cup of sugar and ¼ cup softened butter in a large bowl. Add milk, egg, and almond extract. Beat until well mixed. Remove mixer and add flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Stir until just combined. Fold in the raspberries. It will be thick.

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chopped nuts, and a pinch of salt. (Reserve the butter for the time being) 

Spread about half the cake batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle half of the sugar and nut mixture on top. Carefully spread the remaining batter on top of the sugar and nuts (it is a thicker batter so do your best!). 

Cut the two tablespoons of butter into the remaining sugar and nuts until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the coffee cake. 

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

All the ingredients
Mixing it up
Fold in the raspberries
Fold in the raspberries
Layer the coffee cake
Layer the nut crumble
All baked
Baked and ready to go!
Serve it up!
Serve it up!
All baked

Raspberry Coffee Cake

Bake the ultimate raspberry coffee cake with a tender crumb, sweet streusel, and bright berry flavor—straight from Jess’s kitchen
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup butter softened
  • ⅔ cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup frozen raspberries do not thaw
  • Streusel Filling and Topping
  • ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ½ cup chopped nuts
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tablespoons butter cold

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375℉. Grease and line an 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Beat the ¾ cup of sugar and ¼ cup softened butter in a large bowl. Add milk, egg, and almond extract. Beat until well mixed. Remove mixer and add flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Stir until just combined. Fold in the raspberries.
  • In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chopped nuts, and a pinch of salt. (Reserve the butter for the time being)
  • Spread about half the cake batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle half of the sugar and nut mixture on top. Carefully spread the remaining batter on top of the sugar and nuts (it is a thicker batter so do your best!).
  • Cut the two tablespoons of butter into the remaining sugar and nuts until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the coffee cake.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Keyword Breakfast, coffee cake, dessert, raspberries, Raspberry, raspberry coffee cake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other baking recipes?

Give my baking page a look or maybe one of the recipes below will tickle your fancy! And if you’re wondering why I have so many raspberries, we started planting some when we first moved to our home and they have created a beautiful patch. The Mr and I are big fans of Jung Seeds and Plants, located in Wisconsin!

JessLeave a comment

Pistachio Lime Thumbies

Oh these cookies. I had the hardest time naming them. Pistachios. Lime. Shortbread. A delightful frosting. What name could capture all of that loveliness?! I took to social media and got lots of recommendations and Pistachio Lime Thumbies had to be the winner! 

Earlier this summer, I was baking from the cookbook The Great British Baking Show: Favorite Flavors for a foodie collab I have on Instagram and I was drawn to Pistachio Melting Moments. They were beautiful and so dang good.  However, they were also bit of work, as with most recipes in this cookbook. I think they have proved to be worth it, but not everyone thinks like me. So, I wanted to play with the recipe and create a simplified version. 

These Pistachio Lime Thumbies start as a simple shortbread with ground pistachios and a bit of lime zest. They get the thumbprint treatment to provide a little well for a lime buttercream frosting and a sprinkle of ground pistachio. Not too challenging and a flavor combination that is divine. But, if you want to skip the frosting, they could totally get the Russian Tea Cake treatment by bypassing the frosting and rolling them in some powdered sugar. Either way, they are TASTY! 

Ready to start baking? Let’s do this thing! 

Your Ingredients

Shortbread

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup flour 
  • ½ tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ tablespoon milk 
  • ¼ teaspoon salt 
  • ⅓ cup ground pistachios (I buy the lightly salted shelled pistachios from the snack aisle and grind them in my small food processor) 
  • Zest of one lime

Frosting

  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla 
  • Pinch of salt 
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • Juice from one lime (1-2 tablespoons)
  • Splash of milk, as needed
  • Additional ground pistachios 

Your Steps to Pistachio Lime Thumbies

In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the vanilla and mix until well combined. Combine the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Cream the flour mixture with the butter and sugar, mixing well. Stir in the milk and the pistachios, mixing until a ball is formed. 

(Note: For the pistachios, I like to purchase the lightly salted shelled pistachios from the snack food aisle at the grocery store. Then I grind them myself in a small food processor. Make sure they are ground well so they get fully incorporated. Also grind a little extra for sprinkling on the frosting) 

Remove the dough from the bowl, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for an hour. 

Once chilled, form into 24 balls, approximately a half of a tablespoon of dough. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and press down with your thumb to form an indent for the frosting, flattening a couple times. From here, preheat the oven to 350 degrees (325 on convect) and chill the cookies one more time while the oven preheats. 

Time to Bake!

Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the cookies are just starting to brown. Shortbread is easy to overbake so watch them carefully. Once done, remove and allow to cool. 

Meanwhile, make the frosting. Cream the butter and vanilla. Stir in the powdered sugar and a pinch of salt. Add the lime juice and cream until a smooth frosting is formed. Give it a taste test. If it is too tart, add a bit more sugar. If it is too thick, add a splash of milk (a tablespoon or so). 

Put into a piping bag (Or if you’re like me, a ziplock bag that I put in a cup to keep me neat. Then I just snip the corner) and pipe the frosting into the center of each cookie. You will likely have extra, but that’s better than not enough, if you ask me! Sprinkle with remaining ground pistachios. Allow the frosting to harden before packaging in an airtight container, assuming you can keep your family and friends from eating them all! 

A quick note

If frosting isn’t your thing, you can totally switch up these cookies. Rather than flattening them with your thumb, leave them as balls. Bake for 15 minutes and then roll the still hot cookies in additional powdered sugar. (Be gentle with the cookies. They break easily. I usually wait just a minute or two before I roll them.)

Mix up the dough!
Roll them out!
Press them down!
Frost them up!
Nearly there!
Sprinkle on those nuts!
Serve them up!

Pistachio Lime Thumbies

These pistachio lime thumbies are a delightful treat featuring shortbread cookies topped with a tangy lime frosting and sprinkled with ground pistachios.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 2 dozen

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Shortbread Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ tablespoon milk
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup ground pistachios see note
  • Zest of one lime

Frosting

  • 2 tablespoons butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • Juice from one lime 1-2 tablespoons
  • Splash of milk as needed
  • Additional ground pistachios

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the vanilla and mix until well combined. Combine the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Cream the flour mixture with the butter and sugar, mixing well. Stir in the milk and the pistachios, mixing until a ball is formed.
  • Remove the dough from the bowl, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for an hour.
  • Once chilled, form into 24 balls, approximately a half of a tablespoon of dough. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and press down with your thumb to form an indent for the frosting, flattening a couple times. From here, preheat the oven to 350 degrees (325 on convect) and chill the cookies one more time while the oven preheats.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the cookies are just starting to brown. Shortbread is easy to over bake so watch them carefully. Once done, remove and allow to cool.
  • Meanwhile, make the frosting. Cream the butter and vanilla. Stir in the powdered sugar and a pinch of salt. Add the lime juice and cream until a smooth frosting is formed. Give it a taste test. If it is too tart, add a bit more sugar. If it is too thick, add a splash of milk (a tablespoon or so).
  • Put into a piping bag and pipe the frosting into the center of each cookie. Sprinkle with remaining ground pistachios. Allow the frosting to harden before packaging in an airtight container.

Notes

For the pistachios, I like to purchase the lightly salted shelled pistachios from the snack food aisle at the grocery store. Then I grind them myself in a small food processor. Make sure they are ground well so they get fully incorporated. Also grind a little extra for sprinkling on the frosting.
I do not do a lot of pipping for frosting so I do not have pipping bags on hand. I simple slip a ziplock bag into a mug, putting the sides over the edge. Then I spoon the frosting into the bag, zip it up, and snip the corner. It does the trick for me!
If frosting isn’t your thing, you can totally switch up these cookies. Rather than flattening them with your thumb, leave them as balls. Bake for 15 minutes and then roll the still hot cookies in additional powdered sugar. (Be gentle with the cookies. They break easily. I usually wait just a minute or two before I roll them.)
Keyword Cookies, lime, lime zest, pistachio, pistachio cookies, pistachio shortbread, pistachios, Shortbread, shortbread cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Strawberry Rhubarb Galette

This one has been on my heart for a while and I am dang excited that I finally got to put a delicious strawberry rhubarb galette together for you. Yay for all the spring time harvesting and gardening. School is out and I am here for it!

I have always said, “I don’t do pies.” I am not sure why, but I think part of it has to do with the intimidation factor of the “perfect pie crust.” You can’t fail at it if you don’t make it, right? I also have always thought cakes and brownies were far superior to pie. I like this excuse better because generally I have a growth mindset. But as I have grown as a baker (I LOVE a good homemade laminated dough!), I have also sort of dismissed the “no pies for me” vibe I have been giving out. 

This especially became true when I discovered the galette. A galette is this beautiful French pastry that is a sort of free form pie, free of a specific baking pan. It feels rustic and homey; a homesteader’s paradise. Maybe it will be my gateway to the regular pie, but for now, I can foresee many galettes, sweet and savory, in my future. 

This strawberry rhubarb galette has a lovely, slightly sweet crust that has a perfect flour to butter ratio. The fruit melts together with two different sugars and although it looks exquisite, it truly is a bake that is easier than it looks and requires minimal work. It’s a great one to serve up any time of day (The Mr would say it makes a great “breakfast pie.” Ha!)

Ready to start baking together? Let’s do it! 

Your Ingredients for Strawberry Rhubarb Galette

  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour 
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cold butter, cubed
  • ⅓ cup ice cold water 
  • 3 cups rhubarb, peeled and diced 
  • 2 cups strawberries, cored and sliced
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar 
  • ⅓ cup white sugar 
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch 
  • 3 tablespoons flour 
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice 
  • 1 egg yolk
  • Additional sugar for sprinkling on the crust

Your Steps to Strawberry Rhubarb Galette 

In a stand mixer bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Mix with the paddle until well combined. Add cubed, cold butter and mix on medium for about 90 seconds, until the texture resembles sand. 

Remove the bowl from the stand mixture. Add water in increments, stirring with a wooden spoon until a dough just comes together. You do not want to over add the water. 

Once a dough has come together, form it into a ball by hand (do this quickly so as not to melt the butter), wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least an hour. 

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees (375 if using a convection oven).

Now to prepare the filling

If you have not yet, prepare the strawberries and rhubarb. Place the fruit in a bowl and stir in the lemon juice. In another bowl, combine the white and brown sugars, cornstarch, and flour. In yet another small bowl, whisk the egg yolk with ½ tablespoon water. 

Once the crust has chilled, remove and roll out on a floured surface to a circle, about 14 inches in diameter. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet (I like to fold the dough in half and then in quarters to transfer it from the table to the baking sheet). 

At this point, stir the sugar mixture into the fruit. Pour the fruit onto the center of the crust, leaving about three inches of dough on the edges. Gently fold up each edge, doing approximately 7-8 folds. Brush the edges of pastry with the egg wash and sprinkle a bit of sugar onto the crust by hand. 

Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the crust is golden brown the bottom is cooked through. Allow to cool and set before serving.

I always cube my butter on the wrapper.
Ready to chill.
Prepping the fruit.
Get it all set!
Roll out the dough and then prep the fruit.
Pour it on.
Fold it up.
Ready to eat!

Strawberry Rhubarb Galette

Rustic and simple to put together, this sweet and tart strawberry rhubarb galette is the perfect springtime pastry!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, French
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cold butter cubed
  • ⅓ cup ice cold water
  • 3 cups rhubarb peeled and diced
  • 2 cups strawberries cored and sliced
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 egg yolk
  • Additional sugar for sprinkling on the crust

Instructions
 

  • In a stand mixer bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Mix with the paddle until well combined. Add cubed, cold butter and mix on medium for about 90 seconds, until the texture resembles sand.
  • Remove the bowl from the stand mixture. Add water in increments, stirring with a wooden spoon until a dough just comes together. You do not want to over add the water.
  • Once a dough has come together, form it into a ball by hand (do this quickly so as not to melt the butter), wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least an hour.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees (375 if using a convection oven) and prepare the rhubarb and strawberries.
  • Place the fruit in a bowl and stir in the lemon juice. In another bowl, combine the white and brown sugars, cornstarch, and flour. In yet another small bowl, whisk the egg yolk with ½ tablespoon water.
  • Once the crust has chilled, remove and roll out on a floured surface to a circle, about 14 inches in diameter. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet (I like to fold the dough in half and then in quarters to transfer it from the table to the baking sheet).
  • At this point, stir the sugar mixture into the fruit. Pour the fruit onto the center of the crust, leaving about three inches of dough on the edges. Gently fold up each edge, doing approximately 7-8 folds. Brush the edges of pastry with the egg wash and sprinkle a bit of sugar onto the crust by hand.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the crust is golden brown the bottom is cooked through. Allow to cool and set before serving.
Keyword baking, dessert, galette, pastries, spring baking, Strawberries, strawberry, Strawberry Rhubarb
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other rhubarb and strawberry recipes?

Check out my baking page or perhaps one of my favorites below will tickle your fancy!

JessLeave a comment
sourdough discard crackers

Sourdough Discard Crackers

“They are PERFECT”-My big kiddo, after trying these sourdough discard crackers. And let me tell you, he can be hard to please. 

My big kid is a snack cracker, granola bar, banana eating junkie. He’s an athlete and in middle school and I swear he never stops eating. What I am trying to say is he knows his snacks. So when I gave these crackers a go last week and they weren’t perfect, he certainly let me know they were lacking. But I wasn’t about to give up. 

The following weekend, I gave it another go. I changed the salt and the nutritional yeast and let the dough chill for an hour. I baked them at a higher temperature. And when they came out and my family gave them a try, the response was pretty dang positive. 

The Mr: “I’ll take more of those please.” 

My Little One: “He can’t have them all. Can I have a plate?”

My Big Kiddo: “They are PERFECT.”

I hope your family loves them as much as we did! If you have never used nutritional yeast before, it can be found in the baking aisle. It is yellow and flaky and gives a cheese like flavor without the cheese. I like to use Bragg Nutritional Yeast.

These crackers are such a great way to use up that sourdough discard and you can have crackers in under 2 hours. How great is that?!

Ready to start creating? Let’s go! 

Your Ingredients

  • 200 grams sourdough discard, room temp (ish. If you forget to pull it from the fridge, that’s okay too!)
  • 5 tablespoons butter, mostly melted
  • 1 teaspoon of salt, divided
  • 1 ½ – 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • ¾ cup whole wheat flour

Your Steps to Sourdough Discard Crackers 

In a medium bowl, melt butter nearly all the way. Allow to cool just a bit before stirring in the sourdough discard. I like to use a fork to incorporate  Sprinkle in ½ teaspoon salt and nutritional yeast. Stir well. Add the flour and stir with the fork until well combined. Knead just a couple turns. Then wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for an hour. 

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 F. Once the dough has finished chilling, place on a large piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle with just a bit of flour on the rolling pin and roll as thin as you can (about 1-2 mm). Sprinkle with remaining ½ teaspoon salt. 

Place on a baking sheet and bake for 5-8 minutes. Remove and score the crackers with a pizza roller. Place back in the oven for an additional 10 minutes. Inevitably, the edges will bake quicker than the inside. I like to pull the crispy outside ones and then back it another 4-8 minutes, checking to pull other crispy ones and returning to bake a bit more.  Allow crackers to cool and then store in an airtight container (If you can keep your hands off of them!)

All mixed up (minus the flour)
Just chilling.
Get it as thin as you can!
Cut after a few minutes of baking.
Pull the crispy ones and let the others bake.
Crackers and wine? Yes please!

Sourdough Discard Crackers

Got excess sourdough discard? Don't worry, transform it into sourdough discard crackers! These tasty treats will satisfy your snack cravings!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 26 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Course Appetizer, Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 200 grams sourdough discard room temp
  • 5 tablespoons butter mostly melted
  • 1 teaspoon of salt divided
  • 1 ½ – 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • ¾ cup whole wheat flour

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, melt butter nearly all the way. Allow to cool just a bit before stirring in the sourdough discard. I like to use a fork to incorporate. Sprinkle in ½ teaspoon salt and nutritional yeast. Stir well.
  • Add the flour and stir with the fork until well combined. Knead just a couple turns. Then wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for an hour.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 F. Once the dough has finished chilling, place on a large piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle with just a bit of flour on the rolling pin and roll as thin as you can (about 1-2 mm). Sprinkle with remaining ½ teaspoon salt.
  • Place on a baking sheet and bake for 5-8 minutes. Remove and score the crackers with a pizza roller. Place back in the oven for an additional 10 minutes. Inevitably, the edges will bake quicker than the inside. I like to pull the crispy outside ones and then back it another 4-8 minutes, checking to pull other crispy ones and returning to bake a bit more. Allow crackers to cool and then store in an airtight container.

Notes

Other herbs and spices can certainly be mixed in as well. Sticking with just the salt and nutritional yeast will give a cracker that tastes very similar to square cheese crackers, but I am certain garlic or rosemary would go well too!
You can skip the nutritional yeast all together and go with an herb cracker! You get to choose!
Keyword crackers, discard recipess, homemade crackers, nutritional yeast, sourdough, sourdough baking, sourdough crackerss, sourdough discard
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other snacks or sourdough treats?

Here are some great places to look! Sourdough Adventures and Snacks. Maybe you eat with your eyes. Here are my favorites!

Jess2 Comments

Baked Berry Oatmeal

I’ve entered the stage in parenting where I get to get my big kiddo to the weight room by 6:30 am multiple times a week. I am proud of him for working hard to become a stronger athlete, but man, it messes with my morning routine. I need a breakfast with minimal prep, but is still nutrient dense. At first, I was doing protein oatmeal. However, I prefer a breakfast that isn’t pre-packaged. Enter Baked Berry Oatmeal with Greek yogurt. 

Initially, I had been cooking from my collab “one book, three recipes” with my Instagram friends and gave a baked oatmeal a try. Yum! However, I didn’t love the extra refined sugar and thought “I can do better.” This is my own take: a maple syrup sweetened baked oatmeal that can be prepped on a Sunday and you’ll have at least six servings for the rest of the week. 

I love how nicely this Baked Berry Oatmeal reheats. I pop my portion into the microwave with a few frozen berries sprinkled on top and let it go for about 40 seconds. Then I’ll top it with some Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla Greek Yogurt and add a side of breakfast sausage or ham with some fruit. It’s a full meal to be sure, but one I can feel really good about eating. 

Not a fan of eating the same thing every day like I am? This makes a great brunch or weekend breakfast. It mixes up quick and can leave you time to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and chat the morning away. Ready to start creating? Let’s go! 

Your Ingredients

  • 3 cups old fashioned oats
  • ⅓ cup real maple syrup 
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
  • ¾ cup ground walnuts, divided 
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups + 2 tablespoons milk 
  • 2 large eggs 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ cup fresh or frozen raspberries
  • ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Your Steps to Bake Berry Oatmeal 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 by 8 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, combine oats, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and ½ cup walnuts. 

Stir in maple syrup and melted coconut oil. In another bowl, combine milk, eggs, and vanilla. Stir the milk mixture into the oat mixture until well combined. Pour into the prepared pan. 

Top with raspberries and blueberries. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ¼ cup of walnuts with the brown sugar and sprinkle on top of the berries. Bake for 40 minutes. Serve with Greek yogurt and additional berries, if desired. 

Dry Ingredients combined
with the wet ingredients
Top with berries!
And a few nuts for crunch.
Bake it up!
Serve it up!

Baked Berry Oatmeal

This baked berry oatmeal is a delightful and tasty dish, perfect for meal prep or a special weekend breakfast!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups old fashioned oats
  • ⅓ cup real maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
  • ¾ cup ground walnuts divided
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups + 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ cup fresh or frozen raspberries
  • ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 by 8 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, combine oats, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and ½ cup walnuts.
  • Stir in maple syrup and melted coconut oil. In another bowl, combine milk, eggs, and vanilla. Stir the milk mixture into the oat mixture until well combined. Pour into the prepared pan.
  • Top with raspberries and blueberries. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ¼ cup of walnuts with the brown sugar and sprinkle on top of the berries. Bake for 40 minutes. Serve with Greek yogurt and additional berries, if desired.
Keyword baked oatmeal, blueberries, Breakfast, breakfast prep, meal prep, oatmeal, raspberries
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other delicious breakfast ideas?

I’d love it if you checked out my breakfast page for more inspiration, but if you want to see some of my favorites, check out the recipes below!

JessLeave a comment

Kolachkes

If you hang around with me on Instagram, you may know that I participate in a collaboration with a number of foodie friends that has us exploring the cookbooks on our shelves each month. There are no rules besides trying three recipes each month that we haven’t made before in the many cookbooks we own. This month, I chose a WE Energies cookbook and gave Kolachkes a try! 

First, the WE energies cookie book. I don’t know about other states, but in Wisconsin, WE Energies has been creating a cookie book every year since 1928. It is distributed primarily in southern Wisconsin but you can also find digital copies (Check out the archives here!). I fondly remember looking through my mom’s editions as a kid and recognized the covers in the archives. 

Now for the Kolachkes. After doing some research, I was able to learn that these cookies are Polish or Czech, and are a traditional Christmas cookie. I was drawn to the cookie as it sounded like a simple shortbread like cookie (with the addition of cream cheese) and had a jam added. Many years ago, I tried a thumbprint cookie recipe and it didn’t go well. I figured this was my chance to redeem myself. 

I did change the recipe just a bit, by sweetening up the dough just a bit before I baked it and I think you will LOVE it. Please give these tasty morsels a try! 

Your Ingredients 

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ cups flour
  • 1/2 cup preserves, I used black raspberry
  • ⅓  cup powdered sugar
  • Additional powdered sugar

Your Steps to Kolachkes

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Cream butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and ⅓ cup powdered sugar. Blend in 2 cups of flour and salt. Then work in remaining ¼  cup flour to form a smooth dough. 

Divide the dough in half and roll half of it 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 2 in squares or circles. Make a slight indent in the center and fill with scant 1/2 teaspoon preserves. 

Finish shaping squares or circles by tightly pinching opposite ends together. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Repeat with the second half. 

Bake for 12-17 minutes. Cool and dust with powdered sugar. I used a fine mesh strainer for this and it worked great!

These were incredibly simple and so good! I hope you enjoy them as much as my family did! 

Cut out 2 inch circles. I used a small wine glass!
Kolachkes formed and ready for the oven
Form and top with preserves.
Sprinkling powdered sugar on cookies
Dust with powdered sugar.
Finished Kolachkes
Ready to serve!

Tools of the trade

I haven’t added a “tools of the trade” segment to a blog post for a while, but I have to share my absolute favorite baking sheets. These guys are only used for cookies and other sweet treats and they are a favorite present from years past. Also! Dusting with powdered sugar was exponentially easier using my fine strainer. We use it for so many things: straining our maple syrup, rinsing canned beans, you name it. A tool that makes your life much easier, to be sure.

Finished Kolachkes

Kolachkes

Light, buttery, and sweet with a topping of fruit preserves, these Eastern European kolachkes are a perfect addition to your holiday cookie tray!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American, Czech, Polish
Servings 3 dozen

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 3 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ cups flour
  • 1/2 cup preserves I used black raspberry
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • Additional powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 F. Cream butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and ⅓ cup powdered sugar. Blend in 2 cups of flour and salt. Then work in remaining ¼ cup flour to form a smooth dough.
  • Divide the dough in half and roll half of it 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 2 in squares or circles. Make a slight indent in the center and fill with scant 1/2 teaspoon preserves.
  • Finish shaping squares or circles by tightly pinching opposite ends together. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Repeat with the second half.
  • Bake for 12-17 minutes. Cool and dust with powdered sugar.
Keyword black raspberry, Cookies, fruit preserves, kolachkes, kolachky, pastries, Polish kolachky, Shortbread
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other sweet treats?

Give some of these a try or check out my baking page for more inspiration!

JessLeave a comment

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

As fall rolls around, I begin to look forward to all sorts of roasted squash and other delicious fall flavors. In particular, the excitement for roasted pumpkin for breads and muffins is top on the list. Not only do you get baked treats out of the deal, but roasted pumpkin seeds as well. Pumpkin freezes well, and that leaves me ready to bake throughout the year. Haven’t done it before? Check out my directions for roasted pumpkin here. This year, a chocolate chip pumpkin muffin was a new, fun creation!

These great muffins have a twist from my norm, utilizing brown sugar to create some richness and added chocolate for all the kids (and kids at heart!). Normally, I like to substitute maple syrup for the brown sugar, but I recognize that I am lucky in the Midwest, being able to make my own homemade maple syrup each year; it isn’t as accessible for others. 

Needless to say, when I had my sister and nephews over a few weekends ago, these chocolate chip pumpkin muffins didn’t last long. They were gobbled up and the kids were asking for more! If you still have pumpkin on hand from Thanksgiving, this is definitely a recipe you’ll want to try! 

Ready to start baking? Let’s get started! 

Your Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups roasted and mashed pumpkin 
  • ½ cup brown sugar 
  • ¼ cup oil 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs 
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda 
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg 
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder 
  • ½ cup coarsely chopped nuts
  • ¼ -⅓ chocolate chips, if desired 

Your Steps to Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 18 muffin vessels by spraying with cooking spray or lining with muffin cups. In a large bowl, stir pumpkin, brown sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs together until well combined. 

Combine flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and baking powder in another bowl. Fold into the wet ingredients until just combined. Fold the chopped nuts and chocolate chips in. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

In goes the dry ingredients.
Mixed to just combined.
Ready for the oven.
Pipping hot!
Let’s eat!
So dang good!
Baked chocolate chip pumpkin muffins

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

These chocolate chip pumpkin muffins are sure to make everyone smile, with their combination of brown sugar, warming spices, and chocolate.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 18 muffins

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ cups roasted and mashed pumpkin
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ cup coarsely chopped nuts
  • ¼ -⅓ chocolate chips if desired

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 18 muffin vessels by spraying with cooking spray or lining with muffin cups. In a large bowl, stir pumpkin, brown sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs together until well combined.
  • Combine flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and baking powder in another bowl. Fold into the wet ingredients until just combined. Fold the chopped nuts and chocolate chips in.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Keyword Breakfast, breakfast breads, breakfast muffins, muffins, pumpkin, pumpkin bread, pumpkin recipes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other great breakfast recipes?

You can definitely check out my baking and my breakfast pages. Or maybe one of the recipes below will tickle your fancy!

JessLeave a comment

Zucchini Brownies

It’s that time of year where gardens everywhere are producing extra amounts of zucchini. Where people are sneaking them onto their neighbors porches, into their cars, you name it. I was deep into Instagram and a woman commented that she planted 11 plants her first time. I think I guffawed at that! If you can relate and have a stack of zucchinis on your counter, maybe give this recipe a go: Zucchini Brownies. 

Now listen, I know brownies are necessarily synonymous with healthy sweet treats, but these are pretty darn close. I swapped maple syrup for sugar (seriously, it’s so good!), opted for oatmeal flour rather than regular flour, and used olive oil. All great things, right? 

And they are so rich and delicious. The amount of cocoa powder leaves them a dark beautiful brown color and the zucchini adds extra moisture. They get better as the days go by, if you can keep them in your house long enough! 

Ready to start baking? Let’s go! 

Your Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup nut butter (I did peanut butter but have used almond as well) 
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • 1 egg 
  • ⅓ cup olive oil 
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • ½ cup old fashioned oats, made into flour in a food processor after measuring
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt 
  • 1 ½ cups finely shredded zucchini 
  • ¼-½ cups chocolate chips 

Your Steps to Zucchini Brownies

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, grind oats until a coarse flour is formed. Add cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Pulse a few times to mix. 

In a large bowl, whisk syrup, nut butter and olive oil together. Add the egg and extract and whisk again. Sir in the zucchini and add the dry ingredients until JUST mixed. 

Fold in the chocolate chips (reserving a few to sprinkle on top, if you care to). Pour into a greased 8×8 brownie pan and sprinkle remaining chocolate chips. Bake for 25 minutes, or until set. 

Serve them up with a bit of ice cream or a tall glass of milk and watch the zucchini brownies disappear!

Shred it up!
Make up that oat flour.
Mix in the rest of the dry ingredients.
Whisk the wet ingredients.
Add the zucchini…
Dry ingredients finish it up!
Love that color!
Serve them up!

Zucchini Brownies

Veggies and dessert? Serve these delicious zucchini brownies up with a tall glass of milk or ice cream and wait for smiles!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 brownies

Ingredients
  

  • ⅓ cup nut butter I did peanut butter but have used almond as well
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • 1 egg
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • ½ cup old fashioned oats made into flour in a food processor after measuring
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups finely shredded zucchini
  • ¼-½ cups chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, grind oats until a coarse flour is formed. Add cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Pulse a few times to mix.
  • In a large bowl, whisk syrup, nut butter and olive oil together. Add the egg and extract and whisk again. Sir in the zucchini and add the dry ingredients until JUST mixed.
  • Fold in the chocolate chips (reserving a few to sprinkle on top, if you care to). Pour into a greased 8×8 brownie pan and sprinkle remaining chocolate chips. Bake for 25 minutes, or until set.
Keyword brownies, chocolate, chocolate zucchini bread, Gluten Free, zucchini, zucchini brownies, zucchini desserts, zucchini treats
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other zucchini recipes?

You can check out my baking and canning and preserving pages for more inspiration! Our perhaps pick one of my favorites below!

Spiced Zucchini Oatmeal Bread

Jess1 Comment