This post is sponsored by June Oven. All opinions are my own. I never grew up with a toaster oven or convection oven of any kind (my grandma had a toaster oven that always impressed me, but I rarely used it myself), and never had the means or the counter space to invest in one most of my adult life. Now that I have a little more room…
Each year at Christmas I like to put together a cookie box for family, friends, and neighbors. The content changes somewhat over the years; some cookies come and go, others are staples that stick around. I’ve put together a list of favorite holiday cookies that I’ve featured here on my site. Many of these recipes come from both my cookbooks: 100 Cookies and The Vanilla Bean Baking Book. …
My dear friend Scott brought me a pumpkin cake last week – a thick 9 x 13 cake with a giant mound of cream cheese icing. After sneaking pieces of it for days, I finally asked him for the recipe, and he kindly emailed it over. After reading through it, I realized that I had the recipe – it was identical to the pumpkin bars I made at…
This is an older post, originally posted in 2011, that I’m highlighting this December. My daughter and I were looking through old blog posts, trying to decide on a birthday dessert for her upcoming day, and she died laughing at how terrible the photos were for this post (they were pretty bad). So I remade the candy cane cake this week updating not only the photos, but the…
This past week I was on Twin Cities Live for their 12 Days of Cookies that airs each year around the holidays. I made these cheesecake cookies, and wanted to include them here as well because they are so delicious. On the show I didn’t add the chocolate drizzle, but I made them again this weekend and liked the added touch. They are good either way (you could…
One of my favorite holiday treats is pumpkin spice bread and I make quite a few loaves every year, some for giving, some for keeping. This version comes from Michelle Lopez’s new cookbook, Weeknight Baking. It’s based on a recipe from the Tartine: A Classic Revisited cookbook, and it is quite delicious. Michelle makes hers with granulated sugar sprinkled on top instead of the cream cheese icing, but I…
Pumpkin Scones These scones are a family favorite, and might be what we wake up to this Christmas morning. “If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.” —Lucy Larcom NOTES: Putting another baking sheet nestled directly underneath the one the scones are on helps keep the bottoms of the scones from browning too quickly before they fully bake. If you like the bottoms extra…
Christmas is just around the corner. I’ve been baking for weeks (mostly recipe testing for my next book, but also holiday baking!), and must say this cranberries and cream Danish braid is one of my favorite things I’ve made this December. The tart cranberries paired with cream cheese, sweet icing, and flaky Danish dough is just about perfection. If cranberries aren’t your thing, you could fill the braid…
Part Two of my gift guide! (You can find Part One here.) Today is my favorite kitchen appliances, stocking stuffers, and book ideas. ***(Also: Holiday Playlists! On Spotify: My Holiday Mix from last year is here. My Classic Christmas Mix is here. And my Quiet Christmas Mix is here.) On Apple Music: Christmas Fun, Ease Into Christmas, Ease Into Christmas (Jazz and Classics Edition), and Christmas Albums. KITCHEN APPLIANCES Kitchen Aid Pro Line Stand Mixer – I…
This recipe for St. Lucia Buns was posted a few years ago originally, but it got buried in the archives and I thought I’d bring it up again for the Holidays. ****************************************** Each December, I find myself searching for the perfect holiday traditions. Not that there are any perfect ones, of course, but with two little ones in our family, I crave some routine and consistency each year.…
