Bake or Break

Chocolate Espresso Cookies

I must preface this post by saying that I am not a coffee fan. I have repeatedly thought through the years that I could develop a taste for it as I get older. Not so much.

Quinn, on the other hand, has become a believer over the last few years. So, these cookies are all about him. Other than a bite of cookie dough (to check consistency, of course!), I did not partake.

Cream Cheese and Oat Bars

View a printable recipe or more photos

I recently came across this recipe for at least the second time. I found it several months ago in an issue of Taste of the South and added it to my ever-growing stack of recipes to try. This past week, I found it again and felt the overwhelming need to make them as soon as possible.

Hummingbird Cupcakes

View a printable recipe or more photos

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.

Salted Fudge Brownies

View a printable recipe or more photos

I love a good brownie. To me, they offer one of the best returns on a time and effort investment in the baking world. There is usually no butter to soften, no sink full of dirty bowls, no long hours to wait for them to be ready to eat. You decide you want brownies? You can be eating them in under an hour with very little mess.

Hazelnut Cake

View a printable recipe or more photos

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.

Banana Bread Cobbler

View a printable recipe or more photos

Most bakers, even the occasional ones, have most likely made banana bread at least once. It's a simple thing to whip up, it's delicious, and it's a good use of very ripe bananas. The problem, at least to me, is that I get a little bored with it. I am always looking for variations to make it a tad different and more interesting.

Black-Bottom Coconut Bars

View a printable recipe or more photos

I found this recipe when I was searching for something to make for a friend's birthday treat. Luckily for me, that just happened to be a friend who loves coconut. I don't get many chances to bake with coconut, so I take every opportunity I get.

Peanut Butter Pie with Cookie Crust

View a printable recipe or more photos

Peanut butter and chocolate go together about as well as anything else I can think of in the food world. I've had a long-time love affair with that combination. There's nothing fancy about it, but it's just plain delicious. This pie is no exception.

Butter Pecan Cake

View a printable recipe or more photos

It's been a while since I had a non-chocolate recipe on BoB. Personally, I don't think there's any such thing as too much chocolate, but maybe variety isn't such a bad thing, either.

Chocolate-Caramel Bars

View a printable recipe or more photos

For those of you still keeping tabs on BoB, don't give up on me. I have not been able to bake and post with the frequency I'd like. I hope to remedy that as best I can.

Happy holidays, everyone!

These days, I'm all about quick and easy. The time of all-day baking sprees has passed. I take what baking time I can get. This recipe is a perfect example of making the most of very little time and few ingredients.