Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Holiday Baking by Kate Evangelista


These scrumption cupcakes are from Kate Evangelista, author of Taste, Reaping Me Softly, and Unreap My Heart. For more on Kate and her books, click here.




One of the things I love to do, especially during the holiday season, is bake. Last year, I went on this cupcake phase. Maybe I still am on it to some degree once you see what I’ve come up with this year. But last year, everything was chocolate with white icing and a special minty surprise in the middle of the chocolaty goodness. I find baking very therapeutic. When I’m stressed, or when I’m waiting for some sort of news, I bake. It allows me to focus on just the act of mixing ingredients together and nothing else.


            The first thing I do when I bake is shop for everything I would need. My mom is a baker too, so most of the ingredients are always available at home. But things like extra butter or chocolate chips need to be purchased. When I know what I want to make, like Brookies and Cheesecake Brownies, I put a list together of what I need and head for the store.


            When I get back, I make sure everything is ready. I gather the bowls, spatulas, measuring cups, mixers, and baking pans in one place. Then I pre-heat the oven. Always remember to pre-heat the oven. It’s the most important part of baking. The last of my prep goes to organizing all the ingredients so that they are within reach.


            This year, I decided on Brookies and Cheesecake Brownies, but instead of using rectangular baking pans, I used cupcake pans. The reason for this is it’s easier to portion everything. You just scoop the batter on top of one another and slide everything into the oven.


            For the brownie base of the Brookies and Cheesecake Brownies, I decided on a double fudge brownie. This makes everything just a little more decadent. I mean ‘tis the season. Calories cease to exist. Am I right?


            For the cookie part of the Brookies, I chose an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip recipe. Got to add some oatmeal in there for extra texture, and it’s just plain old yummy. For the cheesecake portion of the other brownie, I used cream cheese, some butter, an egg, flour, and sugar.


            Honestly, I believe the best place to experiment is baking. Once you have the basics down, there are a ton of combinations you can come up with. It’s very much like writing that way. I guess that’s why I’m so drawn to baking whenever I need a break from my writing. Plus, it makes the house smell so damn good.

            What are you baking for this holiday season?  

   Kate

14 comments:

  1. About the only thing I can make well is fudge and I always do a few batches over the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Drool.

    I'm going to be attempting my sister-in-law's fantastic, top-secret gingerbread cookies

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, Kate, these look amazing! I wonder if I can alter them to be Gluten Free. If only I could eat wheat. *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I believe they can be altered to be Gluten Free.

      Delete
  4. Um...when is the internet going to invent screen-to-life sharing? Because...so much want!

    I do holiday baking, too, Kate. My desert of choice is cookies, but I also get together with my dad and we bake huge batches of carrot cakes to give out as gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Those look heavenly. I just shopped for ingredients for an appetizer I'll serve at book club and when I got home I discovered I forgot a key ingredient! Grr.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I make Bizcochitos every year!
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizcochito

    ReplyDelete
  7. These look incredible! I hate to admit it, but I probably won't bake this year. Our boys aren't big sweet eaters, so the only ones who eat the cookies are me and my husband and we don't need tons of cookies.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The look fab! I will have to take a shot at them over Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you so much for the comments, everyone. *hands you all a pastry of your choice*

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yum! I baked quite a bit yesterday. It's what you do on a snow day. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love baking! I also find it therapeutic! For the holiday season this year I've made the Christmas pudding, I've made a Christmas cake too which I'm in the process of decorating. I'm hoping to find time to make some chocolate truffles too for the family and as a couple of gifts. Oh yeah and I've made mince pies! I agree with everyone else your Brookies and Cheesecake brownies look absolutely divine!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, yummmy. Dark and delcious. :) I'm not a big baker, but the one thing I make every Christmas is a shortbread cookie---with only THREE ingredients (yup, right up my alley) and they are sooo good. But this recipe I think I'll show to my bakealicious daughter in the hopes that she'll make me some. :)

    ReplyDelete