Sugar & Spice by Celeste

The baking bug hit our house hard this past weekend.  We've got Chunky Monkey Bars, Blueberry Crumble Pie and these delicious Blueberry Muffins as evidence (or what's left of them). I've been craving Blueberry Muffins for quite a while, and when I saw these,  I just couldn't resist!  I mean....I had blueberries in the freezer practically BEGGING me to make them.  It would have been a shame to let them down, right?? Any baker knows that the best muffins have a beautiful, high rise and are mouth-wateringly fluffy.  These are straight-up bakery worthy and did not disappoint.   For these, I increased the amount of blueberries a smidge, and I also added extra cinnamon to the streusel topping (because extra cinnamon is NEVER a bad thing).  My changes are included below.  You can use any kind of milk that you have on hand.  I only had skim milk, but whole or buttermilk would have been even better. Enjoy, friends! Bakery Style Blueberry Streusel...

These Orange Easter Bunny Rolls are so stinkin’ cute... almost too cute to eat.  But after one bite of these orange marmalade-infused rolls of goodness, you’ll forget how cute they are and devour the whole thing....plus maybe a second. Shh....Don’t ask me how I know this. I’m not sure why I don’t typically buy orange marmalade.  After all, it tastes so lovely on countless things.  It’s perfect in this recipe...bright and cheery for spring!  I might just add it to my regular jam rotation for a while. The homemade dough isn’t complicated or too fussy.  I made mine the day before and let it rise overnight in the fridge.  After it came to room temp sitting on the kitchen counter, I just proceeded as normal with the next steps.  Breaking the recipe up makes it seem even easier. Shaping the rolls is fairly easy.  Don’t stress over making them magazine-perfect.  They will be adorable (and delicious), don’t you worry!  Every bunny will love the...

A stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes dripping with maple syrup is like a warm hug on a cold day.  I have a serious weakness for them, and they're always easy to whip together on an easy Sunday morning (are you humming the song now?). I have a handwritten journal where I jot down my very favorite recipes, which I turn to again and again and again.  This recipe earned a spot in it long ago and the page is now lovingly splattered from frequent use. If you're in a creative mood, you can add fresh blueberries, chopped strawberries, chocolate chips, chopped nuts or even mashed bananas to this batter.  The possibilities are endless!   Classic Buttermilk Pancakes   Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 2  1/2  tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp salt 2 Tbsp granulated sugar 2 large eggs 2 cups buttermilk 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil Butter or cooking spray, for greasing the cook surface Directions: Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (for keeping the pan...

These beignets are an absolute DREAM for four reasons: 1.  They are pillowy and dreamy on the inside and crisp on the outside. 2.  They are healthier!  Thanks to an air fryer, these are NOT deep fried...plus they are made with greek yogurt. 3.  They are super EASY (only 6 ingredients). 3.  They are shaped like MICKEY! If you have ever been able to enjoy Mickey Beignets while visiting Disney World, you know how incredible Disney's version is.   There's just something about Mickey-shaped food, as well. I mean, it just TASTES better, right?? When making these beignets, I actually tried two different recipes/methods.  The first recipe involved yeast and evaporated milk.  While they were good and held their shape well, they were a little dense and not pillowy/soft on the inside.  The recipe below was much easier and tasted far superior. It was a win-win. There's no working with yeast and waiting on dough to rise with these.  You can whip...

Have you had the bread service at Disney World's Sanaa Restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge?  The stuff is legendary.  There, you can feast on fresh Naan with a big selection of assorted dipping sauces...all with a view of the savanna while zebras and giraffes meander by.  I love Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge...they are a must when we visit! Homemade Naan is easier than you might think.  While traditional Naan is made in a hot tandoor oven, home cooks can get a similar result with a hot cast iron skillet (or a non-stick skillet if you don't have cast iron).  The trick is making sure your skillet is nice and hot before cooking the bread.   Also, the secret ingredient is the greek yogurt, which helps gives Naan it's pillowy texture.  I love drizzling warm Naan with either a little melted butter or olive oil and a sprinkle of Everything Seasoning.  YUM!   Naan has many uses, such as flatbread, pizzas, sandwiches, or just as a side for hu...

So....remember those  Strawberries & Cream Scones that I posted?  Yeah, well...they were so dang good that I made them again.   Sorry, not sorry. Only this time, I used blueberries and added some cardamom.  There's something about cardamom and blueberries.  I absolutely love them together.  I always add a dash of cardamom when I make blueberry  muffins and pancakes, too. The glaze on these also makes them special.  They are NOT your usual, run-of-the-mill scones that can be a little on the dry side.  These are filled with juicy blueberries and the glaze just pushes them over the top.  I'm not sure that I'll ever make scones without a glaze, now. The smaller size also makes them the perfect grab and go breakfast or snack.   Enjoy! Mini Blueberry & Cardamom Scones Adapted from:   Baker By Nature Ingredients: 2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/3 cup granu...

Homemade bagels aren't as difficult as you might think.  They are totally doable and so FUN to make!   I love a good Everything Bagel smothered with plain cream cheese.  I found a bottle of Everything Seasoning at Target, and I just HAD to try making them at home.  These disappeared so quickly, and my daughter has already requested that we make more.   She had a lot of fun helping me to roll these out and form them.  Any time that I make homemade dough/bread, I always call her into the kitchen to see if she wants to help.  It's always a fun time making a "mess" with flour all over the counter together.  She gets a kick out of it every single time. If you aren't a fan of Everything Seasoning, you can actually use this as a base recipe and make Cinnamon Raisin Bagels instead (or leave them plain!).  I've included notes at the bottom of the recipe on how to do this. Enjoy! Homemade Everything Bagels Adapted from:  The Ultimate Sou...

Happy Friday, friends!  If you'd like something delicious to bake over the weekend, these Mini Strawberries & Cream Scones are perfection. The fresh strawberries that dot the inside and the sweet glaze that's drizzled over the top elevate these from just ordinary scones, to scones that even the scone-averse will fall in love with.  Because let's be honest...sometimes scones can be a bit dry and just blah. These are not. Instead of regular sized scones, I decided to make these smaller.  That way, I don't have to commit to eating an entire scone when I get a craving...hah!  The miniature size makes them a perfect snack, and when paired with a latte, they are heaven! Mini Strawberries & Cream Scones Adapted from:  Baker By Nature Ingredients: 2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 stick unsalted butter, VERY cold and cut into small cubes 1 large egg 1/2 cup milk (preferably ...

    If I told you that this babka was the best thing I've ever baked, would you believe me?   No, seriously...Something magical happens when brioche is paired with Nutella and a crumble topping. My husband even agreed, and I'm not going to admit how many pieces I had over the weekend.  You know who else agreed?  Our four-legged babka thief of a dog, Ava. You see, I was trying to photograph this Nutella-filled, straight from heaven bread, and I stepped away for MAYBE 2 milliseconds.  All the while, our wily Springer Spaniel was crafting a plan unbeknownst to me.  She saw her opportunity and grabbed it...snagging one of the slices right off the plate and literally inhaling it so fast that it was all a blur.  The sheer speed at which she made it disappear was impressive. I was admittedly not thrilled about the whole situation at first, but then I realized...Could I even blame her??  I mean, I would have done the same thing if I were her...h...