a baker's dozen
summer edition
Hello, hello! Today we’re talking thirteen recent bakes. Many weeks ago during Easter weekend, my family placed my late grandmother’s domed cake pedestal on the counter, and we’ve yet to put it away because my grubby little hands just can’t stand still! Cookies, cakes, and crackers have graced the humble cake stand, as well as muffins, brownies, and scones, and my to-do list before the big move might grow even longer if I continue baking at this rate instead of getting stuff done.
I began baking in high school as a way to cope with my teenage stress—social drama, calculus homework, crew or track practice…the usual. Most of my Friday nights were spent in the kitchen working on banana bread batter or granola cookie dough. This was the age of refined-sugar-free this and gluten-free that, and although I no longer subscribe to the idea that everything you eat—especially dessert—has to be nutritious, the aforementioned granola cookie recipe is still a banger. (And yes, I was super fun and very popular back then.)
These bakes are by no means built for summer, but a craving for a hot and gooey brownie can hit you even when it’s in the high eighties and humid outside. Plus, name a better way to spend a gloomy afternoon than snuggled up with the fruits of your labor fresh from the oven.
Chocolate Chip Muffins
When my younger sister came home from school she requested that an army of cupcakes welcome her. I told her the best I could do on short notice was muffins. This recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction did not disappoint. Nutmeg + chocolate + sugar = happiness. We still have a couple on hand in the freezer in case of emergencies.
Chewy Hazelnut Brownies
Speaking from experience, one of the best ways to beat the June Gloom is with chocolate. I cracked open my ancient King Arthur Baking Company cookbook and learned all about the process of crafting the world’s chewiest brownie. (Spoiler: just add less eggs than you usually would). I added hazelnuts to give it that special something, but honestly the edges complimented the gooey center cuts just fine enough. (Please like my TikTok here.)
English Cream Scones
Maura and I have been watching a lot of Barefoot Contessa. We especially love the episodes when Jeffery makes an appearance, but the one I couldn’t stop drooling over was when Emily Blunt paid Ina a visit. And these scones graced Emily with their presence. I overmixed them just a bit, resulting in a batter-like dough, but they were still scrumdiddlyumptious. (Alright, another shameless TikTok plug.)
Upside-Down Puff Pastries with Rough Puff Pastry
Back in May when the upside-down pastry trend took over TikTok, I used it as the perfect excuse to try my hand at homemade puff pastry. Lucky for me, the queen of desserts, Claire Saffitz, turned an intimidating piece of pastry into a relaxing afternoon. And of course I filmed a TikTok to immortalize my hard work.
No-Knead Bread
Okay fine, you caught me! I’m a sucker for a TikTok trend! I’m also a sucker for any bread recipe that promises I won’t have to do any kneading, and this one comes out perfectly every time. Make it just in time for guests to arrive and your house will smell like heaven on earth.
Chocolate Hazelnut Shortbread
I have more hazelnuts than I know what to do with, so if you have any ideas, please share them. This shortbread recipe from Jesse Szewczyk puts them to good use. If you love Nutella, you’ll want to eat these every night for dessert. (Similar linked here because I can’t find the recipe online, soz.)
Old Fashioned Strawberry Cake
Okay, we’ve reached the portion of the newsletter where I beg you to actually make something. If you only bake one thing all summer long, let it be this cake from Alison Roman. My dad literally walked all the way from one TV to another to tell me it was the best thing I’ve ever baked. It’s almost indescribable, so I’ll let Alison do the talking: “The taste of a cake donut haunts me. Its vaguely vanilla flavor, deeply golden exterior, crumbly-yet-compact interior is hard to get without a fryer. Yet somehow this cake comes extremely close.”
Grandma Molly’s Taralli
And now, something for those of you who don’t have a sweet tooth. But, come on. Seriously? When my dad was going through some of my grandparents’ things he came across a piece of paper inscribed with a recipe from his Grandma Molly, so naturally he gave it to me. It’s a wonderful little keepsake of my Pop Pop’s handwriting, so naturally I’ll cherish it forever. I’ll also cherish the recipe. It’s for an Italian cracker/pretzel snack that I am calling taralli, but some family members call it frizzelle. Whatever they’re called, they’re delicious, and we finished an entire batch in a day.
Thin & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
I’m pretty much always in the mood for a chocolate chip cookie. One night Maura and I just couldn’t go to bed without having one, so we just made a batch using the recipe right on the back of a bag of Nestle chocolate chips. For some added pizazz we melted the butter and added flaky salt.
Marbled Sheet Cake with Ermine Frosting
The cookbooks I turn to the most are Claire Saffitz’s Dessert Person and What’s for Dessert, hence Claire’s popularity on this list. On Memorial Day I was in the mood to bake and my sister was in the mood for sheet cake so we tackled this project together. Sometimes you just need to bake a cake and make frosting for no reason at all! Adulthood is truly wonderful. I’m noting the type of frosting used here because it’s one I’ve never made nor heard of before What’s for Dessert. You start making it over the stove and you never have to crack an egg. In the end you’re left with a slightly sweet silky layer that’s just dying to be covered in rainbow sprinkles.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ope! We’ve got another CCC recipe! This time around I wanted to bake something to send to my boyfriend, and nothing tastes or travels better than a batch of cookies. I spent a good hour on Broma Bakery’s website in search of the perfect recipe, but in the end I went with a classic. Recipe is here.
Lemon Olive Oil Cake
To be fair, I did not make this recipe during the summer, but that doesn’t mean I won’t! I visited my grandmother in late April and could not arrive empty handed. I whipped up an olive oil cake from Dorie Greenspan just before I left and let it cool during the three-hour drive. This would be really good topped with peaches and whipped cream.
Crystallized Meyer Lemon Bundt Cake
This is another bake from April. Sorry. But it’s perfect for summer! A Meyer lemon bundt cake soaked in lemon simple syrup. From Claire. Need I say more?
Yumbo!
Keep that cake dome going. It’s not only full of cookies and cake but you’re also putting lots of love. ❤️