With Christmas around the corner, it was time to start my batch of French Christmas Sablés. It is a childhood tradition that I absolutely did not want to miss. I wish that my teens will feel this same enjoyment, and have these same wonderful memories as I did during the holiday season. In my family,…
Cookies, muffins, and small cakes
French Almond Financiers
Financiers are a small classic French almond cake served with tea or coffee. It is a delicious treat made of white eggs, ground almond, icing sugar, flour, and brown butter. But why it is called Financiers? They originate from sisters of the Visitandine Order, who made small oval cakes with almonds, flour, sugar, butter, and…
Nonnettes – French Gingerbread Cakes with Honey and Orange Marmalade
Nonnettes are French little round cakes made from gingerbread, honey, stuffed with orange marmalade, and covered with a fine sugary glaze. They a part of my childhood, a gift that I received for St.Nicholas Day on December 6th (if you want to know more about St. Nicholas Day). The Nonnettes take their name from “nuns”….
Blueberry Muffins
I have been making this Blueberry Muffins recipe twice this week because my family thinks it is the best muffin I have ever made so far. These muffins are moist and a little crunchy with the turbinado sugar on the top. A hint of almond extract really beautifully enhances the blueberries and gives a very pleasant taste…
Coconut Spritz
Christmas is coming fast and I just made my batch of Coconut Spritz with some slight changes from the original recipe After doing the Coconut Spritz by hand with my cookie press for years, I finally gave in and bought the meat grinder for my Kitchen Aid where I can put the special end piece that…
Spiced Pumpkin Cookies
I am addicted to this Spiced Pumpkin Cookies recipe from Giada De Laurentiis, which is a healthy treat to satisfy your sweet tooth for fall and Halloween. These Spiced Pumpkin Cookies are crisp, chewy, and not cake-like at all with the addition of pumpkin. The spices have just the right balance. What is also nice in this recipe that…
Spritz Cookies
Spritz Cookies are cookies traditionally prepared at Christmas in the East of France, Lorraine (where am I from), and Germany. A spritz is a sweet cookie in which you can add almond powder or hazelnut powder or unsweetened shredded coconut. Its name comes from the special decorating tube that you use to shape the dough….
Little Christmas Cookies
Before Christmas, I enjoy making these little Christmas Cookies with my sons. This reminds me of my childhood when I helped my parents make big batches to offer to family, friends, and ate them all around Christmas time. The base to make the little Christmas cookies is a “pâte sablée” (shortcrust dough) in which you…
