Brookey Bakes

04/06/2026

04/04/2026

Happy Easter 🪺

03/19/2026

Okay, I knew Illinois had potholes 🕳️ but I did not remember them being this insane. They. Are. Insane 😵‍💫 But our new buddy at makes the best of it with her Illinois Pothole Ice Cream 😆 such a funny idea 😆 Suuuuuper thick and chocolatey and fudgy! Plus, tip of the cap 🎩 this ice cream shop has been around for 25 years 👏 Thanks for a fun visit, Inside Scoop!

03/19/2026

Lent is coming, and you know what means: It’s season at !! Here’s us trying them out…

We’ve been frequenting Country Donuts since we moved here 2 weeks ago. Like almost daily. Like it’s a bit excessive 🙈 We love them 💕 We figured it’s the perfect place to start a new little series we’re calling…

📢 THE BAKER’S HUSBAND AND I 📢 where Chris and I try out bakeries and donut shops all around the Chicagoland area 👏 Should be fun, and tasty, so stick around!

03/18/2026

Hope yours was a lovely day 🇮🇪🎩🌈💛🍀 I made a chocolate cake with Baileys Irish Cream and shared it at work, so you know mine was!

03/16/2026

This time, THE BAKER’S HUSBAND AND I hit up Spunky Dunkers 🍩 in my hometown of Palatine!

40 something years ago, my mom used to take me to dance class and then we’d go across the street - across Northwest Highway - to get a donut together. When I stepped inside, I could tangibly remember sitting with my sweet momma on those stools, eating a Long John… (so yeah, I cried 🥹)

Years later, I found out it’s also my homie ‘s nostalgic donut place!!

Anyway, I digress 😆 Yummy donuts!!! Chris and I were in total agreement that the toasted coconut donut is where it’s at 👏 Get you one!

03/12/2026

🍀 Getting festive up in here!

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03/01/2026

***SORRY FOR MY VOICE*** But hey now, we’re getting closer to looking/acting/TASTING like my cookie 🍪

Bake temp and time can vary from oven to oven, so it’s always smart to bake just one in the center of the pan to figure all that out. That part was easy. The trickier part, and the part that’s fascinating to me, is the need to adjust the flour when elevation drops from 4600 feet to 900 feet 🧐

02/21/2026

Sweet little carrot cake ♡

And the first cake I made in Illinois!

02/10/2026

New year, new town…feels like a re-introduction is in order, doesn’t it?

We are the Barragans! Brooke and Chris, and our kids Olive, Lucy, George, and Penny. If you’re new here, then all you really need to know is that we love big, and the hand pies are amazing!

Follow along for family fun and yumminess 😋

01/18/2026

Yummmmmm