Posts made in May, 2023

Bready or Not Original: Oatmeal Coconut Cookies

Posted by on May 31, 2023 in Blog, Bready or Not, breakfast, chocolate, cookies | Comments Off on Bready or Not Original: Oatmeal Coconut Cookies

These Oatmeal Coconut Cookies are super-chewy thanks to that combo. Plus, they aren’t super-sweet, which lets the chocolate shine through.

Bready or Not Original: Oatmeal Coconut Cookies

I love how old-fashioned these cookies look, like something I’d eat when I was a kid, with my grandma on a visit to friend’s house. There’s a certain level of heartiness and coziness to these cookies.

Bready or Not Original: Oatmeal Coconut Cookies

These cookies are quick to assemble, too. After posting some intricate recipes this month (I’m looking at you, Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart) it’s nice to share things are simple and good.

Bready or Not Original: Oatmeal Coconut Cookies

Bready or Not Original: Oatmeal Coconut Cookies

These extra-chewy, flat cookies aren't heavily sweet, which lets the chocolate really shine through. Makes about 27 cookies.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: chocolate, coconut, cookies, oats
Servings: 27 cookies
Author: Beth Cato

Equipment

  • parchment
  • tablespoon or tablespoon scoop
  • baking sheet

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick) room temperature
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon milk or half & half
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats also called old-fashioned oats
  • 1 cup chocolate chips semisweet, milk, dark, or a mix
  • 1 cup shredded coconut

Instructions

  • Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter and both sugars to create a creamy mix. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt; mix this into the butter bowl. Fold in the oats, chocolate chips. and coconut until everything is distributed.
  • Use a tablespoon to place scoops of dough spaced-out on the baking sheet; the cookies will spread.
  • Bake until the cookies are golden and set, about 11 to 13 minutes. Let them sit on pan for about 5 minutes before moving to a rack to fully cool. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.

OM NOM NOM!

    Read More

    Moving!

    Posted by on May 26, 2023 in Blog, public speaking, Thousand Recipes for Revenge | 2 comments

    I’m interrupting the usual flow of recipes and book news to bring you an important update: I am moving from scalding hot Arizona to the wintery wilds of Minnesota. That means you may see me at Twin Cities-area conventions and other Midwest gatherings in the coming years. Do you have a favorite? Are you involved with a convention or bookstore that’s looking for future guests? Well hey, drop a comment on this post, send an email via my contact form, reach out on social media–make a connection! (But also please understand if I’m slow to reply.)

    As this move is happening at the same time as the full release of A Thousand Recipes for Revenge, I’m also looking for people to keep an eye out for promotions I might miss while in-transit and unpacking. There might be ads on Goodreads or Kindles, recommendations from Amazon–all kinds of things! If you see something, please try to get a picture or screencap and send it my way! Thank you in advance.

    #SFWAPro

    Read More

    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!

      Read More

      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!

        Read More

        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!

          Read More