vanilla extract – FoodWatcher

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Strawberry Banana Bread

Moist, flavorful banana bread studded with chunks of fresh strawberries, a hint of cardamom, and brushed with a sweet strawberry glaze. Take your favorite banana bread recipe to new heights with fresh strawberries for a flavorful twist you’ll simply adore. The sweet strawberry glaze on top is—literally—the icing on the cake! The theme of this […]

The post Strawberry Banana Bread first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

Moist, flavorful banana bread studded with chunks of fresh strawberries, a hint of cardamom, and brushed with a sweet strawberry glaze.

Take your favorite banana bread recipe to new heights with fresh strawberries for a flavorful twist you’ll simply adore. The sweet strawberry glaze on top is—literally—the icing on the cake!

Loaf of Strawberry Banana Bread with a pink glaze, two slices laying down to show the interior texture, and strainer with strawberries in the background.

The theme of this spring’s recipes is red and yellow, apparently. Strawberry + lemon, strawberry + passionfruit, and now, strawberry + banana.

I can’t help it if strawberries are just so darn versatile, it’s one of the reasons they are one of my favorite ingredients to bake with.

Unfortunately this recipe used the last of my spring berries, marking the official end of strawberry season here in Tennessee.

I was lucky to get in two good picking sessions this year, though all the rain we’ve had has made the season particularly short (the last time we went, half the fruit in the field was rotten. It was very sad, indeed.). Still, I managed to get 3 good strawberry recipes out of them, which I certainly consider a successful strawberry season!

And actually, make that 4 good recipes, I forgot I’ve got something chilling in the freezer that’ll ultimately work with all different kinds of fruit, not just strawberries, so I’ll be sharing that one later this summer.

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Olive Oil Pancakes

Classic buttermilk pancakes made with extra virgin olive oil instead of the typical melted butter. With a hint of lemon zest that plays beautifully with the fruitiness of the olive oil, the result is a unique and utterly delicious twist on a breakfast classic. Weekends are for brunching, and these olive oil pancakes will satisfy […]

The post Olive Oil Pancakes first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

Weekends are for brunching, and these olive oil pancakes will satisfy your breakfast cravings without fussy reservations or long waits. Moist, light and delightfully fluffy, with a unique flavor that’s all their own, this may well become your new go-to pancake recipe.

Pouring maple syrup on a tall stack of Olive Oil Pancakes, another plate in the background.

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with brunch. I love the food, of course, from French toast and pancakes to huevos rancheros and eggs Benedict. But Brunch is also a major pain: you either have to go early to beat the crowds, have the foresight to have made a reservation, or be willing to wait for a ridiculous long time for a table.

Instead of dealing with the hassle of the Sunday morning hoards, an easy brunch at home is so much more relaxing (pants not required). At the same time, no one really feels like slaving over the stove first thing in the morning, so a quick and easy recipe is key, and I should have you know that these olive oil pancakes can be whipped up in less than 30 minutes.

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Cinnamon Raisin Scones

I love baking and eating scones: strawberry, blueberry, chocolate chip, pumpkin…I could go on and on. They are such a fantastic breakfast treat. I love these Cinnamon Raisin Scones because they remind me of cinnamon raisin bread, which is my favo…

Mini Oreo Cheesecakes

These mini Oreo cheesecakes are made with a delicious mix of cookies and cream, featuring a whole Oreo as the “crust.” I’ve been making these mini Oreo cheesecakes for over a decade now whenever I need a quick and easy treat for a gathering. And I’m telling you — especially when it comes to cheesecake […]

These mini Oreo cheesecakes are made with a delicious mix of cookies and cream, featuring a whole Oreo as the “crust.”

I’ve been making these mini Oreo cheesecakes for over a decade now whenever I need a quick and easy treat for a gathering. And I’m telling you — especially when it comes to cheesecake recipes — it doesn’t get much easier, cuter and tastier than this!

My favorite thing about this mini cheesecake recipe is that there’s no need to spend extra time crumbling, mixing, and pressing down a fancy crust. Simply pop an Oreo in the bottom of each baking cup and you’re good to go! The vanilla cheesecake batter here is also quick and easy to mix with 5 basic ingredients. Then simply bake for about 15 minutes, chill, top with whipped cream and an extra Oreo for garnish, and enjoy, enjoy.

These mini Oreo cheesecakes are the perfect make-ahead dessert for dinner parties, game days, or anytime you’re craving a sweet treat. And while I love making this recipe with classic Oreos, feel free to experiment with whatever Oreo flavors you love best.

Let’s make some Oreo cheesecakes!

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Blackberry Red Wine Chocolate Cake

This boozy twist on a classic chocolate layer cake is made with red wine for a rich and robust chocolate cake with unique fruity undertones and an incredible depth of flavor unlike any other chocolate cake you’ve had before. Three layers of moist, deeply chocolate cake, with blackberry preserves and a fluffy vanilla bean buttercream […]

The post Blackberry Red Wine Chocolate Cake first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

Three layers of moist, deeply chocolate cake, with blackberry preserves and a fluffy vanilla bean buttercream in between, and a drizzle of dark chocolate glaze for a dramatic effect that’s as easy as it is impressive. Top it with some gold-brushed blackberries for some serious flair!

Blackberry Red Wine Chocolate Cake with shiny chocolate glaze dripping down the sides, with gold-dusted blackberries as decoration.

Taylor recently celebrated a milestone birthday, and it felt appropriate to re-make one of our all-time favorite cake recipes (and yours too!) This cake was first made back in 2012, 11 years ago to the day actually (scroll down to the bottom to see the original photos if you’re looking for a laugh). Since then it’s been made and loved by countless readers and fans, for birthdays and celebrations and non-celebrations alike.

Why is it so beloved? Other than being gosh darn delicious, and easy to boot, I suspect the glamor of red wine adds to the mystique of this recipe. It just sounds fancy, doesn’t it? At its most basic it is a classic chocolate layer cake, yes, but the red wine brings out the fruity notes of the chocolate, adding a unique depth of flavor that makes for a truly unforgettable cake. Add to that a layer of blackberry preserves, a fluffy vanilla bean buttercream, and a drizzle of dark chocolate glaze… what you end up with is simply perfection (frankly there’s no other way to put it).

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Panettone French Toast

I’ve been pondering what, if anything, I should close out the year with. In the past, I’ve written down my thoughts here, which I spent the last couple of days pondering. Reading and re-reading what I wrote, I realized that I couldn’t quite figure out what I wanted to say. And if I couldn’t figure it out, I didn’t feel like I should inflict that on…

It’s been a great year in a lot of ways. The book I’d been working on for nearly two years came out, and a revised and updated cookbook that’s turning ten years old in March will be released in the spring. I also got to spend time with family members that I haven’t seen in a while. And doing so in 90ºF weather, in November, ain’t bad either.

Continue Reading Panettone French Toast...

Peanut Butter Fudge

I love making homemade fudge, especially during the holidays. Fudge is the perfect little treat for holiday parties and also makes a great gift for friends and family. This Easy Peanut Butter Fudge recipe is my FAVORITE fudge because I LOVE peanut butt…

Pumpkin Donut Waffles with Vanilla Cardamom Glaze

These glorious glazed pumpkin donut waffles are a must make for fall: with a fluffy, yeasty waffle base infused with pumpkin and brown butter, dipped in a sweet vanilla cardamom glaze. The yeasted batter gives these waffles a donut-like flavor even before they’re glazed, with whipped egg whites and a bit of baking soda for […]

The post Pumpkin Donut Waffles with Vanilla Cardamom Glaze first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

These glorious glazed pumpkin donut waffles are a must make for fall: with a fluffy, yeasty waffle base infused with pumpkin and brown butter, dipped in a sweet vanilla cardamom glaze.

The yeasted batter gives these waffles a donut-like flavor even before they’re glazed, with whipped egg whites and a bit of baking soda for a light and airy texture with a crisp exterior. Make the batter the night before for a guaranteed good morning.

Two plates with stacks of Pumpkin Donut Waffles with a visibly drippy Vanilla Cardamom Glaze, mini pumpkins and cup of coffee in the background.

The full name of these waffles could be something like Overnight Yeasted Pumpkin (but NOT Pumpkin Spice) Brown Butter Donut Waffles with Vanilla Cardamom Glaze, but I thought that was rather a mouthful.

Though these waffles certainly are a mouthful (in the best way possible) so maybe it’s fitting that the name be too.

The recipe is based on my original Donut Glazed Yeasted Waffle recipe from a few years back, which is still one of my favorites. The waffles are ultra crispy, with a light and fluffy interior and a yeasty flavor that makes them taste just like, you guessed it, a raised donut (NOT a cake donut, let’s just clear that up right now).

The waffles are best when the batter sits overnight, which means you pretty much have to do most of the prep ahead of time, ideally the night before. In the morning, you’ll just need to mix in the egg yolks and whip the egg whites, then make the waffles and glaze them.

If you’d rather do even more work ahead of time, make the batter two days in advance, make the waffles the day before, then the morning of simply reheat the waffles in the oven (which somehow makes them even crispier) and dip them in the glaze.

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Malted Fudge Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Sweet dreams are made of these malted fudge brownie ice cream sandwiches, with layers of chewy fudge brownie, luscious ganache, and a malted cocoa ice cream. These brownie ice cream sandwiches are quite possibly one of my favorite recipes, ever. With layers of silky smooth milk chocolate ganache and a light cocoa ice cream that’s […]

The post Malted Fudge Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

Sweet dreams are made of these malted fudge brownie ice cream sandwiches, with layers of chewy fudge brownie, luscious ganache, and a malted cocoa ice cream.

These brownie ice cream sandwiches are quite possibly one of my favorite recipes, ever. With layers of silky smooth milk chocolate ganache and a light cocoa ice cream that’s no-churn and no-fuss, sandwiched between two layers of thin, chewy brownie, they are as easy to prepare as they are to devour.

Random stack of Malted Fudge Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches, cut into squares to show the different layers, on a marble board.

Friends, these are ridiculously good.

Like, one of the best things I’ve ever made good. And considering I’ve published over 1,500 recipes (!!) that’s saying something.

Not to mention that for a multi-component ice cream sandwich, they are surprisingly easy to prepare. Which only makes them even better in my mind.

My original intention was to make Cosmic brownie-inspired ice cream sandwiches. I envisioned layers of chewy brownie, silky smooth milk chocolate ganache, and an ultra-rich, brownie batter-like ice cream. Topped off with rainbow bit sprinkles, of course.

The final recipe turned out a bit different than my original vision, with a lighter cocoa ice cream (a better contrast, in both taste and appearance, with the already-rich brownie and ganache), and leaving off the rainbow chips (gasp! I know). But in reality the chips didn’t really add anything visually to the sandwiches, seeing as they were layered in between the ganache and ice cream and only served to mess up the crisp clean cuts.

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London Fog Latte (Hot or Iced)

This cozy London Fog Latte recipe is easy to make hot or iced and brewed with a lovely hint of lavender. Once upon a time, this was the very first latte recipe I ever posted here on Gimme Some Oven. And now — over a decade and countless lattes later — it continues to be […]

This cozy London Fog Latte recipe is easy to make hot or iced and brewed with a lovely hint of lavender.

London Fog Latte (Earl Grey Latte)

Once upon a time, this was the very first latte recipe I ever posted here on Gimme Some Oven. And now — over a decade and countless lattes later — it continues to be one of my absolute favorites. ♡

If you happen to be new to London Fog lattes, there’s actually zero coffee involved here. Rather, this is a simple tea latte brewed with classic earl grey, your choice of milk, a hint of vanilla extract to warm things up, and a drizzle of honey to sweeten. The version that I originally fell in love over a decade ago at Latte Land in Kansas City was also brewed with a subtle hint of lavender, whose flavor I’ve come to adore in this latte and am going to insist that you try here. It plays beautifully with the bergamot orange in the earl grey and the floral notes of the honey and, in my opinion, really elevates this drink to something extra-special. I’ve probably brewed hundreds of these lattes over the years, and always joke with friends that it’s my hug in a mug. Sooo warm and cozy and comforting!

That said, as much as I adore a good hot London Fog, I’ve come to also really enjoy serving this latte over ice in the warmer months, so I thought I would update this recipe today to include both versions. This latte is also easy to make vegan with whatever dairy-free plain milk you most prefer. And if you happen to be avoiding caffeine, there are some lovely decaf earl grey teas on the market nowadays that will work perfectly in this recipe too.

Alright, let’s make some lattes!

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