Sweet & Sticky Honey Buns

I remember being stuck at school waiting for drivers-ed to start or after practice waiting for my mom to pick me up. I used to always have those after school munchies, so I would head over to the vending machine and grab me a snack or two. More times than not I would choose the pre-packaged Hostess Honey Bun and boy was it good. Now, thanks to Martha Stewart, I was able to make some sweet and sticky honey buns from my very own kitchen and let me tell you, they are WAY better. I changed a few things in the recipe so check it out! 

*Makes: 9 honey buns in 1 dough ball (there are 3 balls all together)

Ingredients

For dough:

• 2 tbsp active dry yeast
• 1/3 cup (80ml) warm water
• 1 cup (250ml) milk, room temperature
• 2 sticks (230g) butter, softened
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup (120g) clear honey 
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla 
• 5 to 6 cups (650-780g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• Vegetable oil, for bowl

For filling and topping:

• 1 stick (110g) butter
• 1/2 cup (170g) clear honey, plus more for brushing and drizzling
• 1/2 cup (170g) golden syrup
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (100g) Philadelphia cream cheese
• 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream

Ooey Gooey Monkey Bread Muffins (From Scratch!)

I have been wanting to make monkey bread for quite some time now and I finally got around to doing it. Usually people make monkey bread in a loaf pan or a bundt cake pan but I love making individual sized portions so I took the muffin tin route. These remind me of a cross between a cinnamon roll and cake. They are so soft, full of cinnamon, and perfect straight out of the oven when they are warm. I ate way too many of these so I suggest you give them a try!

*Makes: 18 muffins

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 2 cups (480ml) of milk
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp butter
• 3-3 1/2 cups (450g) all purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 package yeast (1/4 oz or 2 1/4 tsp)
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 4 tbsp butter, melted

For glaze:

• 1 1/2 cup (220g) powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
• pinch of salt

Krispy Kreme Copycat Donuts (Made From Scratch)

Who doesn't love Krispy Kreme Donuts? I remember when they had just opened one in San Antonio, Texas. We lived out in Spring Branch, but my mom would sometimes drive there to order a few dozen so I could be that "cool" girl that brought Krispy Kreme donuts to class. Oh man, those were the days. To think you can just make them in your own kitchen! These are so amazing fresh, so try and eat them the day you make them. Check out the recipe below! 

*Makes: 60+ donuts

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 2 cups (480ml) milk
• 1/2 cup (120g) butter
• 2/3 cup (140g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp yeast
• 4 eggs (beaten)
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 5 cups (650g) self raising flour

For the glaze:

• 3 cups (400g) icing sugar, sifted
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup (120ml) cold water

Chocolate Chip Banana Biscotti Dipped in Dark Chocolate

Baking biscotti is something that I have always wanted to do, but ended up putting it on the back burner. I had a couple leftover bananas that were going bad and so I decided to make some chocolate chip banana biscotti (that sounds lovely doesn't it?) Biscotti intimidated me previously because I thought in order to make these delicious snacks, that you had to be a pro. Nope! It is simply baking the "cookie" twice! That's all it is. Check out these delicious chocolate chip banana biscotti with step by step instructions (and pictures!)

*Makes: 22-24 pieces

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (120g) butter
• 1-2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups (400g) all-purpose flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup (175g) semisweet chocolate chips 

Mango Banana Bread From Scratch

Every time I think of my mom and then think of baking, I am always reminded of her infamous banana bread. She uses the same recipe that my grandmother uses and it is always the best thing I've ever put in my mouth (besides a burger or macaroni and cheese). I have been experimenting with recipes, like I've mentioned in my last posts, and once again I did so with this one. I had purchased a ton of fruit from the grocery store and I happened to buy four humongous mangoes. I saw online that mango banana bread is quite common but all the recipes I came across, they left their mango pieces whole, where as I pureed mine. Here is my Mango Banana Bread recipe. Check it out!

*Makes: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (120g) butter
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (100g) light brown sugar, sifted
• 2 eggs
• 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup (240g) sour cream 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 tsp baking soda
• 2 1/4 cups (300g) all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups (170g) chopped fresh mangoes

Apple Streusel Muffins

Here's another one of my "experiments" from last week. I decided to use up my about-to-go-bad apples and make some Apple Streusel Muffins. They turned out way better than I imagined (just like the chocolate & pear muffins) and they made my kitchen smell divine for hours and hours, even before I put them in the oven. If you love the taste and smell of apples & cinnamon, give these ones a try!

*Makes: 17 muffins

Ingredients

For muffins:

• 2 cups (260g) plain flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (70g) softened butter
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups (240g) peeled and diced apples
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

For topping:

• 1/3 cup (80g) dark brown sugar
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 nutmeg
• 1 tbsp butter, soft or melted

Puff Pastry Cinnamon Sugar Palmiers

Palmiers are such a simple little treat to have with your coffee or morning tea. I've always wondered how they were made, and after doing some research, it is rather quite easy. The common and most traditional way to eat them is with granulated sugar, but I am obsessed with cinnamon sugar anything, so I decided to make my Palmiers with cinnamon sugar (and loads of it)! Check out the easy recipe so that you too, can enjoy these sweet treats. 

*Makes: 24 palmiers

Ingredients

• 1 block (500g) of puff pastry (you can also just use a sheet which is 320g)
• 1 cup of granulated sugar (190g)
• cinnamon (10g)
• flour (for counter top surface; only if needed)