Inspiration and ideas of dessert recipes such as cupcakes and muffins, pies and cakes, cookies, biscuits and brownies Strawberry & Chocolate Nachos I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: sometimes the best creations are the ones you don’t set out to create! This might be my new favorite thing. It’s the perfect easy, throw-together, family style dessert for summer. I did a local tv segment this week and made my Baked Cinnamon Chips and Fruit Salsa. When I got home I had a bag full of cinnamon chips left over and started snacking. Then my boys walked in from the back yard with handfuls of strawberries from our garden and I started thinking about how chocolate covered strawberries sounded so good right then because my first thought when I see any sort of food product is how it would taste covered in chocolate. So I chopped up those berries and let them sit in a spoonful of sugar for a bit. Then I sprinkled them all over those crispy cinnamon-sugar coated chips. I grabbed some chocolate chips, and ate a few. Adding just a touch of vegetable oil or shortening to your chocolate makes it nice and smooth for drizzling. Holy Frijoles.
Chocolate Cake For Two Since it’s just me and my husband (for now) in our family, I’m always looking for small desserts. This way, I won’t be eating brownies for 8 days straight. Not that I would mind that! You see, this and this were begging me to be eaten. Your wish is my command! I told you I had something great planned for them! It was perfectly sweet and chocolatly. Plus, how could you say no to a cute little slice of cake like that!?!? Just precious. Make this cute little cake for two for the one you love this Valentine’s Day, birthday, or any day for that matter! Show them that you care. Make this cake. Do it. Now. adapted from the big book of cupcakes Ingredients 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour1/3 cup Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder1 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon baking powder1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature3/4 cup sugar1 egg1/3 cup non fat plain Greek yogurt (I used chobani)1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract1/2 cup water How-To Related posts:
Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries Call me easily amused, but these little torch-topped cupcakes delight me. Besides being a cute novelty item for a party, I think they would add a little drama to the end of a romantic meal. I've been looking for something different to serve for Valentine's dessert, and this is definitely different. The strawberries are hollowed out and filled with a bit of liquor, then ignited with a match. For the cake portion, I chose a One Bowl Chocolate Cupcake recipe because 1. it's quick 2. it is easy, and 3. it fits my prerequisite for a light ending on date night. I should say, a light ending provided you don't eat too many. The cakes are just sweet enough, and have a light, fluffy crumb - the perfect vehicle for rich chocolate buttercream. Notes for flaming strawberries:Any alcohol below 80 proof will not ignite well. Shaina made a margarita version of this on Babble Food. Chocolate Cupcakes with Flaming Strawberries Yield: About 20 cupcakes [click to print]Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Campfire Delight: 6-Layer Rich Chocolate Malted & Toasted-Marshmallow Cake There’s something about layer cakes that always brings me great comfort–from both making them and eating them. To me, layer cakes are baked bliss, truly. Don’t get me wrong, cupcakes are wonderful; cupcakes are sweet; cupcakes are darling (and perky), but they just aren’t layer cakes. Perhaps part of the glory of layer cakes is the intrigue of what’s beneath all of that swirled frosting, or the wonder of what fills the stacked layers under a perfectly composed exterior. Ever notice how layer cakes will offer one or two little hints as to what’s inside, without giving too much away? Think about a beautifully frosted pink cake with a few white sprinkles and a single strawberry on top: one could imagine that there are layers of vanilla cake inside with possible alternating layers of sweet pink strawberry cake, or maybe even layer up on layer of strawberry cake with fresh strawberry jam in between. Truth is, we never can tell, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m always ready to find out. Yum.
Vertical Layer Cake Tutorial I really need to preface this tutorial with... I am sorry. I am SURE there are easier ways to do a Vertical Layer Cake. But I was being a brat for my birthday. I wanted real cake, and not sponge cake. I wanted two different flavors. I wanted massive amounts of frosting. Hence, I bucked every traditional mold I had seen for a vertical layer cake and made my own. Sorry. The second time making the cake I was surprised by how quickly everything went. Huh. Anywho... Here is an important step... I then placed the cut parts together. The reason I do this is: 1. 2. 3. If you have a 5in deep cake pan and can successfully bake a 5in cake then just do that! Now! We will begin to cut out our layers! I simply used a cardboard cake round as my guide. I am now going to cut off the outside circle. Place the template back on the cake. Follow the template as close as you can. You are going to do this with BOTH cakes. Now I cut off another circle and started the process again. Do this to both cakes. 1. 2. 3.
Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes June 30, 2010 Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes by IsaChandra Makes 12 cupcakes A rich chocolate cake with a creamy mousse topping, this is a classic cupcake combo for chocolate lovers. For the mousse: 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (one package is usually 12 ounces) 12 oz extra firm silken tofu (the vacuum packed kind) 1/4 cup plain soy milk 2 tablespoons agave syrup or maple syrup 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract For the cupcakes: 1 cup soy milk 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, chocolate extract, or more vanilla extract 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup cocoa powder, Dutch-processed or regular 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt Cooking spray Prepare the Mousse: Crumble the tofu into a blender. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips. Add the chocolate to the tofu and blend until well combined, use the spatula to scrape down the sides of the blender every so often.
Cinnamon Toast Rolls The USDA released its new food pyramid the other day (which is actually a plate now instead of a pyramid), and I am sorely disappointed to report that cinnamon rolls did not appear anywhere on that plate. I think by now most of us know what should be on our dinner plate in terms of healthy, well-rounded nutrient-laden meals, but it is my considered opinion that our breakfast plate should include cinnamon rolls now and then. And not just any cinnamon roll, mind you, but how ‘bout a homemade cinnamon roll hybrid that is a cross between a cinnamon roll and cinnamon toast, is super easy to make and gosh darn delicious. In honor of their ancestry, I call these little gems cinnamon toast rolls, and here’s all you need to make them… Yep. Trim the crusts off of the bread Roll the bread really flat Brush both sides of the bread with butter Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar Roll in any fashion you like (I’ve also folded them into little triangles) Cinnamon Toast Rolls Click here for a printable recipe
strawberry summer cake It is not summer yet. In fact, it’s been raining for more than a week, and another week — the one in which I presume we’ll be introduced to our new mosquito overlords — is promised. In fact, it was so cold that I met a friend for lunch today and had to wear both a light wool sweater and a jacket. But I know it’s coming. I hope this will be your summer cake. And your apartment will smell like a strawberry patch. One year ago: Rustic Rhubarb TartsTwo years ago: Raspberry Buttermilk Cake and Slaw TartareFour years ago: Cellophane Noodle Salad with Roast Pork Strawberry Summer Cake Adapted, only slightly, from Martha Stewart I recently picked up some barley flour and fell in love with it. I am ever-so-slightly on the fence about the sweetness of this cake. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Whisk flour or flours, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. Pour into prepared pie plate.
Grasshopper Brownie Bars For the brownie base: 3/4 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon dark unsweetened cocoa powder (like Valrhona) 5 ounces good quality dark chocolate (60 to 72%), coarsely chopped 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into 1 inch cubes 3/4 cups sugar 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 3 large eggs, at room temperature 1 teaspoons vanilla extract For the buttercream: 3/4 cups sugar 2 tablespoons flour 3/4 cup milk 2 tablespoons heavy cream 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) butter, softened but still cool, cut into small cubes 3 tablespoons creme de menthe 1 teaspoon peppermint extract For the chocolate glaze: 6 ounces good-quality dark chocolate (60 to 72%), coarsely chopped 1 teaspoon light corn syrup 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened, cut into cubes To make the brownie base: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter the sides and bottom of a glass or light-colored metal 9-by-13-inch pan. Configure a large size double boiler. Sprinkle the flour/cocoa/salt mix over the chocolate.
Chocolate Stout Cake with Bailey's Cream Cheese Frosting Since I was previewing a St. Patrick's day meal on the weekend, I knew exactly what I wanted to make for dessert. I had been seeing recipes for a chocolate stout cake around for a while and I really wanted to try it. I would not have thought about adding a stout beer like Guinness to a cake and I was very curious to see how it would work. I also liked the fact that this chocolate cake used sour cream which I also found interesting. The last time that I made a cake I had problems getting the cake out of the pan so this time I made sure to grease the pan really well and I even greased the parchment paper liner. The cake came together quickly and easily. Just when you thought it could not get any better than a chocolate cake with Guinness in it... how about topping it off with some Bailey's cream cheese frosting? When doing food and wine pairing a rule of thumb is that the wine that went into cooking the meal would go well with the meal. Chocolate Stout (Guinness) Cake Printable Recipe
The Brownie Project