When I was a kid, apple picking was one of my favourite school field trips. I remember jumping off the yellow school bus, wearing an ill-fitting, bright-coloured pinny so everyone knew which group we were with, and running into the orchard, trees laden with bright red apples. You were allowed to fill up your bag…
Author: sarasbakingblog
Mom, writer, lover of all things chocolate
Salted Caramel & Dark Chocolate Cookies
I think salt is one of the most under-appreciated ingredients in baking. It serves several purposes in recipes — but its most magical function is its ability to enhance the depth and flavour of the other ingredients in your mixing bowl. Salt is especially important in sugar-heavy recipes, such as frostings, because it really helps…
Banana Muffins
I don’t know about you guys, but the struggle for me to get my kids to eat anything but toast with Nutella or sugary cereals for breakfast is very real. I’ve tried to be that perfect mom who makes stacks of pancakes and scrambled eggs, but the challenge to figure out what to put in…
Fig, Walnut & Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
This is a classed-up version of my Big and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies. The chopped up figs practically melt into these cookies as they bake, creating a sticky sweetness that pairs beautifully with the smoky molasses. The addition of dark chocolate adds even more sophistication to an otherwise humble cookie, while the walnuts add texture and…
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Brownies
This brownie recipe was born after I planted way too many zucchini plants in my tiny backyard garden. My dad warned me not to plant more than two; they’ll get very big, he said. I planted four. They seemed innocent enough until about mid-July when they turned into rampant monster plants that were taking over…
Our Favourite Zucchini Bread
I have a confession to make… I really don’t like zucchini. I’ve always found them to be pretty bland and watery. But that’s exactly what makes zucchini the perfect addition to baked goods. This is a veggie that will melt right into anything you bake, adding some much-needed moisture to breads and brownies, without adding…
Italian Hazelnut Cookies
Italy is one of the biggest producers of hazelnuts in the world. It’s no wonder this nut features quite prominently in many Italian desserts. This recipe is a hazelnut version of my Italian Almond Cookies. With their crunchy exterior and soft, tender centre, these cookies are perfect with your afternoon espresso. Ingredients: 1 cup sugar…
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble
Strawberries have always been my favourite fruit. I think this may have something to do with my early childhood obsession with Strawberry Shortcake. For my fifth birthday, I received a Strawberry Shortcake doll as a gift. She had strawberry blonde hair and a plastic face that smelled like strawberries. I spent hours combing that doll’s…
Strawberry Trifles
Strawberry season has arrived! I quickly snatched up a few pints of the first locally grown strawberries when I saw them on sale at the farmer’s market this week. I’m a big fan of trifles because they’re very easy to make and always look so pretty with all their colourful layers. This trifle can also…
Vanilla Rhubarb Muffins
Summer is my favourite season…and not just because of the warm weather. It’s also the time of year when my grocery bill is cut in half because I can get most of my produce from my father’s amazing garden. Today, my dad gave me a huge bag of rhubarb. I still remember the first time…
White Chocolate Chip Cookies
White chocolate is the underdog of the chocolate chip world, mainly because some (misguided) people think it’s not really chocolate. The main ingredient in white chocolate is cocoa butter, which is derived from the cocoa bean. So white chocolate IS chocolate. It’s also delicious in these fudgy cookies. Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup brown…
Fudgy Peanut Butter {Black Bean} Brownies
When I first started this blog I never imagined I’d be posting a recipe whose star ingredient is black beans. Believe it or not, Black Bean Brownies are the most popular recipe on my blog. Maybe it’s because they’re delicious, maybe it’s because we feel less guilty about eating the entire pan….who knows? I decided…
Sara’s Baking Blog 