Author: longdistancebaking

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

I know what you’re thinking, “Didn’t Kelly just make oatmeal cookies?” You’re right, I did, (check it out here) but as I was making these cookies last night, which were originally going to be pumpkin snickerdoodles, I had the sudden urge to add oatmeal. I 

Pumpkin Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

Pumpkin Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

I love breakfast. It just might be my favorite meal of the day! With dessert a close second. Very rarely though do I actually make breakfast though. It’s usually always something quick that I’m shoving in my mouth in the car rushing to get to 

Apple Donut Holes

Apple Donut Holes

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I don’t know if I have mentioned this before or not, but at my wedding (which is completely non-existent at this point and purely hypothetical) I want donuts instead of cake. More specifically, I want Apple Donuts.

Ever since I was young, as in before I remember, we have been going to Apple Hill every Fall. Apple Hill is this little place about 45 minutes away that is a community of different apple farms and stands. Located in the foothills, Apple Hill is the quintessential Fall location with the mountains and trees. I think my love of Fall and the desire to live in a New England Fall stems from the yearly trips we take to Apple Hill.
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Whenever we go, we always go to High Hill Ranch and have their chicken salad sandwiches for lunch. They are delicious! And while you wait in line to order lunch, you can see the caramel apples and apple donuts being made, tempting you to buy them all.

Oh, if only I could…
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These apple donuts are AMAZING!! Seriously, the best donuts ever! If I had to chose one donut to eat for the rest of my life, it would be the apple donuts from Apple Hill. Since I clearly think they are God’s gift to baked goods, I decided it was time to recreate them at home so I can start to enjoy them year round instead of just one weekend.
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I have donut pans to make baked donuts but let’s be honest, baked donuts just aren’t quite the same as fried donuts no matter how good they are. Since I didn’t have anything to cut/form these donuts, I just stuck with a cookie scoop and made donut holes. Some didn’t quite cook the whole way through because the donut holes were a little too large but the ones that did… delicious!! Apple Hill apple donuts will always be my favorite but these give them a run for their money! Hope you enjoy 🙂

-Kelly

recipe adapted from Heather’s French Press Pumpkin Apple Cider Doughnuts
Ingredients:

  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 tbls butter, melted
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 apples, peeled and finely chopped

Directions:

  1. Cream together butter, sugar and eggs. Meanwhile, in separate bowl, mix together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  2. Add applesauce to butter mixture.
  3. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Mix until incorporated and the dough is not sticky. If dough is too sticky, add flour 1tbls. at  a time.
  4. In a pan, pour a bottle of canola oil or vegetable oil and heat until 250 degrees. Using a cookie scoop, or something smaller, drop balls of dough into hot oil.  (If you want to make actual donuts, transfer dough onto well-floured surface and use a rolling pin to roll out about 1 inch thick and form donuts.)
  5. Fry about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, remove donut holes from oil onto paper towels to cool.
  6. Once donuts are cool, melt an additional 4 tbls of butter and add cinnamon and sugar. Pour over donut holes as a glaze.  Enjoy!

 

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

If you know me at all, you know I have a Starbucks obsession. Really it’s just a coffee obsession, but there is a Starbucks less than 2 blocks from my house. I end up there a lot. I don’t usually get food there, since I’m 

Mini Oatmeal Cookie Crisps

Mini Oatmeal Cookie Crisps

One of my favorite foods it oatmeal. When I lived in LA, I went through a phase where I would eat oatmeal mixed with a little peanut butter and few chocolate chips in the morning. In the sorority house, I would eat the Better Oats 

Classic Apple Pie

Classic Apple Pie

Is there such a thing as too many fall recipes? I hope the answer is no. Cause we’ve been on a roll here at LDB!

Classic Apple Pie | longdistancebaking.com

While pumpkin spice seems like a fairly new fall obsession (rightly so!), there is nothing more classic than an apple pie. The tart apples mixed with sugar and spices…not sure it gets much better.

I have a super simple homemade pie dough recipe that I highly recommend. Technically I guess you could use store bought dough, but you’re cheating yourself. I promise it is soooo easy to make your own delicious crust! Try it. Now.

Classic Apple Pie | longdistancebaking.com

Sorry…I’ve been accused of being bossy a time or two. Apple pie just makes me so giddy and excited! Does anyone dislike apple pie?? There’s a reason the saying is “as American as baseball and apple pie”. Go Giants, by the way!

The only thing that could make this pie better was if I picked these apples myself. I haven’t been to an orchard since I was a kid, but I remember loving it! It’s now on my list of fall things to do.

Classic Apple Pie | longdistancebaking.com

Do you know what should be on your fall to do list? Make an apple pie. From scratch. I promise, there is nothing more comforting and rewarding than pulling a freshly made pie steaming out of the oven.

Enjoy!

~Stephanie

Classic Apple Pie | longdistancebaking.com

Classic Apple Pie (filling adapted from Taste of Home)

  • 1/2 c sugar
  • 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 1/4 c flour
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • 3 apples (I like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
  • lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 egg white
  • double crust pie dough
  1. Combine sugars and spices. Set aside.
  2. Peel and thinly slice apples. Toss with lemon juice as you peel to keep them from turning brown.
  3. Toss apples with sugar and spices until fully coated.
  4. Roll out bottom crust and place in greased pie plate.
  5. Fill dish with apples. Dot with butter.
  6. Roll out top crust and lay gently over top of apples. Trim edges of crust so they are even and use your favorite method to seal the edges (for tips and creative ideas check out this Better Homes & Gardens article!)
  7. Beat egg white and brush over crust.
  8. Lightly cover pie with foil and bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 20 minutes uncovered or until crust is golden brown.
  9. Cool on wire rack before serving.
Banana Bread Cake w/Cinnamon Buttercream

Banana Bread Cake w/Cinnamon Buttercream

I truly think banana bread is one of the best foods. Not only do I convince myself it’s somewhat healthy when it most definitely is not (come on, the title itself alludes to healthiness) but there is nothing like the smell of banana bread baking 

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

As part of being an ultrasound technologist, sometimes we have to be “on call”. Usually this ends up being about once a week or so. If someone comes into the emergency department and needs an ultrasound, the doctors call us and we come in from home. 

Applesauce Cupcakes w/Cinnamon Buttercream

Applesauce Cupcakes w/Cinnamon Buttercream

While Steph was relaxing in Cabo and surviving a hurricane (check it our here!), I was drowning my twinge of jealousy that I wasn’t relaxing on a beach in Mexico with her in these Applesauce Cupcakes w/Cinnamon Buttercream. Because, come on, who doesn’t drown their emotions in baked goods especially ones that have been described as “Fall in a cupcake!”
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This recipe is from my Aunt Paula and in our family, this Applesauce cake makes an appearance at every Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. It’s usually made in a bundt pan with a vanilla glaze and is quite possibly the most moist cake I have ever had. And, let me tell you a secret, it’s made from a box!
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Ok, so the base is a boxed cake but my aunt doctored it up a bit. The sour cream keeps it moist and applesauce gives it that Fall flavor that we love. Coupled with the Cinnamon Buttercream from Monday and you have a dessert that will not last long! The best part is that this recipe so versatile. Last year I adapted the cake to make a Pumpkin Spice Cake which would also go great with this frosting!
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So if you are in the mood for a Fall treat and want a dessert that will impress, this is the one for you! You won’t be disappointed! Enjoy 🙂

-Kelly

Ingredients:

  • One box yellow cake mix (with pudding included)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup Applesauce
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a muffin pan.
  2. Blend all ingredients in larger mixing bowl and mix until incorporated.
  3. Fill muffin tins about 3/4 full and bake for 18-2o minutes. Makes about 18 cupcakes.
  4. Let cupcakes cool completely. Frost with Cinnamon Buttercream. Recipe found here!
  5. Share with others and enjoy the Fall season!
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

I’m alive everyone! I survived Mexico without getting kidnapped and murdered. Hooray! I had every intention of filling you all in on the best restaurants in Cabo and the most exciting and fun things to do…but do you want to know what happened? I turned