Baking
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Vanilla Cider Poached Pears
A poached pear dripping in syrup with stem intact makes an incredible presentation. Serve this version made with white wine, apple cider, and vanilla bean as an unexpected and festive dessert. Since the pears can be prepared ahead of time and left chilled, you enjoy the cooking process without feeling rushed. The syrup is so delicious that any extra can be drizzled over a slice of pound cake later that night or over crepes the next morning. When selecting pears to poach, Bosc are my preferred variety for their slightly sweet, crisp flavor. They generally sit taller on the plate than other pears, but I like to mix it up…
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Honey Rum Apple Crumble
Sticky honey, a touch of warm butter, and dark rum are the key to the delicious filling in this crumble that lets the natural flavor of Honeycrisp apples shine. When things start cooking, promise yourself to only take a taste. While crumbs are usually the best, and most picked off, part of any dessert they top, these apples are so good that you might need to stop yourself from eating them all right out of the pan. Ingredients Apple Filling 2 pounds Honeycrisp apples 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 3 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons dark rum Crumb Topping 8 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour ⅓ cup light brown…
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Strawberry Pumpkin Tart
Fresh strawberry jam livens up a pumpkin tart. This layered dessert veers from pumpkin pie flavor and lets you taste the fall staple in a different way. Without traditional spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, pumpkin retains more of its natural flavor, and it pairs deliciously with strawberry. Vanilla and brown sugar round out the filling, which is creamier than the pie version. When it comes to the jam, all you need is a little sugar and lemon juice to create a spread that is not overly sweet. A packaged product from the store won’t have the same flavor so it’s best to make it at home. The berries will…
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Caramel Apple Cookies
Bite through a rich caramel coating into a crisp center, and you know the deliciousness of the sweet, buttery, tart caramel apple. I prefer mine dipped in peanuts, which adds a little salt to the mix too. These cookies capture all of the flavors of the quintessential fall treat, with the added bonus of giving you an excuse to whip up some delicious caramel sauce.
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Maple Granola
As a child, breakfast was not my favorite meal. Some kids prefer mounds of pancakes, but my go-to breakfast was a tiny package of granola clusters. Simple and enjoyable to make, homemade maple granola reminds me of those school day breakfasts while having all the flavors that satisfy my adult cravings. When you are in the mood for a crunchy, flavorful treat in the morning or just need a fast, healthy breakfast or snack, granola is a great option. With plenty of pure maple syrup and the perfect blend of salty and sweet, this recipe makes a complete breakfast all on its own, but it also works well as a…
