Sweet Treats With Shea MacLeod! Back to Blog
Update: The winner of the $10 Amazon.com gift card is Dee Hartman! Congratulations!
I hope that you are all enjoying the giveaways and holiday posts! Some of these posts are making me uber hungry–and our next guest, Shéa MacLeod, is determined to make me even hungrier! Shéa has a great paranormal series out now, but instead of talking monsters, she’s going to share some sweet treats (and *then* we can get to the fun monster talk). Welcome, Shéa!
(And one commenter will win a $10 Amazon.com or B&N.com gift card–winner’s choice!)
I love food.
Yeah, yeah, we all eat food. We all need food. But for me food is about more than just the mechanics of staying alive or even that it tastes good. It’s about family, togetherness, connection, and celebration. Every milestone moment in my life marked with a memory that tickles the senses.
Homemade banana ice cream, sticky and sweet, melting in the July heat as fireworks burst overhead. Violet creams melting in my mouth on the train home from Bath, England. Persimmon pudding slathered in rum sauce on Christmas day.
It’s no wonder I created a character who is as obsessed with food as I am. Anyone who has read the Sunwalker Saga books knows that Morgan Bailey has a weakness for pancakes and cupcakes. Wonder where she gets that from?
But what you don’t know is that Morgan, like me, has a favorite treat she bakes every Christmas Eve morning. Just like her mom did. Just like my mom did. The breakfast delight with flakey moist pastry, tangy raspberry filling, and a drizzle of vanilla icing which I made every Christmas Eve while I was living in England. It was a reminder of home and family and love. And also because it tastes good.
This recipe is from the Luna Café (http://thelunacafe.com/raspberry-cream-cheese-coffee-cake/), but it’s identical to the one my family has been using for years (though mine never turns out as pretty).
Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
2 cups unbleached, all-purpose white flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
½ cup unsalted butter
3 ounces cream cheese (I use Philly)
½ cup milk
½ cup raspberry preserves (or your favorite preserves)
Icing
½ cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla
Optional
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
- In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk vigorously to distribute the baking soda and salt.
- With a pastry cutter or fork, cut the cream cheese and butter into the flour mixture.
- Quickly and gently blend in the milk.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead VERY LIGHTLY for 4-5 strokes.
NOTE This is the step at which you can ruin the coffeecake. If you overwork the dough, the pastry will be tough. Just gather the dough together and don’t worry about making it smooth. It will still look a little rough. That’s perfect.
- On waxed paper, roll the dough to an 8- by 12-inch rectangle.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly greased baking sheet and remove the waxed paper.
- Measure and mark the dough lengthwise into thirds.
- Spread preserves down the middle third of the dough, keeping it about ½ inch from the mark on both sides.
- Make 2¾-inch slight diagonal cuts at 1-inch intervals on each the long sides. Do not cut into the center jam-filled area.
- Fold strips, first one from one side and then one from the other side in a rotating fashion, over the filling. The coffeecake will now resemble a braid.
- Bake in a 425° oven for 12-15 minutes, until the dough is cooked through and the top is lightly browned.
- In a small glass measuring cup with a pouring spout, combine the sugar, milk, and vanilla. Drizzle over the top of the coffeecake.
- If desired, sprinkle on the toasted sliced almonds while the icing is still wet.
- Serve warm.
Makes one 8- by 12-inch coffee cake.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have over the years. Maybe it will mark future memories for you and your family. Happy holidays!
Shéa MacLeod
Book link on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kissed-Darkness-Book-Sunwalker-ebook/dp/B0081JUB60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353353192&sr=8-1&keywords=kissed+by+darkness
Book Blurb:
Three years ago, Morgan Bailey narrowly survived a vampire attack that left her with heightened senses, uncanny speed, and a new calling: supernatural bounty hunter. Since that day, sexy, street-smart Morgan hasn’t met a vampire she couldn’t dust or a demon she couldn’t kill—until she’s hired to hunt down a priceless amulet and the sunwalker who stole it. Sunwalkers—powerful vampires immune to sunlight—are notoriously difficult to find, let alone kill. Still, a job’s a job, and Morgan’s never been one to shy away from a challenge. So bring it on…right?
But the sunwalker ends up tracking her down. And not only that, he turns out to be cunning, charming—and undeniably gorgeous. Nevertheless, she can’t ignore the destruction he is capable of: the sunwalker possesses an ancient secret which, if unleashed, could destroy the human world. Captivating and fantastical, Kissed by Darkness introduces a kick-ass new heroine and an addictive new series for fans of urban fantasy.
Blog:
http://sheamacleod.wordpress.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Shea_MacLeod
Tweet It
I have to give this recipe to my sister… it sounds like something she would really like.
I need to look into your series… the book’s blurb makes it interesting!
Happy Holidays!
It is a truly tasty treat, Colleen. 🙂 Growing up we called it “Dad’s favorite breakfast.” I never knew it had another name until a few years ago! lol
Sounds like another good one. The recipe sounds delish. Will be checking out the book and the recipe!
Thanks, Martha. Hope you enjoy. 🙂
Your book sounds great. Thank you for the recipe, I will have to make it. I would love a piece right now.
Oh, you and me both! Mmmmm… I think I need a trip to the grocery for some cream cheese…
This recipe is easy enough to make… I shall try it soon although I wished you gave us the homemade ice cream recipe. 😉
Cupcake lovin heroine… Sounds like some one I would get along with.
Oh, sorry! lol I’ll have to ask my grandma what recipe we used and post it to my blog sometime. 🙂
Oh my! What a heavenly dessert! I would definitely try to make that! Yum! I know my husband would absolutely love it, too 🙂
You’re a new author to me, I’m going to read more about your books!
Happy Holidays!
Julie K
kornhsl@yahoo.com
Thanks, Julie. And back at ya! I hope you enjoy the books and your hubby enjoys the recipe. 🙂
Shea this coffee cake sounds awesome, raspberries are a family favorite! Congrats on your new release, sounds great.
Thanks, Glittergirl. 🙂
If you make homemade raspberry jam (like my mom does) it’s AMAZING! I just buy a good quality raspberry jam at the grocery. Nommity nom!
I love food too…thanks for the great recipe and also for the great sounding book too!
Any time. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Yummmm, it looks and sounds so good!!!! Thanks for the great giveaway and chance to win
Thanks for stopping by, Jolene. Good luck to you!
I like persimmons, but never had persimmon pudding.
It’s amazing! It’s a steamed cake type pudding similar to sticky toffee pudding or spotted dick. I guess another thing to add to the blog! 😉
Hiya Shea and Cynthia! 😀
OMFG! That is my kinda of cake! I am OTT about coffee and cake! I love coffee so much that if I have a kid I’m gonna call her Mocha XD Naw just kidding about the kid thing lol! I’m going to share this recipe with my BBF/sister! 😀
I’ve never read your books Shea but I will defo have to give them a shot cause it sounds amazingly awesome! 😀
Kind Regards,
Michelle Louise Pratley
Scotland
michellelouisepratley@yahoo.co.uk
You are speaking my language! I could drink coffee all day long. 🙂
I am so stealing this receipe. This sounds awesome. I always make pumpkin bars with real cream cheese frosting. It is my grandmas receipe. Everyone loves them. I also make for thanksgiving and easter
Oh, that sounds yummy, Chris. I love pumpkin AND cream cheese. BLISS!
Wow, that pastry looks good. I need to try it. I don’t have a specialty treat I make but need to start one to pass down! Thanks for the recipe and the book sounds good. I’ll go check out your website.
I was glad to share. And trust me, it’s super easy. Once you try, I bet it’ll be a new family favorite. 🙂
Miss Shea, your Coffee Cake recipe you posted sounds sooo good! I have not had coffee cake in so long I just might give this one a try. Thank you for much for sharing. I love your books by the way! Happy Holidays and Happy Writing!
Thank you, thank you, Miss Rana! I love hearing from my readers. It always puts a big smile on my face. 🙂 I hope you try this recipe AND you love it as much as I do! Happy Holidays!
The dish sounds so good!! Thanks for sharing!!
ehaney578 at aol dot com
No problem, Elizabeth. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Ok Im hungry. I want one, going to have to save this. Thanks for sharing!!
🙂 Me, too! But I’m going to make myself wait until Christmas Eve. Thanks for stopping by.
My Grandma on my Dad’s side was English… I remember having tea with her when i would visit my dad…she always had a coffee cake just like this along with cucumber sandwiches and raspberry scones when we had tea… She passed when i was a freshman in high school but anytime i have raspberry coffee cake i think of her… I make sure mine always has almonds on it… Sooo goood… Funny thing is My sister hates raspberries but is the one fruit i can never have enough off… I even have raspberry jam and peanut butter sandwiches. Thank you for sharing as now i can make this normally i buy it.
The English know how to do tea the right way! 🙂 I think it’s wonderful you have these memories of sharing time (and food) with your grandma. This is what I mean about why I love food! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your recipe! Of course, I would love to hear more about the home made banana ice cream. Banana is my favorite ice cream but it is VERY difficult to find plain banana in the grocery store. They usually try to make it banana split flavor or some other combination that adds nuts (which I dislike). I just want plain ‘ol banana!
There is a gelatto brand which is banana with caramel and chocolate. I find it delightful! But, yes, plain banana is impossible. Definitely going to have to call my grandmother for that recipe…
That is such a yummy sounding recipe, want to make it right now! But am rather worried about the step of not kneading the pastry too much, of course that would allow me to keep trying again, I am sure my husband wouldn’t mind that!
I bet he wouldn’t! 🙂
But to be honest, Jean, if you’ve made biscuits you pretty much have the idea already. You only knead it about five times, if that. Just enough to get stuff mixed. And if at first you don’t succeed, you’re husband is going to have to do a lot of taste testing! 😉
Another recipe I am copying. It looks so good.
The book sounds really good too 🙂
Thanks! I hope you try and enjoy both. 🙂
Thanks so much for the recipe. My husband loves cheesecake & coffee cake. This seems to be the best of both worlds & will be a nice surprise for him. If I’m lucky, he’ll let the kids try it. 😉
Always love learning about “new to me” authors & have added your book to my “to read” list.
Oh, I bet he will love this. You could even add some cream cheese to the icing for a little extra zing. Just be sure to set aside some for yourself. 😉
That sounds yummy! Thanks for sharing!
It is definitely yummy. Thanks for stopping by, Lillie. 🙂
I am not a big sweets person but I do love cream cheese coffee cake but have never tried to make it myself before. I will def. be saving this recipe to try! Thanks so much 🙂
Me, I like things super sweet, but the nice thing about this recipe is you can alter it to your taste. Skip the icing and use a raspberry jam that’s made without sugar. It’ll be tangy with a touch of richness from the cream cheese.
the recipe sounds very yummy. Like the sound of the book too.
Thanks, Larena!
I just sent this recipe to my sister.Im begging her to make it for xmas.It looks yummy. Thanks for this recipe and giving us something new to try for the holidays.
Now, see, this is why I need a sister. So she can bake goodies for me! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, angelmarie, and enjoy the recipe.
That coffee cake looks wonderful! I’ll have to try that this weekend – yum! Thanks for sharing the recipe with us and for the giveaway!
Cream Cheese part totally hooked my attention. But then I love cream cheese. Wonder if you can substitute something instead of the raspberry. I can take so much raspberry,
The coffee cake sounds great. I think your book sounds awesome.
The recipe sounds yummy, and the book looks really good.
The book sounds amazing and I can’t wait to try the Coffee Cake….Yummy.
Desserts are always fun this time of year. Lots of sweet treats. Easy to make is always a hit! Love your book blurb. I have never read you before but i am interested now.tantalizing.
Not only does the book sound wonderful but all these recipes sound amazing too! I thinking I am gaining weight just reading them.
oh yummy!!
Both the recipe and the book sound great. I love raspberries.
Raspberry anything is my favorite, and this coffee cake looks delicious. Your book sounds enticing, as well. Looking forward to it. Enjoy your holidays, Shéa.
I can’t wait to try your recipe! And to read your book your a new author to me 🙂
I really like Raspberry, but my aunt LOVES them I’ll have to share this with her 🙂
I don’t know which sounds better, your book or your yummy recipe – both lol.
I’ll give my daughter this recipe, she loves cheesecake and a cream cheese recipe will thrill her; I however am allergic to cheese.
The recipe for Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake sounds absolutely delicious, thanks for sharing! And I think Kissed by Darkness sounds great too. 😀
That Cream Cheese Coffee Cake looks scrumptious! It was torture readin the recipe and looking at the picture… *drool*
I make orange cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning but we’re going to have this instead this year.
What are violet cremes?
Thank you.
It looks like I have a new recipe for christmas morning. This coffee cake looks delicious.—Rachel
Sounds like a great book!
That recipe sounds good. Kissed by Darkness sounds good too.
That looks delicious!
I love the recipe and the book sounds fantastic.
Have a Happy Holiday. thanks for the giveaway
Another recipe I am going to have to try out. This party is making me hungry. Good thing I am a stay at home mom because I am going to be doing a lot of baking soon with all these new recipes.
The last couple years my mom has been making Christmas breakfast. Maybe she could use this recipe.
The recipe looks and sounds delicious. I love the snowman pictured next to it 🙂
The cheesecake and the book sound great!
Your book sounds fantastic and so does the recipe! I’ll have to give it a try! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!