Spiced Apple Bourbon Sparklers

What are your favorite holiday cocktails? I love warm mulled wine and bourbon drinks. And I’m a big fan of champagne or sparkling wine during the holidays slash all year long. This year I whipped up a double batch of this eggnog, at my coworker’s insistence. It’s been aging for a few weeks, so we won’t know the outcome until we crack it open the week of Christmas. I’m pretty excited for it though! 

Baked Coconut Buttermilk Donuts with Ginger Glaze

I think you should have donuts with a mom this Mother's Day. Whether it's your mom, your mom's mom, a friend's mom, a mom friend, or a new mom, and even if it's over the phone or FaceTime or Skype. The beauty of the internet is that we can be close even if we're far away. We can send pictures instantly, and even make the same donut recipe to eat together when we're miles and miles apart. 

The older I get (which, I might add, is only a few weeks away from my last twenties birthday… yikes!), the more I appreciate moms. A lot of gals I know are having babies, and man, that looks really hard. And also my mom, she's so tough and brave and strong (and pretty! and fun!). Mom's really carry the load for everyone. I wish we understood that as teenagers. Hey teenagers, be nice to your moms! 

So, here's to the moms! On Mother's Day, and every day. Celebrating Mother's Day with donuts. Celebrating every day with donuts. Celebrating mothers every day. It's a big circle, you guys… like… a donut. 

These donuts are so pretty and perfect for a springy Mother's Day brunch. I'm obsessed with the sweet coconut cake and spicy ginger glaze combo. If you're less into major ginger heat, start slow, with just a little ground ginger, and work up to the fresh stuff. 

Also, if you're looking for a gift for mom, get her a donut pan, already! 

Baked Coconut Buttermilk Donuts with Ginger Glaze

Donut base adapted from this recipe

Makes 12 donuts 

Donuts

2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla 

3/4 cup desiccated coconut (dried, shredded, and unsweetened)

Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (grated super fine and pulpy on a microplane)

1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger

2.5 tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Additional desiccated coconut (about 1/2 cup)

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease donut pan(s).

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, beat together the egg and sugar. Pour buttermilk in a measuring cup, and stir in melted butter and vanilla. Add half the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture, stir, then add half the egg/sugar mixture, stir. Repeat with remaining buttermilk and egg/sugar mixture. 

Fill donut pan holes just barely to the top. I usually pipe donut batter in with a plastic bag, but this is a bit thicker, so I just spoon it in and spread it around with my finger or a spoon. Bake for 10-15 minutes (my oven took exactly 13 minutes), until donuts are just golden, spring back when touched, and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in donut pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining batter if you only have 1 pan. 

Cool completely on a wire rack before glazing. 

To make glaze: In a large bowl, whisk together both gingers, water, and vanilla. Add powdered sugar, and whisk until combined and smooth.

Put coconut in a separate dish or plate.

Dip cool donuts (smooth side down) in glaze, then immediately into coconut. Let sit until glaze hardens, about 15 minutes. 

Winter Bourbon Cocktails

My dad and I have a darker skin tone than Mel and Amanda, we have dark hair, and both have a penchant for dark drinks. The two of us go crazy for super dark, heavy beers—porters and stouts—and dark booze. When I was a little kid, and no one was looking, I would sneak a taste of John's whiskey and cokes, dipping in my finger in for a quick taste. It was the 80s, that kinda stuff happened.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love whiskey? Well, I love it. Quite a bit. Especially this time of year. Cold, dark winter days just beg for a warm, spicy whiskey drink. By the way, have you ever wondered what the difference is between different kinds of whiskey (bourbon, rye, etc)? Well, wonder no more. As usual, Wikipedia has us covered. 

You can shake together a ton of combos of tasty fall flavors for a delicious whiskey cocktail. Apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, lemon, rosemary—all go great with whiskey. Just start throwing stuff in a shaker. If all else fails, add more sweet stuff. Or more whiskey. 

Snappy Bourbon & Cider Cocktail 

Makes 2 small or one large drink

1/2 cup fresh apple cider

2 ounces good bourbon

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

splash of bitters

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

juice from 1/4 of a lemon

pinch of fresh nutmeg

3-4 smashed cardamom pods

cinnamon sticks and apple slices for garnish

Add all ingredients (except garnish) to a shaker with ice, and shake everything is incorporated and shaker feels chilly to the touch. Strain into glasses, and serve with a cinnamon stick and apple slice.