Bake or Break

Pecan Upside-Down Cake

As soon as I saw this recipe in Taste of the South, I knew that it would make an appearance on this year’s Thanksgiving table. It has two big things going for it – pecans and simplicity.

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Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

I’ve never been a great fan of Spring. Living in the South, I knew all too well that it would last a few weeks, and then we’d be mired in Summer for what seemed like years. Since our move last fall to New York, though, it seems I’ve had a change of heart. I am actually excited about Spring! I stop on the streets and in the parks to take pictures of flowers and blooming trees. I have happily put away my scarves and boots until cooler weather.

This Easter, as I was basking in the early Spring-ness of New York, I decided that our meal should include something befitting of this beautiful season. In an unusual turn of events, I went with a non-chocolate dessert. You’re shocked, I know.

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake

One of my favorite bakeries is one I’ve never visited. I dream of going to Baked, but I haven’t made it there yet. Until I do, I console myself with making their recipes and mapping the best routes to Red Hook.

This recipe is from the Baked guys’ latest cookbook, Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented. I like to flag recipes I want to try in my cookbooks, and this one is spilling over with post-its.

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Double Nut Drenched Chocolate Cake

As many of you may know, Quinn and I made the big move to New York in October. Not surprisingly, I’ve had very little time for baking before or after the big day. As Thanksgiving approached, however, I knew that I would have to break my bake-less streak for our first New York holiday.

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Hummingbird Cupcakes

During our last trip to New York, we hit up the Cupcake Stop truck for an afternoon treat. I was surprised to find Hummingbird Cupcakes on their menu. For those of you unfamiliar with this particular cake, it is a fabulous Southern dessert that has been around for ages.

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Hazelnut Cake

Quinn’s birthday cake this year is a familiar theme: chocolate and hazelnut. That’s been the common factor of his birthday dessert for the last couple of years. I’m certainly not complaining because that is one of my favorite flavor combinations.

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