Francesca’s Springtime Bakes

Now that the clouds have parted and spring has sprung, it's the perfect time to make some refreshing bakes. Spring brings bright days and pouring rain. When the sun is out, you can gather your friends and enjoy the spring breeze with a picnic of homemade goods. On the flip side, when it’s raining out, you can stay in and bake all day. Here are a few of my favorite spring and summertime bakes.

Blueberry Galette

The Best Blueberry Galette | Broma Bakery

One of the first things I like to bake this time of the year is a blueberry galette. It’s delicious, can be shared by many, and surprisingly easy to bake. It also tastes amazing paired with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients:

• Store-bought pie crust

• 4 cups blueberries 

• ⅓ cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons corn starch

• A pinch of salt

• 1 egg

• 1 tablespoon of water

Recipe: 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit, line cookie sheet with parchment paper

2. Thaw pie crust

3. In a large bowl, combine the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, corn starch, and salt until berries are well-coated

4. Lay out the pie crust and place the mixture on the center, then fold in edges 3 or 4 inches

5. Make eggwash, mixing the egg with a tablespoon of water, then glaze the crust

6. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown

Thumbprint Jam Cookies

Thumbprint Cookies | Two Peas and Their Pod

Another favorite bake of mine is jam cookies. These are really easy to make and you can make a ton in one batch. They’re flavorful and light, so they make for the perfect treats at a picnic. 

Yield: 36 cookies

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup softened unsalted butter

• ¼ cup light brown sugar

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 ½ cup all purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon of kosher salt

• ¼ cup fruit jam of choice

Vanilla Berry Cake

Summer Berry Layer Cake | Annie’s Noms

As a final bake, I recommend a vanilla berry cake. This is so delicious and incorporates various fresh berries, making it the ultimate summer bake. 

Ingredients:

• 2 ⅓ cups flour

• 2 ¼  teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ tsp salt

• 3 eggs

• 1½ cups granulated sugar

• ¾ cup milk

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• ¾ cup vegetable oil

• 4 cups of vanilla frosting (2 16-ounce cans)

• Berry jam of choice

• Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries

Recipe: 

1. Preheat to 350 degrees fahrenheit

2. Grease two 9” cake pans with cooking spray and line with parchment

3. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl

4. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, sugar, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla in a large bowl

5. Slowly add mix dry mixture into wet mixture and beat until smooth

6. Pour batter evenly into the cake pans

7. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean, then cool for 10 minutes

8. Frost the cake layers

9. Spread berry jam on top of the bottom layer, then place top layer on top

10. Place strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries in a pattern of choice on top of cake

 References

Bang, Sapphire . “Easy Vanilla Cake.” Allrecipes, November 13, 2024. 

Poett, Elizabeth. “Butter Thumbprint Cookies with Jam Filling.” The Ranch Table, December 18, 2022.

Sofi | Broma Bakery. “The Best Blueberry Galette.” Broma Bakery, May 31, 2022.

Strike Out,

Francesca Rico

Miami

Francesca Rico is a History student at Florida International University. When she is not writing, she enjoys watching movies and finding new cookie recipes to bake for friends and family. She also self-publishes on her Substack, under the handle @chicx5.