Heather Baird's Blog, page 57

Gift This! Sprinkle Stocking Sugar Cookies

There are only a few days to go before Christmas, but the cookie-making is still going strong here! These are so easy to decorate because you don't even have to make frosting. The embellishing is done with a light brush of corn syrup on the cookies and then they get dipped in rainbow nonpareils (my #1 favorite of all the sprinkles!).
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Gift This! Poached Pear Lager Bread

I often poach pears in winter months because it's a warming kind of thing to do. I like to sit on a stool right beside the stove with a book in one hand and a stirring spoon in the other. The cook time varies with the firmness of the fruit, but on average it's 30-ish minutes of reading and spiced pear aromatherapy. There are worse ways to spend half an hour, I tell ya!

I've used poached pears in cakes before but I've never used them in quick bread recipes. I adore fruit desserts so I was pretty optimistic about this pear-lager version. It's nice. The batter is less sweet than cake and nuanced with lager flavor. The glaze and poached pears will satisfy your sweet tooth without overwhelming it.
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Gift This! Baklava

I've dedicated a good portion of this blog's content to baklava-inspired treats. First there was Baklava Cheesecake, then Baklava Pull-Apart Bread (swoon!), Greek Honey-Nut Pie, and finally, Baklava Cigars.  I figure it's about time that I post the genuine article!

Baklava is not hard to make, but filo can be a little fussy to work with sometimes because the dough sheets are so thin. Make sure your dough is properly thawed and cover it with a damp towel once you open the packages. This will greatly help with handling the dough.
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Gift This! Salty Almond Symphony Chocolates

My best friend usually gets me a box of fancy chocolates each year for Christmas. It's such a thoughtful and pretty gift. There's always an assortment of shapes and flavors, and I love looking at them almost as much as I love eating them.

I decided to try my hand at making chocolates with a magnetic mold and chocolate transfer sheet. Both are used by professional chocolatiers and together they create the most gorgeous little bites.
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Gift This! Candied Fruit Coconut Macaroons

This recipe is proof that baking doesn't have to be fussy or complicated to yield delicious results. You'll need 3 ingredients for the macaroons, not counting the dip in chocolate which is optional (but when is chocolate ever optional?).
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Gift This! Chocolate Quick Bread

This recipe marries two of my favorite things in all of baking and pastry: chocolate and bread. These little loaves pack a triple chocolate punch with chocolate incorporated into the batter and mini chocolate chips speckled throughout. The third and final chocolate flourish is on top - making this bread a real looker!
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Gift This! Lucia Crown (Braided Swedish Saffron Bread)

Happy St. Lucia Day! This is the day that our Scandinavian friends celebrate St. Lucy, an ancient martyr with an abiding role as a bearer of light in dark winters. On this feast day young girls dress in her honor wearing white robes with a red sashes. The girls form a procession that is led by a young lady selected to portray St. Lucia, who wears a crown of candles while carrying a tray of baked goods.

Some of you may remember my previous Lucia Day post from 2013. That's when I made traditional saffron buns (Lussekatter). Soon after I was introduced to powdered saffron, thanks to the advice of my Scandinavian readers. I had used saffron threads in the dough and my buns were only slightly yellow. Apparently, you should always need a pair of sunglasses to look at properly-hued saffron bread. In other words, the brighter the better!

(I think I got it right this time!)
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Gift This! Gingerbread Scones

It's hard to believe we're almost halfway to Christmas Day and I'm just now getting to the most important classic holiday flavor which is gingerbread!

Scones have always perplexed me. I suppose it's because I'm well studied in southern buttermilk biscuit-making and I'm accustomed to their fluffy texture. Each time I've split open a bakery-purchased scone I've had the same thought: "This is the worst, driest biscuit ever!" Perhaps I need to change my viewpoint on scones but for now I've remedied the problem with this flaky, soft gingerbread version.
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Gift This! Easy Spiced Party Nuts

'Tis the season for sugar and spice!

I love making a big batch of party nuts for snacking on, even if the 'party' is just at my desk. Recently they became an accidental lunch because I was too focused on work and not very inspired by the thought of another avocado toast.

These definitely make a great gift, especially for people who eschew super-sweet confections like fudge. These nuts are barely sweet with just a kiss of brown sugar and delicately spiced.
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Gift This! Cranberry Orange Biscotti

Here's another treat that makes a great gift for long-distance friends and family because it ships well. Biscotti are firm, crunchy cookies that are usually enjoyed with hot coffee or tea because their finger-like shape makes them perfect for dipping.

I recently developed a base recipe for biscotti that can be endlessly varied. This zesty orange version is my favorite so far. I've always loved the magic worked by cranberry and orange together, and the crunchy crystal sugar topping puts these head and shoulders above my favorite store-bought version.
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