Jackie's Delectable Delights

Scones seem simple, but they’re actually an extremely delicate treat. If the dough is too warm or too wet, your scones come out like cookies. Too dry, and they come out cakey. 

This matcha scones recipe took a couple takes — not only with texture, but also perfecting the flavor and sweetness level.  (more…)

Peanut butter cookies are classic, and these are made even better with the addition of peanut butter chips! 

These cookies are slightly softer than the regular peanut butter variety and still have that amazing salty-sweet crunch.  (more…)

When it comes to desserts, it’s how well you make the simple things that show your mastery. There are no crazy flavors or fancy sprinkles to mask your mistakes. Your pastry stands on its own.

Simplicity is a form of honesty. (more…)

Pancakes are a weekend staple in my house, so my list of pancake recipes are endless (peach pancakes, pumpkin pancakes, or my perfect chocolate chip pancakes…). Each pancake recipe is special and unique, and what makes this one amazing is that it’s gluten free without the use of any weird kinds of flours. 

All you do for these pancakes is grind some oats, mix with milk, eggs, oil and a couple other ingredients. Add some chocolate chips to make these just a tad sweeter, and serve with some maple syrup!  (more…)

Cornbread is a special treat. It’s one of the few things that you really can’t buy in stores; sure, there’s a box mix, but you can’t buy fresh, warm home-style cornbread at most grocery stores, and bakeries don’t tend to carry it either. 

Actually, the other day I stopped in at Whole Foods and saw that they had small squares of cornbread wrapped in plastic. It was pretty cheap so I went ahead and bought a piece, but as soon as I opened it I was disappointed: it was too dry, and when I tasted it, it was just too bland. 

Even if the only way to enjoy good cornbread is to make it at home, that’s not at all a problem with this super amazing cornbread recipe! This bread is soft and cakey, with a nice crumb due to the addition of real corn. (more…)

I had a 10am meeting the other day and I woke up craving something sweet, but knew we didn’t have anything good already made (actually, this is a constant problem and, honestly, it’s the only reason I bake). So I sat for a minute on our living room couch, thinking about what I could make that might satisfy my sweet tooth but also be fast enough to whip up and enjoy before I had to leave.

Cookies? Muffins? Cake? How about chocolate? We also had those oranges sitting on the counter… (more…)

These are by far the easiest chocolate chip cookies I have ever made. You don’t need a mixer to cream the butter, you don’t need to use two types of sugar — you don’t even need a bowl to mix the dough! All you need is a small saucepan, a spoon, and (optionally) a whisk. 

These cookies take less than 10 minutes to bake, they’re crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They have a soft crumb and marbled chocolate throughout.  (more…)

After many years of French classes, Kings Cakes aren’t a foreign concept to me. These cakes are traditional to New Orleans and they have their own season: from the Epiphany (King’s Day, January 6th) through Mardi Gras. 

The cake is normally made with a rich, buttery dough and topped with a milk glaze. They can be made plain, with a cinnamon filling, or, more recently, with a variety of other fillings like chocolate, cream cheese or fruit.  (more…)

One of my best friend’s birthday was last week so, of course, I offered to bake the cake for her special day. I asked if she had any specific flavors in mind and she told me that she loves strawberries.

With this in mind, I went to brainstorming on recipe ideas. One of my all-time favorite cakes is this cookies and cream cake, layered with an oreo whipped cream. And strawberries taste great with whipped cream… (more…)

This cake tastes like winter. I’m writing this as I look out the window at bright skies and a forecast of 50-plus degrees here in Michigan this weekend, but I made this a couple days ago when there was still snow on the ground and the sun was nowhere to be found. 

But this cake is the ultimate wintertime dessert. It’s cozy, served toasty in a cast iron skillet. Top it with some whipped cream or a rich scoop of ice cream for a supreme comfort-food experience. Use it to warm yourself up on a cold day!

The spices only add to the caramel decadence: cinnamon, allspice, ginger, cloves…  (more…)