Fig Ras el Hanout Clafoutis

The spicy aromas wafting out of our storefront next to Pike Place Market bring in all sorts of curious noses off the street. There's no one spice that exactly mimics that unique scent, but Ras El Hanout is probably the next best thing! Our signature recipe for this classic Middle Eastern blend has twenty four ingredients, easily making it our most complex spice blend. Ras el Hanout is traditionally used more in savory dishes, but its medley of spices are sweet, aromatic and perfect for baking.Beautiful ripe figs found in the market next door were the inspiration for this delectable creation! Clafoutis are an overlooked brunch gem, easier to make than pancakes or waffles with a custardy texture similar to crepes. Here, we caramelized the figs in Ras el Hanout and baked them into the custard. The resulting Clafoutis is rich, indulgent, and perfect for a decadent weekend morning.

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Olive Oil and Juniper Brownies

Juniper is a lovely spice, and capable of so much more than it is often given credit for. These aromatic berries are layered with flavor: piney at first, but then giving way to a sweet citrus taste that lingers. It deserves to love in something besides gin. With this in mind, we set out to make a desert that placed this underappreciated spice in center stage.Dark chocolate is a perfect vehicle to showcase juniper's unique flavor profile, and so we decided to feature them in rich, moist brownies. Through trial and error, however, we learned juniper gets much stronger as it cooks. Another addition was needed to balance the spice. We found our answer in olive oil. It's rich and earthy, and will heighten the bitterness of the dark chocolate. The resulting brownies are fabulously out of the ordinary, yet still deeply satisfying.

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Chocolate Conchas

Conchas hold a special place in my heart. Growing up blocks away from a Mexican bakery, I always looked forward to heading over and picking out a rainbow of sweet breads every Sunday. Conchas get their name, which translates to seashell, from the patterns stamped on the sugary crust. The sugar topping is can be flavored in many different ways, and is often dyed in vibrant colors. These pastries are a labor of love, but are totally worth making fresh. The possibilities for conchas are infinite! In this recipe, we made chocolate conchas, my childhood favorite, using rich and smooth Valrhona cocoa powder. These delicious little pastries are typically dunked in milk, coffee or hot chocolate. For a breakfast treat, try spreading them with sour cream, or use day-old conchas to make great French toast and bread pudding.

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Holiday Pepper Biscotti

These crunchy treats were a clear favorite from our holiday baking sessions this year. Boasting festive pops of cranberry and pistachio, these little gems get an extra dose of pizzazz from our Holiday Pepper Blend in the crust. Not too peppery or too sweet, the flavors are delightfully complex. They are easy to make, keep well and make a wonderful complement to coffee, tea, toddies or egg nog. Enjoy!

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World Spice Birthday Cake

Let's see....how do you celebrate a quarter century milestone 2020 style? Go with the flow! This cake has all the flavor worthy of a 25th birthday spice cake and all the ease that comes with working with what's at hand. We spiced everyday cake mix with our Roast Chai blend and added Turmeric to a delicious tub of frosting to take it over the top. Coconut orange curd made up the filling of this 5-tier tower of sweet, bold flavor. You only turn 25 once, and it was a fun cake to make. We hope you are inspired to make this or use what you have on hand to experiment with your own version, because sneaking in spice into any celebration should be delicious and easy. Enjoy!

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Saffron Raspberry Rolls

Using a bit of creativity, spices can be the perfect spark to elevate familiar comfort foods to new heights. This is especially true when they are utilized in nontraditional ways. These rolls are elegant and exotic, using saffron to get their beautiful sunshine yellow color. Although saffron is subtle and floral, it has a buttery aspect that is perfect for baked goods.Saffron threads are the stamen of the crocus flower, and it is the most expensive spice in the world. As a pairing to this precious flavor, we used raspberries as the filling for a tart fruity contrast. These decadent rolls are intriguing, yet still comforting, and will impress any crowd.

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El Greco Zucchini Cheddar Muffins

Savory muffins are underrated. While blueberry and lemon poppy seed might make the headlines, cheese, herbs and veggies can work just as well! Our latest recipe yields muffins that are moist, cheesy and almost biscuit like. It's so satisfying to pull these warm muffins apart. The stringy cheddar will make you salivate.Baking these at home will fill your kitchen with smells of oregano, basil and garlic, all thanks to our El Greco blend. This Mediterranean spice mix has all of those garden herbs, as well as sumac and lemon peel for acidity. The flavor pairing is perfect for baked goods: rich and comforting, but not overly heavy. They also make the perfect side for a soup or salad... if they last until lunch!

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Rooibos Banana Bread

Pairing the right drink with your food can make all the difference in the world. Have you ever had a meal where the wine shined and the food tasted better with every sip? That's what will happen when you pair warm banana bread with a cup of Rooibos tea.These two are such a good combination, we decided to put some rooibos in the banana bread, too! The tea gives the bread a warm, nutty flavor and an aftertaste of honeysuckle. The hot cup of rooibos will taste even more Rooibos-y next to this delicious treat. It's a perfect snack that won't get you wired on caffeine. Now, you get to drink your Rooibos and eat it too!

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Cuban Picadillo

Picadillo is a Latin comfort food with many regional variations. Every country has their own version, but ground meat, olives, capers, and raisins are all staples of the dish. Picadillo can be served as a standalone, stuffed inside savory pastries, or even be used as filling for tacos. We used our Cuban Spice as the principal seasoning in this picadillo, alongside white wine and olive oil in the traditional style. Cuban cuisine typically sees the dish served alongside black beans and rice. This recipe keeps the overall heat level low, so the dish is family friendly while still full of bold flavors.

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