salted maple donuts

hello fellow maple lovers! i am back with a double the maple syrup donut recipe that is perfect for autumn. it is a baked donut which means it is super simple to make. as someone who recently made apple fritters at home, i cannot begin to explain how much more i enjoy making baked donuts. minimal mess, no oil splatter (or in my case oil spills) & a perfectly shaped donut every single time!

this recipe features cosman & webb's rich amber organic maple syrup & organic maple sugar. it is my go to maple syrup that is so rich in flavour & owned by the loviest family. i could (ok, i have) drink this maple syrup on its own because it is so good. this recipe features a cake style base & a maple glaze that reminds me of maple butter. to offset the sweetness i like to decorate the tops with a pinch of flaked salt, but if you prefer colourful or seasonal sprinkles with your donuts go for it.

so if pumpkin spice isn't your jam this time of the year, i think these cozy donuts will hit the spot! xo

ingredients

for the donuts:

• 2 cups cake flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cosman & webb maple sugar (sub: equal parts granulated sugar)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1/3 cup cosman & webb pure maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

for the glaze:

• 3 tablespoons cosman & webb pure maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• smoked flaked salt, to sprinkle

directions

for the donuts

• preheat oven to 350(f) degrees. lightly grease a non-stick donut pan.
• in a large mixing bowl sift together the flour, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder & salt.
• in a separate large mixing bowl whisk together the milk, eggs, maple syrup, butter & vanilla until well combined, about 2 minutes.
• add the dry ingredients & mix until batter comes together.
• transfer batter to a piping bag (optional) & fill the donut molds until 3/4 of the way full. tap tray on counter to release any air bubbles.
• bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the top bounces back to touch. let cool slightly before removing from pan. repeat until no more batter remains.

for the glaze

• in a medium mixing bowl whisk together maple syrup, butter, sugar, vanilla & milk until smooth. if glaze appears thin add a touch of powdered sugar & if glaze appears thick add a splash of milk.
• dip the top of each donut into the glaze & transfer to a lined baking sheet.
• sprinkle with flaked salt & enjoy!

this post was created in partnership with cosman & webb! shop all your maple needs here.

no-bake apple pie cheesecake

apple picking season is here & i am so excited for fall! i seriously wait for this moment all summer long (sorry summer lovers). summer was amazing & went by rather quickly, but instead of being sad it's over let's just celebrate with pie. this pie is not your tradtional apple pie or traditional cheesecake. it is a no-bake recipe with a stove top apple pie topping! it brings the best of both worlds together.

for the crust i use diamond's of california prepared pecan crust. it makes this recipe extra simple, as you don't have to worry about preparing a crust from scratch. it also works as the perfect base for this fluffy cream cheese filling & has a great nutty flavour. i favour no-bake cheesecakes not just because they are easier to make, but i love the texture of them too. not dense like a baked cheesecake, more like biting into a cloud! diamond's crust comes in both pecan + walnut flavour, so either works for this recipe. for the apples, use any variety you like best for baking. the apples can be peeled or the skins left on (all about personal preference), but be sure to slice them evenly so they cook up at the same time.

ingredients

for the apple pie filling:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 large apples, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 3 tablespoons + 1 tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch

for the cheesecake:

• 16 ounces full fat cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/3 cup + 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 diamond of california's pecan pie crust
• 1 batch apple pie filling (see recipe)
• caramel sauce, for serving

directions

for the apple pie filling:

• melt the butter in a medium skillet over low heat. add the apples & sugar, toss to coat.
• stir in the lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of water, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg & salt. cook (continuously stirring) until the apples soften, about 10 minutes.
• whisk together the cornstarch with the remaining water. add to skillet & stir to combined. once the filling begins to cool, remove from heat & let chill to room temperature.

for the cheesecake:

• in a large mixing bowl beat together the cream cheese & 1/3 cup of sugar until fluffy.
• in a separate large mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites to soft peaks. add the remaining sugar & vanilla extract. whisk to stiff peaks.
• gradually add the whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture. beat until light & fluffy.
• transfer mixture to prepared pecan pie crust & smooth the top flat with an offset spatula. refrigerate for a minimum of two hours.
• when ready to serve, top with prepared apple pie filling.

this post was created in partnership with diamonds of california!

modest fall porch

PUMPKINS!!!! this is my favourite time of the year because it means i get to buy ALL the pumpkins. i am beyond happy that i have an actual front porch to decorate. a cute, old, art craft style porch filled with so much original character. we gave it a little face lift this summer: new light, new mailbox, new paint, new rug & most importantly rocking chairs! since we purchased the house last summer rocking chairs for the porch was on our must have list. anyways, i am going to do a quick breakdown of all the changes & details below.

the light

i find the exterior porch light is such an important feature of any front entry. i wanted something very simple & minmal, yet still bold. the carson l-arm wall mount from rejuvenation was perfect! it has that industrial barn vibe with a modern twist. plus, you get to pick whatever colour you want too! i was going for a pitch black theme (no brass or gold.. for once) so i stuck with the matte black finish. i love how it looks & how it lights up our porch so nicely at night.

the door

oh, the door. do we paint it white, yellow or black?! justin & i just couldn't agree on the colour. this is the original door to the house, so it is solid wood & almost 100 years old. we really wanted to do it justice! yellow was the first one off the list cough, justin & then we finally decided on black. but not just any shade of black, we wanted it as black as black gets. who knew similar to white paint, there were SO many shades of black. we ended up going with pitch black by farrow & ball because i can't get enough of farrow & ball's paint! it is the exact look i had hoped for. no weird undertones, just black.

the rocking chairs

as i mentioned above, the rocking chairs were on our must have list as soon as we put an offer in on the house! with a porch like this, how can you not sit out front on a crisp fall morning, rocking back & fourth while sipping coffee or tea. these rocking chairs are the o&g rocking chair in black from rejuvenation. i can't even begin to describe how gorgeous they are. they are handmade in new york of solid ash wood & then stained (not painted) black so you see all the gorgeous wood grains come through. they are made by a company called o&g specifically for rejuvenation. o&g makes the most gorgeous wood furniture pieces! we are hoping to add a bench down the line too because of how in love we are with the craftsmenship of the rocking chairs. i kept things very simple as i wanted the chairs to be the focal point. just a little side table for a plant or to rest coffee and a book on in the morning.

the decor

last but not least to tie everything together we added a few accessories to the mix! a braided natural coir doormat, a vintage style mailbox (that i got for a STEAL because it is on clearence), a planter, a rustic twig wreath & pumpkins galore! i love the cinderella pumpkins most.. the blue, the pink & the funky shaped orange ones. they just look so whimsical & enchanted. who doesn't love a little fairy tale inspired decor for fall?

p.s. buddy welcomes you to modest house too:)