Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

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THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE is the sixteenth book in the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis. You can always count on Ms. Davis to provide intriguing characters you’d love to hang out with and a puzzling murder to solve with tantalizing food to keep you company! In this newest release, we find event planner, Sophie Winston, handling the convention for the Association of Ghost Kitchens. I was fascinated by both the name of the group and the concept behind it, which is restaurants/kitchens that do delivery only and don’t have customers come to them. The author weaves the details of this concept into a subplot, so that the reader learns a lot yet is entertained at the same time. Another feature in “The Diva” books is that each chapter starts with an advice column question addressed to either Sophie or her frenemy, Natasha. You can count on Sophie to give practical advice and answers while Natasha… well, I wouldn’t follow any of her advice. I always look forward to reading each question and answer for both the opportunity to learn something and to get a chuckle now and then.

While I’d suggest that “The Diva” books are character driven, Ms. Davis pens smartly plotted mysteries, full of intrigue and misdirection, to keep the armchair detective on their toes. The Diva Delivers On a Promise is no exception, and I found myself immersed in the story, turning page and page to find out what happens next. With subplots threaded throughout, the author does a marvelous job of bringing them all together at the end, answering all the questions, and delivering a highly satisfying conclusion.

Sophie is quite the consummate hostess—as are several of her acquaintances—and they treat their friends and guests to all sorts of yummy goodies, so be sure to check out the recipes at the back of the book! If you’ve followed my blog for long, you’ll know that I adore cookies and love collecting cookie recipes. Naturally, I had to try out the Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies provided at the back of the book. There’s something special about the combination of chocolate and cherries, and these cookies were absolutely delicious. I like that there are more cherries than chocolate, so that the fruit flavor isn’t overwhelmed while the addition of oatmeal provides a heartier chew. Do what Sophie does… bake a batch for yourself and to share, then mix up another batch to keep in the freezer for when you’re craving a tempting treat or have unexpected guests drop by.

 

With a generous amount of cherries to balance the chocolate, and oatmeal to add an appealing texture, these hearty Cherry Chocolate Chip cookies are a special treat! Recipe shared with permission granted by Krista Davis, author of THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE.

 

Amazon Synopsis

Sophie is busy handling the first ever convention of the Association of Ghost Kitchens—restaurants that do delivery only—but she’s taking a little time out for a lunch meeting organized by A Healthy Meal. The group is dedicated to providing meals for children in need, and as a bonus, it’ll give Sophie the perfect opportunity to ogle the lavish Old Town home of socialite Geraldine Stansfield. Gerrie’s dining room is impeccably furnished, the table laden with gleaming crystal and prized china. If it weren’t for the dead man lying on the floor, everything would be perfect . . .

No one knows the victim—or at least, no one claims to. But a little snooping by Sophie reveals links to many local notables. In fact, not only was he a client of Geraldine’s late husband, an attorney—every member of the Stansfield clan knew the deceased. But only one knows what he was doing in Gerrie’s house.

Gerrie’s elegant abode looks spotless, but there’s plenty of dirty linen in those family closets. Now Sophie will have to get the killer to come clean before he spoils another appetite—for good . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Krista Davis for providing a print copy of THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE! Contest ends May 31, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

With a generous amount of cherries to balance the chocolate, and oatmeal to add an appealing texture, these hearty Cherry Chocolate Chip cookies are a special treat! Recipe shared with permission granted by Krista Davis, author of THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE.

 

Print
Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
  • 1-3/4 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon pink sea salt
  • 12 tablespoons (a stick and a half) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal (not quick cooking)
  • 1-1/2 cups dried pitted cherries
  • 2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

  2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

  3. Cream the butter with the sugars for about 2 minutes. Add the egg and beat well. Add the vanilla and beat.

  4. Mix the flour, a spoonful at a time, beating on low until it's incoroporated.

  5. Add the oatmeal and beat briefly. Add the dried cherries and chocolate chips and beat on the lowest speed just to mix.

  6. Spoon onto the prepared baking sheet, keeping them 1 or 2 inches apart. Bake large cookies about 15 minutes and small cookies 12 minutes.

  7. Remove from oven and cool on a baking rack.

 

With a generous amount of cherries to balance the chocolate, and oatmeal to add an appealing texture, these hearty Cherry Chocolate Chip cookies are a special treat! Recipe shared with permission granted by Krista Davis, author of THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE.

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

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With a generous amount of cherries to balance the chocolate, and oatmeal to add an appealing texture, these hearty Cherry Chocolate Chip cookies are a special treat! Recipe shared with permission granted by Krista Davis, author of THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE.

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

With a generous amount of cherries to balance the chocolate, and oatmeal to add an appealing texture, these hearty Cherry Chocolate Chip cookies are a special treat! Recipe shared with permission granted by Krista Davis, author of THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE.

 

 

 

 

Bailey’s Blueberry-and-Cream Fudge

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BLUEBERRY BLUNDER is the eighth book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series by Amanda Flower. Set in Amish country, protagonist Bailey King runs the family-owned candy shop, Swissmen Sweets, with her Amish grandmother. On top of starring in the hit TV show, Bailey’s Amish Sweets, Bailey is also trying to build a candy factory in town, in order to grow the family business. But the Amish community, including her grandmother, are not happy with the expansion and the general contractor is making the project even more difficult. Ms. Flower weaves a tempting tale with sweet characters (I couldn’t help but fall for Jethro, the pig, who steals each scene he’s in!), a close-knit community, and a well-plotted, puzzling murder to solve.

Having lived my entire life in California, I’m not familiar with the Amish. I appreciated the care the author gives in providing a good overview of the community, from their lifestyles to their beliefs, without ever bogging down the story. In this modern day, it’s difficult to envision anyone living without electricity, smartphones, or motor vehicles, yet Ms. Flower manages to bring that community and some of the challenges they face to life on the pages.

The murder mystery itself was well thought out, and there were a slew of people who had issues with the contractor, Wade. But why was he killed in Bailey’s factory, especially after she argued with him? With so many suspects to sift through, Bailey has her work cut out for her to prove her innocence. And with a reality TV cameraman and a gung-ho producer dogging her every step, Bailey has to tread lightly out of respect for the Amish ways. Ms. Flowers proves once again she knows how to put together a mystery that’s full of heart in a charming setting!

With the first Annual Blueberry Bash gearing up in town, Bailey comes up with blueberry treats for their candy shop. Luckily for the reader, she provides a recipe for Bailey’s Blueberry-and-Cream Fudge at the back of the book. White chocolate layered with a fresh blueberry coulis combines two delectable tastes into one delicious candy. The recipe is straightforward, however, the fudge was super thick and a bit difficult to work with. Plus, the blueberries didn’t “swirl” quite like I’d envisioned. Still, the resulting sweet was quite yummy tasting, and I enjoyed the way the blueberries complemented the white chocolate. I included my notes in the recipe portion on my take when I made it the second time.

 

White chocolate layered with a fresh blueberry coulis combines two delectable tastes into one delicious Blueberry-and-Cream Fudge candy. Recipe shared with permission granted by Amanda Flowers, author of BLUEBERRY BLUNDER.

 

Amazon Synopsis

Bailey King, star of TV’s Bailey’s Amish Sweets, is building her dream candy factory in Harvest, Ohio. But no sooner is the frame of the new building up than she finds the dead body of a surly contractor who has a long list of enemies—including people in the Amish community. To add to the drama, Bailey is being filmed by a crew for her upcoming show. . .

When Bailey’s TV producer pitched a reality show about building the factory, Bailey was shocked that the network picked it up. She’s not shocked that many of the Amish working on the jobsite refuse to be on camera. However, local community organizer Margot Rawlings is ecstatic—because the filming coincides with Harvest’s First Annual Blueberry Bash. Margot believes the media attention will make Harvest the most popular destination in Holmes County. But now, the county may become known for all the wrong reasons . . .

Bailey will have to sift through a crowd of angry villagers and thousands of blueberries to solve the murder, save her new venture, and protect her Amish friends. At the same time, she and her longtime boyfriend, Aiden Brody, are making big decisions about their future together—a future that may be in jeopardy if Bailey is the next pick on a killer’s list . . .

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Kensington Publishing for providing a print ARC copy of BLUEBERRY BLUNDER! Contest ends May 24, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

White chocolate layered with a fresh blueberry coulis combines two delectable tastes into one delicious Blueberry-and-Cream Fudge candy. Recipe shared with permission granted by Amanda Flowers, author of BLUEBERRY BLUNDER.

 

Print
Bailey's Blueberry-and-Cream Fudge
Ingredients
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries (don't use frozen!)
  • 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 24 ounces white chocolate chips
  • 1/4 stick unsalted butter
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
Instructions

  1. Make the blueberry sauce. In a small saucepan add blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch over medium heat.

  2. Stir continuously and smash the blueberries until you have a thick sauce like a puree.

  3. Using a fine mesh strainer, push the puree through into a bowl and set aside.

  4. Make the fudge cream. Over a double boiler, add the white chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter.

  5. Stir continuously to blend and until all the chocolate is melted.

  6. Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper.

  7. Pour 1/3 of the white chocolate mixture into the 9x9 pan.

  8. Pour 1/3 of the blueberry sauce on top of the chocolate in the pan.

  9. Using a knife, swirl the white chocolate and blueberry sauce together.

  10. Repeat steps 7-9 two more times.

  11. Place in the fridge to set for at least three hours.

  12. Cut into pieces and enjoy. The fudge can last refrigerated for a week in an airtight container.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Notes:

  1. I'd suggest using an 8x8-inch pan.

  2. The "fudge" is very thick and difficult to spread. Use the back of a large spoon or a silicon spatula to press the white chocolate fudge into layers.

  3. I made this twice. The second time I added 2 tablespoons of heavy cream to the white chocolate chips, which made the texture a bit more creamy.

  4. Don't use the microwave to melt the white chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and butter. The white chocolate easily overheats and will cause the mixture to turn grainy.

 

White chocolate layered with a fresh blueberry coulis combines two delectable tastes into one delicious Blueberry-and-Cream Fudge candy. Recipe shared with permission granted by Amanda Flowers, author of BLUEBERRY BLUNDER.

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

White chocolate layered with a fresh blueberry coulis combines two delectable tastes into one delicious Blueberry-and-Cream Fudge candy. Recipe shared with permission granted by Amanda Flowers, author of BLUEBERRY BLUNDER.

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

White chocolate layered with a fresh blueberry coulis combines two delectable tastes into one delicious Blueberry-and-Cream Fudge candy. Recipe shared with permission granted by Amanda Flowers, author of BLUEBERRY BLUNDER.

 

 

Coffee Crunch Cookies

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POACHING IS PUZZLING is the twelfth book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber. The author has definitely crafted a puzzle of a mystery that kept me turning pages when the competitive nature of the cruciverbalists takes a deadly turn. With meticulous attention to the crossword puzzle craft and wordsmithing, the reader is in for a treat with not only a murder to solve, but an insider’s view of the world of creating crossword puzzles. Early in the book, it becomes apparent that Ms. Gerber has done an amazing amount of research to lend credibility to the theme. From each chapter heading—which provides puzzle descriptions, or puzzle themes, or thesaurus words—I was completely engrossed, up to the very last page. Of course, it’s not just a crossword puzzle book, and the characters that grace the pages bring life to the story. The protagonist, Jenna, is co-owner of the Cookbook Nook, alongside her Aunt Vera. I just adore their relationship, and oh how I wish I could visit their shop in person! If you like to collect cookbooks, Jenna offers several suggestions that are of the sort of goodies and dishes being offered at her café or at other local eateries.

While the story might be character-driven and crossword puzzle centric, Ms. Gerber is a master at crafting intriguing mysteries that pull the reader in and keep them engaged. While the victim might have been a longtime friend of Aunt Vera’s, he seems to have hidden his true self from her, as suspects and motives are uncovered. There were plenty of suspect to keep the reader guessing and clues for the sharp armchair detective to follow. My guess as to the killer was completely off the mark, but it was still fun following the clues. At the reveal, I’ll admit I felt sympathy for the murderer, and while murder is never justified, it goes to show how the author has created a character that could mimic real life. Once all was said and done, I found Poaching is Puzzling to be another entertaining addition to a long-loved series!

You can always count on Ms. Gerber to provide lots of yummy recipes at the back of the book, from sweet to savory. As soon as I saw the mention for Coffee Crunch Cookies, I just knew I had to try them. Oh my goodness… these are fantastic and will be added to the Christmas cookie goodie bags I make each year for friends, family, and my granddaughter’s teachers and aides. Crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, the bitter, nutty taste of coffee is tempered by the caramel sweetness of brown sugar. With a hint of cinnamon to round out the flavor, these cookies are perfect to enjoy with a glass of cold milk or a cup of piping hot coffee.

Coffee Crunch Cookies are a bit chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The bitter, nutty taste of coffee is tempered by the caramel sweetness of brown sugar and a hint of cinnamon to round out the flavor. Recipe shared with permission granted by Daryl Wood Gerber, author of POACHING IS PUZZLING.

Amazon Synopsis

In the cutthroat world of crossword solvers, Jenna Hart will have to decipher some puzzling clues to catch a killer . . .

The annual crossword puzzle contest has drawn contestants from near and far to Crystal Cove, and Jenna watches in amazement as puzzle-themed books fly off the shelves at the Cookbook Nook. Her aunt Vera is putting up a sizable cash prize, and no one is more surprised than Jenna to discover there’s bad blood between Vera and the prominent puzzle constructor who’s acting as master of ceremonies. And when the puzzle guru has his throat slit while he’s out hiking, the police instantly peg Aunt Vera as the culprit.

Jenna can’t stand by and watch her aunt take the fall. It’s been clear since the victim arrived that he had contentious relationships with a number of the contestants—even going so far as to steal puzzles from some of them and claim them as his own—and Jenna’s certain one of them is the killer. Trading puzzle solving for crime solving, she sorts through the convoluted clues and cryptic suspects, hoping to nab the guilty party before they decide she’s a problem they’ll solve with another murder . . .

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for providing a print copy of POACHING IS PUZZLING! Contest ends May 7, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee Crunch Cookies are a bit chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The bitter, nutty taste of coffee is tempered by the caramel sweetness of brown sugar and a hint of cinnamon to round out the flavor. Recipe shared with permission granted by Daryl Wood Gerber, author of POACHING IS PUZZLING.

 

Print
Coffee Crunch Cookies

From Jenna: I received this recipe from Latte Luck Café when I finished the crossword puzzle of the day and was treated with the cookies as my reward. They are delicious, and the recipe is so easy. Okay, it's not five ingredients, but it is two six-ingredient recipes merged into one, if you look at the butter to vanilla extract ingredients as one "recipe", and the flour to baking powder ingredients as the other. Easy-peasy. I love the flavor of coffee in this. If you want a deeper flavor, use espresso beans.

Yield: 24 - 30 cookies

Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 cups flour
  • 2 tablespoons ground coffee
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and light brown sugar. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla.

  3. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, ground coffee, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture.

  4. Drop dough by rounded, walnut-sized spoonfuls on the baking sheet. These do spread so don't put them too close, about 12 cookies per baking sheet.*

  5. Bake until cookies are golden at the edges, about 8 - 10 minutes.

  6. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Note:

  1. *Use a new piece of parchment paper for each batch, if necessary.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

  1. If dough is too sticky to work with, refrigerate for 30 minutes.

 

Coffee Crunch Cookies are a bit chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The bitter, nutty taste of coffee is tempered by the caramel sweetness of brown sugar and a hint of cinnamon to round out the flavor. Recipe shared with permission granted by Daryl Wood Gerber, author of POACHING IS PUZZLING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

Coffee Crunch Cookies are a bit chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The bitter, nutty taste of coffee is tempered by the caramel sweetness of brown sugar and a hint of cinnamon to round out the flavor. Recipe shared with permission granted by Daryl Wood Gerber, author of POACHING IS PUZZLING.

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

Coffee Crunch Cookies are a bit chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The bitter, nutty taste of coffee is tempered by the caramel sweetness of brown sugar and a hint of cinnamon to round out the flavor. Recipe shared with permission granted by Daryl Wood Gerber, author of POACHING IS PUZZLING.

 

 

 

 

Quick Cinnamon Twists

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CINNAMON TWISTED is the seventh book in the Deputy Donut Mysteries by Ginger Bolton. This character-driven cozy mystery has all the right ingredients to tempt a reader and keep them coming back for more. Protagonist Emily Westhill is part owner of Deputy Donut Café in the charming town of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. Together with her former father-in-law, they keep the town, the police, and emergency personnel filled with sweet donut treats and coffee. I just adore the relationship Emily has with her former in-laws and law enforcement personnel after losing her detective husband years earlier. She’s caring and supportive, and has an inquisitive nature which makes her the ideal person to reach out to a troubled woman visiting her café. Ms. Bolton’s descriptive style brings both the setting and the characters to life, making the reader feel like they’re right there.

When Emily tracks down the troubled woman, in order to return an earring left behind and offer assistance, she finds the woman murdered. From there, the plot takes off with twists worthy of a cinnamon twist donut. With a new police chief on the scene, his antics add angst to Emily’s discovery and investigation. His directive sending Emily’s detective beau out-of-town leaves her to suss out the killer on her own. Could he be setting Emily up to take the fall for the woman’s murder, or is he just incompetent? The subplots provided added interest and speculation about who might have wanted the woman dead. With ancient Viking artifacts found in Emily’s yard thrown into the mix, along with a wedding, the story flowed and kept me turning pages. I was surprised by the reveal… I didn’t see it coming. And in her trademark fashion, Ms. Bolton weaves the subplots together with a murder mystery in one satisfying conclusion.

Reading the scenes at Deputy Donut will have you drooling over the sweet descriptions of the treats they serve. Fortunately for the home baker, there are a few recipes at the back of the book to try. Naturally, recipes for Cinnamon Twists are included—one made from scratch, and the other quick and easy. Given many people don’t have the hours required to making yeast dough, then forming twists, then deep frying, I decided to stick with the Quick Cinnamon Twists. Starting with puff pastry, these delectable goodies have cinnamon and sugar encased in the pastry, then twisted and baked. The flaky twists are full of sweet and warm spice flavor and served warm, are utterly scrumptious!

 

Starting with puff pastry, these easy and quick Cinnamon Twists have cinnamon and sugar encased in the pastry, then twisted and baked. The flaky twists are full of sweet and warm spice flavor and served warm, are utterly scrumptious! Recipe shared with permission granted by Ginger Bolton, author of CINNAMON TWISTED.

 

Amazon Synopsis

Weeks before summer begins, Deputy Donut Café owner Emily Westhill has it all—a tabby cat by her side, cinnamon twists powdered to perfection, and a murderer on her case . . .

An ordinary late-spring afternoon for Emily becomes one that will remain baked into her memory from the moment a customer gives Emily’s cat a toy donut and then flees Deputy Donut, dropping an earring in her panic. Concerned about the customer, Emily attempts to return the earring . . . only this time the customer doesn’t have a pulse. Things get more complicated when an ambitious police detective finds the earring and an unsealed envelope addressed to Emily at the murder scene. The envelope contains a cryptic letter and a fading photograph of a woman standing in front of Emily’s house.

Why did the customer grab her cinnamon twists and flee Deputy Donut? With the detective eying Emily as a prime suspect, Emily is determined to find out. But once a donut-shaped murder weapon is discovered in her own backyard, Emily has no time to lose as she pulls apart the connection between the victim and the strange history of her property—while stopping the real culprit from ensuring her fate is done and sugar-dusted . . .

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Ginger Bolton for providing a print copy of CINNAMON TWISTED! Contest ends April 30, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

Starting with puff pastry, these easy and quick Cinnamon Twists have cinnamon and sugar encased in the pastry, then twisted and baked. The flaky twists are full of sweet and warm spice flavor and served warm, are utterly scrumptious! Recipe shared with permission granted by Ginger Bolton, author of CINNAMON TWISTED.

Print
Quick Cinnamon Twists

Makes 9

Ingredients
  • 1 sheet of store-bought puff pastry. If frozen, thaw in fridge overnight.
  • 1 teaspoon butter, softened
  • 1/8 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
Cinnamon-Sugar Topping:
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar mixed with
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions

  1. With a rolling pin, roll the puff pastry to smooth and uncurl it.

  2. Cut the pastry into 9 equal rectangles.

  3. Stir the butter, sugar, and cinnamon together. They do not need to be thoroughly blended.

  4. Spread approximately 1 teaspoon of the butter, sugar, and cinnamon mixture in the center of each rectangle of pastry leaving edges uncovered.

  5. Fold the long edges of each rectangle to the middle and pinch them together to seal. Pinch the ends to seal them, too. You'll have a long, thin envelope containing the filling.

  6. While gently stretching, twist each pastry. Some of the filling will end up on the outside. This is fine.

  7. Arrange the twists on a parchment-lined baking sheet with an inch separating them to allow for rising.

  8. Refrigerate the sheet of twists for 15 minutes.

  9. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F).

  10. Bake for 15 minutes.

  11. Remove from the oven. Coat with Cinnamon-Sugar Topping while they're still warm.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

  1. These are best when served right away.

 

Starting with puff pastry, these easy and quick Cinnamon Twists have cinnamon and sugar encased in the pastry, then twisted and baked. The flaky twists are full of sweet and warm spice flavor and served warm, are utterly scrumptious! Recipe shared with permission granted by Ginger Bolton, author of CINNAMON TWISTED.

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

Starting with puff pastry, these easy and quick Cinnamon Twists have cinnamon and sugar encased in the pastry, then twisted and baked. The flaky twists are full of sweet and warm spice flavor and served warm, are utterly scrumptious! Recipe shared with permission granted by Ginger Bolton, author of CINNAMON TWISTED.

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Starting with puff pastry, these easy and quick Cinnamon Twists have cinnamon and sugar encased in the pastry, then twisted and baked. The flaky twists are full of sweet and warm spice flavor and served warm, are utterly scrumptious! Recipe shared with permission granted by Ginger Bolton, author of CINNAMON TWISTED.

 

 

 

Overnight Cranberry French Toast Casserole

I’m celebrating the upcoming release of

MUDDLED MATRIMONIAL MURDER

the sixth book in the Cupcake Catering Mystery series with a giveaway and
I’m sharing one of the recipes in the book for
Overnight Cranberry French Toast Casserole!

Click on the Rafflecopter link below the recipe to enter for a chance to
win your choice of one of the first five books in the series

Print limited to U.S. residents only. All others will be awarded an ebook copy.
Contest ends 4/23/2023

 

 

What it’s about:

With only two weeks left to finalize the nuptial ceremony and reception for her best friend, Brad, and a Thanksgiving feast to plan, Emory Martinez has enough to keep her busy. But when Emory and Brad stumble across the body of his former stalker, with a wedding gift marble muddler lying next to the body, it soon becomes apparent someone is intent on framing the groom before vows can be exchanged.

How did the victim locate Brad and how did she end up murdered at the scene of the impending nuptials? Was someone so desperate to stop the wedding that they’d resort to murder? Or was she killed for revenge? As the countdown to the wedding speeds by, it’ll take Emory and her family and friends to pull together to pick through the muddled clues to clear the groom’s name.

Includes recipes, like the Overnight Cranberry French Toast Casserole I’m sharing today!

 

Preorder at Amazon: https://bit.ly/3zL5PZm

 

 

 

 

Start this Overnight Cranberry French Toast Casserole the evening before for a hot breakfast the next morning! With a crunchy oat-based topping and tart cranberries, this hearty dish will have family and friends lingering over breakfast. Recipe from #cozymystery MUDDLED MATRIMONIAL MURDER by Kim Davis.

Print
Overnight Cranberry French Toast Casserole

Serves 12

Ingredients
French Toast
  • 1 pound loaf stale rustic white bread cubed into 1-inch pieces (gluten-free bread may be substituted)
  • 2 cups milk whole, 2%, or almond milk
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, divided
Topping
  • 1/4 cup butter cold and cut into small pieces
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup old fashion rolled oats
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup pecans finely chopped
Instructions
French Toast
  1. Spritz a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray, then add the cubed bread to the dish. Set aside.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon together until thoroughly combined.
  3. Pour the egg mixture over the cubed bread. Press the bread down into the liquid with the back of a spatula, until bread becomes partly saturated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Topping
  1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, rolled oats, salt, cinnamon, and pecans. Using a pastry cutter or two forks, work the cold butter into the mixture until blended. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until needed.
Putting it together
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F).

  2. Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and stir the saturated bread to help soak up any egg mixture that may have puddled on the bottom of the dish. Stir 1 cup fresh (or frozen) cranberries into the bread mixture to combine. combine. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cranberries over the top of the casserole.

  3. Scatter the topping over the casserole.
  4. Bake uncovered for 35 - 45 minutes, or until edges and topping are golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving with additional maple syrup.
Notes:

  1. If using frozen cranberries, do not defrost first.

  2. Recipe may be halved and baked in an 8- x 8-inch casserole dish.

Start this Overnight Cranberry French Toast Casserole the evening before for a hot breakfast the next morning! With a crunchy oat-based topping and tart cranberries, this hearty dish will have family and friends lingering over breakfast. Recipe from #cozymystery MUDDLED MATRIMONIAL MURDER by Kim Davis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

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Start this Overnight Cranberry French Toast Casserole the evening before for a hot breakfast the next morning! With a crunchy oat-based topping and tart cranberries, this hearty dish will have family and friends lingering over breakfast. Recipe from #cozymystery MUDDLED MATRIMONIAL MURDER by Kim Davis.

 

 

 

 

Preorder at Amazon: https://bit.ly/3zL5PZm

 

 

 

Start this Overnight Cranberry French Toast Casserole the evening before for a hot breakfast the next morning! With a crunchy oat-based topping and tart cranberries, this hearty dish will have family and friends lingering over breakfast. Recipe from #cozymystery MUDDLED MATRIMONIAL MURDER by Kim Davis.

 

Shortbread

FATEFUL WORDS is the eighth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries by Paige Shelton. Filled with the wondrous sights of Edinburgh and its famous authors (with a focus on Sir Walter Scott) while puzzling over mysteries to solve, the armchair detective and traveler are in for a treat with this newest release. Kansas transplant to Scotland, protagonist Delaney works at the Cracked Spine bookstore. While this can easily be read as a standalone, it’s been a joy watching as Delaney has grown and changed over the course of the series, which makes me recommend starting at the beginning. The author’s keen descriptive voice brings the charming bookstore and the characters who inhabit the pages to life. With Delaney stepping in to lead her boss’s annual literary tour of Edinburgh—after he mysteriously disappeared—this book contains more of the city than we’ve previously seen… which I adored. I especially enjoyed seeing more of Delaney’s husband, Tom (an Edinburgh native), as he assists her both with the tour and the investigations. The couple are delightful together and their respect and love for each other adds to the charm of the story.

Ms. Shelton creates a multi-faceted mystery, with twists and turns at every corner. First her boss disappears, then a murder takes place at the hotel the tour group is staying at. It doesn’t take long for one of the tour members to disappear and from there, the danger escalates. Weaving in tension amongst the literary tour spots around the city, the story is evenly paced and kept my attention glued to each page. As mysteries mount and clues are hunted down, the list of suspects grew. One of the unique things I like about this series is that Delaney hears bookish voices which throw out quotes from books. Sometimes the quotes help guide her in the investigation or point her in a different direction. The suspenseful conclusion brings even more danger before the reveal, and the author expertly connects the threads together into satisfying, cohesive answers.

While there aren’t any recipes in the book, the author brings the delightful tastes of Scotland to the pages. Shortbread is a popular teatime treat and Ms. Shelton is kind enough to share her favorite recipe with us! Here is her note on her recipe: I love shortbread – the flavor, the texture, the whole “got milk?” sensation because it’s so dry. However, my husband used to not be a fan, until I made one small change to my favorite shortbread recipe. Honestly, I like it better now too. I’m late to the party on this one, and I know most everyone else figured it out, but sprinkling sugar on top of shortbread is a game-changer. Yum. Here’s my favorite shortbread recipe with the recent addition.

And my taste testers gave this yummy shortbread recipe high marks! I even made it gluten-free and vegan the second time around by substituting a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour for all-purpose flour and used vegan margarine instead of the butter. It did require an extra ten minutes of baking and wasn’t quite as flaky as the “real” recipe, but my dietary-sensitive friends thought the shortbread was amazingly delicious.

 

 

This shortbread recipe provides a buttery, flaky cookie that's made even more special by the sprinkling of sugar over the top! Recipe shared with permission granted by Paige Shelton, author of FATEFUL WORDS.

 

Amazon Synopsis

When Edwin, Delaney’s boss at the Cracked Spine bookstore, leaves town on secret business, Delaney is called upon to guide his yearly literary tour around Edinburgh. But on the first night of the tour, at the inn where the tour group is staying, the inn manager falls—or is pushed—off the roof of the inn, and killed. Then, one of the tour members disappears, leaving a trail of puzzles in her wake.

In a race against the clock, Delaney sets out on the expedition of her life, following clues around Edinburgh to get to the bottom of this mystery. Exploring sights from Greyfriars Bobby to the Royal Mile to the Sir Walter Scott Monument, she’ll have to put the pieces together quickly, or the bookstore’s survival could be on the line…as well as her own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Paige Shelton for providing a print copy of FATEFUL WORDS! Contest ends April 16, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This shortbread recipe provides a buttery, flaky cookie that's made even more special by the sprinkling of sugar over the top! Recipe shared with permission granted by Paige Shelton, author of FATEFUL WORDS.

 

Print
Shortbread

I love shortbread – the flavor, the texture, the whole “got milk?” sensation because it’s so dry. However, my husband used to not be a fan, until I made one small change to my favorite shortbread recipe. Honestly, I like it better now too. I’m late to the party on this one, and I know most everyone else figured it out, but sprinkling sugar on top of shortbread is a game-changer. Yum. Here's my favorite shortbread recipe with the recent addition.

Ingredients
  • 2 sticks salted butter, softened (very important)
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 cups flour
Instructions
  1. No mixer needed, but a strong silicone spatula/ is perfect.

  2. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees (F).

  3. Spray 8 x 8 pan with non-stick cooking spray, then line with parchment. You’ll want to spray the top of the parchment too, but I do that right before I pour in the batter.

  4. With the spatula, or even just a big spoon, stir the butter until it’s like mayonnaise. You stir and you press and then you stir again. If the butter is soft, it will work.

  5. Add salt, stir again to combine.

  6. Add vanilla and 2/3 cup sugar. Stir again.

  7. Add flour, stir until combined. Batter will move past crumbly to solid enough to make a ball. I combine with my hands too.

  8. Spray Pam on top of parchment.

  9. Press batter evenly into pan. If you have a small roller, you can roll a flat surface or use the bottom of a glass to press it as flat and evenly as possible.

  10. Cook for 35 minutes.

  11. Remove pan from oven and set on top of a cooling rack. Sprinkle the top with 2 tablespoons of sugar.

  12. Let cool in pan for 30 more minutes.

  13. With parchment, lift from pan and then cut into small bars – I do three cuts one way and seven or eight the other.

  14. Once all the way cool, store in airtight container.

  15. Don’t forget the milk!

 

This shortbread recipe provides a buttery, flaky cookie that's made even more special by the sprinkling of sugar over the top! Recipe shared with permission granted by Paige Shelton, author of FATEFUL WORDS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Pin to Pinterest:

This shortbread recipe provides a buttery, flaky cookie that's made even more special by the sprinkling of sugar over the top! Recipe shared with permission granted by Paige Shelton, author of FATEFUL WORDS.

 

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

This shortbread recipe provides a buttery, flaky cookie that's made even more special by the sprinkling of sugar over the top! Recipe shared with permission granted by Paige Shelton, author of FATEFUL WORDS.

 

 

 

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