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bake austin's holiday helper #1

11/30/2021

Free Recipe DIY Gift Idea Future Offerings

In our latest online Adult Baking Class, we offered how to make homemade vanilla extract. This makes a perfect gift for anyone who loves cooking or baking. Even when you are cooking with kids, or when your kids are taking baking classes, this is a frequently used ingredient.

OUR GIFT TO YOU

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT

Needed Supplies
In order to create homemade vanilla extract, you will need:
- whole vanilla beans
- high proof alcohol
- clean jars or bottles
- a sharp knife
- a cutting board
- cute labels

You can make this with kids!

With the very sharp knife, slice down the center of the vanilla bean, just to expose the seeds.

Place the split vanilla bean directly into the container, then pour the high proof alcohol (I'm using everclear) over the beans, filling to the top of the container.

If you are worried about your handwriting and prefer to create printable labels, there are free versions of many design programs out there!

I enjoy using Canva and Avery, as they both have templates to make it easy. Another idea would be to use stamps for a cool look!

DIY GIFT IDEAS
Using the homemade vanilla extract that you just put together, easily create a small gift basket including some of your favorite tea bags, some fruit, a mug, or even your favorite book.

Don't overthink it!!

Bake Austin Cookbook
All baked goods featured in these pages, were created exclusively by students in my Bake Austin classes.

Teaching is my tool,
baking is my passion,
and empowering kids is my goal.

Upcoming Events
If you are having trouble deciding what physical gifts will work for your loved one, a gift card is the perfect option!

Give the option of choosing which baking or cooking classes look the most appetizing and work with their schedule.

Unicorn Baking Kit
Jam-packed with all of the tools needed to create three recipes, this kit is cute, inspirational, and your magical child will be sure to love the fantastical whimsy found within!

Each kit contains the links for all three recipe classes.

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Dinner ROLLS for Thanksgiving

11/15/2021

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Thanksgiving is upon us and even though it is such a fun thing to be cooking for everyone, it might also be awesome if you get a little help from everyone in your family. Even your kids!
Here is a super simple recipe that your kids can do.
Make sure you have them clean up as they work. It is in the instructions, but it is always part of the deal.
“You want to bake? Great, but chef’s also leave a clean kitchen! Thank you! 😊”

Dinner Rolls are a great addition to your Thanksgiving table and the kids could have fun shaping them into cute shapes, like cornucopia, or a turkey, or apples, or pumpkins.

Served with your delicious Thanksgiving meal these rolls will also let your kids to be part of the family tradition.

1. Measure out 2 cups of flour, 2/3 tsp salt and 1 Tbsp of sugar into a medium sized bowl.
Mix this up with a rubber spatula.

TIP: I use All-Purpose flour, but you can also use 1 cup of All-Purpose and 1 cup of Whole Wheat if you prefer.

2. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture.

Basically we are creating a well so we can pour the liquid inside to create the perfect environment for the liquid and yeast to do it's thing.

3. Warm up the milk.

Warm it up just a little bit, just o take the chill out and make it a more friendly environment for the yeast.
(in microwave 30-45 mseconds)
Add your 2 Tbsp butter so that the butter can soften up.

TIP: I used oat milk, but really the standard recipe calls for regular cows milk. But you can use any milk you want.

4. Add the milk add butter into the well, sprinkle the yeast over it, give it a little stir and then crack the egg.
Let this sit for a 5 minutes, just long enough to let the yeast activate a little bit.

5. After 5 minutes, start stirring. This will be a wet dough at first, just try to incorporate all of the ingredients into a dough.

6. Add 1/2 cup of flour and stir again. This will dry out the dough a little bit more and make it more manageable.

7. Place 1/2 cup of flour on the clean counter and turn the dough out on top of the flour.

8. With your fingers closed (I call this shovel hands) press the floured dough until enough flour has been incorporated to knead it without sticking to your hands. Add more flour as needed. The dough should be soft, pliable and not sticky.

9. Let the dough rest in a covered bow for 10 minutes. This will help the gluten to relax and will make it easier to cut the dough.

10. Once the dough rested. Cut the dough into 16 pieces. See the picture.
Then place the rolls into a greased baking dish, 1 finger width apart.

11. Cover the rolls with a clean towel and let them double in size. 30-45 minutes.
This is what we call "proofing". This is where the yeast activates and rises the dough, so our dinner rolls become nice and fluffy.

12. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
Brush the rolls with cream, or an egg wash, so they can brown nicely in the oven.

13. Bake them for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Set them out to cool a little before serving.
Enjoy!

Here the recipe, here is a PDF of the recipe if you want to print it out.

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bake austin's holiday helper #1

Free Recipe DIY Gift Idea Future Offerings

Dinner ROLLS for Thanksgiving

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