By: Valerie September 28, 2020December 3, 2020 Pies and Tartsfruits, pieLeave a Comment

Cooked Fruit Pie

What a weird time to be alive. In any case, baking keeps me sane and always makes me happy, so better keep calm and keep baking. As is known fact by now, I am not by any stretch of the imagination an expert at making pies. Regardless, at some point I would have to make this recipe anyways, so I finally decided to jump in and try to make this cooked fruit pie recipe. I don’t think I’ve ever made a pie where the fruit is cooked prior to baking, so I did not really know what to expect. I tried to use up what I had in my fridge and freezer, so I used a mixture of peaches, raspberries and blackberries.

By: Valerie May 23, 2020December 3, 2020 Cookies, Bars and Biscottichocolate, cookies, orange2 Comments

Chocolate-Dipped Orange Madeleine Cookies

As the weeks of quarantine are prolonged, my supply of flour is decreasing at an alarming rate. I have only a few more recipes’ worth of flour as there is a nation-wide shortage and I have been unable to get my hands on some, so I have to choose my last few bakes carefully. Of course I was looking for a little cookie or hand-held dessert to eat with tea in the evenings. And so came these chocolate-dipped madeleine cookies.

By: Valerie May 2, 2020December 3, 2020 Cakes and Cupcakescoconut, cupcake, spicesLeave a Comment

Spiced Coconut Cupcakes

I had been craving cupcakes since the beginning of the quarantine and had yet to bake some. Normally I would go for moist comforting chocolate cupcakes, but yesterday I decided to try something new and made these spiced coconut cupcakes. The spice blend for this recipe seemed interesting and I was quite curious about the black pepper. I don’t think I’ve ever used black pepper in a dessert recipe before! Turns out that it works very well indeed.

By: Valerie May 3, 2014December 4, 2020 Cookies, Bars and Biscottibrownies, chocolate, dairy-free, gluten-free6 Comments

Chewy Brownies

Some people are not as fortunate as others and are gluten-intolerant or even allergic. What made me grasp how much gluten is present is that whenever I bring baked goods to work, which is pretty often, a friend of mine who is gluten-intolerant can never eat anything I make. I told her I would make her a dessert that she could actually enjoy one day, so these chewy gluten-free brownies are for her.

By: Valerie June 17, 2013December 5, 2020 Cakes and Cupcakescake, carrot, cream cheese2 Comments

Autumn Carrot Wedding Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Father’s Day is coming up this weekend. That can only mean one thing: it’s time to make a cake! It felt good to get back into baking after taking a small break (I was moving and everything was packed!). My dad uncharacteristically and specifically mentioned that he would very much like for me to make him a carrot cake for the occasion. Who am I to refuse?

About Me

I am Valerie and I am a food lover at heart. Baking is my passion and I have always been interested in it. I remember using my Easy Bake oven when I was a young girl and making little cakes for my family.

Recipes

The collection of recipes from “Back to Baking”, from cookies to cakes to tarts and everything in between.

Flavours

Recipes categorized by their predominant flavours.

Caramel Soufflés

By: Valerie February 28, 2023March 5, 2023

Custards, Puddings and Souffléscaramel, gluten-free, soufflé4 Comments

This caramel soufflé tastes as I imagine a soufflé should taste: airy and light, with a subtle caramel flavour. It’s so airy it feels healthy. I think that should be the soufflé’s motto. The caramel aroma was lovely while eating this dessert.

Chocolate Peanut Pretzel Squares

By: Valerie April 19, 2022April 21, 2022

Cookies, Bars and Biscottibars, chocolate, peanuts, pretzel3 Comments

These chocolate peanut pretzel squares are very scrumptious, the perfect combination of sweet and salty, soft and crunchy. I had actually made it more than a month ago, but never got around to posting it. It was so good, however, that I had to make it again. Definitely a favourite.

Apple Cannoli Tart

By: Valerie October 14, 2021October 22, 2021

Pies and Tartsapples, cannoli, ricotta, tartLeave a Comment

I tried making this tart again after having failed the first time, and wasn’t sure what to think about it. I think I am not convinced by the combination of cheese, chocolate and apples, and did not find it sweet enough for my taste.

Morning Glory Yogurt Loaf

By: Valerie August 21, 2021October 2, 2021

Breads, Muffins and Sconescoconut, loaf, pineapple, raisins, yogurtLeave a Comment

I scoured through the cookbook to find a recipe that uses yogourt, and thus came upon this breakfast loaf. I had some reservations because of the raisins, as always, but was willing to try. I do like loaves because they’re so friendly to make.

Moist and Tender Pumpkin Muffins

By: Valerie July 28, 2021

Breads, Muffins and Sconeslow-fat, muffin, pumpkinLeave a Comment

These pumpkin muffins were fun to make, smelled really good and were indeed very moist and tender. I see why those two words are in the title of the recipe, they belong there. There is no two better words to describe these muffins.

Pecan Lace Cookies

By: Valerie June 22, 2021June 22, 2021

Cookies, Bars and Biscotticookies, cranberries, oats, pecansLeave a Comment

I wasn’t quite sure what lace cookies were and upon some investigating discovered that they are delicate and thin cookies with little holes in them due to how they spread out as they bake. Since I like pecans, oats and am getting used to the idea of dried cranberries, I thought it was worth a shot.

Egg-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

By: Valerie June 2, 2021June 2, 2021

Cookies, Bars and Biscottichocolate chip, cookies, egg-freeLeave a Comment

This recipe for egg-free chocolate chip cookies has intrigued me for a while because I don’t recall the last time, if ever, that I made cookies without eggs. I was very keen on trying and to see the results.

Applesauce Raisin Muffins

By: Valerie May 15, 2021

Breads, Muffins and Sconesapplesauce, dairy-free, egg-free, muffin, oats, raisinsLeave a Comment

I was really intrigued by this recipe not only because it contains no eggs nor dairy, which is impressive in itself, but by the fact that those components are replaced by applesauce! What a neat trick that I was very eager to try.

Iced Date Cake Squares

By: Valerie April 25, 2021April 25, 2021

Cakes and Cupcakes, Cookies, Bars and Biscottibars, cake, datesLeave a Comment

This recipe was fun and simple to make, and smelled really lovely while baking in the oven. I had a hard time choosing between describing this dessert as a cake or bars since they are eaten like bars but have more the texture of a cake, so I think they could be considered as “cakey” bars, if that makes sense. They were a very nice texture and enjoyable to eat.

Key Lime Pie

By: Valerie March 24, 2021April 25, 2021

Pies and Tartsdairy-free, egg-free, lime, pie, raspberryLeave a Comment

I only recently started liking tofu, and only extra firm, in my actual food, so far be it from me to ever consider putting it in dessert. Especially as a person who is very much sensitive to the texture of certain foods, I could not envision putting soft squishy tofu in something that is meant to be sweet and delectable.