AJ's Handmade – Cookies, Pies, and Pastries

AJ's Handmade – A Florida Cottage Food Business

Author: Alex Sr.

  • Almond Paste

    Almond Paste

    We use this paste for filling Bear Claws, starting with whole roasted almonds that we blanch, peel by hand, and toast lightly before coarse grinding them to make sweetened almond paste from this recipe: https://www.thespruceeats.com/easy-almond-paste-521145 Those same coarse ground almonds are used for our Italian Wedding Cookies. Read more

  • Plain Biscotti

    Plain Biscotti

    These are classic, twice baked, Italian breakfast biscuits with a hint of Anise flavor best served with coffee for dipping. We’re using this recipe for ours, it’s not very sweet and goes great with your favorite flavored espresso drinks. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17241/biscotti/ Read more

  • Italian Wedding Cookies

    Italian Wedding Cookies

    I’ve also heard these called Mexican Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, or Butterballs. They are DELICIOUS buttery cushions of coarse ground almonds coated in powdered sugar and a huge favorite amongst friends and family. They are measured to half the size of our other cookies so they have that distinct crumbly texture and shape. We’re… Read more

  • Pumpkin Pie

    Pumpkin Pie

    There’s all kinds of ways you can get creative with pumpkin pie, by all means do some googling to find your own twist. We considered going down this path and making our own filling from fresh pumpkin’s but ultimately we wanted to focus on other pastries. We’re using Libby’s canned pumpkin puree and the recipe… Read more

  • Apple Pie

    Apple Pie

    Our Apple Pie filling is our own recipe: This makes one 9″ pie, prepare your pie dough ahead of time, while it’s resting in the fridge you can prepare the filling. Mix dry ingredients in a small bowl, then peel, core and slice apples into a large bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice. Toss apples… Read more

  • Pie Crust

    Pie Crust

    Our pie dough is also our own recipe after experimenting with several recipe’s online using different fats and additives we settled on: The recipe above makes enough crust (top and bottom) for two 9″ apple pies. Mix the dry ingredients and place in a mixing bowl, take frozen butter and cut with a cold knife… Read more

  • Alex Jr.

    Alex Jr.

    A Passion for Baking Alex Jr. has been baking for the family since he was little alongside his older sister MacKenzie when she was a culinary student. MacKenzie decided to switch to an academic major and keep baking as a hobby, while AJ decided to pursue baking as a career when he got older. After… Read more

  • Our Approach to Baking

    Our Approach to Baking

    On-Line Recipes, Real World Results We know there’s plenty of recipes online that anyone can read and follow. We also know not everyone has the time for baking, and even when someone finds the time not everyone is successful in the kitchen. We have a passion for baking and have equipped our kitchen to produce… Read more