Do you enjoy getting baked goods in the mail? Then Steph’s Bite by Bite‘s Bakin’ Friends group is for you! On the 6th of the month the Bakin’ Friends matches are sent out along with the identity of the secret ingredient to be used. This month was cinnamon! You then have until the 16th to mail our your creation, and upon it’s arrival will go through a series of glamor shots in preparation for posting day at the end of the month.

So it is now time to share what I received from my Bakin’ Friend, Sarah! Like me, she is also working on a PhD (hers is in Higher Education & Student Affairs Leadership) and she had just turned in her comprehensive exams so she destressed by baking for me. Baking really is a great way to relieve stress (that or working out are my favorites). And she definitely used her stress to create great things! She even sent some the cinnamon she used in order to recreate her wonderful recipes. Who knew there were so many different kinds of cinnamon out there? Here I was thinking cinnamon was just cinnamon. Guess I should’ve known better after my journey into making my own vanilla extract.

The first thing I had was the Chocolate Zucchini Bread. I don’t think I have ever had chocolate zucchini bread before, but the cinnamon was an absolutely wonderful addition to the flavors. I ate the entire mini loaf within 24 hours of it’s arrival. I’ll be adding zucchini to my grocery list next time I go shopping. Seriously, so good.

Then I dug into the Thick, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. With that name alone I knew they had to be good since the first two adjectives describe my perfect cookie. And they definitely did live up to their name. But again, cinnamon was the star of these cookies and may be convinced to only use “fancy” cinnamon from now on if this is the effect is has on me. Just imagine if I combined it with peanut butter and chocolate? Be still my heart.

Be sure to join in the fun next month and become a Bakin’ Friend! Click HERE to find out how.

One year ago: General Tso’s Chicken