American Girl Recipes: a Review
LEAH KOHLER // FLAT HAT MAGAZINE “Lemon Quick Bread” from American Girl Breakfast and Brunch.
For years, Food Network was my favorite TV channel. I watched hours of Kids Baking Championship, thinking that, in another life, maybe that could have been me. However, instead of cooking in a professional kitchen, making gorgeous desserts look easy, I was making a mess at home, struggling to follow a recipe without missing a step or two along the way. Nonetheless, I loved baking — and I especially loved the results.
Some of my favorite recipes were courtesy of American Girl. I was an avid reader of their bimonthly magazine and the many books in collaboration with William Sonoma. My physical copies have been lost over the years, but through Internet Archive and online library cards, I was able to find what I needed to replicate the recipes of my childhood. In the end, I chose five recipes to try, coming from American Girl Breakfast & Brunch, American Girl Tea Parties, and the July 2016 issue of American Girl Magazine.
Scones
American Girl Tea Parties
Out of all five recipes, this was the first one I decided on, not necessarily for the taste, but for the nostalgia factor. When Prince William married Kate Middleton in 2011, my mom and I had a tea party with scones in celebration. Now, every time I eat them, I think of that day and the fun we had dressing up, eating our British snacks, and feeling like members of high society. Now, on to the actual recipe: It only required a few ingredients, but the dough was difficult to knead, and it yielded 5.5 scones instead of the promised 10. I did, however, enjoy the end result, which I ate with raspberry jam and whipped cream. I would definitely make this again with an increase in water, which would likely help with kneading.
Ease: 4/10
Taste: 7/10
Aesthetic: 5/10
Nostalgia Factor: 10/10
Coffee Cake Muffins
American Girl Breakfast and Brunch
Every time I visit my grandparents’ house, without fail, there is some form of a breakfast baked good, such as muffins or coffee cake. This recipe combines the two into a delicious treat that definitely met my grandfather’s approval when I brought it over for him to try. The muffin has a simple base, a jam filling, and a coffee cake crumble topping. The filling did make it difficult to tell if they were done in the oven, but the timing on the recipe ended up being just right. Even though they aren’t the prettiest of muffins, I would definitely make them again.
Ease: 8/10
Taste: 8/10
Aesthetic: 5/10
Nostalgia Factor: 7/10
Lemon Quick Bread
American Girl Breakfast and Brunch
The majority of what I baked as a kid was lemon-flavored. Lemon cookies, lemon cupcakes, lemon bars, the list goes on. I would even request a lemon cake for my birthday — in October. I was drawn to the taste, but also the bright, summery feeling. This lemon cake was simple and reminded me of the lemon desserts that I used to make. I will say, though, I didn’t follow this recipe exactly. The glaze the recipe recommended was lemon juice and granulated sugar melted on the stovetop. I decided to switch it up and go with a more traditional milk and powdered sugar glaze with a splash of lemon juice. I think that was the right choice, as it made the baking process a little easier and didn’t take away from any of the lemon flavor.
Ease: 10/10
Taste: 7/10
Aesthetic: 6/10
Nostalgia Factor: 8/10
Strawberry Lime Soda
American Girl Magazine- July/August 2016
I am, and always have been, a lover of fun drinks. While not a traditional baked good, I knew I wanted to include one in this review. There is something so special about drinking a fizzy drink out of a fancy glass with a swirly straw (which is exactly how I drank this one). The majority of the time spent making this recipe is over the stove, waiting for sugar, water, lime juice, and strawberry slices to boil. After that, all you have to do is let the syrup cool and add it to sparkling water. It wasn’t too sweet, and there was more than enough to make multiple drinks.
Ease: 8/10
Taste: 8/10
Aesthetic: 7/10
Nostalgia Factor: 8/10
Chia Seed Pudding Jars
American Girl Breakfast and Brunch
This recipe is a little different from the others. It doesn’t necessarily evoke any feelings of nostalgia, but it does appeal to me as a college student who is often in need of a quick breakfast before class. It feels like a full-circle moment to be using my childhood cookbooks to fuel me for my 8 a.m. calculus labs. The actual jars are easy to make, but they do require preparation in advance. Once you mix the ingredients, they have to sit in the refrigerator for at least four hours. However, once they are there, they become a grab-and-go option for the remainder of the week. The other big positive is that they do not require any kitchen appliances or utensils, making them easy for dorm living.
Ease: 9/10
Taste: 8/10
Aesthetic: 7/10
Nostalgia Factor: 2/10