Back At It: Pina Colada Banana Bread

Wow. It’s been three years. A lot can happen in three years, and a lot did happen. I graduated high school, went to film school, interned at Foodbeast, and much more. But the important thing is: I’m back and we’re making banana bread!

Making a Comeback: Carrot Peach Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I’M BAA-AACK!!! OMG, guys, I am so, so, so sorry for not posting in like a WHOLE YEAR. (Like what is wrong with me???) There is truly no excuse for me being so inactive, but imma try anyway. You see, when I started this blog two years ago, balancing it with school was super easy, but this past year of school was way more difficult and time consuming than the year before, and I just couldn’t find the time to ever work on my blog (and if I did have time, I honestly didn’t want to work on my blog because that would entail more writing and sitting at a computer typing…) BUT, now that it’s summer, I got some time! So here I am. Me again. Oh, and you may have noticed from the title, I’m “making a comeback.” And this phrase doesn’t just pertain to me; it also refers to Carrot Cake’s comeback. You see, there’s a lot of stigma surrounding carrot cake. Everyone thinks it’s just some gross old people food and don’t forget the basic principal of a carrot cake – vegetables in cake??? Ew, gross. But that’s where you’re wrong my friend…

World’s Best: Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

I’ve had my fair share of coffee cakes. And I am 100% sure that this is the best coffee cake I’ve ever made or ever eaten. So you know this has got to be serious. Just imagine this for a second: an equal ratio of fluffy, moist lemony cake with bursting blueberries, lemony cream cheese filling, and buttery, crunchy, streusel coated with a tart lemon glaze. I mean, it really can’t get much better than that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Perfect Combo: Strawberry Cheesecake Brownie Cups

So you may be wondering, What does she mean? “The Perfect Combo”? And I would confirm, Yes. The Perfect Combo. You see, strawberries and chocolate are a classic combination and insanely good together. I mean, chocolate covered strawberries are pretty hard to beat. But add that classic flavor combination to another perfect combo, cheesecake and brownies, and you get something out-of-this-world spectacular! So basically, these Strawberry Cheesecake Brownie Cups are the ultimate mash-up of perfect combinations: strawberry/chocolate and cheesecake/brownie! (Really, wants not to love? I know you want to click the “read more” button below…)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Life is Finally Complete: Cream Cheese Swirl Carrot Cake Coffee Cake

Oh Carrot Cake. One of my many loves. I could consume you all day, any day. And that’s exactly why I found a way to incorporate carrot cake into breakfast. So rejoice! Today is a day of grand celebration! Let them eat cake! But seriously, this Cream Cheese Swirl Carrot Cake Coffee Cake is to die for (except if you died, you wouldn’t be able to eat it, so don’t die). It is all the flavors you love about your traditional carrot cake updated into a new format of coffee cake. In the batter, I love not just adding carrots but also throwing in heafty doses of nuts (walnuts, pecans, and almonds all work spectacularly) and coconut. Instead of the cream cheese frosting, there is a cream cheese swirl that makes this decadent breakfast cake taste like a cheesecake. And like all coffee cakes, of course it is topped off with that ubiquitous streusel!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Literally the Best Thing Ever: German Chocolate Cake

So as you can tell from the title, I really like German Chocolate Cake, which shouldn’t surprise you because pretty much everything I make I somehow incorporate coconut into it. But when I say this recipe is “Literally the Best Thing Ever,” believe me. Go make this. Become German (actually, did you know that German Chocolate Cake isn’t even German? Yeah, kind of like French Fries aren’t even French. I’ll explain this later in the post). And by the way, this is my go-to dessert recipe, it isn’t all that complicated and it gives insanely delicious results. So next time you have a birthday party, company coming over, or you just really want to bake a cake, make this.

 

 

 

 

 

Bananas for Bananas: Banana Bread Coffee Cake

There are many food hybrids. The piecaken, cronut, cookie shot, waffle taco, cinnamon roll pancakes, wonut, just to name a few. But one food hybrid that I’ve never seen is a combination of banana bread and coffee cake. So I decided to make a new trend. And here-in lies the top-secret recipe to Banana Broffee Break. Yeah… That’s a really bad name. So if any of you have any good name suggestions to this banana bread-coffee cake hybrid, let me know in the comments below! Let’s get baking!

Slightly Sour, Slightly Sweet: Kumquat Cardamom Pineapple Bread

Kumquat. What a funny word. And a what a funny fruit it is. If you have never seen a kumquat, (well if you finish reading this post, you will) it looks like a miniature orange. What does it taste like? Like a miniature orange! But unlike an orange, you eat the kumquats rind (or skin, or whatever you call it). Kumquats have a really interesting balance of sour and sweet that gives it a very interesting flavor profile. With this deliciously sweet and sour quick bread, I combined these deliciously different kumquats with cardamom and pineapple! This makes for a deliciously moist, sweet, sour, earthy, and spicy bread. And to top it all off (literally) there is the most beautiful bright yellow-orange, delicious sweet and tangy glaze. This recipe too easy and delicious to resist, so let’s get baking!

Happy Birthday: Funfetti Sugar Cookie Cake

Ah, cookies… Those buttery, dense, morsels of awesomeness. But they’re so tiny! What about super-sizing these delicious flavor-bombs? Wouldn’t that be even more awesome?! I think so, and of course, you should think so as well. That’s why I have created a Funfetti Sugar Cookie Cake, packed with sprinkles, white chocolate, and vanilla (not to mention the fluffy and creamy vanilla buttercream on top)! This is perfect for any occasion, any season, but especially perfect for someone’s birthday! And what’s more, it is ridiculously easy to make! So let’s get baking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Out of the Oven: Giant Single-Serving Chocolate Chip Cookie

What could be more comforting than a warm, crispy-edged, fluffy-centered, chocolate-infused, giant chocolate chip cookie? Especially now that the weather has turned crisp and cool, there could be nothing better than a warm, sweet morsel of ultimate deliciousness to celebrate the holidays! This cookie takes no time to make and is foolproof. So preheat that oven, slip on your slippers, wrap yourself in a blanket, and get baking!