Spiced Quince and Apple Sauce

If you happen to see bumpy yellow quinces in the fall at your supermarket or farmer's market, snatch them up; they make a wonderfully fragrant addition to plain old applesauce, and turn it a beautiful tawny-pink color. Vanilla bean and star anise lend even more complexity.

• 2 medium quinces, peeled, quartered, and cored
• 1/4 cup sugar, plus more to taste
• 4 large sweet apples, such as Jonagold, peeled, quartered, and cored
• One 3-inch cinnamon stick
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split
• 1/2 star anise

Put the quinces, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 cup water in a heavy medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the quinces turn pink and are beginning to soften, about an hour.

Add the apples, cinnamon stick, vanilla bean, and star anise to the pan and continue simmering, covered and stirring occasionally, for another 45 minutes, or until all the fruit is very tender. Taste for sweetness and add a bit more sugar if needed.

Remove from the heat and let cool, then fish out the spices and discard. Mash with a potato masher or put through a food mill using  a medium disk. Serve slightly warm or cold.

Lemon-Rosemary Christmas Trees

Rosemary gives these holiday cutout cookies a subtle piny touch, and lemon adds brightness.

For the Cookies:

• 15 oz. (3-1/3 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. table salt
• 8 oz. (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbs. finely grated lemon zest
• 1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Tip:

For the best results, measure your flour by weight instead of volume. (1 cup of all-purpose flour equals 4-1/2 oz.) If you don’t have a scale, be sure to use the proper technique when filling your measuring cups.

For the Icing:

• 1 large egg white (see note at right)
• 6-1/2 oz. (1-1/2 cups plus 2 Tbs.) confectioners' sugar; more as needed
• 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• Decorating sugar or edible dragees (optional)

Tip:

Note: The risk of salmonella infection from consuming raw eggs is very low, but you can eliminate it entirely by using pasteurized eggs.

Make the cookies:

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and salt. With a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in the lemon zest and rosemary. Add the egg and vanilla; continue beating until well blended and smooth, about 30 seconds more. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the dry ingredients. Mix until the dough is just combined; don't overmix. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions.

Roll one half of the dough between two sheets of parchment to an even 3/16-inch thickness. Slide the dough and parchment onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Line four cookie sheets with parchment.

Using a 3-1/2-inch (or similar) Christmas tree cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and arrange them 1 inch apart on the cookie sheets. Press the scraps together, reroll, and cut (if the dough becomes too soft to handle, chill until firm). Repeat one more time and then discard the scraps. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Bake two sheets at a time until the cookies' edges are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating and swapping the sheets' positions halfway through for even baking. Cool the cookies on racks.

Make the icing:

In a medium bowl, whisk the egg white, sugar, and lemon juice until smooth. If not using immediately, transfer the icing to a small bowl and press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the icing to prevent it from drying out.

Decorate the cookies:

Spoon some of the icing into a small pastry bag with a small (3/16 inch) plain tip. (Or use a small plastic bag and cut a tiny bit off a bottom corner of the bag.) Pipe the icing onto the cookies to outline the rim. (If the icing is too thick to pipe, put it back in the bowl and stir in water, a drop at a time, until it pipes easily but still retains its shape. If the icing is too thin, add confectioners' sugar, 1 tsp. at a time.)

If using decorating sugar or dragées, apply them while the icing is wet. Once the icing is completely dry and hard, store the cookies in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Rich, Fudgy Brownies

These are the perfect brownies to make for a picnic or to just have hanging around for a snack. To transform them into an elegant dessert, add port-soaked dried cherries to the batter and frost the cooled brownies with a port-ganache topping (recipe: Port Ganache-Glazed Brownies with Dried Cherries)

• 8 oz. (1 cup) unsalted butter; more softened butter for the pan
• 3 oz. (2/3 cup) unbleached all-purpose flour; more for the pan
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2-1/2 oz. (3/4 cup) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. table salt

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9-inch-square metal baking pan, tapping out the excess flour.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat. Whisk or stir in the sugar, followed by all four of the eggs and the vanilla. Stir in the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt, starting slowly to keep the ingredients from flying out of the pan and stirring more vigorously as you go. Stir until the batter is smooth and uniform, about 1 minute. If you’re using the portsoaked cherries, stir them in at this time, along with any remaining liquid from the saucepan.

Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan, smoothing it so it fills the pan evenly. Bake until a toothpick or a skewer inserted 3/4 inch into the center of the brownies comes out with just a few moist clumps clinging to it, about 40 minutes. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a rack.

Cut into 16 squares. Keep the brownies at room temperature, well wrapped. You can freeze them, too.

Pine Nut Wedding Cookies

• 2 cups pine nuts, toasted
• 10 oz. (2-1/4 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. table salt
• 8 oz. (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 4 oz. (1 cup) confectioners' sugar, sifted

Tip:

For the best results, measure your flour by weight instead of volume. (1 cup of all-purpose flour equals 4-1/2 oz.) If you don’t have a scale, be sure to use the proper technique when filling your measuring cups.

In a food processor, pulse the pine nuts and 1 cup of the flour until finely ground. Add the remaining flour and the salt and pulse to blend. With a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix on medium until combined, about 15 seconds. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until the dough is just combined. Cover with plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment or nonstick baking liners.

Using your palms, roll heaping tablespoonfuls of the dough into 1-1/2-inch balls. Arrange them 1 inch apart on the lined sheets. Bake until golden around the edges and light golden on top, 19 to 21 minutes, rotating and swapping the sheets halfway through for even baking. Transfer the cookies, still on their parchment, to a rack and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes, or until they have firmed up a bit and are cool enough to handle.

Put the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl. Gently toss the cookies in the sugar to coat; let them cool completely on racks. Toss them again in the sugar. The cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Pimento Cheese Gougères

These don’t puff up quite like traditional gougères, but they have all the same qualities that recommend consuming them one after the next, in close succession. The pimento cheese gives the interiors a custardy quality, flecked with red from the pimentos and green from the pickles, and a decidedly Southern flavor. Use the extra pimento cheese for sandwiches or dipping.

• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into several pieces
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup grated extra sharp Cheddar
• 1 cup Pimento Cheese
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Heat the oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or lightly butter them.

Combine the milk, 1/2 cup water, and butter in a medium-size saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Add the flour and salt all at once, reduce the heat to medium, and stir the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon until it pulls away from the sides of the pan. Continue stirring for several minutes over low heat, then remove from the heat and cool for 1 minute. The dough should not brown and will be thick, smooth, and shiny.

Add the dough to the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for 3 to 4 minutes, or until it isn’t steaming any more but isn’t completely cool, before adding the eggs, one at a time, incorporating each egg before adding the next. Add the grated Cheddar and pimento cheese along with the black and cayenne peppers and mix to blend.

Use a spatula to transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip and pipe 1-1/2-inch mounds, approximately the volume of a heaping tablespoon, on the baking sheets 2 inches apart.

Bake until deep golden brown, about 17 minutes. Reduce the heat to 300°F, put a wooden spoon in the door so that it’s slightly ajar, and bake for another 10 minutes.

Gorgonzola and Fontina Nachos with Fennel and Mint

This sophisticated take on nachos may sound unusual, but the salty-tangy Gorgonzola and creamy fontina meld beautifully, fennel seeds add a subtle anise note, and fresh mint brightens the mix. It’s an irresistible combination.

• 8 oz. tortilla chips (preferably unsalted or lightly salted)
• 10 oz. coarsely grated fontina (2-1/2 cups)
• 5 oz. crumbled Gorgonzola (1 cup)
• 2 tsp. fennel seeds
• 2 Tbs. chopped fresh mint

Position a rack 6 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler on high. Scatter the tortilla chips onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Evenly sprinkle the chips with the fontina and Gorgonzola. Crush the fennel seeds in a mortar and pestle and sprinkle over the cheese. Broil until the cheese is melted, 1 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the mint and serve hot from the baking sheet.

Hummus with Mellow Garlic & Cumin

Tahini blends with chickpeas, lemon, olive oil, and garlic to become the well-known Middle Eastern dip and spread known as hummus. Homemade hummus is simple to make, and it tastes much better than the mediocre and overpriced stuff sold in supermarkets. To avoid the most common pitfall of homemade hummus— way too much raw garlic—I like to gently cook the garlic in the olive oil first so it mellows and infuses the oil. Cumin and a touch of soy sauce give the hummus a savory edge. Serve with seedless cucumber rounds or pita chips or triangles for dipping.

• 1/3 cup plus 1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 2 tsp. ground cumin
• 2 15-1/2-oz. cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 3 Tbs. tahini
• 3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice; more to taste
• 1 Tbs. soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt; more as needed

Combine the 1/3 cup oil with the garlic and cumin in a small saucepan. Set over medium-low heat and cook until the garlic softens, about 3 minutes from when you can hear the garlic bubbling quickly. Don’t let the garlic brown. Take the pan off the heat and let cool completely.

Put the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, soy sauce, and salt in a food processor. Use a fork to fish the softened garlic out of the oil and transfer it to the processor (reserve the oil). Turn the machine on, let it run for about 20 seconds, and then start slowly pouring the cumin oil through the machine’s feed tube. Be sure to scrape the pan with a rubber spatula to get all of the cumin and oil. Pour 1/4 cup cool water down the tube. Stop the machine, scrape the sides of the bowl, and continue processing until the hummus is creamy and almost smooth. Season to taste with more salt and lemon juice, if you like. For best results, let the hummus sit at room temperature for an hour or two before serving so the flavors can meld. Or better yet, make it a day ahead, refrigerate it and return it to room temperature and adjust the seasonings before serving. To serve, spread hummus in a shallow dish and drizzle with the remaining 1 Tbs. oil.

Apple and Cheddar Cake

Grated cheddar cheese melts into this cake and gives it a wonderfully tangy flavor and richness. Diced pear may be substituted for the apple if you like. Either way, it tastes great with maple syrup–sweetened whipped cream on the side.

• 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. table salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 6 Tbs. milk
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 large tart apple, such as a Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch dice

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and dust with flour. Combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

Combine the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice as necessary. With the mixer on medium-low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.

Turn the mixer to low speed and add 1/2 of the flour mixture. Stir in the milk. Stir in the remaining flour mixture until just combined. Stir in the cheddar cheese and apple.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Bake until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, invert it onto a wire rack, and then turn it right side up on a rack to cool completely.

Store uneaten cake in a cake keeper or wrap in plastic and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.

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.

Papaya-Tangerine Ice Pops

Tangerine segments add tang to this sunset-hued ice pop. Create your own customized ice pop recipe with the Recipe Maker.

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 4 3-inch strips lime zest (peel with a vegetable peeler and remove any white pith)
• 1 small papaya, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
• 1 cup tangerine segments, cut free of their membranes and halved

Combine the sugar, salt, and 1/2  cup water in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and make sure the sugar has dissolved; add the lime zest. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool completely. Strain through a fine strainer into a 1-quart liquid measuring cup, and discard the solids in the strainer.

Puree the papaya in batches in a blender. Measure out 2 cups of puree (save any extra for another use) and combine it with the syrup.

Distribute the tangerine segments  among ten 1/3-cup pop molds. Add the fruit mixture to each mold, leaving about 1/4 inch at the top to allow for expansion. Stir gently with a Popsicle stick to distribute the tangerine segments. Freeze until partially frozen, about 1 hour. Insert sticks and freeze again until the pops are fully set, 4 to 6 hours more.

To unmold, dip the mold in a deep pan of hot water until the pops pull out easily, 30 to 40 seconds, or let sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes. Unmold and store the pops in individual resealable plastic bags; they’re best eaten within 3 weeks.

Chocolate-Chunk Cookies

Who doesn't love a cookie still warm from the oven? Because this dough will keep for up to a week in the fridge, you can bake these chocolate chips to order. Cold glass of milk, optional.

• 9-1/2 oz. (2 cups plus 2 Tbs.) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. table salt
• 1/2 lb. (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. very firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 9 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 2-1/2 oz. milk chocolate, coarsely chopped

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt to blend. Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 min. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until thoroughly combined, about 2 min. Scrape the bowl again. With the mixer on low speed, slowly blend in the flour until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Fold in the chopped chocolate by hand with the spatula, making sure all the flour and butter are thoroughly combined.

Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake until the cookies are golden brown on the edges and slightly soft in the center, about 15 min. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 1 min. before transferring them to a rack to cool.

The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days.

Coffee-Cocoa Snack Cake

The coffee in this recipe intensifies the chocolate flavor of this super-moist cake. I  suggest you use a freshly ground, medium-bodied variety, such as Colombian.

• 5 oz. (10 Tbs.) very soft unsalted butter; more for the pan
• 1-2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. table salt
• 7-1/4 oz. (1-1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons) unbleached all-purpose flour; more for the pan
• 2-1/2 oz. (1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup) unsweetened natural cocoa powder (not  Dutch-processed)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1-1/2 cups good-quality brewed coffee, cooled  to warm

Tip:

Give the butter plenty of time to warm up. You can tell your butter is soft enough if it squishes when poked lightly with a finger.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and  heat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter a 9-inch-square baking pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a square of parchment, butter the parchment, and then flour the bottom and sides of the pan. Tap out any excess flour.

If mixing by hand, put the softened butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Using a wooden spoon, cream them until smooth, about 1 minute. Switch to a whisk and blend in the eggs one at a time. Stir for another 30 seconds, until the batter is smooth and the sugar begins to dissolve. (If using a stand mixer, put the butter and sugar in the bowl and, using the paddle attachment, cream until smooth, about 1  minute. Blend in the eggs one at a time, mixing just until incorporated, about 20 seconds. Then switch to a whisk and blend in the rest of the ingredients by hand.) Mix in the vanilla and salt. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and baking powder directly onto the batter. Pour in the coffee. Gently whisk the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and mostly free of lumps.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out with only moist crumbs clinging to it, 40 to 43 minutes. Set the pan on a rack to cool for 20 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edges of the pan, invert the cake onto the rack, and remove the pan. Invert again onto another rack and let cool right side up until just warm.

Spicy Pineapple-Coconut Ice Pops

A chile-infused syrup adds a little kick of heat to these refreshing pina-colada-on-a-stick ice pops. Create your own customized ice pop recipe with the Recipe Maker.

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 2 dried chiles (chile de arbol or pequin), crumbled
• 1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
• 3/4 cup unsweetened dried coconut, lightly toasted

Combine the sugar, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and make sure the sugar has dissolved; add the chiles. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool completely. Strain through a fine strainer into a 1-quart liquid measuring cup, and discard the solids in the strainer.

Puree the pineapple in batches in a blender. Measure out 2 cups of puree (save any extra for another use) and combine it with the syrup.

Distribute the coconut among ten 1/3-cup pop molds. Add the fruit mixture to each mold, leaving about 1/4 inch at the top to allow for expansion. Stir gently with a Popsicle stick to distribute the coconut. Freeze until partially frozen, about 1 hour. Insert sticks and freeze again until the pops are fully set, 4 to 6 hours more.

To unmold, dip the mold in a deep pan of hot water until the pops pull out easily, 30 to 40 seconds, or let sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes. Unmold and store the pops in individual resealable plastic bags; they’re best eaten within 3 weeks.

Sweet Potato Oven Fries with Fry Sauce

Delicious on their own, these smoky, slightly sweet fries are downright dangerous when dipped into a zesty spin on fry sauce, a ketchup-and-mayonnaise-based condiment popular in Utah, Idaho, and the Pacific Northwest.

• Cooking spray
• 1 lb. sweet potatoes (about 1 large) 
• 2 large egg whites 
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika 
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin 
• Kosher salt 
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tbs. ketchup  
• 1 tsp. lemon juice 
• 1/2 tsp. soy sauce 
• 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 
• 2 drops hot sauce, such as Sriracha 

Tip:

Tossing sweet potatoes with egg whites before baking ensures that they come out with a nicely browned coating. They won’t get fully crisp, as a regular potato would, but they’ll have a satisfying texture.

Position racks in the bottom and top thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F. Spray two baking sheets with cooking spray.

Peel and cut the potatoes into approximately 2-inch lengths, and then cut each piece lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide slices. Lay the slices flat and cut them into 1/4-inch strips, so you have 1/4 x 1/4 x 2-inch sticks.

Whisk the egg whites with the smoked paprika, cumin, and 1 tsp. salt in a medium bowl. Toss the potatoes in the mixture to thoroughly coat. Spread them on the baking sheets in a single layer so that they’re not touching.

Roast the sweet potatoes until sizzling and starting to brown on the bottom, about 10 minutes. With a spatula, carefully loosen the fries and shake the baking sheet to flip them. Rotate the placement of the baking sheets in the oven and continue to bake until the fries are lightly browned, sizzling vigorously, and tender all the way through, another 8 to 9 minutes. Sprinkle to taste with more salt.

Meanwhile, make the fry sauce. In a small bowl, stir the mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Adjust the seasonings until the sauce tastes zesty but balanced.

Serve the oven fries immediately with the fry sauce.

Coffee-Cocoa Snack Cake

The coffee in this recipe intensifies the chocolate flavor of this super-moist cake. I  suggest you use a freshly ground, medium-bodied variety, such as Colombian.

• 5 oz. (10 Tbs.) very soft unsalted butter; more for the pan
• 1-2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. table salt
• 7-1/4 oz. (1-1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons) unbleached all-purpose flour; more for the pan
• 2-1/2 oz. (1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup) unsweetened natural cocoa powder (not  Dutch-processed)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1-1/2 cups good-quality brewed coffee, cooled  to warm

Tip:

Give the butter plenty of time to warm up. You can tell your butter is soft enough if it squishes when poked lightly with a finger.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and  heat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter a 9-inch-square baking pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a square of parchment, butter the parchment, and then flour the bottom and sides of the pan. Tap out any excess flour.

If mixing by hand, put the softened butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Using a wooden spoon, cream them until smooth, about 1 minute. Switch to a whisk and blend in the eggs one at a time. Stir for another 30 seconds, until the batter is smooth and the sugar begins to dissolve. (If using a stand mixer, put the butter and sugar in the bowl and, using the paddle attachment, cream until smooth, about 1  minute. Blend in the eggs one at a time, mixing just until incorporated, about 20 seconds. Then switch to a whisk and blend in the rest of the ingredients by hand.) Mix in the vanilla and salt. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and baking powder directly onto the batter. Pour in the coffee. Gently whisk the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and mostly free of lumps.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out with only moist crumbs clinging to it, 40 to 43 minutes. Set the pan on a rack to cool for 20 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edges of the pan, invert the cake onto the rack, and remove the pan. Invert again onto another rack and let cool right side up until just warm.

Homemade Fruit Leather

Summer berries and stone fruit make great jellies and jams, but dehydration is an equally delicious way to preserve them; it transforms your favorite fruit into a sweet, chewy snack that’s amazingly easy to make and lasts for months.Video:Watch our Homegrown/Homemade team demonstrate how to make fruit leather with their crop of fresh strawberries.

• 2 lb. strawberries, hulled and halved (6 cups); sweet cherries, pitted and halved (5 1/2 cups); apricots, pitted and halved (6 cups); or blueberries, stemmed (6 cups) 
• 2 to 6 Tbs. honey

Purée the fruit in a food processor until it’s completely smooth, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping down the sides occasionally. If using strawberries, strain the purée through a fine sieve to remove the seeds (press hard with a rubber spatula to extract as much liquid and pulp as possible).

Pour the fruit purée into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring often and scraping the sides and bottom of the saucepan with a heatproof spatula, until any foam subsides and the purée turns glossy, 8 to 12 minutes for blueberry, 20 to 25 minutes for apricot, 35 to 40 minutes for cherry, or 35 to 55 minutes for strawberry. You should have about 1-3/4 cups.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the honey to taste. (The purée can be refrigerated for up to 3 days at this point. Cover tightly, placing plastic wrap directly on the surface of the purée. Bring to room temperature before proceeding.)

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 170°F, using a convection mode, if available. Line a large rimmed baking sheet (18x13 inches) with a nonstick baking iner, such as a Silpat (16-1/2 x 11-5/8 inches). Pour the purée down the center of the baking liner and spread it evenly with a large offset spatula to a 1/8-inch thickness, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around. The edges should be slightly thicker than the middle, as they dry out faster.

Dry the purée in the oven, rotating the pan halfway through, until it looks leathery and feels somewhat firm to the touch but is still tacky and not completely dried, 6 to 7 hours (or 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours on a convection setting). Transfer the baking liner to a cooling rack and let the leather sit at room temperature until it separates easily from the baking liner and is mostly dry on top, 24 to 72 hours. The strawberry leather may still be slightly tacky,and the blueberry leather may have a bit of moisture on top—blot it with a paper towel before wrapping.

Place a piece of parchment over the leather. Flip the leather parchment side down and peel off the baking liner. Starting with a long side, roll the leather and parchment into a cylinder. Using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut the leather into 1-inch segments. Wrap each segment in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight zip-top plastic bag at room temperature.

Lemon-Rosemary Christmas Trees

Rosemary gives these holiday cutout cookies a subtle piny touch, and lemon adds brightness.

For the Cookies:

• 15 oz. (3-1/3 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. table salt
• 8 oz. (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbs. finely grated lemon zest
• 1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Tip:

For the best results, measure your flour by weight instead of volume. (1 cup of all-purpose flour equals 4-1/2 oz.) If you don’t have a scale, be sure to use the proper technique when filling your measuring cups.

For the Icing:

• 1 large egg white (see note at right)
• 6-1/2 oz. (1-1/2 cups plus 2 Tbs.) confectioners' sugar; more as needed
• 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• Decorating sugar or edible dragees (optional)

Tip:

Note: The risk of salmonella infection from consuming raw eggs is very low, but you can eliminate it entirely by using pasteurized eggs.

Make the cookies:

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and salt. With a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in the lemon zest and rosemary. Add the egg and vanilla; continue beating until well blended and smooth, about 30 seconds more. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the dry ingredients. Mix until the dough is just combined; don't overmix. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions.

Roll one half of the dough between two sheets of parchment to an even 3/16-inch thickness. Slide the dough and parchment onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Line four cookie sheets with parchment.

Using a 3-1/2-inch (or similar) Christmas tree cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and arrange them 1 inch apart on the cookie sheets. Press the scraps together, reroll, and cut (if the dough becomes too soft to handle, chill until firm). Repeat one more time and then discard the scraps. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Bake two sheets at a time until the cookies' edges are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating and swapping the sheets' positions halfway through for even baking. Cool the cookies on racks.

Make the icing:

In a medium bowl, whisk the egg white, sugar, and lemon juice until smooth. If not using immediately, transfer the icing to a small bowl and press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the icing to prevent it from drying out.

Decorate the cookies:

Spoon some of the icing into a small pastry bag with a small (3/16 inch) plain tip. (Or use a small plastic bag and cut a tiny bit off a bottom corner of the bag.) Pipe the icing onto the cookies to outline the rim. (If the icing is too thick to pipe, put it back in the bowl and stir in water, a drop at a time, until it pipes easily but still retains its shape. If the icing is too thin, add confectioners' sugar, 1 tsp. at a time.)

If using decorating sugar or dragées, apply them while the icing is wet. Once the icing is completely dry and hard, store the cookies in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Double Ginger Crackles

The double hit of ginger here comes from both ground ginger and crystallized ginger.

• 10 oz. (2-1/4 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2-3/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. table salt
• 6 oz. (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1-1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 3 Tbs. finely chopped crystallized ginger

Tip:

For the best results, measure your flour by weight instead of volume. (1 cup of all-purpose flour equals 4-1/2 oz.) If you don’t have a scale, be sure to use the proper technique when filling your measuring cups.

Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment or nonstick baking liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, ground ginger, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, beat the butter and 1 cup of the sugar with an electric mixer (a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a hand-held) on medium-high speed until well blended. Add the egg, molasses, and crystallized ginger; beat well. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until well blended.

Pour the remaining 1/3 cup sugar into a shallow bowl. Using a 1-Tbs. cookie scoop, a small ice cream scoop, or two tablespoons, shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the sugar to coat. Set the balls 1-1/2 to 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake, rotating the sheets halfway through baking, until the cookies are puffed and the bottoms are lightly browned, 12 to 14 min. If you touch a cookie, it should feel dry on the surface but soft inside. The surface cracks will look a bit wet. Let the cookies sit on the cookie sheet for 5 min. and then transfer them to a rack to cool completely. When cool, store in airtight containers.

Ginger flavor intensifies with time, making these cookies excellent candidates for long keeping. When stored in an airtight container, the cookies remain impressively delicious for up to five days from baking. Well wrapped, the cookies will keep for several weeks in the freezer.

Mocha Sandwich Cookies

Delicate chocolate cookies stack up with a mocha-cream-cheese filling in these sweet little sandwiches.

For the Cookies:

• 7-1/2 oz. (1-2/3 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 3/4 oz. (1/4 cup) Dutch-processed cocoa
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. table salt
• 4 oz. (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. granulated sugar
• 6 Tbs. packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Tip:

For the best results, measure your flour by weight instead of volume. (1 cup of all-purpose flour equals 4-1/2 oz.) If you don’t have a scale, be sure to use the proper technique when filling your measuring cups.

For the Mocha Filling:

• 1 Tbs. instant espresso
• 2 oz. (4 Tbs.) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 oz. (4 Tbs.) cream cheese
• 6 oz. (1-1/2 cups) confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 oz. (1/4 cup) Dutch-processed cocoa powder, sifted

Make the cookies:

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. With a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and continue beating until blended and smooth, about 30 seconds. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add the dry ingredients, mixing until the dough is just combined. Divide the dough in half. Wrap one half of the dough in plastic and refrigerate.

Roll the other half of the dough between two sheets of parchment to an even 1/8-inch thickness. Slide the dough onto a cookie sheet and freeze until cold and firm, about 30 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment.

Using 1-1/2-inch round cookie cutters, cut out the dough and arrange the rounds 1 inch apart on the prepared sheets. If the dough gets too soft, return it to the freezer for a few minutes. Carefully press the scraps together, reroll, and cut. Repeat with the other half of the dough, and then gather all the scraps together, reroll, and cut one more time.

Bake in batches, two sheets at a time, until the tops look dry, about 6 minutes. Let the cookies cool on their pans for a minute and then let them cool completely on racks.

Make the filling:

In a small bowl, dissolve the espresso in 2 Tbs. hot water. Let cool slightly, 5 minutes.

With the mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until light and smooth, about 1 minute. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add half of the sugar, mixing until just combined. Add the coffee mixture and vanilla, and mix until just incorporated. Gradually mix in the remaining sugar and the cocoa. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the filling is light and fluffy, about 1 minute more.

To assemble, transfer the cooled cookies to a work surface, flipping half of them over. With an offset spatula or butter knife, spread a thin layer of the filling onto each turned-over cookie. Set another cookie on top of each filled cookie, pressing gently to spread the filling. The cookies will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Sweet Potato Oven Fries with Fry Sauce

Delicious on their own, these smoky, slightly sweet fries are downright dangerous when dipped into a zesty spin on fry sauce, a ketchup-and-mayonnaise-based condiment popular in Utah, Idaho, and the Pacific Northwest.

• Cooking spray
• 1 lb. sweet potatoes (about 1 large) 
• 2 large egg whites 
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika 
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin 
• Kosher salt 
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tbs. ketchup  
• 1 tsp. lemon juice 
• 1/2 tsp. soy sauce 
• 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 
• 2 drops hot sauce, such as Sriracha 

Tip:

Tossing sweet potatoes with egg whites before baking ensures that they come out with a nicely browned coating. They won’t get fully crisp, as a regular potato would, but they’ll have a satisfying texture.

Position racks in the bottom and top thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F. Spray two baking sheets with cooking spray.

Peel and cut the potatoes into approximately 2-inch lengths, and then cut each piece lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide slices. Lay the slices flat and cut them into 1/4-inch strips, so you have 1/4 x 1/4 x 2-inch sticks.

Whisk the egg whites with the smoked paprika, cumin, and 1 tsp. salt in a medium bowl. Toss the potatoes in the mixture to thoroughly coat. Spread them on the baking sheets in a single layer so that they’re not touching.

Roast the sweet potatoes until sizzling and starting to brown on the bottom, about 10 minutes. With a spatula, carefully loosen the fries and shake the baking sheet to flip them. Rotate the placement of the baking sheets in the oven and continue to bake until the fries are lightly browned, sizzling vigorously, and tender all the way through, another 8 to 9 minutes. Sprinkle to taste with more salt.

Meanwhile, make the fry sauce. In a small bowl, stir the mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Adjust the seasonings until the sauce tastes zesty but balanced.

Serve the oven fries immediately with the fry sauce.