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Chocolate Mini Egg Cookies
It’s hard to believe it’s already the second week of April(!!) , and Easter is this weekend. My sense of time is a little messed up right now though, as I’ve been sick the past couple of weeks. Thankfully, I think I’m nearing the end of it — this weekend I finally had enough energy to do some baking. And these Chocolate Mini Egg Cookies were at the top of my list. A Chocolatey Treat for Easter When it comes to baking for Easter, chocolate isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. I think of carrot cake, pavlova, or maybe something lemony (like these Mini Lemon Cupcakes). But…
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Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookies
I don’t know about you, but I never stop wanting to bake (and eat) chocolate chip cookies. Don’t get me wrong, I love baking all kinds of treats (thus…this blog exists), but I’m always thinking of different kinds of chocolate chip cookies to make. (Case in point…check out the list at the end of this post) Anyway, these Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookies have been floating around in my brain for months, and I finally got around to making them and writing up the recipe. Nuts and Chocolate Are Besties If you’re not a nut lover, you probably won’t like these cookies. You could leave them out, I suppose, and you’d…
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Mint Chocolate Cupcakes
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the subtle power of comfort food. Maybe it’s the war in Ukraine, maybe it’s the fact that we’re coming up on two years of the pandemic, or maybe it’s any number of other difficult and scary things happening in the world. But whatever the reason, there’s something innately comforting about sharing food with those we love when we can’t control what’s happening around us. When I think about comforting desserts, I think of cake. Especially chocolate cake with a rich, creamy frosting. In that vein, I created these über-comforting Mint Chocolate Cupcakes. They’re perfect for St. Patty’s Day, but can offer a dose…
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Tiramisu Brownies
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Whether you like this particular holiday or not, you have to admit it’s a great excuse to eat chocolate. And although we don’t actually need an excuse to eat chocolate, it’s still a great reason to make — and eat — an over-the-top chocolate dessert. Our assignment for Valentine’s Day 2022: Tiramisu Brownies. Brownies…But Sexier Yep, these beauties are a mashup of brownies and tiramisu. Think deeply fudgy brownies with pieces of ladyfingers mixed in, then covered in a thick, creamy mascarpone-whipped-cream-Kahlua topping and a hearty dusting of cocoa powder. A decidedly sexier version of brownies…perfect for Valentine’s Day. The Fudgiest Brownies This…
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Lemon Drop Sugar Cookies
It’s officially citrus season, and I’m officially thrilled about that. I love that citrus season happens in the middle of winter — it’s like a kiss of summer sunshine during the coldest, darkest time of year. And, of course, I love citrus-flavored treats. This Grapefruit Pound Cake and these Mini Lemon Cupcakes are two of my favorites. These Lemon Drop Sugar Cookies are my newest addition to that list. Sugar Cookies: Wildly Underrated Sugar cookies don’t get the acclaim that they should in the dessert world. Really, apart from cut out cookies at Christmas, they don’t get much facetime at all. That’s a shame, because when done well, the sugar…
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Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake
This past Tuesday was my birthday (we won’t talk about how old that makes me…let’s just say I’m old enough to remember the first time stirrup pants were in style). I genuinely love my birthday. I always take the day off of work and do whatever I want. This year my plans were pretty low key, but they did include a spectacular cake. The past few years for my birthday, I’ve made my own cake…partly because I’m picky and partly because I just love doing it. Two years ago it was this Chocolate Cake With Earl Grey Buttercream and Salted Caramel, and last year it was Aroshaliny’s Persian Love Cake.…
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Top 10 Northern Ginger Recipes of 2021
At the risk of sounding cliché, I can’t believe another year is coming to a close. Weren’t we just here? It feels like the past year has gone by in a blur…and yet it was as full as a year can be, with friends, family, work, small adventures, and, of course, baking. As a way of looking back at 2021, I’ve gathered all of your favorite recipes from this year into one blog post. The following are the 10 northern ginger recipes you all made the most this year. #10 – Fig Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting This unassuming little cake made its debut last spring in celebration of my…
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Chocolate Peppermint Cream Pie
My living room is lit with twinkling lights, there are Christmas carols playing through the speakers of my record player, and my freezer is full to the brim with Christmas cookies. All sure signs that Christmas is coming soon. Now all that’s left is to plan my holiday meal, and maybe an extra-special treat for dessert. This Chocolate Peppermint Cream Pie will fit the bill nicely. Chocolate and Peppermint: A Match Made in Winter Somewhere around the beginning of November, or the first snowfall, or whichever arrives first, my tastebuds undergo a drastic change. They shift from craving pumpkin and cinnamon to a flavor combination that I’ve come to associate…
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Mini Apple Crumble Pies
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It’s my favorite holiday, because the only purpose of it is to gather with loved ones and eat. No presents, no pressure…just good food and good company. When I was growing up, my grandma made the pies (well, she made almost everything really). Every year there was her famous Pumpkin Pie, of course, and usually some kind of apple pie as well. As an adult, I now make my own pies for Thanksgiving. And while I always opt for my grandma’s pumpkin pie for the big day, sometimes I’ll make a second option — either this Maple Pecan Pie or some kind of apple…
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Holiday Gift Guide: My Favorite Pie-Baking Tools
Friends, if you haven’t started your holiday shopping yet, it’s time to get on it! Last November I put together a gift guide of my top 12 cookbooks. You all seemed to enjoy it, so this year I’ve got another one for you — my favorite pie-baking tools! Pie Pans First up, pie pans. There are a lot of opinions out there about which material makes the best pie pan. And do you know what? I think they all work great. Here are the ones I use the most. Glass Pie Dishes I have this glass pie dish from Pyrex (top left) and another one from Anchor Hocking (bottom right).…
Recipes and Musings from the Zenith City
