White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

This showstopping cheesecake is topped with a pile of jewel-like glazed raspberries, a tart contrast to the sweet white chocolate filling. Create your own customized cheesecake recipe with our Recipe Maker.

For the crust:

• 8 oz. vanilla wafers, finely crushed (2 cups of crumbs)
• 3 Tbs. granulated sugar
• 7 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

• 3 8-oz. packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 8 oz. white chocolate, melted and cooled
• 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• Table salt
• 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3 Tbs. Chambord
• 1 Tbs. pure vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature

For the topping:

• 4 cups fresh raspberries
• 1/4 cup seedless raspberry or red currant jam

Make the crust:

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 375°F.


In a medium bowl, stir together the vanilla wafer crumbs and 3 Tbs. granulated sugar. Mix in the melted butter until the crumbs are evenly moist and clump together slightly. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch springform pan and press evenly onto the bottom and about 2 inches up the sides of the pan (to press, use plastic wrap or a flat-bottom measuring cup). Bake until the crust is fragrant and slightly darkened, 9 to 12 minutes. Let the pan cool on a rack. Lower the oven temperature to 300°F.

Fill and bake the cheesecake:

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, melted white chocolate, flour, and a pinch of table salt on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl and the paddle frequently, until very smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Make sure the cheese has no lumps. Add the 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar and continue beating until well blended and smooth.


Add the Chambord and vanilla, and beat until blended, about 30 seconds. Add the eggs one at a time, beating just until blended. (Don’t overbeat once the eggs have been added or the cheesecake will puff too much and crack as it cools.) Pour the filling into the cooled crust and smooth the top.


Bake at 300°F until the center jiggles like Jell-O when nudged, 55 to 65 minutes. The cake will be slightly puffed around the edges, and the center will still look moist. Set on a rack and cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 8 hours and up to 3 days. The cake can also be frozen at this point for up to 1 month (see make-ahead tip, below).

Top and serve:

Unclasp and remove the side of the springform pan and run a long, thin metal spatula under the bottom crust. Carefully slide the cake onto a flat serving plate. Arrange the raspberries on top of the cake. To glaze the berries, heat the jam in a small saucepan with 1 Tbs. water, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth; strain. Brush the raspberries with the melted jam mixture.


To cut, run a thin knife under hot water, wipe it dry, and cut the cake into slices, heating and wiping the knife after every slice.

Chocolate French Toast Sandwiches

Need dessert quick? Check your pantry, because you're likely to have everything on the list for this delicious twist on French toast.

• 4 slices white sandwich bread (like Pepperidge Farm sandwich bread), fresh or slightly stale 
• 1-1/2 to 2 oz. good-quality semisweet chocolate (preferably from a thin bar)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 Tbs. granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 2 Tbs. unsalted butter
• Confectioners’ sugar

Cut each piece of bread into four triangles by slicing diagonally. Cut or break the chocolate into 8 pieces, roughly the same triangle shape as the bread pieces but slightly smaller by at least 1/4 inch all the way around.

In a medium bowl, vigorously whisk together the eggs and sugar until well combined. Add the half-and-half, vanilla, and salt and whisk until combined. Put the bread pieces in the bowl and press down gently to make sure they’re all soaked.

Heat 1 Tbs. of the butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. When the butter is melted and sizzling, add half of the bread pieces in one layer, leaving a little space between each. Cook until nicely browned, about 2 min. Turn each piece over with a spatula and cook until the other side is nicely browned, 1-1/2 to 2 min. Transfer the bread pieces to a plate lined with paper towels and take the skillet off the heat. Put a triangle of chocolate on half of the bread pieces, and top each with another piece of bread (save the best-looking pieces for the tops). Let them sit while you return the pan to the heat, melt the remaining 1 Tbs. butter, cook the remaining bread, and fill it with the remaining chocolate. When all the chocolate sandwiches are made, arrange two, overlapping slightly, on each of four plates. Sprinkle the confectioners’ sugar generously over all and serve warm.

Lavender Vanilla Ice Cream

Dried lavender adds a soft, floral note to classic vanilla ice cream. You can also create your own ice cream flavor with the Recipe Maker.

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• Table salt
• 2 Tbs. dried lavender flowers 
• 5 large egg yolks
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan, mix 1 cup of the cream with the milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Warm the cream mixture over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and tiny bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan, 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir in the lavender. Cover, remove from the heat, and let sit for 1 hour. Taste and let sit longer if you want a stronger flavor.

Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with several inches of ice water. Set a smaller metal bowl (one that holds at least 1-1/2 quarts) in the ice water. Pour the remaining cup of cream into the inner bowl (this helps the custard cool quicker when you pour it in later). Set a fine strainer on top. Whisk the egg yolks in a medium bowl.

Rewarm the cream mixture over medium-high heat until tiny bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan, 1 to 2 minutes. In a steady stream, pour half of the warm cream mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from curdling.

Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom with a heatproof rubber spatula until the custard thickens slightly (it should be thick enough to coat the spatula and hold a line drawn through it with a finger), 4 to 8 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should read 175° to 180°F at this point. Don’t let the sauce overheat or boil, or it will curdle. Immediately strain the custard into the cold cream in the ice bath. Press firmly on the lavender in the strainer with the spatula to extract as much flavor as possible.

Cool the custard to below 70°F by stirring it over the ice bath. Stir the vanilla extract into the cooled custard.

Refrigerate the custard until completely chilled, at least 4 hours. Then freeze the custard in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer the just-churned ice cream to an air-tight container, and freeze for at least 4 hours or up to 2 weeks.

Spiced Banana Pancakes

There’s so much banana in these pancakes that they’re incredibly moist and naturally sweet. A touch of freshly ground pepper and allspice elevates this homey breakfast treat to something truly special. Bet you can’t eat just one.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1-1/2 tsp. ground allspice
• 3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 2 Tbs. packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 Tbs. vegetable oil
• 4 medium ripe bananas, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 to 3 Tbs. unsalted butter for cooking pancakes, plus more for serving
• Maple syrup for serving

Preheat the oven to 200°F, and place a rack in the center of the oven. Put a wire rack on the baking sheet and place it in the oven.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, pepper, and brown sugar. In another medium bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and vegetable oil until blended; add about 3 of the bananas (reserving the rest for serving). Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until combined. Don’t over-mix. It will be a thick, gloppy, lumpy batter. (Sounds delicious so far, doesn’t it?)

In the skillet, melt about 1 tsp. of the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle a few drops of water into the pan; if the water sizzles on contact, the pan is ready. Pour a scant 1⁄2 cup  of batter into the skillet and cook for about 3 minutes, or until the edges of the pancake start to brown and small bubbles begin forming along the edges and in the middle of the cake. With a flat metal or plastic spatula, carefully flip the pancake over; the first side should be golden brown. Cook slowly for another 2 to 3 minutes. Gently press the pancake in the middle with the spatula to flatten it out a bit and make sure the center is cooked through. Adjust the heat as needed so the pancake browns nicely but doesn’t burn on the second side. Remove the finished pancake from the skillet and place it on the wire rack in the oven to keep warm while you cook the remaining pancakes.

Cook the remaining pancakes the same way, adding another 1 tsp. or so of butter before adding the batter each time. For these pancakes, a slower and lower heat is better; once the pan has been seasoned by the first pancake, you should be able to cook the remaining pancakes on medium-low heat. Serve immediately with butter, maple syrup, and the remaining banana.

Strawberry-Yogurt Brûlée

Simple yogurt and fresh strawberries become a special treat with the addition of a crunchy, caramelized sugar topping. Enjoy it for breakfast or dessert.

• 2 cups plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
• 1 cup coarsely chopped strawberries, plus several strawberry slices, for garnish
• 5 Tbs. turbinado or granulated sugar

In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt with the chopped strawberries and 1 Tbs. sugar. Divide among four 6-oz. ramekins. Garnish each with a few strawberry slices. Sprinkle each with about 1 Tbs. sugar. Pass the flame of a torch over the sugar until it’s melted and browned, about 30 seconds. Serve immediately.

Vegan Vanilla-Mixed Berry Muffins

We have a rule at Flour Bakery that if something is labeled “vegan” it has to be just as delicious to those who are not concerned about the label as to those who are. We created this muffin to satisfy our growing number of customers who have converted to veganism, and it has as many non-vegan fans as vegan ones. In fact, most people don’t believe us when we tell them that it’s vegan. To the nonbelievers the proof is in the recipe. In developing this muffin recipe, we realized that many vegan pastries make up for their lack of dairy and eggs by being super sweet and extra oily. We held back on the sugar and oil to create a scrumptious fluffy muffin that people of all dietary preferences will enjoy.

• 2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. vegetable oil, such as canola
• 1-1/3 cups plain soy milk
• 2 Tbs. distilled white or cider vinegar
• 1 Tbs. vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat the oven to 350°F, and place a rack in the center of the oven. Line the cups of a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners or generously oil and flour them.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. of the sugar and stir until well mixed. In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, soy milk, vinegar, and vanilla extract. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into the middle of the well. Stir with a rubber spatula until well mixed. Add the raspberries and blueberries and mix until the fruit is evenly distributed.

Spoon an equal amount of batter into each prepared muffin cup. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining 2 Tbs. sugar.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the muffins are pale gold and the tops spring back when pressed gently in the middle. Let cool in the tin on a wire rack before popping them out. The muffins taste best on the day they are baked, but any uneaten muffins can be stored in a covered container at room temperature for 2 or 3 days. For the best results, refresh them in a 300°F oven for 4 to 5 minutes.

Rhubarb-Ginger Sparkler

When rhubarb is in season in early spring, make the most of its tart flavor with this spicy, pale pink cocktail. It’s easy to scale up, making it perfect for a brunch or as a signature wedding drink. 

• 1 lb. fresh rhubarb, roughly chopped
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1-1/2 oz. (about a 2-inch piece) peeled and sliced fresh ginger
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 750ml sparkling wine, or 24 fl oz. soda water

In a medium (3-quart) saucepan, combine the rhubarb, sugar, and ginger with 1 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb is broken down and softened, about 15 to 20 minutes.
 

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids. Stir in the lemon juice and refrigerate until chilled.
 

Divide the syrup among 6 champagne flutes (about 1/4 cup each) and top with sparkling wine or soda water.
 

Chocolate French Toast Sandwiches

Need dessert quick? Check your pantry, because you're likely to have everything on the list for this delicious twist on French toast.

• 4 slices white sandwich bread (like Pepperidge Farm sandwich bread), fresh or slightly stale 
• 1-1/2 to 2 oz. good-quality semisweet chocolate (preferably from a thin bar)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 Tbs. granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 2 Tbs. unsalted butter
• Confectioners’ sugar

Cut each piece of bread into four triangles by slicing diagonally. Cut or break the chocolate into 8 pieces, roughly the same triangle shape as the bread pieces but slightly smaller by at least 1/4 inch all the way around.

In a medium bowl, vigorously whisk together the eggs and sugar until well combined. Add the half-and-half, vanilla, and salt and whisk until combined. Put the bread pieces in the bowl and press down gently to make sure they’re all soaked.

Heat 1 Tbs. of the butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. When the butter is melted and sizzling, add half of the bread pieces in one layer, leaving a little space between each. Cook until nicely browned, about 2 min. Turn each piece over with a spatula and cook until the other side is nicely browned, 1-1/2 to 2 min. Transfer the bread pieces to a plate lined with paper towels and take the skillet off the heat. Put a triangle of chocolate on half of the bread pieces, and top each with another piece of bread (save the best-looking pieces for the tops). Let them sit while you return the pan to the heat, melt the remaining 1 Tbs. butter, cook the remaining bread, and fill it with the remaining chocolate. When all the chocolate sandwiches are made, arrange two, overlapping slightly, on each of four plates. Sprinkle the confectioners’ sugar generously over all and serve warm.

Cornmeal Flapjacks with Bourbon-Bacon Maple Syrup

These pancakes get their heartiness from cornmeal and wheat germ and feature a syrup loaded with favorites like bourbon, bacon, and maple. If you don’t get 3 Tbs. of bacon fat from cooking the bacon, you can make up the difference with melted unsalted butter. An easy, no-mess trick for measuring the yogurt in this recipe is to pour the 1 cup milk into a 2-cup glass measure; then add enough yogurt to make the milk rise to the 2-cup line.

• 10 slices bacon
• 1 cup pure maple syrup
• 5-1/8  oz. (1-1/4 cups) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup medium-grind yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 2-1/2  tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 cup whole or low-fat milk
• 1 cup plain yogurt (regular or Greek, full-fat or low-fat)
• 2 large eggs
• Bacon fat or vegetable oil for the griddle
• 1 Tbs. bourbon (optional)
• Salted butter, for serving

Heat the oven to 200°F. On a large griddle or in 12-inch skillet over medium heat (or on an electric skillet set to 375°F), cook the bacon, in batches if necessary, flipping occasionally, until very crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the bacon on a paper-towel-lined plate. Reserve 3 Tbs. of the bacon fat in a small bowl and save the rest for another use (such as greasing the griddle for the pancakes). Set the 3 Tbs. reserved fat aside to cool briefly.

When the bacon is cool, mince it into fine crumbs. You should have about 1/2 cup.

In a 2-quart saucepan, heat the syrup and 2 Tbs. of the bacon crumbs over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot, about 5 minutes. Off the heat, let the syrup sit in the pan and infuse for at least 10 minutes and up to 1 hour.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the flour, cornmeal, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the milk, yogurt, and eggs until combined. Stir the bacon syrup to distribute the bacon pieces; measure out 1/4 cup of the syrup and add it to the wet ingredients; mix to combine. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Whisk gently until the dry ingredients are almost incorporated; stop before the batter is evenly moistened. Add the cooled reserved bacon fat and mix just until the batter is evenly moistened (there will be lumps). Let the batter rest while you heat your griddle.

Heat the same griddle or large skillet you used to cook the bacon over medium heat until drops of water briefly dance on the surface before evaporating. Lightly grease the griddle with bacon fat or oil. Working in batches, pour 1/4 cup of the batter onto the griddle for each pancake, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Let cook undisturbed until bubbles rise to the surface, 1 to 2 minutes. Check the underside to make sure it’s nicely browned, then flip. Cook until the second side is nicely browned, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer the pancakes to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you repeat with the remaining batter.

Stir the bourbon into the remaining bacon syrup, if you like. Serve the pancakes hot with butter, the syrup, and the remaining bacon streusel.

Banana-Walnut Muffins

Instead of the usual dense "banana-bread" texture, these muffins have a light and tender crumb, with slices of ripe banana, chunks of walnuts, and a sweet cinnamon glaze.Create your own customized muffin recipe with the Recipe Maker.

For the muffins:

• 1 lb. (3-1/2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. table salt
• 1-1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 5 oz. (10 Tbs.) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
• 1 cup crème fraîche or sour cream, at room temperature
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
• 1-1/2 cups thinly sliced bananas
• 3/4 cup walnut pieces, toasted
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

For the glaze:

• 12-1/2 oz. (3 cups) confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Make the muffins

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil (or spray with cooking spray) the top of a standard 12-cup muffin tin (cups should be 2-3/4 inches across and about 1 inch deep) and line with paper or foil baking cups.

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix well. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, butter, milk, crème fraîche or sour cream, eggs, and egg yolk until well combined.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and fold gently with a rubber spatula just until the dry ingredients are mostly moistened (the batter will be lumpy)--there should still be quite a few streaks of dry flour.

Sprinkle the bananas, walnut pieces, and vanilla extract onto the batter, and fold them in until just combined. (The batter will be lumpy; don’t try to smooth it out.) Do not overmix.

Use an ice cream scoop if you have one with a “sweeper” in it; otherwise, use two spoons to spoon the batter into the muffin cups, distributing all of the batter evenly. The batter should mound higher than the rim of the cups by about 3/4 inch. Bake until the muffins are golden brown and spring back lightly when you press the middle, 30 to 35 minutes. (The muffin tops will probably meld together.) Let the tin cool on a rack for 15 to 20 minutes.

Glaze the muffins

Put the confectioners’ sugar in a small mixing bowl. Add the cinnamon and 6 Tbs. of water and whisk until smooth. The glaze should be thin enough that it will drip off a spoon; if it’s more like a spreadable icing, thin it with more water, 1 Tbs. at a time.

When the muffins have cooled down but are still slightly warm, use a table knife to separate the tops, and then invert the pan and pop out the muffins. Put the muffins on a rack over foil to catch any glaze that drips off. Dab the glaze on the muffins with a pastry brush, or spoon the glaze on and let it drip over the sides. It should leave a smooth, somewhat translucent coating. You may not need all of the glaze. Wait 20 to 30 minutes for the glaze to set; it won’t dry completely.

Pineapple-Coconut Muffins

Flaked coconut and fresh pineapple give these muffins a taste of the tropics.To create your own customized muffin recipe, use the Recipe Maker.

For the muffins:

• 1 lb. (3-1/2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. table salt
• 1-1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 5 oz. (10 Tbs.) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
• 1 cup crème fraîche or sour cream, at room temperature
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
• 1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped fresh pineapple (or substitute canned pineapple, drained very well, and patted dry)
• 3/4 cup dried, sweetened, shredded or flaked coconut

For the glaze:

• 12-1/2 oz. (3 cups) confectioners' sugar
• 6 Tbs. pineapple juice, more as needed

Make the muffins

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil (or spray with cooking spray) the top of a standard 12-cup muffin tin (cups should be 2-3/4 inches across and about 1 inch deep) and line with paper or foil baking cups.

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix well. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, butter, milk, crème fraîche or sour cream, eggs, and egg yolk until well combined.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and fold gently with a rubber spatula just until the dry ingredients are mostly moistened (the batter will be lumpy). There should still be quite a few streaks of dry flour.

Sprinkle the pineapple and coconut onto the batter, and fold them in until just combined. (The batter will be lumpy; don’t try to smooth it out.) Do not overmix.

Use an ice cream scoop if you have one with a “sweeper” in it; otherwise, use two spoons to spoon the batter into the muffin cups, distributing all of the batter evenly. The batter should mound higher than the rim of the cups by about 3/4 inch. Bake until the muffins are golden brown and spring back lightly when you press the middle, 30 to 35 minutes. (The muffin tops will probably meld together.) Let the tin cool on a rack for 15 to 20 minutes.

Glaze the muffins

Put the confectioners’ sugar in a small mixing bowl. Add the pineapple juice and whisk until smooth. The glaze should be thin enough that it will drip off a spoon; if it’s more like a spreadable icing, thin it with more pineapple juice, 1 Tbs. at a time.

When the muffins have cooled down but are still slightly warm, use a table knife to separate the tops, and then invert the pan and pop out the muffins. Put the muffins on a rack over foil to catch any glaze that drips off. Dab the glaze on the muffins with a pastry brush, or spoon the glaze on and let it drip over the sides. It should leave a smooth, somewhat translucent coating. You may not need all of the glaze. Wait 20 to 30 minutes for the glaze to set; it won’t dry completely.

Five-Spice Millionaire’s Bacon

Inspired by the candied “millionaire’s bacon” at San Francisco’s Sweet Maple restaurant, this version has even deeper flavor, thanks to soy sauce and Chinese five-spice powder. It’s like spicy bacon candy, great for breakfast, as an appetizer, chopped into a salad, or even sprinkled over ice cream.

• 1 lb. thick-cut bacon
• 1 Tbs. lower-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp. Chinese five-spice powder
• 1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F.

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a rack over the foil. Arrange the bacon in a single layer on the rack, leaving no space between the slices.

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce and five-spice powder, and then brush the mixture over the bacon.

In another small bowl, combine the brown sugar and red pepper flakes. Evenly sprinkle the mixture over the bacon, covering each slice completely.

Bake, rotating the sheet halfway through, until the sugar is melted and the bacon is brown and shiny, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool on the rack for about 5 minutes, then loosen the slices from the rack with a metal spatula. Continue to cool for another 5 minutes before serving; the bacon will crisp as it cools.

Lavender Vanilla Ice Cream

Dried lavender adds a soft, floral note to classic vanilla ice cream. You can also create your own ice cream flavor with the Recipe Maker.

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• Table salt
• 2 Tbs. dried lavender flowers 
• 5 large egg yolks
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan, mix 1 cup of the cream with the milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Warm the cream mixture over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and tiny bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan, 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir in the lavender. Cover, remove from the heat, and let sit for 1 hour. Taste and let sit longer if you want a stronger flavor.

Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with several inches of ice water. Set a smaller metal bowl (one that holds at least 1-1/2 quarts) in the ice water. Pour the remaining cup of cream into the inner bowl (this helps the custard cool quicker when you pour it in later). Set a fine strainer on top. Whisk the egg yolks in a medium bowl.

Rewarm the cream mixture over medium-high heat until tiny bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan, 1 to 2 minutes. In a steady stream, pour half of the warm cream mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from curdling.

Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom with a heatproof rubber spatula until the custard thickens slightly (it should be thick enough to coat the spatula and hold a line drawn through it with a finger), 4 to 8 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should read 175° to 180°F at this point. Don’t let the sauce overheat or boil, or it will curdle. Immediately strain the custard into the cold cream in the ice bath. Press firmly on the lavender in the strainer with the spatula to extract as much flavor as possible.

Cool the custard to below 70°F by stirring it over the ice bath. Stir the vanilla extract into the cooled custard.

Refrigerate the custard until completely chilled, at least 4 hours. Then freeze the custard in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer the just-churned ice cream to an air-tight container, and freeze for at least 4 hours or up to 2 weeks.

Crêpe Cake with Coffee Cream and Hazelnut Praline

A stack of crêpes layered with two sweet fillings—one creamy, one crunchy—becomes a luscious, sophisticated cake. It needs to chill before serving, so plan to make it ahead.

For the praline:

• Vegetable oil, for the pan
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 5 oz. (1 cup) whole blanched or skinned toasted hazelnuts
• Kosher salt

For the fillings:

• 2 Tbs. instant espresso powder
• 1 lb. (2 cups) crème fraîche
• 1 lb. (2 cups) mascarpone, at room temperature
• 3 oz. (3/4 cup) confectioners’ sugar

For assembly:

• 14 8-inch crêpes at room temperature
• Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Make the praline:

Lightly oil a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet. Put the sugar and 1/4 cup water in a heavy-duty 3-quart saucepan or sauté pan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, 1 to 2 minutes. Let the mixture continue to cook without stirring until it’s a medium amber color, about 5 minutes more.

Carefully add the hazelnuts—don’t let the hot caramel splash you. Continue to cook, swirling the pan gently to coat the nuts, until the caramel is deep amber, 1 to 2 minutes more. Carefully pour the praline onto the prepared baking sheet and let cool completely.

Break the praline into pieces by smacking it on the counter or cracking it with a rolling pin. Put the pieces in a food processor, add 1/2 tsp. salt, and pulse to form a coarse powder. If you end up with a few large pieces but the rest is the right texture, remove them, dump out the powder and process again. Set aside.

Make the fillings:

In a small bowl, stir the espresso powder into 1 Tbs. of the crème fraîche until dissolved.

In a large bowl, whisk the mascarpone and the confectioners’ sugar until blended.

In a medium bowl with an electric hand mixer, beat the remaining crème fraîche on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. With a rubber spatula or big spoon, gently fold half the whipped crème fraîche into the mascarpone mixture until smooth, then fold in the second half.

Put 1-1/2 cups of the mascarpone mixture in a bowl. Gently fold in 1-1/4 cups of the praline powder. Gently fold the espresso-cream into the remaining mascarpone mixture.

Assemble the crêpe cake:

Lay 1 of the crêpes on a flat cake plate or platter that’s at least 9 inches in diameter. Spread a generous 1/4 cup of the espresso filling evenly over the crêpe, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Lay a second crêpe on top. Spread a generous 1/4 cup of the praline filling evenly over the crêpe, leaving the same border. Continue alternating the espresso and praline fillings until you’ve used all the crêpes. To avoid a “domed” cake, make the depth of the cream around the edges of the crêpes a touch deeper than in the centers, and when you add a new crêpe, lightly press down on the center of it with your fingers. Finish with a thin, even layer of the praline cream.

Carefully wrap the cake in plastic and chill for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours. The fillings will set up slightly, making the cake easier to slice.

Remove the cake from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup praline powder on top and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Chilled Fennel and Cucumber Soup

Cucumbers make this soup refreshing, and fennel gives it a full flavor. A touch of cream adds richness, while fresh tarragon contributes lovely herbal notes. Read the article "Chill Out" for tips on giving your soup great flavor and smooth texture.

• 3 lb. fennel bulbs (about 2 large or 3 medium, including stalks)
• 1-1/4 lb. seedless cucumbers (about 2 medium)
• 1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. chopped fresh tarragon; more as needed
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream

Trim, quarter, core, and cut enough of the fennel bulbs into 1-inch pieces to yield about 6 cups. Reserve some of the fronds for garnish.

In a 6- to 8-quart pot fitted with a steamer basket, bring about 1/2 inch of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Steam the fennel, covered, until very tender, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel the cucumbers, quarter lengthwise, and cut into 1-inch chunks to yield about 4 cups.

In a blender, purée half of the cucumber, half of the fennel, 1/2 tsp. of the tarragon, 1-1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper until very smooth, about 2 minutes.

Set a medium-mesh strainer over a large bowl and force the purée through it with a silicone spatula. Repeat with the remaining cucumber and fennel, 1/2 tsp. tarragon, 1-1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper.

Whisk in the cream and the remaining 1 Tbs. tarragon. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours.

Just before serving, season the soup to taste with additional tarragon, salt, and pepper. Serve garnished with the reserved fennel fronds.

Venezuelan Chocolate Pancakes with Chocolate Maple Syrup

This recipe is my homage to Sunday-morning brunch, which is one of those occasions when anything goes; in other words, be as indulgent and naughty as you like because it is certainly not the time to count calories or grams of fat. Feel free to add blueberries, nuts, and sultanas if the fancy takes you. The syrup can be made days or even weeks in advance and stored in the fridge.

For the pancakes

• 1 oz. Venezuelan 100% (unsweetened) dark chocolate, grated
• 1-1/3 cups buckwheat or spelt flour
• 1 large organic egg
• 1/3 cup plus 1 Tbs. light muscovado or brown sugar
• 1 cup plus 3 Tbs. milk
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• unsalted butter, melted, as needed

For the syrup

• Pinch of sea salt
• Scant 1 cup pure maple syrup
• 3-1/2 oz. 70% dark chocolate, chopped

Place all the pancake ingredients (except the butter) in a blender or food processor and process until a smooth, thick batter is formed. Leave the batter to rest while you make the syrup.

To make the syrup, dissolve the salt in 2 tablespoons water in a saucepan over a gentle heat, then add the maple syrup and bring to a simmer. Pour over the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and whisk well until smooth.

Heat a crêpe pan or nonstick large frying pan until quite hot and grease with butter. Spoon 1/4-cup portions of the batter into the griddle, spacing them well apart. Cook over medium heat until you see bubbles on the surface of the pancake, then carefully turn over and cook for another 1–2 minutes.

Place the pancakes on a plate and cover with foil until you have cooked the entire batch.

Serve the pancakes laced with the warm syrup—be generous as the pancakes soak up a lot.
 

Buckwheat-Bacon Waffles

Buckwheat and whole wheat flours give these waffles a nutty flavor, while bacon adds a smoky, salty crunch. Look for buckwheat flour in well-stocked supermarkets.

• 8 slices bacon
• 3 oz. (6 Tbs.) unsalted butter
• 2 cups whole or low-fat milk
• 5-1/4 oz. (1-1/4 cups) buckwheat flour
• 3-1/2 oz. (3/4 cup) whole wheat or white all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 tsp. instant (rapid-rise) yeast
• 1/2 tsp. table salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 Tbs. pure maple syrup; more for serving
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

The night before

Cook the bacon in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. When cool enough to handle, crumble into small bits and refrigerate.

Transfer 2 Tbs. of the bacon fat to a 2- to 3-quart saucepan, add the butter, and heat over low heat until the butter is melted. Add the milk and heat until just warmed through (105°F to 115°F), 2 to 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk together the flours, yeast, and salt in a large bowl (the batter will double in volume, so be sure to use a bowl that holds at least 3 quarts). Slowly whisk in the warm milk mixture and continue whisking until the batter is smooth.

Whisk the eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla in a small bowl and then whisk into the batter until incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for 10 to 24 hours.

In the morning

Heat a waffle iron. Gently fold the bacon bits into the batter (the batter will deflate to about 4 cups). Following the manufacturer’s instructions, ladle the batter into the waffle iron, spreading evenly with the back of the ladle, and cook until crisp and lightly browned. Serve with syrup.

Cinnamon-Raisin-Walnut Pinwheels

These buttery, not-too-sweet pinwheels are perfect for a weekend breakfast because they come together easily and there’s no need to wait for the dough to rise, as with traditional yeasted cinnamon rolls.

• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2-1/2 oz. (1/2 cup) raisins
• 2 oz. (1/2 cup) chopped walnuts
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• All-purpose flour, for rolling
• 1 recipe Buttermilk Biscuit Dough
• 2 oz. (4 Tbs.) melted unsalted butter

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment.

In a small bowl, combine the sugar, raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon.

On a floured surface, pat the dough into a 5-inch square. Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough into a 12-inch square. Brush the dough with 2 Tbs. of the butter and evenly sprinkle with the sugar mixture. Tightly roll up the dough (like a jelly roll), pinching the seam to seal it shut. Using a serrated knife, cut the roll crosswise into 12 pieces. Arrange the pieces cut side down on the prepared sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.

Bake until puffed and golden-brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and brush with the remaining 2 Tbs. melted butter. Let cool until warm, about 10 minutes, before serving.

Peach French Toast Bake

When you want a hot, homey breakfast that’s special enough for company but without the morning fuss, this French toast bake is the answer. You pull it together the night before and while you sleep the eggy goodness seeps into the bread and all the flavors meld together. In the morning you just need to  pop it in the oven. It comes out fragrant, with juicy, brown sugar–laced peaches atop tender vanilla and  cinnamon–scented bread that has just the right amount of chewiness from the baguette crust. A drizzle of maple syrup and a dollop of cool, creamy yogurt complete the picture and everyone’s left wondering just how you manage to do it all with such grace.

• Cooking spray
• 1 large whole-wheat baguette (about 8 oz.)
• 4 large eggs
• 4 large egg whites
• 1 cup nonfat milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 5 cups frozen unsweetened sliced peaches, thawed 
• 2 Tbs. firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1-1/2 cups plain nonfat yogurt (optional)
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup (optional)

Coat a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Cut the baguette into 1/2-inch-thick slices and arrange them in a single layer in the pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, egg whites, milk, and vanilla. Pour the egg mixture over the bread in the pan. Scatter the peach slices evenly over the bread. Sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Uncover and bake until it is slightly puffed and the bread is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Top with  yogurt and drizzle with maple syrup, if desired.

Spiced Banana Pancakes

There’s so much banana in these pancakes that they’re incredibly moist and naturally sweet. A touch of freshly ground pepper and allspice elevates this homey breakfast treat to something truly special. Bet you can’t eat just one.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1-1/2 tsp. ground allspice
• 3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 2 Tbs. packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 Tbs. vegetable oil
• 4 medium ripe bananas, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 to 3 Tbs. unsalted butter for cooking pancakes, plus more for serving
• Maple syrup for serving

Preheat the oven to 200°F, and place a rack in the center of the oven. Put a wire rack on the baking sheet and place it in the oven.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, pepper, and brown sugar. In another medium bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and vegetable oil until blended; add about 3 of the bananas (reserving the rest for serving). Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until combined. Don’t over-mix. It will be a thick, gloppy, lumpy batter. (Sounds delicious so far, doesn’t it?)

In the skillet, melt about 1 tsp. of the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle a few drops of water into the pan; if the water sizzles on contact, the pan is ready. Pour a scant 1⁄2 cup  of batter into the skillet and cook for about 3 minutes, or until the edges of the pancake start to brown and small bubbles begin forming along the edges and in the middle of the cake. With a flat metal or plastic spatula, carefully flip the pancake over; the first side should be golden brown. Cook slowly for another 2 to 3 minutes. Gently press the pancake in the middle with the spatula to flatten it out a bit and make sure the center is cooked through. Adjust the heat as needed so the pancake browns nicely but doesn’t burn on the second side. Remove the finished pancake from the skillet and place it on the wire rack in the oven to keep warm while you cook the remaining pancakes.

Cook the remaining pancakes the same way, adding another 1 tsp. or so of butter before adding the batter each time. For these pancakes, a slower and lower heat is better; once the pan has been seasoned by the first pancake, you should be able to cook the remaining pancakes on medium-low heat. Serve immediately with butter, maple syrup, and the remaining banana.