Desserts

Apple Strudel

Makes 6 servings Strudels are known for their paper-thin, flaky crust, which takes some patience, but is worth the effort. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be strudel-ing all of your favorite fillings. You can even use this dough with savory fillings, like seared mushrooms and goat cheese. […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Bakers’ Percentage

Buckle up, foodies. We’re doing math! Artisan bread requires just a few key ingredients, but it is the ratio of those ingredients and the way they are handled that produce a wide array of finished loaves. Proper execution comes from a detailed understanding of each step in the process—what needs […]

Breakfast and Brunch, Family Fun

Banana Nut Loaf

Makes 2 Loaves Ingredients 6 bananas, very ripe 1/4 lemon, peeled or 1 tsp lemon juice 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 2 cups sugar 2 large eggs 1/2 cup vegetable oil 3/4 cup chopped toasted pecans Directions Preheat […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Best Water for Bread Making

Bread dough is made from very few ingredients, and each one counts. This includes the most basic, likely least-considered ingredient: water. The rule of thumb here is that if you enjoy drinking it, you can use it for baking bread. However, there are three important ways water quality can affect […]

Cookies

Black and White Cookies

Make about 2 dozen cookies Ingredients 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 1 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 3 eggs 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 cup sour cream 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder Vanilla Glaze Ingredients 1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted 2 tablespoons […]

Desserts

Blitz Puff Pastry

Makes 2 pounds of dough There are a few ways to make ultra-flaky puff pastry, but this one is the quickest (that’s why it’s called blitz!). The layers in puff pastry are a result of folding the dough four times. We included a photo at the end to show you what […]

Desserts, Free Recipes, Pies and Tarts

Boiled Apple Cider Custard Tart

Makes one 11-inch tart A classic northeast specialty typically made in pie form, but upgraded here to an elegant tart. Serve each slice with vanilla ice cream to offset the brightness of the apples. Pears can be easily substituted for the apple. To see how it’s done, check out this […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Braiding Challah

Challah, an enriched and truly delicious bread, is prized for its tender crumb, but identifiable by its glossy crust and characteristic braid. It is unmistakable among the other crisp crusts and rustic shapes. As part of ancient Jewish traditions, challah dough can be simply braided from three strands, like we […]

Desserts, Pies and Tarts

Butterscotch Cream Pie

Makes one 9-inch pie The rich caramel flavor in this pie is achieved by heating the dark brown sugar and butter until it caramelizes and develops a full, buttery flavor. Finished with swirls of whipped cream, this pie is a perennial favorite. Ingredients All-Butter Pie Crust, blind baked, single crust […]

Cookies, Desserts

Candy Bowl Cookies

Makes about 2 dozen cookies These cookies are a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe, with a twist. In place of chocolate chips, we’ve used chip-sized pieces of Halloween-favorite chocolate candies, like peanut butter cups, chocolate-covered caramels, and chocolate-coated toffee pieces. Use whatever you like best, adding as many textures as […]