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Grapefruit Poppy Bread

grapefruit, citrus, bread, cake, winter
Grapefruit Poppy Loaf with grapefruit glaze.

When a large group of bloggers decide to virtually get together for a party, you SHOW UP! The lovely wonderful ladies of Square Meal Round Table and What Annie's Eating put together this lovely tribute to the mighty GRAPEFRUIT.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit Poppy Loaves

Tis' the season for all things citrus from incredible blood oranges, meyer lemons and of course grapefruit. This is the perfect time of year to enjoy this seasonal citrus, at its peak. It's funny, I was never a huge grapefruit fan until my later years, of course, I definitely enjoy it with some sugar but I do enjoy it greatly now. My kids have also become HUGE grapefruit eaters, so I can't complain! Although, my poor husband has made a name for himself as the "Best Grapefruit Cutter" so I leave the cutting to him, I'll take them and bake!

Grapefruit Bread

With grapefruit in peak season, I thought a grapefruit poppy loaf would be a nice twist to a traditional lemon poppy seed bread. I had these little mini loaf ceramic dishes I had been dying to use so 6 little loaves came about. Perfect for snacking, gifting or even freezing for a morning you just don't want to bake.

These loaves are filled with grapefruit zest, juice and of course topped with a delicious grapefruit glaze that gives it that extra dose of sweetness and glamour. You can certainly skip the glaze and pour a touch of grapefruit juice on top instead.

I love cakes that take a few minutes to make but pack a ton of flavor and are sure to impress! You can find this recipe and a TON more grapefruit inspiration by checking out the Instagram hashtag: #greatfruitgrapefruit . I also have links to some amazing recipes below to check out.

As always, I love seeing your creations! If you make these adorable loaves, give me a tag on Instagram or Facebook or leave a comment below. Be sure to pin for later!
xoxo,
Cosette

Grapefruit Poppy Loaf
PIN for later!
Grapefruit Poppy Loaf
Ready for the oven!
Grapefruit Poppy Loaf
Perfectly golden out of the oven.
Grapefruit Poppy Loaf
The grapefruit glaze really ties the whole bread together.
Grapefruit Poppy Loaf
That drip.
Grapefruit Poppy Loaf
Perfect for a party or brunch.


More Grapefruit Inspiration

Print Recipe
 Grapefruit Poppy Loaves
Makes 6 mini loaves, check recipe notes for alternate baking vessels.
grapefruit, citrus, bread, cake, winter
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Loaves
Grapefruit Glaze
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Loaves
Grapefruit Glaze
grapefruit, citrus, bread, cake, winter
Instructions
Loaves
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease and flour 6 mini loaf pans (mine were 3.5" x 5.5" and about 2" high).**see notes below for baking in standard loaf pan or bundt
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, add your: eggs, sugar, vanilla, zest from 2 grapefruit and bourbon.
  3. Mix on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes until fluffy.
  4. Add in your dry ingredients until just combined.
  5. Finally add your oil, yogurt and grapefruit juice and allow to mix for 2-3 minutes until batter is fully combined.
  6. Pour into prepared mini loaf pans, batter can be filled to almost the top, leave about ¼". Place your mini loaves on a sheet pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  7. Tops should be golden in color. Remove from oven, let cool then remove from ceramic loaf pans. Prepare glaze and top when loaves are cool. Enjoy!
Grapefruit Glaze
  1. Combine your powdered sugar and grapefruit juice until a thick but pourable glaze forms.
Recipe Notes

**If you don't have mini loaf pans, this bakes great in a bundt pan. Coat your bundt pan well, I really love using Baker's Joy! Bake bundt for 55-60 minutes

**You can also prepare 2 standard size loaf pans (9.5" x 2") and bake those for about 45 minutes

**You can obviously omit the glaze, you may want to drizzle about a tablespoon of fresh grapefruit juice on top when they come out of the oven if you choose to omit the glaze. 

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The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

Hi my name is Alessia, I am Cosette’s guest on the blog today. I’m also her daughter. I had ideas on what to write, and I chose to write about chocolate chip cookies. The next day after school, she asked me if I wanted to be her guest in the blog and I said yes.

Why I Chose Chocolate Chip Cookies

I like chocolate chip cookies because they have chocolate bits in them and when you take a bite you taste chocolate and cookie with butter. You could make it for  special events or for fun. I think it is fun to make them with kids. Follow the recipe below and have fun!

Alessia, age 7

 

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

 

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

 

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

 

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

 

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

 

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

 

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

 

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

 

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

 

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

 


Print Recipe


The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

After many tries and attempts on making chocolate chip cookies adjusting temperature, refrigeration/no refrigeration, various flours...these hailed to be the BEST! Hope you enjoy!

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.

Course Baked Good
Cuisine Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes

Servings
large cookies


Ingredients

Course Baked Good
Cuisine Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes

Servings
large cookies


Ingredients

Soft, chewy bakery style chocolate chip cookies.


Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line 2 cookie sheets with silicone or parchment paper.

  2. In a small bowl, combine flours, baking soda and salt. Whisk until combined.

  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine melted butter and sugars. Mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until creamed.

  4. Add in egg + egg yolk + vanilla and continue to mix for another 2-3 minutes.

  5. Turn mixer to low and slowly add in flour mixture.

  6. Finally add in the chocolate chips.

  7. Using a ¼ cup, scoop dough onto prepared cookie sheets. 5 cookies to a sheet, one in each corner and one in the center. Top with a pinch of finishing salt if you'd like.

  8. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until edges are crispy and center is still soft. Remove and let cool on rack. Enjoy!


Recipe Notes

Recipe adapted from:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/25037/best-big-fat-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookie/

 


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Chocolate Cupcakes ~ Orr's Box

chocolate cupcakes

Home for the Holidays

Currently sitting at my parent's house, back in my childhood home that is oddly the same but also different. The holidays are DEFINITELY my favorite time of year, my whole family flies back east to visit our extended family. Now some folks may think we are completely nuts, absurd and out of our mind to want to spend 3 weeks with our families, but we truly LOVE IT! Our kids love every second of it and it is all they have known since they have been little babies. We spend Christmas in Pennsylvania, DONE DEAL! It's 3 weeks of uninterrupted time with my parents, my in-laws, my siblings and their kids, it's pretty perfect. Now, don't get me wrong, we have surely had our Griswold family drama over the years: fights, drama, tears...you name it! But in the end, those are the moments we remember. Those are the moments that make us stronger and closer to one another, I wouldn't trade them for the world. 

My Crazy Family

Some of my favorite holiday moments from growing up are with my parents, brother, sister and our surrogate extended family. My godmother, my sister's godmother and her daughter. They are the ones that we grew up with, we saw them as our aunts/grandparents. They gave us a glimmer of shine each holiday season. When they walked through the door on Christmas morning, THEY were the Santas, THEY did all the work, THEY made our days a little brighter. My parents worked extremely hard, but times were tough growing up and they did EVERYTHING for us, everything they could including putting food on the table. When the holidays came around, Lottie, Rosa and Marie took care of us while my parents took care of them. I think it was something that was just done and figured out, no one talked about it, no one asked, it just was the way it was. They were our Fairy Godmothers, literally! It was what family did. I treasure the memories with them, growing up by our sides.

The Orr's Box

My godmother, Marie, passed away about 15 years ago. It was the first time someone close to me died. Each Christmas, in her honor, we have a secret Orr's box that is passed to a new family member. See, Orr's was a department store that she shopped at regularly over the years when we were kids. One day Orr's closed the doors. But Marie was frugal, she saved lots of things: wrapping paper, stamps, tissue paper, ketchup packets, straws, you name it and she had it! So one Christmas (or Birthday), someone opened a gift and it happened to be in an Orr's box (Orr's by this point had been closed for many, many years). Of course we all found it amusing. Honestly, I'm not sure how it all began but now this Orr's box is our precious passed family heirloom, yes, a box is our family heirloom because we are that crazy! These are things that make the holidays special and fun, sharing old memories, building new ones and bringing in new family members to celebrate all that is wonderful. 

A photo of my brother, the 2016 recipient of the Orr's Box. Note, this photo also is evidence of who has the box this year, AND this photo was taken on New Year's Day because we had a box scare...but all is well and I have full hope that my brother will gift the box along. 

Chocolate Cupcakes

Cupcakes and such...

So now that you know a little about my crazy family, how about some holiday cupcakes??? You might need some after my story or if you're spending time with YOUR family! I am hoping to make these with my nieces this coming weekend or at least have some made to decorate! I LOVE this recipe for cupcakes or a chocolate cake (that doesn't need to be layered). It is so fluffy, moist and a perfect balance of chocolate. I hope you enjoy them as much as me! As always, I love seeing your creations, tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page.

Warmly,
Cosette

Print Recipe
 Chocolate Cupcakes
Cake recipe adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/17981/one-bowl-chocolate-cake-iii
Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Course Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line cupcake tins with cupcake liners.
  2. In bowl of stand mixer, combine sugar, flour, cocoa powder (sifted), baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  3. With paddle attachment, blend ingredients until combined.
  4. Slowly add in eggs and oil and mix for 2 minutes.
  5. Next, add in your milk and mix for another minute. Be sure to scrape down the sides of your mixer bowl.
  6. Finally, add in your hot coffee and vanilla until combined. Batter will be thin.
  7. Begin filling your cupcake tin with batter about ¾ of the way full.
  8. Bake on the same rack, upper ⅓ of oven and bake for 18-22 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.
  9. Frost with your favorite icing!
Recipe Notes

*Cupcakes above were frosted using a swiss meringue buttercream, I like using this one from Pioneer Woman
*You can certainly use a whipped cream frosting or whatever you like.
*For a 9x13 cake, grease and flour cake pan. Pour batter and bake for 30-35 minutes. Makes a delicious cake! 
*The snowflakes are made of chocolate. I printed a pattern I liked, melted candy melts, filled a piping bag and piped onto a wax paper with pattern underneath. Topped cupcakes when they hardened. 

 

 

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{Vegan} Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

I am a firm believer of eating EVERYTHING! I do not discriminate on any type of food, I especially love all dairy (really, cheese is my love child) and bread and fruit and veggies and all meat. Food is what truly makes the world go round. That being said, I do know that there are folks with serious allergies and illnesses when it comes to certain foods. My daughter has an egg allergy (saddest thing ever) so baked goods are sometimes difficult for her to eat. I have several recipes WITH eggs that are mild enough and don't affect her. But when it comes to cookies, she has a super tough time. Those soft, gooey centers don't lend themselves well to someone with an egg allergy. 

I sought out to make the perfect chocolate cookie for her a while back which won over her heart and belly. Most recently, I added peanut butter (which makes them 100x better) and adjusted some other pieces to make them fully vegan for some of my other sweet friends. A close friend of mine is vegan and also a fabulous baker. One day I tried some cookies she made, I was astounded at how wonderful they tasted. I had considered vegan baked goods an oxymoron, but my opinion quickly changed after that day. I also realized that just because they are vegan doesn't mean they are healthy, hahaha! These guys have flour + sugar and all the goodies that make cookies perfect treats. 

I think these cookies are an exquisite texture: soft, chewy, dark, the perfect bite. I can totally see smooshing some ice cream in between two cookies and having the most amazing ice cream sandwich. I personally love using a very deep dark cocoa powder, I use Hershey's Special Dark, it has a mix of both Dutch and Natural Cocoas and really gives a nice depth of flavor. 

These cookies are so versatile, while they are written as vegan, you can adjust and adapt them to your liking, subbing the vegan butter/margarine for standard butter and the water for any type of milk (cow, almond, rice, hemp). And of course, sub out the peanut butter for almond butter or another butter of your choice. It is super flexible and packs a ton of flavor, perfect for kids and adults alike. Not to mention, these would be an AMAZING cookie to share at a holiday cookie exchange. I hope you give them a try and as always, I love seeing your creations, tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page.

Happy Baking!


Print Recipe
 {Vegan}Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Course Baked Good, Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12-15 minutes
Passive Time 30 minutes
Servings
cookies
Ingredients
Course Baked Good, Dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12-15 minutes
Passive Time 30 minutes
Servings
cookies
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line two sheet pan with parchment paper or silicone liners.
  2. Using your stand or hand mixer, cream together sugar, margarine and coconut oil.
  3. Add in your peanut butter and vanilla, continue to cream.
  4. In a small bowl, mix together your dry ingredients and whisk until combined. Slowly add in with your mixer on low speed until combined.
  5. Finally add in your water, add additional if dough seems too dry. The dough should be firm and hold together.
  6. Place dough in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  7. Using a cookie scoop, scoop out dough and roll into a smooth ball. Roll into granulated sugar and place on prepared baking sheet. Continue until cookie dough is done.
  8. Bake cookies for 12-15 minutes (swap trays at halfway point) until they begin to crackle.
  9. Remove, let cool on tray then transfer to cooling rack.
  10. Enjoy. Cookies keep well in a sealed container for a week.
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Almond Pear Cardamom Scones

As I sit here watching The Great British Baking Show I'm reminded of several things:

  1. One is significantly cooler with a British accent (why don't have I have a British accent??? I suppose I'm not that cool. )
  2. How are the judges on the show not 300 pounds? Have you seen how many desserts they eat??
  3. This show is really very zen, I can watch it on repeat and be lulled to sleep. (I'm almost asleep writing this.)
  4. It's almost Christmas which means I can watch Love Actually on repeat (Best movie EVER!!!)
  5. I really don't know a whole know a lot about British desserts. 
  6. I am no where near brave enough to be on a competitive cooking show! 

But I digress, the reason I'm talking about British baking is because scones, yes, scones! The perfect British afternoon tea snack. The thing about scones is that they are not overly sweet and so perfectly delicate. They really are a perfect accompaniment with tea or your morning coffee (as we like to do here in the good old United States!) There are so many variations of scones: sweet, savory, butter, cream, fresh fruit, dried fruit, the possibilities are really endless. 

As we are fully immersed into autumn, fall flavors are running rampant on Instagram: pumpkin, apple, squash, caramel, cinnamon. But there is one underdog, the under represented flavor: pear. Apple tends to be the star of fall, which don't get me wrong, I LOVE APPLE! But I also love pear and pear treats are equally delicious. So I wanted to bring this special, beautiful fruit into the light and my first is with these delicious scones. 

I present to you, Almond Pear Cardamom Scones. Cardamom because well, cinnamon is clearly already paired with apple. I think the cardamom is such a sultry spice that lends itself so well in baked goods, especially with pears. And I love almonds in just about everything. One of my favorite ways to make scones is by using heavy cream versus butter. The heavy cream serves the same purpose as butter and doesn't require any cutting or grating into your flour, just pour and mix! These are a perfect Thanksgiving breakfast treat as well, check out my tip below about preparing ahead. I hope you enjoy, as always, I love to see your creations, tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page.

 

 

Print Recipe
 Almond Pear Cardamom Scones
Course Baked Good, Breakfast
Prep Time 15
Cook Time 16 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Course Baked Good, Breakfast
Prep Time 15
Cook Time 16 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, cardamom and all-spice.
  3. Peel and chop pears into ½ inch pieces and add to flour mixture. Gently toss together to coat.
  4. In a liquid measuring cup, mix together the vanilla extract and 1 ⅓ cups cream. Drizzle the cream mixture into the flour mixture, tossing gently until a cohesive dough forms. Add 2-3 more tablespoons of cream if necessary to create a moist, cohesive, but not sticky dough.
  5. Dump the dough onto a lightly floured work surface, I also like to work on a slipat or parchment paper. Gently gather and knead the dough into 4 disks using your hands, gently form into 1" thick cohesive rounds.
  6. Cut each disk into 4 even triangles.
  7. Place 1-inch apart on the prepared baking sheet and pop into freezer for 10-15 minutes*. Remove from freezer and brush the tops with heavy cream and place slivered almonds, brush one more top on top of the almonds and sprinkle with some raw sugar.
  8. Place in preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown on tops and bottoms.
  9. Remove from the oven and transfer to cooling rack. Enjoy your delicious treats!
Recipe Notes

**Make ahead. Go through all the steps, except brushing with heavy cream & raw sugar tops. Once you have cut scones and placed almonds on top, you can freeze on the baking sheet until firm then toss them into a zip lock bag. Anytime you want a fresh scone, brush tops with heavy cream and raw sugar, pop into the oven and enjoy! Great before the holidays!

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Pumpkin Oat Streusel Muffins

Alright, we are officially in FALL!!!!!! I know, I know...it may be 90 degrees on the East Coast, in the 80s here on the West Coast but still, there is a certain something in the air. Nights are cooler, leaves are changing colors and that means pumpkins and hot chocolate are in order. While I bake all year long, there is something special about baking in the fall, it comes so naturally. The smell of cinnamon and sugar, visits to pumpkin patches and apple orchards, I don't think there is anything better. 

Naturally, the first fall recipe on the blog must be pumpkin. Truth be told, pumpkin all on its own, I'm not the biggest fan. But pumpkin baked goods are true perfection. I think all the spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger + cloves turn that subtle pumpkin flavor into something magical. But what makes any muffin the pièce de résistance? Streusel. Streusel: bits of flour + sugar + butter baked to achieve the utmost deliciousness. It takes any cake or cupcake from good to fantastic, from a healthy snack to your 3:00 afternoon coffee treat. I think these muffins not only make a perfect coffee treat, but a wonderful breakfast for your loved ones. Packed with pumpkin, oats, coconut oil, yogurt and honey, they really are quite a perfect light breakfast.

Canned vs Fresh Pumpkin

One of the biggest debates when it comes to pumpkin baking season: canned pumpkin vs fresh pumpkin. I LOVE making everything I possibly can from scratch: pizza dough, tomato sauce, cheese, yogurt, you name it and I love the homemade version. However, when it comes to pumpkin, I have tried fresh (which has its place) but through and through I prefer canned pumpkin for baked goods. The problem with fresh sugar pumpkin is the liquid. There is much more liquid when you cook down fresh pumpkin which completely effects a recipe (and not for the better). So in my personal (non-professional) opinion, I go canned all the way! And frankly, picking up a can of pumpkin is a heck of a lot easier when you're looking to make a quick breakfast. My go-to canned pumpkin is Trader Joe's Organic Canned Pumpkin. It has a great flavor, inexpensive and who doesn't love Trader Joe's?? If you're not fortunate to be close to a Trader Joe's, Libby's is tried and true or any other preferred brand. 

I hope you find these little gems as special as my family has. They would be a perfect snack on your pumpkin patch or apple picking adventure or just at your table this weekend. As always, I'd love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page.

 


Print Recipe
 Pumpkin Oat Streusel Muffins
Course Baked Good, Breakfast
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
muffins
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
Streusel
Course Baked Good, Breakfast
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
muffins
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
Streusel
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line muffin tins with cupcake liners (or spray with cooking spray).
  2. Begin by mixing your dry ingredients in a large bowl, whisk to incorporate and set aside.
  3. In another bowl, add your pumpkin then eggs and whisk.
  4. Next melt your coconut oil FIRST, pour into pumpkin mixture and whisk then pour your honey into the same vessel as you used for the oil. The honey will slide right out into the pumpkin mixture. Finally add yogurt and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry and fold gently until fully incorporated and no white shows.
  6. In another small bowl, create your streusel. Mix ingredients together until incorporated and crumbly.
  7. Using a scoop or large tablespoon, fill muffin tins fully to the top. Crumble some of the streusel on top of each muffin.
  8. Bake muffins in upper middle rack for 5 minutes at 400 degrees, then lower temperature to 350 and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Check for doneness and remove from oven, allow to cool and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

**You can substitute canola, vegetable or another neutral oil for coconut oil
**Mix-ins would be a great addition: pecans or walnuts! 
**You can certainly use butter in place of coconut oil in the streusel ~ although the coconut oil works really well! 
**I imagine you can bake in a loaf pan, it would probably take about 45-60 minutes. Cover streusel to ensure it doesn't burn. 

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Chocolate Olive Oil Cookies

cookies, olive oil, chocolate, baking, chocolate chip

Carapelli Olive Oil elevates these cookies from simple to divine.

There are some things that you just fall in love with. Cute babies, fresh flowers, the smell of a fresh rain, new shoes and these cookies! Seriously, you will fall in love with these cookies because they are soft, chewy and have such a depth of flavor. Since fall is on the horizon, a few extra cookies is just what the doctor ordered. Add some molasses and brown butter and we're really talking fall! A touch of Carapelli Unfiltered Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil makes these cookies really special, that nutty flavor plays so well with the brown butter and molasses to create a perfect treat. 

cookie, chocolate, olive oil, dessert

Scoops of this perfect dough get ready for the oven.

The cookie is a science all on its own balancing what ingredients and process to make them the ULTIMATE:

BUTTER or OIL
BROWN SUGAR or GRANULATED SUGAR
REFRIGERATE or NOT

Then you have to decide do you want them: CHEWY or CAKEY? So many choices and so many variations. I'm a big fan of a chewy cookie with a crispy edge, the ultimate balance. If I want a cakey cookie, I'd rather just eat cake!

These cookies go one step beyond your average chocolate chip cookie with the addition of cocoa powder. The cocoa powder gives the cookies that signature crinkle and really make it decadent. 

I'm not saying these are the BEST cookies you'll ever have, but I do think if you don't try them you may regret it. Don't you want to sample a bite of heaven? A cookie that has deep flavors of olive oil, molasses and brown butter, giving them an almost caramel note? 

So, grab your mixer and make a batch today!

cookie, chocolate, olive oil, dessert

Those puddles of chocolate and salt are rich and gooey!

As always, I would love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page. 

xoxo,
Cosette

Print Recipe
 Chocolate Olive Oil Cookies
cookie, chocolate, olive oil, dessert
Course Dessert
Cuisine Dessert
Keyword cookies
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Course Dessert
Cuisine Dessert
Keyword cookies
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
cookie, chocolate, olive oil, dessert
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Makes approximately 24 cookies.
  2. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  3. In a small saucepan, melt your stick of unsalted butter. Allow to melt and slowly begin to brown. You'll start to see brown bits forming, stir and swirl the pan making sure the butter doesn't burn. You'll start to smell some caramel notes, remove from heat when browned.
  4. In your mixing bowl, cream together the melted (but cooled) browned butter, olive oil, sugars and molasses. Beat in the vanilla and eggs until creamy, about 5 minutes. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients (sift the baking soda and cocoa powder), mix until just combined. Add in the chocolate chunks.
  5. Drop cookies (about 2 tablespoons per cookie) onto cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Bake for 15 minutes then top with additional chocolate chunks and flake salt. Bake for another 3-5 minutes until edges are crisp and centers are soft.
  6. Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack.
Recipe Notes

**You can freeze cookie balls (omit salt) on a sheet pan then transfer to a ziploc bag. Pop out a few cookies whenever you want and bake them off. 

**Store cookies in an airtight container for 3-5 days

**Best to bake 1 cookie sheet at a time, if you bake 2 at once, swap trays halfway to ensure even baking. 

 

 

 

 

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Mini Banana Walnut Muffins

Anyone who has been to my house or has seen pictures on my Instagram stories can attest to the fact that I ALWAYS have bananas turning on my counter! I buy the bananas, the children say they'll eat the bananas but then two days later the said bananas are still there, slightly mushier. What can you do?? Well, one thing is to make banana muffins! This time of year I'm always trying to make extra snacks for lunches or breakfast that kids will like and pack a little punch. My youngest, Isaac has been asking all week for muffins so I decided to wait for him and make them together after school. 

What you can't see in these ridiculously adorable photos, is the fact that I totally cringe when my kids make something with me. I know it's all a learning experience (which I aim to give them) but it also drives me nuts that the scoop was backwards, there were drips, at one point while mixing the wet ingredients he began spinning the bowl so the contents all went up to the sides and guess where that coconut oil went?!? Yup, all over the place! But despite the craziness, what I do stress and teach my kids is about good wholesome food, cleanliness in the kitchen and proper etiquette while cooking or baking. If my kid touches their nose, they go wash their hands AGAIN! If they lick their finger, guess what, hand washing AGAIN! I want them to learn to be confident in the kitchen but that also goes with knowing the proper way to work.

 

In the end, we both had a fabulous time making these sweet little treats. The suggested prep time listed below is WITHOUT a 5 year old helping (obviously)! I would double the time if a little one is doing the work! I hope you enjoy some of these hilarious and inspirational pictures and inspire you to bake with your littles. As always, I would love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page. I'm sure Isaac would LOVE your feedback as well, leave him a comment! 

 

 

 

 Can I eat the muffins yet MOM??

Print Recipe
 Mini Banana Walnut Muffins
Course Baked Good, Breakfast
Prep Time 15
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
muffins
Ingredients
Muffins
Crumb Topping
Course Baked Good, Breakfast
Prep Time 15
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
muffins
Ingredients
Muffins
Crumb Topping
Instructions
Crumb Topping
  1. Combine all the ingredients for the topping, combine and with a fork cut butter until mixture is crumbly.
Muffin
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F Grease 36 mini muffin tins with non-stick spray.
  2. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
  3. In another smaller bowl, mix mashed bananas, egg, vanilla and coconut oil. Mix together with a fork until combined.
  4. Pour the wet banana mixture into the dry ingredients and fold gently until just combined.
  5. Fold in chopped walnuts.
  6. Fill mini-muffin tins to the top of each prepared muffin tin.
  7. Top each muffin with some of the crumb topping mixture.
  8. Bake for 5 minutes at 400 degrees, then immediately reduced temperature to 375 degrees and bake for another 15 minutes or until muffins are done with a cake tester.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes then transfer to cooling rack. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Can substitute oil, butter or margarine for coconut oil

Walnuts are optional and can be subbed for mini chocolate chips or omit completely. 

Adapted from the NYT Cooking
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/6245-king-arthur-flours-banana-crumb-muffins?mcubz=1

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Lemon Blueberry Bundt

You know how there are some things you NEVER forget from your childhood? Like your first new bike, your first kiss, your first car...well, I also never forgot this amazing cake my mom would always make. 

The bundt, it's such a simple but elegant cake. Good enough for a BBQ but also perfect for a formal dinner party. My mom would make this cake all the time, especially in the fall filled with apples, cinnamon and walnuts. Something about the way the apples cooked between the batter made it so divine. Sweet but not too sweet, slightly dense but yet still light and fluffy. I don't typically like messing with perfection but I thought, what if this cake was filled with seasonal fruit??? The batter is perfect, so why not enhance it with blueberries, it could only be sensational! 

I hope you enjoy this cake as much as I do. Whether you fill it with blueberries, enjoy it plain or find something even more amazing. I would love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page.

 

 

Print Recipe
 Lemon Blueberry Bundt
This bundt cake is amazing and perfect for any occasion. Serve plain or with some ice cream on the side.
Course Dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings
slices
Ingredients
Blueberry Filling
Cake
Glaze
Course Dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings
slices
Ingredients
Blueberry Filling
Cake
Glaze
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease a bundt cake pan using baking spray or coat with shortening and dust with flour. Be sure to get all the crevices if your bundt has grooves.
  3. Mix your blueberries and brown sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
  4. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment add your eggs, vanilla, bourbon/whiskey, grated lemon and sugar. Mix for 2-3 minutes until combined. Sift your flour, baking powder and salt together and slowly add to the egg mixture on low. Add oil and orange juice at the end and mix until combined scraping sides down as needed.
  5. Pour half the batter in your bundt pan. Tap the bundt a few times on the counter so the batter fills the pan evenly.
  6. Add your blueberry mixture on top of your first layer of batter.
  7. Top your blueberry mixture with the rest of your batter.
  8. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.
  9. Remove and let cool. Drizzle glaze and enjoy!
Lemon Glaze
  1. Mix confectioners sugar and lemon juice until smooth and silky. Add in your milk/half and half. If your mixture seems too thin, you can add more confectioners sugar or more milk/half and half if it's too thick.
  2. Drizzle onto cooled cake.
Recipe Notes

This cake is extremely adaptable. You can bake the cake without the blueberries and it will still be delightful. Or fill with whatever fruit or nuts you'd like! 

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Blueberry Honey Graham Cracker Ice Cream

It took me a little while, but here I am, finally launched this blog! And what better day than National Ice Cream Day! I'm not a trained chef or a writer but I do love to cook and bake, you can learn more about my background here. I hope to share lots of fun recipes with you that span from Lebanese dishes like Sabanikh oo 'Riz or Kousa, to more traditional American foods like pizza. My love is definitely in baking, especially elaborate cakes like this one that was made with chai infused buttercream....swoon! 

So whatever your food likes, I hope there is something here that will spark your interest. I am always looking for new ideas to meld my Lebanese heritage with modern day cuisine. If there is something you're interested in knowing more about, shoot me an email anytime! I would love to hear from you!!

No Churn Ice Cream

But, I digress...it's National Ice Cream Day! I jumped on the no-churn ice cream bandwagon and made my own version: Blueberry Honey with Graham Cracker. It's super simple to make, eggless and tasty! I may never go back to churned ice cream again. 

This no churn ice cream combines sweetened condensed milk and whipped cream to make a magical ice cream. 

I started off by cooking down some blueberries with fresh local honey, I have the BEST honey source if you're local to Portland! 

 

Once the mixture warmed up and began to boil, I added some cornstarch to thicken the sauce quickly. A natural thickener is lemon, but I since I wanted this to thicken quickly, cornstarch was a better way to go. I let the mixture cool before I went ahead making the ice cream. 

One can of sweetened condensed milk + 2 cups of heavy whipping cream is all you need to make magic! The condensed milk gives you the sweetness that ice cream needs and the whipped cream gives the light airy texture. In a large bowl, empty your can of sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract. Next, with your hand mixer or KitchenAid with whisk attachment, place 2 cups of cold heavy whipping cream in the bowl. Whisk on high until stiff peaks form. Take a spoonful of whipped cream and gently fold into the condensed milk mixture. Continue to do this one spoonful at a time, gently folding until the whipped cream is done. 

Since my blueberry mixture is pretty heavy and dense, I'm going to layer it into the ice cream rather than mix it in. If you have some mix-in like the graham crackers I'm using or chocolate chips, you can mix those right in now. 

Next, place a layer of your whipped ice cream and lay in an 8" loaf pan. Then take a few spoonfuls of the blueberry mixture and swirl around. Add another layer of whipped ice cream and another layer of blueberry. End with your final layer of whipped ice cream. 

That's it! Lay a sheet of wax paper on top to prevent ice crystals from forming and place in the freezer for at least 6 hours. Scoop and enjoy! So many variations that you can make with this simple base recipe. I would love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page.

Print Recipe
 Blueberry Honey Graham Cracker Ice Cream
Course Dessert
Cuisine Dessert
Prep Time 30 minutes
Passive Time 6 hours
Servings
Ingredients
Blueberry Sauce
Ice Cream
Course Dessert
Cuisine Dessert
Prep Time 30 minutes
Passive Time 6 hours
Servings
Ingredients
Blueberry Sauce
Ice Cream
Instructions
Blueberry Sauce
  1. Place blueberries + honey in a heavy bottomed pot.
  2. Place on medium high heat and let honey melt and blueberries soften, about 10 minutes.
  3. Place cornstarch + a splash of water in a small bowl to create a slurry.
  4. Add slurry to the blueberry mixture and remove from heat to thicken.
  5. Let cool.
Ice Cream
  1. Place sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl.
  2. Add in your vanilla extract.
  3. With a hand-mixer or your KitchenAid fitted with whisk, beat 2 cups of cold heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks, 3-4 minutes.
  4. One spoonful at a time, fold whipped cream into condensed milk.
  5. Be gentle and don't over mix, you want the mixture to stay light and fluffy.
  6. At this point, fold in your broken bits of graham crackers.
  7. With your 8" loaf pan layer ⅓ of your ice cream mixture on the bottom.
  8. Place a few spoonfuls of your blueberry mixture on top and swirl with a toothpick.
  9. Place another layer of whipped ice cream.
  10. Another layer of swirled blueberry.
  11. Finally, top with final layer of whipped ice cream.
  12. Place a sheet of waxed paper on top and place in freezer for at least 6 hours.
  13. Remove after frozen solid, scoop and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

**Feel free to try different mix-ins to make this your own version.

Adapted from The Kitchn

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