Looking for some of the best tastes of Santa Cruz County at home? We asked some of Santa Cruz County’s favorite eateries, bakeries, and coffee shops to share a recipe that can be recreated from home and we’ve got some great options for you! Enjoy these delicious tastes of Santa Cruz at home!
Funnel Cake
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Whiting Foods
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
STEP ONE
In a deep cast-iron or electric skillet, heat oil to 375°
STEP TWO
Mix wet and dry ingredients in a large bowl with an electric mixer until a smooth batter forms.
STEP THREE
Pour batter into a funnel or squeeze bottle (or liquid measuring cup if you don’t have a funnel). Then, pour the batter in a circular motion over the oil to create that classic funnel cake look.
STEP FOUR
Cook for 1 – 2 minutes (until golden brown and puffy) on each side. Remove from oil with tongs and place on a plate or baking sheet with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
STEP FIVE
Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy. Kick it up with other toppings like chocolate sauce, strawberries or whipped cream! (This recipe can make approximately 8 funnel cakes)
Oscar’s Double Chocolate Cookies
West Cliff Inn
1 cup sweet butter, room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
STEP ONE
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
STEP TWO
Cream butter and sugars until fluffy, then add eggs and vanilla.
STEP THREE
In another bowl, sift together cocoa powder, flour, and baking soda, then add to butter mixture.
STEP FOUR
Fold in chocolate chips and drop by tablespoonfuls onto prepared pan. Bake for 8 minutes and enjoy! (Yields 24 cookies)
Glazed Peppercorn Bacon
Verve Coffee Roasters
1 Pound Uncured, Nitrate Free Bacon
1 Tablespoon Organic Maple Syrup
1 Packet Verve Instant Craft Coffee
1.5 Tablespoon Hot Water
Freshly Ground Coarse Black Pepper
STEP ONE
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pour one packet of Verve Instant Craft Coffee into a small bowl, add in 1.5 tablespoons of hot water and gently stir to dissolve.
STEP TWO
Add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to the coffee mixture and gently stir.
STEP THREE
Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and set an oven-proof wire rack on top. Lay bacon on top of the rack. This will help catch the drippings and make for easier cleanup.
STEP FOUR
Use a pastry brush to gently brush the coffee and maple syrup mixture on top of the bacon.
STEP FIVE
Finish the bacon by lightly sprinkling on the coarsely cracked black pepper.
STEP SIX
Place the sheet in the oven and bake for 18 to 23 minutes. Keep an eye towards the end of the baking time as oven temperatures can vary. You’re looking for golden, crispy bacon.
Hearty Kale, Corn, & Chorizo Soup
Bistro One Twelve
1 El Salchichero “Spanish Style Chorizo Salami”, diced
2 cups fine dice mirepoix (equal parts carrot, onion, celery)
3 to 6 cloves garlic, smashed
a few sprigs of fresh thyme and marjoram (or 2 tsp ea dried)
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
2 cups peeled, diced potatoes (roughly a couple of size “A”/medium)
1 packed quart of shredded kale (curly or lacinato/dino/Tuscan), with stems removed*
1 cup corn kernels (can use frozen)
1 pint of whole milk or unsweetened, non-dairy alternative
Makes 3 to 4 quarts (8 to 12 servings)
STEP ONE
Heat a heavy-bottomed 5 to 6 quart stock pot over medium-high heat.
STEP TWO
Dice the hard chorizo sausage into small cubes or triangles.
STEP THREE
Sauté until lightly browned. Remove and reserve the chorizo, leaving the grease in the pot.
STEP FOUR
Sauté the mirepoix in the leftover grease. Add in garlic, thyme, dried herbs, and red pepper flakes and sauté until you begin to smell the aroma of the herbs. Add in diced potatoes, and if using, the diced kale stems. Pour in enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until potatoes are tender but not falling apart, about 8 to 10 minutes.
STEP FIVE
When potatoes are nearly done, add in the shredded kale, corn kernels, and cooked chorizo. Simmer for another 15 minutes, until kale is wilted and flavors combine.
STEP SIX
Remove from heat and stir in milk just before serving. The soup is meant to be more of a thin, milky broth rather than creamy and thick. The milk takes a bit of the heat off and brings out the flavor of the corn.
This hearty soup is as nutrient dense as it is filling. Add some crusty bread from Kelly’s French Bakery for a delicious weeknight meal. This recipe makes enough for leftovers, which freeze and reheat well.
Cauliflower Mac-n-Cheese
Jack O’Neill Lounge at the Dream Inn
1 large head cauliflower cut into bite size pieces (stem trimmed and cut too!)
3 cups Half ’n Half or whole milk
1 cup Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup flour
(Serves 4-5 people)
STEP ONE
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss the chopped cauliflower with a light coating of olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on a cookie sheet or any baking pan you have. You want the pan large enough to allow the vegetable to roast not steam, meaning they are not piled up.
STEP TWO
Cook the cauliflower for about 30 minutes until al dente, or they have a slight bite to them still.
STEP THREE
In a pan, add half n half or milk and heat gently, being careful not to scald. When the milk is hot add the flour and stir vigorously until all the flour has incorporated. Turn off the heat and add the cheese, string constantly until the cheese is melted and you have a cheese sauce. Taste for seasoning.
STEP FOUR
Toss the cauliflower in the sauce and serve. You can also put back into your baking dish, top with bread crumbs (panko) and put under the broiler for a couple minutes to add a little crunch! Top t with anything the sky is the limit, bacon, prosciutto, panic and Parmesan etc.
Recipe variation: You can do half pasta for the veg forward kids in training. You can add a few shakes of nutmeg or any herb you want to the warming milk stage to add for an elevated adult version!
Companion Granola Bars
Companion Bakeshop
1 full bag of Companion Granola (available for purchase at Companion or from their Community Supported Breadbox subscription)
1/2 cup of chocolate chips (or raisins/cranberries)
1/2 cup of honey (or 1/4 cup of maple syrup or 1/4 cup of honey)
3 table spoons of coconut oil (very soft, not melted)
STEP ONE
Pour one full bag of Companion Granola (about 400 grams) and chocolate chips into a large bowl and mix well with a spoon
STEP TWO
Add 3 tablespoons of very soft coconut oil and honey to bowl
STEP THREE
Incorporate until all granola is covered as evenly as possible
STEP FOUR
Line a 9 x 11 or 10 x 10 pan with parchment or use granola molds and spread until even – press down slightly
STEP FIVE
Bake in a 300 degree oven for 25 minutes or until golden and slightly bubbly
STEP SIX
Pull out of oven and let cool completely, or even quicker, place in the fridge
STEP SEVEN
Once cool, but before hardening, remove from the pan and slice with sharp knife as desired
STEP EIGHT
Turn the shapes upside down onto a lined pan and cook again for another 5 minutes
Keep at room temperature in a plastic bag or covered container. ENJOY!
West Cliff Cocktail
Venus Spirits
1 oz. Venus Gin #2
1 oz. Osocalis Rare Brandy
¾ oz. Cynar
Lemon peel
Combine all ingredients in stirring glass. Add ice, stir, and strain into a cocktail or coupe glass. Garnish with twist of lemon, expressing its oils over the glass.
Peaches and Smoke
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1-1/2 oz Gin infused with watercress
1/2 oz Vodka
3/4 oz of Dry Vermouth
1 barspoon Peach Liqueur
1 drop Saline Solution
STEP ONE
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and then add ice.
STEP TWO
Stir and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a thinly sliced apple. Enjoy!
The Golden Jewel
Verve Coffee Roasters
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
200ml Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
50g Chopped Turkish Figs
100g Orange Marmalade
50ml Dark Maple Syrup
Streetlevel Instant Craft Coffee
Sparkling Water
Ice
Chambord (optional)
Bourbon (optional)
STEP ONE
Combine all the syrup ingredients in a medium pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer on low for 10 minutes.
STEP TWO
Strain the syrup into a glass container through a small mesh strainer and place it to the side to cool.
STEP THREE
Each drink will need half a packet of Instant Craft Coffee: Streetlevel. Pour the full contents of the packet into a mixing glass, adding 2 ounces of water then gently stirring to dissolve the coffee.
STEP FOUR
Fill a Collins glass with ice and add 1 ounce of the dissolved coffee.
STEP FIVE
If going the alcoholic route, skip to step six. Fill the glass about two-thirds of the way with sparkling water then top off with 2 ounces of Jewel Syrup. Continue on to step seven.
STEP SIX
If you’re here for the sauce, keep adding to your dissolved coffee and ice base with 2 ounces of Jewel Syrup, 1 ounce Chambord and 2 ounces Bourbon. Gently stir, then strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube or sphere.
STEP SEVEN
Garnish with a fresh sage leaf.
Verve’s Golden Jewel recipe is a delicious treat year-round and is best served as an after-dinner coffee cocktail.
Bruno’s Big Bloody
Bruno’s Bar and Grill
6 cups of tomato juice
3 Tbsp creamy horseradish
1 tsp red hot sauce (Valentine or Tapatio)
1 Tbsp A1 steak sauce
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
6 shakes of black pepper
6 shakes of celery salt
2 whole limes (freshly squeezed)
Tito’s vodka (or your favorite, try swapping out with jalapeño infused vodka if you like it hotter)
(Serves 8)
STEP ONE
Bloody Mary Mix
Pour tomato juice, red hot sauce, A1 sauce, Worcestershire sauce into large pitcher.
Stir in prepared horseradish
Squeeze 2 limes into mixture
Shake celery salt and black pepper on top
Pour mixture from pitcher into another pitcher back and forth several times to fully mix.
STEP TWO
Pour Cocktail
Rub a fresh lime around the rim of your goblet, dip rim into Tajin (on a plate)
Pour ice to fill the glass
Pour vodka
Pour Bloody Mary Mix
STEP THREE
Garnish
On a kabob add olives, cocktail onions, pepperoncini, slider, chicken wing and top with another olive
Add celery stalk
Add cucumbers
Add strip of candied bacon
Add lemon and lime wedges to rim
Drizzle Chamoy over everything and voila!
Bake Like Gayle’s
Gayle’s Bakery
So many of Gayle’s Bakery favorites are found in The Village Baker’s Wife! Grab the book and get baking! Use hashtag, #BakeLikeGayles, and tag their Instagram page, @gaylesbakery, to share your creations!