Bake from Scratch May/June 2022

AMERICA, YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL As we begin the early days of summer, I’m reminded of childhood memories of school ending and summer vacations beginning. From road trips to the Alabama Gulf Coast to flying to Seattle, Washington, to tour the Boeing factory with my family, these trips prepared me for my future careers. During my years as a flight attendant, I had the pleasure of visiting all 50 states in the US. (Keep reading to find out which state was number 50!) I’ve always been drawn to the flavors that make each place, state, or region unique. When traveling, it’s important to slow down and veer off main street to find the authentic dishes that make each place so special. From pie in the Sitka, Alaska, airport (yes, a pie bakery in the…

RECIPE INDEX BARS AND COOKIES Black-and-White Cookies 65 Chocolate Wafers 26 Fannie Farmer Inspired Brownies 54 Ghorayeba 18 Grape Jelly-Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies 97 Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies 101 PB&J Mousse Bars 97 S’mores Chocolate Cheesecake Bars 11 BREADS Cinnamon Crunch Banana Bread 112 Cuban Bread 38 Hawaiian Rolls 89 Honey Buns 37 Milk-and-Cookies Sweet Rolls 106 PB&J Scones 93 Spinach and Onion Braided Loaf 5 CAKES Bumpy Cake 77 Chocolate Chip Cookie Layer Cake 103 Chocolate Wafer Icebox Cake 26 Citrus Chiffon Cake 88 Edna Lewis Blueberry Cake with Blueberry Sauce 57 Granny Kellett’s Jam Cake 51 Sugared Peanut Butter-Jam Cake 96 Turmeric Cake with Honey Buttercream 19 FROSTINGS, FILLINGS, GARNISHES, AND GLAZES Blueberry Sauce 58 Chocolate Chip Buttercream 103 Chocolate Chip Cookie Filling 106 Chocolate Ganache 66 Cinnamon Sugar Topping 112 Citrus Glaze 88 Dark Chocolate Ganache 102 Edible Cookie Dough 103 Fudge Frosting 78 Honey Glaze 38 Peanut Butter Frosting 96 Peanut Butter Glaze 93 Raspberry Filling 96 Thick Strawberry Jam 93 Vanilla Buttercream 78 MISCELLANEOUS Bananas Foster 74 Chocolate Ice…

J.K. ADAMS, CHILDREN’S BAKING SET Dorset, Vermont, since 1944 If your kids or grandkids love assisting in the kitchen, what better way to get them involved than with their own set of baking tools? Specially designed for small hands, the J.K. Adams Children’s Baking Set includes a child-size rolling pin, wooden spoon, and cutting board. Each piece is gorgeously handcrafted, comes with a lifetime warranty, and will bring a smile to the face of any aspiring baker or chef. There’s no better way to start passing down family recipes to your young ones. Available at jkadams.com, $62 FANCY SPRINKLES, SPRINKLE MVP SET Los Angeles, California, since 2016 There are sprinkles, and then there are Fancy Sprinkles. Whether you’re dressing up doughnuts, truffles, cakes, cookies, or more, these sprinkles are sure to be a stunner. Comprised of…

How would you describe your baking style? Amanda Saab: I love taking the traditional Lebanese flavors that my grandmother and mother taught me and combining them with all-American classics. That’s what I grew up with—the best of both cultures. I grew up watching the Food Network while my mom was in the kitchen making maamoul. This fusion of my two cultures through food has been a recurring theme throughout my life. What is a signature recipe you recommend for first-time visitors to Amanda’s Plate? AS: Last Eid, I made these Ashta Filled Creampuffs. It’s traditional pâte à choux but kind of an American-style, over-stuffed cream puff and filled with ashta, a Middle Eastern sweetened clotted cream. They’re a beautiful marriage of so many delicious cultures and a perfect representation of me. For bakers who…

Chemical thickeners are the secret assist to many sweet components, from the delicate wobble of a panna cotta to the velvety smoothness of lemon curd. Understanding how and why they work can help a baker unlock a great resource for creating unparalleled texture in their baked goods. Whether it’s the setting power of gelatin or the congealing magic of cornstarch, here’s a deep dive on your choices. First up, let’s investigate starch, most commonly used to thicken and stabilize custards, fruit curds, and fillings. The starch category includes cornstarch, tapioca starch, arrowroot, potato starch, and even plain-Jane flour. The magic of starch lies in its long, complex molecule chains, which expand when heated and don’t dissolve in liquid. These molecules absorb liquid and jumble together to help thicken the overall mixture.…

For many, this icebox cake serves up an instant hit of summertime nostalgia. It’s cool, creamy, and filled with cookies. Plus, it’s incredibly quick to pull together. Although you can opt to dress it up, the original Famous Icebox Cake—also known as the Famous Refrigerator Roll—consisted of only wafer cookies layered with lightly sweetened vanilla whipped cream or whipped topping that was then left to set in the icebox, or what we now call the refrigerator. Kept in the icebox overnight, the moisture and fat from the cream would be absorbed by the cookies, which would then turn soft and cake-like. It was the ultimate summertime dessert for the busy housewife, requiring no time in the oven and designed to be made the night before. Although versions of icebox cake existed…