Apple Season and Apple Spice Cupcakes

One of my favorite things about Autumn is going to apple orchards and picking our own apples. We always come home with more apples than we had expected…
Fortunately, apples can last a long time when they are stored in a cool place.
I recommend using apples fairly soon after they have been picked for recipes where [...]

Beautiful Hot Chocolate

Beautiful Hot Chocolate (Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros)

2/3 cup chopped best-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
2 cups milk
1/2 heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon confectioner’s sugar
Unsweetened cocoa powder or ground cinnamon, to serve

Heat the chocolate and milk in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon so it doesn’t burn (chocolate burns easily). Bring [...]

Campton Place Hot Chocolate

Campton Place Hot Chocolate (The Secrets of Baking by Sherry Yard)

1 recipe Master Ganache (recipe follows)
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup cream
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon Tia Maria or vanilla extract

Bring the milk and cream to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk to dissolve. Remove from [...]

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate Crinkles (Better Home and Gardens: Christmas Cookies)

4 eggs
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
1/2 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup powdered sugar

In a large bowl, combine eggs, granulated sugar, melted chocolate, oil, baking powder, and vanilla. Using the paddle attachment of an electric mixer, [...]

Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow Filling

Chocolate Whoopie Pies ( recipe from www.teriskitchen.com)

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Marshmallow Filling (from The Pastry Queen Christmas by Rebecca Rather)

2 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup [...]

Christmas Red Velvet Cupcakes with Mascarpone Cream Cheese Frosting

Christmas Red Velvet Cupcakes (The Pastry Queen Christmas by Rebecca Rather)

1/4 cup (2 ounces) red food coloring
3 1/2 tablespoons high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup [...]

Cocoa-Coffee Crinkle Cookies

Cocoa-Coffee Crinkles (Christmas Cookies Magazine from Better Homes and Gardens)

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon instant coffee crystals
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 egg whites
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to [...]

Cut-Out Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread Cookies (from The Pastry Queen by Rebecca Rather)

2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

Powdered Sugar Icing

2 cups powedered sugar, sifted
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

In a large bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and [...]

Extreme Sugars Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies Version XS (Extreme Sugars) (from Demolition Desserts by Elizabeth Faulkner)

1 1/4 cups (4 ounces) old-fashioned rolled oats
16 tablespoons (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (about 8 1/2 ounces) firmly packed dark muscovado sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) Demerara sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons [...]

Gingerbread Muffins

Gingerbread Muffins (Feast by Nigella Lawson)

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 egg
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup whole milk (I used 2% and they turned out fine)
1/4 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
6 tablespoons vegetable or corn [...]

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ice Cream Sandwiches from Eating Outdoors by Country Living

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 quarts ice cream, slightly softened

Sift flour, cocoa, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. With an electric [...]

Key Lime-Cocoa Tartlets

Key Lime-Cocoa Tartlets (New Flavors for Dessert by Williams-Sonoma)
Cocoa Tartlet Dough:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes, at room temperature
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, and salt together in a bowl. In a food processor, [...]

Lavender-Scented Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies

Lavender-Scented Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies (adapted from Williams-Sonoma recipes)

2 cups pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla paste (or pure vanilla extract)
1/4 teaspoon fleur de sel (or kosher salt)
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces, at room temperature
Lavender Sugar, for dusting and rolling (www.thespicehouse.com)
Dried lavender for decorating

Sift the flour into a [...]

Lemon Ginger Sand Dollar Cookies

When I first came across this recipe, I knew that I would make these. Perhaps it was the combination of lemon and ginger that got me, or maybe my mind was already on our upcoming family vacation to South Carolina, where we always find sand dollars.
These are one of those thin, chewy, types of cookies. You can [...]

Maple Apple Tartlets

Maple Apple Tartlets (Eat Feed Autumn Winter by Anne Bramley)

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed (you will have one leftover in your package)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
3 small to medium baking apples
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. In a small bowl, mix the [...]