After a long and cold winter, we’re all certainly ready to celebrate spring with fun, colorful baking recipes to match the brighter days ahead. Because warmer weather is just around the corner, we’ve got you covered with these yummy sweets to set the springtime vibe.
A Rainbow Twist on Classic Crinkle Cookies
Consisting of just a few simple pantry ingredients, crinkle cookies are the perfect tasty project for anyone regardless of their kitchen experience. They’re beautiful on their own – with cracked tops and a powdery white coating – but just add a few rainbow sprinkles and you’ve got a true eye catcher. To transform any crinkle cookie recipe into a funfetti one, add a third cup of rainbow sprinkles for every two eggs. P.S. If you’re a matcha-lover like me, you’ll love this recipe for matcha crinkle cookies, featured in the picture above
Difficulty level: 2/10
Perfect for: a spontaneous baking session
Utilizing Spring Fruits: Featuring Plum Jam
Spring is the prime season for stone fruits! I picked up Italian sugar plums at HMart and decided to use up the large bag by making jam. (You can of course use any fruit of your choosing). What’s great about this recipe is that it calls for less sugar than usual, preserving the natural tart flavor of the fruit. While brainstorming ways to feature the homemade jam, I immediately thought of sandwich cookies, as shortbread cookie shells are ideal for infusing with any flavor! I also added two tablespoons of ground oolong tea leaves – the grassy, roasted tea flavor can be used to balance out the jam perfectly.
Difficulty level: 4/10
Perfect for: a bougie gift
Honoring The Season of Flowers
Don’t be deceived by the delicate beauty of this genoise sponge cake. Topped with fragile pink and ruby rose petals, this cake packs a punch of flavors with its raspberry jam layer and lemon curd topping. These tangy elements beautifully complement the silky swiss meringue buttercream and plain genoise sponge. Genoise sponge is the perfect bite for a warm spring day; it’s leavened entirely by whipped egg whites rather than baking powder or soda, making it the lightest cake out there. For a quicker version of this dessert, substitute the swiss meringue buttercream for whipped cream; or, if you’re feeling adventurous, go for a whipped mascarpone frosting. While the buttery texture and not-too-sweet taste of swiss meringue buttercream make it totally worth the time and effort, the technique can be a bit tricky to master.
Difficulty level: 6/10
Perfect for: a spring dinner party
Baking as a Way to Refresh and Celebrate
Baking is a great way to explore and take advantage of seasonal ingredients. From asparagus to rhubarb, there’s certainly no shortage of tasty produce during its prime time in spring. Branching out to new recipes that match the season’s vibe is also a great way to bring about a fresh start and set the mood. My hope is that these recipes bring some inspiration to your next baking session, so you can spend some time by the window with springtime sunshine shining through and catch views of blossoming flowers.