I’ve always loved the New Year. A time for reflection. A time for resolve. A time for renewal.

But I have to admit…January can also be a little rough when the excitement of the holiday season fades and it’s back to reality. When the grey sky and rain can strike with a vengeance, and the winter blahs begin to hover in the distance.

But this year we had a treat – one that made this first month of the new year a little more special.

Snow started falling on a Sunday evening, and it just kept on coming down for the rest of the week.

And what a week it was…

A quiet morning in front of the fire. An array of baking– cinnamon roll pancakes, raspberry buns with crème fraiche frosting, buttery crumb cake, and cinnamon roll scones. A pot of soup bubbling away on the stove. A magical winter walk through the local park. A mug of hot cocoa topped off with freshly whipped cream and chocolate shavings. A hike through the snow for a pint of porter and a glass of cider at our favorite local deli.

A little interlude from everyday life – a free pass to settle in for a few days, put aside the “to do” lists, and simply enjoy the moment.

Snow Days

We woke up Monday morning to a blanket of snow covering our neighborhood and the call that school was cancelled.

As the snow piled up, it was clear we wouldn’t be heading out anytime soon, so I put on my cozy socks, turned on the fireplace, and headed into the kitchen to do a little winter baking.

Winter Baking

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

My mom would always make us hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls when it snowed, and this cinnamon roll pancake recipe from Recipe Girl seemed like a fitting choice for our first snow day.

It’s an innovative take on the traditional cinnamon roll. Whip up a fluffy pancake batter, melt butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together, and then add a spiral as the pancakes cook.

And the warm cream cheese drizzle on top – oh, wow!

We sat in front of the fire, sipping our hot cocoa, watching fat flakes drift to the ground, and enjoying the antics of the squirrels trying to clear a path. A perfect start to a snow day.

Cinnamon Sugar Scones

I absolutely love scones and this cinnamon sugar scone recipe by Smitten Kitchen has been on my “must try” list for a while. As our first day snow day turned into a second day off from work, I settled in for another round of baking.

What a fun process – creating a one-bowl dough base, rolling it out, topping it with a cinnamon sugar mix, and then folding it multiple times to create layers of sweet goodness.

Buttery and tender with just the right touch of cinnamon sugar, these scones were everything I’d hoped – and more.

I topped them off with a rich vanilla glaze. Yum!

New York Style Coffee Cake

Coffee cake is always one of my winter favorites, and I was excited to try this New York-style crumb cake recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction. It’s a breeze to make and the extra-thick brown sugar cinnamon crumb was a hit. And yes, in my book, extra crumb is definitely a plus.

Raspberry Jam Buns with Crème Fraiche

True confession time. I come from a long line of talented bakers, and when it comes to cinnamon rolls, my grandma’s and mom’s were legendary. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to replicate their success.

I first spotted this raspberry buns with crème fraiche frosting recipe a couple years ago in Julia Turshen’s Small Victories cookbook, a book that holds a firm place in my all-time greats shelf. What especially intrigued me were her thoughts on yeast, an ingredient I’ve been hesitant to work with. “Don’t be afraid,” she writes. “It’s a tool, just like any other leavening ingredient.”

Good advice for baking – and life.

So, with a third “snow day” off from work, and a little unexpected time on my hands, I decided to give cinnamon rolls another go.

There’s something so elemental about kneading, proofing, and rolling out a dough – so calming and pure.

The verdict? Pretty darn good. I added a little too much flour to the dough, and next time I’d go with a cream cheese glaze, but we ended up devouring the batch. A warm cinnamon roll on a snowy winter day – pure bliss.

Julia offers a number of spin-offs from this recipe as well, such as classic cinnamon rolls, monkey bread, garlic buns, and herb-goat cheese buns.

As she writes in the introduction to the recipe, “The other thing I learned, a small true victory, is that once you stop being afraid of yeast, mastering a basic yeasted dough, like the one I’ve included here, means that everything from cinnamon buns to dinner rolls is within your reach.”

Oh, the possibilities – I can’t wait to try again!

From the Archives…

If you’re looking for more winter breakfast ideas, here are a few favorites that I’ve shared in previous posts. (Click on the image for a direct link to the recipe or the text for a link to the post in which it appeared.)

Butter-toasted apricot oatmeal from Ruth Reichl’s My Kitchen Year

Danish puff from my December Taste Bytes post

Cherry almond scones from Leslie Mackie’s Macrina Bakery and Café Cookbook

Citrus oat scones from Leslie Mackie’s Macrina Bakery and Café Cookbook

Soft boiled-eggs with toast from Jessica Seinfield’s Can’t Cook Cookbook

Pumpkin waffles with butter pecan syrup from my October Taste Bytes post

Winter Soups

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When it snows, there’s nothing like a hot bowl of comforting soup to warm your stomach and soul.

Soup & Comfort

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Of the many soup books in my cookbook collection, this one stands out. Soup and Comfort by Pamela Ellgen is packed with a diverse selection of creative and delicious recipes that are sure to be a hit with your family. Her personal stories, clear directions, helpful tips, and unique twists on classic favorites make this one a keeper.

Here are a few of my “go to” recipes from her cookbook (a special thank you to Pamela for graciously giving me permission to reprint two of them here – and please do check out her Surf Girl Eats blog).

Spicy Chicken and Sweet Potato Chowder

Chowder is always a must in the winter months, and this combination knocks it out of the park. Sweet potatoes, corn kernels, green chiles, and a spicy trifecta of cumin, paprika, and cayenne – oh, yes!

Spicy Chicken and Sweet Potato Chowder

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Author: Pamela Ellgen
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 4–6 servings 1x

Ingredients

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2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 red bell pepper, cored and diced
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 quart chicken broth
2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes
2 cups fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup fire-roasted green chiles
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream

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Instructions

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper, and cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften.
Push the vegetables to the side and cook the chicken for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly browned. Add the broth, sweet potatoes, corn kernels, chiles, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Season generously with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are just cooked.
Stir in the heavy cream and cook for 5 more minutes.
Chill, cover, and store leftovers in fridge for up to 2 days.

Notes

Feel free to use frozen corn kernels in this recipe. Simply defrost before adding to the soup.

Creamy Broccoli Parmesan Soup

You can’t beat a good broccoli soup, and this recipe is outstanding. The fresh broccoli takes center stage, and the addition of red chili flakes, lemon, and Parmesan cheese makes this soup shine. Quick to prepare, healthy, and tasty.

Kale, Cannellini Bean, and Sausage Soup

I saved the best for last – I could eat this soup over and over and never get tired of it. I’m not usually a huge fan of kale, but it absolutely works here, and I went full in on the heat factor as well, with the addition of hot Italian sausage and red chili flakes. This is packed with intense flavors that complement each other, and is exactly what I crave on a cold winter day.