Tag: Baking

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Who here has a kiddo who is much more likely to eat something that is chocolatey? *Raises hand.* Who here likes chocolate zucchini bread themselves? *Raises hand again* 

I love zucchini bread in all forms, but my big kiddo isn’t a zucchini fan and will complain if it isn’t disguised well. Knowing that we have the intent to send our kids to school with more home lunches this year, I set out to create a chocolate zucchini bread that had some healthier ingredients while still pleasing the 12 year old. 

Upon taking it from the oven, he was questioning it. “Zucchini bread, really?” Then he cut himself a warm slice. He smiled and finished it with his eyes closed (the tell-tale sign that I won his tastebuds over). Then he cut another and finally stopped after ⅓ of the loaf was gone. When he and his sister finished the loaf a few days later, he immediately asked me to make more.

I played with the recipe in a few more batches, but the first one was “the one.” The one I will be baking this summer in this fun petite pan from Epicure. From there, I will freeze the portions and then place them in a freezer-safe bag. I think they will be perfect in lunch boxes. What do you think? 

Don’t worry if you don’t have that sweet pan. The original recipe was baked in a 9 inch loaf pan, so you are set to go! Want muffins? That’s cool too! Cut the bake time to 20 minutes and you’ll be set! 

Ready to start creating? Let’s go!

Your Ingredients for Chocolate Zucchini Bread

  • ¼ cup olive oil or melted coconut oil
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • ½ tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon salt 
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour 
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ¼-½ cup chocolate chips
  • 2 cups shredded zucchini, water squeezed out 
  • ½ cup chopped nuts, optional

Your Steps

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, combine oil, syrup, vanilla, and eggs. In a separate bowl, combine the baking soda, salt, baking powder, flours, and cocoa powder. Stir into the wet ingredients until just combined. 

Add zucchini, chocolate chips, and nuts, if using. Fold into batter. 

Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 min, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with no raw batter. 

eggs, oil, and maple syrup
It ALMOST looks like a face!
dry ingredients
Grab those dry ingredients.
zucchini and chocolate chips
Fold in the zucchini and chocolate chips!
ready to bake
Almost ready!
Just a perfect loaf!
Completed chocolate zucchini bread
Let’s eat!

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

A classic chocolate zucchini bread with a bit of a healthy twist that is still kid approved!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 12 slices

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup olive oil or melted coconut oil
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • ½ tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ¼-½ cup chocolate chips
  • 2 cups shredded zucchini water squeezed out
  • ½ cup chopped nuts optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, combine oil, syrup, vanilla, and eggs. In a separate bowl, combine the baking soda, salt, baking powder, flours, and cocoa powder.
  • Stir into the wet ingredients until just combined.
  • Add zucchini, chocolate chips, and nuts, if using. Fold into batter.
  • Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with no raw batter.

Notes

This recipe bakes up nicely as a muffin too! Just prepare a muffin tin by greasing or using liners and drop the bake time to 20 minutes or so. 
 
Keyword chocolate, chocolate zucchini bread, Quick Bread, zucchini, zucchini bread
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Summer Garden Orzo Salad

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Blueberry Currant Muffins

For the last ten years, I have slowly (okay, not so slowly) become an avid gardener, preserver, and aspiring homesteader. I often joke the Mr. that I can’t wait for him to ‘make all the monies’ so I can stay home and grow and create good food. One of most favorite parts of gardening is the harvesting of the berries, which we grow by the pounds. It’s mediative for me. But with all those berries, must come preservation and I dig a good muffin! As the red currants and blueberries came in, I knew I had to combine them to get that beautiful pop of color. And so, I proudly present blueberry currant muffins. 

I generally like to keep things healthy around here, but have been straying from that a bit. It’s about balance, right? So I went back to my roots and did a little healthier take on a muffin, using maple syrup (If you’ve never made your own, I can’t recommend it enough. Check out my post on our adventure here!)

I hope you enjoy the bursts of flavor in these muffins as much as we did! Let’s get baking!

Your Ingredients

  • ½ cup almond milk 
  • 1 egg
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup 
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 cups flour (I do high quality whole wheat from Sunrise Flour Mill) 
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 
  • ¾ cup fresh blueberries 
  • ¼ cup red currants 
  • ¼ cup sliced almonds 

Your Steps to Blueberry Currant Muffins

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine milk, egg, syrup, and almond extract. Add flour, baking soda, and salt, mixing until just combined.

Gently fold in coconut oil, blueberries, and currants. Place in a well greased muffin tin, filling about ¾ of the way.

Top with sliced almonds. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until baked through. 

Pictures of steps of baking the muffins.
Measure it out!
Wet dough and berries
Mix it up!
Muffins in tin.
Portion it out!
Completed blueberry currant muffins
So dang good!
Completed blueberry currant muffins
Serve it up!

Blueberry Currant Muffins

Beautiful pops of color and flavor are abundant in these blueberry currant muffins perfect for breakfast, snacks, and anywhere in between!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12 muffins

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup almond milk
  • 1 egg
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
  • ¾ cup fresh blueberries
  • ¼ cup red currants
  • ¼ cup sliced almonds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine milk, egg, syrup, and almond extract.
  • Add flour, baking soda, and salt, mixing until just combined.
  • Gently fold in coconut oil, blueberries, and currants.
  • Place in a well greased muffin tin, filling about ¾ of the way. Top with sliced almonds.
  • Bake for 18-22 minutes, until baked through.
Keyword blueberries, Breakfast, currant muffins, maple syrup, muffins
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other great recipes?

Check out my baking page for all things muffins or maybe check out a recipe below!

JessLeave a comment

Rhubarb and Almond Cookies

Yes, I know I have shared a lot of rhubarb recipes this spring. That’s good, right? And my goodness, I adore baking cooking so rhubarb and almond cookies seemed the next logical step! 

So often, I miss rhubarb season because I am too busy getting the garden ready and ending the school year, that I can’t even think about using the rhubarb. And perhaps I am alone in this, but I always associated rhubarb with only being harvested in the spring. I am not sure where I learned that information, but it’s been in my head for as long as I can remember. However, I learned this year that rhubarb can be harvested late into the summer, although you want to do it before it seeds out. Good news, right?!

Initially, I tried to skip adding oatmeal in these cookies for those non-loving oatmeal friends. It just didn’t fly. The moisture from the rhubarb was simply too much for flour to handle. This cookie bakes up nicely and will seem like a crisp cookie straight out of the oven. However, it will soften up as they rest on the counter. Be careful to store them in a flat, covered container to prevent them from breaking apart before you can enjoy them! 

I love the tartness that can be found in these rhubarb and almond oat cookies. The oats and sliced almonds at the bit of texture we all know and love and the use of almond extract rather than vanilla makes for a surprise! Ready to bake? Let’s go! 

Your Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup white sugar 
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour 
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats 
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt 
  • ¾ cup diced rhubarb, cut small 
  • ½ cup sliced almonds 

Your Steps to Rhubarb and Almond Cookies

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg and almond extract. Beat until incorporated completely. In an additional bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients along with the oats. Stir until just combined. Fold in the rhubarb and sliced almonds. 

Drop by tablespoonsful 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 11-12 minutes or until set. Allow to cool a few minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. 

Creamed and dry ingredients!
Some little diced rhubarb and almonds.
Baking time!
A little tart and a little sweet!

Tools of the trade

If I am baking cookies, I am using my Chicago Baking Set. I got it for Christmas from the Mr. a number of years ago and I just love them. The cooling rack is a perfect size and the baking sheets are of great quality! I also recently gifted myself a cookie scoop and holy man, it rocks. If you don’t have one yet and you bake cookies, you probably deserve to gift yourself one too.

Rhubarb and Almond Cookies

These Rhubarb and Almond Cookies are a delight with the tartness of the rhubarb and the texture of the almonds and oats! Give them a try!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Course Cookies
Cuisine American
Servings 32 cookies

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup diced rhubarb small
  • ½ cup sliced almonds

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg and almond extract.
  • Beat until incorporated completely.
  • In an additional bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients along with the oats.
  • Stir until just combined. Fold in the rhubarb and sliced almonds.
  • Drop by tablespoonsful 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 11-12 minutes or until set.
  • Allow to cool a few minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

These will be a soft cookie. Be sure to keep them in a flat container to make sure they don’t fall apart. 
Keyword almonds, chocolate chip cookies, Rhubarb, rhubarb cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other sweet treats?

Check out the recipes below or head to my Baking page for all the treats!

JessLeave a comment

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

What’s your favorite cookie? Chocolate Chip? Oatmeal? Maybe peanut butter? How about we combine them all in some Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies? What do you think about that?!

I grew up in a very small, northern Wisconsin town. When I say small, I mean graduating with under 20 kids in your class kind of small. (I might be a bit proud of that). And I didn’t even live in the metropolis where my school was located. Nope. I lived 15 minutes away, along with my first friends. Those friends went to daycare with my sister and me and to this day, we still get together at least once a year to celebrate our “first friendship.” One of the friends had a mom that baked the best cookies: My family fondly calls them Mary Lee cookies after her. To this day, they are still my mom’s favorite cookie.

I am so excited to give my take on Mary Lee cookies. A Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie. How are these better than your average cookie? You’ve got browned butter. You’ve never had browned butter in a cookie? Oh my friend, let me tell you it raises the cookie bar so high. These cookies also have more brown sugar than white; key to a chewier cookie. And I dig the little extra baking soda and vanilla. You’ll see…these are going to become a go to cookie for you! Thanks for the inspiration Mary Lee! 

Your Ingredients for Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate chip Cookies

  • 1 cup butter, divided
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup white sugar 
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • ⅔ cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy) 
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 2 ½ cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Your Steps to Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Place one stick (½ cup) of butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat. Fully melt the butter, and continue to stir until it begins to brown. It will start to become fragrant with a nutty scent. Be sure not to overcook it or it can burn. Remove from heat and allow to cool. 

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream the remaining ½ cup of softened butter and sugars. Add in the eggs and vanilla. Stir until well blended. Gradually add in browned butter, mixing thoroughly. Be sure to use a spatula to get all the browned bits. Cream in the peanut butter. 

In an additional bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add this mixture as well as the old-fashioned oats to the wet ingredients. Stir until just combined, making sure to reach the bottom of the bowl. Fold in the chocolate chips. 

Don’t skip this step even if you want to: You must chill this dough for 20-30 minutes before baking. The browned butter will make the dough too soft to bake initially. Believe me, my sister learned the hard way! 

Place chilled dough on an ungreased baking sheet by the tablespoon. Bake for 10-11 minutes. Enjoy with a cold glass of milk ALMOST straight out of the oven. I don’t want you to burn yourself! 

Browned butter. You need this in your life.
Sugar and butter. The best.
Creamed together.
Get all those beautiful browned bits.
Add the peanut butter.
Almost there!
Cookie Scoop. I never knew I needed you!
Where’s the milk?!

Tools of the Trade

If I am baking cookies, I am using my Chicago Baking Set. I got it for Christmas from the Mr. a number of years ago and I just love them. The cooling rack is a perfect size and the baking sheets are of great quality! I also recently gifted myself a cookie scoop and holy man, it rocks. If you don’t have one yet and you bake cookies, you probably deserve to gift yourself one too.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

A little bit of all things that are great: extra vanilla, browned butter, peanut butter, and chocolate. These peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are sure to please!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 5.5 dozen

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter divided and softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • ⅔ cup peanut butter crunchy or creamy
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 2 ½ cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Place one stick (½ cup) of butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium low heat. Fully melt the butter, and continue to stir until it begins to brown. It will start to become fragrant with a nutty scent. Be sure not to overcook it or it can burn. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream remaining ½ cup of butter and sugars.
  • Add in the eggs and vanilla. Stir until well blended.
  • Gradually add in browned butter, mixing completely. Cream in the peanut butter.
  • In an additional bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add this mixture as well as the old fashioned oats to the wet ingredients. Stir until just combined, making sure to reach the bottom of the bowl. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  • Chill dough for 20-30 minutes.
  • Place chilled dough on ungreased baking sheets by the tablespoon. Bake for 10-11 minutes.

Notes

Don’t skip chilling the dough even if you want to. The browned butter will make the dough too soft and it will spread when you bake it.
Keyword browned butter, chocolate, chocolate and peanut butter, chocolate chip, chocolate chip cookies, drop cookies, oatmeal, peanut butter
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking to pair these cookies with another sweet treat?

JessLeave a comment

Strawberry and Lemon Zest Muffins

I am one of the lucky ones. My career is teaching high school math and physics. I recently had one of the most fun group of kids in an Algebra II class. They made me laugh on the regular while also still hanging on to their passion to learn. (Again, I am lucky). When this particular class learned that I was training for a marathon, they championed me, complete with a “We’re proud of you!” card when I finished. Then they learned that I had a food blog, and I suddenly gained a number of followers on my Instagram. Soon enough, I got an email request on my blog for “some strawberry muffins #lit #bestmuffinsever #yumalisous.” I told that young lady that strawberries weren’t in season, but as soon as they were, I would make a recipe for her. So without further adieu, I present Strawberry and Lemon Zest Muffins!

Your Ingredients

  • ½ cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup coconut oil, room temperature (about 70 degrees) 
  • ½ tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups whole wheat 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 strawberries, washed and diced

Your Steps to Strawberry and Lemon Zest Muffins 

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 lemon!
Dry ingredients
A pop of color in the strawberries.
Almost set!
Perfection!

Strawberry and Lemon Zest Muffins

Spring time flavors abound with these strawberry and lemon zest muffins. Bake up a batch today!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 12 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 diced strawberries

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 strawberries. Spoon batter into muffin tins, filling about 3/4 of the way full.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 20-24 minutes until baked through. Serve them with a warm cup of coffee or tea!
Keyword Breakfast, Breakfast Bread, lemon, muffins, Strawberries, strawberry
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other breakfast Delights?

Click here to head to my breakfast page. Or let your eyes to choosing by checking out a few recipes below!

JessLeave a comment

Double Chocolate and Toasted Coconut Cookies

I love cookies. I generally try to be a healthy, nutrient dense eater. All the vegetables. I adore a good salad and chicken with quinoa. But cookies? They are a bit of a weakness for me. Bring on the butter. The chocolate chips. The vanilla. I love all of it. But I was looking through my past blog posts and realized for a self-proclaimed cookie lover, I hadn’t created or posted a cookie recipe for some time. I immediately dug through my cupboards and found some fun ingredients to pull together a new cookie recipe. I am so excited to introduce you to my double chocolate and toasted coconut cookies. As soon as I was done baking, I shared them with my colleagues and the reviews were great! 

“I would eat a lot more of those!” 

“Wow Jess! You just came up with recipe?! On your own?!” 

“Oh wow. They have the texture of a chocolate chip cookie but such a wonderful flavor”

I hope you enjoy this twist on a chocolate chip cookie as much as we all did. I mean my daughter asked if she could try one and before I realized it, she had eaten four! Sounds like a cookie you need to give a try, right? 

Your Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar 
  • 1 egg 
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour 
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder 
  • ½ teaspoon salt (kosher salt is great if you like salty sweet!)
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda 
  • ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon toasted unsweetened coconut 
  • ½ cup chocolate chips 

Your Steps to Double Chocolate and Toasted Coconut Cookies

To toast coconut, heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add coconut and toast for 3-5 minutes, stirring often, until just browned. Remove from heat and stir a few additional times to prevent burning. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Add sugars and combine until very light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix well. 

Combine flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Stir into the wet ingredients until just combined. Fold in the cooled toasted coconut and chocolate chips. For best results, chill the dough for 30 minutes (But I get it if you skip it, it’s hard to wait!)

Place dough by the tablespoonful on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before placing on a cooling rack to finish cooling. 

Enjoy! 

Cream until so fluffy!
Add in those dry ingredients!
Toasted Coconut! So good!
Mix it all in…
Perfection! Crinkle!
Let’s gobble them up!

Looking for other tasty Treats?

Check out the links below! I’ve got a soup, a full meal, and bread to match! How great right?

Double Chocolate and Toasted Coconut Cookies

Almond extract, toasted coconut, and cocoa powder combine in these delicious double chocolate and toasted coconut cookies!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill TIme 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 2.5 dozen

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon toasted unsweetened coconut
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • To toast coconut, heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add coconut and toast for 3-5 minutes, stirring often, until just browned. Remove from heat and stir a few additional times to prevent burning.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a medium bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Add sugars and combine until very light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix well.
  • Combine flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Stir into the wet ingredients until just combined. Fold in the cooled toasted coconut and chocolate chips. For best results, chill the dough for 30 minutes.
  • Place dough by the tablespoonful on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before placing on a cooling rack to finish cooling.
Keyword chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cookies, coconut, Cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Candy Cane Cookies

For as long as I can remember, my dad has requested these candy cane cookies (along with Pecan Balls otherwise known as Russian Teacakes). I have vivid memories of baking holiday cookies with my mom and sister as a kid. We had our list of go to recipes that we got from either the electric company baking book or the Betty Crocker big red book. We always did half batches and kept them in a cool room until it was time to enjoy them. 

I don’t have that same beautiful red Betty Crocker cookbook, but I was determined to make a candy cane cookie for my dad one year. My mom wasn’t available; I couldn’t get the recipe from her. That meant I got to create in the kitchen, and these little beauties came out. I don’t make them every year, but I feel all sorts of love for my dad when I do! 

I hope they are able to bring a smile to your face; that they become a family tradition like they are for us! Let’s get baking some candy cane cookies!

Your Ingredients

  • ¾ cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs 
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • ½ teaspoon peppermint extract (that can be strong, so if you want a more subtle flavor, cut it to ¼ teaspoon) 
  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • red food coloring (preferably gel to get that deep color)

Your Steps To Candy Cane Cookies

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and almond extract. Beat until well combined. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Prior to being fully mixed, cut the dough in half. Add red food coloring to half of the dough and mix until the desired color is reached. Form each half into a log, cover in plastic wrap, and chill at least 3 hours (or overnight). 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll equal parts red and white dough into snakes (I did about 35 grams at a time or ¼ cup). Line the red and white dough up. Cut into approximately 3 inch sections. Roll the two colors together a little more to allow them to stick together. Twist to achieve the color twist and then form into candy canes (see video below for more information). Optional: Sprinkle with red and white colored sugar for fun!

Place on an ungreased baking sheet (parchment paper lined would be great!) Bake 6 minutes, rotating at the 3 minute mark. The goal is to just about be browning when you remove them from the oven. Allow to cool 2 minutes before gently removing and placing on a wire rack to cool completely. 

What a fun addition to your cookie trays, right?!

Create and split the dough!
Get the color on.
Check that red. So deep and beautiful.
Let them chill.
Form some snakes.
Twist them up!
Ready to serve!

Candy Cane Cookies

A little peppermint extract and red food coloring create these beautiful candy cane cookies perfect for any holiday get together!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Chill Time 3 hours
Course Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 4 dozen

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup butter softened
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • ½ teaspoon peppermint extract that can be strong, so if you want a more subtle flavor, cut it to ¼ teaspoon
  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • red food coloring preferably gel to get that deep color

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and almond extract. Beat until well combined. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Prior to being fully mixed, cut the dough in half. Add red food coloring to half of the dough and mix until the desired color is reached.
  • Form each half into a log, cover in plastic wrap, and chill at least 3 hours (or overnight).
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll equal parts red and white dough into snakes (I did about 35 grams at a time or ¼ cup). Line the red and white dough up.
  • Cut into approximately 3 inch sections. Roll the two colors together a little more to allow them to stick together. Twist to achieve the color twist and then form into candy canes
  • Place on an ungreased baking sheet (parchment paper lined would be great!) Bake 6 minutes, rotating at the 3 minute mark.
  • The goal is to just about be browning when you remove them from the oven.
  • Allow to cool 2 minutes before gently removing and placing on a wire rack to cool completely.
Keyword Christmas cookies, Cookies, holiday baking, holiday treats, peppermint
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other Holiday Treats?

Jess1 Comment

Russian Teacakes

Recognize these cookies? What do you call them? ⁠For much of my life, I knew these cookies as Pecan Sandies. Both sides of my family had them at Christmas, although I for some reason remember them more fondly on my mom’s side of the family. My grandma made just one small cookie tray for Christmas, but there were always Pecan Sandies, rolled into little fingers, rolled in powdered sugar. ⁠

Shortly after I graduated from college, I was looking through a cookie cookbook, and I learned that they are known as Russian Teacakes too. Then another friend told me they are Mexican Wedding Cookies. My family won’t know what type of cookie you are talking about if you call them by anything but Pecan Sandies.

Whatever the name, we adore them. They are a must for all nut allergy free parties I attend. Still looking to fill your cookie tray? I recommend a batch of these.

Your Ingredients⁠

  • 1 cup softened butter⁠
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar ⁠
  • 2 cups all purpose flour⁠
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans⁠
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt ⁠
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract⁠
  • additional powdered sugar for rolling cookies ⁠

Your Steps to Russian teacakes

In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and mix until well combined. Add flour, pecans, and salt. Mix well, until a ball is formed. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour, but overnight is great. ⁠

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough into 1 inch balls (about 1/2 tablespoon each). Bake for 15 minutes. Once baked, roll still hot cookies in powdered sugar. (Be gentle with the cookies. They break easily. I usually wait just a minute or two before rolling them.) 

I typically only roll the cookies in powdered sugar once, but many roll them twice. You pick. Either way, they won’t last long! 

Baked perfection
Gentle. Gentle.
Yum! They won’t last long!

Tools of the Trade

I love these cookie baking trays and the rack they come with. I use them so often!

Looking for another sweet treat? Check out my baking page by clicking the link below!

Baking

Russian Teacakes

A delicious shortbread based pecan cookie known by so many names. Regardless of what you call them, they won't last long on your holiday cookie tray!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine Cookies
Servings 4 dozen

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup softened butter⁠
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar ⁠
  • 2 cups all purpose flour⁠
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans⁠
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt ⁠
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract⁠
  • additional powdered sugar for rolling cookies ⁠

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and mix until well combined. Add flour, pecans, and salt. Mix well, until a ball is formed. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour, but overnight is great. ⁠
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough into 1 inch balls (about 1/2 tablespoon each). Bake for 15 minutes, until just browned on the bottom of the cookies.
  • Bake for 15 minutes. Once baked, roll still hot cookies in powdered sugar. Cookies can be rolled a second time if desired.
Keyword Cookies, pecan cookies, pecans, Shortbread
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Jess2 Comments

Skillet Cornbread

It’s soup season. And chili season. Really, it’s my favorite. I could chop, saute, and simmer soup or chili every weekend. The Mr. has a love of chili as well, especially during hunting season. And if I am cooking up a batch of chili, I can’t help but crave skillet cornbread. 

A number of years ago, I was making a kettle of chili and was longing for that perfect cornbread. I grew up with my dad making Jiffy cornbread often. He still does, and his love for corn muffins makes me smile. He often travels with a box as a “fun gift” for his grandkids. But alas, we didn’t have any gifted boxes this time. I did some Googling, played with a recipe or two, and developed this beauty. 

Don’t have a cast iron skillet? I am sure you could cook this skillet cornbread in a regular pan, but the skillet brings out this beautiful golden color that’s to die for. We adore our skillet and use it for baking, searing vegetables, and cooking protein. I love that it can go from the stove top to the oven and holds heat so well. Ours simply stays on the stove at all times; that’s how often it gets used! 

Enough on my love of cookware. Let’s get baking! 

Your Ingredients 

  • 1 ⅓ cups yellow cornmeal
  • 1 ⅓ cups flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar 
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt 
  • 5-6 tablespoons butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons honey 
  • ¾ cup milk or almond milk 
  • ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt (or Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla Yogurt with zero added sugar) 

Your Steps to Skillet Cornbread 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Begin to heat the cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add butter. Heat until browned and beginning to smell nutty, about 7 minutes. Stir often. Remove from heat once browned. 

Meanwhile whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside. 

Whisk eggs, honey, almond milk, and Greek yogurt in a large bowl. Slowly stir in cooled butter, leaving some on the sides of the pan to grease it. Feel free to add an additional tab of butter to pan, melting it, to make sure the batter will not stick. I don’t think you need it, but you do you.

Slowly stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Pour this mixture into the prepared cast iron skillet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until it springs back when touched. Serve with additional butter and honey. 

Browned butter. The best.
Mix it up!
Perfectly baked.
And paired with some chili. Yum!

Tools of the Trade

Just one. I promise, a cast iron skillet is so versatile. Great for baking, searing, and more!

Skillet Cornbread

Perfectly baked, this cast iron skillet cornbread sweetened with honey is a great side dish full of comforting flavor!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ⅓ cups yellow cornmeal
  • 1 ⅓ cups flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 5-6 tablespoons butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • ¾ cup milk or almond milk
  • ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Begin to heat the cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add butter. Heat until browned and beginning to smell nutty, about 7 minutes. Stir often. Remove from heat once browned.
  • Meanwhile whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • Whisk eggs, honey, almond milk, and Greek yogurt in a large bowl. Slowly stir in cooled butter, leaving some on the sides of the pan to grease it. Feel free to add an additional tab of butter to make sure the pan will not stick.
  • Slowly stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Pour this mixture into the prepared cast iron skillet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until it springs back when touched. Serve with additional butter and honey.
Keyword baking, cast iron, cornbread
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for some other recipes?

Might I recommend cooking up a batch of Wisconsin’s Cold Weather Chili to go with your cornbread? Get that recipe and more below!

JessLeave a comment

Peanut Butter and Oat Brownies

As a high school teacher, I get invited to a number of graduation parties every year. I love celebrating their accomplishments and walking through the shrine that shows them growing up through the years. ⁠I also LOVE when they have brownies for dessert. Brownies are a top treat for me, and it’s a rare day that I turn one down. I’m always looking for a new recipe. These peanut butter and oat brownies are gluten free and free of refined sugar. So good!

This recipe was inspired by a Taste of Home magazine recipe. I put my own spin on a brownie bar that I think turned out pretty darn incredible. Bonus points for them being gluten free with no refined sugar (depending on your chocolate chips!). Win, win right? Excuse me while I eat the whole pan!⁠

Ready to get baking? Let’s go!

Your Ingredients⁠

  • 1/3 cup oat flour (I grind old fashioned oats myself in a food processor)⁠
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder⁠
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt⁠
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder⁠
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla⁠
  • 1 cup nut butter (I did all natural peanut butter)⁠
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup⁠
  • 1 large egg⁠
  • 2/3 cup walnuts ⁠
  • 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips ⁠

Your Steps⁠ to peanut butter and oat brownies

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line an eight inch square baking pan with foil and then coat with cooking spray. ⁠

In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, salt, and baking powder. ⁠

In another medium bowl, combine nut butter, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients until just moistened. Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips. ⁠

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan before removing the foil and cutting into bars. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! ⁠Just try not to eat the whole pan, I dare you.

  • Grab your moist ingredients.
  • Then the dry.
  • Mix them up!
  • Spread them out!
  • Ummm…yum!

Tools of the Trade

I love my large food processor. I do so much with it, including making my own oat flour!

A good Pyrex baking dish is a must!

Peanut Butter and Oat Brownies

These peanut butter and oat brownies are a quick and clean eating brownie that are full of texture and flavor! Give them a try!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 cup oat flour
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder⁠
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt⁠
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder⁠
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla⁠
  • 1 cup nut butter
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup⁠
  • 1 large egg⁠
  • 2/3 cup walnuts ⁠
  • 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips ⁠

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a 8 in square baking pan with foil and then coat with cooking spray. ⁠
  • In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, salt, and baking powder. ⁠
  • In another medium bowl, combine nut butter, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients until just moistened. Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips. ⁠
  • Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan before removing the foil and cutting into bars.

Notes

I grind old fashioned oats myself in a food processor. You can also purchase your own.
Keyword brownies, chocolate and peanut butter, Gluten Free, oats, peanut butter brownies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment