honey Archives - Wood & Spoon

Honey Peach Pie

Another week, another dessert. That’s how we do things around here. If you live anywhere near the South, you know our peach season took a mini hit this year, but even so, the summer fruit favorite is beginning to pop up everywhere in all it’s juicy, fuzz-covered glory. To celebrate the unofficial fruit of the South (I just declared this on my own, BTW), we’re making this honey peach pie. Let’s chat the ins and outs.

Honey Peach Pie

For starters, we have an all-butter pie crust. While my usual pie dough has a smidge of shortening in it, I absolutely LOVE using an all-butter crust when I want extra-rich flavor. This crust does not disappoint. Filled with Kerrygold butter and a smidge of sugar and salt, this crust is a terrific vehicle for a pie fillings of fresh peaches, brown sugar, and… honey caramel? Yep, there’s a honey caramel in here. This is a recipe adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer’s honey butterscotch sauce that she uses to top her ice cream, and it is divine. The filling truly sings of honey here, so be sure to use a variety that you really enjoy the flavor of.

To finish things off, we have a brown butter crumble. You know I’ll top just about anything with crumble and will jump at the chance to brown butter, so this pie topping is actually an all-time fave of mine.

Making the Pie

To make this honey peach pie, we start by prepping all of the elements of the pie. I like to begin by making my pie dough so that it can chill while I prep the other ingredients. You can even make the dough up to a week in advance! Next, whip up the honey caramel sauce so that it can chill in the fridge as well, and then finish it all off by making the brown butter crumble. Once the prep work has been done, you take a few hours or even a day or two off before actually assembling the pie!

When you’re ready to bake your honey peach pie, start by filling a 9-10″ tart pan with a removable bottom with the pie crust. I like to roll my crust out several inches larger than the diameter of the tin on a floured surface and then roll the dough back onto my floured rolling pin. From there, simply unroll the dough into the pan and then trim the edges and crimp as desired. Toss the sliced peaches with the dry ingredients and immediately place in the pan with the drizzle of honey caramel. Top with the crumble and brush the crust with a beaten egg. This honey peach pie takes about 45 minutes to bake and another couple of hours to set, so be patient for best results.

How to Serve It

When you’re ready to serve this summer treat, make sure you have some ice cream or whipped cream on hand. I opted to top the whole things with extra slices of peaches and blueberries, but this was totally for aesthetic purposes. The tart is loaded with fruit and needs no further attention, just a few friends with empty forks so that you can dive right into this fruity stunner.

I’m sharing today’s recipe in collaboration with my favorite friends at Kerrygold. Both in the all-butter pie crust and brown butter crumble, quality butter is essential for this pie, so I trust Kerrygold to provide excellent product I can trust! Their butter has slightly lower water content than the average stick you’ll find at the grocery store which means more flake to every bite. Trust me on this one. As always, thank you for supporting brands that make Wood & Spoon possible and thank you for reading along! Happy Tuesday and Happy Baking!

If you like this honey peach pie you should check out:

Peach Lattice Pie

Peaches and Cream Biscuits

Peach Crumb Muffins

Peach Semifreddo

Honey Peach Pie

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

This honey peach pie has an all-butter crust, a honey caramel and peach filling, and a brown butter crumble topping!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 45
Cook Time: 60
Total Time: 180
Yield: 1 Pie
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the crust:

1–1/4 cups (175 gm) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (115 gm) unsalted butter, cold
1 cup ice water
1 tablespoon bourbon

For the honey caramel filling (Adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer):

1 cup (200 gm) sugar
2/3 cup honey
1–1/4 cup (300 gm) heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons (55 gm) unsalted butter
Pinch of salt

For the brown butter crumble:

6 tablespoons (85 gm) unsalted butter
½ cup (100 gm) brown sugar
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (140 gm) all-purpose flour

For the filling:

1 egg
1–1/2 pounds of ripe peaches
1–1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Pinch of salt

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Instructions

To prepare the crust:

Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Use a pastry cutter or the backs of two forks to cut in the butter until pea-sized clumps exist throughout. Add the bourbon to the water and drizzle in a 1/3 cup of the mixture (sans ice) and use a fork to bring the dough together. Continue adding small bits of water until the mixture comes together enough for the dough to pull away from the bowl. The dough should be smooth- not sticky or crumble. Try not to overwork it. Pat the dough into a small disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge at least two hours.

To prepare the honey caramel filling:

Combine the honey and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Stop stirring and continue cooking, stirring occasionally. As the mixture heats it will foam, make big clear bubbles, and then make tighter fine bubbles. Continue swirling the pan occasionally and watch as the caramel begins to slowly darken. Once the center has slightly darkened to a brownish shade, remove from heat immediately and carefully and slowly drizzle in the cream, stirring all the while. Add the butter and salt and stir until melted and combined. Place the mixture in a heat-proof bowl to chill in the fridge.

To prepare the brown butter crumble:

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat stirring regularly. Continue stirring as you brown the butter. It will sizzle, foam, and then you’ll see small golden specks forming around the bottom and sides of the pan. Continue stirring to prevent the butter from burning until the mixture is fairly golden and smells deliciously nutty. Remove from heat immediately to a heat-safe bowl. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt and stir to combine. Add the flour and fold until the mixture forms large clumps. Place the mixture in the fridge to chill slightly while you assemble your pie.

To prepare the pie:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Roll the dough out on a floured surface using a floured rolling pin until it is 2” larger than your 9” tart pan with a removable bottom on all sides. Roll the dough back onto your rolling pin and unroll it into the tart pan. Carefully press the dough into the corners of the pan and trim off any excess around the edges leaving a 1” overhang on all sides. Fold the edges into the tart pan to create a thicker crust that extends about ¼” over the sides of the pan. Crack the egg into a bowl and, without breaking the yolk, use a pastry brush to brush a thin layer of egg white all over the dough on the bottom and sides of the pan. Place the crust in the freezer to set for 15 minutes.
In the meantime, peel and core your peaches and slice them into ¾” slices. Toss with the cornstarch, brown sugar, and salt. Pour the filling into the prepared tart pan. Pour 1 cup of the of the honey caramel over the peaches. You can slightly rewarm to liquid consistency as needed. Sprinkle the brown butter crumble on top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes and then decrease the heat to 350. Bake for an additional 40-45 minutes or until the pie is set, golden, and bubbling under the crust. Allow to cool for 2-3 hours prior to cutting. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Braided Baklava Brioche

13 Comments / Breakfast

You know that phrase, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”? Can we just agree that those words are completely, 100% untrue? At 31 years old, I feel pretty old some days, and if you tell me I’ve grown and learned as much life-changing newness as I will be in my lifetime, I give up now. That would be the worst. I don’t want to exist in a world where the curtain has closed on new possibilities.

I think the statement about the dog and his tricks is useful in some scenarios. Like changing people? We just can’t do that. Or becoming a prima ballerina for the NYC Ballet at age 92? Not going to happen. But I do believe that when it comes to ourselves- our own talents, our hopes, our pursuits, our whatever- we can be some old as dirt humans who are still be capable of achieving. The possibility all rests within our resolve and the willingness to work our fanny off.

My kids have been useful in teaching me a few new tricks. Motherhood constantly stretches me beyond what I previously believed I was capable of, and there are days where I reflect on what I’ve accomplished and beam with pride. Baking and managing this business do the same thing. Yes, there are some skills and experiences that feel a lot like standing at the base of Mt. Everest, but I think we can completely void the notion that we’ve missed our opportunity for greatness just by strapping on our boots and tiptoeing onto the mountain. Sometimes we need to just go for it.

So let this be your motivational speech for the week: don’t be afraid to try. Let’s be a people that are constantly evolving, always learning, and never afraid to step into something new. Let’s go after both the things within our reach and the stuff that feels way too far up the side of the mountain. We can be a bunch of old dogs learning tricks.

Braided Baklava Brioche

This braided baklava brioche is not for the faint of heart. Yeast breads like this can be an animal for beginners, and the filling and braiding of this kind of loaf can be super tricky as well. But the reward, a sweetened and lightly spiced bread filled with nuts, honey, and loads of flavor, is totally worth it in every respect.

I’m sharing today’s recipe for this baklava brioche with my friends at Kerrygold! I always reserve their top-notch butter for my favorite, most worthy recipes, and this baklava bread is no exception. Unsalted sweet cream butter helps to transform this bread into a tender, flaky loaf that is full of uncompromised flavor.

Making the Brioche

To make this baklava brioche, we start with the dough. Yeast is dissolved in a bit of warm milk and brown sugar before eggs and honey are added. The dry ingredients, flour, cinnamon, and salt, come next, and are followed up by an incorporating of softened butter. The dough is extremely moist, kinda stretchy, and so delicious that you may end up nibbling on little raw bits before it’s baked. No judgment.

Once the dough for this baklava brioche has risen for the first time, we can prepare the filling. The rolled-out dough is slathered in butter and coated in a sprinkle of sugar, spices, pistachios, and walnuts. Roll the covered dough tightly, cut the log lengthwise to expose the filled innards, and spiral the two pieces together to create and braided wreath of dough. Allow the dough to rest in a warm spot of your kitchen while it rises for a final time.

Fresh from the oven, this baklava bread boasts all of the nutty, spiced flavors of traditional baklava. I love to serve this baklava brioche as a warm breakfast slice, but I think you’d find it to be a suitable dessert or snack as well. This recipe yields a massive loaf of bread, so if someone gets the gumption to test it out as two smaller loaves, I’d love to hear your results! Either way, give this baklava brioche a try and let me know what you think! Many thanks to Kerrygold for sponsoring this baklava brioche post, and many thanks to you all for supporting brands that make Wood & Spoon possible. Happy baking!

If you like this baklava bread you should check out:

Orange Swirl Bread

Peppermint Bark Bread

Cinnamon Bread

Raisin Swirl Bread

Chocolate Peanut Butter Babka

Braided Baklava Brioche

Print Recipe

★★★

2.5 from 2 reviews

This braided baklava brioche is loaded with pistachios, walnuts, honey, and cinnamon- all the flavors of traditional baklava!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 45
Cook Time: 45
Total Time: 360
Yield: 1 Loaf
Category: Bread

Ingredients

For the dough:

½ cup (120 gm) whole milk, lukewarm
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2–1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons honey
3 large eggs, at room temperature
½ teaspoon salt
1–1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons (290 gm) all-purpose flour, plus more
½ cup (115 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature

For the filling:

½ cup (115 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup (100 gm) brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons lemon zest
½ cup shelled pistachios, finely chopped
½ cup shelled walnuts, finely chopped

For the syrup:

¼ cup (60 gm) water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons brown sugar

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Instructions

Pour the milk into the bowl of a stand mixer and stir in the brown sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over top and allow it to dissolve completely, about 5 minutes. Stir as needed to get some of the yeast on top dry.
Once dissolved, stir in the honey, eggs, salt, cinnamon, and 1 cup of flour. Once combined, put the flat beater on the stand mixer and stir in the remaining flour. With the mixer on medium speed begin to add the butter a tablespoon at a time until it is combined, and then continue to beat for 4-5 more minutes until the dough becomes slightly stringy/ stretchy on the beater. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Place the finished bowl in a large lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow it to rise and double in size in a warm spot of your kitchen ( I let mine rise by the oven) for about an hour and a half.
Once the dough has doubled in size, prepare the filling. Stir together the softened butter with the brown sugar, cinnamon and lemon zest. Roll the dough out on a floured surface into a 12”x15” rectangle. Spread the mixture evenly over the dough and sprinkle both varieties of nuts on top. Starting with one of the long ends, tightly roll the dough and pinch the final edge together to seal. Flip the dough log over so the seam is on the bottom and use a large sharp knife (like a chef’s knife) to slice down the center of the length of the dough leaving 1” piece of dough uncut up top. This top piece of dough will hold the two halves of dough together. Twist the two dough tails so the innards are facing upwards and then twist around each other to the ends. Bring the tail to meet the head and wrap one on top of another so that you make and O-shaped wreath of dough. Place the wreath into a lightly greased 10” dish or skillet and cover with plastic wrap to rise a second time while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Once puffed (about 35-40 minutes) remove the plastic wrap and bake in the preheated oven for about 30 or so minutes. In the meantime, make the syrup.
Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a bubble, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Once the top of the bread has tanned, the dough in the center looks dry, and the internal temp reads 180 degrees, remove the pan from the oven and immediately pour the syrup on top of the hot bread. Set aside to cool some prior to eating.

Sweet Tea Hot Toddy

4 Comments / Food and Drink

Here in the South, we’re serious about a few things. I’ve talked about this a few times, but as I settle into life as a Southerner, I become more and more aware of what we’re all about here.

Mind Your Manners

For starters, kindness and manners matter. If you’re not calling your Mama “Ma’am,” you might as well be sticking your tongue out at her. We hold the door open for others, gentlemen stand when ladies arrive, and we always, always, ALWAYS say the blessing before a meal. End of story.

Football > Everything

Second, we love football. SEC is everything and the fall ballgame schedule reigns supreme. If you’re not into football, you’re just not in [Slowly raises hand and backs away].

God Bless This Meal

And finally, we take pride in our food. Almost everyone has a favorite fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, or pecan pie recipe. Each family has a secret marinade or sauce, an heirloom cookie recipe, or method by which they prefer to season their greens. Southern food is rooted in years of tradition, history, and tried and true flavors that have been perfected over time. It’s not something we take lightly.

Take for instance sweet tea. It’s a staple here, and there’s not a soul who hasn’t enjoyed a cold glass on a hot day. When I first moved to the Deep South, I grew to appreciate a perfectly sweetened glass of tea, and now that I’ve experienced great tea, it’s almost painful to drink bad tea.

Sweet Tea Hot Toddy

This sweet tea hot toddy is a nod to all that is good in the South. Smooth bourbon, local honey, and incredibly delicious sweet tea combine to make a toasty beverage that will make even a Northerner talk with a drawl. This is a beverage you’ll want to cozy up to all winter long.

One of my favorite things about this sweet tea hot toddy is how simple it is. Instead of brewing my own tea, I lean on an Alabama-born made product, Red Diamond Ready-to-Drink Sweet Tea, for the perfect balance of sweet and tea. Their sweet tea is one that even the most discerning of Southerners would trust, and because it safely heats to warm temperature, it is the perfect add-in for this sweet tea hot toddy. Plus, it’s brewed from actual tea leaves with no shortcuts- just sugar, tea, and water.

Making the Tea

To make this sweet tea hot toddy, we start by warming our tea. Allow a lemon slice, honey, and a cinnamon stick to mull in the hot liquid for a minute or two before adding in the bourbon. Give it a taste. If your taste buds are anything like mine, you’ll be ready to guzzle a glass (or four), but feel free to add more tea or lemon depending on your preferences. If you’re interested in serving a crowd, brew up a big batch and allow guests to ladle mugs straight off of the stove. This sweet tea hot toddy is a great fall beverage that will set the mood for your upcoming holiday parties and gatherings.

Many thanks to Red Diamond Coffee & Tea for sponsoring this post, and thank YOU for supporting brands that make this site possible. I hope you’ll pick up some Red Diamond sweet tea and give this sweet tea hot toddy a shot (or two)! Happy drinking, y’all!

This post is sponsored by Red Diamond. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you like this sweet tea hot toddy you should check out:

Pinot Ritas

Brown Butter Bourbon Madeleines

Derby Pie Cookies

Homemade Chocolates

Sparkling Margaritas

Sweet Tea Hot Toddy

Print Recipe

This sweet tea hot toddy is sweetened with honey and ready made sweet tea. Bourbon is added for a boozy and flavorful finish.

Author: Kate
Prep Time: 5
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1
Category: Beverage

Ingredients

3/4 cup (170 gm) Sweet Tea (I use Red Diamond)
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon slice (1/4” thick)
1 teaspoon honey (optional)
1–1/2 ounces bourbon

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Instructions

In a small saucepan on the stove, heat your sweet tea until hot. Bring barely to a boil and carefully pour into a mug. Add the cinnamon stick, lemon slice, and honey, and allow the mixture to cool for five minutes. Stir in the bourbon and enjoy!

Honey Cake with Figs and Whipped Cream Cheese

14 Comments / Cakes

The other day, my mom and I were talking about this blog and how things had been going. She mentioned that she had noticed there hadn’t been as much narrative attached to the recipes, and after some consideration, I realized she was right.

You see, from day one this site has not existed merely to fill bowls and spoons with calorie-packed cakes and frosting-swirled treats. I wanted Wood and Spoon to be a place where people could come to nourish their bellies but also their hearts too. It’s safe to say that this blog will never have the easiest recipes, the best shortcuts, or be regarded as the premier resource for baking how-to’s, but I’ll be damned if you leave these pages feeling anything less than encouraged and inspired to create in your own homes. In our weird sort of internet kind of way, I want us to be friends and to engage with stories and food in a way that will impact you in your own world. Does that make sense?

I guess what I’m trying to say is that we can be transparent here. We can share cookies and recipes, but moreso than that, I want us t0 share words and memories like two friends would over cups of coffee at the kitchen counter. I want to invite you into my world, my kitchen, in hopes that you feel the freedom to do the same in your own circles. If you leave this site with an idea to create and the gumption to love the ones around you via food, well, my job is done.

Joy

So for the sake of transparency, I want to talk about joy. I heard someone recently say that joy is the unicorn of emotions. It’s hard to capture it, to feel it all the time, or to understand what it’s all about. Nonetheless, when you see it, you know what you’ve witnessed. Joy has been the elusive theme of my life for a few months now, and I constantly find myself on the hunt- looking for it around each corner, trying to figure out how to bottle up that magic for myself.

I see joy on the faces of my toddlers as they race around our yard and dance about our living room. We witness it in airports as families welcome home long-awaited brothers and sisters. I feel it in church, in the the crescendo of a good song, and even sometimes in the confines of my kitchen, that little sanctuary where, every once in a while, I capture a memory of someone I love through a single bite of food.

“It’s not until I look up to catch a breath that I realize what I’ve been missing.”

Joy eludes me when I lose touch with my willingness to receive it. I tend to put my head down and rush from task to task, deadline to deadline. I’m constantly existing in the process but never really looking up long enough to enjoy it. This way of life buries me, and it’s not until I look up to catch a breath that I realize what I’ve been missing.

So that has been me these past few months. This site and the stories we share are hugely important to me, but I needed to slow down to make room for other things. For all the times I said “No” to testing recipes, editing photos, or checking my email for the millionth time, I said “Yes” to something I needed more. I said “Yes” to my children and to later dinnertimes, to popsicles in the backyard and dreaming about the future with my husband. I said “Yes” to some things that make me really joyful.

Honey Cake with Figs

One of the recipes I did take time to love on is this honey cake with figs and whipped cream cheese. Every year, like clockwork, my father-in-law’s fig tree produces a bounty of fruit that is so beautiful, it’s almost a travesty that the harvest is so short. After last year’s honey mascarpone tart, I knew I wanted to capture that summer essence in a beautiful and simple cake. This honey cake with figs and whipped cream cheese is what I came up with; I think you’re going to like it.

For starters, we’ve got a single layer cake, rich and heavy from the addition of honey. To lighten it up, a cream cheese whipped cream, barely tangy and totally cloud-like, goes on top. The cake is adorned with some over-the-top toppings too. Juicy figs are sliced and sprinkled with candied walnuts and a drizzle of honey. Truly, this honey cake with figs and whipped cream cheese is as yummy as it is beautiful.

A Few Pointers:

I’ll spare you the details on how to make this cake and will instead give you some tips for success here. First, be sure to assemble the cake with its toppings just before serving. While the cream cheese does help make the whipped cream more stable, it still will eventually fall. Additionally, the figs will release juices once cut and coated with sugar. If you want to avoid a sticky mess, be sure to assemble close to consumption time.

For a more honey-forward cake, you can sub some of the sugar out for additional honey. Keep in mind that this substitution will change the texture of the cake. See the notes section of the recipe for more on that. Finally, do not skip the nuts here. This barely-sweet cake benefits from the texture and flavor that the sweet morsels of walnuts provide; they are the real hero here.

Finally, I want to introduce you to a new friend: Diamond of California Nuts! I am thrilled to have partnered with my long-time go-to. Over the coming year we are going to create some seriously delicious things with these nutty beauties. Please welcome them into your own kitchens. And thank you in advance for supporting the brands that makes the magic on this site possible. Happy baking to you all!

If you like this honey cake with figs and whipped cream cheese you should check out:

Pistachio Honey Bars

Honey Mascarpone Tart with Figs and Salty Graham Cracker Crust

Honey Salted Almond Ice Cream

Strawberry Fig Pop-Tarts

Honey Cake with Figs and Whipped Cream Cheese

Print Recipe

This honey cake with figs and whipped cream cheese is a simple summer cake topped with candied walnuts, tangy whipped cream, and sweet fruit.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 40
Cook Time: 40
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Yield: 9
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the cake (Adapted from Vintage Cakes by Julie Richardson):

¾ cup (170 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup (170 gm) honey
1 cup (200 gm) sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups (280 gm) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
½ cup (120 gm) buttermilk, at room temperature

For the whipped cream:

6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
½ cup (60 gm) confectioner’s sugar
1–1/2 cups (360 gm) heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons buttermilk (optional)

For the candied walnuts:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup brown sugar sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts

For the topping:

Figs, or another chopped fruit of your choice
Extra honey for drizzling
Candied Walnuts

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Instructions

To prepare the cake:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease the bottom of a light-colored 9” (springform would work here as well) pan, lining the bottom with a round of parchment paper. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, honey, sugar, and vanilla extract. Start on low speed to combine and then increase to medium-high (I use 6 on my mixer) for 6 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the eggs one at a time, stirring on low after each addition to combine. Scrape the sides of the bowl. In a small bowl, stir to combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add half of the dry ingredients to the butter and honey mixture, stirring on low to almost combine. Scrape the sides of the bowl, stir in the buttermilk, and then add the remaining dry ingredients, stirring only until incorporated. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and baking in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted just barely comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before topping with the whipped cream, figs, and walnuts. You can also drizzle additional honey as desired. Serve immediately.

To prepare the whipped cream:

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the whipping cream a tablespoon at a time until it is all incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Increase the speed on your mixer and whip on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Give the mixture a taste- if you would prefer it to be a little bit tangier, add in about 2 tablespoons of buttermilk. This will thin the mixture out a bit but will add yummy flavor. Spread on top of the cake and serve immediately!

To prepare the walnuts:

Combine the butter, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium, non-stick over medium heat until the butter has melted. Add the nuts and stir regularly using a rubber spatula until the nuts have toasted and the sugar has begun to melt, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and spread out the nuts to cool on a sheet of parchment paper.

Notes

For a more honey-forward tasting cake you can use 2/3 cup of honey and only ¾ cup of sugar in the cake. This will yield a more heavy, dense feeling cake, but the honey flavor is more prominent. I like to use the original recipe and then drizzle extra honey on additional pieces as desired.
Dark colored pans will brown this cake a ton! I prefer to use a light-colored pan, but both will work.

This post is sponsored by Diamond of California Nuts. Thank you for supporting brands that make Wood & Spoon possible!

Pistachio Honey Bars

32 Comments / Cookies and Bars

We have been running these past few weeks. I mean, r-u-n-n-i-n-g. Life has full of so many fun opportunities lately that we have found ourselves flying across the country, out of town, and by the seat of our pants more often than not. It feels like we pack and drive and drink and laugh before throwing a handful of dirty undies into the laundry and start all over again a few days later. I’m not complaining, but to be frank, we need to catch our breath. We need a few minutes to Netflix and chill, maybe even nibble on treats like these pistachio honey bars.

You Can’t Pin Me Down

When Brett and I got married, I vowed to seek out adventure. I saw myself as this carefree little pigeon that he had somehow managed to catch, and I determined to not let him pin my wings down. This little bird would not be tamed; I was going to fly.

Fast forward several months later. That ultra-cool, ahead-of-her-time pigeon (yes, this analogy is really getting out of hand) gets knocked up, and all of a sudden, someone’s gotta be mama bird. Someone has to plant their stretch-marked hind parts on some eggs and tend to the nest.

Parenthood has a way of dismantling everything you thought you knew about yourself. It’s a wind tunnel of exhaustion and work that forces even the strongest set of wings to the ground. Traveling, free time, and life outside of the nest seems all but impossible in the debris of nap schedules and diapers that swirls around you. For the past three years, we have hoofed it, working hard to escape regularly for days alone. That time away, while exhilarating and broadening, has been taxing, and we now find ourselves picking through the evenings and minutes remaining in between trips, wishing we had more. More time with our children. More time in our own bed. More time at home.

Home vs. Away

So that begs the questions: how do you fit a love of traveling into a life that’s running over with the needs of your children? Is there a healthy balance between quality time with your people and seeking out adventures? How do we say “Yes!” to the opportunities we meet in life without saying “No!” to the more important things that beg for our time and affections?

In a few weeks, Brett and I plan to travel to Charleston, South Carolina for the Saveur Blog Awards. For the first time, we are trading our fancy hotel reservation for a larger Airbnb that can fit our crew. It may end in sleeplessness and disaster, but we are determined to make this beautiful, crazy busy, here and there life of ours work. We need a balance.

I’m soon going to share some photos from our recent trip to Portland, but for now, let’s settle in at home. Let’s grab a book and some yoga pants and cozy up with this week’s easy, comfy, weeknight dessert: pistachio honey bars.

Honey Pistachio Bars

These bars started off as a spin on baklava. I adore the sweet and flaky Middle Eastern dessert and wanted to make it more accessible for the home baker. These pistachio honey bars certainly aren’t baklava, but the flavors are there. Pistachios and walnuts, stirred with a gooey brown sugar and honey sauce, are baked together on a zesty crust of lemon shortbread. The bars are spiced with cinnamon and cardamom and drizzled with white chocolate for an extra measure of sweet. Lucky for you, the ingredients are few and quick to assemble, so you’ll spend less time baking and more time sharing these decadent treats. Let’s talk about how to make them.

Making the Bars

The recipe for these pistachio honey bars comes from my favorite derby pie bar recipe. The shortbread crust is simple, just some sugar, butter, flour, and cornstarch scented with a sprinkle of lemon zest. First, work the dry ingredients with the butter, pressing it into the bottom of a foil-lined pan. Afterwards, bake the crust in the oven until firm while you prepare the filling.

In the meantime, chop the nuts and add to a pan of melted butter, honey, and sugar. Cook the mixture until bubbly and slightly thickened. Next, add to it some spices and a bit of cream and spoon the mixture on top of the baked shortbread crust. Finally, the whole thing baked for an additional few minutes before allowing it to cool.

The Topping

Once the pistachio honey bars have set up completely, remove them from the pan and drizzle with the melted white chocolate. This step is completely optional (even though you and I both know that it’s actually not). Load up on that white chocolate and garnish with additional chopped pistachios, if desired. Cut into small bars (these guys are RICH!) and share with your lovies as quickly as possible. They will absolutely adore you. You are the dessert king/queen, okay?

All in all, these pistachio honey bars are a sweet and simple way to celebrate being at home. They’re simple, yet deliciously decadent- the perfect way to ring in this new week. Give them a try and let me know what you think! I’d also love to hear how you and your family travel. Seriously, DOES IT GET EASIER!?!?! (Please say yes.) Finally, if you’re interested in traveling with children and reading about how one family made a worldwide journey their story for a whole year, check out the book “At Home in the World” by Tsh Oxenreider. I’ve just finished it, thus the sudden impulse to bring my children everywhere. Love y’all and happy Monday!

If you love these pistachio honey bars, you should try:

Brown Butter Blondies, Two Ways

Pecan Toffee Bars

Blueberry Lemon Bars

Derby Pie Bars

Honey Mascarpone Tart

Honey Nut Ice Cream

Pistachio Honey Bars

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

With a lemon shortbread crust and a sweet and spiced honey nut filling, these pistachio honey bars are like baklava in cookie form!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 12

Ingredients

For the crust:

¾ cup (90 gm) all-purpose flour
¼ cup (35 gm) corn starch
½ cup (55 gm) confectioner’s sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon zest, finely grated
½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, cold and cut into teaspoon sized pieces

For the filling:

½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter
½ cup (100 gm) packed brown sugar
¼ cup (85 gm) honey
1 cup (120 gm) finely chopped walnuts
1 cup (100 gm) finely chopped pistachios
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon cardamom
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

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Instructions

To prepare the crust:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9” square baking pan with aluminum foil with enough overhang on each side to easily remove the bars from the pan once baked. Spray with cooking spray and set aside.
In a medium sized bowl, stir together the flour, corn starch, sugar, salt, and lemon zest. Using a pastry cutter or the backs of two forks, cut the diced butter into the dry ingredients until it becomes a coarse meal consistency with pea-sized clumps. Bake in the preheat oven for about 15 minutes, or until the crust is set and then edges have just started to turn golden. Do not overbake. Set aside the cooked crust while you prepare the filling.

To prepare the filling:

Combine the butter, brown sugar, and honey in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until the butter and sugar have dissolved. Once melted and no graininess from the sugar exists any longer, increase the heat to medium and bring to a boil, boiling for 3 minutes. After three minutes have passed, remove the pan from the heat. Add the chopped walnuts, pistachios, heavy cream, and spices to a medium sized bowl and stir in the butter mixture until evenly combined.
Spread the warm filling over the crust and smooth out. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the edges and parts of the center are bubbling and the bars have turned caramel in color. Allow the bars to cool completely prior to removing from the pan (you can speed this process up in the fridge). Remove from pan by pulling out the foil liner. Gently melt the white chocolate chips on a double boiler sitting over LOW heat. Be careful to not melt at too high of heat or your white chocolate may seize. Drizzle over the top of the bars. Cut into 16 bars and serve at room temp.

Honey Mascarpone Tart with Figs and Salty Graham Cracker Crust

67 Comments / Pies and Tarts

Honey Mascarpone Tart By The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a simple, summer dessert. A no-bake cheesecake tart of sorts with a salty press in graham cracker and a creamy cheese filling. The tart is naturally sweetened with honey and is topped with toasted pistachios and fresh figs. This dessert can be made ahead and is quick- it takes less than 30 minutes of prep time. Make this little tartlet in place of summer pies. Find the whole recipe and photos on thewoodandspoon.com

I know. You’re just dying to read all about this sassy little honey mascarpone tart that requires less than 10 ingredients and 30 minutes to prep. But first, I thought I’d spend a minute talking about making a home in a new city.

A Whole New World

When I moved to Selma, it was a culture shock. I’d moved around a good bit throughout my life, planting roots in upstate New York, rural Kentucky, and even central Florida, but not even my decade in Birmingham could prepare me for the small town life that awaited me in lower Alabama. The town of less than 20,000 operated at a slower, more relaxed pace of life. No Starbucks, no Whole Foods, no movie theatre. Most of the people I met had lived there pretty much their whole life, and in a sea of new faces, I sweat under the heat of being the new kid.

I felt kinda like a square peg in a town filled with round holes. People were warm and inviting, but the level of kindness and hospitality around me was intimidating. I didn’t feel polite enough or talkative enough or Southern enough to fit in. My accent was different, and I dressed different, listened to different music. I wasn’t outdoorsy, I didn’t fry chicken, and I couldn’t give two craps about who won the Iron Bowl. I felt like an outsider.

Normal, social people, maybe ones with fewer insecurities and fears than I had, would have embraced the change. They probably would have welcomed the kindness and warmth that this small community shared so generously. They would have jumped at the chance to be known, to belong.

Change is Hard

But to be frank, it scared the mess out of me. I didn’t like the constant show of new faces and I missed the quick runs to Target and my favorite Thai restaurant. I cried in the shower and avoided going to the supermarket because I knew I would be met with unfamiliar faces and awkward conversation. It was as if I had amnesia, like I was lost in a foreign land and I didn’t know who or where I was.

Instead of dealing with it, I pushed back. I cut my hair and put on my best yankee accent. I turned my nose up to the beautiful tastes and sounds that were all around me, retreating to things that were more familiar- throwback playlists on my iPod, old Converse sneakers, and recipes that reminded me of home. Where was my own identity? The one that wasn’t just “Brett’s wife,” or “the new girl from Orlando.”?

Blossom Where You’re Planted

One day at work, I had a patient ask me how my transition to Selma was going. Obnoxiously, I cleared my throat and with an eye roll or two, I told him that my new life was harder than I thought it would be. The change was more than I expected. I’m honestly not sure what else was said in the conversation, or if I even responded with the grace that man deserved, but what plays clear as black and white in the reel of my memories is the look on his face and the gentle words that came next: “My Mama always told me, ‘Blossom where you’re planted.’ I sure hope you take the chance to bloom here, ma’am.”

Those words affected me. They exposed a stubborn seed of pride in my heart that was unwilling to bend for my new home in any way. I was so busy with my self-deprecation and mourning the loss of outlet malls that I forget to look for the silver lining. I failed to seek out the gold in Selma, the gold in its people.

A lot has transpired in the four year since that day. I won’t say much about it now, but what I will share is that Selma has become a home. There are roots now, woven snug to some of the most intimate parts of who I am. Roots that connect me to memories of my children, new smells and flavors, and faces of people who have become “forever friends.” There’s buds here, signs of new life and growth, and I’m certain now more than ever that Selma is the soil I want to blossom in.

Honey Mascarpone Tart

Every summer since moving to Selma, I’ve found myself with a basket of figs. My father-in-law has a gigantic fig tree at his home, so when the tree’s fruit ripens, I strap on some boots and sweat, sweat, sweat for the love of sweet summer fruit. Preserves come first, and we enjoy that bounty all year round on toast and biscuits, even inside some sweet little pop-tarts that I plan to share with you all next month. This year, I made a few extra trips to pick figs and this honey mascarpone tart is the result.

A simple, 8 ingredient tart, requiring less than 30 minutes of prep work and zero use of the oven, this honey mascarpone tart is a beautiful vehicle for late summer’s freshest fruits. I’ve chosen to pair mine with figs, but I think any cherry, peach, or berry would find themselves more than at home on this little beauty.

Making the Tart

To make this honey mascarpone tart, we start by preparing the crust. Salty, soft, and unabashedly buttery, the graham cracker crust here is anything but subtle. It is the perfect match for the creamy, lightly sweetened cream and fresh figs. A simple stir of graham cracker crumbs, butter, salt, and brown sugar and you’re halfway there to creating the best no-bake honey graham crust a gal could ask for. Press the crumbs into the removable bottom of a tart pan and let the whole thing chill up in the fridge.

The Filling

Next, make the filling. Mascarpone cheese, honey, and brown sugar are the main stars here. After combining all three, fold in some whipped cream and spread it into the chilled crust. At that point, the honey mascarpone tart could really be finished. I could easily polish off the entire thing without even blinking an eye. Instead, let’s decorate it with some fresh summer fruit, a handful of pistachios, and a drizzle of honey. YOLO, okay?

This honey mascarpone tart feels special. It feels like a dessert worth celebrating over, and yet, it’s just a few simple ingredients that shine their brightest when paired together. Light and fresh, a chilled slice of this honey mascarpone tart is just the ticket on these warm summer nights we’re having. It’s easy enough for a weeknight at home, decadent enough to raise a toast to.

Give this honey mascarpone tart a try and let me know what you think! Happy Thursday!

If you like this honey mascarpone tart, be sure to check out:

Strawberry Pretzel Tart

Pumpkin Cheesecake Tarts

Bruleed Key Lime Pies

Blueberry Galette with a Cornmeal Crust

Honey Mascarpone Tart

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.3 from 9 reviews

This honey mascarpone tart is a quick and simple mascarpone cream dessert with a salty graham cracker crust. The tart is finished with fresh figs and toasted pistachios.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 240
Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the crust:

1/3 cup (70 gm) brown sugar, packed
2 cups (200 gm) graham cracker crumbs
¾ teaspoon salt
7 tablespoons (100 gm) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

8 ounces (230 gm) mascarpone cheese
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons honey
1 cup plus 1/3 cup (320 mL) heavy whipping cream
1–2 cups of fresh figs, halved (peaches, berries, or cherries can be substituted)
¼ cup (40 gm) chopped pistachios, toasted (optional)
Additional honey for drizzling (optional)

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Instructions

To prepare the crust:

Whisk together the brown sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and salt in a medium sized bowl. Add the melted butter and stir until well combined. Press the crumbs into the bottom and sides of a 9-10” tart pan with a removable bottom. Place in the fridge to chill while you prepare the filling.

To prepare the filling:

In a large bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese on medium speed until creamed and no lumps remain, about 1 minute. Be sure the cheese has come to room temperature or you will have a clumpy filling. Add the brown sugar and beat to combine, about 30 seconds. Add in the honey slowly with the mixer on low. Scrape the sides of the bowl and beat for an additional 30 seconds to ensure everything is well combined.
In a separate bowl, beat 1 cup of the heavy cream on medium low speed until it gets frothy. Increase the speed and beat until stiff peaks form. Do not overbeat.
Fold about half of the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture. Add the remaining half and fold to combine. If you notice your filling is a bit clumpy, add in the additional 1/3 cup of cream and beat briefly to smooth out.
Spread the filling into the prepared tart crust and allow to chill in the fridge for several hours to firm up. Once ready to serve, garnish the tart or each slice with figs, pistachios, and an extra drizzle of honey, if desired. Store in the fridge up to 3 days.

Notes

In a pinch, you can use cream cheese in place of mascarpone, but I highly encourage the mascarpone! It works perfectly with the honey.
If your mascarpone curdles a bit when you add the honey, try refrigerating it and then re-mixing. I have found this helps to minimize the curdles. Most of the lumps disappear with the addition of the whipped cream anyways.

Honey Nut Biscuits and Breakfast Ideas for Mother’s Day

20 Comments / Breakfast

Honey Nut Biscuits Recipe by The Wood and Spoon Blog. Flaky butter biscuits sweetened naturally with honey and filled with nuts like pecans or walnuts. This simple recipe makes biscuits with lots of layers and doesn't require laminating. Recipe and other Mother's Day breakfast in bed menu inspiration on thewoodandspoon.com // woodandspoon.com

Happy almost Mother’s Day to all those baby mamas out there who are crushing it. To the ones who are working hard to raise babies, punch time clocks, manage baseball practice schedules, and so on and so forth. You work it 365 days a year, usually without any thank yous, awards, or so much as time to enjoy an extra generous pour of wine during the witching hour. Mother’s Day is a day where, in an ideal world, you would get to do you. You could wake up, leisurely enjoy a cup of coffee, and maybe even nibble on one of these honey nut biscuits. There’d be flowers waiting at your bedside, and well behaved children would have already fed, groomed, and entertained themselves while you adjusted to the morning light.

But let’s be real- the chances of that happening are slim. More than likely, there’s a dirty diaper or a Cheerios explosion waiting for you. There’s a dishwasher to unload, laundry to fold, and a few knees that will require Band-Aids.

Motherhood is work. It’s exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time, and no matter how many books you read, mommy bloggers you follow, or packs of diaper wipes you buy at the store, it’s nearly impossible to be prepared for everything this life will hand you. Motherhood is the job you can’t clock out of, but it’s also the one with the most benefits. It’s a beautiful role we play, and despite how much I often disdain wiping one more nose, making one more bottle, or hearing “NO!” for the millionth time, I’ll always be honored to walk in these mama shoes. Even if they’re covered in baby food and spit up.

I’ve got just the thing to help you celebrate all the Moms you know- breakfast! Why buy Mom a gift when you can make her something entirely satisfying and delicious from the comfort of your own kitchen? Below you’ll see a few menus that I’ve put together based on a few different dietary needs and preferences. (Sidenote: Brett, if you’re reading this, I want the “Sweet Tooth” menu, ok?) These are tasty recipes from some of my favorite blog friends, some of which I’ve tried, and others that I’m just dying to get to. Skim over the links and see if any suit you! And if you’re a Mama reading this thinking, “There’s no way my kids//husband//crazy landlord will be able to pull off one of these breakfasts for me on their own,” then I would charge you to make something delicious for yourself. You’ve earned it.

Protein Packed

For the lean, mean, protein-requiring machine moms who need a little muscle to make it through the day.

Eggs Baked in Herbs and Cream

Honey Nut Biscuits

Coffee Protein Smoothie

Double Chocolate and Banana Superfood Granola

Sweet Tooth

For the moms who like their breakfasts like they like their children- SWEET.

Baked French Toast

Funfetti Scones

Brioche Cinnamon Rolls

Vanilla Iced Coffee

Health Nut

For the moms who don’t need to be told to eat their veggies.

Kale Fritatta

Fruit Salad with Honey Vanilla Yogurt

Flaxseed Bread

Raspberry Beet Smoothie

Southern Fixin’s

This category is basically for all of my Alabama friends who wouldn’t know a green smoothie if it sat on their face. Gals, if you make any of these, please invite me over.

Hummingbird Muffins

Banana Bread with Olive Oil Glaze

Sausage Pinwheels

Baked Eggs with Cheese Grits

In addition, I’m sharing with you this most delicious recipe for honey nut biscuits. These are all butter, Southern-style biscuits, naturally sweetened with local honey and flecked with little bits of toasted pecans. Serve these with bacon and sausage, eggs, or maybe even just a pad of butter and a drizzle of honey. I promise that your Mama will thank you for it. These biscuits are sweet, buttery, incredibly flaky, and almost too good to be true. Perfect for the mom in your life who needs all the thanks in the world.

Give these honey nut biscuits a try on Mother’s Day, whether for yourself or for the special lady in your life. It’s good to share gratitude, and I can almost guarantee that the effort will mean the world to her. Happy Mother’s Day to my beautiful friends and readers who make this Mama’s life and world a little bit nuttier and sweeter. You guys are the best. Cheers!

If you like these honey nut biscuits, you may also like:

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Orange Cardamom Rolls

Breakfast Danish

Honey Oat Bread

Honey Nut Biscuits

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

Sweetened with honey and flecked with toasted nuts, these honey nut biscuits are all-butter, flaky, Southern-style biscuits that are perfect for breakfast or brunch. Serve with additional butter and honey.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 20
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 12
Category: Breakfast

Ingredients

3 cups (390 gm) all-purpose flour
2–1/2 teaspoons (11 gm) baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (140 gm) cold, unsalted butter, chopped into large chunks
1 cup (95 gm) pecans, finely chopped
1 cup (240 mL) cold milk (I use whole or 2%)
1/4 cup (60 mL) honey
2 tablespoons melted butter
Additional pecans for sprinkling on the biscuits, if desired.

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 415 degrees. Prepare a baking pan by lining it with a sheet of parchment paper.
Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium sized bowl. Using a pastry cutter or the backs of two forks, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until there are pea-sized clumps throughout. Toss in the pecans.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the milk and honey, stirring until well mixed. Add this to the flour and butter mixture and fold gently just until all of the flour has been moistened. Do not overwork the dough.
Dump the dough out on to a floured surface and pat the dough out until it’s about 1″ thick rectangle. Working quickly, fold the dough in thirds, as you would a letter. Rotate the dough 90 degrees and repeat the folding process. Rotate the dough 90 degrees once more and repeat the folding process. Gently pat out the dough to 1” thick. Use a 2″ round biscuit cutter to cut out biscuit rounds and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Gather dough scraps and gently pat them together to form another 1″ thick flat of dough and continue cutting out biscuits. Take care to not overwork your dough, as this can yield tough biscuits.
Brush the tops of the biscuits with the melted butter and sprinkle with additional chopped pecans, if desired.
Bake in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes or until the edges and tops of the biscuits are adequately golden. Serve buttered with additional honey, if desired.

Notes

Be sure to use very cold butter and milk. Butter and milk that is not cold enough can prevent your biscuits from rising well.
Do not overwork your dough at any phase of the preparation.
The folding of the dough helps to create flaky layers within the biscuit, but is not necessary if you don’t care about this.
For flakiest layers, use a sharp biscuit cutters and push straight down into the dough. Refrain from twisting the cutter as you insert it into the dough as this can cause the edges to seal off and keep from rising well.
You can substitute walnuts, almonds, or another preferred variety of nut for this recipe, if desired.
You can substitute additional melted butter with heavy cream or milk.
To reheat biscuits, toast in a toaster oven until fragrant.

Honey Basil Margaritas

14 Comments / Food and Drink

At the end of April, my mom and I created a summer bucket list- a list of projects and goals we wanted to complete before fall came rolling through. Initially, I was determined to tick each and every item off that list. I’d finish sewing a few quilts, piece together George’s baby photo album, and shed the remaining pregnancy pounds, among a number of other tasks that I was sure I’d finish with ease.

I was wrong.

Had my summer bucket list included eating an entire ice cream cake by myself, binge watching every episode of “Naked and Afraid” on my DVR, or successfully maintaining a sports bra/t-shirt hybrid of a farmer’s tan, then this summer would have been crowned an all out success. Instead, my biggest success of the summer was keeping two humans alive (three, if you count my husband), and finally sleeping through the night myself without an extra kick in the pants from my good friend, melatonin.

One silver lining of those summer nights and my struggling bucket list are the cocktails. Ohh, the cocktails.

I have honey basil margaritas to thank for a lot of my summer nights. Made with classic margarita ingredients and the added bonus of a honey simple syrup and fresh basil, these honey basil margaritas are incredibly refreshing and the perfect mix of sweet, sour, and salty. This is a cocktail made for sunset-watching on the beach, summer barbecues, or (if you’re like me) when the witching hour is strong and mama just needs a little something to take the edge off.

The honey simple syrup is made like any other simple syrup, by boiling equal parts water and sugar (in the form of good quality clover honey) until it’s dissolved. After being chilled, the syrup is muddled with the basil before being shaken to oblivion with the lime, tequila, and orange liquor. You can store your syrup in the fridge for two weeks and I highly recommend shaking it up with some of your other favorite citrus-based cocktails (French 75, anyone?)

I’m sharing this recipe for honey basil margaritas in participation of #DRINKTHESUMMER , a virtual cocktail party being hosted by Sherrie of With Food + Love . Even though summer is short, it is always plenty generous with a bounty of produce that is worthy of celebration, so be sure to check out her post where she will be sharing the names and recipe links of the other bloggers involved.

If you made a summer bucket list and failed to complete it, don’t fret. Just drink up what’s left of the summer and look forward to all that fall has to offer.

To see more of #DRINKTHESUMMER , click to the host site here .

Honey Basil Margaritas

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

Made with fresh basil and a honey simple syrup, these honey basil margaritas are a refreshing, summery take on the Mexican classic.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 15
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 1

Ingredients

For the honey basil margaritas

3/4 ounce honey simple syrup (recipe below)
4 medium sized basil leaves
2 ounces tequila
1/2 ounce orange liquor
1 ounce lime juice

For the honey simple syrup

1/2 cup good quality clover honey
1/2 cup water

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Instructions

To prepare the margaritas

In a shaker, muddle the basil leaves with the honey simple syrup. Add the remaining ingredients and fill the shaker with ice. Shake for 30-45 seconds. Pour into a salt-rimmed glass and enjoy!

To prepare the honey simple syrup

Combine the honey and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil and then remove from the heat. Allow to cool on the stove or in a heat-safe container in the fridge. Store in the fridge for up to two weeks.

No Churn Honey Salted Almond Ice Cream

8 Comments / Frozen Desserts

Are you sick of ice cream recipes yet? If your answer to that question is yes, my bet is that you’re either lactose intolerant or worse, not an ice cream lover. Either way, you may want to slowly back away from your computer screen because it’s about to get all creamy up in here. Today we’re talking no churn honey salted almond ice cream.

It’s hard to believe that up until one year ago I had never made ice cream. At the time, it seemed scary (all that churning business), unnecessary (because Blue Bell and Talenti, duh), and really challenging. Until last year, I was perfectly content chomping on Ben and Jerry’s and scooping up melty puddles of Mayfield. Such was life for me until a good friend gifted me her ice cream machine. This machine changed my kitchen ‘tude and brought me out of darkness and into the light. I found my new love.

If you have an ice cream maker that you use on a semi-regular basis then you already know what I mean. Homemade ice is so delicious and incredibly rewarding. But if you fall into the “no ice cream machine” or “no space in my kitchen cabinets for one more appliance I’ll never use” category, then look no further. Today’s recipe is for you. Ya welcome.

No churn ice cream is my new boo. It’s quick, simple, and easily made with equipment and ingredients that most home cooks have access to. If you have a can of sweetened condensed milk and a pint of whipping cream, CONGRATS, you’re halfway there! For a basic no churn vanilla ice cream, simply whip together the cream, milk, and a smidge of vanilla or liquor until stiff peaks form. That’s it! All done. Then it’s just some waiting on the clock while the fluffy vanilla goodness sets up in the freezer.

From there, the possibilities are endless. Mix in your favorite toppings (think brownie pieces like in this mocha brownie ice cream or cookie chunks like in this oatmeal cookie ice cream) for a super satisfying, homemade treat, or take it a step further by swirling in caramel, fruit syrups, or fudge. Just be careful to not add too much water via fruit juice or other liquids, as the ice cream can become too icy.

If you’ve got 15 minutes and a can opener, this no churn honey salted almond ice cream recipe is the perfect way to chill out. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

No Churn Honey Salted Almond Ice Cream

Print Recipe

This no churn honey salted almond ice cream is rich and the perfect blend of salty and sweet. It comes together easily and quickly!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the salty almonds

2/3 cup almonds (or another nut, if preferred)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt

For the ice cream

2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup honey
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)

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Instructions

To prepare the nuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir the nuts, melted butter, and salt together in a small bowl to combine. Spread out on a sheet pan and bake in the oven, stirring occasionally, until toasted, about 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn. Allow to cool to room temperature.

To prepare the ice cream

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the whipping cream, honey, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla, and whip until stiff peaks form.
Fold in the nuts until evenly dispersed. Spread mixture out into a loaf pan or another freezer safe container. Cover and allow to freeze until solid, about 6 hours.

Notes

You can use any type of nut you prefer! I really like almonds, but walnuts, pecans, or even pistachios would taste brilliant here!
Use good quality honey. The honey really needs to shine here so use a variety that you enjoy the taste of.

Strawberry Shortcake

3 Comments / Breakfast, Cakes

If I ended up on death row and tonight’s dinner was destined to be my last meal, I would you ask you for an over-sized portion of my mom’s baked spaghetti. It’s nothing fancy, really- diced onion, ground beef, and canned tomato sauce, baked together with cooked spaghetti noodles under a blanket of shredded mozzarella and parmesan- but to me, no baked spaghetti could ever taste as good to me as hers. Other contenders for my last meal just may include something similar to today’s recipe: strawberry shortcake .

Food Memories

One of the first foods I can remember learning to make is biscuits. Growing up, my Mimi would prepare her famous chicken and dumplings. I would watch her cut the fat into the the flour, rolling out the dough to cut our rounds. Mimi’s take on chicken and dumplings included baking the biscuits in the oven and smothering them with the chicken and thickened sauce. If we were lucky, she would prepare extra biscuits and these would become the foundation pieces for a dessert of strawberry shortcake. We would macerate berries in sugar and make a generous bowl of whipped cream to dollop over the sweet berries and warm biscuits. The words “strawberry shortcake” will always be synonymous with Mimi and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

And isn’t that the one of the coolest things about food? Food can take you somewhere- to a place, to a time, to a feeling. Just the smell of certain foods make me feel like I’m a kid again, or on a first date, or fanning the kitchen after scorching something on the bottom of the oven. Foods jar memories, emotions, and a range of other things because those moments become apart of us. Baked spaghetti and strawberry shortcake, to me, is more than just a meal- it’s a memory of home.

I want to create moments like that with my kids. I want them to grow up and say their version of some food was better because it was apart of their memories… because eating that food was like sharing a meal with their mom again.

Strawberry Shortcake

Okay, I swear I’m not crying over here. (Read: I am.) We should move on. Let’s get to the good stuff. The nitty gritty. Let’s talk strawberry shortcake.

roasted strawberry shortcake with honey whipped cream I started with my Mimi’s biscuit recipe and modified it to make a sweeter, more scone-like shortcake. The end result features roasted strawberries and realllly good honey whipped cream. Roasting the strawberries intensifies their strawberry-ness, making an otherwise ordinary dessert something to talk about. And the honey whipped cream? Well, let’s just say I’m putting this bad boy on everything now.

If I were you, I’d double the batch of shortcakes and plan on eating those little nuggets for breakfast all week long. Monday could be butter and honey, Tuesday could be fresh preserves and left over honey whipped cream, Wednesday could be hazelnut spread and marshmallow fluff… the possibilities are endless. The bottom line is that with summer just around the corner and fresh berries on the verge of taking over your grocery store, you NEED a strawberry shortcake recipe that is for the books. Done and done.

Strawberry Shortcake

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This strawberry shortcake recipe features roasted strawberries and really, realllly good honey whipped cream.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 60
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 10

Ingredients

For the shortcakes

2 cups flour
1–1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, cold
1 cup whipping cream

For the roasted strawberries

2 pounds of strawberries, stemmed, hulled- cut large berries in half and leave petite ones whole
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the honey whipped cream

3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons sugar
1–1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

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Instructions

To prepare the shortcakes

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Whisk together the dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl.
Using a pastry cutter or the back of a fork, cut in the butter until well combined and with pea-sized clumps uniformly throughout.
Add the cream, stirring until a soft, shaggy dough is formed.
For rustic shortcakes, use an ice cream scoop or a spoon to portion out 1/4 cup mounds of dough and flatten them slightly with the palm of your hand. For more biscuit-like shortcakes, gently pat dough out on to lightly floured surface until 3/4″ thick. Using a 3″ biscuit cutter, cut out rounds of dough. Lightly brush the remaining cream over the mounts of dough. Sprinkle a little extra sugar on top, if desired.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until shortcakes are golden and cooked throughout. Allow to cool on a cooling rack.

To prepare the strawberries

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Toss together the strawberries, sugar, and salt on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 10 minutes or until juices are released and strawberries are fragrant. Add two tablespoons of water to the berries and juices and stir with a spatula. Allow to cool slightly.

For the honey whipped cream

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until most clumps are smoothed out, about one minute. Add the honey and sugar and beat to combine, about one minute.
Add about 1/4 of the cream and beat just slightly until the cream cheese mixture is thinned out, about 30 seconds. Add the remaining cream and beat until cream is whipped to stiff peaks. Avoid over-beating.

To assemble the shortcakes

Set aside about 1/2 of the strawberries, leaving the juices behind with the other half. Using a potato masher, mash the half of strawberries with the juices remaining until all large bits of strawberry is smooshed. Fold in the other half of intact strawberries.
Slice each shortcake in half, removing the tops. Spoon a generous dollop of whipped cream on top of the bottom.
Spoon a generous helping of strawberries over the cream, saving enough liquid and intact strawberries for the rest of the shortcakes.
Replace the top of the shortcake and enjoy immediately!