goldener herbst.{ pumpkin spice gugelhupf with cheesecake filling }

This cake is a winner. Its batter bakes beautifully, turning several shades of autumn leaves: from caramel brown on the outside to deep orange on the inside. It is easy and fun to make, even more impressive when sliced, and it will fill your kitchen with the soothing scent of spices. Its crumb is dense and moist, a bit like banana bread - but full of pumpkin spice love. The cheesecake filling baked inside the cake is compulsory, not only to add to the show factor, but also because it perfectly complements the taste of the batter. Fresh currants on top bring a nice zesty contrast to the whole.

a birthday cake for prince charming. { semi-naked hummingbird cake with mascarpone frosting and toffee caramel sauce }

The recipe for the Hummingbird Cake is said to have been first published in 1978 by the Southern Living magazine, and it has ever since become a staple in the Southern US cuisine. Packed with exotic flavours, this cake relies on a rather unusual combination of ingredients, starting with the fact that it asks for more fruit than flour. With banana, pecans and pineapple at its core, it's easy to imagine a dense cake with a compact crumb, however, this cake, will prove you wrong: it has a deliciously tender and slightly moist texture, which is just compact enough to make it a perfect candidate for layering and frosting! My staple mascarpone frosting is in the sweet spot between whipped cream and cream cheese, with a hint of lemon, vanilla and maple syrup, and the whole thing is taken to new heighs by all that caramel dripping on top! This cake had such wonderful layers of flavours that each bite was a different experience of yumminess. And on top of all, I can't help but being super proud of how gorgeous my first semi-naked cake turned out!

have a christmassy tea time treat! { gluten-free mini cinnamon rice gugels }

'Bolo de Arroz', the portuguese rice muffin, ocasional replacement for a Pastel de Nata as a side for an espresso or a meia-de-leite, was the inspiration behind these mini gugels. I have spiced up the original recipe up and made it totally gluten and lactose free! Mini lemony cakes, with a texture similar to that of madeleines, they are the perfect as a coffee or tea-time treat and for sharing with friends!

autumn aura. { gluten-free spiced pumpkin-carrot cupcakes with vanilla cream cheese frosting }

Miniature sized cupcakes are a whole lot of cute. I called these mini stunners 'autumn aura' because if autumn were a pallet of flavours, that of this cupcakes would be there, side by side with roasted chestnuts and pear compote. Behold the beauty of these tiny things, the dash of coconut on top lending them a snowish appeal. Bite into the delicious balance between a moist peppery pumpkin cake and a thick vanilla cream cheese frosting. And you wanna know what...? They are also gluten-free.

it's freaking snowing on my brunch. { gluten-free pumpkin kaiserschmarrn }

Kaiserschmarrn is a staple dessert in Austria and South Germany, where it recalls sweet memories from a day out skiing in the Alps. Basically a fluffy pancake that is shredded, caramelized, dusted with powdered sugar and typically served with plum or apple compote, it got its name from Kaiser Franz Joseph I of Austria, for his love of it. I am not Kaiser Franz Joseph, but I also love it. I had already had the though of making pumpkin pancakes this satuday, but some enlightenment suddenly came to me that this was what I ought to make: pick a famous recipe and turn it around by tossing pumpkin into it. And here it is. Kaiserschmarrn... reinvented!

let it fall, let it fall. { zwetschgendatschi: german streusel plum cake }

'Zwetschgen' (bavarian name, 'abrunhos' in portuguese) are a unique kind of plums, characterized by its elongated shape, dark amethyst peel and ideally golden flesh. For being seemingly less watery than other plums and for their deliciously intense flavour, they are perfect for baking. This cake is a German classic that combines several things that I personally adore, and that I guess are favourites for many of you as well: a buttery yeast dough, an awesome layer of juicy baked fruit, my own very favourite recipe of spiced crumble... plus it's easy to prepare and quicker than a normal bread! Made with seasonal fruits, this recipe couldn't be better suited for this well settled Fall.

sweet tooth for tiramisu? i got you covered. { tiramisu for one }

this was actually not planned at all.

i didn't plan to make this dessert.
it came to me through my friend Lola.
she made tiramisu yesterday,
and, for some reason, the idea of it sticked to the back of my mind,
causing such weird and growing tingling sensation,
that i even had to add ladyfingers to my shopping cart.

i didn't plan to make this post.
i actually had two other recipes on the blog waiting list,
but i thought this one deserved a place here too,
and it had to be as soon as possible.

meet NOT your average bread { apple pie brioche }

I'm not superstitious when it comes to it, but this last Friday the 13th was exhausting. I don't know if it was because I woke up feeling suddenly ill, with a dull headache and a faint voice, or because I have slept an average of four hours a day, or even because my plans for the day got all mixed up, but by the time I got back home I was not feeling well at all. On top of all, and even though I undoubtedly urged for some sleep, I didn't feel like taking that mood to bed with me. Lucky me to know someone who knew how to fetch the sun for me in a rainy day. And even make me laugh. Out loud! :)

Feeling slightly better - and after being literally advised to go bake something - I ended up in the kitchen at midnight, preparing a dough starter (meaning no sleep till two). Oh, the magic power of leavening yeast... what a happy and relaxing scent it has. I knew exactly what I wanted to make. I had just finished all the homemade brioche I had sliced up and kept in the freezer, a french friend had just bragged about her own homemade ones the day before, and - oh, well - I had also been asked to make one. And I can't resist it when people like (and ask for!) my food. I ended up singing along and dancing to 90s songs, laughing in the kitchen, putting all my remaining strenght into blending those damn chunks of butter into a delicious dough.

And the next morning...

... oh well, you already know the story ;)

(no fuss, no muss) delicious and moist gluten-free brownies. { moist buckwheat brownies with cherries and white chocolate chunks }

I think I may be falling for buckwheat flour!

can you believe these are some of the healthiest brownies I've ever made?

gluten-free, much lower in sugar than usual and with less butter,

yet still surprisingly delicious!?

I came up with this recipe from scratch, and I'm quite proud of it!

they are a delicious combo of moist and chewy, packed with flavour

 and really easy and quick to make, hence perfect for any chocolate cake cravings.

to stir things up a bit, I loaded my batter with cherries and white chocolate chunks.

a christmas message. { yogurt pancakes with homemade cranberry sauce }

and possibly some pancake recipe too.

cookies at an exhibition. { peppery sugar cookies with spicy caramel }

upgrade your sugar cookie.

try this recipe.

♥

and have a nice sunny sunday.

i love triangles. aren't they gorgeous with this abstract caramel glaze?

i've heard they taste like christmas :)

and beware:

let's say they tend to disappear quite quickly while no one is watching.

and no, it's not me eating them all...

overnight oats #2 | the arroz doce { cinnamon-orange spiced overnight oats }

How I hate when blogger messes up with the pictures' colours! Why are they turning red today!?...

Bringing you a new overnight oats jar ;) I'll keep them coming if you'ld like!

Overnight Oats #2
The Arroz Doce. Cinnamon, Orange and Ginger Infusion
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1/2 cup 0.8% milk
- 1 tbsp orange marmalade with ginger
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1) Mix everything well in a jar, close and refrigerate overnight (around 4-8 hours will do),
2) When serving, shake well before opening. If desired, warm up in the microwave. Sprinkle with cinnamon and, if desired, some chopped banana for a fruity touch.

30 Minute Meal { poached eggs over a vegetable bean stew }

Poached Eggs on vegetables, be it peas, beans, lentils... a wholesome comfort food that is really quick and easy to prepare. Plus one can get rid of all those vegetables that have been sitting for better not to know how long in the fridge.

Coffee & Milk { cafe latte cake }

This cake makes the perfect mid-afternoon snack to go with a cup of tea... or coffee - since you're already preparing it for baking! It's simple, easy and comforting.

Easter Sunday { almond chila conventual cake }

Chila (fig-leaf squash) is a very important ingredient in many conventual dessert recipes that are traditional in Portugal. These recipes had their origins in the middle age, by the hands of the nuns, and are mostly loaded with sugar and egg yolks. Desserts like this Chila Cake usually feature in all religious holidays, particularly at Easter Sunday lunch table.