Holiday! 2 days 'till Christmas! We've been a-baking-like-CRAZY around here! And while there have been a few duds (chocolate crinkle peppermint? bleagh), here are the highlights of December:
from SugarCooking (using NYTimes (great article) & BlueRidgeBakery info)
I try a new chocolate chip cookie recipe every single time I attack the cause. Perhaps it's because I'm just not completely satisfied with the previous attempts, perhaps I'm just on the constant hunt of something "different". Here are the key tactics I have adopted over the years:
- Brown the butter.
- Leave the dough overnight.
- Always sprinkle a tiny bit of fleur de sel or sea salt on top before baking.
Showing up with an unexpected plate of cookies is akin to a husband spontaneously taking out the trash without having to ask. It's just plain heavenly. The greatest part of this batter is that it gets better in the fridge/freezer and I've been maintaining a steady stream of ice cream scoop sized dough in the freezer. That way, in 15 minutes (+6min for preheating), I can have a fresh batch to take with us wherever we're heading! ~plus: totally jamie-friendly; he can bake them on his own.
from our friends, Josh & Maria (pic borrow!)
but I also tasted this lace cookie recipe and with many fewer ingredients, also a winner.
This recipe is SO interesting. Kinda crunchy day of, really pretty. Fun Fact: they get SUPER YUMMY after 3-5 days. Unlike the chocolate chip cookies above, which are definitely best warm out of the oven, these get softer and caramelier (?) with a few days. We left some with the thin layer of dark chocolate and some without. Both tended to be yummier in 3 days. Definite plus if you're looking for a cookie to take somewhere!
from martha and a recipe I've blogged about before.
the recipe makes 8 dozen cookies and it's fun to bring around..."different".
A Celebration Cake for Jamie.
using this king arthur flour mix (omg, good) and a chocolate frosting mix from trader joes.
Two thumbs up for both mixes! As in, I totally recommend both of them if you're in a pinch aka a normal human being with millions of other things to do in a day. It was a last minute decision, I happened to have both mixes and had purchased both just to taste test. The cake mix is definitely superior to the box mixes I grew up with; yielding even, non-dry layers with terrific flavors. Betty Crocker, see ya later. Duncan Who?
Trader Joe's frosting mix doesn't quite yield the mass quantity of frosting I'd prefer (my cake-to-good-frosting ration might be off), but it's particularly yummy after sitting in the fridge overnight. Helps the sugar crystals fully meld? I baked the layer cakes and frosting the night before, sticking cake in freezer and frosting in fridge. Putting it together after work was a snap.
And I definitely added one tablespoon of maple syrup to the batter. Because (a) we live on the border of Vermont and (b) I felt like throwing a shout out to Elf..."maple syrup in coffee? why didn't i think of that?!"
2 comments:
the chocolate lace cookies look incredible, i will have to make those. love the tea cookies as well. even though people are skeptical about them, they always turn out to be a bit hit. i have a good recipe for chocolate crinkles (minus the peppermint), my mom has been making them for as long as i can remember and they are my favorites-i will send you the recipe.
correction: big hit, not bit hit :)
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