Wishing you HAPPY HOLIDAYS from my family to yours. It's been a hectic year since I moved to Catskill, filled with baking for the Farmers Market and my Bonni Bakes Blog. At this time I'm going to take a sabbatical to catch up on things I've put off; get ready for the birth of my granddaughter, explore volunteer activities that align with my former career as a clinical social worker/therapist, and bake a lot of new recipes!!

While I won't be posting a weekly blog, or offering specific baked goods, you can always reach me at bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com for special orders. I'll be back sometime in 2025 so until then HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR 🎉 

Hugs from my kitchen,  Bonni 💖

It's CHRISTMAS & CHANUKAH time so this week I'm baking holiday treats for both.

HOW ORDERING WORKS

Monday I post the week's menu; orders must be in by Wednesday at 5, and pick-up is Friday afternoon in the Village of Catskill. I bake small batches in limited quantities with fresh ingredients, locally sourced when possible, and never any preservatives. First come, first served.

ASSORTED RUGELACH   $5/pkg 4 oz

It's never a Jewish holiday without some rugelach on the table. My individually handmade cookies start with the classic cream cheese dough that bakes into a melt-in-your-mouth super flaky crust. For the holidays they're available in several different fillings.

Classic:  apricot jam, golden raisins, toasted walnuts and cinnamon sugar. Just like Grandma used to make.

Chocolate Raspberry: raspberry jam, Belgium bittersweet chocolate, dark raisins and cinnamon sugar. Great choice if you don't like nuts.

Onion Jam w/ Everything Bagel Topping:  homemade sweet & sour caramelized onion jam with sour cream & everything bagel topping. This savory version goes well on a cheese board or with cocktails.

ALMOND MANDELBROT    $4/pkg of 2

Before I learned about biscotti, I grew up loving these delicious double baked cookies which were not too crunchy and speckled with chunks of roasted almonds. Perfect for dunking in tea or coffee.

CARAMEL MATZOH CRUNCH     $5/pkg 4 oz

                                             

I love eating this all year because the addition of buttery caramel and smooth melted chocolate turn simple matzoh into a magical confection. Available with or without toasted walnut topping.

HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES    $3 each 

Everyone deserves to celebrate Christmas or Chanukah with holiday sugar cookies this year.  They're whimsical and as delicious as they are cute. Assorted shapes include holiday themed symbols, animals and people. Each cookie comes wrapped individually in cello, ready for gift giving.  Contact me to specify which shapes & holiday you desire.

CHOCOLATE ORGASM BUNDLE   $10/pkg of 5

For over 20 years this has been my signature cookie, and for good reason. Chocoholics continue reading. They consist of loads of melted Belgium bittersweet chocolate surrounding chunks of more chocolate and roasted almonds, with just enough flour to hold them together. Also available without nuts! They come wrapped together in a cello bag, ready to gift. Even though there's enough to share, why would you?

CRANBERRY PISTACHIO BISCOTTI   $4/pkg of 2

The ultimate crunchy biscotti, chock full of juicy cranberries and roasted pistachios. They taste like a HOLIDAY all year long.

Send your order to bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com  by Wednesday at 5pm. Pick-up is Friday in the Village of Catskill. Cash or Venmo only.

I will never share your personal information. If you have a question, request or want to join my email list just drop me a note. I do special orders too. 

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni

 

We've made it past Thanksgiving and now it's full throttle into the magic of late December, culminating in New Year's Eve. There's been a bit of snow, so we know it's officially Winter. It's the time of year when the Bonni Bakes oven turns out lots of delicious holiday goodies, no matter which holiday you're celebrating. 

This week I'm working on designs for Christmas & Chanukah sugar cookies, sampling batches of Rugelach in several flavors, playing with chocolate and finalizing everything that will be available to order in time for the holidays. Next Monday I'll share them with you. Meanwhile, stay warm & happy in this joyful holiday season. You can always reach me at bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com 

Bonni

 

Welcome to THE HOLIDAYS, ignited by the tree lighting on Main St in the Village of Catskill and closely followed by the Parade of Lights. It was an exiting & fun experience for the gathered crowds and a delicious one for those who caught the rafts of candy thrown from the floats. Temperatures have fallen, so has snow in certain places, and we're all ready to share our pent up joy with those we love. Me too!

This year is unusual because Christmas and Chanukah are both celebrated on December 25, and Kwanaza starts December 26. Maybe it's a sign that we should acknowledge & respect each other's celebrations...and each other. I hope so. There's still some down time before it all gets crazy so let's chill out and maybe take a nap, look at the stars, plan something special for someone you love or call someone you haven't talked to in a while. Next week I'll have lots of holiday cookies & goodies to order in time to share with the folks you love. This week it's all about treating yourself.

HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

Monday I post the week's menu; orders must be in by Wednesday at 5, and pick-up is Friday afternoon in the Village of Catskill. I bake small batches in limited quantities with fresh ingredients, locally sourced when possible, and never any preservatives. First come, first served.

NORM'S NYC ONION ROLLS   $6/pkg of 4

These onion rolls were a staple in NYC bakeries back in the day. They are soft, squat, covered with caramelized onions & poppy seeds on top and make a great sandwich. On the other hand, they're also delicious alongside soup, a salad or by themselves with a schmear.

PUMPKIN DATE NUT MUFFIN    $3

The spices are warm, the dates are sweet and the toasted walnuts are spread throughout this moist muffin, against a gentle pumpkin presence. A seasonal favorite! I like to eat mine with a schmear of cream cheese.

BIG COOKIES   $3 each  or  4/$10

CHOCOLATE ORGASM  (with ALMONDS) 

VIRGIN  CHOCOLATE ORGASM (NO NUTS) 

Some people don't like nuts in their cookies, but they shouldn't be denied the experience of this chocoholic's fantasy come true. Now there are two options: VIRGIN  is nut free, while the original has ALMONDS.  Both are mostly melted Belgium bittersweet chocolate surrounding chunks of more chocolate and just enough flour to hold it together. Something for everyone!

ORANGE CHOCOLATE PECAN

Bittersweet chocolate and orange are a classic flavor combo, and when they pair up with toasted pecans...exquisite. Not much more to say except they're a party in your mouth.

SNICKERDOODLE

Crisp outside, softer inside and covered in Saigon cinnamon sugar all over. You don't need a special event to reward yourself, you deserve a treat!

ULTIMATE FUDGY BROWNIES

Made with cocoa (not melted chocolate), which gives them a distinct fudginess & shiny crust. A sprinkle of Maldon Salt on top balances out the sweetness. Plus they'll stay moist for days in a closed container...if they aren't nibbled up immediately. 

Send your order to bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com  by Wednesday at 5pm. Pick-up is Friday in the Village of Catskill. Cash or Venmo.

I will never share your personal information. If you have a question, request or want to join my email list just drop me a note. I do special orders too. 

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni

 

TOM, A PET TURKEY AT MY FLORIDA FARMERS MARKET

All the yummy stuff from Bonni Bakes won't be available this week because I'm preparing for our big family dinner on Thursday. I hope you have a wonderful time with the people you share Thanksgiving with. Gobble gobble.

The next Bonni Bakes menu will be posted Dec 2. Happy Holiday 💖

Wow, time seems to be moving very fast. It was just Halloween a moment ago and in 10 days we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving. This is the beginning of the "holiday season" and every commercial entity won't let you forget it. I've reinvented myself several times over my life, and before I became a professional baker 20 years ago, I was a clinical social worker/therapist. I want to put that hat on for a moment. Holidays can be wonderful & exciting for some people; painful & anxiety ridden for others. It's a good idea to give yourself some time & space to deal with whatever emotions might come up. You don't have to be perfect; satisfy someone else's idea of who you should be, or do more than you're comfortable doing. It's your holiday too, so just do what feels right for you. That's what I'm going to do. To lower my stress level I've decided to put my dog Twinkie in charge of holiday plans this year. She likes meeting new people, good food and knows when it's time to take a nap...with a friend. 🐾🐾

HERE'S WHAT I'M BAKING THIS WEEK

Monday I post the week's menu; orders must be in by Wednesday at 5, and pick-up is Friday afternoon in the Village of Catskill. I bake small batches in limited quantities with fresh ingredients, locally sourced when possible, and never any preservatives. First come, first served.

GRANDMA'S APPLE CAKE   $4/chunk

It's been a wonderful apple season with so many varieties available at local orchards. With the holidays coming up, and families getting together, I want to honor my Grandma by baking her delicious apple cake. This is a classic old fashioned cake bursting with Honey Crisp apples, cinnamon and tradition.

BLUEBERRY LEMON MUFFIN    $3

To me, blueberry and lemon are one of those perfect matches. Their flavors play off each other, and when fresh blueberries combine with tangy lemon in a soft delicious muffin...well, what else is there to say?

BIG COOKIES   $3 each  or  4/$10

CHOCOLATE ORGASM  (with ALMONDS) 

VIRGIN  CHOCOLATE ORGASM (NO NUTS) 

Some people don't like nuts in their cookies, but they shouldn't be denied the experience of this chocoholic's fantasy come true. Now there are two options: VIRGIN  is nut free, while the original has ALMONDS.  Both are mostly melted Belgium bittersweet chocolate surrounding chunks of more chocolate and just enough flour to hold it together. Something for everyone!

CHOCOLATE PARADISO BISCOTTI 

Large chunks of dark chocolate & toasty almonds join this orange flecked biscotti. Crunchy, but not too hard to bite, just delicious!

SALTED CHOCOLATE CHUNK

My version of America's favorite cookie, palm sized, filled with lots of bittersweet chocolate chunks and a sprinkle of Maldon salt on top. It hits all the notes perfectly!

OATMEAL CRANBERRY

Cookies with that classic toasty oatmeal flavor, enhanced with warm spices, BUT they're plush with yummy cranberries throughout to celebrate the season. Party on!!

Send your order to bonnibakescatskill@gmail.com  by Wednesday at 5pm. Pick-up is Friday in the Village of Catskill. Cash or Venmo.

I will never share your personal information. If you have a question, request or want to join my email list just drop me a note. I do special orders too. 

Have a wonderful week and bon appetit!  Bonni