Back to School Baking

Summer isn’t over yet! We’re still soaking in the sunshine, embracing slower schedules and eating all of the juicy summer produce.

But there is something about school starting and the days getting shorter that starts to re tune my inner clock and remind me that Fall is coming. For me this change brings, of course, an inspiration to bake more!

So today I’d like to share some recipes I love for this back to school, back to busier work transitional time. It may seem counterintuitive for a baker to share recipes for YOU to bake, but you know what? I know my limits. I love to bake delicious breads and crave-worthy cookies and bars for you! But as a cottage food baker I’m just not going to be expanding into selling what I think of as everyday baking - muffins, quick breads, crumbles. But this type of baking is so joyful! They’re quick to make and satisfying to eat and to share. So here are a few of my favorites to whip up for my kid’s lunch box, an afternoon treat for myself or to bring to a friends house on a September weekend.

First is this Apple Cinnamon Bread from Sally’s Baking . We just harvested all of our apples this week and this was the first thing I made with them! It’s a delicious spiced cake as is but I went ahead and swapped out spelt and whole wheat flour for the all purpose and have no regrets.

Next are the spectacular Buttermilk Berry Muffins from 101 Cookbooks. The buttermilk gives them a blueberry -pancake quality but with the delicious crackly top of a muffin! (Also, I’ve been learning to bake from this particular blog for over 15 years! She’s great.)

And last, this crumble is the basis for all crumbles I make. I’ll change out the fruit, adapt the spices and sometimes omit the nuts, but it always serves to give me a delicious, intense fruit flavored dessert with very little effort.

I hope you find something tasty to bake this season and enjoy some slowing down time. And for all of your bread and cookie needs - I’ve got you.