Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, I’m going full-on Christmas mode. Granted, my house has been decorated for two weeks, we’ve already made a gingerbread house, and the Jonas Brothers’ Christmas single has been played like 342 times, but still. Our last Christmas was hectic and abrupt because of our move, and I’ve been determined to make the biggest deal out of it this year (#momlife). To get things going in a festive direction, I’m sharing this pear almond cake today! Let’s talk all about it.
This is a one-bowl butter and sour cream-based bundt cake loaded with chopped pears and a sweet streusel and glaze. Cakes like this always read coffee cake to me, which basically makes it an appropriate choice for breakfast, brunch, snack, or dessert. Is there anything better than a green light for dessert all day long? NOPE. To make it, simply cream butter and sugar in a large bowl before adding eggs and extract. The dry ingredients come next and alternate in with sour cream. Finally, the chopped pears are folded in and the cake is ready to be topped with streusel.
This pear almond cake is seriously dense and hearty. The pears help to offset sweetness and add a ton of moisture. The end product is a cake that is super fruit-foward and great for munching on all day long. I’m sharing today’s recipe over on Stemilt’s blog! Stemilt is is a leading Washington state grower, packer, and shipper of fruit including apples, pears, cherries, and more. Each quarter, I’ve been developing recipes for their blog using their best in-season fruits. This month, I got my hands on their Anjou Pears and thought a sweet and simple pear almond cake would make for a delicious treat to enjoy all season long. Head to their site at the link below to read all about it and give the recipe a try! I can’t wait to hear what you think. Have a great week and tune in later this week for a second (!!!) recipe!
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted a layer cake which is weird kind of since we’re all about celebrations here. As the ever-wise Julia Child once said, “A party without a cake is just a meeting,” so let’s celebrate, shall we? I have a seriously yummy (and celebratory!) almond toffee cake to share with you today, and I can’t wait to dive in!
To be clear, we’re not celebrating anything super specific. Earlier this week I received some good(ish?) news about a project I’ve been working on. It wasn’t anything big, just encouragement that I really needed. A friend and her family came over for dinner later that evening, and we decided the news was worth celebrating, not because I had reached any specific end goal but because I had endured long enough to see signs of breakthrough. Initially I thought it may be premature to ring the bells for just a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel but I also know that sometimes we need to celebrate that fact that we’re still standing. So celebrate I did.
“What a good day to be proud of all the progress I’ve made.”
Life isn’t all just peak and valley moments. There’s plenty of opportunities for little victories in between, and I think if we don’t stop to acknowledge where we are we rob ourselves the opportunity to experience joy. To be proud of ourselves. To be grateful for how far we’ve come. A friend of mine recently shared a quote that I thought was fitting: “What a good day to be proud of all the progress I’ve made.” Isn’t that the truth? We’re always in progress, and that process is definitely worth celebrating.
So here’s a raised glass to you, your progress, and the shoulders you stood on to get where you are today. My hope is that you’re inching closer to victory every day, even if it feels like you’re moving at a snail’s pace. Don’t miss your opportunity to be proud of your successes, you perseverance, and everything in between. Now let’s pick up our forks and chew on this almond toffee cake. I promise you’re going to love it.
Almond Toffee Cake
I love toffee- crunchy yet intensely buttery and smooth all at the same time. Here, in this decadent star of a dessert, fluffy layers of vanilla cake sandwich a sweet chocolate frosting and bits of caramelized almond crunch. This cake has a really well-rounded flavor and texture to boot, so if you like a dessert that has it all you’ve come to the right place.
If’ you’ve never made toffee before, trust me when I say YOU CAN DO THIS. The process can be a little intimidating, but if you read through the instructions and prepare for the candy-ing process well you’ll be just fine. This almond toffee is ridiculously worth the effort, and with any luck you’ll have a little extra leftover to munch on while you frost your cake. I call that a win.
I’m sharing today’s recipe with my friends at Kerrygold. The butter flavor in the dessert is so prominent that using a premium butter was a must. With butter in both the cake layers, toffee, and frosting, this almond toffee cake is seriously buttery and the perfect treat to transition into this fall season with. After all, it’s always butter season, right? Many thanks to Kerrygold for sponsoring this post and celebrating with me. I hope you’ll count up your little victories in the coming weeks and take an opportunity to celebrate with this almond toffee cake. If you get a chance to try it, let me know what you think! Happy baking and tune in next week for another double header of recipes!!
If you like this almond toffee cake you should try:
This almond toffee cake features fluffy vanilla layers, a toffee crunch filling and a fudgy chocolate frosting!
Author:Kate Wood
Prep Time:40
Cook Time:30
Total Time:1 hour 10 minutes
Yield:10
Category:Dessert
Ingredients
For the cake:
1 cup (230 gm) unsalted butter
1–3/4 cup (350 gm) sugar
1 large egg plus 4 large egg yolks, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups (410 gm) cake flour
1 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
1–1/4 (300 gm) cups whole milk, at room temperature
For the almond toffee:
1 cup (230 gm) salted butter
½ cup (100 gm) sugar
½ cup (100 gm) brown sugar, packed
1 cup roasted almonds, chopped
For the frosting:
1 pound semisweet chocolate, chopped or in chips
1/3 cup (70 gm) brown sugar
2 cups (480 gm) heavy whipping cream
¼ cup (55 gm) salted butter, at room temperature
Instructions
To make the cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 8” or 9” round cake pans and line the bottoms with a round of parchment paper.
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 5 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the egg and egg yolks one at a time, mixing until combined after each addition. Add the vanilla. Scrape the sides of the bowl and stir in half of the dry ingredients on low speed. Add half of the milk and scrape the bowl again. Repeat this process with the remaining dry ingredients and milk. Fold in any unincorporated bits and divide the batter between the two pans. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35-37 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
To prepare the almond toffee:
Prepare a large rimmed sheet pan with a sheet of aluminum foil that is greased with butter. Set aside. In a medium-sized heavy bottomed saucepan melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the sugars and stir until dissolved. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reads a temperature of 300 degrees. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and stir in the almonds. Spread the mixture into a layer on the buttered foil and allow to cool completely.
To prepare the frosting:
Pour the chopped chocolate/chips into a large mixing bowl. In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the cream and brown sugar together until the milk is almost starting to bubble around the edges and the sugar is dissolved. Pour the cream over top of the chocolate and cover the bowl with a sheet of plastic wrap. Allow to rest 5 minutes and then whisk to combine into a smooth and thick chocolate mixture. Stir in the butter and allow the mixture to set. I like to put the whole bowl into the fridge and stir it every 10 minutes until the mixture is a thick, fudge-like consistency. Once it’s thick enough to spread, remove from the fridge and prepare to frost your cake! If you happen to over-chill your ganache, just heat it barely in the microwave until it’s loosened up. Re-whisk and allow it to thicken up again if needed.
To assemble the cake:
Level the tops of the cakes with a serrated knife. Line a cake stand or serving plate with a cardboard cake round and spread a little of the ganache frosting into the center of the board. Place your first cake layer in the center and spread about 1/3-1/2 cup ganache on top. Smooth and sprinkle the crumbled toffee on top. Dollop a few small dots of ganache on top of the toffee and press the next cake layer down on top. Smooth more ganache on top and spread it all over the cake. You can place your cake in the fridge to set up. Sprinkle the top of the cake with more toffee and serve with additional chopped toffee. Store the cake covered in plastic wrap and keep the toffee tightly sealed. Cake is best enjoyed within two to three days.
Can I be completely transparent? I’ve been sitting at my computer for 30 minutes typing and erasing words I think I want to share with you. I keep grasping at thoughts that I’d ordinarily be able to blab about incessantly, but for some reason I’m unable to explain it in a way that makes sense. Call it writer’s block or call it Mommy brain, but I’ll just go ahead and chalk it up to a whole bunch of feels that are hard to put to words. Here’s where it all started:
I made this cherry almond galette with my daughter. Always the kitchen helper, Aimee recently discovered how much fun the cherry coring tool was. She perched herself on a kitchen stool and plucked stems off of glossy Rainiers while I punched the pits out of the fruit and into the trash. Eventually, she convinced me to let her take over, and what was supposed to be a quick hour of baking turned into a day long cherry-stained date for two in the kitchen. I love to share in special moments like this with my kids, but raise your hand if there are times you just need to get. the. job. done.
When Your Life is Not Your Own
This kind of thing happens all the time. Now, as a mother of three, I’m finding that my life and agenda are not my own. It could be because my schedule is dictated by bedtimes and breastfeeding schedules. It could be because my car, once spotless, is now littered with action figures and cereal crumbs. Even my office is slowly being taken over by a slew of broken crayons and crude drawings of rainbows and stick people. Whatever the reason, my time or my space, this season of motherhood has been one of the truest dying of self that I’ve ever experienced, so much so that my life is hardly recognizable from what it was even months ago.
“I need to know how to still be me.”
Although people always say that motherhood is instinctual, I’d argue that most of it is still really hard to figure out. Finding a balance of who I am as Kate versus who I am as Aimee, George, and Charlie’s Mom is basically an illusive teeter totter of grey area that I usually have zero clue how to navigate. Part of me feels incredibly selfish to want to maintain some semblance of self independent of my children, but the other part knows that in order to stay sane I need to know how to still be me.
So how do you do that? How do you fully embrace a new life you’ve been gifted, a life that you’ve chosen, and still maintain an identity that is even remotely recognizable? I just don’t know yet. I imagine the reality falls somewhere in-between and eventually I’ll be able to sum it up in a few words. For now it’s a mystery. I’ll fill you in if I ever figure it out, but for now, let’s just talk about the things I do know. Let’s get back to the cherry almond galette.
Cherry Almond Galette
These are seasonal cherries topped with an all-butter, almond and sugar-flecked pie crust. In between the two layers is a quick and dirty frangipane that sweetens the pastry and adds a hint of flavor and texture. Of course, you already know I made the crust with my love-you-long-time fave, Kerrygold. Their butter is unmatched when it comes to simple recipes like this, and when there is only a few ingredients to a dish you need to let each one sing. The crust is buttery and tender, and every ounce of thanks goes to that quality butter. Amen.
Making the Galette
The frangipane filling for this cherry almond galette is delicately sweetened and flavored. I think that little bit of filling helps to keep the crust from becoming soggy. Plus, the almond flavor pairs perfectly with the cherries. Although I ordinarily don’t mind using frozen fruit, I kinda insist on fresh fruit when it comes to galettes because it always bakes so beautifully. Trust me on this.
While making this cherry almond galette may appear to be tricky, it’s actually incredibly forgiving and way easier than a full pie. Simply roll out your chilled dough and spread the frangipane filling into the center. Top the filling with loads of sugared cherries. The rustic nature of a galette practically begs for messy folds of dough; don’t worry too much about precision when you crimp the edges around the fruit. Just let it come together organically and I can almost promise it will bake beautifully. After all, remember that Aimee helped me make this galette. If a four-year-old can crush it, grown-ups can too, okay?
Thank you for listening to me banter about motherhood. I hope my rambling hasn’t completely deterred you from giving this cherry almond galette a try. As always, thank you for supporting Kerrygold and other brands that make Wood & Spoon possible. I hope you’ll give their goods a try for all of your special bakes like this one. Happy Thursday and happy baking!
If you like this cherry almond galette you should try:
This cherry almond galette has a sweet frangipane filling and an all-butter pie crust!
Author:Kate
Prep Time:15
Cook Time:30
Total Time:45 minutes
Yield:9 Servings
Category:Dessert
Ingredients
For the pie dough:
1–1/4 cups (175 gm) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, cold
¼ cup ice water
For the filling:
¾ cup (90 gm) almond meal
½ cup (100 gm) sugar, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg, beaten
4 cups (1–1/4 lbs) stemmed, pitted, and halved cherries
1–1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or bourbon
1 teaspoon orange zest, optional
1 tablespoon turbinado sugar, optional
2 tablespoons sliced almonds, optional
Instructions
To prepare the dough:
Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until they are reduced to pea-sized clumps. The remainder of the mixture should look like a sandy consistency. Pour in the ice water and use the pastry cutter or a large fork to bring the dough together into a shaggy mixture. Then dump the contents of the bowl out onto a clean counter and work it into a ball of dough. Do not overwork the mixture. Flatten out the ball into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the fridge to chill for at least two hours and up to a week.
To prepare the galette:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan.
Combine the almond meal, ¼ cup sugar, vanilla, and half of the beaten egg in a small bowl into a pasty consistency. In a separate bowl, combine the cherries, remaining ¼ cup sugar, cornstarch, booze, and zest. Set aside.
Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough out onto a floured surface into a 12” circle. Spread the almond mixture in the center of the circle, leaving a 2” border around the perimeter of the circle. Dump the cherry mixture on top of the almond filling. Fold the edges of the pie dough up and over the cherries, gently pressing the dough to seal on top of itself as you fold. Use a pastry brush to brush a thin layer of the remaining beaten egg on top of the dough. Sprinkle the dough with the turbinado sugar and sliced almonds. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling. If you notice you crust is getting dark and the inside juices aren’t bubbling at all you can make a little aluminum foil shield to cover the dough around the perimeter of your galette. Allow to cool and set prior to slicing and serving with ice cream!
If you’ve followed this blog for any amount of time you know that I’m more than a little excited about today’s post. I’ve long been a teensy bit of a Francophile, and today I’m sharing a delightfully fancy, all-too-beautiful French apple frangipane tart. It’s the kind of treat that feel effortlessly elegant, simple and complex all in one bite, and after we dive into it I think you’ll feel the same way.
What is Frangipane?
Frangipane is decidedly French and particularly traditional around the Christmas holiday. Made with butter, sugar, eggs, and ground almonds, frangipane is a sweetened filling often used in a variety of French tarts, cakes, and pastries. I often see the filling paired with pears, but with the abundance of beautiful pink apples I’d been seeing at the store, I decided an apple frangipane tart was entirely necessary.
Millesima USA
This whole idea of an apple frangipane tart came from working with Millesima USA, an online European fine wine retailer. They specialize in rare bottles and have an extensive selection of premium wines. I made my first order with them just before Thanksgiving and decided to create a dessert that would pair well with one of their many beautiful French wines. With the help of a friend, I ended up selecting two white wines from Chateau Fuisse, and let me tell you- they were DELICIOUS. The ordering process was incredibly simple and the bottles shipped to my local ABC store for free. In my small town of Selma, AL, I had gained access to Europe’s most extensive online library of wines. Talk about feeling fancy.
Apple Frangipane Tart
So here it is: my fancy pants French dessert that just begs for a seriously good glass of wine. To make this apple frangipane tart for yourself, we’ll start with the crust. Traditionally, frangipane tarts use a press-in pastry crust, but I decided to opt for my favorite pie crust. I love the extra butter and flake it lends this dessert. To make it, combine flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl before cutting in butter and shortening. Add ice water to the mixture until a shaggy dough comes together that you can chill until you’re ready to bake. Roll out of the dough on a floured surface and lay into a fluted tart pan. I used one with a removable bottom, but that’s totally optional here. Par-bake the crust briefly to allow the bottom to cook, and in the meantime you can whip up your filling!
Making the Tart
Softened butter and sugar are combined in a large bowl. Eggs, vanilla, and almond extract come next followed by the salt and almond flour. While the pie crust continues to bake, you can set your filling aside and slice the apples. I used 3 medium-sized pink lady apples, primarily because they bake well and have a beautiful pink skin. You can peel the skin off if you prefer, but I just couldn’t miss out on that color! Just thinly slice the apples and keep the little sections of slices together so that they’ll arrange pretty in the tart.
When the crust is done baking, remove it from the oven and spread the frangipane inside. Gently lay fanned out sections of apples in the frangipane, pushing down just a tiny bit. Pop the apple frangipane tart back in the oven to bake for another 45 minutes. The filling will puff and turn golden by the time its done.
Serving the Tart
Allow the apple frangipane tart to cool slightly before cutting and serving. You can certainly make this a day in advance and barely re-warm slices to serve. The crust is ridiculously flaky and the filling is perfectly sweet. The apples definitely taste best on the day of baking, but you can revive any dried out fruit by heating a bit of apricot or orange marmalade and brushing it on the fruit. It’s like an instant pick-me-up for a day-old dessert, and it adds a little sticky shine to the fruit too.
This dessert is an elegant treat to serve at your upcoming holiday suppers, and you better believe it tastes splendid with a quality bottle of wine as well. I’ll link to the ones I picked out from Millesima so that you can try them for yourself. Whether for holiday parties or New Year bashes, Millesima is my new go-to source for special bottles worthy of celebrations. Check out there retail space online and don’t hesitate to ask questions if you’re new to the online ordering! My experience was seamless, and I’m happy to brag on them a ton.
Give this apple frangipane tart and try and let me know what you think! Tune in later this week for a pepperminty treat and a last-minute holiday gift guide for the special gals in your life. Happy Baking!
If you like this apple frangipane tart you should try:
This apple frangipane tart is a classic French almond tart with a flaky pie crust and beautiul apples on top! Serve as a fancy sliced treat this holiday!
Author:Kate Wood
Prep Time:30
Cook Time:30
Total Time:1 hour
Yield:10
Category:dessert
Ingredients
For the crust:
1–3/4 cups (240 gm) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup (70 gm) chilled vegetable shortening, cut into pieces
6 tablespoons (85 gm) unsalted butter, ice cold
6+ tablespoons ice water
For the filling:
6 tablespoons (85 gm) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup (135 gm) sugar
2 large eggs, plus one for the egg wash
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
1–1/2 cups (145 gm) almond flour
¼ teaspoon salt
Approximately 3 medium-sized baking apples (I used pink lady)
3 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted, optional
Powdered sugar, optional
Instructions
To prepare the crust:
Combine the all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Use a pastry cutter or the backs of two forks to cut the shortening and butter into the dry ingredients until pea-sized clumps exist throughout. Add about ¼ cup of ice water and use a fork to bring the dough together. Add additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to get the dough to come together. The dough should be tacky but not sticky wet, and should pack together without dry pieces flaking off. Press into a round disk being careful not to overwork the dough and wrap in plastic wrap. Allow the pie dough to chill at least two hours or up to a week prior to baking.
To prepare the tart:
Preheat the oven to 375. Remove the chilled dough from the fridge and allow to sit out for 5 minutes. Using a floured rolling pin on a floured surface, roll the dough out into a flat, 1/8” round that is about an inch larger than your tart pan on all sides. (I use a 9” metal tart pan with a removable bottom.) Roll the dough back up on the pin loosely and move it into the tart pan, gently pressing the dough into the edges of the pan. Leave and inch excess on all sides and trim off any excess. Fold the lip of the dough under and keep pressing the dough into the sides of the pan. The dough may shrink in the oven, so build the edge up 1/8-1/4” above the lip of the pan. Line the pan with a sheet of parchment and fill it with pie weights or dried beans. Par-bake the crust in the oven for 15 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the filling.
Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl on medium speed until combine, about a minute. Add 2 eggs and the extracts and stir to combine. Add the almond flour and salt and stir to combine. Prep the apples by washing and quartering them. Make thin slices throughout each quarter and keep the sections together to arrange in the tart. Whisk the extra egg in a small bowl with a little bit of water.
When the pie crust is done par-baking, remove it from the oven and use a pastry brush to whisk a layer of egg all over the crust. Spread the filling into the crust and then arrange the apples on top. I like to take small sections of apples, fan them while in my hand and then place them where I want on the tart. The filling will puff while baking so there is no need to press them in deep. Fill the top of the tart with apples and then place the tart back in the oven. Decrease the heat to 350 degrees and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until the crust and filling have bronzed. Remove the tart from the oven and sprinkle the almonds on top. Allow to cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar, if desired. Tart is best served the day it is made, but if you’re heating it up a day later, consider warming a small bit of orange or apricot jam in a bowl to brush on top of the apples. The apples will dry out oven time and can be revived with a little brush of melted jam.
Y’all, I am about as merry as a box of candy canes right now. We have, quite literally, one million things in the air right now- a house we’re building, a potential move-in date a week away, work deadlines, end of year birthdays and parties- but I am determined to be the most holly jolly Mom of two munchkins this side of the North Pole. Never mind that my house looks like a corrugated box and styrofoam explosion; who cares that I haven’t showered, like, at all this week. We’re gonna press on, and we’re gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas! (10 points if you can name that movie quote!)
Getting in the Christmas Spirit
Last weekend I tried to get the kids in the Christmas spirit with a few traditional activities. We made a gingerbread house (LOL), visited Santa Claus at a local church, and even went decorated sugar cookies. We saw “The Grinch” for the third time and sang Christmas music all day. I even bought a tiny white tinsel tree with mini bulbs for the kids to decorate in lieu of the larger tree we will have at our new house. Aimee decorated the tree and then immediately whined about it not being large enough to put presents under. *Not today, Satan, not today.*
Basically what I’m trying to say is that I’m trying to do my part even in kinda weird, hectic circumstances. Lest you think I’m doing this out of a Mom-guilt obligation or some incessant need to Keep Up With The Jones’, let me assure you that these efforts are almost 100% selfish; I just really love Christmas, okay? So while we wax poetic about the Baby Jesus and drink lukewarm, child-safe cocoa out of plastic cups, let me introduce you to a holiday treat that I think you’re really going to like: sweet and savory rugelach.
Sweet and Savory Rugelach
I’m new to the ruglech train. I’ve tried to make it in the past a number of times, usually without any success, but this was the first time that I was super happy with the results. One dough with two fillings- a sweet and savory- to make a treat that is suitable for appetizer snacks or end-of-dinner desserts. I’m sharing today’s recipes with my BFFs at Diamond of California, who are my go-to for all things nuts. I used their marcona almonds with white chocolate for the sweet rugelach and their whole walnuts for a blue cheese and fig spread savory option. Both are divine, so if you’re in the holiday spirit, break out your nutcrackers and let’s dive in!
What is Rugelach?
Here’s what I know about rugelach: it’s a moist dough traditionally made mainly with flour, butter, and cream cheese. The filling options here are endless, but they’re almost always rolled into bitty spiral cookies that are baked until almost crisp. In the past, I’ve had trouble getting my dough to hold its shape in the oven and have ended up with flat, sad-looking crescent roll things. With a smidge more flour and more time to chill the dough, I found that the treats hold up pretty well in the oven. You can swap out your fillings here as you please, just be sure that you keep your dough the same. Don’t use too much moist filling or too many dry ingredients in the centers, or you may find yourself with a mess on your hands. Swapping out nuts or chocolate varieties is totally fine here- experiment!
A Few Tips:
A few notes: the sweet rugelach tends to ooze it’s buttery-sugar filling during the baking process. I noticed that even a change in pans yielded slightly different outcomes. If you notice that your cookies are baking in a pool of butter about halfway through, carefully remove the pan from the oven and drain off any excess. Make sure they’re far enough in the baking process that they’ll stay put on the pan, or you may end up dumping your treats down the drain! If you don’t want to risk it- no problem. I just like this for keeping the bottoms as crisp as the tops.
Keeping your dough cold and your oven the right temp as the pans go in will help to prevent some of this as well. As for the savory rugelach, if you’re not a fan of blue cheese, feel free to try gorgonzola, feta, or whatever! I love how the salty blue cheese balances with the sweet fig spread, but to each his own.
One final plug for Diamond of California: their nuts are the bomb. You can expect consistent, excellent product from them every time. Pick up a few bags at the store and give them a try yourself! The Whole Walnuts are perfect for this time of year when we all have our nutcrackers out already. They make a great addition to our desserts, bellies, and even table centerpieces, so jump on this train ASAP. As always, thank you for supporting brands that make this site possible. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals and Happy Baking!
If you like this sweet and savory rugelach you should try:
One dough creates two cookies- a sweet and savory rugelach. Switch up the filling options to create the treat of your choice. Perfect for the holidays!
Author:Kate Wood
Prep Time:25
Cook Time:35
Total Time:1 hour
Yield:16
Category:dessert
Ingredients
For the dough:
1 cup (140 gm) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, cold and chopped
3 ounces cream cheese, cold and chopped
3 tablespoons sour cream
For the fig, walnut, and blue cheese filling:
¼ cup fig spread
1–1/2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
1/3 cup (40 gm) finely chopped walnuts
1 egg, whisked
For the white chocolate almond filling:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup (50 gm) finely chopped white chocolate
1/4 cup (30 gm) finely chopped marcona almonds
1 egg, whisked
Sprinkling or sanding sugar
Instructions
To prepare the dough:
Pulse the flour and salt in a food processor to combine. Add the butter, cream cheese, and sour cream and pulse, pulse, pulse the mixture until a dough comes together. Don’t overwork it. Pat the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a flat round disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until well-set, a couple of hours or even overnight.
When ready to assemble, roll your disk out onto a lightly floured surface into a round circle, about 1/8-1/4” thick. Make sure your dough isn’t sticking to your surface before you add your filling! For the savory rugelach, spread the fig spread all over the entirety of the dough circle and then sprinkle on the blue cheese and walnuts. For the sweet rugelach, use a pastry brush to paint on the butter and then evenly sprinkle on the white chocolate and almonds. Use a sharp chef’s knife or a pizza cutter to cut the circle into 16 equal-sized wedges. The fat end of each wedge will be about 1” thick. Starting with the wide end, tightly roll up the rugelach until they’re little spiral dough pieces and place each one on a small parchment lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Be sure your wedges are tightly rolled so that the rugelach don’t come unrolled in the oven. Place the pan in the freezer for 20 minutes or the fridge for an hour to chill.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove from the fridge and brush the whisked egg all over each pastry. Sprinkle sugar on the white chocolate pastries. Bake in the preheated oven about 30 minutes, or until the pastries are golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool some before serving.
This post is sponsored by Diamond of California. Dough recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour.
Fri-yay, Fri-yay, Fri-yay! With Cinco de Mayo, the Kentucky Derby, and a number of other awesome events, this weekend has loads to be excited about. I’ve got your weekend round-up and a serious berry rhubarb tart to share with you kids this morning! Without further ado, let’s get started!
Firstly, did you see the rosé margarita I shared earlier this week? Food & Wine shared their 19 essential margarita recipes, and you better believe they look amazing. For more boozy ideas, check out my other cocktail recipes here!
If you’re buying treats for the moms, you might as well get something for kiddos too! Madewell just released a clothing collab with J.Crew and it is beyond adorable. The little girl items have strawberries all over them, and you better believe Aimee girl is getting some ASAP.
I’m still flying high from my killer trip to Chicago last weekend. Bon Appetit shared this very smart travel guide in their most recent issue, and I agree with every bit of it. Give it a looksie here!
Berry Rhubarb Tart
In Alabama, rhubarb has been a hot commodity. While those beautiful stalks are coming into season I wanted you all to have a sure-thing treat to prepare for your people in the coming days. This berry rhubarb tart, both elegant and simple, is nothing short of delightful.
To make it, we start with a simple crust. First, almond and all-purpose flour stir with a bit of sugar before we cut in butter. You can use the back of two forks or a pastry cutter to make sure that the butter is incorporated evenly. Next, press 2/3 of the mixture into a large rectangular tart pan and set aside while you prepare the filling.
Afterwards, strawberries and rhubarb toss with sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest. Cornstarch thickens the mixture before which is added next. Lastly, sprinkle the remaining crust crumbles on top of the fresh fruit and garnish with sliced almonds. Bake in the preheated oven until it is golden brown and the fruit beneath is barely bubbling.
This berry rhubarb tart keeps for several days but is very best the day it is made. I’ve been known to nibble on pieces at breakfast and dessert, so long as a cup of coffee is available to enjoy it with. Although this tart may appear to be difficult to prepare, I can promise it is shockingly simple. Certainly, this berry rhubarb tart makes the wait for rhubarb worth it.
Above all, I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy some dessert this week! All in all, this berry rhubarb tart is not one to miss!
If you like this berry rhubarb tart you should check out:
This berry rhubarb tart is a simple dessert, both sweet and tart, filled with fresh strawberries and rhubarb. The crust is an almond and butter crumble and the whole thing is garnished with sliced almonds.
8 ounces hulled and quartered strawberries (about 1–1/2 cups)
8 ounces rhubarb, trimmed and cut into 1” pieces
¼ cup (50 gm) sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
Whipped cream, for serving if desired
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the flour, almond flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Use a pastry cutter or the back of two forks to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until there are small pea-sized clumps throughout and the mixture is sandy in appearance. Add the milk or water and stir together just until a dough comes together. Pat about 2/3 of the mixture into the bottom and sides of a 4-1/4” x 13-3/4” tart pan with a removable bottom (you can also use a large 9” round tart pan). Place the pan and the remaining crumbs in the fridge while you prepare the filling.
For the filling, combine the quartered strawberries and chopped rhubarb in a bowl with the sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and lemon zest. Stir together until combined and spread into the bottom of the tart pan. Sprinkle the remaining crumbs over the fruit filling and then top with the almonds. Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until the crust and crumbles are golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbling. Allow to cool slightly and serve with whipped cream.
I’m dreaming of a beach- warm sand, sun shining, and not a down-puffed jacket in sight. There’s no snow, no wind chill, no freezing temperatures-induced leg hair. Just me, a sassy tan, and maybe a few slices of this almond coconut cake.
I’m not sure what March’s problem is, but it is way to cold for this time of year. For all of the sweltering summers and muggy falls that we put up with here in the South, the silver lining is usually a temperate, sunny-and-75-degrees March through April. I should be wearing shorts and cute cardigans, not Ugg boots and wool socks. If you’re reading this, Mother Nature, would you please compose yourself and deliver some decent weather sometime this year?
As a result, we’ve spent the last few days either huddled inside or chasing the sunny patches of warmth in the backyard, and while I don’t mind getting a few extra wears out of my winter boots, I really am craving for warmer weather. To pass the time, I’ve been baking up warm-weather treats that taste like summer and forecast the coming change of season. This almond coconut cake that I’m sharing today is the product of that wishful baking, and I think it will get you itching for summer too!
Let me break it down for you. We’ve got three layers of almond coconut cake- seriously moist, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweetness- flavored with a smidge of almond extract. The cake has the tasty addition of shredded sweetened coconut, so each bite has that delightful tropical texture to it. The frosting on this almond coconut cake is equally delicious. Butter, cream cheese, and almond extract make up the bulk of this American-style buttercream, and it is so good that I literally scraped the bowl of my mixer with shortbread cookies as a snack. I love myself and I hate myself, okay?
To make the cake we start with the layers. Butter and sugar are creamed in the bowl of a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Eggs, almond, and vanilla extract come next, and the dry ingredients are added to the mix, alternating with canned coconut milk. The batter is poured into 3-8″ pans and baked until lightly golden. In the meantime, you can work on your frosting! Beat room temperature butter until light and creamy and then add a block of softened cream cheese. Once incorporated, add the extracts, salt, and powdered sugar to the mix. The frosting should be smooth but still thick enough to hold to the sides of the cake. If you find it is too loose, you can add additional powdered sugar or chill it in the fridge.
I like to assemble my cakes while the layers are slightly frozen. To do this, simply wrap the cooled cake layers in plastic wrap and freeze on a flat surface until well chilled. When ready to assemble, whip up the frosting, trim any domed tops off of your cakes, and stack away! This almond coconut cake comes together easily, but if you need more help with you cake baking, check out this post here. After the cake is stacked, you can adorn it with toasted coconut or sliced almonds, whichever you’d prefer.
This almond coconut cake would make a terrific addition to you Easter tables, assuming you’re not already making THIS beauty. Give it a try sometime soon and let me know what you think! Happy baking to you all and catch you next week!
If you like this almond coconut cake, you should check out:
This almond coconut cake is three layers of moist vanilla and almond scented coconut cake filled with an almond cream cheese buttercream and topped with extra toasted almonds and coconut! Perfect for spring parties and Easter!
Author:Kate Wood
Prep Time:35
Cook Time:30
Total Time:90
Ingredients
For the cake:
1–1/4 cups (280 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups (400 gm) sugar
5 large eggs, at room temperature
1–1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract
3 cups (390 gm) cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (240 gm) full-fat canned coconut milk
2 cups (170 gm) shredded sweetened coconut
For the frosting:
1–1/2 cups (340 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
8 ounces (230 gm) full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
½ teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 lbs (907 gm) powdered sugar
Additional sliced almonds or shredded coconut for garnish, if desired
Instructions
To prepare the cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare three 8” round baking pans by lining the bottoms with parchment rounds and spraying the sides with baking spray.
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the sugar. Beat for an additional 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time on low speed and beat to combine, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Stir in the extracts. In a smaller separate bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir half of the dry ingredients into the cake batter and then stir in the coconut milk. Add the remaining dry ingredients and stir just until almost combined. Stir in the shredded coconut.
Fill the three prepared pans with equal amounts of batter, smooth the tops, and bake in the preheated oven for about 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool to room temperature.
To prepare the frosting:
Beat the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat to combine, about 45 seconds. Add the extracts and salt, stirring to combine. Add the powdered sugar and stir on low speed until incorporated, and then increase speed to beat for about 20 seconds. If you taste your frosting and would prefer it a bit sweeter, add an additional ½ cup powdered sugar. If you frosting it too thick to spread, add a tablespoon of water or milk until it comes to the right consistency.
When ready to assemble the cakes, trim any dome off the top of each cake. Spread 1-1/4 cups of frosting on top of the first cake layer and then top it with a second layer of cake. Repeat this process once more and then continue frosting the cake to your liking. If desired, toast some almonds or shredded coconut in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 -15 minutes, stirring regularly, to use as a garnish. This step isn’t necessary. Cake can be stored at room temperature but is best on day of assembly.
Notes
I prefer to frost partially frozen cakes. You can bake the cake layers, wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze up to a week in advance, and then assemble as normal. This help to keep your cakes from slouching, but be sure to freeze them on flat surfaces.
Happy Friday, y’all! I hope that your week has been full of joy and that you’ve got a killer lineup for the weekend. Today I’m sharing some nutty, buttery, caffiene-enhanced treats to jolt your weekends to life- chocolate coffee almond scones. These treats were inspired by a recent jaunt to Oregon that I’m going to splurge about this morning, so bear with me as I take a salivating walk down memory lane.
Views from The Allison Inn & Spa
Portland, Oregon
A few weekends ago, Brett and I continued our whirlwind travel saga by flying with friends to Portland, Oregon. The trip had no distinct purpose, other than to soak our gullets with pinot noir and outrageously delicious food, and we were thrilled at the opportunity to relax in a new corner of the country. Our time was divided in two with the first half spent touring Newberg’s wine country and the second spent in downtown Portland. This split ended up being the perfect balance of relaxation and sight-seeing, both locations brimming with fun (and plenty of wine.)
Friends sipping wines at Bergstrom; views from Soter Vineyards
First: Newberg
We began our trip in Newberg, the comfy cozy, deliciously boozy town just outside of Portland. With a lineup of wineries to visit, we opted for a hotel that would offer premium relaxation and rooms suitable for nursing any morning hangovers. The Allison Inn & Spa was the obvious choice given its proximity to vineyards and the luxurious offerings throughout the hotel.
By day, we snacked on charcuterie and flights of wine, taking in the rolling landscape views offered from the wineries we toured, and by night, we dined at nearby restaurants, rehashing the day’s sites and excitement. On our final day before leaving for Portland, the girls visited the spa, and I’ll just say that it was more than acceptable. My body still feels good from those 90 minutes.
Vineyard views
Next: Portland
Portland was a drastic change of scenery from the rural setting we were transitioning from. The city had a little big town feel as its expansive footprint was seemingly void of any giant skyscrapers, however there was no shortage of things to see, eat, and do. In planning for this portion of the trip, we were overwhelmed by the number of restaurant options that existed. HOW WERE WE SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE JUST ONE RESTAURANT PER MEAL? In the end, I was more than thrilled with the choices we made, and the food we enjoyed in Portland was some of the best I’ve ever had. (This is not an exaggeration. It was next level delish.)
Photos of our crew at the Whiskey Library, and that ethereal moment where my lips touched Pok Pok chicken wings
Where We Stayed
The Nines Hotel hosted us for the second portion of the trip. The hotel was within walking distance of a number of places we wanted to shop, eat, and explore, and it also boasted a lobby fitted with a terrific restaurant and ample group hangout space- perfect for our crew of 8. The girls picked through the shopping scene while the men let out their inner boy at a nearby bar/arcade.
Because we were there on a Saturday, we were able to snoop through the Portland Saturday Market, where we purchased scads of very necessary items that our husbands were more than happy to pack in their luggage (kidding). Our friends spent even more time eating at Bon Appetit’s “Feast Portland” event that was being held that weekend, but I opted to head to Powell’s Books where Joy Wilson (yes, the baker) was signing copies of her newest book (insert the squeals of this fangirl!!!)
Sunset at the rooftop bar of The Nines Hotel
Highlights
It’s hard to pinpoint one specific highlight of the trip. Certainly the views in Newberg were stunning, and there’s no doubt that the wine was first class. I’m still having dreams about the chicken wings at Pok Pok, and I’d fly back in a heartbeat for the kouign amann at St. Honore Boulangerie. Still, the trips we take with friends are cool just for the sake of spending time with that family in a new setting. You get to know people in a real away when stripped of the familiarity of home, and I’m really grateful for the chance to do that so often.
Chocolate Coffee Almond Scones
So now, let’s talk about these chocolate coffee almond scones. While dining at Jory for breakfast one morning, we enjoyed a coffee almond scone that was a delicious accompaniment to our morning brew and eggs. When I got home from Portland, I decided to recreate that treat so that those hours in the Pacific Northwest could live on in my Selma, Alabama kitchen. The end product that I came up with is nothing short of fab.
Making the Scones
To make these chocolate coffee almond scones, we start by mixing a few dry ingredients- flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Next comes the ice-cold butter which gets cut in quickly and carefully until large pea-sized clumps exist throughout the mixture. The chocolate chips and chopped almonds are added next, although you could certainly opt for walnuts, pecans, or even hazelnuts if you prefer. Finally, we douse the whole thing in an espresso cream, prepared by dissolving espresso powder or instant coffee into a smidge of dairy. Stir all of the batter just until combined and then cut out tiny rounds of dough.
For this recipe, we chill the dough briefly before baking which will help all of our little treats to rise well. Fresh from the oven, these chocolate coffee almond scones are bronzed, with a crisp, buttery, golden exterior covering the soft and almost cake-like interior. The coffee flavor here is subtle, giving way to melty chocolate morsels and nuggets of crunchy almonds that flavor each pastry throughout. I love the simplicity of these treats, how a one-bowl recipe can yield such rich flavors and textures. These are the perfect addition to your weekend breakfast and brunch plans, although I’ve enjoyed them as an after-dinner treat as well. With so many ways to share these chocolate coffee almond scones with the people you love, I daresay these are a must.
See below for the lowdown on where we stayed, ate, and played in Portland. If you’re planning a trip to those parts anytime soon, please add these to your list. Happy baking and have a great weekend!
Jory
Hotel dining unlike any I’ve ever experienced. Thistle
A head to tail dining experience. Red Hills Market
The perfect place to grab grub in between vineyard visits.
Where We Ate In Portland:
Coquine
James Beard Award winning spot with casual, fun fare. Pok Pok
Southeast Asian food in a casual setting. Probably the best meal of our trip. Maurice
Try this French bistro for their quaint lunches and yummy pastries. Multnomah Whiskey Library
A mammoth collection of whiskeys in a library-esque setting. Le Pigeon
French-inspired fare in a cozy atmosphere. Stumptown Coffee Roasters
The flagship location for this national brand is in Portland! Urban Farmer
Hotel dining at The Nines Hotel- a farm to table experience. St. Honore Boulangerie
Delicate French pastries and coffee to-go.
Buttery with crisp edges and fluffy interior, these chocolate coffee almond scones are a simple, one-bowl treat that is bound to please!
Author:Kate Wood
Prep Time:10
Cook Time:25
Total Time:35 minutes
Yield:12
Ingredients
¾ cup (180 mL) whipping cream, plus additional for brushing
1 tablespoon espresso powder or instant coffee
2 cups (260 gm) all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ cup (50 gm) sugar
½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, cold and chopped
1 cup (110 gm) chopped unsalted almonds
1 cup (225 gm) mini chocolate chips
Instructions
In a small container, stir the whipping cream and the espresso powder to combine and set aside in the fridge to keep cool.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar. Use a pastry cutter or the back of two forks to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it becomes a coarse meal consistency with pea-sized clumps throughout. Stir in the almonds and chocolate chips. Add the espresso and cream mixture and stir into the dry ingredients, just until evenly incorporated. If a lot of dry ingredients remain in the bottom of the bowl you can add an additional tablespoon or two of cream, just barely enough to make it all come together into a dough.
Pat the dough to ¾” thick and use a biscuit cutter to cut 2” round circles of dough for each scone. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Put the pan in the freezer to chill for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Once the dough is chilled, use a pastry brush to brush a thin layer of whipping cream over the top of the scones. Bake in the oven until golden brown around the edges of each scone, about 25 minutes.
Notes
Chilling the dough ensures the scones will rise well. You can skip this step but it isn’t recommended for best outcomes.
Happy Friday, y’all! I hope that your week has been full of joy and that you’ve got a killer lineup for the weekend. Today I’m sharing some nutty, buttery, caffiene-enhanced treats to jolt your weekends to life- chocolate coffee almond scones. These treats were inspired by a recent jaunt to Oregon that I’m going to splurge about this morning, so bear with me as I take a salivating walk down memory lane.
Views from The Allison Inn & Spa
A few weekends ago, Brett and I continued our whirlwind travel saga by flying with friends to Portland, Oregon. The trip had no distinct purpose, other than to soak our gullets with pinot noir and outrageously delicious food, and we were thrilled at the opportunity to relax in a new corner of the country. Our time was divided in two with the first half spent touring Newberg’s wine country and the second spent in downtown Portland. This split ended up being the perfect balance of relaxation and sight-seeing, both locations brimming with fun (and plenty of wine.)
Friends sipping wines at Bergstrom; views from Soter Vineyards
First: Newberg
We began our trip in Newberg, the comfy cozy, deliciously boozy town just outside of Portland. With a lineup of wineries to visit, we opted for a hotel that would offer premium relaxation and rooms suitable for nursing any morning hangovers. The Allison Inn & Spa was the obvious choice given its proximity to vineyards and the luxurious offerings throughout the hotel. By day, we snacked on charcuterie and flights of wine, taking in the rolling landscape views offered from the wineries we toured, and by night, we dined at nearby restaurants, rehashing the day’s sites and excitement. On our final day before leaving for Portland, the girls visited the spa, and I’ll just say that it was more than acceptable. My body still feels good from those 90 minutes.
Vineyard views
Next: Portland
Portland was a drastic change of scenery from the rural setting we were transitioning from. The city had a little big town feel as its expansive footprint was seemingly void of any giant skyscrapers, however there was no shortage of things to see, eat, and do. In planning for this portion of the trip, we were overwhelmed by the number of restaurant options that existed. HOW WERE WE SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE JUST ONE RESTAURANT PER MEAL? In the end, I was more than thrilled with the choices we made, and the food we enjoyed in Portland was some of the best I’ve ever had. (This is not an exaggeration. It was next level delish.)
Photos of our crew at the Whiskey Library, and that ethereal moment where my lips touched Pok Pok chicken wings
Where We Stayed
The Nines Hotel hosted us for the second portion of the trip. The hotel was within walking distance of a number of places we wanted to shop, eat, and explore, and it also boasted a lobby fitted with a terrific restaurant and ample group hangout space- perfect for our crew of 8. The girls picked through the shopping scene while the men let out their inner boy at a nearby bar/arcade. Because we were there on a Saturday, we were able to snoop through the Portland Saturday Market, where we purchased scads of very necessary items that our husbands were more than happy to pack in their luggage (kidding). Our friends spent even more time eating at Bon Appetit’s “Feast Portland” event that was being held that weekend, but I opted to head to Powell’s Books where Joy Wilson (yes, the baker) was signing copies of her newest book (insert the squeals of this fangirl!!!)
Sunset at the rooftop bar of The Nines Hotel
Highlights
It’s hard to pinpoint one specific highlight of the trip. Certainly the views in Newberg were stunning, and there’s no doubt that the wine was first class. I’m still having dreams about the chicken wings at Pok Pok, and I’d fly back in a heartbeat for the kouign amann at St. Honore Boulangerie. Still, the trips we take with friends are cool just for the sake of spending time with that family in a new setting. You get to know people in a real away when stripped of the familiarity of home, and I’m really grateful for the chance to do that so often.
Chocolate Coffee Almond Scones
So now, let’s talk about these chocolate coffee almond scones. While dining at Jory for breakfast one morning, we enjoyed a coffee almond scone that was a delicious accompaniment to our morning brew and eggs. When I got home from Portland, I decided to recreate that treat so that those hours in the Pacific Northwest could live on in my Selma, Alabama kitchen. The end product that I came up with is nothing short of fab.
Making the Scones
To make these chocolate coffee almond scones, we start by mixing a few dry ingredients- flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Next comes the ice-cold butter which gets cut in quickly and carefully until large pea-sized clumps exist throughout the mixture. The chocolate chips and chopped almonds are added next, although you could certainly opt for walnuts, pecans, or even hazelnuts if you prefer. Finally, we douse the whole thing in an espresso cream, prepared by dissolving espresso powder or instant coffee into a smidge of dairy. Stir all of the batter just until combined and then cut out tiny rounds of dough.
For this recipe, we chill the dough briefly before baking which will help all of our little treats to rise well. Fresh from the oven, these chocolate coffee almond scones are bronzed, with a crisp, buttery, golden exterior covering the soft and almost cake-like interior. The coffee flavor here is subtle, giving way to melty chocolate morsels and nuggets of crunchy almonds that flavor each pastry throughout.
I love the simplicity of these treats, how a one-bowl recipe can yield such rich flavors and textures. These are the perfect addition to your weekend breakfast and brunch plans, although I’ve enjoyed them as an after-dinner treat as well. With so many ways to share these chocolate coffee almond scones with the people you love, I daresay these are a must.
See below for the lowdown on where we stayed, ate, and played in Portland. If you’re planning a trip to those parts anytime soon, please add these to your list. Happy baking and have a great weekend!
Buttery with crisp edges and fluffy interior, these chocolate coffee almond scones are a simple, one-bowl treat that is bound to please!
Author:Kate Wood
Prep Time:10
Cook Time:25
Total Time:35 minutes
Yield:12
Ingredients
¾ cup (180 mL) whipping cream, plus additional for brushing
1 tablespoon espresso powder or instant coffee
2 cups (260 gm) all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ cup (50 gm) sugar
½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, cold and chopped
1 cup (110 gm) chopped unsalted almonds
1 cup (225 gm) mini chocolate chips
Instructions
In a small container, stir the whipping cream and the espresso powder to combine and set aside in the fridge to keep cool.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar. Use a pastry cutter or the back of two forks to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it becomes a coarse meal consistency with pea-sized clumps throughout. Stir in the almonds and chocolate chips. Add the espresso and cream mixture and stir into the dry ingredients, just until evenly incorporated. If a lot of dry ingredients remain in the bottom of the bowl you can add an additional tablespoon or two of cream, just barely enough to make it all come together into a dough.
Pat the dough to ¾” thick and use a biscuit cutter to cut 2” round circles of dough for each scone. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Put the pan in the freezer to chill for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Once the dough is chilled, use a pastry brush to brush a thin layer of whipping cream over the top of the scones. Bake in the oven until golden brown around the edges of each scone, about 25 minutes.
Notes
Chilling the dough ensures the scones will rise well. You can skip this step but it isn’t recommended for best outcomes.
I am beyond thrilled to share today’s recipe with you. Yes, it’s delicious. Yes, it’s quick and filled with fresh summer produce. And yes, this is a treat that you can eat for dessert or breakfast and absolutely no one will judge you. You have my permission to make and consume the entirety of this simple and fabulous strawberry almond skillet cake, completely free of guilt or regret. You’re welcome.
I’m sharing today’s recipe in collaboration with a whole bunch of lovely bloggers who are participating in the Virtual Midsummer Potluck for Peace. Saghar of Lab Noon coordinated this round-up of recipes in an effort to cultivate support and unity within the blogging community. At a time in history when there’s so much garbage out there- unrest, hatred, and downright ugliness- it’s things like togetherness, sharing, and kindness that serve as beacons of hope.
Isn’t that one of the beautiful things about food?
It brings people together. Inviting someone to your table to share a meal is an investment. It’s a symbol of welcoming and belonging. It indicates value because your time and energy spent in the kitchen and around the table has worth. And in a world with millions of different types of people, all coming from different cultures with their own stories, I believe that the sharing of food, the breaking of bread, is also an invitation to understanding. It’s an open door, a welcome mat, for that person to enter your world, taste it, and experience the flavors and sounds and feelings it has to offer. Food is so experiential, and when we share bits of ourselves across a table with a meal and the conversation that follows, we learn more about the people we’re with and the stuff that makes up the fabric of their being.
Strawberry Almond Skillet Cake
This strawberry almond skillet cake is a taste of my home. It’s a sweet, vanilla scented, slightly tangy sour cream cake with juicy strawberries and crunchy bits of sliced almonds. A simple cake with no frills, all baked up in a Southern-style cast iron skillet.
This is the kind of cake we’d share if you came over to visit on a summer afternoon. We’d sit on a blanket in the backyard and nibble on squares of cake served on paper napkins. We’d eat this cake on a Saturday morning with our second cup of coffee, something like a second breakfast or a prelude to lunch. It’s the kind of cake we’d trim bits off of late in the evening to enjoy with spoonfuls of vanilla ice cream straight from the carton. This strawberry almond skillet cake is the fuss-free kind of cake that you can serve all the time, and if you’re anything like me, it’s the kind of cake that just tastes like home.
Making the Cake
The preparation of this strawberry almond skillet cake is rather simple. First, butter and sugar gets creamed together until fluffy. Then we add an egg and vanilla. Next, the dry ingredients get folded in, alternating with creamy dollops of sour cream. The finished batter spreads into a buttered cast iron skillet. Finally, the strawberries rest on top of the batter finishing the cake with a sprinkling of sugar and sliced almonds. While it bakes, the cake will fluff and rise, turning a golden brown while the strawberries soften and render their juices.
After the cake is completed and cooled, the thick slices are ready for serving. I prefer to enjoy this cake slightly warmed with a spoonful of whipped cream, but certainly you can skip that part. So long as your berries are ripe and sweet, this cake needs no added touch- just a fork and a friend to share it with.
I hope you’ll give this cake a try sometime this summer. It’s highly adaptable so you can feel free to substitute in peaches, raspberries, or even segmented oranges. You decide! Have a terrific week, friends!
If you like this strawberry almond skillet cake, be sure to check out:
This strawberry almond skillet cake is a simple sour cream cake sweetened with fresh strawberries, and sprinkled with sliced almonds.
Author:Kate Wood
Prep Time:15
Cook Time:35
Total Time:50 minutes
Yield:8
Ingredients
For the cake
1/4 cup (55 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup (150 gm) plus 2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 large egg, at room temperature
1–1/4 cups (150 gm) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup (120 gm) full fat sour cream
2 cups (230 gm/ 8 ounces) strawberries, tops removed and sliced lengthwise into ¼” pieces
¼ cup (20 gm) sliced almonds
For the whipped cream
1 cup (240 mL) heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
To prepare the cake
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 10” cast iron skillet and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and ¾ cup sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla, almond extract, and egg and beat to combine. Scrape the sides of the bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter and stir to almost combine. Add half of the sour cream and stir to almost combine. Repeat this process once more until all of the flour mixture and sour cream has been combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl and fold in any unincorporated bits.
Spread the batter out in the greased skillet. Arrange the sliced strawberries all over the top of the batter, pressing them down gently into the batter. Sprinkle the top of the batter with the sliced almonds and the remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes, or until the top is golden.
To prepare the whipped cream
Beat the heavy whipping cream on low until the cream is frothy. Add the sugar and increase the speed to high. Beat until medium peaks have formed. Serve warm slices of cake with a bit of whipped cream spooned on top. Store the whipped cream in the fridge until ready to use.
