Made-from-Scratch Orange Cake

How about a slice of this soft and moist orange cake to brighten up your day?!?

March and April are the peak months for the sweetest and juiciest oranges, at least around here in California. So let’s take advantage of the delicious things nature gives us, and whip up the most amazing orange cake you'll ever taste ... or so, I hope you agree once you try to make this recipe. A soft and moist cake with a sweet, slightly tangy, strong orange aroma.  Even more flavorful when drizzled with a delicious and fresh orange glaze.

Do you know how quick and easy is to bake this cake? You can whip this up in no more than an hour, and it's as easy as mixing a muffin batter. For this recipe I used cara cara navel oranges. With their red-pinkish flesh, sweeter and slightly tangier then regular navel,  cara caras are just perfect for this dessert. But you can decide which type of orange you like best (or what is available in your area), and make it as sweet or as tangy as you wish.

And if you are thinking what I'm thinking, don't even think about it! Haha! For this cake you have to use freshly-squeezed juice and freshly-grated zest. No store-bought juices or extracts. Sorry but there is no easy way around it. Grate and squeeze … I will come there and do it myself for you, if that's what it takes J

Moist and Flavorful Blueberry-Lemon Poundcake with Lemon Glaze

Rich, dense and moist pound cake bursting with sweet blueberries and drizzled with zesty lemon glaze

I know, I know. One more sweet recipe with blueberries.
You might be wondering, what's up with Manuela's obsession with berries?!
What can I say. Some things just can't be explained.
It might simply be my love for these healthy and delicious nature's wonder ... Or maybe it's the fact that they were on sale at my grocery store. And I just can't pass up a great deal!
While waiting in line at the check-out line, I was brainstorming about my next berry creation. I've posted recipes for blueberry muffins, blueberry crumble bars, blueberry and peach upside-down cake ... So how about a moist and flavorful blueberry pound cake?!? Oh yeah, look at this baby!

Baked Cinnamon-Sugar Donuts

Light and fluffy, these lick-the-sugar-off-your-fingers-delicious baked donuts are ready in less than 30 minutes. Start to finish!

These baked cinnamon-sugar donuts are laughably easy and super quick to whip up - no more than 30 minutes from start to finish!  And the result?!? A fluffy and light, healthy(ish) dessert that will make your kitchen smell like heaven (...or churros - same thing!), and will make your fingers a sugary mess ...  perfectly lickable if you ask me!

Brioche Rolls with Custard Cream

Make it a breakfast to remember with one of these fragrant and soft brioche roll filled with custard cream 

Who is ready to roll?!? If you're anything like me, I'm always ready for a roll ... especially if we are talking about a pillowy soft brioche roll stuffed with velvety and rich custard cream in every layer.
Take a look!

Maybe because I got myself a new FANCY stand up mixer, that makes the job oh-so easy. Or maybe because I crave the drool-inducing aroma of this sweet and buttery, freshly-baked bread drifting from my oven. 
Not sure what the reason is, but I'm under a sweet-roll spell.  
I can't wait to bake some more.

Heart-Shaped Brownie Sandwiches with Strawberry Mousse

Celebrate this Valentine's Day with one of these heart-shaped, rich and fudgy brownie sandwiches filled with velvety strawberry mousse. 

Because we all need a little more love ... and chocolate!

Love is in the air! Can you feel it too?!?

I'm so excited to share this recipe with you today. Cause, it's the perfect Valentine's day recipe idea and the best excuse to bake (and eat!) a delicious chocolate dessert. After all, nothing says love like chocolate. Especially when it comes in an heart-shaped, fudgy, dense and most dangerous brownie, with a pink and smooth strawberry mousse sandwiched in the middle.

Butter-Free Blueberry Mini Muffins

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MazolaHeartHealth #CollectiveBias

Did you know that February is Heart Health Month?!? Just in time to celebrate this occasion, I present you with these moist and perfectly sweet, butter-free blueberry mini muffins. Yes, you heard correctly: to make them healthier, in this recipe I replaced the butter with Mazola® Corn Oil. A clinical study showed Mazola Corn oil reduces cholesterol 2x more than extra virgin olive oil. To learn more about this claim visit Mazola.com.

Mazola Corn Oil is an all-purpose, cholesterol free cooking oil that is a smart heart-healthy* choice for the family. *See Mazola.com for more information on the relationship between corn oil and heart health. It has a variety of uses include baking, grilling, sautéing, stir frying, or mixing up a marinade or dressing.

... And not just holding up my muffin tower ;)

Lemon-White Chocolate Chips Cookies

Bring a taste of sunshine to your cookie jar with these white chocolate chip cookies exploding with lemon flavor

Let's start the weekend with something sweet that is a sure way to brighten up your day.
These white chocolate chip cookies are chewy and thick, and bursting with lemon zest and lemon juice. If you ask me, this is what summer tastes like. In a cookie form. Simple and yet, so delicious.