Inside the Brimly Test Kitchen—June Highlights from the Test Kitchen

“Let’s catch up!”

BY Steph @the Brimly Test Kitchen

July 6, 2026

Image Source/Daniel Dan

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Welcome to our June roundup. Honestly, June was a really productive month. There was a lot happening behind the scenes here at Brimly, and I spent most of the month bouncing between recipe testing, planning, photography, podcast work, and trying to keep everything moving forward. It was definitely one of those months where there always seemed to be something to work on, but I'm really grateful for everything we were able to accomplish. One of the biggest focuses this month was working on our Christmas in July recipes. That meant lots of cookies, lots of baking, and honestly, a lot of fun. It may seem a little early to be talking about Christmas, but I love the idea of bringing a little bit of that holiday feeling into the middle of summer. It made recipe testing feel a little different this month, and I really enjoyed working on everything that's coming your way throughout July. Looking back, I think the biggest lesson June taught me was simply the importance of continuing to work hard and to keep pushing myself. There were certainly days that felt long, but every time I decided to keep going instead of slowing down, I found myself accomplishing goals that, at first, felt almost out of reach. Looking back now, I'm just really thankful. God gave me the strength to get through everything, and I'm grateful for how much progress we were able to make. So with all that said… let's take a look back at some of the highlights from the month, let’s talk about it.

Test Kitchen Updates:

This month's featured recipe has to be the gluten-free chocolate biscotti. I had so much fun working on this recipe. We've shared a maple biscotti before, so this wasn't something completely new, but turning it into a chocolate version ended up being such a rewarding project. Since Christmas in July was the theme we were working on throughout June, it immediately brought back memories of the holiday season. There was just something about having biscotti sitting on the counter while I was recipe testing that made the kitchen feel warm and familiar. I also had a great time photographing this recipe. Everything just seemed to come together really nicely, and I couldn't have been happier with the final result.

One thing that surprised me while working on this recipe was realizing that I don't always have to start from scratch. For a long time I felt like every new recipe had to be completely different from everything I'd made before, but this recipe reminded me that there's nothing wrong with taking something you've already developed and building on it. With a few thoughtful changes and plenty of testing, the chocolate version became something that feels completely different from the maple biscotti while still having everything I loved about the original. It's crisp, crunchy, not overly sweet, and honestly tastes like something anyone would enjoy, whether they're gluten-free or not. I really hope this recipe becomes part of your own Christmas in July celebrations because it's one I'm genuinely proud to share.

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Tools We’re Loving:

Vitamix Ascent X5 Blender

Bottom line: This blender makes everything from smoothies to soups feel effortless, delivering incredibly smooth results with almost no cleanup.

The first tool I've been reaching for constantly this month has been my Vitamix Ascent X5. I use it almost every day, mostly for smoothies, because it produces the smoothest blends I've ever been able to make. My spinach smoothies come out perfectly silky every single time, and that's one of the reasons I continue reaching for it instead of any of my other blenders.

This month I finally decided to try something different and used the hot soup program. I honestly wasn't expecting to be as impressed as I was. A few minutes later, I had a piping hot soup that was blended beautifully without having to transfer anything to another pot. Between the automatic programs, the laser-cut blades, the tamper, and the self-cleaning cycle, it has become one of those appliances that simply makes cooking easier. It was certainly an investment, but every time I use it I'm reminded why I bought it in the first place.

SHOP AT AMAZON

Ninja Combi All-in-One Multicooker

Bottom line: This versatile multi cooker takes the stress out of weeknight meals, making homemade dinners quick, simple, and genuinely enjoyable.

The second tool I've been loving is the Ninja Combi, and honestly, I don't know how I managed without it. It's one of those appliances that just keeps surprising me because it can do so much. It works as an air fryer, oven, steamer, multicooker, slow cooker, and so much more. I've made everything from shrimp and stir fry to toast, roasted corn, rice, pasta, and even full dinners in it.

What I love most is how quickly it gets dinner on the table. On those evenings when I don't feel like standing over the stove, I can prep the ingredients, put everything inside, and let the Combi do the work. It's compact enough to leave on my countertop, cleanup is incredibly easy because most of the accessories go straight into the dishwasher, and it even comes with recipes that have been genuinely enjoyable to make. It has become one of my favorite appliances, especially during the warmer months when I don't want to heat up the whole kitchen.

SHOP AT AMAZON

Ingredient Spotlight:

Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour

This month's ingredient spotlight has to go to King Arthur Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour (Without Xanthan Gum). If you've been around Brimly for any amount of time, you probably already know this flour because I use it in just about everything I bake. It has become my go-to flour over the years, and honestly, I don't see that changing anytime soon. It blends beautifully with other gluten-free flours when I need it to, but it also performs wonderfully on its own. One of the biggest reasons I continue reaching for it is because it doesn't contain xanthan gum, which is something I intentionally avoid here at Brimly. Being able to start with a gum-free flour gives me the flexibility to build recipes exactly the way I want them.

Throughout June, this flour really earned its place on my countertop. With Christmas in July being our theme, there was a lot of cookie baking happening behind the scenes, and that meant going through bag after bag of flour. Thankfully, this one never let me down. It consistently produced cookies that were crisp, crunchy, and exactly the texture I was hoping for. These posts are never sponsored. This is simply a product I've trusted for years and continue to recommend because it has helped me create so many of the recipes you see here on Brimly. If I could only keep one gluten-free flour in my pantry, this would absolutely be it.

Life at Brimly:

June was an exciting month because we officially launched our new podcast show, Shut the Oven Door.

Our previous show, Oh It's Gluten Free, ran for forty-two episodes, and I'm so grateful for everything we learned while creating it. But after a lot of planning and conversations behind the scenes, we felt it was time for something new. So throughout June we finally introduced Shut the Oven Door, hosted by myself and Nash, and honestly, we've had so much fun creating it.

The new format has given us room to have more relaxed conversations, laugh together, introduce our new book club, share interesting facts during our intermission, and of course still talk about our recipes each week. It feels much more like inviting you into the conversation instead of simply talking at you, and that's exactly what we hoped it would become.

We're still working on a few more improvements that we're hoping to introduce in the coming months, but for now we're simply grateful. Launching a new podcast show was a lot of work, but seeing it finally come together has been incredibly rewarding. As always, all glory to God for helping us get here.

Life Optimization Tools

As always, Instacart continues to be one of the biggest time-savers in my life. It isn't sponsored. It's simply a service that has made running Brimly so much easier. Whether I need a last-minute ingredient, a full grocery order, or just don't have time to stop what I'm doing, it's been such a dependable part of my routine. Between delivery, pickup, cashback rewards, and the huge selection of stores available, it's a service I genuinely recommend.

Another app that has made a big difference this month is Structured. My husband introduced me to it, and it's quickly become one of the most helpful apps on my phone. Whenever life starts feeling overwhelming or I have too many projects happening at once, Structured helps me organize everything into a clear schedule that actually feels manageable. It has even added AI features that make planning even easier. It's one of those small tools that has had a surprisingly big impact on reducing my stress and helping me stay focused throughout the day.

Not sponsored, just what works for me personally.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Biscotti

“There is just something about a good biscotti that feels like winter.”

Visit Recipe

From Me to You:

Take care of your health.

Over the past few weeks, I had a few experiences that really reminded me just how important our health truly is. It's so easy to put off taking care of ourselves because we're busy working, chasing goals, paying bills, and trying to keep up with everything life throws at us. But the truth is, none of those things matter very much if we don't have our health.

One thing I've been reminded of is how important it is to manage stress. Stress has a way of quietly building over time, and if we're not careful, it can affect us far more than we realize. So please, take some time to check in with yourself. Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Rest when you need to. Eat well. Move your body. Pray. Slow down every now and then.

At the end of the day, our health really is our wealth. We can chase dreams, build businesses, and work toward our goals, but without our health, we can't fully enjoy any of it. So this month, that's my encouragement to you. Take care of yourself. You're worth taking care of.