June 21, 2019

Belgian Coconut Liège Waffles with a Coconut Cream Topping

June 21, 2019/ Victoria DiBarto

If you have never had a liège waffle before, trust me when I say that they are wonderful. What makes a liège waffle so different from a regular waffle? Well, not only are liège waffles made from a yeast based dough, but that dough also has small pearl sugars infused throughout, so when cooked, the pearls create a lovely crunch and burst of sweetness. That being said, you will typically find liège waffles half the size of a normal waffle as they are much richer and sweeter. Like I mentioned already, this waffle recipe is made from a yeast based dough. You will need to allow the dough to rise for 2 hours prior to cooking, or you can let the dough rise overnight so that it is ready the next morning. The strong coconut flavoring of these waffles comes from both coconut milk and coconut oil in the batter, and is further enhanced with a coconut milk based cream topping….

April 18, 2019

Earl Grey Lavender Coffee Cake

April 18, 2019/ Victoria DiBarto

But enough about those troubles, let’s talk about this Earl Grey Lavender Coffee Cake! I have seen numerous recipes in the past that have been Earl Grey flavored and I have always been so curious about them. I decided to pair two tea flavors - earl grey and lavender- in order to create a unique and light coffee cake. The trick to getting these flavors infused into the cake is to steep them in warmed milk for 1 hour, after which you will strain. I was a bit skeptical that this would be able to sufficiently transfer the tea flavors to the batter, but boy was I wrong! This coffee cake is popping with earl grey and lavender flavors. The citrus undertones of the earl grey and the floral flavorings of lavender make this coffee cake…

March 06, 2019

Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts

March 06, 2019/ Victoria DiBarto

These easy to make donuts are baked rather than fried, and there is no yeast, nor rest time to deal with. My husband was kind of taken aback when he tried these donuts because they don’t taste like your typical donuts - overly sweet and heavy. Rather, these donuts are merely muffins in donut form, because, well, most things are more fun in donut form!

February 28, 2019

Challah Monkey Bread

February 28, 2019/ Victoria DiBarto

Monkey bread is comprised of individual pieces of yeasted bread that are rolled in and coated with a butter-sugar syrup mixture and cinnamon sugar. Therefore, your home will smell amazing as the monkey bread bakes in the oven. You can either cut the bread into slices, or pull apart the pieces individually. This recipe can be made the night before - just look at the baker’s notes at the bottom of the recipe for instructions! And the best part about this recipe is that it can double as a brunch item and a dessert item. ;)

December 21, 2018

Classic Cinnamon Rolls

December 21, 2018/ Victoria DiBarto

Now I LOVE cinnamon rolls. There is nothing better than the smell of cinnamon-butter-dough baking in the oven, and there is nothing more satisfying than unwinding a cinnamon roll as you eat it, only to come to the gooey-delicious center. The best part about these rolls are that they can be made the day before, and they will complete their second rise overnight in the refrigerator. That means come Christmas morning (or whatever special morning you wish to use this recipe for) all you have to do is allow the rolls to warm slightly on the counter, then …

October 17, 2018

Orange Cardamom Coffee Cake

October 17, 2018/ Victoria DiBarto

I have now come to realize that orange cardamom is my new favorite fall flavor. The orange’s fresh citrus taste beautifully balances the cardamom’s sense of warmth and richness. The cake has a streusel center, which is like a little surprise of sweetness! This cake works great for a brunch or as a dessert. The recipe is easy to make, and will serve a large group of people…

July 17, 2018

Easy Overnight Blackberry Challah French Toast

July 17, 2018/ Victoria DiBarto

The challah bread, moist and infused with a hint of honey, is soaked in a vanilla/almond/orange egg mixture, then drizzled with blackberry jam. Fresh blackberries are added for additional sweet and tangy flavor. I made the dish in a round baking pan, but you can choose whatever dish shape you please, as long as the bread can stand up straight without falling over. I served the french toast with syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar, but you could also add whipped cream or even more blackberry jam and fresh blackberries!

May 22, 2018

Chocolate Pistachio Babka

May 22, 2018/ Victoria DiBarto

In honor of the royal wedding this past weekend, I wanted to share something extra fancy this week. Babka. My obsession with babka began about a year ago when I was first introduced to the beautiful, swirly bread via Pinterest. I assumed it was extremely complicated to make, so I didn’t even bother looking up a recipe to see. Instead, I simply admired these bread masterpieces from afar. Then one morning I woke up to a…