Raised Apple Cider Doughnuts

½ cup warm water
2¼  tsp yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 large egg, room temp
1  tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cardamom
½ tsp ginger
¼ tsp nutmeg
⅛ tsp cloves
3 cups apple cider (reduced to 1 cup)
4 Tbsp butter, softened
vegetable oil

1. Combine water and yeast and ½ cup flour in a bowl of mixer, mix until combined. Let proof for 10-15 minutes.

2. Add egg and spices to the proofed sponge and mix until incorporated. Add reduced apple cider, butter, and 2 cups of flour. Once incorporated, add one cup flour and mix until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl (add more flour if needed). Knead (mix) for 4-5 minutes. Set aside and let rise until doubled.

3. Put dough on a lightly floured surface and roll it out to ½-inch thickness. Cut out doughnuts. Set on a baking sheet and let rise for 20-30 minutes.

4. Pour 2-3 inches of oil in a cast iron skillet, deep fryer, or electric fryer. Heat to 350º. Carefully drop doughnuts into your fryer. Let them cook for about 30 seconds on each side, or until they are golden brown. 

5. Dust doughnuts in cinnamon sugar and enjoy!  

Cinnamon pull aparts

Using homemade dough makes these pull-aparts a special treat. So easy. Time involved: about 1.5 hours. 

3-1/4 to 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 packet yeast (or about a Tablespoon)
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup butter OR margarine
1 large egg
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed, light brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup butter 
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons milk

Combine 2 cups flour, sugar, dry yeast and salt in a large mixer bowl and stir until blended.

Combine milk, water and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH in 15 second increments until very warm but not hot to the touch (120° to 130°F. Butter won’t melt completely).

Add to flour mixture with egg. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally.

Add 1.5 cups flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed, scraping bowl occasionally.

Stir in just enough remaining flour so that the dough will form into a ball.

Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic and dough springs back when lightly pressed with 2 fingers, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Cover with a towel; let rest for 10 minutes. For filling, combine sugars and cinnamon in a shallow bowl

Cut dough into 36 pieces.

Dip each piece into the melted butter and then roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Place in fluted tube pan that has been generously sprayed with cooking spray.

Sprinkle pecans in between each layer of dough balls.

Combine any remaining butter and sugar and drizzle over rolls.

Cover with towel; let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Bake in preheated 375ºF oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until rolls are golden brown.

Cool 5 minutes in pan, then invert on serving plate.

Prepare the Frosting: In a medium bowl with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Add in vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk, beating until well combined. Gradually add more milk, one teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Drizzle icing over warm pull-apart bread. Serve immediately.

Recipe taken from mybakingaddiction.com with minor adjustments made. Perfect recipe!

Quick Cinnamon Swirl Bread

This quick bread is perfect when you don't have time (or simply can't wait) for cinnamon rolls. Tom said it best when he told me, "Mom, you should make this more often."

2 cups flour (I like half whole wheat and half white)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk*
6 Tbsp butter, melted
1 egg, room temp
1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tsp milk

*You can fake the buttermilk by mixing 1 cup milk + 1 Tbsp white vinegar and allowing the milk to "sour" for 5 minutes.

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. Whisk butter and egg then buttermilk together; stir into dry ingredients just until combined. (Over mixing will result in a rubbery bread.) In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and 1/2 cup brown sugar.

2. Grease the bottom only of a 8"x4" loaf pan. Pour 1/3 of the batter into pan; sprinkle with almost half the cinnamon-sugar. Spoon another 1/3 of the batter and sprinkle with almost all the remaining cinnamon-sugar. Spoon last 1/3 of the batter, sprinkle with the last couple teaspoons of cinnamon-sugar; cut through batter with a knife to swirl.

3. Bake 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Combine powdered sugar and enough milk to reach desired consistency; drizzle over loaf and enjoy!

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

Is there anything better than a mug of hot cocoa after playing in the snow on a chilly day? Not really. And now you can make your own mix! I usually whisk up two batches of this per winter for our family. So easy and no funny ingredients. 

2 1/2 cups powdered milk*
2 cups bakers cocoa
2 cups brown sugar, lightly packed
1/4 tsp kosher salt (optional)
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

* I've found that the very fine powdered milk like Argason Farms (sold in a #10 can at Walmart) works better than the granulated powdered milk.

Whisk all ingredients together in a large bowl. Store in an airtight container. Makes about 5 1/2 cups of dry mix.

Mix 3-4 tablespoons hot cocoa mix with a cup of boiling water. Stir very well and enjoy! Cool with a little milk or half + half if desired.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

"Nothing is more certain than bread." - Dostoevsky

Use a heavy-duty mixer like a Bosch or Kitchen Aid to make this 4-loaf batch. See the Whole Wheat Bread By Hand recipe if you don't have a serious mixer (it's still worth it).

Four Loaf Batch
sponge
7 cups warm water (about 110º)
2 Tbsp instant yeast (SAF or RedStar)
1/2 cup honey
3 Tbsp salt
1 cup whole wheat flour
- - - - - - - - - -
12 cups whole wheat flour (or a mix of whole wheat and white)

1. In the bowl of a heavy duty mixer, combine the water, yeast, honey, salt, and 1 cup of the flour. Stir until incorporated then let the sponge proof 5-7 minutes or until frothy-bubbly.

2. Add 6 cups flour and and mix until almost incorporated. NOTE: To keep the flour from flying out of the mixing bowl, use the lid OR turn your mixer on and off quickly at first to get quick, short rotations.

3. With the mixer on slow speed, slowly add another 6 cups of flour (and possibly more), one at a time until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl. Mix/knead for 5-7 minutes to make a moist, thick, soft, elastic, and rather sticky dough. NOTE: mix/knead for an additional minute or two if using part white flour.

4. Remove the dough hook, scraping off the clinging dough, and cover bowl with a clean towel. Let rise in a warm, draft-free area until the dough has doubled in volume, about 20 - 40 minutes.

5. Heat oven to 375º. Liberally grease four 8.5" x 4" loaf pans. Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface and cut into four equal pieces with a bench knife or large knife. Gently knead about ten times and shape dough into loaf shapes and place in pans. NOTE: For a more rustic look, gently rub the tops of the loaves with flour before putting them in the pans. Let loaves rise until almost doubled in volume, about 15-30 minutes, or until the sides of the loaf are 1/4" from the rim of the pan.

6. Score the tops on an angle with a sharp serrated knife. NOTE: To avoid deflating the risen loaves, use a fairly quick motion when doing this. Bake for 38-40 minutes. Transfer the bread immediately from the baking pans to a wire rack to cool. Cool completely (about 3 hours) before wrapping in plastic bags.


You can add sunflower, flax, millet and a variety of other seeds, raisins, cinnamon, cinnamon chips, dried fruit, nuts, cheese, etc. to make different kinds of bread. For an entire batch, add these ingredients at the end of step three. Or for one or two loaves, add these ingredients during the second kneading (by hand). You can also do a mix of whole wheat and white flours to make a light wheat or white batch.

Jo's Faux Buttermilk Pancakes

Our family's new fave. Thanks Jo!

3 cups milk
1/4 cup white vinegar

3 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1.5 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp salt

1/2 cup melted butter
4 eggs

1. Combine milk and vinegar in a medium bowl let sit for 5 minutes to sour.
2. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Combine melted butter and eggs then add to soured milk.
4. Combine wet with dry ingredients until incorporated. Do not over mix (or you'll get rubbery pancakes).
5. Cook 1/4-cup-fulls over medium heat in a skillet or on the griddle.

Apple cranberry bread

Fall bread great for rainy days.

1 cup flour

3/4 cup flax flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 

3/4 tsp cloves

1/4 cup heavy cream (or softened butter)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1. Grease one bread loaf pan.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

2. Combine flours, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves.

3. Whip heavy cream to whipped cream consistency, then add brown sugar til fluffy.  Mix in egg, then applesauce.

4. Add dry ingredients to applesauce mixture.  Mix in cranberries.

5. Place in bread pan and bake for 70 minutes.

6. Let cool for five minutes, then take out of pan and cool on rack.  Enjoy.

Tomato and Basil Eggs

A simple meal with excellent results.  This recipe serves two people, two eggs each.

2 T olive oil

1 Roma tomato, diced

Salt

Pepper

Basil (fresh or dried works)

4 eggs

2 slices Prosciutto (or deli ham)

1. Grease a muffin tin with oil and place a teaspoon of extra olive oil in the bottom of each tin.

2. Dice up one Roma tomato and place the tomato on top of the olive oil (use one tomato per four tins).

3. Season with a dash or two each of salt, pepper, and basil (fresh is best but dried works well too). 

4. Crack an egg and place on top of the tomatoes in each muffin tin.

5. Top with prosciutto (but I used deli ham and it was still delicious).

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

This recipe is great with quinoa that's been cooked with some onions and garlic powder, then mixed (after cooking) with balsamic vinegar.

Granola Bars

tastier and more filling than anything you'll buy at the store

3 cups oats
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup crushed almonds
1/2 cup wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup ground flax
3/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla

1. Combine all of the wet ingredients into a bowl.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet one at a time. Mix.
2. Press into a cookie sheet (the granola may not cover the whole cookie sheet. I usually shape it into a rectangle a bit bigger than a 9x13 pan).
3. Bake at 325 degrees F for 15-20 minutes til golden brown.  Take out and cool for 10 minutes.
4. Cut into bars, then bake an additional 5 minutes at 350 degrees.

recipe from a friend of Kel's

Buttermilk Biscuits

Warm, light, flaky, biscuits = pure satisfaction. And they are so simple to make.

5 cups all purpose flour, plus more for working, as needed
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp kosher salt
1/2 cup very cold butter, cut into cubes
2 cups well-shaken buttermilk
3 Tbsp melted butter

1. Preheat oven to 500°F with rack in upper third. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

2. Add cold butter cubes to the flour mixture and coat well. Working quickly, rub the butter between your fingertips until roughly half is coarsely blended and half remains in larger flat pieces (3/4 inch size)

3. make a well in the center of flour-butter mixture and add buttermilk all at once. Stir quickly with a wooden spoon, just until mixture begins to come together into a sticky dough. (the dough will not form a ball at this stage and will, in fact, look unpromising).

4. Immediately turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead briskly 8 to 10 times, just until a cohesive ball of dough forms. With your palms, gently flatten dough into an even thickness and rounded rectangle; then roll out to a 3/4-inch thickness, working from the center of the dough outward with a floured rolling pin. (Flour rolling pin as needed, but avoid flouring top of dough).

5. Using a dinner fork, pierce dough completely through at 1/2-inch intervals (flour fork if needed).
Using a 3-inch biscuit cutter*, stamp out rounds as close together as possible, taking care not to twist the cutter. Place rounds end to end on a parchment-lined backing sheet. Place dough pieced that remain after cutting on sheet too. Bake biscuits until crusty and rich golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove biscuits from over and bush with melted butter. Serve hot. Store in airtight contain for 3 to 5 days.

*In absence of a biscuit cutter I use a wide-mouth canning jar ring.

TIPS
• To help the biscuits rise to their fullest potential, take care not to twist the cutter (thus pinching the edged together) when cutting out the rounds of dough. When you look at them, you can see the layers that will result in flakiness.
• Don't be afraid of brown biscuits. That crusty exterior provided contrast to the tender, light interior.
• To reheat biscuits, toast in a toaster over or on a cooling rack on a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes.

Very slightly adapted from Martha Stewart Living.

Belgian Waffles: Gaufre de Liège Style

This is a recipe for the delicious yeast-risen, donut-like waffles they sell from food trucks in Belgium.

3 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 cup sugar
1 1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled a bit
2 eggs, at room temp
1 pkg yeast (~ 1 heaping Tablespoon)
3/4 cup water, warm
2 tsp. vanilla
225 grams (8 oz) pearl sugar (carried by some stores and can be found online)

1. Mix flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl.  Make a well in the middle.
2. Melt the butter. Beat the eggs well, then add the melted (and cooled a bit) butter and the yeast. Mix well.  Add the water and vanilla and mix again. Let that sit (1-3 minutes) to make sure the yeast is foaming.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the well of the dry ingredients and mix.  Knead for about 10 minutes.  The dough will be a bit sticky.
4. Place the dough in a warm place and allow it to rise 15-30 minutes.
5. Five to ten minutes before baking add the pearl sugar.
6. Shape the dough into a squarish circle (ha!) and flatten with hands, then place the dough in a HOT waffle iron.  Let bake and eat immediately as this is key to the deliciousness.

adapted from a recipe found here.

Bagels

This recipe is adapted from the King Arthur recipe. Making bagels is more involved than making a loaf of bread but pretty fun if you have the time and the bagels are awesome.

1 1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon instant yeast
1 tablespoon brown sugar + more for the water bath
2 teaspoons salt
4 cups bread flour


1. Combine the ingredients and knead vigorously, by hand for 10 to 15 minutes, or by serious electric mixer on medium-low speed for about 10 minutes. High-protein bread flour takes a bit more effort and time to develop the gluten. The dough will be quite stiff; if you're using an electric mixer it will thwap the sides of the bowl, and hold its shape (without spreading at all) when you stop the mixer. Cover bowl with a towel and let dough rise till noticeably puffy though not necessarily doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

2. Transfer the dough to a work surface and divide it into ~10 pieces. Working with one piece at a time, shape it into a smooth, round ball. Use your thumb and index finger to poke a hole through the center of each ball, then slowly stretch the hole, rotating the bagel while stretching, until it's a good 2 inches in diameter.  Place each bagel on a parchment-lined baking sheet (cornmeal works too but is more of a mess), and repeat with the remaining pieces of dough. Cover the bagels with plastic wrap, and let them rise for 30 minutes or more until they puff to the size of a nice bagel.

3. While the dough is resting, prepare the water bath by heating 2 - 3 quarts of water, and 3 Tbps brown sugar to a very gentle boil in a large, wide-diameter pan. Preheat oven to 425°F.

4. Transfer the bagels, four at a time if possible, to the simmering water. Increase the heat under the pan to bring the water back up to a gently simmering boil, if necessary. Cook the bagels for 1 minute, flip them over, and cook 1 minute more. Using a skimmer or slotted spoon, remove the bagels from the water and place them back on the baking sheet. If you'd like to dip the bagels in sesame seeds, etc. do that here. Repeat with the remaining bagels.

5. Bake the bagels for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they're as deep brown as you like. Remove the bagels from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Makes ~10 bagels.

Oatmeal Muffins

These 12 muffins will be gone in a flash!

1 1/4 cups oats
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil (or 1/4 c oil and 1/4 c apple sauce)
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 cup wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 cup frozen berries

1. Mix oats and milk and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
2. Mix egg, oil, sugar.
3. Mix flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Combine oat mixture with oil mixture.  Add chocolate chips.
4. Combine wet with dry ingredients.
5. Fold in berries.
6. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes in a greased (or lined with paper) muffin pan.  Check with a toothpick and add 5 minutes if not done.

Yogurt Pancakes

Delicious and filled with protein.  Nice!  Makes 28 soda-lid-sized pancakes.

2 cups plain Greek yogurt
2 eggs
2 Tb brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup wheat flour
1/3 cup white flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup water

1. Mix together yogurt, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. 
2. Combine flours, baking powder and soda.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet slowly.  Stir in water to get the desired consistency*.

*This is a thick dough, so depending on your preferences, you may be adding more or less water.

Simplest, Quickest Doughnuts Ever

I am certainly not the first one to think of this - we had these for breakfast on our YW High Adventure and they were such a big hit. To be honest, I was more than just pleasantly surprised. They are unexpectedly delicious and so incredibly easy! I've declared them a conference weekend tradition for our family.
Makes 8 doughnuts.

1 cylinder large buttermilk biscuits (store brand works just as well as Pillsbury)
1 1/2 cups canola oil, for frying
glazes (see below)

1. Prepare all glazes first.
2. Open biscuits and punch out the hole in the middle of each biscuit (they usually come pre-cut).
3. Heat oil in a deep skillet or shallow sauce pan to medium. Fry doughnuts and holes in oil until golden brown, flipping over with a fork when first side is done. Remove from oil with tongs and place on a cookie sheet.
4. Spoon glaze onto doughnuts (or shake in bags of sugar) while they are still hot. Serve soon and enjoy! Keep leftovers out - containers or bags make them a bit too chewy. Eat the same day (day-old doughnuts really emphasize the old).

Glaze suggestions:
Traditional (vanilla)
Maple
Chocolate/Nutella
Powdered sugar
Cinnamon & sugar

Stir 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla, and 1 milk together in a small bowl. Replace vanilla with maple for maple glaze. Add 2 Tbsp cocoa powder for chocolate (or just use Nutella if you have some on hand). Shake doughnuts in a bag with 1/2 cup powdered sugar for powdered or 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon for cinnamon & sugar. Add sprinkles if you must.

English Tea Scones

Surprisingly easy and quick, these scones are a great alternative for breakfast or dessert. And of course there is always afternoon tea. So proper.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
3 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
5 Tbsp cold butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1/2 cup fruit*
1 cup heavy cream

*variations
any berry (fresh or frozen, not thawed).
blueberry lemon: add 1 tsp lemon zest with the butter + blueberries.
cranberry orange: add 1 tsp orange zest with the butter + 3/4 cup dried cranberries.
chocolate cherry: 2/3 cup dried cherries, chopped up + 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (my fave).
white chocolate raspberry: 1/3 cup white chocolate chips + raspberries

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Place flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk together. Add the butter cubes individually and quickly cut in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles a coarse meal with a few slightly larger butter lumps. Add the fruit and quickly mix in.
2. Stir in the heavy cream with a rubber spatula until the dough begins to form. Transfer the dough and all the dry flour bits to the counter top and knead the dough just until it comes together anto a rough, slightly sticky ball.
3. Press dough out into a rectangle 3/4" thick and about 12" x 5". Cut down the middle then cut each half into seven wedges (see fig. 1).
4. Bake 12- 15 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes. serve warm or room temperature with lemon curd, fruit preserves and whipped cream.

Waffles

This is the Better Homes & Gardens recipe with a few tweaks (typical Kelly style) making them even better.

1 3/4 cups flour (half all-purpose and half whole wheat is really good)
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil or melted butter, cooled
2 cups milk

1. Whisk dry ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl, set aside. In another bowl, beat the eggs and oil together until well combined. Add the milk and mix together. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until moistened and combined (batter should be lumpy).

2. Cook in lightly greased waffle iron and top with your favorite deliciousness.

Savory German Pancake

a variation on the standard breakfast pancake, this savory version can be served for any meal.

3 Tbsp butter
6 eggs
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
3/4 tsp garlic salt
black pepper to taste
1 Tbsp onion, finely diced
3 Tbsp spinach, finely chopped
3 Tbsp shredded cheese (from cheddar to asiago)
1 Tbsp green chiles or salsa (optional)
2 Tbsp ham, chopped into small pieces (optional)

1. preheat to 400°. place butter in a 9" x 13" (glass is best but not necessary) pan. place in the oven until melted, 3-5 minutes (do not burn).
2. in a medium bowl, whisk the eggs until combined. add flour, milk, salt and pepper. beat mixture until smooth. stir in onion, spinach, cheese, etc. with a rubber spatula until combined. immediately pour batter into pan.
3. bake 22-25 minutes until puffed and well browned. serve with fresh salsa or ketchup.

Homemade Maple Syrup

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup water
1 tsp maple extract

1. combine sugars and water in a sauce pan. stir until clear while bringing to a boil. turn down heat and simmer 15 minutes.
2. remove from heat, stir in maple extract and serve. refrigerate in a glass container.

Muffins

these muffins are easy and very tasty. you can use fresh, dried, or frozen fruit (don't thaw frozen fruit) and nuts if you'd like.

1 ¾ cups flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 ¼ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt

½ cup butter, melted
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup lightly packed brown sugar
2/3 cup milk, room temp
1 tsp vanilla
1 large egg, room temp
1 ¼ cup fruit

1. Heat oven to 400°. Grease muffin tin.
2. Mix dry ingredients together in a medium bowl.
3. Whisk wet ingredients and sugar in another bowl.
4. Fold wet ingredients then fruit into dry ingredients.
5. Scoop ¼ cup into muffin tins, sprinkle tops with granulated sugar.
6. Bake 15 – 17 minutes.