What did you bake today ? OK if not from scratch

[PollyannaMom]

My son requested “fancy” fall sugar cookies so that’s what I worked on today. I also signed up for a monthly cookie tutorial box and received the starter box the other day. So I gave those a try as well.

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Those look amazing!

 

[SirDuff]

I want to make cupcakes to bring into work for Thanksgiving but I don't usually pipe icing (I just kind of smush it on). I decided to practice...my cupcakes look like poop emojis (so I went with it and added little happy faces). I sent a picture to a friend and for the rest of the day kept getting texts saying "I just thought of your cupcakes again...I'm laughing so hard that I'm crying". Apparently, according to her, I have many talents but piping is not one of them

 

[ronandannette]

Brownies from a boxed mix. Duncan Hines. Only 99c on sale. They are decent enough.

I only ever make homemade brownies if I need them in short order and don't have a box on hand. After trying many different recipes (cocoa based and melted bakers chocolate) I honestly can't do much better than a mix and don't see the point in trying. Same with cake for the most part. It takes a lot of effort to make a cake from scratch that's better than a mix so if I just need a plain one (white cake, yellow cake, devil's food or whatever) it's always from a box. Other special types are a different situation and worth the effort.

BTW, what were you doing up at 4:27 am thinking about brownies? Late night or early morning?

 

[RedAngie]

I only ever make homemade brownies if I need them in short order and don't have a box on hand. After trying many different recipes (cocoa based and melted bakers chocolate) I honestly can't do much better than a mix and don't see the point in trying. Same with cake for the most part. It takes a lot of effort to make a cake from scratch that's better than a mix so if I just need a plain one (white cake, yellow cake, devil's food or whatever) it's always from a box. Other special types are a different situation and worth the effort.

BTW, what were you doing up at 4:27 am thinking about brownies? Late night or early morning?

It was 6:27 am my time when I posted. I baked them about 8 pm EDT on Saturday. I don’t know why I was awake so early on a Sunday. I got up maybe 5:45.

I’ve made brownies from scratch in the past, but the mix is easier. I usually buy the so-called premium mixes, but I figured I’d try Duncan Hines plain for 99 cents. They’re good, not great. Quite acceptable.

By the way, this may be sacrilege, but I do NOT like the edges of brownies. I cut away about 1/2 inch from them. Today I tossed the edges outside for the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, or whatever. I hope cocoa/ chocolate is OK for them.

 

[SirDuff]

It was 6:27 am my time when I posted. I baked them about 8 pm EDT on Saturday. I don’t know why I was awake so early on a Sunday. I got up maybe 5:45.

I’ve made brownies from scratch in the past, but the mix is easier. I usually buy the so-called premium mixes, but I figured I’d try Duncan Hines plain for 99 cents. They’re good, not great. Quite acceptable.

By the way, this may be sacrilege, but I do NOT like the edges of brownies. I cut away about 1/2 inch from them. Today I tossed the edges outside for the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, or whatever. I hope cocoa/ chocolate is OK for them.

YES - I totally don't get those pans that make every piece an edge.

I rarely use mixes mainly because (a) where I currently live they are expensive/hard to find and (b) I have "go to" recipes that really are no harder than box mixes and (to me) tastier and will fewer weird ingredients.

 

[Princessclab]

Another person here that does not like the edges of brownies....

Made lasagna and apple crisp last evening. It is National Pasta Day so we will have leftovers. Lasagna is pretty tasty the second day, JMHO.
Yum, love both!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Count me in on middle pieces for brownies!

 

[nene0182]

By the way, this may be sacrilege, but I do NOT like the edges of brownies. I cut away about 1/2 inch from them. Today I tossed the edges outside for the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, or whatever. I hope cocoa/ chocolate is OK for them.

I don’t like the edges either.

 

[disneyfanatic.60]

I made a sour cream coffee cake. Yum. It is something I bake often and so did my Mom. I also made, though it is not a baked good, a huge pot of beef stew. I make mine in a low oven simmering almost all day. Perfect for a cold fall day.

 

[ronandannette]

YES - I totally don't get those pans that make every piece an edge.

I rarely use mixes mainly because (a) where I currently live they are expensive/hard to find and (b) I have "go to" recipes that really are no harder than box mixes and (to me) tastier and will fewer weird ingredients.

If you have recipes as easy as dumping the package in a bowl and beating in eggs and oil, PLEASE give them to me. I'd love to be able to claim all my stuff is scratch-baked but not enough to go to any extra trouble.

 

[PollyannaMom]

If you have recipes as easy as dumping the package in a bowl and beating in eggs and oil, PLEASE give them to me. I'd love to be able to claim all my stuff is scratch-baked but not enough to go to any extra trouble.

I've seen some recipes - like this - where you make you own mix ahead of time, and then just add egg and oil (and in this one, it looks like a bit of vanilla) when you want to bake them.

 

[Figment of Speech]

I baked calzones today. This includes making the dough from a pizza dough recipe. You know you're baking for real when there's rising yeast involved.

 

[mmouse37]

On Friday I baked 144 Apple Cider Donuts for a drive-by baby shower. I had all the dry ingredients prepped and in mason jars. The sugars were prepped in ziploc bags. All I had to do for the batter was add eggs, butter, apple cider, vanilla and buttermilk. It was 8 batches of 18 donuts to a batch. Two donuts in each box.

Started at 7:30 am and finished at 3:00 pm. I think I am done baking for a bit.

 

[izzy]

If you have recipes as easy as dumping the package in a bowl and beating in eggs and oil, PLEASE give them to me. I'd love to be able to claim all my stuff is scratch-baked but not enough to go to any extra trouble.

Repeat after me “If I have to turn the oven on, I consider it homemade.” A philosophy that has worked well for me over the years.

 

[mumto3girls]

YES - I totally don't get those pans that make every piece an edge.

The first time I saw those pans was on Oprah—I think it might have been one of her Favorite Things one year. She was raving about all the edges and up until that point I never knew there were people that preferred that part. In my house the edges are always last to go and I think that was true in the house I grew up in as well. Everyone wants the center pieces—the fewer edges the better.

 

[mom2rtk]

It was 6:27 am my time when I posted. I baked them about 8 pm EDT on Saturday. I don’t know why I was awake so early on a Sunday. I got up maybe 5:45.

I’ve made brownies from scratch in the past, but the mix is easier. I usually buy the so-called premium mixes, but I figured I’d try Duncan Hines plain for 99 cents. They’re good, not great. Quite acceptable.

By the way, this may be sacrilege, but I do NOT like the edges of brownies. I cut away about 1/2 inch from them. Today I tossed the edges outside for the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, or whatever. I hope cocoa/ chocolate is OK for them.

Hah! I'm an edge person. Thankfully my daughter is a middle person. We are perfectly matched brownie buddies.

 

[Buzz Rules]

It’s a cold Autumn day, so I’m making this with baked sweet potatoes instead of squash and using some paprika, ginger and all spice instead of turmeric and cumin (our family are not big fans of those two spices).

 

[mmouse37]

Hi everyone on this thread. It's been awhile but I'm jumping in here because I'm putting together a "baking" theme basket for a niece's bridal shower. The big gift is a hand mixer with several accessories. But I would love fun "little" suggestions to add to the basket. I already thought of a couple of cooking ingredients like flour, sugar, and brown sugar.......and of course chocolate chips. And helpful hints would be gratefully appreciated. :

I just love using these silicone baking mats........makes clean up very easy!!! I use for both savory and sweet cooking and baking.

Amazon.com: DI ORO Pro 1mm Silicone Baking Mats - Nonstick Silicone Baking Sheet Liners - 480°F Heat Resistant - 16 1/2" × 11 5/8" Half Sheet - Food Grade, BPA Free, LFGB Certified Silicone - Easy to Clean (2-PC): Home & Kitchen

They roll up and are held in place with a neat little "snap bracelet" that is included.

 

[mmouse37]

Please share your recipe! I'm thinking these could be frozen for later use.?.?

Sorry, just saw this now.....I did try freezing the donuts before I dredged them in the cinnamon and sugar. They were a bit gummy as they were defrosting but after dredging them in the Cinnamon and sugar they were fine.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Batter:
2 cups/250 grams all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
10 tablespoons/140 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup/165 grams light brown sugar
1/4 cup/50 grams granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup apple cider

Topping:
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar or more if needed
2 tablespoon cinnamon or more to taste

PREPARATION

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 (6-cavity) doughnut pans with nonstick spray. In a medium bowl, add flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon and clove and whisk to combine. Set aside.In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream 10 tablespoons butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until well incorporated after each addition, scraping the bowl as necessary. Beat in the vanilla extract and buttermilk.

Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated. With the mixer running, add the apple cider in a slow, steady stream and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl to make sure no flour remains.

Use a disposable piping bag or a ziploc plastic bag with a 1/2-inch opening cut from one corner. I use the large piping bag and large tip from Pampered Chef. If using a piping bag squeeze two turns around each cavity. You can also spoon batter into pans filling 2/3 full. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the thickest portion comes out clean, 12 to 14 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through baking.


While the doughnuts bake, whisk together the granulated sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, melt the butter in the microwave. Let the doughnuts cool for about 5 minutes after baking, then unmold them from the pans. Brush entire donut with melted butter and dredge in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Best when served immediately but still pretty darn good anytime! Makes 18 donuts.

 

[Meriweather]

meatloaf is in the oven. DH is on soft diet after oral surgery. He is looking forward to it since all last week was "mushy" diet.