Category: BREADS, BISCUITS & MUFFINS

COOKING THURSDAY ~ BAKERY STYLE RAISIN BRAN MUFFINS ~ BLOG 365.176C

Years ago when I had a very long daily commute I would often stop at a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf mid trip for a coffee and bran muffin. They had the most amazing bran muffins and I have spent years trying to get this recipe just right and have finally done it!! They are moist and chewy with bursts of juiciness from the plump raisins.

BAKERY STYLE HONEY RAISIN BRAN MUFFINS Yields 12 muffins

HONEY GLAZE
5 tablespoons packed brown sugar
5 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
2 teaspoons water
pinch kosher salt

  • Whisk together granulated sugar, brown sugar, honey, melted butter, water and pinch of salt. Set aside.

MUFFINS
1 cup AP flour
1 cup oat bran or wheat bran, they are interchangeable, but I prefer oat bran
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
⅓ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup QUALITY honey
2 tablespoons molasses unsulphured
1 cup golden rum soaked raisins
¼ cup avocado oil
1 LARGE egg, room temperature
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 ½ – 3 teaspoons orange zest

  • Preheat your oven to 350°.
  • Spray muffin tin well with Baker’s Joy.
In a separate bowl whisk together flour, bran, salt, baking powder, and baking soda until combined. Set aside. 
In another bowl mix together brown sugar, honey, molasses and oil until smooth.
  • Add egg, water, heavy cream and orange zest.
  • Slowly add your dry ingredients with a mixer on low speed until mixed.
  • Fold in raisins

ASSEMBLY

  • Stir glaze.
  • Add 2/3 of a tablespoon of glaze into bottom of each muffin cup, spreading it around and up the sides, this will ensure that distribution of the glaze is even and gets all over that muffin!
  • Fill muffin cups 2/3 full of batter. DO NOT OVER FILL!
  • Place muffin tin on baking sheet in case of overflow.
  • Brush tops with any remaining glaze.
  • Bake 20 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Lay a parchment paper over your cooling rack.
  • Immediately invert muffin tin onto parchment paper to release the muffins.


BAKERY STYLE LEMON POPPY SEED MUFFINS ~ BLOG 365.176B

BAKERY STYLE LEMON POPPY SEED MUFFINS Yields 12 muffins

MUFFINS
3 cups AP flour
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup plain whole milk yogurt
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon
1 1/2 tablespoon grated lemon zest
2 LARGE eggs
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

  • Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375°.
  • Grease muffin tin or Lin with papers.
  • Whisk flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, lemon zest, and eggs until smooth.
  • Gently fold yogurt mixture into flour mixture JUST until combined.
  • Fold in melted butter. DO NOT OVER MIX – if you do muffins will be dense.
  • Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups.
  • Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, rotating muffin tin halfway through baking.

GLAZE
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup FRESH lemon juice
coarse sugar for sprinkling, optional

  • While muffins are baking, simmer sugar and lemon juice together 3-5 minutes in a small saucepan over medium heat until it turns into a light syrup.
  • Remove muffin tin to a wire rack.
  • Brush with lemon syrup.
  • Sprinkle with coarse sugar.
  • Let muffins cool in tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool for another 10 minutes before serving.

COOKING THURSDAY ~ BANANA BREAD CINNAMON ROLLS ~ BLOG 365.169D

BANANA BREAD CINNAMON ROLLS Yield: 12 rolls
Prep Time: 1 hour
Rise Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

DOUGH
4 cups AP flour
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons Rapid Rise yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2/3 cup mashed overripe banana

  • In a large bowl combine 2 cups of the flour, brown sugar, yeast, cinnamon and salt in a bowl, mixing to combine.
  • In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the milk and butter for 30 seconds until warm and the butter is mostly melted. The mixture should be warm, BUT NOT HOT! If it is too hot you’ll kill the yeast and it won’t rise.
  • Add the warm milk and butter along with the mashed banana to the flour mixture.
  • Beat on low speed, gradually increasing to high until completely combined, about 2 minutes.
  • Scrape down the bowl and add 1 more cup of flour, beating until combined.
  • Add the remaining 4th cup of flour a little at a time until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl and form a ball.
  • Turn the dough out onto a well floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth – until you can stretch a piece of dough out between your fingers without it breaking. YAY this means the gluten has completely developed!
  • Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and cover with a tea towel in a warm place to let rise 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.

FILLING
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt

  • Make the filling while the dough rises. Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside.

ASSEMBLY for BAKING

  • Once the dough has risen, roll it out into an 18X12 inch long rectangle on a well floured surface.
  • Spread the butter for the filling all the way to the edge of the dough.
  • Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the butter, pressing it down to stick to the butter.
  • From the long end, roll the dough away from you into a tight roll, sealing the bottom edge down by pinching the dough together.
  • Use floss or a sharp knife to cut the dough into 12 even rolls.
  • Place the rolls in a 9×13 inch baking dish oiled and lined with parchment paper.
  • Cover loosely with a tea towel and allow to rise for another hour until doubled in size and puffed up.
  • Bake the cinnamon rolls at 350° for 30 minutes or until they are golden brown and no longer doughy.
  • Allow to cool.

FROSTING
1/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon WHOLE milk
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
pinch of salt

  • While the rolls cool, make the frosting.
  • Combine the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, milk, salt and vanilla extract on low speed, gradually increasing to high until light and fluffy.
  • Spread the icing evenly over the slightly warm rolls.
  • Enjoy!

 

COOKING THURSDAY ~ PINEAPPLE CHERRY BREAD PUDDING – BLOG 365.141B

PINEAPPLE PEACH or CHERRY BREAD PUDDING is a summer dessert that’s bursting with pineapple and peach flavor, but can be easily converted to just about any flavor you want for any time of the year! Small wild blueberries are a winter favorite.

8 cups sourdough bread, cubed
3 LARGE eggs
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup pineapple yogurt
1 cup WHOLE milk
2 cups Sugar

1 LARGE can pineapple, WELL drained
1 1/2 cups FRESH peaches or cherries, peeled, pitted and diced *(see note)
½ cups chopped pecans or toasted almonds
1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon or Finishing sugar

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl beat 3 eggs, add melted butter, yogurt and milk. Add 2 cups sugar slowly, stirring until it is dissolved. Add peaches and bread, mixing well.
  • Allow mixture to soak into bread 30 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
  • Pour the bread mixture into 9×13 baking dish, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture or finishing sugar. Cover loosely with buttered foil and Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the foil, sprinkle with the pecans and bake until the top is golden and the center is set, 20 to 25 minutes longer.

CARAMEL SAUCE
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup brown sugar

  • In a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together the butter, heavy cream, and brown sugar, bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to low, simmer until the sauce thickens, for about 5 minutes.
  • Pour over individual bread pudding servings.
  • Top with vanilla ice cream.

NOTE: You can use canned fruit or even frozen fruit. If using canned fruit, be sure to drain them EXTRA well. If I use these I start the draining the night before and just cover them in the fridge over night. If using frozen, thaw them overnight and then drain well.

COOKING THURSDAY ~ FRENCH TOAST MUFFINS ~ BLOG 365.92A

These light and fluffy streusel tops muffins taste just like French toast in muffin form!

FRENCH TOAST MUFFINS

STREUSEL
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup PACKED brown sugar
1 cup AP flour
2 tablespoons QUALITY ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup small wild blueberries, optional

  • In a bowl, add the melted butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt and mix together with a fork until crumbles form. Set aside.

MUFFINS
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon kosher salt

  • Preheat the oven to 425°.
  • Line a JUMBO muffin tin with liners or grease the wells generously with JOY baking spray.
  • In a LARGE mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

⅓ cup unsalted butter melted
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs room temperature
⅓ cup sour cream room temperature
1 cup whole milk room temperature

  • In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, vegetable oil, sugar, vanilla and eggs until thoroughly combined.
  • Add the sour cream and milk and whisk JUST until incorporated.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula, scraping the sides as you go to combine the two mixtures JUST until combined.

ASSEMBLY

  • Fill each muffin cup halfway with batter, then distribute half the streusel on top.
  • Top with more batter until the muffin cup is almost full.
  • Sprinkle the remaining streusel over each muffin.

  • Bake for 25 minutes until cooked through. Adjust timing to less if making regular size muffins.
  • Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool for another 5-10 minutes before enjoying.

COOKING THURSDAY ~ GREEN ONION & CHEDDAR CORN BREAD ~ 2026 BLOG 365.29B

This super moist, sweet and flavorful cornbread is the perfect side for all your favorite soups, stews and chili recipes. 

GREEN ONION & CHEDDAR CORN BREAD

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 25 minutes
Rest Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

1 cup AP flour
3/4 cup fine yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon FRESH ground sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup WHOLE milk
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 LARGE egg
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup sliced green onions

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Grease a 9-inch square baking pan.
  • Whisk together flour, cornmeal, brown sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl. Make a well in the center.
  • 
In another bowl whisk together milk, vinegar, melted butter, egg and honey.
  • Add to the well in the flour mixture and gently stir together JUST until combined. DO NOT OVER MIX!

  • Fold in 1 1/4 cup of the cheese and most of the green onions, reserving some of the dark green slices.
  • Spread batter in prepared pan.
  • Sprinkle remaining cheese and the reserved green onions on top.
  • 
Bake 25 minutes until edges of cornbread are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool in pan at least 15 minutes before cutting.
  • Serve warm with FRESH whipped butter and your favorite soup, stew or chili.

APPLE PIE DUMPLINGS ~ BLOG 365.289

Grams called these Apple Dumplings. The new rage on Facebook calls them Apple Pie Rings. Grams spent time making homemade dough with love and wrap whole apples, but you can cheat and use boxed puff pastry. Grams also used whole eggs for the wash. Either way they are perfect comfort food for fall!

APPLE PIE DUMPLINGS servings: 10 pies

1 box puff pastry sheets 
2 LARGE apples (Granny Smith, Pink Lady or Cosmic are great choices)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon QUALITY ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons egg whites
Juice of 2 LARGE lemons

  • Thaw puff pastry.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°.
  • Peel and core the apples to a 1 inch center hole diameter if you want the circle to be large enough to thread the puff pastry through for the pumpkin looking ring. Otherwise the rings can just be wrapped evenly.
  • Slice into rounds.
  
  • Add the lemon juice to a large bowl of water just deep enough to cover the apple slices.
  • Unfold the puff pastry and roll it until it is slightly larger.
  • Cut the puff pastry into 1/2 inch strips.
  • Mix together the cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg in a shallow dish. Set aside.
  • Pat the apple slices dry with a paper towel and dust them with a bit of cinnamon sugar.
  • Wrap strips of the puff pastry (3-4 strips per apple ring) around each apple ring.
  • Brush the wrapped apple rings with egg wash on both sides.
  • Dip the rings into the remaining cinnamon sugar.
  • Place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until puff pastry is flaky and light golden brown.
  • Cool for 10 minutes before serving.


NOTE:  DO NOT skip the egg wash; it makes the cinnamon sugar stick to the puff pastry.

HAWAIIAN BANANA BREAD ~ BLOG 365.114

HAWAIIAN BANANA BREAD adapted from SMART SCHOOL HOUSE

yields 2 loaves or 22-24 cupcakes

This updated and fresh version of banana bread will make your gram’s old version move to the back of your recipe file! The pineapple, coconut and drunken raisins give this a new outlook on banana bread and will become your go to recipe!

2 cups AP flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 LARGE eggs
1/4 cup Malibu rum
1/3 cup golden raisins
1 VERY ripe banana, mashed
20 ounce can of crushed pineapple in juice, not drained
¼ cup shredded coconut, sweetened

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Prepare loaf pans with non-stick spray (Baker’s Joy is best) or parchment paper.
  • Pour rum over the raisins and set aside for 10 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set Aside.
  • 
In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar on low speed until creamy.
  • 
Add eggs and continue to gently mix until incorporated.

  • Add and slowly mix in the mashed banana and pineapple.

  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
  • Drain raisins of any excess liquid and save the liquid to make yourself a drink 🙂
  • 
Fold in the shredded coconut and raisins.

  • Pour batter into loaf pans.
  • 
Bake for 1 hour until toothpick comes out clean.

  • Allow the bread to cool COMPLETELY before removing it from the pan!


 

PUMPKIN PULL-APARTS (LOAF) ~ BLOG 366.355

This EASY Pumpkin Pull-Apart Loaf starts with canned biscuits for an easy breakfast recipe, but no one will even know that. It’s like having pumpkin pie for breakfast! And it can easily be made into muffins! I use my mini-cheesecake pan that makes them easy to get out of the pan. The glaze is great on it, but COMPLETELY optional as they are perfect alone!

EASY PUMPKIN PULL-APART LOAF/MUFFINS

BREAD
3/4 cup pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie mix
1/2 cup granulated sugar divided
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 LARGE egg
1 can 8 count Pillsbury Grands Biscuits (homestyle or buttermilk, NOT flaky)
1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Spray an 8×4 or 9×5 loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Stir together the pumpkin puree, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and egg. Set aside.
  • Open the can of biscuits and slice each in half horizontally.
  • Stir together remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
  • Coat each slice of raw biscuit dough with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Lay one slice of dough flat. Spread some pumpkin mixture on top, then place another biscuit piece on top. Add more pumpkin mixture and continue stacking, spreading, and layering until you’re out of biscuits and pumpkin. Place carefully into the pan.
  • Bake for about 20-25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the center is cooked through.
  • Cool before glazing.

NOTE: To make this recipe as muffins I used 5 pieces of biscuits in a mini cheesecake pan or a texas muffin size pan.

GLAZE (optional)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream or milk

  • To make the glaze: whisk the powdered sugar, cinnamon, and heavy whipping cream until a smooth sauce forms.
  • Drizzle over loaf, pull apart, and serve.
  • Store loosely covered for up to 2 days.

NOTES:

  • The center shouldn’t be raw, but will be moist and gooey.
  • If the top starts to brown too fast, cover with foil and reduce oven temperature to 325°.

HOT HONEY CORNBREAD ~ BLOG 366.324

HOT HONEY CORNBREAD

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Spray a 10 inch pan with non stick spray.

2 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoon QUALITY honey

  • Whisk butter and honey together.
  • Pour into bottom of prepared pan evenly.

2 cups buttermilk
2 LARGE eggs
1 tablespoon PURE vanilla extract
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons sour cream

  • Whisk together the buttermilk and eggs until smooth in a large bowl.
  • Add vanilla, sour cream and melted butter, whisking until well blended.

2 cups AP flour
2 cups cornmeal
1 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

  • Sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt.
  • Gradually whisk into the large bowl of wet ingredients.
  • Pour on top of honey butter mixture and spread smooth.
  • Bake 20 minutes or cooked through.
  • Cool 5 minutes before inverting onto platter.
  • Serve immediately with honey butter.

HONEY BUTTER
4 tablespoons butter, softened
6 tablespoons QUALITY honey

  • Whisk together in small ramekin for serving with cornbread.

NOTE: HEINZ has a variety of infused honeys that can seriously amp up the flavor of this bread.

PEANUT BUTTER BREAD ~ BLOG 366.317

I found another antique vintage recipe worth the time and effort to decipher the old card and recreate. On the card is the printed name of Vonnie McGinnis in the bottom right corner, but I can’t find any reference to her anywhere. It’s rare that I actually get a name to go with the recipe so I wish I could have found information on her. From the appearance of the card I’d say it’s from the 1940’s or 1950’s.

PEANUT BUTTER BREAD

TOPPING
2 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1/3-1/2 cup Planters dry roasted, salted peanuts (this is a preferred choice as the card only said “peanuts”)
1 tablespoon water

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Spread butter into the bottom of bread loaf pan.
  • Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar over the butter.
  • Chop peanuts to desired consistency.
  • Evenly sprinkle the chopped peanuts over the brown sugar.
  • Sprinkle the water on top of the peanuts.
  • Set aside.

BATTER
1 LARGE egg
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 cup sour milk (making sour milk)
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

  • Beat egg and add sugar gradually until well blended.
  • Add butter and peanut butter.
  • Add milk, stirring until smooth.
  • Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  • Gradually stir in flour mixture until well blended.
  • Bake 1 hour until toothpick comes out clean. I start checking it at 45 minutes to make sure it doesn’t burn.
  • Cool a few minutes before inverting on a serving platter.
  • Enjoy.

NOTES: After making the recipe “as written” I’ve decided that melting the butter and “painting” it all the way up the sides of a DEEP loaf pan is best as it rises quite a bit.

The recipe was absolutely delicious, but the “glaze” part was quite dry and came close to burning on the bottom. So, now I make the cake in reverse usually and added this RICH AND CREAMY peanut butter glaze. This really makes a simple dessert quite elegant.

PEANUT BUTTER GLAZE

½ cup JIF creamy peanut butter
1½ cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons PURE vanilla extract
6-8 tablespoons WHOLE milk or half-n-half

  • Combine the peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
  • Slowly add the milk one tablespoon at a time, beating continuously until you reach the desired consistency. We like it fairly thin.
  • Drizzle the glaze over the COMPLETELY cooled cake.

LEMON BLUEBERRY SCONES ~ BLOG 366.236

Prior to last week, I had only rarely had a scone and they were always a dry, crumbly and plain. I truly never understood the appeal. Then last week I saw some at a local farm stand that looked so delectable I decided to give Tham a try again. THEY WERE DELICIOUS!!!!!! So I started searching for the perfect recipe and I found one that with a few tweaks is so YUMMY! They are sweet, tangy and filled with bursts of blueberry flavor. Don’t forget the glaze!

GLAZED LEMON BLUEBERRY SCONES adapted from LOVE NERDS

SCONES yields 8 scones
2 cups flour
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons COLD butter
1/2 cup WHOLE milk
1/4 cup FRESH lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
2 tablespoons FRESH lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon PURE Vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon PURE Almond extract
1 cup FRESH plump blueberries

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  • 
Dice the COLD butter into smaller cubes. You can also use a box grater to make pieces a bit smaller.
  • Cut the butter pieces into the dry ingredients until it all resembles coarse wet sand.
    BE PATIENT! It might take a little time but the butter will break down into the mix.
  • Stir in milk, vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest until moistened. **see note**
  • Pat the dough into an even layer on your floured work surface.
  • Sprinkle the dough with the blueberries, and GENTLY fold the blueberries into the dough without squishing them.
  • By hand, form the dough into a rectangle 1 inch thick. Once again be careful not to break the blueberries.
  • Cut the rectangle in half making 2 squares.
  • Cut each square diagonally in both directions so you have 4 triangles.
  • Place scones 2 inches apart onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet.
  • Bake 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Cool slightly and drizzle with Lemon glaze.

LEMON GLAZE
1/2 cup powder sugar
1 tablespoon FRESH lemon juice
Pinch of lemon zest

  • Whisk ingredients in a small bowl, adjusting lemon juice to taste and to get the consistency you need: a little more lemon juice for thinner glaze and a little less lemon juice or more powdered sugar for a thicker glaze.

NOTE**: If your dough is a little dry I use ice cold vodka in the dough to make it come together. The vodka will evaporate during the baking process.