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Banana Cake

Banana Cake

Banana Cake

1 large banana (3/4 C. mashed total)
2 tsp. Lemon Juice
4 medium Eggs
1 ¼ C. Sugar
¾ C. Oil (neutral taste, not cold pressed)
¾ C. ground Hazelnuts
½ tsp. ground Ginger
2 ¼ C. Flour
1 T. Baking Powder

Preheat oven to 400. Prepare Tube Pan. Pell Banana, mash and combine with lemon juice. Beat eggs and sugar until light and creamy. Add oil. Stir in banana puree, nuts and ginger. Stir in flour mixed with baking powder. Por into prepared pan and bake in lower third of oven for 45-50 minutes.

Tangerine Cake

Tangerine Cake

Tangerine Cake

4 medium Eggs
1 ¼ C. Sugar
¾ C. Oil (neutral taste, not cold pressed)
¾ C. Orange Juice
2 ¼ C. Flour
1 T. Baking Powder
3 Tangerines, peeled
1 ¾ C. Powdered Sugar
Juice from 1 Lemon
3 T. chopped Pistachios

Preheat oven to 400. Prepare Tube Pan. Beat eggs and sugar until light and creamy. Add oil and juice. Briskly stir in flour mixed with baking powder. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in the lower third of the oven for 10 minutes. Arrange tangerine sections on top, return to oven and bake another 35-40 minutes. Sift powdered sugar and stir in lemon juice, drop by drop, to make a smooth syrupy glaze. Pour over cooled cake and sprinkle with chopped pistachios. Let glaze set before serving.

LTS Honey Mints

LTS Honey Mints

LTS Honey Mints

1 C. warm honey
green food coloring
4 drops oil of peppermint
2 3/4 C. powdered milk (non-instant)

Mix ingredients and knead until all milk is absorbed. Roll into 1 -inch balls. Allow to set until firm.

Lavender Ice Cream

Lavender Ice Cream

Lavender Ice Cream

6 egg yolks
2 cups half and half
1 cup cream
2/3 cup vanilla sugar
1 vanilla bean
3 whole lavender tops or 2 T. dried lavender- be sure to use organic, food grade

Prepare a water bath in a large bowl. Set aside. In a saucepan, heat half & half with the cream and the vanilla bean pod denuded of its interior until it simmers. Take off heat and add in the lavender to steep. Set aside until almost room temperature, about 45-60 minutes. When the time has lapsed, strain the mixture and bring it back up to temperature- just short of simmering again. Take off the heat. *Pro-tip: Frozen foods need more flavor for it to come through the freeze. So taste the cream mixture. It should taste fairly strong. Don’t be alarmed. Once the ice cream is fully frozen, the flavor will have mellowed out. In fact, with any flavoring that you add to ice cream or any frozen dessert, it’s best if the flavor is pretty strong prior to freezing to get the best flavor. Mix egg yolks until lighter in another bowl. Add in vanilla sugar and the scraped out insides of the vanilla bean. Mix well. Temper the eggs with some of the cream mixture until the eggs are brought up to the same temperature as the cream mixture. *tempering of the eggs is why you brought the cream back up to temperature in the last step* Pour it all into the saucepan. Heat over medium-lowish heat for about 2-3 minutes or until it coats the back of a spoon or it reaches 170 degrees. Pour the mixture back through a fine mesh strainer into the egg/sugar bowl and put it all into the water bath. Bring the custard down to room temperature as quickly as possible. About 30-45 minutes. Put it into the fridge uncovered until it no longer forms condensation. Then cover and let sit in fridge for 4-6 hours or overnight.. Put into ice cream maker and follow the instructions for the machine. This ice cream is particularly delightful with sugar cookies made with rose sugar or orange sugar.

Turkish Baklava

Turkish Baklava

1 lb. phyllo dough sheets (18×14 inch)
3 C. raw unsalted pistachios (coarsely grounded)
1/3 C. raw unsalted pistachios (finely grounded)
3 tsp. powdered sugar
1 lb. sweet cream unsalted butter

For the Syrup:
3 C. ground sugar
1 ½ C. water
3 tsp. honey
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

First, prepare the syrup. Add the sugar and water in a pot. After the sugar melts, add the honey and lemon juice. Let it boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat. Cool syrup. It is easier to cool syrup if you pour it in a different pot or a deep bowl. Let it sit at room temperature. If the phyllo dough is frozen, make sure it’s thawed in the refrigerator and it is out of the fridge in room temperature 5 hours before preparing the baklava. Otherwise, the phyllo sheets may be sticky which will make them difficult to butter. Melt the butter on low heat and cool. Anything that accumulates on top (whitish foam), remove with a spoon. This will clarify the butter. Using a cooking brush, grease a 18×14 inch tray with the clarified butter. You may also use a 9×14 inch pyrex dish if you do not have an 18×14 inch tray. In this case, you will need to cut the phyllo sheets in half to fit the pyrex dish. Mix the coarsely grounded pistachios with the powdered sugar. Make sure everything is ready before opening the phyllo dough (i.e. the butter, the tray, the pistachio mix). The phyllo dough tends to dry out quickly. Cover with a damp cloth or a damp paper towel after opening. Select one sheet and place on the greased tray. Quickly butter the phyllo sheet completely. Add another sheet and repeat the same process until you have buttered 8-9 phyllo sheets. Then add 1 ½ C. the pistachio mix and spread all over the sheets so that there is a thin layer of the mix. Add another sheet of phyllo dough and butter all over. Repeat the same process for another 8-9 sheets. Add the rest of the pistachio mix and spread to cover the sheets. Again, place a sheet of phyllo dough on top of the mix and butter it. Butter each of the left phyllo dough sheets one by one until you are out of phyllo sheets. If you see that some of the phyllo sheets are sticky and will not come out separately, then you may add the sticky sheets all together (without separating) and butter very well. One of the secrets of a good baklava is making sure every single sheet is buttered well. After finishing the phyllo sheets, if you have left over butter, pour on top of the tray. Cut diagonally or in squares after pouring the butter. Heat the oven to 350º F. Place the baklava tray in the middle rack and bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove baklava when ready and pour the cooled syrup all over the tray. Make sure every single piece has syrup on it. The baklava has to be hot when pouring the cooled syrup. Decorate with the finely ground pistachios on top of each of the pieces. Cover with aluminum foil and let sit overnight. Enjoy with aa cup of strong Turkish coffee.

Graham Cracker Swirls

Graham Cracker Swirls

1 C. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 C. all purpose flour
1/2 C. dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 C. butter, chilled & cubed
1/4 C. honey
1/4 C. water
1/2 C. Nutella, peanut butter or preserves

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place the flours, sugar, salt, cinnamon and baking soda in the bowl of your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix to combine. Add the cubed and chilled butter and mix until it resembles coarse meal, about 2 minutes. Add the honey and water and continue to mix until it combines and forms a dough. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and roll each piece into a 9 x 13 inch rectangle until 1/4 inch thick. If the dough is soft it can be refrigerated 30-60 minutes. Spread 1/4 C. of the Nutella or other filling in a thin layer over each sheet of dough. Starting at the 13 inch side, use your fingertips to roll the dough tightly into a spiral like a cinnamon roll, and pinch the seams to seal. Slice the dough into 1/2 inch pieces, place on a silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet, and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and set. Tip: Cookies can be frozen before or after baking. Place cookies on a baking sheet in the freezer for about 30 minutes, until frozen solid, then transfer to a zip top bag or other freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 4 months.

Crispy Cereal Treats

Crispy Cereal Treats

Crispy Cereal Treats

Base Recipe:

 

3 T. unsalted butter, plus more softened for pan

1 10-ounce bag mini marshmallows

1 recipe mix-ins (see below)

 

Cocoa Nutty:

 

5 C. chocolate puffed rice cereal, such as Cocoa Krispies

1 C. cocktail peanuts, roughly chopped

½ C. chopped semisweet chocolate

 

Trail Mix:

 

5 C. puffed oat cereal, such as Puffins

½ C. dried cherries or cranberries

½ C. chopped toasted pecans

½ C. toasted pepitas

 

Tropical Breeze:

 

5 C. flaked corn cereal, such as Corn Flakes

½ C. chopped dried tropical fruit, such as mango and/or pineapple

½ C. toasted coconut flakes

½ C. chopped macadamia nuts

 

Berries and Cream:

 

5 C. whole-grain oat cereal, such as Cheerios

¾ C. chopped freeze-dried raspberries

¾ C. chopped white chocolate

 

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with softened butter. Melt 3 T. butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add marshmallows; cook, stirring, until melted. Remove from heat.  Stir in cereal and chosen mix-ins to combine. Press into prepared pan; let stand until firm, about 1 hour. Cut into squares and serve, or store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

Mexican Lime Curd  

Mexican Lime Curd  

Mexican Lime Curd

 

I’d recommend organic limes for this recipe since you’ll be using the outer peel. If not, you’ll want to scrub them well. Also, just a note that the finished curd is bright yellow, not green. That’s no mistake. The color is influenced more by the egg yolks than the juice or zest.

 

1 T. finely grated lime zest (shiny outer part only, not the bitter white pith)

1 1/4 C. granulated sugar

3 eggs, well beaten

3/4 C. freshly squeezed lime juice from 6 Mexican limes (or ~12 Key limes)

6 T. unsalted butter

Pinch of salt

 

Place a large bowl half-full of ice water near the stove. Next to that, set a wire-mesh strainer nested inside a medium metal bowl. In a medium saucepan, rub the lime zest into the sugar with your fingers until moist and fragrant. Whisk in the beaten eggs and lime juice. Add the butter and salt, and set the pot over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the butter melts and the mixture thickens, 5 to 10 minutes. Do not boil. Wait for when the mixture thickens to the consistency of a loose pudding. It should coat the back of a spoon, leaving a distinctive track when you run your finger through it. At this point, remove the pot from the heat. Set the bowl with the strainer inside the ice bath, and quickly pour the curd through the strainer into the bowl, using a rubber scraper to force the curd through the sieve. (The ice bath halts the cooking and the strainer is insurance to remove any overcooked egg proteins that may arise. Be sure to scrape as much of the curd as possible off the underside of the strainer.) Let the curd cool for a half hour before pouring it into small jars. The curd will thicken further and the flavor will intensify as it chills. Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

15 Ways To Doctor A Brownie Mix

15 Ways To Doctor A Brownie Mix

15 Ways To Doctor A Brownie MixLet me make this clear, brownie mix begs you to add your magic to them. Below are some suggestions for you to take a 18 to 21oz brownie mix and improve it greatly.

  • Sprinkle M&M Candies over the top of the brownie mix in the pan before baking. At different times try the plain M&M’s and the Peanut M&M’s. You will end up with some great flavors.
  • Spread Milk Chocolate , White Chocolate , or Peanut Butter Chips over the top of the brownies as soon as they come out of the oven. They will melt over the top of the brownies and you will have a unique brownie. I have taken it a step further some times and mixed all three flavors of chips together and spread them over the top of a just baked pan of brownies. Remember they get spread over your brownies as soon as they come out of the oven.
  • Add 1 T. of Vanilla Extract to the Brownie Mix when you mix up the brownies. Be sure to use real vanilla extract not the imitation stuff.
  • Bake the brownies for 10 minutes less than the time on the box. They should still be fudgy in the center when you remove them from the oven. Spread the top of the cooled pan of brownies with a C. of sweet chocolate chips or butterscotch chips that you have melted on the stove.
  • Buy 4-6 large peppermint patties and chop them up and add them to the brownie mix before you mix it up and bake it.
  • Stir a handful of chopped up mounds bars into the brownie mix as you are mixing it up.
  • Add 1 T. of powdered instant coffee and a pinch of cinnamon to the mix as you are mixing it up.
  • Top a pan of baked brownies with caramel topping , sweetened flaked coconut and chopped sweetened pecans.
  • Swirl softened cream cheese into the batter just before baking the brownies, For a unique twist try using orange or strawberry cream cheese.
  • Stir sliced almonds , chopped dried cherries and a dash of almond extract into the brownies before baking.
  • Make triple chocolate brownies by mixing white , milk and semi sweet chocolate chips into the batter before baking.
  • Add chopped macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips to the batter and drop it by the spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet for wonderful brownie cookies. Bake until crisp at the edges but soft in the centers about 8-10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.
  • Fold a C. of mashed banana into the brownie mix before baking.
    Swab hot baked brownies with Kahlua when they come out of the oven. Just brush it on.
  • For a nostalgic version mix a handful of chopped walnuts and a 1/2 C. of chocolate chips into the brownie batter.

It’s How You Slice a Brownie That Counts

Who says a brownie has to be square. Add some pizazz.

Bake brownies 20-25 minutes and bake them in a pie pan instead of a square pan. Cut them out in wedges instead of squares.
Use a smaller deeper pan for thicker brownies. They’ll bake in about 40 minutes and then cut them out extra-large or smaller for tea parties.
Cut brownies into rounds with a biscuit cutter and sandwich two together with your favorite jam. Dust the top with powdered confectioners’ sugar.
Dust brownie triangles, squares, or rectangles with confectioners’ sugar to jazz them up.
Crumble up brownies and serve them over ice cream.

Martha Stewart’s Rhubarb Crisp

Martha Stewart’s Rhubarb Crisp

2 lbs rhubarb, sliced crosswise 3/4 inch thick
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)

Preheat oven to 400°. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, combine the rhubarb, 1 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup flour; set aside. In the bowl of a food processor, combine remaining 1/2 cup flour and the butter. Pulse until the butter pieces are the size of coarse oats. Add brown sugar, oatmeal, and cinnamon. Pulse to combine. Sprinkle over rhubarb. Bake until rhubarb is tender and topping is golden, 35 to 45 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream, if desired.

Mocha-Caramel Tree Cookies

Mocha-Caramel Tree Cookies

Mocha-Caramel Tree Cookies1 C. butter, softened
1/3 C. sifted powdered sugar
3 T. granulated sugar
1 tsp. instant espresso coffee powder or 2 tsp. instant coffee crystals
1 T. vanilla
3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
1-2/3 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 C. semisweet chocolate pieces
1 tsp. shortening
1/2 of a 14-ounce package vanilla caramels (about 24)
2 T. milk 1/4 C. butter

In a large mixing bowl beat first 3 ingredients with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Dissolve instant coffee powder or crystals in vanilla; add to butter mixture. Beat in cocoa powder. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. By hand, stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover; chill about 1 hour or until firm. On a floured surface, roll one half of dough at a time to 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch thickness. Cut into 3-inch trees, reindeers, or other shapes. Place cookies 1-1/2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until set but not over browned. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; transfer to wire racks. Cool completely. Heat and stir chocolate pieces and shortening over low heat until chocolate begins to melt. Remove from heat; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Let stand until set. Heat and stir the caramels, 1/4 C. butter, and milk over very low heat until smooth. Cool slightly. Drizzle over cookies.

Blueberry Mousse

Blueberry Mousse

Blueberry Mousse

3 eggs

2 pints blueberries

4 T. honey

2 T. kirsch

1/4 tsp. salt

3T. cornstarch

1/2 pint heavy cream

 

Separate eggs, cover containers tightly and allow to come to room temperature. Wash blueberries (reserve some for garnish) and place in a saucepan along with honey, kirsch and salt. Cover and cook 10-15 minutes over low heat. Take out some hot liquid and mix with cornstarch until smooth. Return to blueberry mixture and mix thoroughly. Beat a spoonful of hot blueberries into egg yolks, then return to blueberries and beat for 2 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into blueberries and chill for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Whip cream until firm. Fold into chilled mixture and refrigerate until set (2 hours). Garnish with reserved blueberries.

Berry Pudding Cake

Berry Pudding Cake

berry2 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed
2 cups fresh raspberries, rinsed
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar

In a 9- by 13-inch baking dish, mix blueberries and raspberries with 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Spread level. In a bowl, whisk eggs, olive oil, orange peel, vanilla, and remaining 1 cup granulated sugar. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined. Pour batter evenly over berry mixture and gently spread to cover berries. Bake cake in a 350° regular or convection oven until top springs back slightly when gently pressed in the center, 28 to 35 minutes. Let cool at least 10 minutes; serve warm or cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving, and scoop portions onto plates.

Fruit Jellies

Fruit Jellies

fruit-jellies-su-xCooking-oil spray
1 1/3 cups citrus juice (pasteurized orange or pink grapefruit; or fresh blood orange, lime, or lemon), strained
3 cups granulated sugar
6 ounces liquid pectin, such as Certo (you’ll need two 3-oz. packs)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Coarse sugar (such as Hain Organic); or use granulated

Line an 8-in. square baking pan with microwave-safe plastic wrap, pressing it up sides and leaving a 1-in. overhang. Spray plastic wrap with cooking spray. Pour citrus juice and granulated sugar into a 6-qt. pot and stir to combine. Clip a candy thermometer to inside of pan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly and slowly, until mixture registers 238° (just before the soft-ball stage, when it will harden), about 20 minutes. Add pectin and cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice, and immediately pour into prepared pan. Let set until cool and firm, about 1 1/2 hours. Lift from pan using plastic wrap and cut into 1-in. squares, circles, 3/4- by 1 1/4-in. rectangles, or 3/4- by 2-in. half-moons. Dip in coarse sugar. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week, dipping again right before wrapping if necessary (particularly with the more acidic flavors like lime, lemon, and grapefruit, which tend to get a little weepy). Box it: Crystal clear boxes, from $6.2 5/25; clearbags.com

Mandarin Orange Cake

Mandarin Orange Cake

128682 C. flour
2 C. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cans mandarin oranges, drained
1 C. finely chopped nuts
Topping:
bring to a boil:
2 C. brown sugar
4 T. butter
6 T. milk

Sift dry ingredients. Add remaining ingredients. Beat 3 minutes with mixer. Pour into greased and floured 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Test for doneness with toothpick inserted in center. Prick holes in cake with fork. Pour topping on hot cake. Serve with cool-whip.

Not Your Average Root Beer Float

Not Your Average Root Beer Float

7252873974_42ed4788c9_o1 ½ C. Cold Root Bear
¼ tsp. Almond Extract
½ C. Vanilla Ice Cream
2 T. Heavy Cream
1 Maraschino Cherry

Pour Root Beer into tall glass. Gently stir in almond extract. Slowly and carefully scoop ice cream into glass. Pour cream over ice cream and top with the cherry.

Tart Cherry Sorbet

Tart Cherry Sorbet

Tart-Cherry-Sorbet-21-2 pounds frozen tart cherry juice – pure tart cherry juice frozen in ice cube trays
3/4-1 cup simple syrup*
1/4 cup lemon juice (1 lemon squeezed)
pinch of salt

In the large work bowl with the large chopping blade, dump in the frozen tart cherry juice cubes, simple syrup, lemon juice and salt. Pulse 10 times, using long pulses. After scraping the bowl, process until smooth, about two minutes. It only took 20 seconds for the frozen cherry juice. Eat immediately or place in a container and place in the freezer.

Notes: Simple Syrup is equal amounts of sugar and water boiled together until the sugar has completely dissolve, creating a sweet syrup. Allow to fully cool before using.

Lemon Fluff

Lemon Fluff

e718bce3bbae6bd5aaa49c16a9704b761 box Lemon Jell-o (3 Ounces)
1-¾ cup Very Hot Water
¼ cups Lemon Juice
1 cup Sugar
1 can Evaporated Milk (12 Ounces), Chilled
2-½ cups Vanilla Wafers, Crushed

Combine the Jell-o, hot water, lemon juice, and sugar in a mixing bowl and stir until Jell-o is dissolved. Chill till partially set, about 1 hour. Just before Jell-o is set, pour the chilled evaporated milk into a large mixing bowl and whip until stiff peaks form. Fold together with Jell-o mixture. Pour 2 cups of vanilla wafer crumbs into the bottom of a 13 x 9 inch pan. Top with Jell-o mixture, then sprinkle with remaining vanilla wafer crumbs. Chill until set; a minimum of two hours, but best if allowed to chill at least 4 hours.

Mini Pear Galettes

Mini Pear Galettes

3 cups4320-Apple-Pear-Galette-PM all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/3 cup ice water, strained
1 cup pear preserves
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 T. sugar
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor, and pulse to mix. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. With machine running on medium speed, slowly add water until dough comes together and forms a ball. Remove dough and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a 4-inch cutter, cut rounds from dough. Gather scraps and roll once more, cutting more rounds. Place about 1 T. of pear preserves onto the center of each round. Using your hands, roll the edge of the dough inward, overlapping in a circular pattern. Whisk together egg yolks and heavy cream in a small bowl. Place galettes on prepared baking sheet. Brush each galette with egg mixture. Evenly sprinkle with sugar and almonds. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

Pear Tarte Tartin

Pear Tarte Tartin

1/2Pear-Tarte-Tatin-1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 T. unsalted butter
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, seeds reserved
1/2 tsp. fresh grated ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground cardamom
1/8 tsp. salt
16 Forelle pears, halved, stems and seeds removed
1/2 (17.3-ounce) package puff pastry, thawed
2 cups heavy whipping cream, chilled
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 375˚. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the sugar and water. Cook until mixture turns dark amber in color, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in the butter, vanilla-bean seeds, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt. Place 4 pear halves into each of 4 (4-inch) square tart pans, cut side down; pour syrup over pears. Bake for 10 to 18 minutes, or until pears are soft and syrup is thick. Let cool for 10 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry sheet, and cut into quarters. Place each pastry square atop pears, tucking edges of dough between pears and sides of pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream and confectioners’ sugar until soft peaks form. Set aside. Invert a plate over each tart pan. Using a potholder to protect your hands, carefully invert the tarts onto the plates. Serve warm with whipped cream.

Apple Crumb Cakes with Calvados Crème Anglaise

Apple Crumb Cakes with Calvados Crème Anglaise

3Apple-Crumb-Cake-Recipe 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 2/3 cups firmly packed light brown sugar, divided
2 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and divided
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
2/3 cup sliced almonds
2/3 cup quick-cooking oats
1 recipe Calvados Crème Anglaise

Preheat oven to 350Ëš. Line the wells of a 12-well square muffin pan with paper liners, or spray with nonstick cooking spray with flour. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg; whisk to combine. In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, vanilla extract, applesauce, 2 T. melted butter, eggs, and egg whites. Whisk to blend. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, then pour the milk mixture into the well. Stir until dry ingredients are just moist. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. In a separate medium bowl, combine the almonds, oats, remaining 2/3 cup flour, remaining 2/3 cup brown sugar, remaining 1 tsp. cinnamon, and remaining 2 T. melted butter. Stir with a fork until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle mixture evenly over top of batter in pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pan for 15 minutes; transfer to wire racks to cool completely or serve warm. Remove paper liners before serving; serve with Calvados Crème Anglaise.

Calvados Crème Anglaise

2 cups half-and-half
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup Calvados
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and split, seeds removed and reserved
1/8 tsp. salt
6 large egg yolks, lightly beaten

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the half-and-half, sugar, Calvados, vanilla bean, and salt. Cook, whisking often, until mixture just begins to boil; immediately remove from heat. In a medium bowl, lightly whisk the egg yolks. Using a ladle, slowly stream about 1 cup of the hot half-and-half mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly; repeat. Return the yolk-half-and-half mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, or until mixture registers 170 on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from heat; using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the mixture into a stainless steel bowl set in an ice bath. Discard vanilla bean and any solids. Stir until mixture comes to room temperature. Cover the surface of the crème anglaise with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Lemon Blueberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Lemon Blueberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

48048ba3bdb8e7df815b1c126fdaea8a1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 T. lemon zest
4 large eggs
2 tsp. lemon extract
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup + 2 T. milk
1/4 cup + 2 T. sour cream
2 T. fresh lemon juice
2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries, at room temperature, rinsed and drained well

Cream Cheese Frosting
12 oz. cream cheese, softened (1 1/2 pkg.)
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. lemon extract*
3 cups powdered sugar
Blueberries and lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 3 9-inch round baking pans and line the bottom of each with a round of parchment paper. Butter parchment paper and lightly dust pan with flour, shaking out excess. Sift cake flour into a mixing bowl. Add all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk for 30 seconds, set aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment (if you don’t have the paddle attachment that constantly scrapes sides of the bowl while mixing, then stop mixer occasionally throughout entire mixing process and scrape down sides and bottom of bowl), whip together butter, granulated sugar and lemon zest until mixture is pale and fluffy. In a 2 cup liquid measuring cup, measure out milk then stir in sour cream and lemon juice, let rest 3 minutes. Meanwhile, mix eggs into butter mixture one a time, then stir in lemon extract and vanilla extract. Toss blueberries with 3 T. of the flour mixture. Working in three separate batches, beginning and ending with remaining flour mixture, add 1/3 of the flour mixture alternating with 1/2 of the milk mixture and mixing just until combined after each addition. Gently fold in blueberries. Divide mixture evenly among prepared baking pans. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 24 – 27 minutes. Cool in baking pans about 20 – 30 minute then invert onto wire racks to cool completely. Once cool, frost with cream cheese frosting and decorate with blueberries and lemon slices if desired. Store in an airtight container.

Cream Cheese Frosting: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitter with the paddle attachment, whip butter until pale and fluffy. Add cream cheese and mix until smooth and fluffy. Add vanilla and lemon extract and powdered sugar and blend several minutes longer until smooth and fluffy (if frosting seems slightly runny, you can chill it for a bit before frosting cake). *Omit lemon extract if making this cream cheese frosting for a different recipe. This frosting is good on so many different kinds of cake!

Salted Caramel Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars

Salted Caramel Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars

salted2 1/4 C. graham cracker crumbs (from about 17 whole graham crackers)

2 T. sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
10 T. butter, melted

3 8-oz. packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 C. sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 C. dulce de leche
2 tsp. vanilla extract

2/3 C. dulce de leche
2-3 T. heavy whipping cream

10 caramel chews
Fleur de sel

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan coated with nonstick spray. Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and cinnamon in medium bowl. Add melted butter; stir until coated. Transfer crumb mixture to pan. Press evenly onto bottom of pan. Bake until crust is light golden, about 10 minutes. Cool completely on rack. Blend the cream cheese and sugar together until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the eggs 1 at a time, blending for 3 to 5 seconds each time until incorporated. Add in the dulce de leche and vanilla and blend until just mixed – about 10 seconds. Spread the batter evenly over the cooled crust and bake until the cheesecake mixture is just set in center and the edges are puffed and slightly cracked, about 38 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool completely. Once the cheesecake bar is cooled, pour 2/3 C. dulce de leche sauce and a the 3 T. of whipping cream in a glass measuring C.. Microwave at 10 second intervals stirring between each interval. Do this until the mixture is smooth and combined. Next, take about 10 caramel chews and heat them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds until just melted. Quickly dump the melted caramel chews into the dulce de leche mixture and stir continuously until combined. The consistency should be pourable, but not too liquid. You want the caramel topping to be soft and gooey, but not too runny that is pours down the side of your bar once you cut it. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Lastly – (and this is the best part!) when you’re ready to serve the bars sprinkle the caramel glaze lightly with some fleur de sel.

Pie Fries

Pie Fries

pfriesCut pie crust into strips w/ fluted pastry wheel. Brush w/ melted butter. Sprinkle w/ cinnamon sugar. Bake at 375 about 15 minutes. Eat “as is” or dip into jam, pie filling or frosting

 

Jam Straws

Jam Straws

jamstraws1 package puff pastry (2 sheets)
1/4 C. seedless raspberry jam
Flour for dusting
Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment and set aside. Allow puff pastry to thaw as directed on the package. Dust work surface with flour and lightly dust rolling pin with flour. Roll out puff pastry until about 2″ larger on each side. Cut crosswise into two rectangles. Heat 1/4 C. of jam in microwave for15-20 seconds, just enough to loosen the consistency. With a pastry brush, coat one piece of puff pastry with half the jam. Cover jam-coated piece with the remaining plain piece of puff pastry and gently roll together with rolling pin – not too hard, or your jam will squish out. Slice into long strips and twist, then place on parchment lined pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool before removing from the pan. Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar. Repeat process with second sheet of puff pastry. Very pretty served in colorful paper cones

Easy Lemon Burst Cookies

Easy Lemon Burst Cookies

lemoncookies1 box lemon cake mix
1 egg
1-8 oz container of cool whip
1/2 c. powdered sugar for coating

Mix together cake mix, egg, and cool whip until well combined. Put the powdered sugar in a separate bowl. With a cookie scoop, or spoon, spoon your batter into the powdered sugar and roll it around to coat. Put it on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake on 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Vanilla Sugar Palmiers

Vanilla Sugar Palmiers

vanillapalmiers1/2 cup vanilla sugar
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 sheet puff pastry
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Combine the sugar and kosher salt. Evenly sprinkle 1/4 cup of the sugar/salt mixture on a clean working surface. Unfold a puff pastry onto the sugar and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of the sugar mixture on top, spreading it evenly on the puff pastry. With a rolling pin, roll the dough until it’s 13 by 13-inches square and the sugar is pressed into the puff pastry on top and bottom. Fold the sides of the square towards the center so they go halfway to the middle. Fold them again so the two folds meet exactly at the middle of the dough. Then fold 1 half over the other half, like closing a book. Slice the dough into 3/8-inch slices and place the slices, cut side up, on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for around 6 minutes, or until the bottom is caramelized and brown; then turn with a spatula and bake another 3 to 5 minutes, until both sides are caramelized. Cool on a wiring rack. Note: You probably will have some sugar left on the board after rolling the puff pastry and that’s okay.

Greek Honey and Cheese Pie (Melopita)

Greek Honey and Cheese Pie (Melopita)

4melopita 1/2 T. sugar, divided into 3 1/2 and 1 T.
2 extra large eggs
2 T. flour
4 1/2 T. honey, preferably wild flower
1 T. lemon juice
1 T. brandy
18 oz soft mizithra cheese or ricotta
1 tsp. cinnamon

Pre-heat oven to 350-deg F. Butter a 10 inch ceramic pie dish or tart pan. Beat 3 1/2 T. sugar and eggs in a large bowl until creamy, about 3 minutes. Beat in flour. Add honey and beat until well combined. Add lemon juice and brandy and mix to combine. Add cheese to bowl and beat until mixture has blended, about 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake until golden and just firm in the middle, 30 minutes. Sprinkle warm cake with extra 1 T. sugar and cinnamon.

Galaktoboureko

Galaktoboureko

Galaktoboureko-Greek-Custard-Pie-with-Syrup16 cups milk
1 cup fine semolina
¾ cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Lemon rind from 1 lemon, finely grated
1 package phyllo (about 10-14 sheets)
2 sticks (1 cup) + 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

Citrus Syrup:
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
Lemon juice from ½ a lemon, about ¼ cup

Put milk, ½ cup sugar, vanilla, semolina and 1 Tablespoon butter in a sauce pan on medium heat. When it starts heating, keep stirring until it becomes thick like pudding. Take it off the fire and let it cool for 5-10 minutes. Beat eggs with the rest (1/4 cup) of the sugar and stir it in to milk mixture. Stir the lemon peel in. To make the pie, the phyllo should be room temperature or slightly cooler. Open the package right before using it so the sheets do not get too dry. Melt two sticks of butter and start by brushing the butter on the bottom of your pan. In Greece, they use a large round pan about 16 inches in diameter. I used a lasagna dish, which works well (about 10 x 13 x 2). If you only have a traditional 9 x 13, you may not fit all the custard in the dish. Lay down about 5-6 sheets phyllo or half of your package. Lightly press the sheets into the sides and corner and let the edges overlap on top. You will fold them over later. Do not skimp on the butter! You should use half on the bottom layers and half on the top. Pour the slightly cooled custard on the bottom sheets and spread to the sides. Then layer another sheet on top. Continue brushing butter between layers until you have used all the phyllo, approximately 6 sheets on bottom and 6 on top. Then, brush butter on the overlapping sides and roll the edges down creating a “rim” around the edge of the pan. Liberally brush the top and the edge with the rest of your butter. Bake for 1 hour at 375 degrees or until the top is light brown all over. While the pie is baking make the syrup by boiling the sugar, water and juice together for about 5 minutes. When you remove the pie from the oven, let it cool for about 15 minutes. Then, pour the syrup over the entire pie. Over time, it will seep in to the pie. Wait at least an hour before serving. Store the pie in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and continue to enjoy!

Cream Cheese Lemon Pound Cake

Cream Cheese Lemon Pound Cake

8slice-cut ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3 large eggs
1 yellow cake mix
1 small box lemon or vanilla instant pudding
3/4 C. milk
1/2 tsp lemon extract
3 T. lemon zest

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese at medium speed with electric mixer until smooth and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each egg. In a separate bowl, mix together cake mix and pudding. In two or three intervals, add pudding/cake mix powder alternately with milk into the cream cheese mixture. Beat just until smooth. Gently stir in the lemon extract and zest. Pour batter into greased and floured bundt pan.  Bake 50-55 minutes.

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

chefmom-cupacke-ice-cream-cone-interior1 chocolate cake mix
1 1/4 C. water
1/4 C. vegetable oil
1/4 C. applesauce
2 large eggs
30 flat-bottom ice cream cones
1 can (16oz) frosting (any flavor)
candy sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, mix together cake mix, water, oil, applesauce, and eggs until smooth. Fill each cone with about 2 1/2 T. of batter. Place upright cones about 3 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet or muffin pan. Bake approximately 25-30 minutes. Cool completely. Soften frosting in the microwave on HIGH 10 seconds. Stir, then spread evenly over cupcakes. Place sprinkles on top, if desired.

Little Peach Cakes

Little Peach Cakes

0597f9d6327948fc0ef90efd414339f8

2 Wilton Mini Ball Pans
1/2 Duncan Hines Yellow cake mix, 1/4 cup butter, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup milk
red liquid food coloring
yellow liquid food coloring
3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 cinnamon stick
6-12 fresh peppermint leaves
12 whole almonds
One batch Buttercream Frosting

Ice cream or sorbet, optional
Raspberry sauce, optional

How to Make and Assemble:

You will only need 1/2 of a Duncan Hines yellow cake mix to make 6 Peach Cakes. Mix according to package directions- 1/2 cake mix with 1/4 cup softened butter, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup milk, and 12 drops yellow food coloring. Divide evenly among the 12 greased mini rounds- about +1/4 cup batter. Bake in 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool 2 minutes in pan then remove to wire rack. If you have one pan this can be done in two shifts!

While cakes are baking make the buttercream frosting and add about 12 drops of yellow food coloring to get a bright yellow. Set aside.

In two separate lidded containers, add 1/2 cup sugar and 12 drops yellow food coloring to one and 1/4 cup sugar and 6 drops red food coloring to the other. Cover each container and shake vigorously until the coloring is fully incorporated. Let the children do this! If there is clumping, break up with a fork and continue shaking. You should have a lovely bright yellow and a nice deep pink. You will have leftovers.

sugars

Break the cinnamon stick into small stems by taking a pair of scissors and placing the point into the hollow center of the stick and cutting. You will get both big and small bits, use the prettier pieces.

Frost the flat side of six mini rounds, being sure to get the frosting very think along one edge. Place another mini round on the frosting and press together forming a peach. Run your finger or a small spoon along the frosting to make an indentation that mimics the crease on a peach.

another peach

Dip each “cheek” of the peach into the pink sugar. I am calling each “fleshy” side of the thick portion of frosting the cheek. Then roll the rest of the peach in the yellow sugar without covering the pink portion. Roll the frosting portion in the yellow sugar as well.  At the top of each peach, place a piece of cinnamon stick and a peppermint leaf. Arrange in a pretty bowl or on a platter. Decorate with more mint sprigs if desired.

Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies

Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies

sour-cream-cut-out-cookies-with-cream-cheese-icing-051 C. butter
1/4 tsp. salt
2 C. sugar
1 egg beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C. sour cream
4 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda

Cream together butter, sugar and salt. Add beaten egg. Blend in vanilla and sour cream. Sift together dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Refrigerate 1 hour. Roll out dough and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 375 for 9-12 minutes or until edges start to turn golden brown. Cool completely. Frost with your favorite icing.

Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake

Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake

Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake

 

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup white sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup white sugar

1 cup light brown sugar

3 eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup full-fat sour cream, at room temperature

 

In a small bowl, combine 1 cup of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Mix together really well and set aside.  Preheat oven to 325F. Generously spray a 9 inch Bundt pan with a nonstick baking spray with flour, being careful to cover all the nooks and crannies, as well as the center tube.  If you don’t want to use baking spray with flour, you can just grease the pan with shortening. Gently dust the entire inside of the pan with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. You should only need about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar, but you want to try and evenly coat the inside surface of the pan, including the tube. Save the remaining sugar and cinnamon mixture and set everything aside.  Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Beat just the butter on medium speed for one full minute. Add the white sugar and mix for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and blade and add the brown sugar. Mix for 2 minutes until the mixture looks light brown and uniform in color. Add the eggs one at a time, beating each for 1 full minute. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the sour cream; beat well.  Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup of the cinnamon sugar mixture over top the cake. Spread the rest of the batter into the pan and sprinkle any remaining sugar mixture over the top.  Bake in the preheated oven for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Chocolate, Orange, and Olive Oil Mini Lava Cake

Chocolate, Orange, and Olive Oil Mini Lava Cake

Chocolate, Orange, and Olive Oil Mini Lava Cake

 

4 T. all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. seasoning (orange zest)

4 T. of Sugar

1 pinch salt

1 T. of Bitter Cocoa Powder

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 Medium egg

4 T. of Milk

2 T. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

 

Set-up the pressure cooker by filling the inner pot with 1 cup of water. Prepare the cup by spreading a coat of olive oil on inside up to the top edge and set aside. In a measuring cup, add the flour, orange zest (or preferred seasoning), sugar, salt cocoa and baking powders and mix with a fork. Then, add the egg, milk, olive oil and mix vigorously until you have a homogeneous mini-cake batter. Pour into mug. (all separate steps on other site) Place the uncovered cup into the pressure cooker. If you are making more than one cup, arrange them so that they are all straight and not touching the inside of the pressure cooker. Close and lock the pressure cooker lid and choose Manual or Pressure Cook on High for 10 minutes cooking time. When time is up, release pressure. Open the top and with an oven-glove covered hand remove from the pot and serve on a saucer with a teaspoon immediately for the gooey center — it will keep cooking so if you let it rest the interior will solidify.

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

1 1/2 cups strawberries, hulled and diced

2 T. honey

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup half and half

1 tsp. vanilla extract

 

In a large bowl, mix strawberries, honey, sugar, and lemon juice. Allow to sit 15-20 minutes, or until the strawberries have released their juices. Mash the mixture with a potato masher, fork, or pastry cutter until there are no longer any large strawberry pieces (if you prefer a smooth ice cream, use a blender or food processor instead*). To the strawberries, mix heavy cream, half and half, and vanilla extract. Stir just until combined. Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow your manufacturer’s instructions (mine took about 15-20 minutes to churn). You can eat the ice cream soft-serve or freeze it in an airtight container for 3-4 hours to thicken it up slightly. For best results, allow the ice cream to sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes to soften before serving. Recipe Notes: *If you puree the strawberries, I suggest only using 2/3 – 1 cup of strawberries, as the liquid consistency can make the ice cream less creamy if you use the full 1 1/2 cups.

Lemon Curd Ice Cream

Lemon Curd Ice Cream

Lemon Curd Ice Cream

 

1 3/4 C. cream

3/4 C. 2% milk

3/4 C. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

5 egg yolks

1 C.  lemon curd  (store-bought may be used, but ice cream is better with homemade!)

 

To make ice cream, in a medium size saucepan add cream, milk, 1/2 C. of the sugar and salt.  Heat over medium/low heat until steaming.  Whisk egg yolks and slowly add the remaining 1/4 C. sugar. When the cream mixture is hot and steaming, slowly pour a small amount of the hot cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture stirring constantly.  Continue to add at least 1/2 of the hot cream mixture.  Slowly pour the egg/cream mixture back into the pan and cook over low heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.  Remove from heat and pour into a bowl.  Cover and chill completely about 2 hours or overnight. When ready to freeze, pour the ice cream custard into a ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions.  Add lemon curd the last 5 – 10 minutes of mixing.  Makes about a 1 1/2 to 2 pints of ice cream.

Caramel Shortbread Squares

Caramel Shortbread Squares

caramelsquares2/3 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup white sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 1/4 cups milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, mix together 2/3 cup butter, white sugar, and flour until evenly crumbly. Press into a 9-inch square baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes. In a 2-quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for about 3 minutes. Pour over baked crust (warm or cool). Cool until it begins to fi rm. Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute, then stir and continue to heat and stir at 20-second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour chocolate over the caramel layer and spread evenly to cover completely. Chill. Cut into 1-inch squares. These need to be small because they are so rich.

Blueberry Ocean Tart

Blueberry Ocean Tart

Blueberry Ocean Tart

 

Crust:

1 C. almond flour

1 C. all purpose flour

2 T. coconut butter, melted

4 T. coconut oil, melted

1 T. maple syrup

 

Filling:

1 15oz (400ml) can full-fat coconut cream

â…“ C. maple syrup

â…› C. lime juice

1 tsp. agar agar powder

½ C. cashews, soaked

1 T. Unicorn Superfoods Ocean Blend

 

Topping:

½ C. blueberries

¼ C. blackberries

zest of 1 lime

 

Preheat the oven to 175°C/350°F and grease a 8” (20cm) tart tin. For the crust, place all ingredients into a food processor until you have a sticky and crumbly dough. Transfer to the tart tin and press down evenly to the bottom and up the sides. Fill with baking beans, place in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Add the coconut cream, maple syrup, and lime juice to a medium pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, add in the agar agar and let simmer for 1 minute until it has dissolved. Use a whisk to mix everything together. Pour into a heat-resistant high speed blender, add the cashews and ocean blend and blend on high until smooth. Poor into the tart tin and transfer to the fridge for 2-4 hours. Top with blueberries, blackberries and lime zest and enjoy!

Peachy Cheesecake Cupcakes

Peachy Cheesecake Cupcakes

For Peach Mango topping:
2 cups peeled, chopped fresh ripe peaches
½ cup mango juice
â…“ cup sugar
2½ tablespoons cornstarch

For Cheesecake:
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
4 eggs
1½ teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar

For Sour Cream filling:
1 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine 1 cup of the peaches, mango juice, sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens. Cool for 10 minutes, then add the remaining 1 cup peaches. Set aside. Preheat oven to 300º. Combine all cheesecake ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed with electric mixer until smooth. Place paper baking cups into muffin tins and fill cups ⅔ full with cheesecake batter. Bake for 40 minutes. Mix sour cream filling ingredients in a mixing bowl. When the cupcakes sink in the middle, place a tablespoon of sour cream filling into the middle of each one. Place back in the oven for 5 more minutes. Remove from oven and cool. When cool, spoon about 2 tablespoons of peach topping of the top of cupcake.