Dear Bakers and Friends,

Welcome to the September 2025 issue of Betterbaking.com!

I’m late to publish because it’s Labor Day and the last day of summer (in mood) is calling me away as it is you. But I’m also late because I got waylaid trying to perfect a Downtown Abbey Victoria Sponge Cake for this month’s issue instead of focussing, as I should be on Jewish New Year’s recipes, spice and apples and such. At this point, I have both too many personal favorite recipes to dig out on this site, my files, my cookbooks and am always creating yet more new recipes. In culinary terms, I have the opposite problem of ‘I have nothing to wear’; I have too much!

In addition, as I’ve often mentioned, when you publish only once a month, you after or before a holiday and you run the risk of talking about honey cake when people are also or already thinking Canadian Thanksgiving or bake-sale treats or some other timely or seasonal thing. In editorial terms, somewhat I have to set the table that can carry any current issue of Betterbaking.com for a good month and still be pertinent. BB is largely a volunteer affair but I take it as seriously as anything that has a deadline.

I’ll be quick about things. It has been a lovely summer in its way although there have been stresses and distractions. Tango has been ever constant but there have been ups and downs. But I found extra support in the form of Downton Abbey.

Years ago I watched the first two seasons of Downton Abbey only to quit abruptly the minute they did away with two main characters (Matthew and Sybil – oh why oh why?). I felt so disenchanted I immediately left the Crawley’s high and dry. But at the beginning of this just-past August, I gave Downton Abbey another look and fell in love all over again. Knowing there would be losses, I still threw in my lot with Cora and Robert et al. Now, as I reluctantly come to the end of season six I am happy/placated that there are three full length Downtown feature films to enjoy.

In the last few weeks, my personal ups and downs calmed down as the Crawleys and their downstairs help and other regulars in the cast (neighbours, villagers, beaux, Cousin Isabelle and the good Dr. Clark) because an extra family and friend circle for me. I brushed up on world history but also enjoyed the return to manners and civility that the Downton world affords. If you can overlook the class differences and inequities you might feel at home as I did, with the subtle exchanges and adhesion to even phony niceties. I’ve always been one to prefer phony manners over sincere rudeness. So much in Downton Abbey is solved with walking away from discord, a simple shrug, or raised eyebrow and then life goes on. You could argue that such repression of emotions resulted in Robert Crawley’s ulcer but for my money, that world, at least streamed as entertainment (and if I tune out the class difference thing) was a bit of a tonic. The continuity of family along with the characters’ ability to morph and grow did me good.

In honor of Downton’s Mrs. Patmore and the series as a whole, I played around with the unlisted cast member, the Victoria Sponge Cake. It stole many a scene, a two-layered jam, berries and whipped cream cake that was the high point of tea-time. The recipes online are all the same and call for self-rising flour which 90% of us don’t have on hand. I swapped in the right amount of regular flour, with salt and baking powder and created a moist, golden and high cake that is perfect as a week-day cake or for your next high tea.

And if you’re not a Downton Abbey fan girl, this issue also has some beautiful Rosh Hashanah baking and a nod to fall in the Pumpkin Latte Loaf (why should Starbucks steal the show?) and there’s also the Pumpkin Tollhouse Cookies (https://betterbaking.com/free-recipe-2025-pumpkin-pie-tollhouse-cookies-from-betterbaking-com/. This is just a fall sampler. The BB Recipe Archives are replete with tons of apple and honey recipes, as well as cinnamon and other spices. And for added inspiration don’t forget my two Jewish cookbooks, A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking, and the Newish Jewish Cookbook, both available pretty well everywhere in print and e-books.

I also remind you that the BB two-for-one special is on until the end of September and then that bargain gets tucked away until next year. If you have a few months on your account, I am happy to attach it to a new subscription. If you’re Canadian and wish to purchase via e-transfer, contact me for details.

With warm wishes, happy fall everyone, and of course, Shanah Tovah.

Marcy Goldman
Master Baker, Author, Dancer
www.Betterbaking.com
Est. 1997
Montreal, Canada

September 2025 Recipes

Twisted Honey Cake
https://betterbaking.com/recipe-items/twisted-honey-cake/

New Year’s’ Round Sweet Challah
https://betterbaking.com/recipe-items/new-years-round-sweet-challah-2/

Pumpkin Latte Cake
https://betterbaking.com/recipe-items/pumpkin-latte-cake/

 Downtown Abbey Victoria Sponge Cake
https://betterbaking.com/recipe-items/downton-abbey-victorian-sandwich-cake/