Summer isn’t the first season that comes to mind when one thinks of baking -- just the thought of standing in front of a hot stove can make cooking feel like a chore. With sunny evenings stretching well beyond the end of our 9-to-5 lives, it’s easy to let baking fall by the wayside.
But I say summer can be -- and should still be -- your baking season!
With an abundance of fresh produce, summer opens the door to a different kind of baking: lighter, more spontaneous, and maybe a little more eclectic. Think fruit-filled galettes; easy no-knead loaves; and stovetop bakes that come together without heating up the whole kitchen.
To my mind, baking in the summer is less about precision and more about pleasure. It’s about making something delicious to share at a picnic, using up ripe berries from the market, or finally trying that recipe you bookmarked months ago. It can be as simple as a one-bowl cake or as hands-on as shaping flatbreads for a backyard barbecue.
Take a look at the following recipes; each is simple enough to take on anytime of year and offers a hands-on way to experience transforming a simple mix of flour and water into something delicious to grace your dinner table:
Deep Dish Foccacia: This recipe is a longtime favorite in my kitchen and hails from the folks at King Arthur Breads. The dough is endlessly versatile -- whether you shape it into a thick, chewy flatbread, roll it thin and top it with greens and cheese, folded into a loaf, or bake it as a deep-dish pizza sturdy enough to hold a generous layer of cheese and meats.
Easy Flatbreads (no yeast): This is a fun dough to whip up when you want to get others involved in the kitchen. It's easy to handle and satisfying to work with -- especially when you see the rounds puff up as they hit the hot pan. You can shape the dough into smaller rounds and top them with veggies and cheese for a tasty, crowd-pleasing appetizer.
And remember -- whether you’re baking early in the morning before the heat sets in, or catching that golden hour with something cooling on the windowsill, summertime baking is a reminder that the kitchen doesn't have to go quiet just because the temperature rises.
Bake on, friends!
Joy Marr writes, cooks, and generally seeks adventure through nature and the outdoors. She lives in Fayette County and can be found on Substack, Facebook and Instagram, or in the garden high tunnel.
