Category: Breakfast

Lemon Zested Blueberry Muffins

Friends! My blueberry bushes are FINALLY producing enough blueberries to actually create with them. It brings me such joy to see these little splashes of blue among the sturdy green bushes. And while it seems to take a long time to harvest, I find it to be meditative. I do it silently and alone, taking in the sounds and smells; experiencing a nature bath. Once I harvested a pint, I got to work at creating lemon zested blueberry muffins. I have been so excited to share with everyone. 

I dig using oatmeal as a base in quick breads and muffins for the added nutrition and texture. However, I don’t see it mixing well with blueberries. Maybe I am wrong, but this recipe doesn’t use them. (You can check out some that do by checking out my baking page here.) In order to attempt to add some nutrients, I went with coconut oil and some Greek yogurt. I cut the sugar slightly as well. And don’t be afraid to try a quality whole wheat for some of the flour. You may be surprised! Now let’s get baking those lemon zested blueberry muffins. 

Your Ingredients for Lemon Zested Blueberry Muffins

  • ½ cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup coconut oil, room temperature (about 70 degrees) 
  • ½ tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour 
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • Zest of one lemon 
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (If frozen, measure frozen)

Your Steps

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and preparing two muffin baking tins by spraying with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, cream sugar and coconut oil (Note: the coconut should be solid but soft).  Add in vanilla and eggs, whisking until well combined. Stir in Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and zest. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix into the wet ingredients until just combined. Fold in blueberries. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-24 minutes until baked through. Serve them with a warm cup of coffee or tea!

  • A little sugar and coconut oil.
  • Farm fresh eggs. Does it get much better?
  • And the way the blue just pops!
  • Almost there!
  • Let’s go!
  • Perfection!
  • Check that berry goodness!

Lemon Zested Blueberry Muffins

Does it get more classic than lemon and blueberry? These lemon zested blueberry muffins are more nutrient dense with all the flavor!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 15 muffins

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup coconut oil room temperature (about 70 degrees)
  • ½ tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • Zest of one lemon
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries If frozen, measure frozen

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and preparing two muffin baking tins by spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, cream sugar and coconut oil (Note: the coconut oil should be solid but soft).
  • Add in vanilla and eggs, whisking until well combined.
  • Stir in Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and zest.
  • Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix into the wet ingredients until just combined.
  • Fold in blueberries.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 20-24 minutes until baked through. Serve them with a warm cup of coffee or tea!
Keyword blueberry, Breakfast, currant muffins, lemon, lemon blueberry
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Baked Tortilla Egg Muffins

A few months ago, we had guests coming up for the weekend. The week prior had been hectic and crazy and meal prep was not in the cards. Because of this, I didn’t have a whole lot planned besides baking fresh cherry donuts (get the recipe by clicking the link. They are amazing and have been a request for guests around here). However, the guests also raise chickens so we were gifted a few dozen eggs. I developed these baked tortilla egg muffins with various leftovers in the fridge. 

Let me tell you, they were a huge hit. I was able to customize them for different preferences: drop the tortilla for those watching their carbs, skip the spinach for the kids, etc. I couldn’t believe how fast they came together. Beyond the speed, they were beautiful and looked like I had to have worked hard putting them together (Let them believe it, right?). Oh, and the tortilla egg muffins were no fuss with minimal mess. All the winning. 

I tweaked it a little for this recipe, using street taco sized tortillas. If you can’t find them, you can cut regular shells into thick strips and layer them (what I did the first time). I am impressed with the crisp tortilla shells and how the egg bakes up perfectly. Okay, enough talk. I hope you all enjoy baked tortilla egg muffins as much as my family did! 

Your Ingredients for Baked Tortilla Egg Muffins

  • 18 street taco size tortillas
  • 10 eggs
  • ¼ teaspoon each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika 
  • ⅛-¼ cup milk 
  • ½ cup diced ham or browned breakfast sausage
  • ½ cup each spinach, diced peppers, tomatoes
  • Shredded cheese

Your Steps

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and preparing two muffin baking tins by spraying with non-stick cooking spray. Press tortillas into the muffin tin, folding in get them to form a cup. 

Begin by In a large liquid measuring cup (or bowl with a pour spout), whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until well combined. Pour into tortilla cups, filling approximately ¾ of the way full. 

Here, you can personalize each cup by dropping pieces of ham or sausage, spinach, peppers, and tomatoes. For a final touch, sprinkle them with the shredded cheese of your choice.

Finally, bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. The shells will become perfectly crispy and delicious. Serve immediately. 

Sprayed and lined with shells.
Pro tip: Mix in a liquid measuring cup!
Check that fun tool!
Pour!
Top!
Bake!
Eat!

Baked Tortilla Egg Muffins

Tortilla shells, eggs, some basic pantry and refrigerator items come together to make these quick and filling baked tortilla egg muffins.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 18 muffins

Ingredients
  

  • 18 street taco size tortillas
  • 10 eggs
  • ¼ teaspoon each of salt pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika
  • ⅛-¼ cup milk
  • ½ cup diced ham or browned breakfast sausage
  • ½ cup each spinach diced peppers, tomatoes
  • Shredded cheese

Instructions
 

  • Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and preparing two muffin baking tins by spraying with non-stick cooking spray. Press tortillas into the muffin tin, folding in get them to form a cup.
  • In a large liquid measuring cup (or bowl with a pour spout), whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until well combined. Pour into tortilla cups, filling approximately ¾ of the way full.
  • Personalize each cup by dropping pieces of ham or sausage, spinach, peppers, and tomatoes. For a final touch, sprinkle them with the shredded cheese of your choice.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until the egg is cooked through. The shells will become perfectly crispy and delicious. Serve immediately.

Notes

Note: Using fresh shells will be ideal as they are more flexible. However, if your shells aren’t fitting into the tins well, you can microwave them for a few seconds to soften them up. Just be sure to use them right away. 
Keyword baked eggs, Breakfast, Eggs
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Looking for other breakfast dishes?

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Jess7 Comments

Raspberry Cherry Jam

We are knee deep into berry season around our garden. The red and black raspberries are in full force. The blueberries are starting, and I just stripped the gooseberries and the naking cherries (which are super versatile! Learn more by clicking here!) Normally, the cherries grow in abundance, but with the near drought we have experienced this year, they just didn’t produce as much. That meant we had some to eat, and just a little to process. Enter a beautiful raspberry cherry jam.

Don’t worry if you don’t have access to naking cherries (but seriously, a great plant that is low maintenance with fun tart cherries that grow through zone 3!). Any tart cherry will do. I recommend using fresh red raspberries so the two fruits blend together nicely. I made the mistake of mixing red and black raspberries in a jam once, and let me just say, it looked as though there were some insects I didn’t quite clean out of the berries. Yuck! 

While we are here, I will give you all the information you need to successfully can a batch of jam. However, if you are new to canning, you may likely want to gather additional information. My favorite places to learn more are The Ball’s Book of Canning or the National Center for Home Food Preservation. 

Your Supplies

This recipe will result in approximately nine 8 ounce jelly jars. Be sure you have rings and lids for them.

You will need a water bath canner or large stock pot with a lid. The jars need to be off the bottom of the pot. A water bath canner will have a rack to use if you go that route. If you use a stock pot, I would invest in canning racks. You can also put a towel down in a pinch, but it is MESSY in terms of getting water everywhere.  

It is also helpful to have the tools in a canning kit like this, but it isn’t necessary. Canning would be crazy challenging without the jar funnel and jar tongs. The lid lifter is also very handy. 

Your Ingredients

  • 4 cups raspberries (If frozen, measure first. Then thaw)
  • 1 ½ cups pitted tart cherries
  • 4 cups sugar 
  • 6 tablespoons powdered pectin 
  • ¼ teaspoon butter, optional

Your Steps to Raspberry Cherry Jam

Begin by measuring out your sugar in a large bowl and set aside. It’s important to have all your ingredients prepared before beginning the canning process so don’t skip this step. I also highly recommend reading through the steps more than once before beginning (I know that we are all guilty of flying by the seat of our pants when cooking). 

Fill the canning kettle with enough water that the jars will be covered by at least ½” water. More is better in this case so over estimate. Begin to heat over high heat. Place the canning rack so that it is hooked over the side of the canner and put clean jars on it to keep them warm. Note: You don’t have to keep the jars in the rack, although it is helpful to keep them warm. You want the jars warm to prevent breaking when they are being filled. 

Set the clean rings aside. I like to simmer my lids on low low heat in a small saucepan. Not necessary, but I like to think it helps them seal better. 

Now to Create the Raspberry Cherry Jam 

In a large, preferably shallow kettle, smash the raspberries and cherries with a potato masher. Stir in powder pectin. Add butter if desired. It will decrease foaming while the jam is cooking, but is not necessary. The foam isn’t bad. It just makes the jam a little less pretty. 

Heat raspberries and pectin over medium high heat, stirring consistently. Once it is close to a boil, stir constantly until you cannot stir down a rolling boil. On more than one occasion, I have thought I reached this point only to go a little longer and see what a “real rolling boil” looked like. 

Once a rolling boil has been reached, quickly stir in the sugar. I find a strong whisk is helpful to make sure there are no clumps of sugar in the jam. Continue to heat over medium-high heat until a rolling boil is reached again, stirring constantly. Once the roiling boil is reached, time for EXACTLY one minute. Remove from heat. 

Ladle hot jam into jars using the canning funnel, leaving ¼” head space. Wipe rims of the jars as you go, top with a lid, and put on a ring so that it is finger tip tight. Finger tip tight means you know its tight but you aren’t sealing it so much so that it wouln’t leak on it’s side, if that makes sense. (Any leftover jam can go in a small container and get placed in the fridge to be enjoyed immediately)

Place jars in JUST about boiling water bath canner. Place the cover on the kettle and raise heat until a rolling boil is reached. Cook jam for 10 minutes (adjusting for your altitude…under 1000 feet, you’re good. Over? Add 5 minutes for every 1000 feet). Once the time is complete, remove canner from heat and remove the cover. Allow the jam to sit in the canner an additional 5 minutes. Then remove and place on a towel on the counter. 

  • Measure the raspberries and pit the cherries
  • Get everything measured ahead of time!
  • Cook it up!
  • Ladle it in!
  • Look at that beautiful jam!

Afterward

Listen for the ping as the jars seal and just let them be for 24 hours. I know it will be hard to let them be because you’ll be so proud, but it’s recommended to make sure you get a good seal. Any jars that do not seal can be refrigerated and enjoyed right away. Note: It is recommended to store canned goods with their rings removed so that you can know if a false seal occurs. I generally just loosen them as loose as they can go. 

Looking for other canning and preserving recipes? Check out my page below!

Canning and Preserving

Raspberry Cherry Jam

The flavor of summer in a jar: raspberries and cherries, oh my!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Canning

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups raspberries
  • 1 ½ cups pitted cherries
  • 4 cups sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon butter optional
  • 4 ½ tablespoons powder pectin

Instructions
 

  • Prepare your water bath canner. Fill the canner with enough water so that once the jars are in the canner, they will be covered by at least one inch of water. Cover and begin to heat over a medium-high heat.
  • Measure out sugar. Set aside.
  • Place the raspberries and cherries in a large, non reactive kettle. Crush them with potato masher. Add ¼ teaspoon of butter, if desired, to reduce foaming.
  • Sprinkle and stir in the pectin. Cook over high heat until a rolling boil is reached, stirring consistently.
  • Once a rolling boil is reached, slowly stir in sugar.
  • Continue to stir until you reach another rolling boil that can not be stirred down. Once a rolling boil is reached, cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  • Ladle jam into prepared jelly jars, wipe the rims with a damp cloth, add lids, and tighten rings to fingertip tight. Put into the water bath canner. When the canner has a steady boil going, time and process for 10 minutes.
  • Once the jam is done processing, remove the canner from heat and let jars rest in the water for an additional 5 minutes. Finally, remove jars from the canner and allow to cool for 12-24 hours before moving.

Notes

  • Make sure you are using powdered pectin rather than liquid pectin. They do not set the same. 
  • If you have never canned, you can reference the instructions within the pectin box for additional, more detailed directions. 
  • Sealed jars are shelf-stable, meaning they can be stored on a shelf unrefrigerated. If your jars don’t ping (a sign that they have sealed), they are still good. You will just need to store them in the refrigerator. 
  • Most sources recommend removing the rings from jars for storage so that you will know if they unseal for any reason. I generally just loosen them as much as I can without removing them.
Keyword Canning, Jalapeño, Jam, Jam Recipes, Raspberry
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Jess1 Comment

Red Currant and Lemon Muffins

A crazy amount of years ago, I was at a farmer’s market and tasted a small red berry. It was tart and delicious. I promptly brought a container. I remember loving them so much. What I don’t remember, however, is what type of berry they were. I was sure they were gooseberries, so I bought some bushes. Nope, not it. Then I was sure they had to have been currants. I planted a few bushes of currants, and now that they have come to fruition (haha, see what I did there? Fruition? Fruit. I am not that witty), I am still not sure that was it. So who knows what fruit I loved. But what I know is that I now have currant bushes and with them, I have created these beautifully light and sweet-tart red currant and lemon muffins. 

I developed this recipe by tweaking and adjusting my favorite strawberry bread. You can find that bread by clicking here. These muffins started as currant, but screamed for some lemon zest. I dropped the cinnamon in the strawberry bread and adjusted the moisture just a little bit. 

I hope you enjoy them as much as my family and I did. They were a delight to enjoy over the Fourth of July and bring me joy with a perfectly creatd cup of coffee. (I mean, is there much better than a well baked breakfast sweet with a cup of coffee? I think not.)

Your Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • ¾ cup Vanilla Greek yogurt (I dig Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt for zero added sugar)
  • Zest of one large lemon
  • 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt 
  • 1 cup currants

Your Steps to Red Currant and Lemon Currant Muffins

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 12-16 muffin wells by spraying with nonstick cooking spray. 

In a large bowl, cream butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. Mix in eggs one at a time. Whisk in yogurt and lemon zest until well combined. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just blended in. Fold in currants. 

Divide the batter among the 12-15 muffin cups, filling about 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cooked through. Allow to cool in the tin a few minutes before removing. I think these are best served warm with a cup of coffee.

  • Cream it up. Don’t quit early!
  • Eggs and vanilla.
  • Add that yogurt for the extra moisture!
  • And some lemon zest!
  • Aren’t they such a pretty ruby red?
  • It’s baking time!
  • Dang good!

Looking for other great baking recipes? Check out my baking page by clicking the button below!

Baking

Red Currant and Lemon Muffins

The zest of lemon and tartness of currants combine to make a red currant and lemon muffins that are moist and full of pockets of delight!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 15 muffins

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • ¾ cup Vanilla Greek yogurt
  • Zest of one large lemon
  • 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup currants

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 12-16 muffin wells by spraying with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, cream butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add vanilla. Mix in eggs one at a time.
  • Whisk in yogurt and lemon zest until well combined.
  • Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just blended in.
  • Fold in currants.
  • Scoop batter into the muffin tins, filling the wells ¾ of the way full.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until baked through.
Keyword currant muffins, currants, lemon, muffins
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Homemade Baked Granola Bars

The internet is full of no bake energy balls, granolas, you name it. And don’t get me wrong, I dig them. I mean, I have my own recipe for energy balls that is dynamite. However, no bake energy balls and granola bars typically need to be refrigerated, and as an active runner, this isn’t always ideal. So of course I set out to create my own homemade baked granola bars. And oh my goodness, these are a delight. 

These homemade baked granola bars are full of simple, clean eating ingredients that are likely to be in your pantry if you are a homemade granola kind of friend. They also come together quickly, with a total bake time of under 30 minutes and all your work can be done in the first 8 minutes or so. How great is that? And friends, they pair a little peanut butter and chocolate without being overwhelming. All the winning, am I right? Let’s get baking!

Your Ingredients for Homemade Baked Granola Bars

  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup oat flour (store bought, or better yet, just processed in your food processor)
  • ½ cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
  • ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, peanuts, etc)
  • ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup honey 
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup chocolate chips 
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Your Steps

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Spread oats, oat flour, coconut, and nuts on the sheet. Bake in the oven for 8 minutes, until just becoming toasted (I sprayed the top of mine with some olive oil cooking spray as well). Remove from the oven and immediately place in a large mixing bowl. 

Add remaining ingredients to oatmeal mixture. Stir until well combined. Set aside. Line a 9×12 glass baking dish with foil. Spray with nonstick cooking spray. Press the granola mixture into the pan. Bake for 13-18 minutes at 350 degrees, cutting into bars halfway through (A steel scraper/chopper like this guy works great!). If you want them softer, less crunchy, stick with the 13-15 minute range. Dig a crunchier granola bar, shoot for 15-18 minutes.  

Once bars are done baking, cut on the lines once more. Allow to cool completely in the pan. Remove by lifting the foil. Break bars apart and store in an airtight container. 

Get ready to toast those oats!
Add in everything else!
Mix it up!
Press into a greased pan!
cut the bars
Cut it up before it’s fully baked!
let them cool!
Oh my goodness…
completed bars
Perfection! Let’s eat!

Looking for other great breakfast baked goods? Check out my baking page by clicking the button below!

Baking

Homemade Baked Granola Bars

Why eat packaged granola bars when you can make your own homemade baked granola bars! Create your own with items from your pantry!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 20 bars

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup oat flour store bought or just processed in your food processor
  • ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ cup chopped nuts
  • ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup honey
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Spread oats, oat flour, coconut, and nuts on the sheet. Bake in the oven for 8 minutes, until just becoming toasted.
  • Remove from the oven and immediately place in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add remaining ingredients to oatmeal mixture. Stir until well combined.
  • Set aside. Line a 9×12 glass baking dish with foil. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Press the granola mixture into the pan. Bake for 13-18 minutes at 350 degrees, cutting into bars halfway through.
  • For a softer granola bar, bake for 13-15 minutes. For a crunchier granola bar, bake 15-18 minutes.
  • Once bars are done baking, cut on the lines once more.
  • Allow to cool completely in the pan. Remove by lifting the foil. Break bars apart and store in an airtight container.
Keyword granola, granola bar, oatmeal, snacks
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Banana Oat Muffins

I have an eleven year old boy this summer. If you have ever had an eleven year old, you know this means he’s eating CONSTANTLY. We try to encourage healthy foods for his forever snacking, and generally begin our sentences with “have a banana or a string cheese.” Then he eats three of them. What’s a mom to do? This also means we buy bananas in bulk. Most of the time we are making second trips to the grocery store for more. But sometimes we end up with some overly ripe ones. When that happens, I make banana bread, banana ice cream, or banana oat muffins. 

This banana oat muffin recipe is everything you would hope for. They are beautifully dense. Perfectly sweet using maple syrup for the sweetener. They have texture and the right amount of chocolate chips to make anyone happy. And friends, it’s gluten free to boot. It’s full of good for you ingredients and only two tablespoons of oil. How can you go wrong, right? 

These muffins will pair great with your coffee in the morning, as a mid morning snack to get you to lunch time or for a guilt free dessert (although I totally believe in not feeling bad about dessert, but that’s another story for another time). I’m excited for you to give them a try and share them with your littles or your bigs or better yet, keep them to yourself. (You did hear I have an eleven year old right? I have to start hiding my favorite foods and treats from him!) 

Let’s get baking some banana oat muffins

YOUR INGREDIENTS FOR THE BANANA Oat Muffins

  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 very ripe bananas, mashed (My go to tool for this? A pastry cutter. It works great AND young kids can easily get involved and do this step for you)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup real maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
  • 1/4 mini chocolate chips

Your Steps to the banana Oat Muffins

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 12 muffin tin with non stick cooking spray. Then measure out and combine:

  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Pulse these three ingredients in a food processor until they are a coarse flour texture.

In an additional bowl, combine:

  • 3 very ripe bananas, mashed (My go to tool for this? A pastry cutter. It works great AND young kids can easily get involved and do this step for you)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup real maple syrup

Once mixed, stir in the oat mixture until just combined. Finally, fold in the melted coconut oil and 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips. Fill each muffin using a 1/4 cup measuring cup. Bake for 22-25 minutes, until cooked through.

I love that I can enjoy a good breakfast bread that is filling and the perfect amount of sweetness without overdoing it on the added sugar. It is also a perfect mid morning snack to get you to lunch! Give it a try!

Blitz in the food processor
A pastry cutter–the best banana masher!
Blend the oats and bananas
Check that texture and color!

A few Notes…

I always thought that a small, 2 cup food processor was good enough. It’s what my mom used growing up, and if it was good enough for her, it was good enough for me. However, a few holidays ago, I asked for a 7 cup Kitchen Aid Mixer. It’s AMAZING and I can’t tell you how often I use it. Highly recommend the investment. It’s great for chopping veggies for salsa, making oat flour, or even mixing banana ice cream. Click the image below to check out a similar model!

Banana Oat Muffins

Simple wholesome ingredients come together with a food processor to make these gluten free and perfectly sweet banana oat muffins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 12 muffins

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 bananas very ripe
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare a muffin tin by spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Combine oats, salt, and baking soda in a food processor. Pulse until a coarse flour texture is obtained.
  • In a large bowl, mash bananas. Add honey and eggs. Mix well.
  • Stir oat mixture into mashed bananas. Add chocolate chips and coconut oil. Mix until just combined.
  • Place about 1/4 cup batter in each cup. Bake for 22-25 minutes, until cooked through
Keyword Banana Bread, Breakfast, Gluten Free
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other Tasty treats?

Check out my baking page or maybe my breakfast page. Or perhaps you want to check out one of my favorites below?

JessLeave a comment

Easy Breakfast Tortilla Bake

I believe so many great recipes get created out of necessity or the cleaning of the fridge. A cook looks through the pantry, sees the ingredients they have on hand and simply create. Or perhaps they have a recipe in mind, but forgot to pick up an item or two so they create on the fly. This breakfast tortilla bake is a product of both of these. I couldn’t believe just how good it turned out! 

Most breakfast bakes make huge cake pans worth of food. Too much for most  families unless you are cooking for a huge crowd. The recipes I have also often start with crescent rolls. I don’t mind them, but sometimes I struggle with getting it cooked all the way through. The crescent rolls can also make the bake a little heavy. The tortillas in this bake help lighten it up a little. 

We are a family of four and this was perfect for us with guests of another family four. It cooked up quick, had just a few dirty dishes, and everyone cleaned their plates. Hey, and notice that I snuck a few vegetables in too (you wouldn’t expect anything less from me, would you?!). Let’s get cooking! 

Your Ingredients for a Breakfast Tortilla Bake

  • 4 round flour tortillas (10 inches)
  • 1 pound ground breakfast sausage 
  • 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil 
  • ½ cup diced onion 
  • 1 cup diced sweet peppers (any color) 
  • ½ cup diced button mushrooms
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon pepper 
  • 3 cups frozen shredded hash browns
  • 8 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk 
  • ¼ teaspoon each of: pepper, salt, onion powder, paprika 
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheese
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced

Your Steps to Breakfast Tortilla Bake 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a shallow 2 ½ quart casserole dish with 2 of the flour tortillas. Add ½ tablespoon olive oil to a deep saute pan. Heat over medium-high heat. Once hot, add breakfast sausage. Break apart and brown until just cooked. Remove from the pan, but leave the oil. 

Add diced peppers, onions, and garlic. Cook over medium heat until softened, about 6 minutes. While the peppers are cooking, thaw the hash browns in the microwave on the defrost setting. Add hashbrowns to softened peppers and onions. Cook for 5-10 minutes, until they are cooked through and hot, but not browned. 

Remove peppers and hash browns from the pan. If enough oil remains, great. If not, add ½-1 more tablespoons of oil to grease the pan for the eggs. Whisk eggs, milk and pepper, salt, onion powder, and paprika. Add to a hot pan and scramble the eggs. Cook until JUST cooked through. Leave them with more moisture than not. Remove from the pan. 

Layer sausage, hash browns and peppers, and eggs in the casserole dish. Add ½-¾ cup cheese. Top with remaining tortillas. Layer sausage, hash browns and peppers, and eggs once more. Top with remaining cheese and sliced green onions. 

Bake, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes, until cheese is melted. Serve it up!

  • Browned sausage!
  • I just love a cutting board picture!
  • Soften up the vegetables…
  • and then stir in the hash browns.
  • Time to layer it up!
  • Layer one!
  • Layer two plus all the cheese!
  • Baked…
  • and ready to dig in!

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Cooking
Baking

Easy Breakfast Tortilla Bake

Breakfast sausage, hash browns, eggs, and tortillas form the base of this simple breakfast bake perfect for a few weekend guests or a large family!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
  

  • 4 round flour tortillas 10 inches
  • 1 pound ground breakfast sausage
  • 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup diced sweet peppers any color
  • ½ cup diced onion
  • ½ cup diced button mushrooms
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 3 cups frozen shredded hash browns
  • 8 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ¼ teaspoon each of: pepper salt, onion powder, paprika
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheese
  • 3 green onions thinly sliced

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a shallow 2 ½ quart casserole dish with 2 of the flour tortillas.
  • Add ½ tablespoon olive oil to a deep saute pan. Heat over medium-high heat. Once hot, add breakfast sausage. Break apart and brown until just cooked. Remove from the pan, but leave the oil.
  • Add diced peppers, onions, and garlic. Cook over medium heat until softened, about 6 minutes.
  • While the peppers are cooking, thaw the hash browns in the microwave on the defrost setting. Add hash browns to softened peppers and onions. Cook for 5-10 minutes, until they are cooked through and hot, but not browned.
  • Remove peppers and hash browns from the pan. If enough oil remains, great. If not, add ½-1 more tablespoons of oil to grease the pan for the eggs. Whisk eggs, milk and pepper, salt, onion powder, and paprika. Add to the hot pan and scramble the eggs. Cook until JUST cooked through. Leave them with more moisture than not. Remove from the pan.
  • Layer sausage, hash browns and peppers, and eggs in the casserole dish. Add ½-¾ cup cheese. Top with remaining tortillas. Layer sausage, hash browns and peppers, and eggs once more. Top with remaining cheese and sliced green onions.
  • Bake, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes, until cheese is melted.
Keyword bake, breakfast bake, breakfast casserole, casserole
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Cherry Almond Glazed Donuts

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you likely know that I often declare, “I don’t like donuts, but you’ll always get me at a good scone.” I’m changing my tune just a little: “I don’t like donuts besides a beautiful cherry almond glazed cake donut.” 

My family loves donuts. Any stop at Kwik Trip results in a box of glazers coming home with us. They have to count and make sure everyone gets their fair share. This mom isn’t included in the count. I even joined a district where a certain group provides donuts every Thursday. I never took a one. 

Then we were in Door County this last fall and some Door County cherry donuts were calling my name. We bought some and they were heavenly. More recently, Kwik Trip started carrying some plain cherry cake donuts. They were no Door County cherry, but they were dang good. And I knew I had to make my own version.

I generally try to make my versions of recipes healthier. This will not be one of those. These cherry almond glazed donuts are airy and perfectly pink. My son declared them the best donuts he’s ever eaten. I don’t know if that’s true, but I sure know I ate two of them and wanted two more. And I “don’t like donuts.” 

Your ingredients for the cherry almond donuts 

  • 1 cup maraschino cherries, primarily drained and blended with an immersion blender until smooth (save the syrup!) (I love my Kitchen Aid blender!
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted 
  • 1 tablespoon oil 
  • ¾ cup white sugar 
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract 
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt 
  • 2 ¼ cup all purpose flour 
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder 
  • ¾ teaspoon salt 
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda 
  • additional cherry syrup 

Your ingredients for the cherry glaze 

  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar 
  • ¼ cup cherry syrup 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Your Steps to Cherry Almond donuts 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a regular donut pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

In a large bowl, combine butter, oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, and yogurt. Whisk until smooth. Stir in blended cherries. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add to wet ingredients and stir until fully incorporated. You may want to add just an additional ½ tablespoon of cherry juice here to amp up the flavor a little more if you’re a guy or gal that gives the batter a taste test. 

Divide the batter among 16 donut cavities, filling ¾ of the way full. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until firm to the touch or passes the toothpick test (a toothpick inserted comes out clean). Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove the donuts from the pan and place on a cooling rack. 

While the donuts finish cooling, mix softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cherry syrup for a glaze. If you dig a thicker glaze, add a touch more powdered sugar. Dig a thinner glaze? Add more cherry syrup. Whisk until smooth. 

Dip cooled donuts in the glaze. I only did one side, but you can totally flip them to fully coat. If you choose to do both sides, you will need to double the glaze recipe. Best enjoyed within 48 hours of baking, but I bet they won’t last that long! 

  • Gather a cup of mostly drained maraschino cherries
  • Get the wet ingredients together and..
  • whisk until smooth.
  • Stir in some cherries!
  • Look at that pink! Add the dry ingredients!
  • Fill a prepared pan and bake!
  • Get the glaze on!
  • Beautiful, right? They taste even better!

Tools of the Trade

I have a couple tools I love for these donuts. I totally dig my Kitchen Aid Immersion blender for all things. My banana nice cream, you name it. And if you are going to make donuts, you need a good donut pan, right?

Cherry Almond Glazed Donuts

You can't go wrong with the combination of almond and cherry in these light and airy almond cherry glazed donuts that are a cinch to make!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Cooling Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 16 donuts

Ingredients
  

Batter Ingredients

  • 1 cup maraschino cherries primarily drained and blended with an immersion blender until smooth (save the syrup)
  • 6 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • 1 ⅓ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • additional cherry syrup

Cherry Glaze Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons butter softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup cherry syrup from cherries
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a regular donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine butter, oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, and yogurt. Whisk until smooth. Stir in blended cherries.
  • In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add to wet ingredients and stir until fully incorporated.
  • You may want to add just an additional ½ tablespoon of cherry juice here to amp up the flavor a little more if you’re a guy or gal that gives the batter a taste test.
  • Divide the batter among 16 donut cavities, filling ¾ of the way full. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until firm to the touch or passes the toothpick test (a toothpick inserted comes out clean). Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove the donuts from the pan and place on a cooling rack.
  • While the donuts finish cooling, mix softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cherry syrup for a glaze. If you dig a thicker glaze, add a touch more powdered sugar. Dig a thinner glaze? Add more cherry syrup. Whisk until smooth.
  • Dip cooled donuts in the glaze. I only did one side, but you can totally flip them to fully coat. If you choose to do both sides, you will need to double the glaze recipe.
Keyword almond, baking, cherry, donuts
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Jess1 Comment

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

I am back with another baked oatmeal recipe: carrot cake baked oatmeal! After I tried my first baked oatmeal recipe, I was itching to try another. I generally say that I don’t love breakfast. I have a few stand by things I eat and that’s it. When I ate at McDonald’s, I used to be so annoyed when I got there 20 minutes before their breakfast menu switched to lunch and I had to get breakfast. Now, I still don’t dig breakfast, but I am starting to branch out and discover new, healthy meals!

In a recent post, I talked about my favorite things: cooking from scratch, using what is on hand, and finally, inserting vegetables whenever I can. Which I did here, but we will call it a cake to trick our brains, right? 🙂 

Rather than buy oat flour, I made my own using my food processor. It’s so simple my friends. Just put some old fashioned oats into your processor and hit blend until your texture is very coarse flour (I use my Kitchen Aid 7 Cup and it’s grand!). I poured a few cups of oats into my mixture, ground them up, and stored them in an air tight container. 

I have a few other recipes that call for ground oats like these simple energy balls, banana nut baked oatmeal, and this great banana bread, so having some on hand isn’t a bad idea. 

Ready to get mixing and baking? I hope so! Let’s make some carrot cake baked oatmeal!

Your Ingredients for Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal 

  • ⅓ to ½ cup grated carrot 
  • ⅓ cup oat flour
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup 
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk 
  • ⅛-¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional 

Your Steps to Banana Nut Baked Oatmeal 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a ramekin with non-stick cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, mixing until well combined. Pour into greased ramekin. Bake on the middle shelf for 15-20 minutes, depending on the texture you want your oatmeal to be. I like it to feel more like a bread than goo-ey, so I shoot for the 20 minute mark. 

  • Grate it up!
  • Some oat flour!
  • Add the rest of the dry ingredients.
  • The liquid ingredients and mix.
  • Ramekin it up!
  • And baked! Let’s eat!

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

Cake and vegetables for breakfast?! Why not?
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • ⅓ to ½ cup grated carrot
  • ⅓ cup oat flour
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • ⅛-¼ teaspoon vanilla extract optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a ramekin with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, mixing until well combined.
  • Pour into greased ramekin. Bake on the middle shelf for 15-20 minutes, depending on your texture preference.
Keyword baked oatmeal, Breakfast, carrot, carrot cake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Lemon Glazed Black Raspberry Scones (Sourdough!)

“The best scones you’ve ever made!” That’s what the Mr. said with such enthusiasm I was thrown off when I noticed he had eaten a couple off the cooling rack when he got home from work. He’s a donut fan. I don’t think he can stop at Kwik Trip without picking up a box of glazers. Me, I am a scone fan and I generally refuse a donut. Since he is a donut guy, when he raves about a scone I made, I take notice. It helps that these little treats are lemon glazed black raspberry scones. 

Black raspberries are his favorite fruit and we grow a lot of them. I generally process them into beautiful deep purple jam and then freeze what we don’t eat. Then I pulled out a bag of them to top my yogurt and granola with and decided some scones were in order. I had freshly doubled sourdough starter. I had time. And I was in the mood to change up the recipe a little. 

When I turned 33, I made it a goal to perfect my scone recipe. At the time, a parent of a former student of mine shared that she always freezes her butter before making scones. Honestly, I didn’t listen. I don’t like to have to plan that far ahead. But I tried it this time and I am digging the results. I also added more fruit than normal–a whole cup! Again, I am digging the results! 

Ready to give these beauties a try? Let’s go! 

Your Ingredients to Lemon Glazed Black Raspberry Scones

  • 6 tablespoons butter, diced small and then put into the freezer for at least 40 minutes
  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour (I use this great heritage blend from Sunrise Flour Mill 
  • ½ teaspoon salt 
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ¾ -2 cups sourdough discard
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 cup black raspberries, frozen 

Glaze Ingredients 

  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice

A couple notes before you get started:  

Don’t thaw the raspberries, but you may want to break them apart a bit. Also, if you don’t have black raspberries I would substitute blackberries. They aren’t the same, but will give a similar flavor profile. If those aren’t available either, frozen red raspberries would work too! 

Some lemon zest would be a great addition in the dough as well or even into the glaze. Feel free to add it. 

Glaze is a highly subjective flavor. If you want more lemon flavor, feel free to put ¼ teaspoon lemon extract or some zest. If you dig a sweeter scone, feel free to add less juice and let the powdered sugar flavor shine more. 

Let’s get baking! 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir in frozen butter. Add 1 ¾ cup starter, lemon juice, vanilla, and black raspberries. Work in by hand, incorporating the flour into the starter, turning as you go. I almost always have to add more starter in the end. The dough will be moist due to the berries warming up and breaking apart. It will be okay. 

Once fully incorporated, cut dough into four equal pieces. Form each piece into a one inch thick disc on a parchment lined baking sheet and cut into 6-8 pizza slices using a dough scraper, a turner, or even a pizza cutter. I usually form and then flip the discs before cutting. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes, until the scones are firm to the touch. Remove and allow to cool. These are great on their own, but if you want to glaze them, feel free! Combine about ¾ cup powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup. Whisk until smooth. Give it a taste test and see if you need more lemon. If you like a thicker glaze, use ¼ teaspoon extract and then 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Drizzle over cooled scones. Then devour your black raspberry scones!

  • Boring dry ingredients..
  • Mix in some frozen butter.
  • Add fresh sourdough discard,
  • some vanilla and lemon juice,
  • and black raspberries.
  • Mix, mix, mix
  • Form into discs. Don’t worry about your hands!
  • Bake!
  • So good!

Looking for some other great baking or sourdough recipes? Click the buttons below to get to my other pages!

baking
Sourdough Adventures

Lemon Glazed Black Raspberry Scones

Leftover sourdough discard transforms into beautiful purple scones with the help of some black raspberries from the garden. Great texture and even better flavor!
4 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 24 scones

Ingredients
  

  • 6 tablespoons butter diced small and then put into the freezer for at least 40 minutes
  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 ¾ -2 cups sourdough discard
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 cup black raspberries frozen

Glaze Ingredients

  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir in frozen butter.
  • Add 1 ¾ cup starter, lemon juice, vanilla, and black raspberries.
  • Work in by hand, incorporating the flour into the starter, turning as you go. Add more starter if necessary. The dough will be moist due to the berries warming up and breaking apart.
  • Once fully incorporated, cut dough into four equal pieces.
  • Form each piece into a one inch thick disc on a parchment lined baking sheet and cut into 6-8 pizza slices using a dough scraper or turner.
  • Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes, until the scones are firm to the touch.
  • Remove and allow to cool.
  • Combine about ¾ cup powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup. Whisk until smooth. Give it a taste test and see if you need more lemon. If you like a thicker glaze, use ¼ teaspoon extract and then 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Drizzle over cooled scones.

Notes

Don’t thaw the raspberries, but you may want to break them apart a bit. Also, if you don’t have black raspberries I would substitute blackberries. They aren’t the same, but will give a similar flavor profile. If those aren’t available either, frozen red raspberries would work too! 
Some lemon zest would be a great addition in the dough as well or even into the glaze. Feel free to add it. 
 
Glaze is a highly subjective flavor. If you want more lemon flavor, feel free to put ¼ teaspoon lemon extract or some zest. If you dig a sweeter scone, feel free to add less juice and let the powdered sugar flavor shine more.
Keyword black raspberry, sourdough, sourdough baking, sourdough scones
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Jess4 Comments