Hello Summer!

Ok, right now.. ALMOST summer, but it’s definitely feeling like summer already. June is here and it is my birthday month. While I am NOT someone who celebrates my birthday all month in daily real life, on my blog I do. June is when I share recipes with all my favorite kinds of food and favorite flavors. Like Oprah, but instead of cars it’s delicious recipes.

I’ve been doing my favorite recipes for at least 3 years now. I almost always include a scone recipe - like Birthday Cake Scones, and a bread recipe because who else would I be? Cookie Butter Babka was one from last year. Then perhaps something citrusy - like Lemon White Chocolate Cheesecake (this one is SO good). If any or all of those sound good, you’re in luck because ALL of those things were made this month.

Here’s what’s coming this month:

1.  Oreo Focaccia - Yes, you read that right and I may have gone crazy but only in the best way. Sweet focaccia with Oreo cookie chunks, browned butter and an optional vanilla drizzle. Dessert bread is a favorite in our house.

2. Apple Cheddar Scones - A sweet and savory scone! A cheddar scone with apple chunks giving sweet and buttery and umami. I expected to enjoy these but they surpassed my expectations.

3. Thai Tea Cheesecake - Do you love Thai takeout? Well then you’re probably going to love this cheesecake because it tastes like a Thai iced tea but also has the best, perfect cheesecake texture. Thai iced tea is one of my favorites and I love making recipes with the tea. This cheesecake is creamy and thick but not too much of either.

4. Orange Creamsicle Cookies - Did I save the best for last? I’m unsure because I love all these recipes but these cookies are a dream. Soft, orange vanilla cookies with chunks of chopped white chocolate. It tastes so close to the ice cream bars you will swoon.

With summer coming into full swing, I wanted to offer some helpful reminders when you’re in the kitchen baking in warmer temperatures.

1. Bread baking might change slightly. Just like baking the same recipe in the desert and baking it in the southeast can change things, so can summer and winter. Winter is drier and colder, meaning your bread may need more water and longer rising times. Baking the same recipe in the summer might create a slightly stickier dough due to increased humidity in the summer, with a faster rise. Make sure you keep an eye on dough bowls proofing in a warm window so they don’t OVERproof which can lead to deflated dough.

2. Just like dough, ingredients left out - particularly butter - can come to room temperature MUCH faster. If you aren’t blasting your AC, your butter can easily go way past room temperature into an almost melted softened state. This will absolutely change the texture of things like cookies. If you’ve ever made cookies with melted butter you know the texture is a bit different than using room temperature. Most recipes won’t be ruined, but be aware.

3. Baking in the morning or the evening is often the smartest choice. Your oven heats up your home. While in the winter I don’t mind the extra heat in there, in summertime I absolutely do. I try to schedule bakes first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. Things like preparing your cookie dough in the morning and chilling it until evening or the night before and baking the next morning. Making dough that proofs overnight on the counter or in the refrigerator. Read through recipes and the tips the author gives to see if there’s a way to stretch the bake out to fit your schedule.

4. Watch out for finished baked goods. Things like cakes that have multiple layers, held together with frostings may not hold up as well in a warm kitchen. Even if you normally store it on the countertop in other seasons, storing it in the refrigerator might be more ideal especially for things like a cream cheese frosting or a stabilized whipped cream.

5. Find no-bake recipes. Things like no-bake cheesecakes and pies, icebox cake, and even fudge can be a great alternative if you’d like a sweet treat without turning on the oven, or turning it on for very little amount of time.

Hungry and inspired to pop something in the oven? Find the latest (or the not so latest) and greatest at thebreadbakingbabe.com

Is there a recipe you’d love to see on the blog or something you can’t work out on an existing recipe? Let me know! Until next month, happy baking!