Granola

  15m active cooking • 1h total  |  Makes 7-8 cups

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups oats
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup flaked coconut
• 3/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 3/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Mix the first 9 ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Pour the water into a small pan. Then add the oil, honey, and molasses.
3. Stir and cook the mixture until heated through
4. Then add the vanilla, salt, and cinnamon and stir.
5. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.
6. Transfer to 2 oiled cookie sheets.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.

Gooey Butter Cake

  20m active cooking • 1h 5m total  |  Makes 9×13 pan

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cooked pie crust in 9 x 13 inch pan (see recipe)

Directions:

1. Mix cream cheese, butter, vanilla, eggs together. Slowly pour in powdered sugar until blended.
2. Pour over crust. Bake for 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees until knife comes out fairly clean.
3. Let cool for 10 minutes or so before cutting and serving. Dust with powdered sugar.

Fluffy Pancakes

  30m active cooking • 30m total  |  Makes 6-8 pancakes depending on size

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cups milk
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 cup flour
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp butter

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Grease saucepan with butter on medium heat.
3. Pour just enough batter to coat the bottom of the pan.
4. Flip after a couple of minutes once the batter starts to bubble.
5. Remove from heat onto another plate, and repeat previous steps with remaining batter.

Crepes

  40m active cooking • 40m total  |  Makes 10-20 crepes depending on size

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2/3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Salt

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Grease saucepan with butter on medium heat.
3. Pour just enough batter to coat the bottom of the pan.
4. Flip after a minute or two once the edges start to crinkle.
5. Remove from heat onto another plate, and repeat previous steps with remaining batter.

Easy Coffeecake

  15m active cooking • 45m total  |  Makes 8×8 pan

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup water or milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 4 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp butter
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/4 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tbsp salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and 3 tbsp butter until crumbly. Set aside.
3. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, 4 tbsp butter, and 2/3 cup mixture from first bowl. Set aside.
4. Take the remaining mixture in the first bowl and mix it with water/milk, egg, and sugar. Pour into greased 8×8 inch square pan.
5. Now, crumble topping across the top of the batter.
6. Bake for 25 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

Cinnamon Rolls

  30m active cooking • 2h 20m total  |  Makes 6-10 cinnamon rolls depending on size

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup milk
• 7 1/4 tbsp butter, split
• 1 egg
• 1 1/3 tbsp sugar
• 1/3 tsp salt
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp yeast
• 4 tsp cinnamon
• 8 tbsp brown sugar
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• ¼ tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 tsp milk

Directions:

1. Heat milk, so that it is hot to the touch. Mix with yeast and sugar. Let rest for 10 minutes until foamy.
2. Mix in 1.25 tbsp softened butter, egg, salt, and flour.
3. Let rise in a warm location until doubled.
4. Split dough into two chunks and roll out on a floured surface (maybe 9 inches by 13)
5. Mix cinnamon, brown sugar, and remaining butter together.
6. Put about half of the cinnamon mixture onto the rolled out piece of dough. Spread evenly.
7. Roll up the 9×13 inch piece of dough with the cinnamon mixture.
8. Cut into four even chunks, and place into greased pan.
9. Repeat the process with the remaining chunk of dough.
10. Bake for 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until golden.
11. Mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk together to form a glaze.
12. Drizzle glaze on top before serving.

American-Style Belgian Waffles

  30m active cooking • 30m total  |  Makes 8-10 waffles

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp veg oil
• 2 cups milk
• 3 eggs separated
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Separate the eggs, with the yolks in one large bowl, and the whites in another.
2. Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
3. Mix the remaining ingredients together. Once mixed, fold in the beaten egg whites.
4. Turn on waffle maker. Use to cook waffles, spraying with vegetable oil in between cooking each waffle.

***This recipe is an Americanized version of the Belgian waffle that we may have had growing up. This style of waffle comes from Brusells, Belgium and is the most popular. I will be posting a separate recipe for my personal favorite: the Liège style waffle.

Beer Pancakes

  30m active cooking • 30m total  |  Makes 6-8 pancakes depending on size

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cups sugar
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup beer
• 2 tbsp butter

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Grease saucepan with butter on medium heat.
3. Pour 1/4 cup of batter to the pan.
4. Flip after a couple of minutes once the batter starts to bubble.
5. Remove from heat onto another plate, and repeat previous steps with remaining batter.

Bagels

  45m active cooking • 2h 30m total  |  Makes 6 large bagels

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 tsp yeast
• 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
• 1 cup warm water
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3 cups flour
• Optional (Asiago) – 1/4 lb shredded asiago – Squish cheese on top
• Optional (Cheddar Jalapeno) – 1/4 lb cheddar & 1 sliced jalapeno – Squish jalapenos on top, then cheese on top of that
• Optional (Everything) – 2 tsp poppy seeds, 2 tsp sesame seeds, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp sea salt – Dip wet bagel into bowl with dry toppings

Directions:

1. Mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let rest until foamy.
2. Add salt and flour, kneading until just pulls away from bowl.
3. Let rise until doubled.
4. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil.
5. Once dough is doubled, divide into 6 pieces and put a hole in the middle. Do not squish them flat. Let rest for ten minutes.
6. Boil each bagel for about 5 minutes.
7. Decorate bagels with preferred toppings, and bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.

***I recommend doubling this recipe and freezing the leftovers.