Best Orange Loaf

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Happy Monday! I bought some oranges last week and last night they were looking a bit sad, so I decided to bake something quick before they turn bad. This cake is perfect if you want a quick and easy bake. It has orange juice and zest which give a nice citrus flavor. Also, I am showing you how to make that nice line on top that bakery loaves have: you just need melted butter and a knife.

Let’s start with the recipe and if you would like to watch how I made this loaf, visit me on Instagram @pastry_tales

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Mocha Cupcakes

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Happy 2023! I hope this new year is fulfilled with better things for all of us. I have been MIA for the last 2 weeks of 2022 because the holidays hit in a different way to me. It was the first holidays that my dad was not at home, covid hit my mother’s caregiver and we were all afraid that my mom gets it, but thanks God that she did not. So, as you can understand my holidays were quiet at home with my husband and my dogs. I baked some cookies and made special dinner for Christmas and New Year’s Eve; we watched the ball dropped but that was “different” comparing to other years.

Also, I’m getting ready to travel to Peru sometime next month because we just sold my parents’ house, and we are in the process of buying a smaller place for my mom to live with her caregiver. I’ll be going to help with the move and to make it as smooth as possible for my mom due to her Alzheimer’s which has been progressing a little lately. I will be there for about a month or maybe more, and it will be exhausting for sure, but it is what it is, so I have to tough it up and keep going with this “special” journey with my parents.

My 40th birthday is next Saturday (January 14th) and really, I don’t have any special plans. I would have loved to maybe go on a trip with my husband or do something fun but because of everything going on I might just go to dinner or maybe brunch.

Before I forget, for my birthday this year, I’m asking for donations to Alzheimer’s Association. I’ve chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope you’ll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me. Every little bit will help me reach my goal. You can donate HERE.

Anyway, those are my updates and now it’s time to talk about my first recipe of 2023. Because my birthday is next week, I decided to create these cupcakes that have mocha flavor which is one of my favorites for sure. These mini cakes have chocolate and espresso, soft and fudgy. The frosting is a light and delicate chocolate espresso buttercream that is perfect for this kind of cupcakes.

Let’s start baking and if you would like to watch how I made these, don’t forget to visit on Instagram @pastry_tales

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Walnut Spiced Linzer Cookies With Homemade Mulled Wine Jelly

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Christmas is next week and I haven’t be able to take these cookies out of my mind. Linzer cookies are so pretty and they are pretty flexible with what ingredients you use for the cookie dough and the filling.

Today, I’m showing you how to make the cookie part with toasted walnuts, flour, butter, ground cinnamon and ginger. The filling is a homemade mulled wine jelly which is the perfect flavor for this time of the year. Even if you are not a wine drinker, you will love this jelly plus your house will smell lovely with all the mulling spice.

If you would like to see how I made these cookies, visit me on Instagram @pastry_tales

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Best Gingerbread Loaf

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I was not a fan of gingerbread flavor, but I changed my mind after I made this delicious cake that screams Christmas in every bite! Texas is starting to cool off (a bit, not much really) and it has been a good excuse to turn on my oven and start making Christmas treats to enjoy my favorite Christmas movies. This gingerbread loaf is perfect for a chilly morning. This cake does not have molasses like other recipes, but I added candied ginger which makes the bread tastier!

There is no trick for this recipe. Just one thing to remember when you make the icing/frosting: Use cold cream cheese not room temperature. Using cold cream cheese will make your frosting perfect and not runny.

Video of this recipe and other Christmas recipes are posted on my Instagram. Click HERE.

Let’s start baking and if you make this, let me know!

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Peppermint Mocha Cookies

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Welcome December and cookie season! How is everyone doing? Are you ready for Christmas baking? I’m so ready! Here is a new cookie recipe that you can add to your baking list that is kid friendly, perfect for a cookie swap or just to indulge yourself while watching a Christmas movie.

These cookies have a strong chocolate flavor because I’m using dark cocoa powder and espresso. For the peppermint part, I decided to use peppermint extract, chopped candy canes and make a light drizzle on top with a peppermint flavored chocolate coating.

These cookies need chilling time in the fridge so do not skip this step.

Let’s start with the recipe and if you would like to watch how I made them, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @pastry_tales

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Peppermint Mocha Linzer Cookies

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Peppermint Mocha is one of my favorite drinks during the holidays. Also, Linzer cookies are one of my favorite treats to eat during Christmas time. Linzer cookies are usually made with some kind of nut and filled with fruit jam. I created a new version using a chocolate cookie dough and the filling is a delicious peppermint buttercream that will met in your mouth.

Let’s start with the recipe and if you would like to see how I made these, visit me on Instagram @pastry_tales

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Peanut Butter Cookies With Maple Glaze

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It’s Christmas time (because Mariah Carey says so… lol) so I’m starting my Holiday baking with cookies that I love to have when I make my cookie boxes for Christmas. These cookies have been a hit during the years and I always have people on social media asking for the recipe, that is why I just made them so I can create a reel (video) for Instagram so you can all see how easy is to make them.

Let me tell you about this cookie… My husband (Steve)  gives me great ideas of different things to bake. One day he said: “Why don’t you make a Peanut Butter Cookie with a Maple Glaze”? I was like … mmm.. that might work… but I had a doubt about how to make this glaze… it had to be a glaze that kinda gets a bit hard so it is easy to eat and does’t make a mess, right? Oh well.. I gave it a try and the result was perfect.

If you would like to watch how I made these cookies, don’t forget to visit me on Instagram @pastry_tales

Let’s start with the recipe.

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Haunted Manor (Pumpkin Bundt Cake)

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I love Bundt cake pans and last year my sister-in-law (Nancey) gifted me this spooky pan which I haven’t used until now. It has the shape of a haunted house/manor which is perfect to celebrate Halloween.

The cake flavor is pumpkin spice and has a different texture than my pumpkin bread because it has less moisture. The flavor of this cake is on point, you can taste pumpkin and spices but won’t be too much, even people who does not like pumpkin treats will love this.

You can decorate it in any way you like so use your imagination.

In case you don’t want to get this special haunted house cake pan, you can use any other cake pan you might have at home.

Let’s start with the recipe and if you would like to see how I made this cake, visit me on Instagram @pastry_tales

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Pumpkin Alfajores With Pumpkin Spice Dulce Leche Filling

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Happy October friends! We’re in the spooky month of the year and my first recipe for this special season is this delicious new alfajores recipe that you will love! These cookies are made with pumpkin puree, spices, vanilla, cornstarch, etc. And because we do not want soggy pumpkin cookies, I will show you how to take care of that moisture that can be a problem for your cookie dough.

The filling is mixture of regular dulce de leche and pumpkin spice spread which gives the perfect touch for each bite.

If you would like to watch how I made these cookies, visit me on Instagram @pastry_tales

Let’s start with the recipe!

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Small Batch Bakery Style Pumpkin Muffins

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I know that when we go to coffee shops or bakeries, we always look at those nice muffins with crumb topping and you might think that they are hard to bake, but no, you just have to nail the crumb layer and, in this recipe, I’m giving you the tips of how to achieve the best crumb topping that you can use for muffins, coffee cakes or pies!

These muffins have the right amount of pumpkin and spices, they are sweetened with the right mix of granulated sugar and light brown sugar. Also, this recipe is just for 6 regular size muffins because I KNOW that making a big batch is a little too much sometimes, so why wasting a lot of ingredients if we just want to eat a couple. You can also double the ingredients for a bigger batch.

Let’s start with the recipe and if you would like to watch how I made lovely treats, visit me on Instagram @pastry_tales

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