Date and Pecan Bread

Date and Pecan Bread is my absolute favorite and it doesn't require any refined sugar. Mostly dates and little bit of molasses are used as sweetener. A warm piece of bread slightly buttered is my favorite way to enjoy it for breakfast or afternoon snack with tea of coffee. It can be serve as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It can be spiced with warm spices but I prefer vanilla. 

Banana Pecan Bread/Cake

This is the absolute tasty Banana Cake/Bread I've ever made! I guarantee any not so banana liker will love this version. This recipe is really yummy and little healthier. I replaced butter with avocado oil, white sugar with the coconut sugar and little maple syrup. It is super moist, has a right amount of banana flavor and subtle nutty flavor. This cake doesn't require glazing unless you want to make it fancy. You can use some whole wheat pastry flour instead of all white flour. Use a 6 cups bundt pan or 8-inch round cake pan or 8 x 4-inch loaf pan. The cake is good for breakfast with a cup of coffee or serve this as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Eggnog Bread Pudding

Bread Pudding is a comfort dessert with a scoop of ice cream any time of the year. And Christmas time Bread Pudding with home baked Challah and warming spices, topped up with Eggnog Ice Cream and caramel sauce takes it to the next level. This sumptuous festive dessert is so easy to make with available pantry ingredients and this is what Christmas tastes like!

Challah

It's the time of the year when I love to bake lots of goodies. Challah is one them and I've been baking it for years during Christmas time mostly. It tastes as great as store bought. It's so exciting to see golden crusted braided Challah comes out from the oven that looks stunning but easy to do. The Challah is a traditional 4-12 strand braided bread. My 4, 5 and 6 strand braided Challah look fabulous and I just feel like a pro; but I am not, because I haven't mastered to braid more than 6 strand Challah yet. 

Cranberry Orange Rolls

A month long Christmas spirit comes with loads of activities, putting up and decorating Christmas tree with festive color ornaments, shopping, warping presents, playing secret Santa game, listening-singing carols, watching Christmas movies, reading stories, strolling through the neighborhood to see Christmas lights. It's truly Christmas spirit everywhere we go. It never mattered whether we belong to this faith or not. Our Christmas spirit is very high, the biggest festival in our family! It's the season to be jolly to share, care and receive. 

Christmas Fruit Bread Wreath

Our kitchen smells so Christmassy because I have been baking some sweet and savory goodies lately. I am very happy to post some of them. Christmas wreath bread is another amazing show stopper at Christmas table. I used my Italian Sweet Easter bread dough recipe filled with some dried fruits and turned it into a wreath. It is so simple to create an edible wreath. Fillings can be any sweet stuff but dried fruits really smells Christmassy. This bread is best when served fresh from the oven. But you can bake it ahead, warm it up before serving. Feel free to add a couple of tablespoons orange flavored liqueur like Triple Sec or Cointreau if you have it on hand. Soak dried fruits in orange flavored liqueur for 1 hour if using.

Pumpkin Spice Star Bread

It’s fall and baking season begins in the kitchen with the finest ingredients. It's the time of the year I love to bake quite a few items with pumpkin. I have already made pumpkin spice and pumpkin puree from scratch that I would use in some baked recipes and drinks. 

Christmas Stollen

December is a festive month that we look forward to celebrating with dear ones. As soon as Thanksgiving is over we listen to Christmas music on our favorite radio station throughout the day. 

More than a month, Christmas lights are sparkling in the neighborhood and trees standing tall in the malls. Stores shelves are filled with goodies. People are busy shopping and wrapping presents for loved ones. Santas are walking in the malls. It's truly Christmas spirits everywhere. To me Christmas is all about spirit of giving, reading Christmas stories, watching movies with kids, making festive drinks and baking.