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…)

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…)

In my house, apples are a staple fruit year-round. Of course, they are not always eaten when they should be and, throughout the year, I end up having to try out all kinds of apple recipes so that none are put to waste. 

And this recipe is definitely a way to put apples to good use! It is light and sweet, while also being loaded with layers and layers of thinly cut apples. 

It has a soft crunch on the outer layer, similar to that of a bakery-style muffin, and is soft on the inside. A little bit of rum and vanilla also perfectly complement the apples for amazing flavor.  (more…)

Bananas are definitely a staple fruit in my house, but they are also the only fruit that seems to always be going bad. Maybe “going bad” is the wrong expression, but none of us like to eat them once they turn too soft and brown. 

Of course, brown bananas are amazing for many reason. Reason number being this pancake recipe. These pancakes are light and fluffy but also have the full flavor of the aromatic banana bread that we all know and love. 

In a lot of ways, these pancakes are even better than the classic bread. First of all, there’s the instant gratification: no need to wait an hour for this to bake and no need at all to wait for it to cool (because pancakes are also hotcakes).  (more…)

Technically, summer doesn’t end until September 22nd, and summer berries are still at the grocery stores, so I’d say that now is as good a time as ever to take advantage.

And if you decide to make this cake after berries have long gone out of season, don’t worry! This can be served with any of your favorite fruits, or you could even make a berry syrup from frozen berries.

But really, the fruit is just a side note. This cake here is the star of the show. It’s soft and spongy, due to a generous serving of yogurt in its batter. It’s also got a sweet, buttery, citrusy flavor to it. Basically, it’s a perfect coffee cake to have on any occasion. (more…)

During the year, breakfasts at my house are normally pretty rushed with everyone either heading off to work or school, but during the summer we have much more time to relax and the result is some pretty good food. 

This Mango Raspberry Cobbler is one such example. It’s not hard at all to make, but it does require 30 minutes in the oven and it needs to cool down a bit afterwards, so it’s not something that can be made in a hurry. 

But the mango and raspberries just complement each other perfectly, both tangy and sweet. And the crumble topping is light and almost granola-like, adding a wonderful crunch into the mix. (more…)

Maybe this isn’t the best post-Thanksgiving recipe — unless you still have guests at your house, waiting to be served something amazing for breakfast (something to refresh them after a long night/morning of Black Friday shopping). 

This is a relatively simple yeasted bread, something much less labor-intensive than homemade cinnamon rolls, though very similar in taste. This is somewhat similar to monkey bread (for those who’ve tried that) because chunks of dough are thrown together with cinnamon-sugar filling in between. 

Either way, this is a great brunch item, since it does take some time to wait for the dough to rise and, later, to bake.  (more…)

If you like having lazy weekend mornings but still want a delicious, warm breakfast, then you should definitely try out these yeasted overnight pancakes. 

This recipe is from one of the latest books I’m reviewing: Homemade Decadence. Book review and recipe below! 

(more…)

Do you love crème brûlée? Need a faster way to create that delicious flavor? Then crème anglaise is just the thing for you! 

It taste great as a topping for any and all fruits (pictured here are some roasted plums!). The cream can also be used as a light dipping sauce, such as for cakes (angel food) or even at breakfast with french toast or pancakes. Or just have a spoonful straight (I mean, is it really that different than eating a half cup of crème brûlée? I don’t think so). Really, the options are endless. 

In this post I will also be reviewing Sugar Rush, an amazing cookbook by Johnny Iuzzini with Wes Martin. Continue reading for the review and the recipe the crème anglaise recipe adapted from the book!  (more…)