Baking is something that I’ve done ever since I was a child, and I found a passion for it after watching my dad make pies at every holiday or cakes on special occasions. I’ve found it to be a good way to relieve stress if you have the time to carve out of your schedule. Below are some recipes that I’ve personally tried, and are enjoyable to make. Some do take a lot of time and effort, but the result is always worth it! One tip I would always recomnend with any recipe is to read it fully through before planning to start. You may have to let your butter or eggs get to room temperature or may not have all of the ingredients, and also should generally know how to prepare your space. Happy baking!
- Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
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https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/02/09/lemon-blueberry-layer-cake/
A lemon-blueberry cake is not necessarily a natural pairing that I would make, but they actually go very well together. It definitely comes out on the sweeter side, so the cream cheese frosting matches well.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
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These cookies have been a favorite of mine for a long time, and I’ve made them so many times. Everyone who’s tried them seems to love them, and they always come out perfect. You’ll get a lot of cookies from making this recipe, and sometimes I end up with more than the stated two dozen! Just a warning, trying to put them on a baking sheet will be a bit of a challenge becasue they’re so sticky!
- Swiss Carrot Cake with a Glaze
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http://www.food.com/recipe/traditional-swiss-carrot-cake-aargauer-ruebli-torte-21392
I last made this recipe a while ago for a French class assignment, but I remember it being amazing. This is something to make if you have a lot of time on your hands, and want to do a twist on a regular carrot cake. I ended up using lemon juice instead of kirsh out of the two options. Carrot cake is one of my top 2 favorite cakes, so I’ve tried a lot of them, and this one stands out. It has an interesting texture with the right amount of spice, and the sweetness of the glaze works well with the flavoring.
- Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting
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http://www.marthastewart.com/1134147/strawberry-shortcake-cupcakes
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/18352/whipped-cream/
I discovered this recipe when I was figuring out what dessert to make for one of my birthday parties in high school. These got great reviews from everyone, including my sister whose favorite cake is strawberry shortcake. I even ended up making them the next year as well!
- Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
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http://pinchofyum.com/best-carrot-cake-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting
These cupcakes are a lot easier to make than the swiss carrot cake, and still come out really delicious. For me, they are the ideal carrot cupcake. You’ll also find a paired recipe for cream cheese frosting that I’ve found to be good. I always make twice the frosting, though, as I don’t find the suggested amount made to be enough.
- Lemon Squares
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http://http://www.onceuponachef.com/2011/01/luscious-lemon-squares.html
Lastly are these lemon squares. This recipe requires a bit more skill and effort, but it is more unexpected to make. I’m always down to bake cookies, brownies, or cakes, but I also love venturing out of my comfort zone to bake something else! The crust is perfectly buttery, and the lemon filling is a good balance of tart and sweet.