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Jan 23

Butter + Love

Posted in: baking

Two simple ingredients drive a fledgling Brooklyn-based baker

When it comes to a satisfying treat, simple is almost always best. Alison Walla’s small Brooklyn-based baking outfit Butter + Love exemplifies that ideal with her line of shortbread and gingerbread fruit- and herb-infused cookies made from spruced-up family recipes.

Taking its name from a Norwegian proverb, Butter + Love was born from Walla’s morning coffee runs to the Green Grape in Fort Greene. The discerning staff urged her to capitalize on her neighborly generosity and start selling the sweets she was bringing to them each day.

In six months, Walla has baked her way into six local stockists, and opened her own stall at the Brooklyn Flea in November 2011. This week, she opens an Etsy shop to share the cookie bounty with those outside the neighborhood.

We got to try a variety of flavors at CH HQ and were most impressed by the salted honey lavender shortbread—a classic, well-executed iteration based on the namesake ingredient. The rich cookie was a perfect balance of soft and crispy with a sprinkling of salt and sugar on top. The sandwich cookies—a heart-shaped raspberry lemon and blackberry lime stars—offered a flavorful update on the traditional Linzer tart, and pleased the crowd a bit more than the more unconventional savory-sweet marionberry rosemary sea salt flavor. The gingerbread moustaches offered just enough spice, and were pleasantly chewier than a typical snap.

Find Butter + Love at select Brooklyn purveyors or, starting this week, online at Etsy. Prices start around $5 for a box of four.

Aug 02

Four Gluten-Free Indulgences

Posted in: baking, glutenfree

From crave-worthy cookies to carrot-based brownies, four new ways to skip the gluten without sacrificing taste

Finding gluten-free products is easier than ever, but finding tasty treats with good texture remains a constant challenge. Here are five new treats that we think hit the mark.

Tate’s Bake Shop

A forever favorite, Tate’s chocolate chip cookies are now available without the gluten. These thin crunchy cookies achieve a rare level of tastiness and texture not often found in gluten-free products, and taste nearly identical to their wheat cousins. They’re made with rice flour and the same all-natural ingredients as their usual gourmet-baked goods—and taste just as good. Head to Tate’s webstore to order a batch, $38 will get you six bags of 12 cookies each. And for your gluten-eating friends, try the new Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies, which add an earthiness that takes the original to a whole new level.

Tokies

This mother-and-daughter team takes an unusual approach to traditional ready-to-use mixes by using carrot hulls as well as grains, lending moisture and fluffiness. Plus, there’s plenty of room or improvisation during preparation of the natural mixes, allowing for last-minute confectionary additions. “Stella’s chocolate indulgence” brownie mix sells for $9 a box. Also check out Tokies‘ gluten-free pancake and chocolate cake mix.

Marion’s Smart Delights

Few sweet treats complement a temperate afternoon quite like a homemade lemon bar. Look no further than Marion’s lemon bar mix for an easy route to satisfying that summer sweet-tooth while skipping the gluten. Certified Kosher, made with less salt and over one-third less sugar than the leading lemon bar mix, Marion’s brings a refreshingly delicate balance of tart and sweetness. Available for $7 a box from their online shop. While you’re there we recommend giving the cookie and muffin mix a try too.

Glutenus Minimus

Devoted to bringing the finest gluten-free products to the lovely folks of Massachusetts and beyond, Glutenus Minimus bakery (not pictured) offers a wonderful selection of products baked daily—from take-and-bake mixes to 15 muffin flavors and wedding cakes. With 14 Massachusets locations and an online market, you’ll never be too far from a delectable gluten-free guilty-pleasure.

Hasta La Ideas

Butter + Love