Cold weather comfort foods

Hooboy, it’s cold outside – it’s also wet, blustery, slushy, and slippery. And you desperately need a cup of coffee, tea, or elizabeth Morse read cocoa to warm you up. And nothing would be better than to have a little something to go with that cup – something that reminds you of winters past and of snuggling up on the couch with someone you love (including your dog).

You don’t have to be a master baker to recreate those “little somethings” that will bring a smile to your lips and a warm feeling inside. Here are a few classic winter comfort sweets to have on hand – and to share!

baked apples With CruMble filliNg

What could possibly smell better on a cold day than warm apples and cinnamon? This easy-to-make winter dessert will be a favorite with young and old alike! Choose baking apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Golden Delicious that are symmetrical and well-balanced – you don’t want it tipping over when it’s in the oven! Preheat the oven to 350 and core your apples by digging a deep well from the top (use a grapefruit spoon, if you have one), to remove the seeds, going down to just above the bottom without breaking through.

bakiNg CraNberry-oraNge bread With kids oN a sNoWy day

It’s an icy-cold, wet, and windy day and the kids are stuck indoors. What better way to pass the time than giving them a kitchen chemistry lesson that they can eat when it’s done? You fondly remember watching your own mother or grandmother baking, so here’s your chance to pass on that skill. Show them how to whisk together dry ingredients, how to make a “well” to incorporate wet ingredients, how to crack an egg, and how to test for “doneness” with a toothpick or knife. Assign age-appropriate tasks, and let them all take a turn at using the spatula or whisk. Line up all ingredients and kitchen tools. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x5 loaf pan. Grate the “zest” from a medium-size orange (watch your knuckles!) and gather up the zest in a small bowl, then cut the orange in half and squeeze out ¾ cup of juice into a juicer jar. In another small bowl, soak 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries (craisins) in the orange juice until they’re plumped up. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups of allpurpose flour, ¾ cup sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon salt. In another large mixing bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup vegetable oil and one egg, then blend in the soaked cranberries, orange juice and orange zest. Pour this into the dry ingredients and blend with a spatula until just combined (don’t overbeat!), then pour into the greased loaf pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean – avoid overbaking. Let cool for 15 minutes before removing the loaf from the pan, then another 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with hot cocoa!

To make four baked apples, blend together 1 cup of rolled oats, ¼ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp. cinnamon, ¼ tsp. nutmeg, and ¼ cup (1/2 stick) softened butter. (One-third cup minced nuts and/or raisins are optional.) Spoon and pack down ¼ of the mixture into each apple. Arrange them in a deep baking dish, add another pat of butter atop each stuffed apple, and pour in 1 1/2 cups water or more, reaching up to about 1/3 of each apple. Bake for 40-45 minutes in the preheated oven until the apples are tender when pierced with a knife and the filling is bubbling.

fast-aNd-easy riCe puddiNg

You can make rice pudding the old-fashioned way, stirring the rice forever, or you can try this quick version that’s ready in just minutes! In a two-quart saucepan, thoroughly mix together 1 cup uncooked instant rice, 1 cup milk, ½ cup raisins, 3 tablespoons sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg. Over medium heat, slowly bring everything to a full boil, stirring non-stop, making sure that the rice has softened, then remove from heat. Cover and let it sit for ten minutes until most of the milk has been absorbed and the raisins are plump.

ChoCoholiC piCk-Me-up

You can cure everyone’s mid-morning (or mid-afternoon) energy slump with this caffeine-packed cupcake! Choose your favorite dark chocolate cake mix and thoroughly whisk in 1 ½ tablespoon of espresso powder/granules and 1/4 cup chocolate sprinkles before you add the wet ingredients. (You can find espresso powder in the baking aisle.) Makes 24 cupcakes. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar (or more sprinkles) when they come out of the oven. Warning: don’t let the kids eat these before bedtime!

tWo-iNgredieNt iCe CreaM bread

It doesn’t get much easier than this! In less than an hour, you can have a delightful dessert to complement any meal – or the perfect snack to go with that cup of coffee! Melt one pint (2 cups) of your favorite ice cream and fold it into 1 ½ cups of self-rising flour. Pour it into a greased loaf pan and bake it in a preheated 350-degree oven for 35-45 minutes, until the top is lightly browned and a knife comes out clean. Choose an out-of-the-ordinary flavor of ice cream like peppermint, black raspberry, chocolate mint, or pistachio.

peaNut butter bread

This Depression-era favorite has withstood the test of time to become an American classic. Whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 4 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ cup sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt. Blend in 1 1/3 cups milk and ½ cup natural peanut butter. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake in a preheated 325-degree oven for about an hour until a knife comes out clean. Fill your kitchen with the warmth and aroma of these winter desserts!

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