The Eleven Acre Baker

The Eleven Acre Baker I like baking! Cakes, cupcakes, desserts, candy...if you want it, I might be able to make it, all ya gotta do is ask :)

Today feels like one of those sweet little reminders that summer is doing its best work out here on the homestead.It’s N...
06/18/2026

Today feels like one of those sweet little reminders that summer is doing its best work out here on the homestead.

It’s National Cherry Tart Day—and around here, that hits a little different because we’ve got two cherry trees right in our own yard. There’s something kind of magical about stepping outside, picking fruit you’ve watched grow all season, and turning it into something warm, flaky, and straight out of the oven.

Cherry tarts are one of those simple-but-special bakes. Buttery crust, juicy cherries bursting open as they bake down, a little sugar, a little love… and suddenly you’ve got a dessert that tastes like July in every bite.

If you’ve never made one from fresh-picked cherries, today’s your sign. And if you have? You already know there’s nothing quite like it.

Here’s to sticky fingers, sweet kitchens, and fruit trees that feel like a gift you get to unwrap every summer.

Baking BasicsWhy fresh baking powder mattersExpired baking powder loses lifting power, causing cakes and baked goods to ...
06/17/2026

Baking Basics

Why fresh baking powder matters

Expired baking powder loses lifting power, causing cakes and baked goods to turn out flat and dense.

Today is National Apple Strudel Day 🍎🥧🤍There are few things that smell more like comfort than apples, cinnamon, butter, ...
06/17/2026

Today is National Apple Strudel Day 🍎🥧🤍

There are few things that smell more like comfort than apples, cinnamon, butter, and pastry baking in the oven. And that's exactly why apple strudel has been loved for generations. Layers of flaky pastry wrapped around tender cinnamon-spiced apples, baked until golden brown, and often finished with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Simple ingredients. Pure magic. What I love most about traditional desserts like apple strudel is that they remind us that baking doesn't have to be complicated to be memorable.

A handful of pantry staples.
Fresh apples.
A little patience.
And suddenly the whole kitchen smells like a cozy fall afternoon, even in the middle of summer. 🍂

Of course, if you're anything like me, you start out planning to have just one slice...Then the second warm piece somehow finds its way onto your plate. 😂 No regrets.

Now we want to know...
Would you rather have:
🍎 Apple Strudel
🥧 Apple Pie
🍏 Apple Crisp
🧁 Apple Cake

Which apple dessert wins at your house? 👇🤍

And bonus question...

Vanilla ice cream on top or no ice cream? 🍨👀

Today is also National Fudge Day woot woot 🍫🤎Can we all agree that fudge is one of the most underrated desserts out ther...
06/16/2026

Today is also National Fudge Day woot woot 🍫🤎

Can we all agree that fudge is one of the most underrated desserts out there?

Most people think of classic chocolate fudge, and don't get me wrong... it's a classic for a reason.

But the world of fudge goes so much further than that.

✨ Peanut Butter Fudge
✨ Cookies & Cream Fudge
✨ Maple Walnut Fudge
✨ Rocky Road Fudge
✨ Chocolate Pecan Fudge
✨ Salted Caramel Fudge
✨ Mint Chocolate Fudge
✨ Birthday Cake Fudge
✨ Turtle Fudge
✨ White Chocolate Raspberry Fudge

The possibilities are almost endless. And that's one of the things I love most about baking. You can start with a simple recipe and turn it into something completely different just by changing a few ingredients.

Sweet.
Creamy.
Rich.
A little indulgent.

And somehow one tiny square always turns into two... or three. 😂

Now you've got me curious...

If you could have a fresh batch of homemade fudge sitting on your counter right now, what flavor would you choose?

🍫 Classic Chocolate
🥜 Peanut Butter

Today is Fresh Veggies Day 🥕🌽🥒Now you might be thinking... "Why is a bakery talking about vegetables?" 😂 But hear me out...
06/16/2026

Today is Fresh Veggies Day 🥕🌽🥒

Now you might be thinking... "Why is a bakery talking about vegetables?" 😂 But hear me out...

Some of the best baked goods ever created started with a trip to the garden. Fresh vegetables have been finding their way into family recipes for generations, adding moisture, flavor, texture, and sometimes helping us convince ourselves dessert is practically health food 😄

Think about it:

🥕 Carrot Cake
🥒 Zucchini Bread
🍠 Sweet Potato Pie
🎃 Pumpkin Bread
🥕 Carrot Muffins
🥒 Chocolate Zucchini Cake

And around here, one of our most loved treats is our Ultimate Carrot Cupcakes. They're soft, moist, perfectly spiced, and topped with a rich cream cheese frosting that disappears almost as fast as we can make it. Even people who claim they don't like carrots somehow find themselves reaching for a second cupcake. Maybe it's because carrots and warm spices just belong together. Or maybe it's because once cream cheese frosting gets involved, all bets are off 😄

The truth is, some vegetables were destined for dessert. And we're not mad about it one bit.

Now tell us...

What's your favorite vegetable-based baked good?

🥕 Carrot Cake
🥒 Zucchini Bread
🎃 Pumpkin Bread
🍠 Sweet Potato Pie

Or another favorite we need to know about? 👀

And be honest...

Does adding vegetables to dessert make it healthier, or are we all just telling ourselves that so we can eat an extra cupcake? 😂🧁

Baking BasicsHow to keep brown sugar softStore it in an airtight container with a slice of bread or a marshmallow to hel...
06/15/2026

Baking Basics

How to keep brown sugar soft

Store it in an airtight container with a slice of bread or a marshmallow to help maintain moisture.

My Chocolate Chip Cookies
06/15/2026

My Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today is National Prune Day and I'm going to be honest with y'all...Prunes have never exactly been at the top of my favo...
06/15/2026

Today is National Prune Day and I'm going to be honest with y'all...
Prunes have never exactly been at the top of my favorite foods list 😂 In fact, if you offered me a fresh peach, an apple pie, a cinnamon roll, or a prune...Well, let's just say the prune would still be sitting there tomorrow 😄

BUT...

As much as I hate to admit it, prunes are actually pretty useful in baking. They're really just dried plums, and bakers have been sneaking them into recipes for years because they add moisture, natural sweetness, and richness.

You can find prunes in:

🍞 Quick breads
🧁 Muffins
🍪 Cookies
🍰 Spice cakes
🍫 Brownies
🥧 Fruit-filled pastries

And here's the funny part...

A lot of people who say they don't like prunes have probably eaten them in baked goods and loved every bite 😂 Kind of like zucchini bread. Nobody wants to eat vegetables for dessert until suddenly they're asking for a second slice.

So while prunes probably won't be replacing chocolate chips around here anytime soon, we'll give them a little credit for quietly doing their job behind the scenes.

Now tell me...

What's a food you swear you don't like...

but somehow you'll eat it if it's baked into something? 👀😂

For me, prunes are definitely on that list.

Happy National Strawberry Shortcake Day! 🍓🍰✨Around here, this one doesn’t even need discussion—it’s an automatic celebra...
06/14/2026

Happy National Strawberry Shortcake Day! 🍓🍰✨

Around here, this one doesn’t even need discussion—it’s an automatic celebration.

We love all things strawberry, cake, and whipped cream… so when you combine all three into one perfect little dessert? Yeah, that’s a yes from us. Every time. 😍

And it makes it even better that we’ve got fresh strawberries coming right out of the garden right now—there’s just something about picking them yourself that makes everything taste a little sweeter. Woot woot! 🍓🙌

Fluffy cake, juicy berries, soft whipped cream piled high… it’s simple, classic, and exactly the kind of dessert that reminds you why some recipes never go out of style.

So today, we’re fully leaning into it and celebrating every last bite.

Happy National Strawberry Shortcake Day 🍓🍰💛

Some days don’t come with a national holiday… and honestly, that’s okay. 🍪✨At the bakery, those “in-between” days are so...
06/13/2026

Some days don’t come with a national holiday… and honestly, that’s okay. 🍪✨

At the bakery, those “in-between” days are some of our favorites. No big theme, no special occasion—just the simple joy of baking something warm, sweet, and made with care.

It’s the kind of day where you lean into the basics: fresh cookies coming out of the oven, a loaf cooling on the counter, maybe something cinnamon-swirled just because it feels right. Nothing fancy. Just good.

Because not every day has to be a celebration to deserve something homemade.

So if today feels a little ordinary, maybe that’s your sign to make it a little sweeter anyway. 💛

See you in the kitchen.

Address

Bushnell, IL
52601

Telephone

(309) 255-6378

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