Bready or Not: Soft Lemon-Ginger Cookies Redux

Posted by on May 24, 2023 in Blog, Bready or Not, cookies, lemon | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Soft Lemon-Ginger Cookies Redux

Today we’re returning to a Soft Lemon-Ginger Cookies recipe I last featured in July 2017! Why let something delicious wallow in the archives, right?

Bready or Not: Soft Lemon-Ginger Cookies Redux

This is a great dough to make hours or days ahead; just stash it in the fridge until baking time. Coolness also makes the sticky dough easier to work with.

Bready or Not: Soft Lemon-Ginger Cookies Redux

The lemon brings in a fresh element, while the ginger delivers the right amount of heat. These are sweet and refreshing cookies overall.

Bready or Not: Soft Lemon-Ginger Cookies Redux

The one modification I made in this redux is that you can use sour cream or Greek yogurt. Both products contribute moisture, fat, and acid.

Bready or Not: Soft Lemon-Ginger Cookies Redux

These soft cookies taste deliciously fresh thanks to the combined forces of lemon and ginger! The dough can be made hours or even a day ahead and kept wrapped in the fridge, too. It’s unknown how long they keep after baking–they tend to vanish rather quickly. Modified from Taste of Home.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: cookies, lemon
Author: Beth Cato

Equipment

  • teaspoon scoop or teaspoon

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick) softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 egg
  • 3 Tablespoons sour cream or vanilla or plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • If baking right away, preheat oven at 350-degrees.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix together the butter and brown sugar until they gain a fluffy texture. Beat in the egg, sour cream or yogurt, and extracts.
  • In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, ginger, and salt; make sure to press any lumps out of the cream of tartar and ginger. Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the other bowl. At this point, the dough can be wrapped and chilled for a few hours or days; this will also reduce the dough's stickiness somewhat.
  • When it is baking time, be sure to preheat the oven. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cookies are lightly browned and no longer jiggly. Watch out–they can overbake quickly. Let them rest on the cookie sheet for just a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool.

OM NOM NOM!

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    Bready or Not: Golden Syrup Brownies

    Posted by on May 17, 2023 in Blog, Bready or Not, british, brownies, chocolate, fudge | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Golden Syrup Brownies

    I’ve made a lot of brownies that I’ve shared here on Bready or Not, but these Golden Syrup Brownies are the fudgiest I’ve ever made.

    Bready or Not: Golden Syrup Brownies

    Seriously, they are good but they are dense and rich. I highly recommend cutting these things small, just as one does with fudge.

    Bready or Not: Golden Syrup Brownies

    Golden Syrup and coarse sugar are what set these brownies apart. I used Lyle’s Golden Syrup, the original version, imported from the UK. Sometimes you’ll see honey and light corn syrup mentioned as American substitutes; if you want to go that route, split them half and half, but it still won’t be the same as Lyle’s.

    Bready or Not: Golden Syrup Brownies

    As for the coarse sugar, the original recipe printed in Bake from Scratch called for unrefined light muscovado, but I used a mix of demerara and turbinado. Hence my general recommendation for coarse sugar.

    This recipe will keep for weeks in the fridge, have you the fortitude!

    Bready or Not: Golden Syrup Brownies

    These super-fudgy brownies use golden syrup, which is a British ingredient. I recommend Lyle’s Original Golden Syrup, which can be found in the import section of many American grocery stores. Note that these brownies need to chill for hours or overnight before eating. Modified from Bake from Scratch Magazine Sept/Oct 2019.
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: British
    Keyword: bars, brownies, chocolate, fudge
    Author: Beth Cato

    Equipment

    • 9×9 pan
    • aluminum foil
    • nonstick spray
    • fine mesh sieve

    Ingredients

    • 1 1/2 cups plus 2 teaspoons coarse sugar such as turbinado and demerara
    • 14 Tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 4 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons golden syrup
    • 1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chopped or in chips
    • 6 large eggs room temperature
    • 2/3 cups plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven at 325-degrees. Line a 9-inch square pan with foil and apply nonstick spray.
    • In a large saucepan, heat the coarse sugar, butter, and golden syrup over medium heat until the mixture is smooth and bubbly, around 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and add the chocolate. Stir until everything is melted. Let cool for a bit.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Strain them through a fine mesh sieve into the batter. Stir everything to incorporate. Add flour, stirring until no white streaks remain. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Tap it on the counter a few times to knock bubbles free and level the batter.
    • Bake until brownies are set with the center still moist, about 45 minutes. It’s okay if they look slightly underdone. Let pan cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
    • Use foil to lift contents onto a cutting board. Use a large knife to cut brownies into small squares. If the brownies stick to the knife, wipe it clean after each pass and dip the blade in hot water before each cut. Store brownies in a sealed container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze for longer.

    OM NOM NOM!

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      Bready or Not Original: Date Drop Cookies

      Posted by on May 10, 2023 in Blog, Bready or Not, cookies | Comments Off on Bready or Not Original: Date Drop Cookies

      If you’re in need of a old-fashioned homey cookie, these Date Drop Cookies may be just what you need.

      Bready or Not Original: Date Drop Cookies

      They won’t win any awards in the looks department, but you know what? They are GOOD. Quite similar to a soft, chewy oatmeal cookies, but with chopped dates instead of raisins.

      Bready or Not Original: Date Drop Cookies

      I used kitchen shears to chop up dates from a big container from Costco. If you use pre-cut dates, such as from a bin, those will be good in this recipe, albeit a not quite as soft.

      Bready or Not Original: Date Drop Cookies

      These should keep for at least a few days in a sealed container at room temperature.

      Bready or Not Original: Date Drop Cookies

      These are similar to a chewy oatmeal cookies, but with dates rather than raisins. They are incredibly pleasant and homey.
      Course: Dessert, Snack
      Keyword: cookies, dates
      Servings: 55
      Author: Beth Cato

      Equipment

      • parchment paper
      • teaspoon or teaspoon scoop

      Ingredients

      • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick) softened
      • 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
      • 2 eggs room temperature
      • 1/4 cup milk or half & half
      • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
      • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
      • 1 teaspoon baking powder
      • 1/4 teaspoon salt
      • 1 cup quick oats
      • 1 cup chopped dates
      • 3/4 cups chopped walnuts

      Instructions

      • Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
      • In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar. Beat in the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Fold in the oats, dates, and walnuts.
      • Using a teaspoon or teaspoon scoop, place round dollops of dough spaced out on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until cookies are set. Transfer them to a rack to completely cool. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.

      OM NOM NOM!

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        Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

        Posted by on May 3, 2023 in apples, Blog, Bready or Not, breakfast, cake, cheese galore, yeast bread | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

        This Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart isn’t a beginner’s recipe, I’ll say that straight up. There are gobs of steps, multiple rise times, lots of dirty dishes. But the result? Wow.

        Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

        This is really a show-stopper kind of bread for a dessert, breakfast, or brunch. You have an enriched bread with a creamy, rich filling topped with spiced apples.

        Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

        We had to test the best ways to eat the leftovers, too. The tart is fantastic fresh. Because of the creamed cheese, it needs to be stored in the fridge–but it’s thick and cloggy if eaten cold.

        Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

        However, heating it in the toaster oven doesn’t work–the cream cheese will melt off! Like Goldilocks, we eventually found the “just right.” It was a quick zap in the microwave, maybe 15-20 seconds depending on your machine. Enough to take the chill off without making it hot.

        The things we bakers must do for science and the good of the people…

        Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

        There’s no denying that this is a complicated, time-consuming recipe, but the results are delicious and beautiful to behold. Modified from Red Star Yeast, and uses their Platinum Yeast.
        Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
        Keyword: apple, cheese, cream cheese, yeast bread
        Author: Beth Cato

        Equipment

        • rimmed baking sheet
        • 9-inch springform pan
        • parchment paper
        • stand mixer with paddle and dough hook
        • nonstick spray with flour
        • pastry brush
        • uneven spatula
        • instant read thermometer

        Ingredients

        Apples

        • 2 cups apples peeled then sliced to 1/4-inch, about 1 1/2 medium apples (Honeycrisp recommended)
        • 1 Tablespoon white sugar
        • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
        • 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice

        Dough

        • 2 cups all-purpose flour divided
        • 1 1/2 Tablespoons white sugar
        • 1 1/2 Tablespoons light brown sugar packed
        • 1 0.25oz package Platinum Yeast
        • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
        • 1/4 cup milk or half & half, warmed to 120-F to 130-F
        • 2 large eggs room temperature
        • 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
        • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened

        Filling

        • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened
        • 3 Tablespoons white sugar
        • 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
        • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
        • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
        • 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice
        • 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
        • 1 large egg room temperature
        • 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

        Topping

        • 1 large egg for egg wash
        • 1 Tablespoon water for egg wash
        • Swedish pearl sugar for sprinkling

        Instructions

        • Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
        • Prepare the sliced apples by using a large bowl to stir them with sugar, lemon juice, and pie spice. Let the mixture stand for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spread apple mixture in an even layer on prepared pan.
        • Bake the apples until they are fork-tender and have released significant moisture, 12 to 16 minutes. Rotate the pan and stir halfway through. The apples should reduce in size slightly but retain their shape. Let the apples cool while continuing with other stages. Also, turn off the oven, as it won’t be needed for a while.
        • Begin the dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 1/2 cup flour, white sugar, brown sugar, yeast, and salt at medium-low speed. Add the warm milk, eggs, and vanilla, beating everything on medium about 2 minutes until it’s combined. Scrape the bottom and sides of bowl a few times. Gradually add the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour.
        • Switch to the dough hook attachment. Beat at low speed until dough is smooth and elastic. It should start to pull away from sides of bowl. This will be around 6 to 9 minutes.
        • Add the softened butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. This will take 6 to 8 minutes total. Scrape the sides of bowl and dough hook as needed. If the dough looks slightly broken during this stage, that's okay–keeping beating it and it'll come back together.
        • Increase mixer speed to medium-low and beat until a smooth, elastic dough forms, about 6 minutes.
        • Turn out dough onto a clean surface and knead 4 to 5 times. Shape into a smooth round. Place dough in a large ungreased bowl. (At this stage, the dough could be covered and placed in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.) Cover it and place it in a warm spot until it doubles in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
        • Cut a piece of parchment to fit in the base of a springform pan. Apply nonstick spray with flour in pan. Add cut paper. Spray again to coat paper and sides.
        • Punch down dough, then cover it and let it rest for about 10 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into an 11-inch circle. Use the bottom of the springform pan to poke a 9-inch circle in the middle of the dough. Fold and press outside edges inward to create a crimped edge. Lift the dough to place it in the prepared pan. Press dough to make sure it fills the bottom. Crimp and secure the edges again if needed. Cover and let rise again in a warm place for 25 minutes. Dough should be puffed and hold an indentation when it’s poked.
        • Preheat oven to 325-degrees.
        • Now make the filling. In the clean bowl of the stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, and pie spice at medium speed. Gradually add the cream cheese, beating until smooth. Add egg, beating until combined, then add the flour. Scrape the bowl to make sure everything is mixed.
        • Use your fingertips to dimple center of dough back down, leaving outside crust higher and puffed. Crimp and secure edges if necessary, and press out any air bubbles if you see them.
        • Spoon and spread cream cheese mixture in an even layer in center of dough. Arrange the sliced apples slightly overlapping in two concentric circles. (You may have leftover slices. Eat’em on their own!)
        • In a small bowl, whisk together egg and water. Brush outer edge of dough with egg wash. Sprinkle pearl sugar along the crust.
        • Bake for 20 minutes. Rotate pan. If the crust is browning, cover it with foil. Bake for another 25 to 28 minutes. When the tart is done, the crust will be golden brown. The filling should be set around outside edges and slightly jiggly in center. An instant-read thermometer inserted in center should register at least 175-degrees.
        • Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Using a small offset spatula, loosen edges of bread. Remove sides of springform pan. Let cool completely on pan base on a wire rack.
        • The tart can be enjoyed fresh after it cools. Leftovers should be stored in the fridge, but will be cloggy if eaten chilled. It’s best warmed with a short zap in the microwave, about 15-20 seconds; if it’s made too hot, the cream cheese melts! Leftovers can also be individually wrapped and frozen for later. Thaw in fridge.

        OM NOM NOM!

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