Spice Babka Bread with Dune Sandworm

                     

The dunes of Arrakis in bread form complete with sandworm!

I'm still making bread but just not as frequently.   And I also finally listened to the Frank Herbert's Dune book.  My take away is that spice is all over the place and making a comeback!  

The babka bread has spice mix in the dough.  A lot of cinnamon plus pumpkin pie spice (nutmeg, clove, allspice, and ginger)

The swirled filling is apple, vanilla bean, sugar, cooked down plus some orange blossom water and more cinnamon added at the end.

After bread is risen, roll out and spread with nutella then spread with the apple spice filling

It looks like a mess but it needed for the babka swirl!

pre-proof

post-prove

After baking at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes (or until internal temp is 190 degrees F)

"sandworm" is nutella with almond slices around it

Not exactly the Dune popcorn bucket, but still fun!

Enjoy and wishing you lots of spice!

Babka Dough Recipe

1 package instant yeast

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil

1/8 cup honey

1 egg

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup warm water

1/2 cup nutella

almond slices 

Directions:

• Mix yeast and warm water together and let sit for 5-10 mins
• Mix vanilla, oil, honey, egg, and salt together
• Add flour to bowl with spices and add yeast mixture and mix until incorporated
• Add the other ingredients and mix until incorporated
• Turn out onto the counter and kneed until soft and pliable
• Cover and let proof until doubled in size
• Roll out to to 11X14 rectangle 
• Spread with nutella
• Add filling and roll lengthwise into jelly roll
• Cut down center and twist each length around each other
• Add to loaf pan and let proof again for 30-40 minutes
• Bake at 350 degrees until internal temperature is 190 degrees (cover with foil if the top starts to brown)
• Optional: Once cooled add dollop of nutella (leave hole in center) and add slices around it as worm "teeth"
• See this video on how to roll out, cut, and shape babka dough

Spice Filling

1 cup diced apple

1/4 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons orange blossom water

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon clove

1 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon ginger

Directions: Add apple sugar to sauce pan and cook until apples are cooked through; Add spices and cook for another 5-10 minutes until thickened.  Let cool. 

Star Wars Imperial Ration Travel Biscuits

I'm always on the lookout for food in the Star Wars universe.  I caught up on The Mandalorian Season 3 and Episode 3 delivered with some of the Empire's travel biscuits!

In an episode that dives into some of the Imperial side (ala Andor) we learn that some of the characters miss the travel biscuits that were part of Imperial ration packs. 

I had to make some of course! They only showed the "yellow" biscuits but there was mention of red biscuits so I added some of those in too.

You can use your favorite shortbread or sugar cookie recipe. Mine is listed below.

Cut into rectangular shapes and add smaller lines inside with a knife while still warm 

(at least what I could tell from screenshots of the episode).  Mine are probably not as neat as they could be, but I was so excited to make them with some leftover dough.

I'm sure the Empire is nice and precise with exact sharp lines!

Package in some cellophane treat bags.

Print out some Imperial logos to add to the bags.

Have with some Imperial tea or your fav drink.  

My teenage kid who is still a huge SW fan approved!

Star Wars Imperial Travel Biscuits

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 Tbl sour cream or Greek yogurt
2 tsp vanilla

1 dash of red food gel if you make red ones

Preheat over to 350 degrees

• Mix sugar and coconut oil until fluffy
• Add egg, sour cream and extract and mix until well incorporated
• In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder, and salt
• Slowly add flour mix to egg mixture
• If making red biscuits take about 1/2 cup and mix with a dash of red food gel
• Press mix into 9X9 pan. Bake for 18 mins or just golden on top. Let cool. 
• Cut into equal rectangles and while warm add smaller rectangle lines inside each biscuit
• Package 4 into cellophane treat bag. Add printed Imperial logo and tape on top

Rainbow Glass Gem Corn on Cob Sugar Cookies

 

Ever heard of glass gem corn? 

It's a little like maize corn that you see in the fall but the kernels are more translucent and resemble strands of glass when on the cob.  And it comes in some really cool rainbow colors.

In case you're not familiar with glass gem corn, here's a short video explaining some more about it

I went down a IG rabbit hole looking at all these colorful heirloom corn photos the other day so of course I had to try making some. 

                              

I started with a base of sugar cookies cut out into cobs (I freehand cut these out)

For rainbow kernels, I used jelly beans.  I tried at first to use the whole jelly bean as kernels but they seemed too big so I cut them in half.

Use some melted white chocolate to attach the "kernels"

Fill in as closely as you can get them

Husks are made from wafer paper cut out roughly in husk shapes (see in pic below) then painted with a little brown food color mixed with water.  While still wet attach the paper to back of cookie and let dry.

When dried the husks crinkle a bit to give overall shape/texture. I also sprayed the jelly beans with some edible food spray in pearl color to give them a more glass-like appearance versus regular maize corn.  

I really like how they came out but next time I may try to make them more 3D versus flat for more effect.  If you'd like to see more of the real thing, you can go down a glass gem corn rabbit hole on Instagram here! 

Cute Horror Movie Pumpkin Spice'men Cookies

It's officially October so here come all the Halloween treats and ideas!

I usually do some character-inspired gingerbread cookies around the holidays but found pumpkin spice cookie mix so decided to mix it up and make some pumpkin spice'men cut out cookies since it's also pumpkin spice season.

Once the cookie dough is mixed up and chilled, roll out and use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut out shapes.

I had to make some of my favorite slasher villains from the 80s

A couple of villainous kids!

And a couple other favs that are just plain disturbing 

(white sprinkles used as Pinhead's face nails!)

And the creepiest clown of all from It

In cookie form I think they are pretty cute for horror film anti-heroes! 

Who is your favorite?

To make pumpkin spice cut-out cookies:

• 
  1 pouch of Pumpkin Spice Cookie Mix (I used Better Crocker brand)
• 1 Tablespoon Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 egg

1. Mix all together until cookie dough comes together.
2. Chill for about 30 minutes
3. Roll out dough and use gingerbread man cookie cutter
4. Decorate with various colors of melting candy wafers

Mini Babka Breads - 6 ways

If you follow my Instagram you may have seen a bunch of babka bread over the past couple of years.  I got into making this neat swirled bread during COVID and still can't stop!

Not sure why but I love coming up with new flavor combos and waiting to see how they swirl when cut. 

This time I went mini sized!

I forgot I had some cute little baking loaf liners and thought they'd make great little babka bread containers.  

Start with your favorite babka bread recipe (see below) and once risen the first time, cut the dough into 6 equal pieces.

The rest is similar to any babka technique, roll into a thin rectangle shape and spread with your filling of choice.  

Below is filled with chocolate hazelnut spread

Roll up lengthwise into a jelly roll shape.

Cut in half and wrap each section into small babka loaves

Fillings include:

Funfetti - 

Honey, crushed vanilla wafer straws, white chocolate chips, and rainbow sprinkles 

(love the colors of this one!)

Christmas Fruit Cake -

Dried fruits soaked in brandy, apricot jam, and pecans

Peanut Butter and Jelly - 

Creamy peanut butter, spreadable honey, raspberry jam, and peanuts

Cherry Chocolate - 

Sour cherry spread and chocolate syrup topped with cocoa nibs

Carmel Apple - 

Carmel syrup, cinnamon sugar, diced apple, chopped walnuts, drizzled with more caramel syrup

Once they are rolled up, add to the rectangular loaf liners and let prove for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.

Bake only for about 15 minutes or until just browning on top (Thermometer should be 190 degrees)

Make sure to brush while still warm with simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) to give them a nice shine.  Drizzle with any of your favorite syrups (like chocolate or caramel) to taste.

Mini aka baby babkas! Super cute and already individually sized for your next party.

They would be great for a baby shower or Mother's Day Tea Party.  Let me know if you make these little breads and thanks for swinging by!

Babka Dough Recipe

1 package instant yeast

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil

1/8 cup honey

1 egg

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup warm water

Directions:

• Mix yeast and warm water together and let sit for 5-10 mins
• Mix vanilla, oil, honey, egg, and salt together
• Add flour to bowl and add yeast mixture and mix until incorporated
• Add the other ingredients and mix until incorporated
• Turn out onto the counter and kneed until soft and pliable
• Cover and let proof until doubled in size
• Cut dough into 6 equal pieces
• Roll each piece into rectangle (about 5X2-3 inches)
• Add whatever filling desired (see descriptions above pictures) and roll lengthwise into jelly roll
• Cut down center and twist each length around each other
• Add to mini loaf liner and let proof again for 30 minutes
• Bake at 350 degrees until internal temperature is 190 degrees (cover with foil if the top starts to brown)
• While still warm babkas with simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heat until all sugar is dissolved)
• Add any syrups/topping as desired
• See this video on how to roll out, cut, and shape babka dough