Blueberry Crumble Bread

My younger sister was married last weekend in a beautiful flora-filled, woodland-themed wedding. As the maid of honor, I spent the last couple weeks dedicated to last minute wedding planning. Along with throwing a bridal shower, my waking hours were filled with running errands, assembling welcome boxes, and crafting table decorations to minimize the stress on the bride. All the behind-the-scenes work was worthwhile, as the wedding day went by effortlessly and my sister and new brother-in-law never stopped smiling.

As a gift to the happy couple, I baked all of the cupcakes for the wedding—vanilla bean, chocolate, coconut, and dulce de leche. Even though I used to work in a bakery and could whip up large numbers of cupcakes in a few hours, it was a new experience doing so with the single-batch equipment of a home baker. Eighteen pounds of butter later, I breathed an audible sigh of relief that the recipes held up when quadrupled and hugged my KitchenAid mixer after it whipped Swiss meringue buttercream on high for a solid three hours. At the wedding, the cupcakes disappeared quickly, which is the best compliment a baker can receive.

After a busy couple of weeks, it feels good to take time for myself to relax. One of the benefits of being a teacher is the summer vacations, and I have been treating this week as a much needed holiday. Stretching out under the sun with a good book, and spending time in the kitchen playing around with new ideas has consumed my time. As an extension to these lazy mornings, I baked up this Blueberry Crumble Bread and have been enjoying a slice as I fill out Sudoku puzzles in the daily paper.

My productive side will come out soon, but for now I'm enjoying this rare slow, languid pace of life.

Blueberry Crumble Bread is a great addition to breakfast or served as an afternoon snack. A moist, vanilla-scented bread is bursting with fresh blueberries. The sweet crumble on top features ground cinnamon, which enhances the natural flavor of the berries. Serve the bread alongside a cup of coffee or tall glass of milk, and share with a good friend. 

One Year Ago: Scenes from NYC, Blueberry Oat Crumble Muffins, & S'mores Tarts
Two Years Ago: Chocolate Cacao Banana Bread, Chocolate Espresso Custard & Mixed Berry Quinoa Crumble
Three Years Ago: Boozy Margarita Lime Cake, Double Chocolate Muffins, Rhubarb Ginger Bars, Nutty Rhubarb Oatmeal, & Dill Dinner Rolls
Four Years Ago: Cherry Almond Granola, Vegan Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Cherry Cream Cheese Muffins, Blueberry Breakfast Quinoa, Vegan Brownies, & Banana PB Smoothie
Five Years Ago: Cinnamon Raisin Baked French Toast, Chocolate Almond Oat Bars, Tropical Vacation Cocktail, Dried Blueberry Granola, & Bizcochitos
Six Years Ago: Bittersweet Chocolate Sherbet, Rhubarb Jam, & Tapioca Pudding

Blueberry Crumble Bread

Yields 1 loaf

Blueberry Bread
1/2 cup (113 grams) butter
2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour
1 cup (250 mL) milk
2 cups (340 grams) fresh blueberries*

Crumble Topping
3 tablespoons (45 grams) butter
1/3 cup (65 grams) granulated sugar
2/3 cup (83 grams) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and set aside.

For the blueberry bread, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy in a large mixing bowl. Add the egg and vanilla and beat to combine. Stir in baking powder, salt, flour, and milk. Gently fold in blueberries. Transfer batter to the prepared pan and set aside.

For the crumble topping, beat together butter and sugar until well combined. Stir in flour and cinnamon. Crumble the topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until crumble topping browns and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 15-20 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

*Frozen blueberries can also be used, but note that the berries will dye the entire bread a shade of indigo.

Blueberry Honey Scones

This past July, I boarded a plane and headed to Norwich, Vermont for a week long "bake-cation." The destination was the Baking Center located at King Arthur Flour's flagship campus. Along with a baker's store and bakery, the campus features a baking school, which teaches a range of bread and pastry courses at levels from beginner to professional. Since it has long been my dream to go to culinary school, I couldn't imagine a more indulgent way to spend a vacation. I signed up for two courses: Beauty and the Baguette and Pastry Principles & Practice.

The baguette course was the first on the list and took place during a single afternoon. Entering the classroom, I wasn't sure what to expect, but the whole experience left me pleasantly surprised. The class sizes were kept small and each student was supplied a fully equipped station. The instructor broke the lesson down into sections, demonstrating a few steps before giving us a chance to try it out on our own. What impressed me the most, however, were the dozens of baguettes prepared at various stages so that we would all be able to practice the shaping and slicing techniques until we had it mastered.

Though the class consisted of people who had never kneaded dough to people who bake bread several times a week, we all came away with perfect baguettes and the knowledge on how to make them at home. I learned more about crusty bread in those four short hours than I have in years of trial and error on my own. I mean, look at these beauties (made in my own oven, no less)!

The second course, Pastry Principles & Practice, was an in depth course, lasting four days and spanning everything from pie and puff pastry to tarts and eclairs. Even though I had my fair share of pastry knowledge going in, the course was taught in such a way that home bakers and professionals would all have new information to gain. I was familiar with most of the techniques, but the reasons why each step was necessary was fascinating for me. Even with something as basic as cake, I was shocked by how much I didn't know or hadn't considered. I came away with pages of notes, scribbled in the margins of the recipes, on techniques, flavor combinations, and the science of baking. 

Time passed quickly during the five-hour pastry classes. We moved between activities smoothly, never left waiting around for something to come out of the oven or the next dessert to be prepped. The instructors were professional and knew the answers to all of my curious questions. Besides baking (and eating), my favorite part of the Baking Center was never having to do dishes. As soon as something was dirty, an instructor whisked it away and moments later came back with it sparkling clean. If only I could get this kind of service at home...

Overall, I adored my time at King Arthur Flour's facilities and highly recommend their courses. Even as an experienced baker, I came away with a wealth of new knowledge and techniques to play around with at home. If you live in the Northeast, do consider taking a class at the Baking Center. They have many courses for holiday baking and bread making coming soon. 

In partnership with King Arthur Flour, I will be bringing you a new recipe each month, for the next six months, filled with step-by-step instructions and photographs to help you grow as a baker. I am so excited to share the new techniques I learned with you! We will start with easier recipes, like scones and cakes, and tackle more difficult recipes as the months pass (like eclairs and crusty breads!).

By the end of our journey, you'll have a solid understanding of basic yeast breads and pastries. I hope you bake along with me! You can show off your baking creations by tagging them with #kingarthurflour. Roll up your sleeves and pull out the flour, because it's about to get delicious in here. 

Scones are versatile pastries that are easy to assemble with interchangeable ingredients to match the flavors of the season. Similar to pie crust and biscuits, the real secret to great scones is cold ingredients and limited handling. To start, whisk together the dry ingredients. Take butter—which must be cold—and cube it with a knife. Add the butter to the dry ingredients by rubbing it between your fingers until the dough resembles coarse sand. If you have a few larger pieces of butter (as shown above), that is actually a good thing! Alternatively, you can bring out a pastry blender for this step, but I don't recommend using a food processor or mixer because you lose control over the size of the butter pieces.

The cold butter layered in the flour is the trick to creating a flaky scone. When the butter melts in the oven, it will leave pockets between the flour, creating layers. If your butter softens or melts before baking, these layers will not form. If your kitchen is too warm, place the mixture in the refrigerator to cool down the butter before moving on.

For the next step, whisk together all the wet ingredients and, along with the blueberries, add it to the flour mixture. Using a bowl scraper, delicately fold the dough on itself just until it is evenly moistened. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. If you need to knead the dough to bring in any dry pieces, it is okay to do so, but knead only a few times to limit your handling.

Ideally, we want to avoid over mixing or overworking the dough. Mixing or kneading the dough encourages gluten to form. While gluten formation is wonderful for bread dough, it is the opposite of what we look for when creating light, flaky pastries. 

Using floured hands, bring the dough into a ball and flatten it into a disk with your palms until it is roughly 1-inch thick. Using a bench knife (or sharp kitchen knife), cut the dough into 6-8 pie shaped pieces. Be careful to only use a straight up and down motion when cutting the dough. Using a dull knife or moving the knife side-to-side will seal the edges of dough, which will prevent the scones from rising to full height in the oven. Brush the scones with heavy cream to encourage browning and set them into the oven to bake.

Blueberry Honey Scones are flaky, decadent morning pastries that are best served alongside a mug of coffee or tea. Fresh blueberries and honey are the star flavors in this scone, adding chords of sweet and tart to the overall character. Before serving, drizzle the scones with additional honey and serve with a side of creme fraiche. 

One Year Ago: Citrus Zucchini Muffins
Two Years Ago: Nordic Pancake Cake and Vanilla Ice Cream Cake
Three Years Ago: Cucumber Zucchini Slices, Banana Rum Bread, and Vanilla Cardamom Peach Pie
Four Years Ago: Chocolate Beet Cake, Sweet & Spicy Chili Chicken Wings, and Zucchini Bread
Five Years Ago: Espresso Chocolate Shortbread, Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins, and Chocolate Pear Cake

Blueberry Honey Scones

Yields 6-8 servings

2 cups (240 grams) King Arthur All-Purpose Flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup (120 mL) heavy cream, plus extra for brushing
6 ounces (170 grams) fresh blueberries*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the cubed butter and rub the butter between your fingers until the dough resembles coarse sand with a few larger pieces remaining. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, vanilla, honey, and heavy cream. Pour over the scone batter, add the blueberries, and lightly mix until the dough comes together. The dough will be somewhat sticky.

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface. With floured hands, form the dough into a circle. If you need to fold the dough over to evenly distribute the moisture, you may do so, but no more than a few times. Flatten the dough until it is about 1-inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut 6-8 equal pie wedges. Transfer scones to a baking sheet using a flat spatula and brush the tops of the scones with heavy cream. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Drizzle the scones with honey and serve with a side of creme fraiche. Tag your creations with #kingarthurflour to show off your baking!

*Frozen blueberries (not thawed) will also work, but the berries will dye the scone a bright blue. 

This post is sponsored through a partnership with King Arthur Flour. Travel, accommodations, and courses at the Baking Center were provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Photographs from the Baking Center are copyright © King Arthur Flour

Blueberry Oat Crumble Muffins

I spent the last week fitting my one bedroom apartment into boxes. Sealed with packing tape and stacked into tall, quivering towers, they fill a small 10" by 10" storage unit, awaiting next month's big move. I am displaced until then, spending time with family and traveling in the interim. With a job offer to teach in another location, it is time to leave the small town life for a bustling city. This change, however, is more bittersweet than expected. Though I resisted it madly in the beginning, this small town of mine—population 3,000—grew on me.  

We put down roots whether or not we mean to; we find a way to feel like we belong.

I will miss many things about this place. The two minute commute to work each morning. The two minute commute to anywhere in town. The honor system farmer's market (a table of fresh vegetables sits alone in a vacant parking lot, with a box to collect payment. If only everywhere could be so honest). The smells emanating from the food factory in the center of town (some days, the pervasive scent of dog food—blech—but on the rare days it smells like chocolate or gumdrops, it feels as if Willy Wonka's factory is just down the street). The realization that living in a small town does not mean you live a small life. 

But, most of all, I will miss the people. The welcoming, caring, animated souls who made this place home for the last two years.

When I first arrived to this town, I nervously baked up a batch of granola bars, wondering if I had made the right decision in moving here. Oats were (and are) a comfort food to me, familiarity in a world that was both strange and new. It seemed fitting that the last pan to come out of my small apartment kitchen were these oat-filled muffins. They are a means to say goodbye and turn the page on a new chapter in my life.

Blueberry Oat Crumble Muffins are bursting with blueberries and a bright aroma. Oats, which are grounded down to a flour, give a hearty flavor to the final product. Topped with a cinnamon crumble, the muffins are complete. Serve with a spread of butter or simply eat them plain, both methods will do just fine.

One Year Ago: Mango Margarita, Chocolate Cacao Nib Banana Bread, and Chocolate Espresso Custard
Two Years Ago: Rhubarb Vanilla Pound Cake, Boozy Margarita Lime Cake, Double Chocolate Muffins, and Rhubarb Ginger Bars
Three Years Ago: Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies, Coconut Nutmeg Pudding, Lavender Lemonade, Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes, and Cherry Almond Granola
Four Years Ago: Honey Peach Boba Tea, Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies, Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Bread, and Cinnamon Raisin Baked French Toast
Five Years Ago: Bittersweet Chocolate Sherbet, Rhubarb Jam, and Tapioca Pudding

Blueberry Oat Crumble Muffins

Yields 1 dozen muffins

Blueberry Oat Muffins
1/4 cup (50 grams) coconut oil, liquid state
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (50 grams) brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (68 grams) oat flour *
3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (177 ml) milk
6 ounces (170 grams) fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the coconut oil and sugars until uniform. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add the dry ingredients (cinnamon, baking powder, salt, oat flour, all-purpose flour) alternatively with the milk until smooth. Stir in the fresh blueberries. Set aside.

Oat Crumble Topping
2 tablespoons coconut oil, liquid state
2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup (30 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (45 grams) old fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a small bowl, mix together all crumble ingredients until uniform.

Fill each muffin liner 3/4 full of batter. Sprinkle approximately 1 tablespoon of crumble topping on each and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

* To make oat flour, place old fashioned oats in a food processor and process until oats are a fine powder.