The Baking Thread

[JayKay PE]

Maybe your mom doesn't want the kids giving you any lip?

HUIABHFBASN HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHA.  YES.  PERFECT.  THAT IS THE TYPE OF HUMOR WE LOVE AT OUR HOUSE.

 

[leggo PE]

I can't see the photos...

I need to make pfeffernusse some time between today and Thursday. I couldn't find mace (the spice) or aniseed at the grocery store... Sooo I think I might try nutmeg. Or maybe cloves, or both? I couldn't even find allspice, god damnit!

For the record, what I need in terms of spices are: mace, cardamom, black pepper, and anise. What I have are cardamom, black pepper, cloves, and Chinese 5 spice (which has anise in it, but also has more savory spices in it so I don't think I want to use it for the pfeffernusse). Advice??

 

[JayKay PE]

Hmmm, I know in the past my grandmother has substituted fennel seeds for anise seeds when she didn't have them?  For that weird licorice flavor.  Fennel works better for cooked instead of baked, but it can't hurt to try?  As for the mace...I mean, that's a part of nutmeg, right?  Can't you just do a direct substitute?  I feel like that would work?  A 1:1 sub?

 

[leggo PE]

Thanks for the input! Yes, I think I will use nutmeg for the mace. I don't know if I'd like to try the fennel seeds... These cookies are for a cookie exchange and I don't have a ton of time to bake them, and then rebake if they turn out badly. Also, I think I'd need to grind the fennel seeds?

 

[leggo PE]

All the substitutes I found online for anise seemed to be mostly for savory cooking, not baking. 

 

[JayKay PE]

Do you have any anise extract?  That might be easier to get than the actual seeds?  It's what I use for my springerle family recipe.

 

[leggo PE]

Nope, no anise extract either... But I'm checking one more grocery store after work today. If Whole Foods doesn't have it, then I will give up!

 

[Supe]

I've only ever seen anise sold whole.  Sometimes its in a plastic bag in the international aisle, other times its in the small glass jars.

 

[leggo PE]

Yeah, I had some star of anise semi-recently, but used the last of it for mulled beverages.

 

[knight1fox3]

Yeah, I had some star of anise semi-recently, but used the last of it for mulled beverages.

That's the same thing I used it for over Thanksgiving.

 

[Road Guy]

I have made 3 apple pies since thanksgiving, this was probably not a good skill for me to acquire!

 

[csb]

I just bought anise extract this weekend and I live in the middle of nowhere. 

 

[JayKay PE]

I have anise extract and anise oil.  The oil is terrifyingly potent.  Like, I only use 1/4 a tsp when making my huge batch of Christmas cookies or else it is too strong.  Makes the house smell lovely whenever I open it.  I have no idea how I acquired it but I'll prob have it for the next 20-years if I only use a drop at a time.

Also, I just got a huge amount of walnuts from Trader Joe's...I wanna make oatmeal walnut cookies tonight instead of anything exotic/exciting.

 

[JayKay PE]

I have made 3 apple pies since thanksgiving, this was probably not a good skill for me to acquire!

DID YOU HAVE A SOGGY BOTTOM?

My older sister was texting me at 11:30pm one night when she made her first apple pie...it did not end well since it was already in the oven and I couldn't walk her through some of the mistakes she made.

 

[Road Guy]

negative - it was some good eating. if it wasn't such as PIA to peel the apples I would make this 2-3 times a week!

 

[Jmo_YaYmo]

I made these yesterday:

https://wickedgoodkitchen.com/gingerbread-gooey-butter-cookies-scratch/

So good! Not sure how to add a pic of my final product though :blush:  

 

[leggo PE]

Oh, oh! Whole Foods to the rescue. I got mace and anise seed there. Then I proceeded to make four dozen delightful Pfeffernuesse.

 

[kevo_55]

^^ YUM!!

Ever think about making a baking side business?

 

[Supe]

Engineering sucks, make it a regular business.

 

[MA_PE]

negative - it was some good eating. if it wasn't such as PIA to peel the apples I would make this 2-3 times a week!

View attachment 12207

soggy?  It looks raw.

looks good...just uncooked.  Then again you southerners don't like to cook pork either.