With the weather finally warming up and flowers beginning to bloom, it’s time to officially welcome in Spring! And what better way to do just that than by putting together some delicious treats inspired by this wonderful season for you and your loved ones?
When it comes to sweets, Spring is all about enjoying refreshing and light flavors, like airy pastries featuring fresh fruit and a touch of honey from honey sticks. There sure are lots of options to pick from when it comes to springtime treats, but here we’ve rounded up three of our very favorite beginner-friendly recipes that are perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re looking to wow mom with a delicious dessert to wrap up a beautiful Mother’s Day dinner, enjoy something sweet for breakfast with a cup of coffee, or reward yourself with a treat after a long day, we’ve got just what you’re looking for.
Ready to taste the flavors of Spring? Here are 3 sweet treats that spotlight everything there is to love about this time of year, from natural ingredients, bright flavors, and everything in between!
Carrot Bundt Cake With Honey Cream Cheese Glaze
Carrot cake aficionado? We’ve got just the right recipe for you! Here, the sweetness of the honey and pineapple are balanced against the earthiness of the carrots and walnuts and the spice of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to create a beautifully well-rounded flavor profile. Paired with a light and fluffy cream cheese frosting, this carrot cake is perfect to enjoy all Spring long.
Carrot Cake Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 4 eggs
- 1 8 oz can crushed pineapples
Honey Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz. softened cream cheese
- 6 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons butter at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cloves until just combined. In a separate mixing bowl, add the sugar, carrots, oil, walnuts, vanilla, and eggs and whisk until the ingredients form a smooth mixture. Next, carefully add the wet ingredient mixture into the dry ingredients. To do so, pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and fold to gently incorporate the two together. As soon as the mixture appears smooth and evenly combined, stop folding to avoid over-mixing. Next, pour the mixture into a greased bundt pan and place into the oven at 350F to bake for about 60 minutes. Once the cake is done baking, set it aside so it may cool.
To make the honey cream cheese frosting, simply whip together the cream cheese, honey, butter, and vanilla using a hand mixer until the the ingredients are combined and the frosting reaches an airy and whipped consistency. Optionally, you may also add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor and balance the sweetness. When the cake is completely cooled, frost the top and sides evenly using an offset spatula or butter knife. Bringing this carrot cake to an event? Take its presentation to the next level by using honey sticks and a sprinkling of chopped walnuts to decorate the cake.
Strawberry, Honey, and Mint Sorbet
Simple, light, and refreshing, this 5-ingredient sorbet is the perfect Springtime treat on days where it’s too hot to bake but you’re still craving a little something sweet. Not to mention it takes less than 5 minutes to prepare so you can be enjoying a scoop of this delicious ice-cold sorbet in no time.
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen strawberries
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup fresh mint
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Water
Instructions
In a blender, add in the strawberries, honey, mint, and lemon juice. Blend together the ingredients until combined. At this point, check the consistency of the sorbet. If it is too thick for your liking, add in a couple of tablespoons of water and blend again to loosen up the consistency. Continue this process until you are happy with the thickness of the sorbet. To serve, scoop the sorbet into a dish and top with all your favorite toppings, including a drizzle of your favorite flavored honey sticks, fresh mint leaves, or pieces of your choice of fresh fruit.
Lemon Loaf
This rich lemon loaf is moist, fluffy, zesty and super simple to put together! Made using fresh lemons and lemon extract, this rich loaf is packed full of that tangy citrus flavor we all know and love. Take just one bite of this lemon loaf topped with a deliciously refreshing lemon glaze and you’ll be hooked all Spring long.
Lemon Loaf Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sour cream
- ⅔ cup honey
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon extract
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
Lemon Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
In a bowl, place the sour cream, honey, oil, and eggs. Wisk these ingredients together until they reach a smooth consistency. Next, mix in the lemon zest and extract. Finally, add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the batter. Fold in the ingredients gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix. At this point, your loaf is ready to bake. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan then place into an oven set to 350F. Allow the loaf to bake for about 50 minutes or until golden brown. To test if it’s done, stick a toothpick in the middle of the loaf. If the toothpick comes out clean, the lemon loaf is ready to be removed from the oven.
Set the lemon loaf aside so it may completely cool. In the meantime, work on the lemon glaze. In a bowl, add the confectioner’s sugar. Then, slowly work in the lemon juice, continuously mixing until the ingredients are combined and the glaze has a smooth consistency. Once the lemon loaf has cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top. Now, your loaf is ready to slice and serve. Enjoy!
This blog is brought to you by Bee Man Honeystix, your very favorite provider of honey sticks for tea!