raspberry Archives - Wood & Spoon

Sugar Cookie Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream Sandwiches

1 Comment / Cookies and Bars, Frozen Desserts

Sugar Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches with Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream by Wood and Spoon blog. This is Sarah Keiffer's recipe for chewy sugar cookies loaded with no-sugar raspberry swirl ice cream. The ice cream is simple to put together and requires no ice cream machine. These are delicious frozen desserts! Makes enough jumbo treats to share with a crowd and is perfect for summer days! Find the recipe on thewoodandspoon.com

You know what is super exciting? Going after your dreams. This year has been kind of a downer, but even so, in the midst of a lot of come-aparts and letdowns, there’s been a number of little bright spots that remind me the world is still turning out beautiful, wonderful things. A friend of mine fulfilled a dream by writing an incredible cookbook full of recipes that are right up your alley, and today I get to be one of the first to brag on it with these sugar cookie ice cream sandwiches. More on that ASAP.

What Ifs

I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time plotting “what if’s,” spinning stories and webs of whimsy in mind that I’ll never come to realize. Sometimes it’s lack of time and know-how, limited funds or energy, but more often than not, it’s fear. I sideline a lot of my hopes because they feel too big to pursue. What if I’m not the the woman for the job? Maybe my ambitions would be better served by someone smarter or more brave. Maybe someone not bound by children or location or a limited skillset. Is it the right time for these ambitions? Maybe there’s just not enough room in the world for whatever I bring to the table.

When faced with our dreams and all the fear that comes with them, I think we have to say “yes” anyways. There are so many beautiful and inspiring things waiting to be uncovered just on the other side of our fear; we’ll never regret crossing over to at least sniff them out. Whatever hopes or ambitions you’ve got in your back pocket, the one that you’re saving for a rainy day, for another year, or for some distant future version of yourself to uncover, I want to encourage you to at least check them out.

If fear and “what if’s” are the only thing nudging you back to the quiet comforts of your present reality, I hope you’ll shake them off and decide to be a person who goes after their big, loud ambitions anyways. There’s room in the world for your gifts, ideas, and ambitions. Today can be the day, maybe even the first, that you break out of fear long enough to catch of glimpse of them.

Sugar Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

So these sugar cookie ice cream sandwiches. I met Sarah at an event this time last year and found out she was working on this book. Her first book was already in my library, so I was excited to hear about this newest addition. Y’all- it is worth the hype and then some. Her book, “100 Cookies,” is a beautiful offering, full of inspired recipes, detailed instructions, and yummy photos that make you want to dive in and grab them. As someone who has always dreamed of writing a cookbook, this book is one of those reads that made me think, “This is what I want to write!” It’s just terrific.

Aimee dog-eared a number of recipes she wanted to make (hello, macarons! red velvet brownies! all the sprinkle things!), and these sugar cookie ice cream sandwiches were her pick that seemed the most seasonally appropriate. I’m so glad we made them. The cookies are perfectly sweetened and freeze nicely, but the biggest surprise was the ice cream. Sarah’s no-churn ice cream includes cream cheese (a thing I’ve done in the past but not recently), and I was reminded of how seriously delicious it makes those no-churn varieties. I’ll probably be going back to that soon enough.

Anyways, we still have a little summer left in us, so I hope you’ll make these sugar cookie ice cream sandwiches with raspberry ripple ice cream soon enough. And whatever that ambition it is you’re housing, don’t be afraid to go after it. Now, in this weird transition and blip in history, is a great time to reinvent and choose something you wouldn’t normally go after, and I really believe it’s worth the risk. Happy Wednesday to you all and Happy Baking!

If you like these sugar cookie ice cream sandwiches you should check out:

No-Churn Sugar Cookie Ice Cream
Oatmeal Cream Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Sugar Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches with Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream

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These sugar cookie ice cream sandwiches feature a delicious no-churn raspberry ripple ice cream that make for a yummy frozen dessert!

Author: Sarah Kieffer, recipe from “100 Cookies”
Prep Time: 60
Cook Time: 45
Total Time: 360
Yield: 10
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the ice cream:

1 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
½ cup sugar
Pinch plus ¼ teaspoon of salt
One 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped (optional)
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
2 cups heavy whipping cream

For the cookies:

2–1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1–3/4 cups sugar, plus ½ cup more for rolling
1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

To prepare the ice cream:

Bring the raspberries, sugar and pinch of salt to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring and pressing down on the berries occasionally until they have released their juices, about 5 minutes. Strain the berry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids. Let the juice cool to room temperature, then place in the fridge to chill.
In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, vanilla bean seeds, and ¼ teaspoon salt until completely smooth. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Turn the mixer to low speed and add the heavy cream in a slow, steady steam, mixing until combined. Increase the speed to medium-high and whisk until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Add half of the whipped cream mixture to the sweetened condensed milk mixture and whisk until completely combined. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the remaining whipped cream mixture until no streak remain. Pour into a 9×13” metal pan lined with foil and swirl in dollops of the raspberry mixtures, swirling with a butter knife. Freeze until firm, about 6 hours.

To prepare the cookies:

Adjust an oven rack to the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line three sheet pans with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter on medium speed until cream, about 1 minute. Add 1-3/4 cups of the sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg, yolk, and vanilla, and beat on medium speed until combined. Add the flour mixture and eat on low speed until just combined. Place the remaining ½ cup of sugar in a small bowl.
Form the cookies into 1-1/2 ounce (2 tablespoon) balls. Roll each ball in the sugar and place 8 cookies on each pan. Bake one pan at a time, rotating halfway through baking. Bake until the sides are set and the bottoms are light golden brown 12-14 minutes. Transfer the sheet pan t a wire rack and let the cookies cool for 5 to 10 minutes on the pan, the remove them and let them cool completely on the wire rack. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
When the ice cream is frozen and cookies are cooled, use a 2-1/2 inch round cutter to trim our rounds of ice cream and sandwich in between two cookies. Freeze until ready to enjoy!

Raspberry Muffins

11 Comments / Breakfast

Earlier this week, I was taking inventory of my calendar, and it hit me- my little girl is going to Kindergarten. For the past few months, while being out of the routine, out of the hustle, school has seemed like a big, distant question mark, and now that it’s upon us I’m unsure what to think. In a lot of ways, this little site has grown up with Aimee. You guys were here for the birthday parties, the goofy stories, and the times when she gained a few new brothers. It feels surreal that in two weeks I’ll pack her lunch and send her to her first day of the next 13 years. How is that even possible?

The other day, she tiptoed downstairs and asked if we could bake some muffins. Well, sure, baby girl. We can. We mixed butter and oil and eggs and syrup, added a few pieces of fruit, and wah-la- raspberry muffins. They’re delightfully simple, and I’m thrilled to share them with you today.

To make these raspberry muffins, we start by mixing together the wet ingredients: milk, oil, butter, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla. We use the oil for moisture and the butter for flavor. Next, we stir in the dry ingredients, which is nothing more than flour, leavening, and salt. Finally, the raspberries are folded in, and the muffins are baked until domed and golden throughout.

You can use fresh or frozen raspberries here. Keep in mind that any raspberry juices (like from frozen berries) will streak the batter with pink, so opt for fresh if that bothers you at all. Either way, you’re sure to enjoy these morning treats all summer long. I hope you guys are having a happy Sunday. Happy baking!

If you like these raspberry muffins you should try:

Whole-Wheat Blueberry Muffins
Hummingbird Muffins
Morning Glory Muffins
Java Chip Muffins
Whole Wheat Carrot Muffins
Peach Crumb Muffins

Raspberry Muffins

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★★★★★

4.8 from 4 reviews

These raspberry muffins are soft, lightly sweetened, and dotted with tart, fresh raspberries throughout.

Author: Kate
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 15
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 12
Category: Breakfast

Ingredients

1/3 cup (180 gm) milk
¼ cup (60 gm) canola (or other neutral) oil
6 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup (240 gm) maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg
2 cups (280 gm) all-purpose flour
2–1/2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
I cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 tablespoon sugar, optional

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Instructions

Preheat an oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and put paper muffin lines in a 12-compartment tin. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, butter, maple syrup, egg, and extract until smooth. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and stir just till barely combined. Fold in the raspberries. Divide the batter among the 12-muffin compartment. Mine usually end up about 3/4 of the way full. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Bake in the preheated oven for about 17-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool briefly before consuming!

Berry Slab Pie

Making the Pie

To make this berry slab pie, we start with the crust. Flour, salt, and a bit of sugar are pulsed together with loads of butter until pea-sized clumps exist throughout. We bring the dough together with some ice water and apple cider vinegar and allow it to chill in the fridge. Once the dough is cold, preheat the oven and roll the dough out onto a floured surface. Fit the dough into a jelly roll pan and begin to prep your filling.

Blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are tossed together with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon zest. Scoop the mixture into the prepared pie dish and set it aside while you roll out the top piece of dough. I chose to lattice strips of dough on my berry slab pie, but you can easily opt to roll out the sheet of dough and vent the top instead. Place the pie in a preheated oven and bake until the juices are bubbling and the crust is golden brown.

A Few Things to Know

A few things to know about this berry slab pie: first, you really have to roll out your dough well. A jelly roll pan requires a really big crust, and even though this recipe makes loads of dough you’ll still need to take care to roll it out large enough. Second, feel free to adapt this filling according to your preferences! You can use fresh or frozen berries and even sub in certain varieties of berries. Finally, be sure to taste test the berries before you fill your pie so that you can add more or less sugar as needed. If you find your berries aren’t super ripe you may require a few extra tablespoons of sugar to sweeten up the filling.

Let’s bask in these last few days of summer and fill up on yummy treats like this berry slab pie. Many thanks to my friends at Kerrygold for sponsoring this post. Pies are only as good as the ingredients we put in them (especially when it comes to butter!), so for optimal taste I always trust Kerrygold. Pick up a few sticks at the store and give it a try yourself! Happy Tuesday and Happy Baking!

If you like this berry slab pie you should try:

Peach Berry Pie

Berry Almond Streusel Pie

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Caramel Apple Slab Pie

Berry Slab Pie

Print Recipe

This berry slab pie is baked in a jelly roll pan and feeds a crowd! Features strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 60
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 16
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the pie crust:

4–1/2 cups (585 gm) all-purpose flour
1–1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1–3/4 cup (400 gm) unsalted butter, cold
10+ tablespoons ice water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

For the pie filling:

2 teaspoons lemon juice (about the juice of one lemon)
1 tablespoon lemon zest
8 cups (about 900 gm) mixed berries (I used chopped strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries)
¼ cup (35 gm) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
½ cup (100 gm) sugar
1 egg

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Instructions

To prepare the pie crust:

Give the dry ingredients a whiz in the food processor to combine.
Pulse in the butter, just until evenly dispersed and pea-sized clumps form.
Pour the apple cider vinegar into the ice water. Add in 6 or 7 tablespoons of ice water mixture and pulse, adding in an additional tablespoon of water until a dough begins to form. I usually need 9-10 tablespoons of water.
Remove dough from food processor and separate in two round disks. Wrap in Saran wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes prior to use.

To prepare the pie filling:

Combine the lemon juice, zest, and berries in a large bowl. Add the flour, cinnamon, and sugar and toss to combine evenly. Set aside while you make assemble your pie.

To assemble your pie:

Preheat an oven to 375 degrees. Prepare an egg wash by whisking 1 egg with 2 teaspoons of water. Set aside while you prepare the pie.
Roll out one half of your dough on a lightly floured surface to a 12”x17” rectangle. Once smoothed and sized, roll the dough back onto the rolling pin and transfer the dough into a 15″ x 10″ x 1″ jelly roll pan. Gently press the dough into the edges of the pan and trim off excess dough, leaving a 3/4’” overhand around all edges. Use some excess dough to fill in spots where the dough may have cracked or wasn’t long enough.
Sprinkle your prepared fruit into the pan and spread out to fill evenly. Roll out your remaining piece of dough to a 12”x17” rectangle. Roll the dough onto your rolling pin and transfer it to the pie. Center the pie top on the pan and fold the bottom edge over the top, crimping with your fingers as desired. Use a knife to vent the pie and brush the egg wash over the top crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling inside is bubbling. Rotate the pie during baking as needed to brown evenly.

Lemon Lavender Icebox Cake

19 Comments / Breakfast

Happy Sunday, Friends! I hope this weekend has been full of joy and love and rest for you. We did a lot of the opposite this weekend, as we partook in the madness that is March college basketball. My husband (an Auburn fan) and myself (a UK fan) will have to duke it out later this afternoon as our teams play each other in the Elite Eight match, so pray for us. For your lazy-day entertainment, I’ve rounded up a list of things I’ve been reading, eating, and shopping for, plus I’m sharing the how-to on this seriously adorable lemon lavender icebox cake. Grab a fork and let’s dive in!

What I’m Reading:

I relate to this article on “crispy-gone-soggy” foods (think soggy nachos, leftover General Tso’s carryout, etc) on so many levels. It’s an opinion piece from Bon Appetit that is entirely funny and delicious on so many levels. Check it out for a casual laugh and stomach rumble.
Food52’s annual cookbook tournament has just wound down, and I am so thrilled to pick up copies of the winning books. Basically they’ve picked some of the most eye-catching cookbooks from the year go head-to-head in a bracket-style throw down. The judges are mostly renowned chefs who whittle the list of best cookbooks down from 16 to 1. Read about the finalists (and the winner!) here.
I’m just wrapping up “Everybody, Always” by Bob Goff. It’s a heartwarming, inspiring, and, at times, difficult read, but there’s so much truth in it that I love it. Loving people can be really hard, but Bob breaks this lifelong pursuit down to just loving the person in front of you, one day at a time. Such a good read.

What I’m Eating:

With warmer weather and bathing suit season on the horizon, we’ve been trying to include lots of salads and veggies in the dinnertime lineup. This bulgur salad with cucumbers, dill, chickpeas, and peppers is anything but basic, and it’s probably my favorite dish I’ve prepared in months. Serve with grilled chicken or fish if you’re cooking for a meatatarian, otherwise, this salad needs no other sidekick.
Ok, so I must not be really concerned about that summer body, because we’re still totally making burgers. These ones are smashed thin like the ones you might get at a greasy diner, and they are outrageous delicious. We top ours with grilled red onion and serve with skillet hash browns. My mouth is actually watering.
I love how easily a pork tenderloin will serve my family of four, but I’m always getting stuck in the savory herb-crusted rut. This recipe from Tyler Florence boasts a chimichurri sauce that is to die for and makes the whole dish feel fresh and exciting. Serve with rice, beans, and grilled veggies.

What I’m Shopping For:

The Madewell spring collection has me longing for non-maternity wear. The bright colors, flowy materials, and simple retro patterns are 100% my ballgame.
I just ordered this bathing suit coverup both for now and post-baby. When I’m chasing after two kiddos at the pool, I don’t want to worry what is falling out of the backside of my suit, and this coverup is the light and airy ticket I’ve been looking for. Plus, the side tie means that I can wear it as my body transitions in the coming months!
The springy dishes and serveware at Sur La Table have me itching to throw a garden party. I’m dying over the new cast iron colors and floral china. Check it out here.

What I’m Baking:

Lemon lavender icebox cake. Isn’t she a beaut? I love how dainty and fancy this sweet make-ahead dessert feels, and I love the ease with which I’m able to prepare it. Made with a fluffy and citrusy lemon cake, a lavender-infused whipped filling, and sweet raspberry preserves, this cake is the springy layered treat your tables have been begging for.

I made this lemon lavender icebox cake in partnership with my friends at Kerrygold. Their unsalted butter keeps the lemon cake moist in spite of the cake’s time spent in the icebox, and it adds a subtle richness to every bite. I love having a go-to butter brand to suit my favorite decadent desserts, and this little freezer-friendly cake is no exception.

Making the Icebox Cake

To make this lemon lavender icebox cake, we start by baking the cake. This cake whips up easily with butter, sugar, eggs, and the usual suspect dry ingredients. The juice of the lemons adds tang and acidity to this cake while the zest adds a fragrant, lemony taste to every bite. We bake the batter in a half sheet pan and allow it to cool completely before we throw it all together.

The filling for this lemon lavender cake is basically a bulked-up whipped cream. We add in a little cream cheese to the mixture to stabilize the airy whipped cream which gets its flavor from an infusion of dried lavender. I purchased a small bag of dried culinary lavender on Amazon, but some of you big city folks may be able to find it in your grocery stores.

Assembling the Cake

To assemble this lemon lavender cake, we invert the cooled cake out of the pan and cut it into three equal-sized rectangles. I use a big ruler for precision, but you can wing it if that’s more your speed. Spread a thin layer of prepared raspberry preserves all over each piece of cake and then begin stacking! Place your first piece of raspberry-coated cake on a small, freezer friendly platter. Dollop 1/3 of the infused whipped cream on top and gently spread to a flat layer. Stack a second piece of cake and repeat this process again.

Take care to spread the whipped cream as flat and evenly as possible to maintain a more stable cake. Some of the whipped cream may barely squish out the sides of the cake as you stack it, but don’t worry. Just be careful to not press down hard on the cake and remember it will all firm up in the freezer.

Leave the lemon lavender icebox cake in the freezer overnight, and, once frozen, feel free to trim up the edges to form neat rectangle slices. I cut 1/2″ pieces for serving, but you could also cut squares or wedges if you please! Just be sure to show off all those fancy layers, because, DANG, they are beautiful.

Many thanks to Kerrygold for sponsoring this delightful spring treat. It’s an honor to partner with a brand that I trust and adore so much, and I hope you all will welcome them to your kitchens as well. Enjoy this Sunday, enjoy some time spent baking, and GO CATS.

If you like this lemon lavender icebox cake you should check out:

Strawberry Icebox Pie

Peppermint Bark Icebox Cake

Lavender Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Lemon Lavender Cookies

Lemon Lavender Icebox Cake

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

This lemon lavender icebox cake is a chilled springtime treat with lemon cake layers, lavender whipped cream, and sweet raspberry preserves.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 15
Total Time: 420
Yield: 12
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the cake:

1 cup (230 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature (I use Kerrygold)
1–1/3 cups (265 gm) sugar
3 large egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup (180 gm) milk
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1–1/2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 cups (270 gm) all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1–1/2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt

For the cream:

2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
4 ounces (110 gm) regular cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup (65 gm) sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
Lavender food coloring, if desired.
1 cup raspberry preserves

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Instructions

To prepare the cake:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a half sheet pan (18″ x 13″ x 1″) with baking spray. Line the bottom with a rectangle of parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the egg whites and vanilla and mix to combine. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add half of the milk plus the lemon juice and zest. Mix until combined and then add about half of the flour as well as the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the remaining milk followed by the remaining flour. Mix on low only until combined and scrape the sides of the bowl. Fold in any unincorporated bits and spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the oven for about 13 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely.

To prepare the cream:

Combine the whipping cream and lavender in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rest in the fridge overnight or at least 6 hours. When ready to prepare the cream, cream the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed in a large bowl until combined, about 30 seconds. Slowly drizzle in the cream while the mixer is on low to incorporate. Add the vanilla extract and continue beating on medium speed until the mixture has thickened and stiff peaks form. Add a smidge of light purple or lavender food coloring if desired. Set in the fridge until ready to use.

To assemble the cake:

Invert the cake out of the pan and cut along the long edge into three equal pieces. You’ll wind up with 3 rectangles of cake about 5-1/2” x 12-1//2” in size. Spread 1/3 of the preserves on each piece of cake in a thin even layer. Place on piece of the jammy cake on a serving dish and spread 1/3 of the lavender whipped cream on top. Smooth to flatten the whipped cream without overworking the cream and then top with another jammy piece of cake. Repeat this process once more finishing with the remaining layer of cake and lavender whipped cream on top. Place in the freezer to firm up the top quickly, about an hour, and then cover gently with plastic wrap and continue freezing for another 6 hours. You can clean up the edges of the cake by cutting through the frozen layers to even them up, if desired. Otherwise, slice ½” wedges for serving and top with fresh raspberries, if desired. I prefer to slice while frozen and then let the slices warm up slightly at room temp for about 10-15 minutes prior to serving. Otherwise, let the cake barely thaw at room temp for about 20-30 minutes prior to slicing and serving.

Raspberry Champagne Pop-Tarts

11 Comments / Pies and Tarts

Raspberry Champagne Pop-Tart by Wood and Spoon Blog. These are simple homemade hand pies made with a raspberry champagne jam and a simple champagne glaze icing. Homemade pie dough makes little crimped round tarts that are filled with the simple cornstarch thickened jam. When cool, the desserts are topped with a frosting to sweeten the treats. Find the recipe and how to on thewoodandspoon.com by Kate Wood.

Do you ever wonder how you wound up where you are in life- the events and people and moments that have made you who you are today?

I went to college at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, and the four years I spent there were primarily focused on the tight-knit group of friends that I became apart of. There were best friends, a few who dated, sisters and brothers, and the relationships that formed in the midnights and bags of popcorn we shared somehow became deeply woven into who I was, who I am even today.

In the years that have passed since graduation, some things have changed. There’s been marriage and children, brokenness and death. People have lost touch and moved away. But despite all the change and years that separate us from our 22-year-old selves, there’s still this unmistakable bond, a realness and connection that is so tangible and electrifying that I think you could feel it if you witnessed us together even just for a second. Truly, it’s a remarkable something unlike anything I’ve ever known.

We gathered together, all of us friends with our spouses and children, at the lake this past weekend. During that time, we told the same jokes and played the same games. We shared meals together and held each other’s babies. We talked about how things used to be and made plans for the future, and for a few days, we were entirely different yet somehow exactly the same.

“We were entirely different yet somehow exactly the same.”

In the quieter moments of the weekend, I caught myself wondering what would be the sum of all the math we’ve been doing; the addition, division, and multiplication of our group that shaped who we are individually and together. The humans we’ve grown into are a product, in part, of the lessons we learned and experiences we shared during our time together, and watching my friends laugh and move and play like resurrected versions of the 20-year-olds I grew up with was a reminder that what we have is so rare and special that I’ll likely never replicate it again in my life, not even in a million years.

Something about that togetherness felt almost holy, and the lump in my throat even now as I write this is proof enough that those relationships from my formative years have affected me to my core. They made so much of who I am today.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” – C.S. Lewis

Have you experienced this before? Do you have a friendship that is so intricately tangled with who you are that you can’t tell what belongs to you or was imprinted on you by them along the way? I’m ending our lake weekend away with friends feeling like the richest girl on earth and so sure of those relationships. I know I could go anywhere, for any length of time, and I’d be carrying those people with me, leaving traces of our story like pins on a map that tell of who we are and what we became together. It’s one of the best feelings I know.

Raspberry Champagne Pop-Tarts

I won’t say much about these raspberry champagne pop-tarts. These mini pies are sweet and special, like a tiny celebration in a bite-sized form. With a simple fruit and booze filling and my favorite pie crust wrapped around it, these raspberry champagne pop-tarts are equal parts simple and delicious. Although the recipe only yields a few, you can easily double it to feed a crowd. It’s the perfect dessert for sharing at your upcoming summer celebrations. Give them a try and let me know what you think! Love to you all and have a great weekend!

If you like these raspberry champagne pop-tarts you should try:

Elderflower Champagne Cupcakes

Strawberry Fig Pop-tarts

Cranberry Pear Pop-tarts

Raspberry Streusel Cake

Berry Rhubarb Tart

Raspberry Lemon Linzer Cookies

Raspberry Champagne Pop-Tarts

Print Recipe

These raspberry champagne pop-tarts have a raspberry champagne jam filling and a tender, flaky pie crust shell. A simple champagne glaze tops each one!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 180
Yield: 9

Ingredients

For the pastry:

1–3/4 cups (210 gm) of all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1–1/2 teaspoon sugar
6 tablespoons (85 gm) butter
1/3 cup (70 gm) shortening
5 tablespoons (approximately) of ice water
1 large egg

For the raspberry champagne jam:

1 cup (130 gm) fresh raspberries (or thawed from frozen)
1/3 cup (80 gm) champagne
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
pinch of salt

For the glaze:

1 cup (115 gm) powdered sugar
2–3 tablespoons champagne

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Instructions

To prepare the pastry:

Combine flour, salt and sugar in a medium sized bowl.
Cut in the butter and shortening with a pastry cutter or the back of a fork until it is the consistency of a course meal with small, pea-sized chunks of butter throughout. Add water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, tossing gently until pastry comes together in moist clumps. Pat the dough into a round, flat disk. Wrap with Saran wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

To prepare the jam:

Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and stir regularly to break up the raspberries until the mixture is thick and bubbly, about 8 minutes. Spoon into a heat-safe bowl and place a sheet of plastic wrap directly on top of the jam. Allow to cool at least to room temperature.

To prepare the pop-tarts:

Whisk an egg in a small bowl for the egg wash and set aside.
Roll out the disk of pastry to 1/8” thickness on a floured surface. Using a 2-1/2″ biscuit cutter, gently cut rounds of dough. Each Pop-Tart will require two rounds (one for top and one for bottom). Use a pastry brush to paint the egg wash around the perimeter of half of the circles. Place one teaspoon of cooled filling in the center of the rounds with the egg wash. Top the filled rounds with a second circle of crust and use a fork to crimp the edges. Freeze the pop tarts on the baking sheet for 2 hours. Refrigerate the whisked egg in the meantime.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Vent the top of each rectangle by poking the top of the pastry with a fork 1-2 times and brush with the remaining egg wash, if desired. Bake the tarts, uncovered, for almost 25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool before topping with glaze.

To prepare the glaze:

Whisk together the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of champagne until smooth. You can add an additional tablespoon of champagne if desired, but be sure to keep the glaze thick enough to stay on the pop-tart. You can test how it spreads on the back of a large spoon or try it out on a single pop-tart before you glaze all of them.

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Lemon Berry Crumb Cake

14 Comments / Cakes

It’s here! Friday has come like a beacon in the night, so please don’t mind me while I celebrate with a victory dance and a jumbo slice of this lemon berry crumb cake. I’ve got your weekend roundup set out for you, including what to read, what to watch, and what to make for all of your Easter celebrations. Let’s get started!

Yeast-Free Cinnamon Rolls

This article from Food52 is blowing my mind. Cinnamon rolls without the wait? Without the rise? Sign me up! Read the article here about how a simple dough leavened with baking powder can make all of your cinnamon roll dreams come true.

How to Make a Living as a Food Blogger

I’ve had a million and one of you ask me how running a food blog has the potential to earn money. While I’m hardly rolling in “The Benjamins” (Mom, that’s slang for money, hundred dollar bills, okay?), I still pinch myself on the daily that people write me checks for doing something that I love. This article from Food & Wine is informative, straight-forward, and provides pointers for people who may be considering this path for themselves.

Bïeryoncé

Did you hear that someone named a beer after Beyonce? It’s a German pilsner from Lineup Brewery called Bïeryoncé, and I have to admit that I’m a little jealous. All I need is to join a chart-topping hip-hop group, start an even bigger solo career, marry a rap mogul, and accumulate a near-billion dollar net worth… maybe then I’ll have enough bad-assery under my belt to have a beer named after me. After looking into purchasing some for myself, I found out that Queen B’s lawyers served the brewery a cease and desist letter, so the brew has been laid to rest. RIP, Bïeryoncé.

Spring and Summer Bags

I may be late to the straw bag bandwagon, but now that I’m on it I’m never getting off. I recently purchased the ultra-trendy round woven bag for my upcoming warm-weather travels, and I cannot wait to start toting. Get in the trend with a bag of your own! I love the options here.

Hamilton and Carpool Karaoke

Okay, this is an old video, but my love for Hamilton is so strong right now that I thought you may want to enjoy this video too. James Corden is my Night-Talkshow-Host in Shining Armor, and this video makes me love him even more. Hamilton has just started their US tour, so be sure to check here for upcoming dates near you. Brett, if you’re reading this, remember that Mother’s Day is just around the corner and I gave you two very incredible children, okay?

Easter Baking

There’s a million and one things you should make for this weekend’s most special holiday. For a layer cake option, check out my robin egg speckled cake tutorial. If you’re interested in a bundt cake, maybe try my carrot cake with brown butter glaze or lemon almond poppyseed bundt cake. But if you prefer a simple, seasonal option for Sunday’s affair, let me introduce you to this lemon berry crumb cake. It’s fresh, entirely delicious, and perfect for sharing as a breakfast or dessert.

Here’s the breakdown: This lemon berry crumb cake is a moist and tender butter cake filled with a tart berry jam. The whole thing gets baked under a mountain of lemony shortbread-style crumbs that add a bit of salty crunch to the otherwise sweet cake. The result is an impressive single layer cake that will make all of your spring brunch dreams come true.

Making the Cake

To make the lemon berry crumb cake, we start with the batter. Butter and sugar cream together, followed by the addition of eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest. The dry ingredients stir in to make a somewhat thick and spreadable batter. About 2/3 of the mixture smooths into the bottom of a 9″ springform pan and tops with a smear of your favorite jam. The cake is sweet, so I recommend a tart jam to offset that sugar. The remaining batter spreads on top of the jam and a basic crumble goes on top.

Fresh from the oven, this lemon berry crumb cake is fab all on its own, however I want more. Top it with a simple drizzle made from powdered sugar, lemon juice, and sour cream. You can pass on the glaze, but I think it fancies it up a bit, don’t you?

I hope your Easter weekends are filled with lots of jelly beans and lemon berry crumb cake. The miracle of this holiday bowls me over every year, and I’m looking forward to gathering hope in that. Happy Friday and happy baking!

If you like this lemon berry crumb cake, you should check out:

Blueberry Lemon Bars

Lemon Almond Tart

Blueberry Galette

Strawberry Almond Skillet Cake

Raspberry Rhubarb Crumb Cake

Lemon Berry Crumb Cake

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

This lemon berry crumb cake is a sweet single layer cake filled with a tart raspberry jam and topped with a crunchy shortbread crumble. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 35
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 9

Ingredients

For the crumb:

¼ cup (55 gm) unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons (115 gm) all-purpose flour

For the cake:

½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup (150 gm) sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1–1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2–1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
1–1/2 cups (195 gm) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup (100 gm) full-fat buttermilk
½ cup blackberry, raspberry, or blueberry preserves, according to your preferences

For the glaze (optional):

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon sour cream (buttermilk can be substituted in a pinch)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

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Instructions

To prepare the crumble:

In a small bowl, stir together the butter and lemon juice. Add the sugar and salt, stirring to combine. Fold in the flour until large clumps form. Place in the fridge to chill while you prepare the cake.

To prepare the cake:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9” springform pan with baking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest and beat to combine. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add ½ cup of the flour, the baking powder, the baking soda, and the salt. Stir on low to barely combine. Stir in the buttermilk and then add the remaining flour on low speed just until integrated. Scrape the sides of the bowl and fold in any unincorporated batter.
Spread about 2/3 of the batter into the bottom of the springform pan. Smooth the preserves over top pf the batter, leaving a 1” border around the perimeter of the cake. Carefully spread the remaining batter on top and sprinkle the whole thing with the crumble, breaking up the big clumps into a crumb size you prefer. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes, or until the top is puffed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Set aside to cool.

To prepare the glaze:

When you’re ready to prepare the glaze, whisk together all the ingredients until a viscous glaze forms. Add more powdered sugar to thicken it up and more sour cream or lemon juice to thin it out. Drizzle over top of the prepared cake and enjoy!

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Raspberry Lemon Linzer Cookies

19 Comments / Cookies and Bars

Ok, let’s be honest. Gift giving can be hard, right? Sometimes we buy gifts out of necessity, but often, we do it because we love those people. We want to show them they’re awesome! That they rock! That they make our lives better than a turtleneck on the coldest day of the year. So I ask you, is there really a gift that can encompass all of those sentiments? Is there such thing as the perfect gift?

I’ve got a lot of people on my Christmas shopping list this year. There’s my children (who need nothing), my husband (who only wants things he can pick out himself), and then my parents (who have everything they could ever want and then some). Sometimes I get stumped in the hustle of the season, and I make the tragic mistake of trusting Google to help me with my holiday shopping. I find myself typing, “What to get for the dad who has everything” or “What to buy for my annoyingly picky husband” and “What to buy for children that won’t clutter my living room or serve as a choking hazard.” Shockingly, Google has terrible answers to these questions.

So please help. How do we give tangible expressions of our love for the people who matter most? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO PUT UNDER THE TREE FOR ALL THESE VERY IMPORTANT HUMANS? On the off chance that there is a baker on your Christmas shopping list, you are in luck. You have landed in the internet’s promise land, because I’m about to tell you what to get for the home baker on your list who has everything. Ready? Here it is!

The Home Baker Gift Guide!

Bakers Gonna Bake Sweatshirt – A nod to Taylor in cozy sweatshirt form from Miss Jones Baking Co.
Recipe Box – Store all your favorite recipes in this floral tin from Rifle Paper Co.
Mini Dutch Ovens – Personal-sized desserts couldn’t look any cuter in these Ballarini ovens with lids.
Cookie Swap Plate – This adorable plate with recipe cards and linen gift tag is the Christmas gift that keeps on giving.
BergHOFF Perfect Slice Pan – Portion control bakeware that is so cool, even Oprah endorses it.
Apron – These Hedley & Bennett aprons are the “It” item in kitchen fashion right now.
Marble Rolling Pin – This is a kitchen item I wouldn’t mind leaving right on the counter.
Copper Mixing Bowls – Mixing bowls that are pretty enough to be used as a serving dish.
Bundt Pan – Nordic Ware bundt pans are a must in any home baker’s arsenal of equipment. This one is my favorite.
Eat Cake for Breakfast Oven Mitt Set – Cheeky and useful, this Kate Spade set is perfect for the girly baker.
French Butter Keeper – This ceramic dish keeps butter fresh at room temperature.
Cookie and Coffee Gift Set – Gourmet cookies and coffee- a match made in heaven. I use G Momma’s cookies in a few of my recipes (look here and here!)

I hope that is helpful. These are some of my very favorite items and brands, and I feel confident that the bakers on your list will LOVE these items. If you’re shopping for a person that is new to the baking scene, be sure to check out my wish list from last year! It’s full of items every home baker needs!

Raspberry Linzer Cookies

Ok, now let’s talk raspberry lemon linzer cookies.

I have had linzer cookies on my “to make” list for a long time. They’re beautiful, incredibly festive, and I just love the combination of almond with fruity jams. I finally got around to nailing down a favorite recipe, and I am thrilled to share it with you today. These raspberry lemon linzer cookies are the bomb.

Linzer cookies are little sandwiched treats made by filling almond cookies with fruit jams or ganaches. These particular cookies are made with almond flour and a bit of lemon zest which go over-the-moon perfectly with the raspberry filling I chose. While they may look like a doozy to make, I think you’ll find they’re rather simple.

Making the Cookies

To prepare these raspberry lemon linzer cookies, we start with the cookie dough. Cream butter and sugar together before adding egg, lemon zest, and vanilla. The dry ingredients are added next to form a dough that you’ll find is similar to a cutout cookie. Pat the dough into two flat round disks and chill briefly in the fridge.

When ready to bake, roll out the cookie dough and cut out small round circles of dough. I use a biscuit cutter, but any round cutter smaller than 3″ will do. Next, use a tiny cutter of any shape to trim out the centers of half of the cookies. These cookies will serve as the lids to your cookie sandwiches and the little cutout will allow for the jam to peek through the center of the cookies. I used geometric cookie cutters, but any teeny tiny shape will work perfect. Bake the cookies in the oven and allow to cool completely.

Serving the Cookies

When you’re ready to assemble your raspberry lemon linzer cookies, sift powdered sugar over the top halves of your cookies. Spoon a small teaspoon of jam onto the bottom cookies and smear just to the edges. Place the lid cookies on top of the jam-topped cookies and wah-la! Raspberry lemon linzer cookies! See, I told you they were easier than they look!

These cookies are a terrific balance of sweet and tart and will taste good for days. Keep in mind that the moisture from the jam will tend to dissolve the powdered sugar, so if you’d like these cookies to stay looking as good as they taste, try to assemble them as close to the time of serving as possible. These raspberry lemon linzer cookies are a lovely way to celebrate the holidays, so give them a try and let me know what you think. I have a feeling you’re going to love them!

Happy baking, happy shopping, and most of all, happy holidays. Love y’all!

If you like these raspberry lemon linzer cookies, you should check out:

Raspberry Streusel Cake

Blueberry Lemon Bars

Lemon Lavender Cookies

Mint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Lavender Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Raspberry Lemon Linzer Cookies

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

The raspberry lemon linzer cookies are sweet and tart, the perfect cookie for your holiday celebrations. These cookies are festive and perfect for cookie exchanges!

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

Ingredients

1 cup (230 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup (150 gm) sugar
1–1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2–1/2 cups (260 gm) all-purpose flour
¾ cup (75 gm) almond flour
½ teaspoon salt
Raspberry jam, for filling the cookies
Confectioner’s sugar, for dusting the cookies

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Instructions

Cream the butter and sugar on medium speed in the bowl of a stand mixer until pale and smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the zest, egg, and vanilla and beat briefly to combine. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the flour, almond flour, and salt. Stir on low until the dough comes together in the bowl.
Dump the dough out onto a floured surface and divide into two equal parts. Pat each part out into flat rounds and wrap the disks in plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge for at least an hour or up to 3 days.
When ready to bake your cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two baking pans with a sheet of parchment paper. Use a floured rolling pin to roll one disc of dough out onto a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/8-1/4” thick. Use a 2” round cutter to cut out rounds of dough. Use a small decorative cutter to cut a shape out of the insides of half of the cookies. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheets an inch apart. You can set the shape of the cookies by placing the whole pan of cookies in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Bake in the preheated oven for about 8 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are set. Allow them to cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes and then cool completely on a cooling rack. Repeat this process with the remaining dough.
When ready to fill the cookies, use a sifter to dust the tops of all of the cookies with the decorative cutout. Spoon a ½ teaspoon of the jam on top of the bottom cookies and spread out a bit. Sandwich the cookies together and serve!

Peach Berry Pie

32 Comments / Pies and Tarts

In the few short days since summer began, we have been home resting, taking in the warm air, and baking up treats like the peach berry pie I’m going to share with you all today. I’m making a new effort to slow down in these moments that I have these summer months with my husband and darling babies.

Slowing Down

Aimee seems to run everywhere these days, jumping, dancing, or racing; walking is simply not an option. She sings and answers questions with logic, and with each passing day, I realize more and more how smart she’s becoming. We play and pretend, and she’s finally even gotten to the point where she will laugh at my jokes or a silly part in a movie.

In the quieter moments, she whispers to friends who aren’t there. She giggles with her brother and tries to put shoes on his chubby feet. She pats and soothes her babydolls, tenderly mothering them, even providing them with discipline, praise, and instruction. Now, more so than ever, I see so much of myself in her. The way she coos at George. When she tells me that I look beautiful like a princess. How she cheers for Brett when he finishes his supper. She’s a little lady in the making.

But there’s also the ugly… the parts of myself I see in her that make me cringe. She can be quick to frustration. Stubborn. Full of opinions. Contrary, at times, for no apparent reason… Just grouchy, just because.

I want to give Aimee all of the sweetness. Skills and manners and a sense of identity. I want her to have any goodness that I have to share and lock away the access to the parts of me that don’t bring life. I want to keep her good.

Learning from Our Kids

At the same time, I’m beginning to figure out that this tiny person might have a few things of her own that she could teach me- things that I need more of. I want to dance without embarrassment and not feel so serious all of the time. Or make time for quiet and daydreaming and whispering to the unseen. I want to take pleasure in small things like warm slices of fresh bread and the sound of the rain.

I wonder… what would it feel like to exist without the weightiness of adulthood? To be content and confident and willing to pop right up after falling flat on my face. What would it feel like to shrug off the small stuff and to allow myself time to take in the present? To quit busying myself with busyness. To loosen my grip on the need to control, to produce.

Aimee will continue to learn from me. She’ll pick up on habits and phrases and jokes. We’ll have silly moments and she’ll learn to count to 100 and before you know it, she’ll be grown. But for the time being, I want to try to be a little more like her. I don’t think we’re too grown up to change or to be someone different, and I refuse to believe it’s too late to be a better version of myself.

Someday I’ll teach Aimee to make pies. She’ll crawl up on the edge of the counter and steal sugared berries. I’ll teach her to cut fat into flour, quickly and methodically, just like my Mimi taught me. With four hands, we’ll wrestle the dough moving the rolling pin back and forth, using the leftover bits to cut out decorative flowers or stars. I’ll have to bite my tongue from correcting her too much, because deep down inside, I know that her small mistakes are more memorable than perfection. And we’ll sit cross-legged in front of the oven, watching it bubble and spill over, before sharing oversized slices from our seats in the kitchen.

Peach Berry Pie

Today’s recipe is a simple peach berry pie. No crazy ingredients or exaggerated methods. Just unadulterated pie.

Making the Pie

To make this peach berry pie, we need a solid, double-crusted pie dough. My favorite, no-fail, ultra-buttery and flaky recipe is yours for the taking if you don’t already have a fave of your own. A few simple ingredients, including butter and salt for flavor and shortening for unmatched flakiness, make up the crust. The filling for this peach berry pie is equally simple. Sliced peaches and several handfuls of berries mix with cornstarch and sugar to create the quintessential summer pie- juicy, yet thick enough to stand up on its own.

You can adapt the filling to your berry preferences. I love to use raspberries and strawberries with the peaches, but I had some leftover blueberries in the fridge that made it into the pie as well. As long as your berries are ripe, there is no need to adjust the sugar content of the pie. I used a lattice with a simple braid to top my peach berry pie, but you can skip that design if you’d like. Just slap the second half of dough on top, crimp the edges, and pop it in the oven for a golden, double-crusted peach berry pie that is sure to make your heart sing.

There’s some really neat recipes and tutorials coming up in the next few weeks, so if you haven’t already signed up to receive blog posts straight to your inbox, you can to do that in the side bar of this site’s homepage. Have a great weekend and please give this pie a try! If you do, be sure to snap a photo of it and share it with me here or on Instagram. Cheers!

If you like this peach berry pie, be sure to try:

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Berry Almond Streusel Pie

Strawberry Pretzel Tart

Cranberry Pear Pop-Tarts

Banana Coconut Chocolate Cream Pie

Peach Berry Pie

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

This peach berry pie is a double crusted pie with a sweet and gooey strawberry, raspberry and peach filling.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 60
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 9

Ingredients

1 double pie crust, prepared and chilled in fridge (see notes or link above)
2 pounds of peeled and sliced peaches
2 cups of mixed berries, sliced into ½” pieces (I used raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon water

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. I also like to place a layer of heavy duty aluminum foil on the bottom rack of my oven to prevent any bubbling pie filling from dirtying up my oven, but this is optional.
In a large bowl, combine the peaches and berries. In a small bowl, toss together the brown sugar, the sugar, corn starch, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the fruit and toss to combine. Set aside while you roll out your pie dough.
On a floured surface, roll out one half of the chilled pie dough to a 12” round. Lay carefully in the bottom a deep dish pie pan and gently press into the bottom of the pan. Leave about 1” of dough extending outside the perimeter of the dish and trim off any excess.
Spoon the fruitmixture into the pie dish, discarding any exorbitant excess of juices that may have formed. Arrange the top half of pie dough on top of the filling in any manner you please. If you plan to make a lattice or any detailed pie top, work quickly so that your bottom of pie dough doesn’t get soggy with juices from the fruit. If you roll out the pie dough flat on your filling, be sure to vent the top with a couple of slits from your knife. Crimp the edges once finished.
In a small both, whisk together the egg yolk and water and use a pastry brush to paint a thin layer of the egg wash on the top of the pie crust. Place the pie in the oven and bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Decrease the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional hour and fifteen minutes/ hour and thirty minutes, or until the middle of the pie has bubbling juices underneath and the top of the pie crust is golden brown. Allow the pie to cool on a cooling rack completely, or overnight. Cutting into the pie too soon can cause the pie to be too runny, but if this doesn’t bother you, you can cut into it as soon as it is a manageable and safe temperature. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream!

Notes

I like to prepare any lattice strips or braids ahead of time and keep the in the fridge while I am prepping my filling and pie pan.
Use any berries you’d like! Just make sure any large berries are cut into manageable pieces.
If your peaches aren’t ripe enough and are tart to the taste, consider adding an additional tablespoon of sugar.

Raspberry Rhubarb Crumb Cake

10 Comments / Cakes

Bonjour, friends! I am writing to you today from sunny St. Barth’s- the French-speaking Caribbean island full of chic travelers, posh locals, and divine cuisine. I’m definitely a little fish in a big pond here, but honestly, I couldn’t feel fancier if I tried. Brett and I traveled to the island with some dear friends and have spent the better part of the past few days sun bathing, day drinking, and taking in all of the European vibes the island has to offer. It’s been incredible getting to unplug and I can’t wait to share more about out trip with y’all later. All of the world travel seemed to be an appropriate time to share this raspberry rhubarb crumb cake and to tell you about another recent international experience I had.

Several weeks ago, my friend Erin of Cloudy Kitchen flew from Brooklyn, NY to our small, Southern town for a few days of baking, blog talk, and fun. Erin is a New Zealand born food blogger that I met via the blogosphere, and we have had the most fun getting to know each other. She’s been a sounding board for recipe concepts, a help with troubleshooting computer woes, and constant source of encouragement throughout my first year of blogging. Her trip to Selma was our very first in-person meet, but I doubt it will be the last.

Rhubarb Crumb Cake

While Erin and I were together, we baked a number of things including a delightful crumb cake. Rhubarb had just made its first appearance in the produce section, so we swiped a bit for our weekend together and baked several test batches of a peach rhubarb cake based on Deb’s famous recipe. It was fab.

This raspberry rhubarb crumb cake is one of the versions we came up with together. A dense but moist sour cream cake layered with a gooey, sweet raspberry rhubarb filling, and topped with the most glorious salted brown butter crumb topping. It’s glamorous enough for dessert, yet simple enough to enjoy alongside your morning coffee and tea. Could this raspberry rhubarb crumb cake be the most well-rounded treat of all time? I think, maybe so.

Making the Crumble

To prepare the cake, we start by browning butter. (Update: If you need a tutorial on browning butter, check that out here!) A whole stick (and then some!) sizzles and foams away in a pan before turning golden, fragrant, and nutty. We combine that with some brown sugar, plenty of salt, and a few other ingredients to make a super-sized portion of crumble to top our cake.

Making the Cake

The cake whips up quickly with a few humble ingredients- butter, sugar, and sour cream to name a few- and the batter finishes ultra thick and tangy. Finally, we mix up the fruit filling which is nothing more than some diced rhubarb, fresh raspberries, and just enough sugar to offset the tart bite of the fruit. We spread the cake batter into the bottom of a 9″ pan, slather it with the fruit filling, and sprinkle on those brown butter crumbles. After a leisurely bake in the oven, the cake is golden, gooey, and nothing short of delightful.

This raspberry rhubarb crumb cake is a new favorite of mine for a number of reasons. The tang of the sour cream mixed with the sweet fruit and salty, brown butter crumbles is a match made in heaven. The variety of textures makes each bite of this cake noteworthy, something special worth discovering. And while the cake is certainly decadent thanks to the rich topping and juicy filling, it remains simple and understated- like a favorite, old sweater that is perfectly broken in and fits just right.

If you’ve been noticing the rhubarb at your grocery store, this raspberry rhubarb crumb cake is the perfect recipe! Give it a try and share it with a new friend. You can also check out Erin’s site for a different variation of this cake. It’s a rhubarb peach crumb cake with that same glorious brown butter topping and dense cake. GLORIOUS! In the meantime, I’m going to keep soaking up this sunshine and Caribbean breeze, and we can meet up here again next week, cool? Happy Wednesday to you and cheers!

If you like this raspberry rhubarb crumb cake, you may love:

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Raspberry Streusel Cake

Berry Almond Streusel Pie

Hummingbird Muffins

Carrot Bundt Cake with Brown Butter Glaze

Apple Crumb Cake

Raspberry Rhubarb Crumb Cake

Print Recipe

This raspberry rhubarb crumb cake is a dense sour cream cake filled with a gooey, raspberry rhubarb fruit filling and topped with a salted brown butter crumble.

Author: Kate Wood and Erin Clarkson
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 60
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the crumble

11 tablespoons (155 gm) unsalted butter, diced
1 cup (210 gm) brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1–1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste (vanilla extract can be substituted)
1–2/3 cup (200 gm) all-purpose flour

For the cake

2 cups (240 gm) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup (55 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup (150 gm) sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
2 tablespoons milk (any variety), at room temperature
2/3 cup (160 gm) full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (vanilla extract can be substituted)
2 cups of ½” diced rhubarb (washed and trimmed of tops and ends, about 240 gm/ 8–1/2 ounces before trimming)
2 cups (150 gm) raspberries
2 tablespoons of brown sugar

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Instructions

To prepare the crumble

Add the diced butter to a small saucepan or skillet set over medium heat. Stir with a whisk or swirl the pan occasionally to ensure the butter is melting evenly. Once melted, the butter will sizzle, foam, and eventually start forming little golden bits on the bottom of the pan. Continue cooking and stirring regularly until the butter has taken on an amber color and nutty aroma. Take care not to burn the butter. Remove the pan from heat and pour the brown butter into a medium sized mixing bowl.
To the mixing bowl, add the brown sugar, salt, and vanilla bean paste, and stir to combine. Add the flour and fold until large crumble clumps form and the flour is well incorporated. Set aside in the fridge while you prepare the cake.

To prepare the cake

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9” square or round baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with a square of parchment paper for easy removal, if desired.
Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about two minutes. Add the egg, vanilla bean paste, and milk and beat on low until well combined. Scrape the bowl, if needed, to ensure that everything is evenly incorporated. Add about 1/3 of the dry ingredients and beat on low speed to combine. Add ½ of the sour cream and beat to combine. Repeat this process once more and then add the remaining dry ingredients, stirring on low to combine. Scrape the sides of the bowl and fold in any unincorporated bits. Your batter will be quite thick.
Spread the batter evenly in the bottom of your lined pan. In a separate bowl, toss the rhubarb and raspberries together with the brown sugar and spread this mixture on top of the cake batter. Gently press the fruit into the batter a bit. Crumble the brown butter streusel evenly on top of the fruit and place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted comes out clean (See notes). Allow to cool slightly before eating. Cake will keep best at room temperature, covered tightly in plastic wrap.

Notes

If you bake your cake in a smaller, 8″ pan, baking time will differ. Check with a toothpick for doneness.
The fruit can coat your cake tester, causing it to appear less than done. If you notice cake batter coating your cake tester, allow the cake to remain in the oven a bit longer, however, be sure you are not mistaking fruit juices for uncooked cake.

Recipe Adapted From: Smitten Kitchen

Raspberry Streusel Cake

37 Comments / Cakes

Today, my sweet George turns one. The little guy who gave us a fright by coming a few weeks early. The baby who greets me every morning with smiles and wildly kicking legs. My bittiest buddy turns one today and while we’ll celebrate his life this weekend with friends, balloons, and even this raspberry streusel cake, today I’m thinking about all the days it took us to get here and the opportunity of the days that are to come.

Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about what memories my kids will have of me. Maybe the smell of homemade honey oat bread when they come home from school. They might recall sprinkling chocolate chips into the bowl of the stand mixer or drizzling honey on the tops of biscuits fresh from the oven. Maybe the sound of butter sizzling, popping on the stove top, or even me cursing under my breath at a burned wrist or a scorched sauce.

Baking as an Act of Love

My hope is that my time spent in the kitchen will one day translate to my kids as an act of love. I want them to know that the time spent frosting birthday cakes and flipping pancakes and blowing on hot mugs of marshmallow-topped cocoa was an effort to celebrate their existence. To breathe life and fun into the ordinary moments we shared together.

The part that makes me smile and puffs my chest with hope is that I really think they’ll get it. I think they’ll know.

Like with anything else, time and effort takes intention. And when your intentions are to feed your family, not just physically, but also emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, there’s bound to be love found in those spaces. In the years to come, every bite of cake and lit birthday candle has the potential to serve as an homage to the affection we shared in those brief moments around the table and in the kitchen.

So if my children read this someday, please know that you are the reason for so many meals, so many plates of desserts. You make pans of cinnamon rolls and slices of homemade bread worthwhile. You make ordinary moments an opportunity for a memory, a chance to connect.

And to my darling George- you are a quiet and gentle joy that I didn’t know I needed. Your life is brimming with possibility and hope, and I pray that I get to celebrate a lifetime of birthdays by your side.

Raspberry Streusel Cake

Now that I’m officially a ball of emotions, let’s talk about this raspberry streusel cake.

This cake is so many things. So many flavors, so many textures, so many tastebuds fully satisfied. The sweetest part? You can make almost all of the cake elements in advance. I just love an impressive dessert that is a cinch to put together.

Making the Cake

To start, we make the cake layers. These are vanilla butter cakes sweetened with both brown and white sugar, with an extra egg thrown in for insurance. The cake layers are thin, which is perfect, because the star of this show is all of the fillings that go in between them. First, a sweet and tart raspberry filling that takes just a few ingredients and less than 10 minutes to throw together. In a pinch, you could substitute a high quality jam or preserve, but it’s so easy to put together that there’s hardly any reason not to.

The Streusel

Next, the streusel crumbs. These brown sugar cinnamon crumbles are impossible to stop eating and add a delightful crunch in between all of the soft filling, frosting, and cake layers. I prefer to let my crumbs get even a little extra crunchy because they will soften slightly once they get inside the cake. The proverbial and literal icing on this raspberry streusel cake is a simple cream cheese buttercream. This frosting is sweet enough to offset the raspberries, but has just enough tang to stand on it’s own. This is the only cream cheese frosting recipe you’ll ever want to make from here on out. Scout’s honor.

The Raspberry Compote

Once all of the elements for this raspberry streusel cake are made, you can assemble the cake as desired. I pipe a dam of frosting around each layer of cake and then fill in the dam with the raspberry compote. Each layer gets a sprinkle of streusel crumbs as they are stacked together, and then the whole cake gets a healthy coating of frosting. If you need a brush up on cake baking tips prior to assembling this raspberry streusel cake, check out my favorite hints that I typed out here.

I plan to serve this raspberry streusel cake at George’s birthday party this weekend, and you can’t say you blame me! This decadent treat is a celebration cake if there’s ever been one, with each bite offering a new taste, different in flavor and texture from the last. I sincerely hope you’ll consider making this for your next celebration- you won’t be disappointed.

Happy birthday to my little George and happy Thursday to all of you. Cheers!

If you like this raspberry streusel cake, you should try:

White Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Caramel Crumble Cake

Champagne Elderflower Cupcakes

Confetti Ice Cream Cake

Berry Almond Streusel Pie

Raspberry Streusel Cake

Print Recipe

This raspberry streusel cake is three layers of vanilla butter cake filled with a raspberry compote and sprinkled with brown sugar streusel crumbs.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 90
Cook Time: 45
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Yield: 12

Ingredients

For the streusel crumbs

1/3 cup (40 gm) flour
1/3 cup (70 gm) brown sugar
1/3 cup (30 gm) quick cooking oats
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
3 tablespoons (40 gm) unsalted butter, melted

For the raspberry filling

1–1/2 cups (150 gm) raspberries (frozen or fresh)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
¼ cup (50 gm) sugar

For the cake

2–1/2 cups (325 gm) cake flour
2–1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1–1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup (225 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup (200 gm) sugar
¾ cup (165 gm) packed brown sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1–1/2 cups (360 mL) buttermilk
1–1/2 teaspoons vanilla

For the frosting

1–1/2 cups (285 gm) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 block/ 8 ounces (225 gm) cream cheese, room temperature
½ teaspoon salt
1–1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Appx. 5 cups/ 1-1/2 pounds (680 gm) of powdered sugar

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Instructions

To prepare the streusel crumbs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Whisk the flour, brown sugar, oats, and salt together in a medium sized bowl. Add the melted butter and fold together until the ingredients clump into dime-sized bits. Spread out on a sheet pan and bake in the preheated oven, tossing occasionally, for 10-12 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown. Allow to cool completely before using or storing. Streusel can be made ahead and stored at room temperature for a week, or in the freezer for a couple of months.

To prepare the raspberry filling

Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir well to evenly coat the raspberries. As the raspberries cook, smash with the back of a fork or with a potato masher. Once the mixture is smooth, bring to a boil, stirring regularly, until the mixture has thickened slightly. Remove from heat to a small bowl and cover the top with plastic wrap. Chill completely in the refrigerator completely prior to using.

To prepare the cake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the sides and line the bottoms of 3-8” round cake pans with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula and add each egg one at a time on low speed, mixing just until combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Add about 1/3 of the dry ingredients followed by the vanilla and about half of the buttermilk. Mix until combined and then repeat this process once more, finishing by adding the last third of the dry ingredients. Scrape the sides of the bowl and fold in any unincorporated bits of batter.
Distribute the batter evenly among the three pans and bake in the preheated oven 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool completely prior to assembling cake.

To prepare the frosting

In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed (I use 4 on my stand mixer) for 2-3 minutes until light and creamy, scraping the bowl as necessary. Add the cream cheese and beat to incorporate for an additional minute. Add the salt, vanilla, and powdered sugar and beat on low speed until incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl and continue to beat until well combined. Do not overbeat as this can cause the cream cheese to loosen. If needed, add a tablespoon of water or milk at a time to get the frosting the right consistency. Refrigerate as needed to thicken the frosting up.

To assemble the cake

Use a serrated knife to level the cakes. Smooth a small amount of frosting on an 8” cake board or plate and center a single cake layer on top. Using a piping bag (see notes) fitted with a large round tip, pipe a dam around the outer rim of the top of the cake. The dam should be at least ¼” tall to prevent the raspberry filling from squirting out the sides. Spread approximately half of the raspberry filling inside the dam and sprinkle with about 1/3 of the streusel crumbs. Pipe a bit of frosting on top of the raspberry filling to help the next layer of cake stick. Stack the second cake layer on top and repeat the entire process once more. Place the final cake layer on top. Spread a thin coat of frosting (crumb coat) all over the cake and allow it to set up in the fridge prior to applying the final coat of frosting. You can skip this step if desired. Decorate the top of the cake with a few streusel crumbs and spare raspberries, if desired. Cake will keep in the refrigerator covered in plastic for up to three days.

Notes

If you don’t have a piping bag, you can place 1-1/2 cups of frosting in a freezer Ziploc bag. Seal the bag and snip one of the corners off the end of the bag and use that to pipe frosting.
You can substitute different varieties of berries here, but the amount of sugar needed in the filling will differ based on which berry you choose. Adjust according to your preference.

Recipe for Cake Adapted From: Baked Occasions