Rhubarb Crumble Bars

Fresh rhubarb season is nearly here. This zingy recipe is sure to wake up your tastebuds from their winter slumber.

Ingredients

Filling:

• ⅓ cup water

• ¼ cup white sugar

• 3 cups chopped rhubarb

Topping:

• ½ cup old-fashioned oats

• 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 4 teaspoons pure maple syrup, room temperature

• 2 teaspoons unsalted butter, melted

Crust:

• ⅔ cup all-purpose flour

• ¼ teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cashew milk, room temperature

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 4 tablespoons white sugar

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat an 8x4-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.

• Step 2

  Mix water and sugar in a deep saucepan, making sure sugar is completely mixed in. Bring to a low boil over medium heat. Stir in rhubarb and let simmer, uncovered, until rhubarb becomes mushy, about 10 minutes. Add a couple tablespoons water if needed to help soften. Remove from heat and set rhubarb aside in a bowl.

• Step 3

  Stir oats, whole wheat flour, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Make a well in the center of the oat mixture. Pour in maple syrup and butter; stir until all ingredients are incorporated. Set topping aside.

• Step 4

  Whisk all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt for crust together in a small bowl.

• Step 5

  Whisk cashew milk, butter, and vanilla extract together in a bowl. Stir in sugar. Pour into crust flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated.

• Step 6

  Press crust into the bottom of the prepared pan using a spatula; wet your spatula with water to prevent sticking. Spread rhubarb filling evenly over the crust. Sprinkle oat topping mixture on top of rhubarb.

• Step 7

  Bake in the preheated oven until juices are bubbling and crust is golden, 15 to 19 minutes. Let cool completely to room temperature in the pan. Let bars rest for at least 3 hours before slicing and serving.

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Right now we have fresh strawberries at our Mason and Belpre markets. The strawberry shortcake cookies are a delicious, one-bowl recipe that are a perfect spring dessert.

Ingredients

• 4 oz cream cheese room temperature

• 10 tablespoons butter softened

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 egg

• 2 cups flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 cup white chocolate or vanilla chips

• 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries diced into tiny pieces (plus more )

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

3. In a large bowl cream together cream cheese and butter.

4. Add in sugar and egg.

5. Add in flour.

6. Sprinkle the baking powder, salt and baking soda over the flour.

7. Use a rubber spatula to work in the flour until a dough forms.

8. fold in chocolate chips and frozen strawberries.

9. Using a mini cookie scoop, scoop out the cookie dough and place on prepared baking sheet.

10. Press pieces of frozen strawberries into the cookies (this will make the cookies look prettier when they are done with bits of strawberries peeping out)

11. Bake for about 10 minutes.

12. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack.

Mandarin Orange Cake

This moist and flavorful cake is infused with the bright and zesty essence of mandarin oranges, imparting a delightful citrusy flavor with every bite. Whether you're indulging in this dessert as a teatime treat or as a sweet finish to a meal, this mandarin orange cake is a delightful option for those seeking a unique and refreshing twist on traditional cakes.

Ingredients

• 1 (15.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin orange segments

• 4 large eggs

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice

• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

• 1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.

2. Combine cake mix, mandarin oranges with juice, eggs, and oil in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool for at least 30 minutes.

4. Beat pineapple with juice, whipped topping, and dry pudding mix together in a large bowl until blended. Spread on cooled cake.

Rose Pavlova Cakes

Indulge in the romance of Valentine's Day with these exquisite Rose Pavlova Cakes. This delicate dessert combines the crisp, meringue base of a classic pavlova with the subtle, floral essence of roses. Topped with a light, whipped cream and adorned with fresh petals and berries, it's the perfect sweet treat to share with your loved one.

Ingredients

• 3 egg whites, at room temperature

• 1 teaspoon dried rose petal powder (Optional)

• ½ cup white sugar, or more to taste

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or to taste

• ½ teaspoon rose extract, or to taste

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

• 1 ½ tablespoons cream cheese

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

• 2 tablespoons white sugar

• 1 tablespoon dried rose petals (Optional)

• Berries (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 225 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Combine egg whites and rose petal powder in the bowl of a stand mixer; beat until soft peaks form. Start beating in 1/2 cup sugar gradually. Increase speed to high and beat until stiff and glossy peaks form. Mix in vanilla extract and rose extract. Fold cornstarch very gently into the meringue using a spatula.

3. Spoon meringue into a piping bag fitted with a fine round tip. Pipe into 18 individual rounds.

4. Bake in the preheated oven until edges appear dry, 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn off oven and leave pavlovas inside the oven for another 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

5. Beat cream cheese in a bowl for 30 seconds. Add heavy cream and 2 tablespoons sugar; beat until fluffy. Spoon whipped cream into another piping bag.

6. Pipe whipped cream over cooled pavlovas. Decorate with dried rose petals and berries.

Lemon Yogurt Cake

A lemon pound cake made with yogurt instead of sour cream.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, room temperature

• 2 cups white sugar

• 3 eggs, room temperature

• 1 teaspoon lemon extract

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 (8 ounce) container lemon flavored yogurt

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan.

• Step 2

  Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat one egg at a time into the butter mixture; add lemon extract with last egg.

• Step 3

  Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Alternately mix in the flour mixture and the yogurt, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat just until incorporated.

• Step 4

  Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Apple Crisp

No time for pie? Try this simple dessert that's great served with ice cream.

Ingredients

• 10 cups apples, peeled, cored and sliced

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ cup water

• 1 cup quick-cooking oats

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• ¼ teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon baking soda

• ½ cup butter, melted

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

• Step 2

  Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour water evenly over all.

• Step 3

  Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.

• Step 4

  Bake at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes.