Snowflakes & Coffeecakes Cooking School - Snowflakes & Coffeecakes

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

1/15/2023

Happy Chinese New Year! To help with your celebration of the start of the Chinese New Year on January 22nd, I'm sharing our favorite Chinese New Year recipes, filled with savory and saucy appetizers, stir fry and other Asian dinners. Let's all celebrate the year of the Water Rabbit!

Wishing you all luck, prosperity and great food!

LITTLE BITES...

Chicken Egg Rolls with Sweet & Sour Sauce

Teriyaki Meatballs

WOK WONDERFUL...

Beef Bulgogi (Stir Fry)

Teriyaki Chicken & Cashew Stir Fry

BETTER THAN TRADITIONAL TAKE-OUT...

Honey Sriracha & Orange Glazed Chicken

Lemon Chicken with Chinese Lemon Sauce

NOODLES & RICE...

Spicy Teriyaki Chicken Udon Noodles

Chicken Fried Rice

PERFECT LITTLE ORIENTAL SAUCES...

Blackberry Hoisin Ginger Sauce & Glaze

Easy Teriyaki Sauce

Asian Sweet Chili Sauce, Marinade & Glaze

For more favorite Chinese & Asian recipes, click here!

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CHRISTMAS BANANA BREAD COLLECTION

12/22/2022

Christmas Banana Bread Collection

My family loves Banana Bread Bites – perfect for both special days and everyday munching! With a super-moist texture, buttery banana flavor, and incredibly soft crumb, this is our family-favorite banana bread made extra special with flavorful extras baked up special for the Christmas holidays - all in a sweet little bite size! It's no secret that the Christmas Banana Bread Collection is a family favorite on one of our favorite days of the year!

From the time I was a little girl, my Mom would bake classic Banana Bread and special Cherry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread for Christmas morning, filled with chocolate chips, and red and green maraschino cherries. Fresh Banana Date Bread always made an appearance for my Gram as well! She also made a special "Christmas Cinnamon Bread" that was so special that she ONLY baked it for Christmas.

CHRISTMAS MORNING BRUNCH FAVORITES

12/20/2022

EGGS BENEDICT OVERNIGHT CASSEROLE

When Christmas morning rolls around, I'm always looking for something fast, easy and delicious that I can set out for Christmas Morning Brunch. It has to be something I can make ahead of time and it has to be something special for my family!

We are usually up VERY early in the morning, and it's wonderful to have something baking in the oven to serve with fresh juice or mimosas. Today I'm sharing some of our favorites - perfect for a lazy Christmas morning!

Eggs Benedict Overnight Casserole is the PERFECT brunch! An easy overnight casserole, filled with all of the wonderful things you love in Eggs Benedict - chewy English muffins, salty Canadian bacon or ham, rich eggs and cream, and drizzled with creamy and warm Hollandaise Sauce! If you're making breakfast for a bunch, this is so much easier than poaching eggs and making individual Eggs Benedict, and everyone loves it!

CHRISTMAS BANANA BREAD COLLECTION

We ALWAYS start with homemade Banana Bread, and I've found that Banana Bread Bites are the perfect size to serve to a crowd - and I love that I can bake and freeze them, ready to pull out and warm up early Christmas day. It just wouldn't be Christmas at our house without them!

HOLIDAY HAM & CHEESE QUICHE

This classic Ham & Cheese Quiche, with heavy cream, ham and cheese is a perfect choice for a quiet holiday morning. Of all the ham and cheese quiches I’ve tried over the years, this classic French version is my favorite and one of my “go-to” brunch dishes for holidays and special days. The recipe has been in our family for years, and everyone absolutely loves it! And I love that I can make this ahead of time and simply put it in the oven to reheat on Christmas morning!

GLAZED APPLES & CRANBERRIES

I'm going to let you in on a little holiday tradition - one that is always on our table for Christmas dinner, and usually the New Year too! Glazed Apples & Cranberries are perfect with your holiday ham or pork tenderloin, and always wonderful for a Christmas morning brunch! So quick and simple to make, when this is baking, the aroma wafting around the house is out-of-this-world! And the tender sweet apple slices? So good that everyone will be gobbling them up fast!

MAPLE BANANA & WALNUT COFFEECAKE

With a name like "Snowflakes & Coffeecakes", you probably have a pretty good idea where this idea came from! If ever there was perfection in a coffee cake, we have found it! A warm slice of Maple Banana & Walnut Coffee Cake is beyond words - tender and perfectly wonderful!

CINNAMON SWIRL BOURBON PECAN FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

There are no words to describe how easy, delicious and utterly perfect this buttery cinnamon French toast casserole is! I love that you can make it a day ahead of time, and pop in the oven Christmas morning for a fast and delicious breakfast!

MAPLE CARAMEL PECAN SWEET ROLLS

I also love that Maple Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns can be started the night before you want to serve - the next morning, give them a little time to rise while everyone is waking up, bake for 25 minutes, and you'll be all set! These are really the stickiest and gooiest caramel rolls ever - perfect for a holiday morning!

HAM, EGG & CHEESE STRATA

Ham, Egg & Cheese Strata is an easy make-ahead breakfast casserole perfect for a holiday, a special breakfast, or just a lazy weekend brunch. Serve with some fresh fruit and pastries, with some coffee and mimosas, and you’ve got a party!

GRINCH SUGAR COOKIES

12/19/2022

Grinch Sugar Cookies

Word has it that these are the favorite Christmas cookies of the Grinch – and they do always disappear quickly from my Christmas cookie jar! Inspired by Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Grinch Sugar Cookies are big, thick and chewy, and perfectly delicious! With a swirl of silky green buttercream frosting and topped with fun Grinch holiday sprinkles, it’s easy to see why these are always a favorite at our house and in Whoville! I’m famous for my decorated sugar cookies, but sometimes you just want a holiday cookie that is fast, yummy, and warm from the oven!

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS APPETIZER RECIPES

12/15/2022

CHEESE & BACON CHRISTMAS TREE

If you're wondering what to make and serve for a holiday party this year, I'm sharing ten of my favorite Christmas Appetizer recipes today - each guaranteed to give you a WOW factor and have everyone begging for more - and your recipe!

Hope that you have fun with these family favorite Christmas appetizers - they are going to rock your world and your holiday parties!

CARAMELIZED ONION GRUYERE CRANBERRY & RASPBERRY TARTLETS

JUMBO SHRIMP with TEQUILA LIME COCKTAIL SAUCE

CAPRESE APPETIZER WREATH

CHRISTMAS CHARCUTERIE BOARD

BACON GORGONZOLA POMEGRANATE CHEESE BALL

WINTER HOLIDAY CHARCUTERIE BOARD

TERIYAKI MEATBALLS

CHARCUTERIE CHALET

CRANBERRY RASPBERRY BAKED BRIE IN PUFF PASTRY WITH SPICED PECANS

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CHERRY CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD

12/15/2022

Cherry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

From the time I was a little girl, my Mom would bake her special Cherry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread for Christmas morning, filled with chocolate chips, and red and green maraschino cherries. To keep that memory alive, every Christmas I bake Cherry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bites – a family favorite that is perfect for both special days and everyday munching! With a super-moist texture, buttery banana flavor, an incredibly soft crumb, and stuffed with chocolate and cherry bits, this is one of our favorite things to munch on Christmas morning! This same recipe also makes perfect Cherry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread and Cherry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Muffins.

ELF HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES

12/1/2022

CHRISTMAS ELVES LOVE TO BAKE HOLIDAY DONUTS!

Every December, Christmas elves start getting excited to bake and share their favorite holiday treats! Today our elves are going to share their very best recipes, tips and tricks for the most delicious and fun holiday sugar cookies ever! The secret to baking cookies for your Elf on the Shelf is the BEST Vanilla Sugar Cookie recipe, frosted and decorated with an Easy Royal Icing. Simple designs and some creative staging are simply the best Christmas fun!

Hope you are inspired and enjoy their adventures and fun this holiday season!

CHRISTMAS ELVES BAKING HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES

Our Christmas elves have been getting into all kinds of mischief - and we're loving it! We discovered that they LOVE baking and decorating Vanilla Sugar cookies as much as our little ones do!

WHAT IS THE ELVES' SECRET FOR PERFECT SUGAR COOKIES?

To ensure the wonderfully soft sugar cookies of your dreams, you want to roll the dough about ¼-inch thick. This may seem too thick when you are rolling and cutting, but it’s absolutely key if you want perfect sugar cookies for munching and decorating!

If you’ve found your cut-out sugar cookies lose their shape in the past, it could have been due to a few factors (too much butter in the recipe, dough too warm, dough not rolled thick enough, etc.), but I can tell you that this recipe yields absolutely beautiful edges that do not spread if you take care to roll to the appropriate thickness (if rolled too thin then they can spread) and chill the cut-out dough before baking.

CHRISTMAS ELVES LOVE HOLIDAY PIE!

ELF TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES:

Baking sheets: I use my favorite USA Pan Bakeware half sheet pans, which are aluminized steel, warp resistant and nonstick. I always line with parchment paper, not a silicone baking mat (which I find causes more spread).
Marble pastry board: This isn’t necessary, but if you have one, it’s great for keeping sugar cookie dough and pie crust cold!
Rolling pin: A simple wooden one is all you need, but my favorite is my Joseph Joseph Wooden Rolling Pin with adjustable rollers.
Flavors: I adore the pure vanilla flavor, but some people like a little bit of almond – I would recommend starting with ¼ teaspoon of almond extract in addition to the vanilla. For other fun-flavored sugar cookies, you can also replace the vanilla with your favorite extract or emulsion to the cookie dough if you’d like!
Cookie cutters: You can use absolutely any, so pick your favorites! I have a mixture of plastic and metal and they all work amazingly well with this recipe. It holds its shape for intricate designs, as well. I always dip mine in flour before cutting for a nice, clean release.
Scaling: You can double (or more!) this recipe without issue.
Buttercream Frosting: If you want to do a simple frosting (with or without sprinkles!), then I recommend my favorite Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. For little ones that love to help decorate cookies, Buttercream Frosting is definitely the way to go!
Royal Icing: To do more detailed decorating, I prefer to use Royal Icing.
Storage: The cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Make-Ahead: While I love that you can whip up these cookies immediately, you can mix together the dough, divide in half and form into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. You can also freeze the dough (place the wrapped disk in a ziploc freezer bag) for up to 1 month; thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bring it to almost room temperature, roll out, and proceed with the recipe.
Freezing: These cookies freeze exceptionally well! You can freeze them plain or decorated; if decorated, let the icing set before freezing. Store in an airtight container or ziplock freezer bag with parchment paper between the layers. The cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.

CHRISTMAS ELVES LOVE TO BAKE & HAVE FUN AT THE PIZZA SHOPPE!

CHRISTMAS ELVES LOVE BACKYARD BONFIRES AND HAVING S'MORE FUN!

CHRISTMAS ELVES SHARE THEIR TIPS & TRICKS FOR DECORATING WITH ROYAL ICING:

Consistency: There are three primary consistencies for Royal Icing – Outline, Flood, and Detail.
Coloring: There is no shortcut to great Royal Icing colors! Start with a great royal icing recipe, and use quality gel food coloring to get the best results. I recommend and use AmeriColor gel food coloring. Start with a few drops and add more food coloring only as necessary. Note that the colors will darken as they sit.
Decorating with Dark Colors: For deep or dark colors, you will use more food coloring, and for deepest black, red and green colors, for best results I make the royal icing and color the day before I’ll be decorating. It takes time and patience for the colors to fully develop.
Color Bleeding: To prevent colors from bleeding into one another, start by coloring your base recipe of Royal Icing with White food coloring. Sounds crazy, but it helps!
Take your Time: Allow each layer of icing to dry completely before adding the next layer.

CHRISTMAS ELVES LOVE HOLIDAY PUZZLE TIME!

TURTLE BROWNIE PIE with SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

11/28/2022

Turtle Brownie Pie with Salted Caramel Sauce

With so many fabulous pies being served at our annual Thanksgiving Pie party, there was one spectacular new entry that slipped by most everyone's attention - but once they discovered Turtle Brownie Pie, it quickly was named the best new pie ever! I also call it the incredible disappearing pie!

This delightfully decadent Turtle Brownie Pie is truly a pie for chocolate lovers! A fudgy brownie filled with homemade salted caramel sauce and pecans sits on top of an Oreo cookie crust, and is drizzled with more caramel and dark chocolate swirls. Served warm, this is perfect topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream. So indulgent, this pie should be illegal!

If you love turtle sundaes, turtle brownies, or turtle candies, this one is calling your name!

CLASSIC PUMPKIN PIE with SUGARED CRANBERRIES & SWEETENED WHIPPED CREAM

11/25/2022

Classic Pumpkin Pie with Sugared Cranberries

Libby’s recently changed their famous pie recipe on the pumpkin puree can label, and it was the first change to America’s favorite pie in 75 years! I’ve tweaked this for our new favorite pumpkin pie – the best Classic Pumpkin Pie you’ll ever have!

In addition to a blend of perfect spices, I start baking at 400 degrees and finish baking at 300 degrees to allow the rich custard filling to bake without curdling. The custard-like filling is silky and velvety smooth - bursting with fragrant spices and flavor, and is so pretty when decorated with pie crust leaves, fresh Sugared Cranberries and sweetened whipped cream. Luckily this traditional, made-from-scratch pie is still as easy as ever – and the recipe that my family LOVES!

TRAEGER SMOKED TURKEY with CRANBERRY BARBECUE SAUCE

11/24/2022

Traeger Smoked Turkey with Cranberry Barbecue Sauce

Looking for the best turkey for Thanksgiving, the holidays or a special weekend dinner? With a burst of flavor and all the right spices, Smoked Turkey with Cranberry Barbecue Sauce starts with an Apple Spice Turkey Brine for wonderfully tender and juicy turkey, adds savory spices from Smoked Turkey Barbecue Sweet Rub, and Cranberry Barbecue Sauce adds subtle sweetness and the perfect glaze, for the BEST turkey you have ever had in your life! I'm already getting requests to make this for Christmas and New Years!

Spatchcocked for even cooking and smoked for incredible flavor, you’ve never had turkey as good as this! If you’re lucky enough to have any leftovers, they are perfect for sandwiches, salads, or charcuterie boards. It’s also the secret to my delectable Smoked Turkey Salad!

THANKSGIVING MENU 2022

11/24/2022

COCKTAILS

Cranberry Cheer Cocktails
Salted Caramel Apple Mimosas

APPETIZERS

Caramelized Onion Gruyère Cranberry & Raspberry Tartlets
Turkey & Cranberry Pinwheels
Snausages
Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

TURKEY

Herbed Classic Roast Turkey
Smoked Turkey with Cranberry Barbecue Sauce

SIDE DISHES

Classic Herb Dressing with Wild Rice, Apples & Cranberries
Marshmallow Swirled Sweet Potato Casserole
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Classic Herbed Turkey Gravy
Fresh Green Bean Casserole
Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots
Summer Sweet Corn
Cranberry Raspberry Sauce
Crescent Rolls & Holiday Turkey Butter

THANKSGIVING DESSERT BUFFET

Classic Pumpkin Pie with Sweetened Whipped Cream
Fresh Cherry Pie
Classic Pecan Pie
Cookies & Cream Pie
Caramel Turtle Brownie Pie
French Silk Parfaits
Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars
Chocolate Chunk Pecan Pie Bars
Thanksgiving Gingerbread Cookies

BEST THANKSGIVING DESSERTS THAT AREN'T PIE...

11/23/2022

THANKSGIVING PIE SUGAR COOKIES

For Thanksgiving, it's all about the traditional turkey dinner...or is it? Some of us look forward to a Thanksgiving Dessert Buffet all year! If you're a pie lover, we've got you covered! But for those of you that prefer something a little bit different, today I'm sharing some of our family favorite Thanksgiving desserts that aren't pie! My little ones (and the big ones too) are already making their requests for this year!

CRANBERRY GINGERSNAP TARTS

BROWN SUGAR BOURBON MAPLE PECAN PIE BARS

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE WITH GINGERSNAP & PECAN CRUST
WITH CARAMEL DRIZZLE

CRANBERRY CRUMBLE BARS

SALTED CARAMEL APPLE PIE BARS

MAPLE GLAZED PUMPKIN BANANA BREAD

AUTUMN SNACK MIX

Autumn Snack Mix may not technically be a "dessert", but once the Thanksgiving parade is over and football games kick off, this sweet treat disappears FAST!

CARAMEL GLAZED APPLE BUNDT CAKE

GINGERBREAD THANKSGIVING COOKIES

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving at our house without Thanksgiving Gingerbread Cookies! Grandma VandenPlas followed the Thanksgiving custom of her mother, Grandma Petska, and loving baked dozens of Gingerbread Turkey Cookies every year for all of the little ones - a delicious and wonderful tradition that we continue to this day! Five generations of VandenPlas family LOVE these tender and soft gingerbread cookies and we hope you will too!

FOR MORE WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING RECIPES, VISIT HERE!

THANKSGIVING WINE & BEER PAIRINGS

11/22/2022

I just can't resist sharing this with you! And the Lord knows I need wine this week! For lots of other wonderful wine info, visit VinePair.com!

BROWN SUGAR BOURBON MAPLE PECAN PIE BARS

11/20/2022

If you love Pecan Pie, perfectly gooey Brown Sugar Bourbon Maple Pecan Pie Bars are a delicious twist on the classic Thanksgiving dessert! Made with brown butter, the brown sugar shortbread cookie base is soft, buttery, and melts in your mouth. But the real treat is in the pecan pie topping – sweetened with just the right amount of brown sugar, sweet maple syrup, and filled with toasty pecan pieces.

The secret ingredient? Tender tiny bits of sweet medjool dates add a layer of flavor, texture and sweetness that makes for the perfect fall treat. Brown Sugar Bourbon Maple Pecan Pie Bars are perfect for Thanksgiving dessert tables and other special celebrations, or whenever you need a sweet and nutty, buttery pecan pie bar.

PERFECT ROAST TURKEY with HERBED TURKEY GRAVY

11/14/2022

Perfect Roast Turkey with Herbed Turkey Gravy

This is the recipe and roasting technique for the juiciest, most tender and flavorful Perfect Roast Turkey! Starting with a fresh turkey and Apple Cider Turkey Brine, savory Herb Butter inside and outside, with fresh herbs, vegetables and an apple and orange tucked inside to create the juiciest, most flavorful turkey every.single.time. And the Herbed Turkey Gravy is TO DIE FOR! You will be the hero of Thanksgiving with this Perfect Roast Turkey with Herbed Turkey Gravy!

If you've never roasted a turkey before, or if you've roasted too many that were dry and with no flavor, this is the fail-proof recipe you'll come back to over and over again. This post has all of my tips and tricks as well so you'll have turkey perfection every time. Make sure to read through the entire recipe before you start, gather all of your ingredients together, and let's get roasting that turkey! And we'll never tell anyone else just how EASY it is to make a Perfect Herbed Roast Turkey!

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Thank you for visiting! I hope that you enjoyed your stay, and have found some recipes that your family will enjoy! Have any questions or comments?
Feel free to contact me!
Bon Appétit,
Mama V

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