Heather Baird's Blog, page 29
July 29, 2020
Almond Genoise Mini Cakes
These Jordan almond-topped mini cakes are perfect for intimate wedding receptions and baby showers. They are delicious with bright almond flavor and will make your table beautiful!
A few of my friends are currently navigating the process of planning a wedding during this time, when availability of resources and venues are questionable at best. Many are opting for smaller celebrations and backyard gatherings with immediate family and friends. One thing is for sure, love will never be cancelled, and should always be celebrated! And I'm in favor of making these intimate gatherings even more special.
With this in mind, I decided to whip up some small-scale fancy cakes that could be served as an alternative to a towering wedding cake. They have distinctive almond flavor - which to me is the flavor of wedding cake. Each cake has a single, beautiful Jordan almond on top, and edible gold leaf for some sparkle. Small but special - that's the motto!
Continued, click to read more...
A few of my friends are currently navigating the process of planning a wedding during this time, when availability of resources and venues are questionable at best. Many are opting for smaller celebrations and backyard gatherings with immediate family and friends. One thing is for sure, love will never be cancelled, and should always be celebrated! And I'm in favor of making these intimate gatherings even more special.
With this in mind, I decided to whip up some small-scale fancy cakes that could be served as an alternative to a towering wedding cake. They have distinctive almond flavor - which to me is the flavor of wedding cake. Each cake has a single, beautiful Jordan almond on top, and edible gold leaf for some sparkle. Small but special - that's the motto!
Continued, click to read more...
July 24, 2020
Giant Sticky Bun
More is more with this supersized breakfast pastry! Layers of cinnamon-sugared dough are swirled into a giant sweet bun and baked over a pool of bubbling brown sugar syrup and pecans.
In 2014 I decided to transform my mother's cinnamon rolls recipe into one giant pastry baked in a cast iron skillet. Turns out, that was a good idea. We loved it, you guys loved it, and many people have made it or have been inspired to make their own versions. I love when that happens. (See my Giant Skillet Cinnamon Roll here .)
This week I returned to that idea with new inspiration and transformed my favorite sticky bun recipe into one giant sticky bun baked in a 10-inch cake pan. It has the same virtues as its predecessor, which is a greater ratio of soft, tender interior to crusty edge.
Continued, click to read more...
In 2014 I decided to transform my mother's cinnamon rolls recipe into one giant pastry baked in a cast iron skillet. Turns out, that was a good idea. We loved it, you guys loved it, and many people have made it or have been inspired to make their own versions. I love when that happens. (See my Giant Skillet Cinnamon Roll here .)
This week I returned to that idea with new inspiration and transformed my favorite sticky bun recipe into one giant sticky bun baked in a 10-inch cake pan. It has the same virtues as its predecessor, which is a greater ratio of soft, tender interior to crusty edge.
Continued, click to read more...
July 10, 2020
Fresh Peach Cobbler
This simple peach cobbler is a summertime favorite. It's a great way to celebrate peaches at their peak sweetness!
There are a couple of peach cobbler recipes that I make regularly, but I'm adding one more to my repertoire. My usual recipe is this Skillet Peach Cobbler with Biscuit Crust . It's a little involved and makes a big cast iron pan full of cobbler that is wonderful to share with company, but these days it's just us. Smaller batches of baked goods makes sense for our household of 2.
This recipe largely focuses on the flavor of the fruit, which is spiced with cinnamon and cardamom. This gives the filling a cozy home-style flavor (which, apparently I am way into this summer!).
Continued, click to read more...
There are a couple of peach cobbler recipes that I make regularly, but I'm adding one more to my repertoire. My usual recipe is this Skillet Peach Cobbler with Biscuit Crust . It's a little involved and makes a big cast iron pan full of cobbler that is wonderful to share with company, but these days it's just us. Smaller batches of baked goods makes sense for our household of 2.
This recipe largely focuses on the flavor of the fruit, which is spiced with cinnamon and cardamom. This gives the filling a cozy home-style flavor (which, apparently I am way into this summer!).
Continued, click to read more...
July 8, 2020
No Churn Malted Milk Ball Ice Cream
No ice cream maker? No problem! This ice cream is brimming with nostalgic chocolate malt flavor and whips up in about 10 minutes.
I made this ice cream for my husband because he loves an ice cream parlor-style chocolate malt better than just about any other dessert. He also loves malted milk balls, and when Sconza sent me a big bag of them, I knew they were destined for an extra-special treat for him.
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I made this ice cream for my husband because he loves an ice cream parlor-style chocolate malt better than just about any other dessert. He also loves malted milk balls, and when Sconza sent me a big bag of them, I knew they were destined for an extra-special treat for him.
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July 6, 2020
Chai Spiced Snickerdoodle Skillet Cookie
This giant skillet snickerdoodle recipe is a fuss-free way to make cookies for a crowd! It's warmly spiced and bakes into a chewy, pillowy-edged cookie with a soft interior.
I almost waited to post this recipe in fall months, but ultimately decided that's just too long to wait! Warm chai spices are perfect for cozy feelings at any time of year. And personally, I've found they're especially nice on those mellow summer days when a thunderstorm rolls in, and all you can do is curl up on the couch with a snack and something to read. This recipe is great when you need those cozy, happy feelings that only come with something baked, deliciously buttery, and sweet.
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I almost waited to post this recipe in fall months, but ultimately decided that's just too long to wait! Warm chai spices are perfect for cozy feelings at any time of year. And personally, I've found they're especially nice on those mellow summer days when a thunderstorm rolls in, and all you can do is curl up on the couch with a snack and something to read. This recipe is great when you need those cozy, happy feelings that only come with something baked, deliciously buttery, and sweet.
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July 3, 2020
Triple Berry Scones
These buttery pastries are filled with summer's best berries. Serve them with hot coffee or tea for a wonderful start to the day!
Summer usually means at least one trip to our favorite berry farm , where picking a gallon is an easy pleasure and fingers turn purple-red from secretly taste testing the goods. We're not venturing out much these days, so when I get my hands on fresh berries - even the store bought kind - I want to celebrate them! These scones are a beautiful way to use the season's best berries.
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Summer usually means at least one trip to our favorite berry farm , where picking a gallon is an easy pleasure and fingers turn purple-red from secretly taste testing the goods. We're not venturing out much these days, so when I get my hands on fresh berries - even the store bought kind - I want to celebrate them! These scones are a beautiful way to use the season's best berries.
Continued, click to read more...
June 30, 2020
Banoffee Ice Cream Pie
Banoffee Ice Cream Pie is a sweet way to beat summer's heat! Layers of milk caramel, whipped banana cream, nuts, and shaved chocolate are layered together atop a buttery graham cracker crust.
Tomorrow we say hello to July, and with it comes hot and humid weather here in the southern states. We won't be hosting any July Fourth picnics this year, but we'll still be looking for ways to celebrate - and cool off! This Banoffee Ice Cream Pie has been our preferred way to chill out as temperatures outside soar. It's simple to make and so refreshing!
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Tomorrow we say hello to July, and with it comes hot and humid weather here in the southern states. We won't be hosting any July Fourth picnics this year, but we'll still be looking for ways to celebrate - and cool off! This Banoffee Ice Cream Pie has been our preferred way to chill out as temperatures outside soar. It's simple to make and so refreshing!
Continued, click to read more...
June 10, 2020
Strawberry Delight
This creamy layered strawberry dessert sits atop a crumbly pecan crust. It's quickly assembled in a 13x9-inch casserole dish and best served chilled on a hot day.
If this recipe looks familiar, it's because it has been around for ages. Different versions of it can usually be found in small town church cookbooks in the southern US. My strawberry iteration is inspired by a recipe from my friend Bobbie who passed away last year. She was an elderly lady famous for her desserts - especially Cherry Yum Yum. This dessert has the best parts of her recipe and swaps out the cherries for strawberries.
Continued, click to read more...
If this recipe looks familiar, it's because it has been around for ages. Different versions of it can usually be found in small town church cookbooks in the southern US. My strawberry iteration is inspired by a recipe from my friend Bobbie who passed away last year. She was an elderly lady famous for her desserts - especially Cherry Yum Yum. This dessert has the best parts of her recipe and swaps out the cherries for strawberries.
Continued, click to read more...
May 29, 2020
Garden Party Pound Cakes
This buttery lemon-lavender pound cake is simple to stir together and so satisfying. It's topped with a thick drape of lemon glaze and garnished with a veritable bouquet of edible petals.
Each year in early June a neighboring town holds a festival dedicated to everyone's favorite flowering herb. The lavender festival is held on a historic square, and vendors line the streets selling all manner of lavender-themed goods. My favorite part of any festival is the food, and this one is no exception. They serve lavender begniets, lavender lemonade, and a wide array of lavender jams and jellies.
It's no surprise that this year's festival has been cancelled due to health concerns, so I've decided to celebrate lavender in a big way at home, starting with these petal-topped pound cakes!
Continued, click to read more...
Each year in early June a neighboring town holds a festival dedicated to everyone's favorite flowering herb. The lavender festival is held on a historic square, and vendors line the streets selling all manner of lavender-themed goods. My favorite part of any festival is the food, and this one is no exception. They serve lavender begniets, lavender lemonade, and a wide array of lavender jams and jellies.
It's no surprise that this year's festival has been cancelled due to health concerns, so I've decided to celebrate lavender in a big way at home, starting with these petal-topped pound cakes!
Continued, click to read more...
May 25, 2020
Mini Apple Pies
There's nothing better than classic apple pie, unless it's having one all to yourself! These little individual pies are big on flavor, and their sweet, buttery pastry crusts bake to golden perfection.
I return to this time-honored classic for every kind of occasion, but I especially enjoy making it on patriotic holidays. It somehow feels reverent and dignified, having an apple pie on our buffet on Memorial Day or July 4th. Its origins lie across the pond, but it has become an American symbol, perfected by the hands of our predecessors and steeped in tradition.
Individual desserts have always felt special to me, so I decided this year we'd all have our own little apple pie. The apple filling formula is pretty standard and easy to mix up, but the crust recipe is different from regular pie crust. I learned to make pate sucrée in pastry class, and I've found it holds up well to nearly any type of juicy pie filling - and it's perfect for mini pies!
Continued, click to read more...
I return to this time-honored classic for every kind of occasion, but I especially enjoy making it on patriotic holidays. It somehow feels reverent and dignified, having an apple pie on our buffet on Memorial Day or July 4th. Its origins lie across the pond, but it has become an American symbol, perfected by the hands of our predecessors and steeped in tradition.
Individual desserts have always felt special to me, so I decided this year we'd all have our own little apple pie. The apple filling formula is pretty standard and easy to mix up, but the crust recipe is different from regular pie crust. I learned to make pate sucrée in pastry class, and I've found it holds up well to nearly any type of juicy pie filling - and it's perfect for mini pies!
Continued, click to read more...
