Chef's Notes Plus

Fruit Powders for Colorful Fruit-Flavored Desserts

You probably buy fresh fruit, and you may love the sweet and chewy dried fruits—but do you ever buy freeze-dried fruit? Unlike chewy dried cranberries and apricots, freeze-dried fruit is crisp and crunchy with an ultra-concentrated flavor. They are a great snack, but we love them for their baking and […]

Cookies

Gingerbread

Makes enough for 1 gingerbread house or about 3 dozen cookies, depending on size This is a very mild gingerbread dough, great for kids and those who don’t typically love molasses-heavy gingerbread. You can use this recipe to make a decorated house or any shape cookie you like. Ingredients Flourless […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Holiday Hygge

If there has ever been a time to embrace the Scandinavian concept of “hygge,” now is certainly it. Hygge, pronounced hue-gah, is a Danish word that generally means cozy, intimate, or special, and it is used to identify small moments of comfort and contentment in the everyday. It can’t be […]

Cookies

Iced and Spiced Brown Sugar Cookies

Makes about 3 dozen cookies, depending on the size of the cutter These lightly spiced brown sugar cookies are just the thing for your Pinterest-worthy Halloween (or Thanksgiving!) party. Easy to make, easy to glaze, and even easier to enjoy, they’ll look perfect on a platter alongside warm mulled cider […]

Cookies, Family Fun, Free Recipes

Linzer Cookies

Makes about 3 dozen cookies Ingredients 3/4 lb (3 sticks) unsalted butter 1 1/4 cups sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch salt 2 eggs 3 cups cake flour 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 cups fine cake crumbs or plain dry bread crumbs 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 1/2 cups […]

Family Fun

Make Rugelach at Home for a Hanukkah Treat

Rugelach are the perfect little treat to have any day of the year, but they are a must-have at Hanukkah! Cookies made by rolling dough around a slightly-sweet filling like jam, chocolate, or even poppy seeds, rugelach are a favorite Jewish tradition. And what’s even better is that these cookies […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Making Cheesecake

Deliciously dense cheesecake is a cross between custard, pie, and cake. It can seem troublesome—from cracking tops to dry crusts—but with a great recipe (we happen to like ours quite a bit!) and some patience, you can make a perfect cheesecake each time. 1. Making a crumb crust Crumb crusts […]

Cookies

Mudslide Cookies

Makes 24 large cookies Ingredients 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon powdered instant coffee 1 tablespoon boiling water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 7 oz unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped 6 oz bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted […]

Cookies

Orange, Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Biscotti

Makes 24 cookies Ingredients 3 cups bread flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 5 eggs 1 1/4 cups sugar 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 1/4 cups chopped macadamia nuts 1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest 1/2 cup melted chocolate, for drizzling (optional) Directions Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Sift […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Our Christmas Cookie Must-Haves

A person’s Christmas cookie plate is very personal, but we believe the perfect plate of holiday cookies contains representatives from all of the major cookie groups: chocolate, fruity, nutty, shortbread, and spice. These categories are broad with plenty of room for interpretation, but if you hit each one, you’re sure […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Our Favorite Holiday Cookies

There’s a lot to love about the holidays, but cookies are pretty high on the list. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite cookie recipes to help inspire your baking. Remember that nearly all cookies are great for freezing, whether in baked or raw dough form, so get a […]