Daily Loaf

My most recent baking project has become creating the perfect crumb cake. There are so many elements that come into play here- texture, topping, density, and overall taste are all vital in formulating a masterpiece. I’m happy to say that I just may be onto something with this recipe.

Fall is high time for all things apple. Nothing makes your house smell better when baking or adds more moisture to your goodies. I choose Granny Smith as a rule, because they have a great tartness about them and retain their texture even when baking for substantial periods of time. Plus, if I have any left over they make the best snack when sliced and served with a baked round of brie, a drizzle of honey and some fresh baguette.

You are probably familiar with the classic pastry technique of incorporating very cold, cubed butter into streusel toppings, to create a divine crumb for these types of cakes. I’ve found amazing results instead, in melting the butter and using it to partially dissolve the sugars, bring out the essence of spices, and bind your crumble topping. This way, by the time you are ready to top your batter, the butter has semi-hardened once again, and it’s easy to crumble it into perfection. The pecans add fantastic crunch, and the richness of the brown sugar is the perfect companion to the buttery cake below. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s that time of the year again: St. Patty’s Day! I’ve been reminded of my fondness for Irish soda bread thanks to the bombardment of St. Patty’s themed emails from various foodie websites. I also have a deep love (and a hankering) for scones lately, too, so I was happily surprised when I stumbled upon this recipe for Irish soda bread scones — two in one! These scones are also great because I can bake a batch or two and give them away as treats on March 17th.

This recipe is very simple and virtually foolproof, especially for novice bakers. I love these scones because they’re more bread- than cake-like and not too sweet: the perfect blank canvas for butter and jam. They’d also be great with raisins or currants, spices (i.e.: cinnamon, ginger), chocolate chips, or even green food coloring! Start off your St. Patrick’s Day with one of these warm delights topped with your favorite spread or dunked in your morning coffee (they’ll help soak up the booze you’ll be probably consume later on, too). Read the rest of this entry »