Hello peeps and welcome to the V-day edition of my bi-weekly *free* newsletter. January was pretty quiet (ish) and I’m thinking February might be more of the same. I mean, yes, my baking podcast, She’s My Cherry Pie, is back for a second year - and that did make January - and will make February - super special. Particularly because I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Sally McKenney of Sally’s Baking Addiction for the pod last week.
If you are not familiar with Sally and her blog and you like to bake, you might live under a rock - I’m not sure. Joke, peeps, joke. But seriously: Sally’s baking blog is so popular that if you google almost any baked good: coconut cake, cinnamon bun, pumpkin pie, etc., Sally’s recipe will be the first one that Google shows you. See below, if you don’t believe me.
Sally and I are “instagram friends,” meaning we follow each other, but I had never had the pleasure of actually speaking with her and I just adored her and our convo. She is down to earth and smart and humble and creative and (obvs) an incredible baker, business woman and all round good time. Can’t wait for you all to hear the episode (and, spoiler alert: we talk about cinnamon buns . . . ). Oh, and if you kind of like baking (which I am thinking you do . . .) I’d be terribly remiss if I did not encourage you to subscribe to SMCP (so you can listen to my Sally episode and more), if you have not already done so.
In addition to chatting to Sally, and others, I am also editing the second pass of my easy peasy savory baking book right now (I mean not like right now, cause I am writing to you - but I was like a few hours ago). I actually captured a page of the document below - where you can see the yellow block on my hand (which indicates I left a comment on the photo) and then you can see how the changes I’ve made are in a list on the right - just so you can feel like you’re right here with me, editing away . . .
Alright, enough about me, let’s talk about YOU - or, rather, let’s give you what you’re here for: recipes. Now, these ones happen to be V-Day related, as Feb 14th is fast approaching, and if you celebrate, I’ve got you covered. But guess what: if you don’t celebrate,, I’ve still got you covered cause these three cuties are truly great any day/time of the year. So, here we go. For a fab way to say good morning to your valentine, your galentine or just your sweets-loving self, I think you might really dig my extra crumb snacking cake from Snackable Bakes.
With vegetable oil to keep it super moist and sour cream for tenderness, this cake is already “extra.” So in fact, the extra generous crumb topping (which gives the cake its name), really makes this beauty extra extra IMHO. Moreover, she’s a one-bowl kind of girl and a slice is just about the perfect way to start the day (be it V-day or a random Tuesday). Once lunchtime rolls around, on the other hand, it is time to put away your cake and eat a quick salad, cause it’s cookie time, sparkly cream cheese stuffed red velvet cookies to be exact.
These cuties scream Valentine’s day due to their bright red color and sparkly texture (yes sparkles and V-day go together); and, they are deeply chocolatey, and fudgy, with a tangy, slightly sweetened cream cheese middle that just brings all the peeps to the lunch time party. Oh, and the whole delicious (and, yes, festive) package could not be easier to assemble. And did I mention you only need one bowl? Well, you do and you’re welcome. After lunch, you’re right: it is time to think about what you’ll be serving your lover, friend, neighbor, brother, child, self, etc. post-dinner, and I’m thinking that maybe my easiest chocolate mousse cake is exactly what fits the Feb 14th bill.
This showstopper dessert does has several components (a chewy cocoa brownie base, studded with hazelnuts for crunch, an airy mousse middle that does not require gelatin or egg whites to set it, and is studded with raspberries, to boot, and a whipped cream top) but I promise it is not complicated or time-consuming. In short, peeps, I literally cannot even think of a day that’s going to be any sweeter than one that starts with extra crumb snacking cake, transitions into cream cheese stuffed red velvet cookies and ends with mousse cake. Can you?
See you in 2 weeks, pals.
Anything One Bowl is for me! Hoping your St. Valentines Day is full of love and fun.
Sheila Moreno 💐💕
Thank you for introducing me to SMCP, I can’t wait to listen to Sally’s episode and make my way through the back catalogue. I’m also really looking forward to making your showstopper cake, what could be better than brownie, mousse and whipped cream?