Fraisier

 

Fraisier, the classic French cake, was last month's Daring Bakers' challenge.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to participate due to some prior baking commitments, but I figured better late than never, right?

My interpretation of a fraisier is pastry cream and fresh strawberries layered between chiffon-style vanilla cake, topped with a cream cheese flavored whipped cream and finally covered with a fresh strawberry coulis. 

Blackberry and Strawberry Macarons

My cousin's hair salon, Hair Cuts Etc., celebrated its 10th anniversary over the weekend so she ordered some macarons for the party she was having.  Her only request was that they coordinate with the purple and dark pink color theme.  For the macaron flavors I decided to go with something fresh and fruity, blackberry and strawberry.

The last time I made macarons was back in February so I was definitely feeling a bit rusty.  Apparently the macaron gods could sense my trepidation because the first batch came out terrible - paper thin tops and they kept sticking to the baking sheet.  Ugh!  Into the compost bin they went.   You'd think that after making them for the past few years I'd know what I was doing.

Determined to not let another batch go to waste I kept at it.  Much to my relief the next trays came out as they should have.  Just goes to show that baking is as much about perseverance as it is about skill.

Number Sugar Cookies

As a follow-up to a prior post I wanted to share with you the cookie favors I made for my cousin's twin boys' first birthday.   I really like how these number sugar cookies turned out.  There were going to be girls as well as boys at the party so I kept the color palate primarily gender-neutral.  Unfortunately the twins couldn't enjoy the cookies but I think their guests did.

 

Happy Birthday Ethan & James!!!

Crumb Cake

So I went to my local Safeway recently as I was craving one of my favorite Hostess products, their delicious crumb cake.  Imagine my dismay when they were no where to be found on the supermarket shelf.  All they had were cinnamon streusel coffee cakes - so not the same thing.  

Oh well.  To console myself, and in homage to the store-bought classic, I made this homemade version.  With crumb cake it's all about the crumb.  And the crumb topping on  this cake is a delicious combination of butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon.  Nestled underneath is a moist and tender yellow cake.   Hmmm...all it's begging for is a cup of coffee or tea.

Although Hostess will always be the nostalgic favorite, this crumb cake comes pretty darn close to the original!