ONE // Perfect Chocolate Cookies
Recipe + Photo Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma "Taste"
Click here to get the recipe!
Tips for cookies—
1. Use a standing mixer rather than a hand mixer for the most even texture.
2. Mix in any kind of sweet chips (chocolate, butterscotch), crumbled candy or soft texture nuts. Harder nuts like peanuts don't bake well with this batter.
3. Use a melon baller for perfectly even-sized cookies.
TWO // Ferrero Rocher Cupcake
Recipe + Photo Courtesy of Something Splendid
Click here to get the recipe!
Tips for cupcakes—
1. Don't use almond extract in this recipe as it leaves a bitter aftertaste. Replace it with more vanilla extract.
2. This cake dries out easily, so be sure to pull it out of the oven as soon as you think it is done. Cupcakes cook a little more as they cool, so you won't have to worry about mushy centers.
3. Do not put the ganache into the cupcakes until everything has cooled. This may entail waiting an hour or so. The ganache will be too runny if it is warm.
THREE // Lemon Bars
Recipe + Photo via Something Swanky based on Ina Garten's Recipe
Click here to get the recipe!
Tips for lemon bars—
1. Lemon bars take a long time to prepare. Don't skip the cooling steps or risk a mushy crust, rather than the flaky goodness that makes lemon bars look so good.
2. It is easy to over-cook the lemon bar filling. This recipe suggests baking for 30-35 minutes but I have found it takes more like 20 minutes (I overcooked mine at first). If you overcook, the filling will form a crust that bubbles a little bit (does not look nice).
3. Let lemon bars cool before dusting with powdered sugar (or else it melts).
FOUR // Maple Donuts with Almond Butter Glaze (Vegan + Gluten Free!)
Recipe + Photo Courtesy of The First Mess
Click here to get the recipe!
Tips for making donuts—
1. Use mini bundt cake tins or a donut pan, but keep in time that the smaller the pan, the quicker the donuts cook. The first time I made these, I made simple donut holes which I baked for too long, making them dry.
2. You might need to soften the almond butter in the microwave before making the glaze. To do this, microwave for 20-second intervals and stir vigorously.
3. Make sure to wait for the donuts to cool before you glaze them. Warm donuts absorb all of the glaze.
FIVE // Banana Bread
Photo and Recipe Courtesy of Alexandra's Kitchen
Click here to get the recipe!
Tips for banana bread—
1. The riper the bananas, the sweeter (therefore, yummier) your bread will turn out. I usually make this with bananas so ripe I wouldn't eat them plain.
2. This is another recipe you don't want to overcook— in fact, when in doubt I leave it a little undercooked, which leaves things moist.
3. To extend the life of your banana bread, place the heel of a loaf of bread on top and cover with foil. Replace the piece of bread often so your loaf stays moist and flavorful.
xoxo,
Ashley
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