Category Archives: Breads and Pastries

Cinnamon French Toast Bake

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I could’ve just opened a few tubes of cinnamon rolls and baked them for Anita to take into the office to treat her co-workers. But that’s just not me. Nothing wrong with a tube of cinnamon rolls (as I’m about to prove). They just need a little help to be even more awesome and this cinnamon French toast bake is definitely more awesome. Fluffy rolls in a cinnamon egg maple French toast batter, covered with chopped pecans, maple syrup and icing. It’s enough to make the other cinnamon rolls sitting in tubes jealous.
Cinnamon French Toast Bake

There’s nothing I would change about this recipe. Sure this cinnamon French toast bake isn’t light. It’s not low on calories. But it’s mighty good. And since the rolls are cut into small pieces before you bake them you can easily cut and serve smaller portions. If you want to that is.

Also try my brioche French toast.

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Cinnamon French Toast Bake

Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time45 mins
Total Time55 mins
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Inspired by a recipe from Pillsbury

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter melted
  • 2 tubes cinnamon rolls with icing
  • 6 eggs
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup pecans chopped
  • 1 cup plus 1/2 cup real maple syrup

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375° F.
  • Pour melted butter into a 13" x 9" baking dish.
  • Open both cans of rolls. Separate the rolls and cut each into four pieces. Place pieces into the baking dish.
  • Beat the eggs in a medium bowl. Whisk in the cream, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour over the tops of the cinnamon rolls.
  • Sprinkle nuts over tops of rolls and drizzle with 1 cup of the syrup.
  • Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 15 minutes.
  • Drizzle remaining syrup over rolls.
  • Microwave the icing containers on half power for 10-15 seconds. Drizzle over rolls.

Bread Machine Jalapeno Cheese Bread

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I’ve been inspired lately by my bread making expertise. Ok, not really. But I have been really happy with how great my last few loaves have turned out, like this bread machine jalapeno cheese bread. I make the dough in my bread machine, then roll it out, shape it, and let it rise again. Finally, into the oven and done! I’ve proven to myself too many times before that I should not make dough by hand. I let the bread machine do it. Like this jalapeno cheese bread. Not too spicy, and not too cheesy, but just right and the perfect texture for sandwiches.
Bread Machine Jalapeno Cheese Bread
I think you could substitute just about anything for the jalapenos and the cheese in your bread machine jalapeno cheddar bread. Chopped roasted poblanos and pepper jack cheese would make for a great combination. As would diced green chiles (drained very well first) and Monterey jack cheese. The options are pretty much endless. Just don’t use any ingredients that are extremely moist.

Also try my bread machine garlic herb pepperoni bread and my Italian herb bread.

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Bread Machine Jalapeno Cheese Bread

Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time3 hrs
Total Time3 hrs 10 mins
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 loaf
Author: Mike

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese diced (I used shredded)
  • 3 medium jalapenos seeded, diced
  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 1/2 tablespoon active dry yeast

Instructions

  • Place ingredients into your bread machine in the order listed.
  • Select the dough cycle and let the machine do its job.
  • Lightly flour a work surface and add the dough. Punch down to flatten.
  • Use a rolling pin to shape the dough into a rectangle the width of your bread pan. Lightly oil the bread pan.
  • Roll the dough up into a tight log. Seal the seam and ends tightly and transfer to your bread pan.
  • Cover loosely with plastic wrap and place in a warm place to rise, doubling in size, about one hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Bake bread for 30 minutes or until the bread has a nice crust on it.
  • Remove to a wire rack to cook slightly before slicing and serving.

Po Boy Bread from the Bread Machine

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This is my go-to po boy bread dough recipe from the bread machine. No way am I enough of a baker to make a dough from scratch without a bread machine. I could never make something as good as this dough. It makes for the perfect po boy. The bread gets a nice crunchy, but thin, exterior. The insides are light, soft and airy.
Po Boy Bread from the Bread MachineI’ve made this po boy bread from a bread machine at least 30 times and every time it has come out great. Well, or it did after I got the hang of rolling it into a nice loaf shape. I also learned that cutting the slits isn’t just for making it pretty, the bread seems to keep a better shape.

To get the slits just right you need to use a very, very sharp knife. You don’t want to manhandle the dough cutting it. You want the knife to go through it effortlessly.

Check out The Southern Po’ Boy Cookbook for ideas on how to use your po boy bread. I love making the ham and Swiss po boy from the cookbook, among others!

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Po Boy Bread from the Bread Machine

Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time2 hrs 40 mins
Course: Bread
Servings: 1 loaf
Author: Mike

Ingredients

  • 1 cup lukewarm water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons melted unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3 cups plus a little more, if needed bread flour
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast

For the glaze

  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon water

Instructions

  • Place ingredients into your bread machine in the order listed.
  • Process on the dough settings. After 5-10 minutes check the consistency of the dough. It should be sticky but not stick to the sides. If it is too dry add water, but in 1/2 teaspoon increments. If it is too wet add more flour 1 teaspoon at at time.
  • When the dough cycle is completed remove the dough to a lightly floured surface.
  • Roll the dough out into a rectangle that is approximately 16" wide and 12" deep.
  • Roll up the dough along the long edge.
  • Pinch the seam and ends closed and place onto a lightly greased baking sheet, seam-side down.
  • Cover with a cheesecloth and place into a warm place to rise until doubled, about an hour.
  • After about 30 minutes of rising preheat your oven to 425 F.
  • Uncover the bread and, using a very sharp knife, make a few 1/2" deep slits along the top of the dough, about 2" apart.
  • Whisk together the glaze ingredients and brush over the top of the dough.
  • Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Reduce the temperature to 350 F and bake another 5-10 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Let cool slightly before slicing.

Bread Machine Garlic Herb Pepperoni Bread

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Bread, glorious bread! You may not be excited but any time I get homemade bread to turn out as great as this I am one happy guy! It helped a lot that the dough for this bread machine garlic herb pepperoni bread was about as foolproof as you can get. I need foolproof when it comes to bread.

The house filled with a wonderful aroma as the bread baked. I love the smell of fresh-baked bread.
Bread Machine Garlic Herb Pepperoni BreadThe right combination of Italian flavors, bread machine garlic herb pepperoni bread also has the perfect texture, color, crust, flavor… you name it. I thought about adding more chopped pepperoni, but I think I was right in not doing that. You want every bite to be filled with all of the flavors and not over-powered by just one.

I’d make this again in a heartbeat! Also try my bread machine jalapeno cheese bread and my Italian herb bread.

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Bread Machine Garlic Herb Pepperoni Bread

You'll need a bread pan for baking the bread. You can use the bread machine to bake the bread if you like but you'll get a better crust and loaf if you transfer the dough to a pan and bake it instead.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time3 hrs
Total Time3 hrs 10 mins
Course: Bread
Servings: 1 loaf

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1/4 cup light olive oil plus more for oiling your bread pan
  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon minced dried onion
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup pepperoni slices chopped
  • 2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
  • All-purpose flour

Instructions

  • Place ingredients into your bread machine in the order listed.
  • Select the dough cycle and let the machine do its job.
  • Lightly flour a work surface and add the dough. Punch down to flatten.
  • Use a rolling pin to shape the dough into a rectangle the width of your bread pan. Lightly oil the bread pan.
  • Roll the dough up into a tight log. Seal the seam and ends tightly and transfer to your bread pan.
  • Cover loosely with plastic wrap and place in a warm place to rise, doubling in size, about one hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Bake bread for 30 minutes or until the bread has a nice crust on it.
  • Remove to a wire rack to cook slightly before slicing and serving.

Brioche French Toast

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It had been soooooo long since I had French toast. Anita suggested that I make some and I quickly put the things I needed on my grocery list. I started with homemade brioche bread, but you can use a loaf from the store or substitute another type of bread, such as challah. You’ll get the best results with day-old or slightly stale bread. My homemade brioche is nice and thick, absorbing loads of the egg batter, which is the key to a perfect French toast. You don’t just want a light coating on the outside, you want it all the way through, in each and every bite.

Brioche French ToastThis brioche French toast checked off every box on my list of things that make for great French toast. A slightly crunchy crusty edge: check. Eggy creamy soft insides: check. Able to absorb tons of real Maple syrup: check and check again.

Also try my English muffin French toast and my cinnamon French toast bake!

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Brioche French Toast

Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time35 mins
Total Time45 mins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Based on a recipe from Alton Brown

Ingredients

  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons honey warmed
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 8 1/2" thick slices stale Brioche bread
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • Your favorite toppings real maple syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream, fruits, etc

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 F.
  • Add half-and-half, eggs, honey and salt to a pie pan. Whisk with a fork.
  • Working in batches, place bread in the egg mixture and let soak on each side for 30 seconds. Transfer to a wire rack over a sheet pan.
  • Working in batches, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet. Add 2 bread slices to the skillet and cook until golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook another 2-3 minutes. Remove to another wire rack over a sheet pan.
  • Transfer pan of bread to the oven and bake 5 minutes.
  • Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.

Black Pepper Biscuits

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I’ve always wanted to make my own biscuits from scratch. I finally stepped up to the challenge after watching Trisha Yearwood make these black pepper biscuits on her TV show. I figured heck, I can do that. So I did. And I was so happy that I did. These black pepper biscuits are ‘meaty’. They are not your light and fluffy little light clouds of dough. They hold up to anything and they taste absolutely divine. Buttermilk and butter… oh pinch me.

Black Pepper BiscuitsThe key to these black pepper biscuits is the butter. Make absolutely sure you cut the butter into small pieces. Big ones will not do. I cut the 6 tablespoon chunk into teaspoon pats first, then I cut each pat into 9 small pieces. That worked perfectly for me. If you leave the butter too big your biscuits might just fall apart. At the least you’ll have a hard time forming them into biscuits to start with. So, smaller is better! And when they come out of the oven all hot and yummy, drizzle them with my black pepper honey.

If you want that great homemade biscuit flavor but without the work, try my bread machine southern biscuits too!

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Black Pepper Biscuits

Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Servings: 10 -12 biscuits
Author: Based on a recipe from Trisha Yearwood

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into very small pieces, keep in freezer until ready to use
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream
  • Finely ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450 F.
  • Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda into a large bowl.
  • Add the butter cubes. Break up any pieces that stick together. Use your fingers to combine the butter with the flour mixture.
  • Add the buttermilk and stir until a dough forms.
  • Lightly pack the dough with your hands and place onto a lightly floured surface. Use the palms of your hands to flatten out into a 1" thick shape.
  • Use a 2 1/2" biscuit cutter to cut the dough into rounds. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with a silicon mat or parchment paper. Use any remaining dough scraps by pressing them back together with your hands and cutting more biscuits.
  • Brush the tops of the biscuits with the heavy cream and sprinkle generously with the black pepper.
  • Bake until starting to turn golden brown, 10-12 minutes.

Copycat Ruby Tuesday Croutons

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Going to the salad bar at Ruby Tuesday is a treat for us. Luckily, there’s a Ruby Tuesday right down the street from our house. They always keep the salad bar super-duper cold and super-duper stocked. Never have I gone up with my plate and said “oh no! there’s only one pea left!” (I love peas on a salad). When I get to the end of the salad bar, I find my two favorite things: Ranch dressing and pumpernickel croutons. Now, there’s an art and an order to putting them on your salad, mind you. You do NOT put the dressing on first. I used to think you had to to keep the croutons from sliding off. No, the croutons go first, and lots of them. Make sure you kinda wedge them in any nooks and crannies so they don’t fall off. Then drizzle with the dressing, getting half of the croutons nice and Ranchy while leaving the rest naked. Trust me on this. Do it next time you hit up the Ruby Tuesday salad bar.
Copycat Ruby Tuesday CroutonsI used a fresh loaf of pumpernickel bread when I made copycat Ruby Tuesday croutons. Fresh bread takes longer to bake but I think it makes for a better duplicate of the original: a little crunch but mostly soft and tender crouton. You do not want a hard, dry crouton that bursts into a billion pieces when you bite into it. If you do use older or stale bread, keep an eye on them while baking because they won’t take as long.

Also try my fried goat cheese croutons. Oh yeah. They’re very good.

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Copycat Ruby Tuesday Croutons

Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time15 mins
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 cups
Author: Based on a recipe from Rachel Cooks

Ingredients

  • 4 cups pumpernickel bread cubes cut into 1/2" cubes
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus a bit more

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 F.
  • Place breadcrumbs into a large bowl.
  • Place butter into a small bowl. Stir in the garlic powder and salt.
  • Pour butter mixture over breadcrumbs and toss gently to coat.
  • Pour bread out onto a large baking sheet (or two) and spread out evenly.
  • Bake for 10 minutes and check for crispness. Bake longer if needed, but check every minute or so.
  • Remove and let cool before using. Sprinkle with more salt if desired.

Bread Machine Southern Biscuits

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Only 1 in every 5 of my attempts to bake from scratch comes out successful. That’s up from 1 out of 6 a few years ago, but still not anything to brag about. So, the more I can use my bread machine, the better. And it’s even better when what I make comes out fantastic, like these southern biscuits. They have a great buttery flavor, light texture and smell absolutely divine. Now, they aren’t super light and flaky like dough you’d make by hand (if you weren’t me that is) but they are a great substitute for those biscuits you get in a tube, that’s for sure!
Bread Machine Southern BiscuitsYou can substitute maple syrup for the honey and end up with the perfect biscuit for a sausage breakfast sandwich. And of course, bread machine southern biscuits are perfect for the best thing ever made, deep fried biscuits. Oh yes!

Slather these bad boys with some bacon jam and you’ll be in for a real treat!

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Bread Machine Southern Biscuits

Prep Time2 hrs 15 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time2 hrs 30 mins
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Servings: 10 -14 biscuits

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons yeast

Instructions

  • Place in the ingredients into your bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. For mine, I begin with the wet ingredients and then add the dry.
  • Process on the dough cycle until done.
  • Remove dough from bread machine and roll out until 1/2" thick. Try to not over-work the dough.
  • Cut into desired sizes and transfer to a buttered sheet pan.
  • Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about an hour.
  • Preheat oven to 425 F.
  • Bake biscuits for 15 minutes or until lightly golden in color.