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.
A Tasty Recipe: Stuffed French Toast – Tasty Kitchen Blog Since Ree is somewhere in D.C. right now with her gushing armpits (sorry for that visual on a cooking blog), we’ve invited a very special guest to host the Tasty Recipe post this week. Quite coincidentally, this lovely lady was also our very first member featured here in the Tasty Kitchen blog. She’s fabulous in so many ways, and we’re so glad to have her here. French toast is one of my most favorite foods to eat any time of the day. Here’s a list of everything you need: a loaf of French or Italian bread, eggs, milk, butter, cream cheese, cinnamon, and jam or fresh fruit (if you’re like me, you’ll use both). Before you can invite me over for breakfast, you’ll need to know how to make this. I decided to go with strawberries for the filling. Wash the strawberries, remove the stems, and cut slices in each one. Next, macerate the strawberries, which is fancy way of saying add a little sugar and mix it in. Next, add jam to the cream cheese and mix both of them until well combined.
Bake It in a Cake • Bake a Heart in a Cake! Pink Heart–Filled Cupcakes with Strawberry Taffy Frosting These vanilla bean cupcakes really have heart. Cut or bite into one to see how much love went into them. Makes 12 cupcakes Cupcakes ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature1½ cups granulated sugar3 large eggsSeeds from 1 vanilla bean2 teaspoons baking powder½ teaspoon baking soda¼ teaspoon salt2½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour1⅓ cups whole milkRed food coloring Frosting 10 bite-sized pieces strawberry taffy2 tablespoons heavy cream1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature2 cups powdered sugar12 pieces Sweetheart candy 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Tip: Don’t know how to use vanilla bean? Does your love story not have a happy ending? Thanks for visiting Bake It in a Cake! Feel free to contact me with any questions: bakeitinacake@gmail.com.
Scrumptious Photography I was very excited this week because the TWD recipe, chosen by Di of Di's Kitchen Notebook, called for raisins flamed in rum. I figured that there would be some huge fireball in my kitchen, curling and rising and almost singeing the ceiling. As it turns out, the flame was tiny and blue and you couldn't see it unless you were looking straight down into the pan. Still kinda cool, but not nearly as dramatic as I'd imagined ;) Anyway, the rest of the recipe was pretty straightforward. I thought the cinnamon was a nice addition and gave the chocolate a little something to play against. As for the raisins, I normally don't like 'em in desserts at ALL, but I think they were a welcome addition here. --recipe--French Chocolate Brownies makes 16 browniesAdapted from Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan Getting ready: Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 300°F. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Serving: The brownies are good just warm or at room temperature; they're even fine cold.
Nutella Mug Cake Bring Your Child's Favorite Characters to Life with These Disney-Themed Lunches Healthy Mickey-Shaped PB&J Muffins: A Breakfast the Whole Family with Love A Yummy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Recipe Even the Pickiest Eaters Will Love This 3-Ingredient Coffee Fudge Is the Best Morning Pick-Me-Up Triple Browned Cake I have recently become obsessed with brown butter. I put it in everything— pancakes, pasta sauces, cakes, you name it. I just can’t get enough. The smell that fills my kitchen when I brown the butter is amazing. And the flavor is incredible, rich and nutty. It takes an ordinary dish and sends it over the top. When I went searching for the perfect birthday cake for a family member recently, nothing seemed quite right. l The “triple” in the title refers to the brown sugar and brown butter in the cake itself, and the brown sugar in the meringue buttercream icing. I loved how this cake turned out. If you’ve never tried a meringue buttercream, you have no idea what you’re missing out on. I think this is a wonderful dessert for fall, and certainly a nice break from all of the pumpkin and cinnamon recipes you typically see this time of year. I will definitely be making this cake again. Brown Sugar Brown Butter Cake Adapted from Sky High Cakes Makes one 9-inch triple layer cake
Guinness and Baileys Irish cupcakes | Irish Food and Irish Drink Guinness and Bailey's Irish Cream cupcakes - great for St. Patrick's Day or any time at all. Photo by: gettyimages.com This recipe is from the wonderful food website Annie's Eats These little beauties from Ireland really do offer a genuine taste of Ireland, just as they satiate your chocolate and cream cravings. Ingredients Serving: 24 cupcakes 1 cup stout (Guinness) 16 tbsp. unsalted butter ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1½ tsp. baking soda ¾ tsp. salt 2 large eggs 2/3 cup sour cream For the Baileys ganache filling: 8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped 2/3 cup heavy cream 2 tbsp. butter, at room temperature 2 tsp. For the Baileys butter cream frosting: 8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature 3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted 4-8 tbsp. Method To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the stout-butter mixture and beat just to combine.
Caramel Apple Cake Apples, cinnamon, walnuts, cake, caramel glaze. That’s all I have to say, right? I have you at those four items and hello? This recipe certainly had ME at hello. I found it in the Costco Connection magazine, which just goes to show you that Costco does, indeed, have everything that anyone could possibly want, including a fabulous recipe for a rich, tender, sweet apple cake that will make your whole kitchen smell like a happy autumn day. I should warn you that like most things associated with Costco, this is not only wonderful but, well, LARGE. I know, it’s almost too much to think about without fainting. So there you go, from me and my friends at Costco (who in case you missed it the last hundred times I have mentioned it, sell the BEST shrimp I have ever tasted in my life. CARAMEL APPLE CAKE, from Costco Connection magazine Ingredients Cake: 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1 cup granulated sugar 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil 3 eggs 3 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons cinnamon Caramel Glaze:
Pumpkin Pie Bites I’ve been in a mini-mood lately when it comes to baking and these bite-sized pies met my big craving. They are really, really easy. Let me show ya. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I used ready to roll refrigerated pie crust. Then, stuff each one in a mini muffin baking pan. Press the dough down, in and around the edge of each muffin cup. Fill each pie crust with pumpkin filling all the way to the top. When they come out of the oven, they’ll be puffed up like this. But no, after they cool for a few, they’ll fall and be flush with the pie crust. See… easy mini pumpkin pie bites. You can even drizzle them with melted chocolate to jazz them up a bit. But wait… you say you don’t want to wait until Thanksgiving. I don’t blame you. So… pipe some chocolate faces on and make them in October. Cute! And I’ll say it again… easy! Pumpkin Pie Bites 2 refrigerated ready-to roll pie crusts Optional 1/2 cup chocolate morsels vegetable oil re-sealable plastic bags Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Makes 24 pies. Enjoy!
66 Things You Can Can Grow At Home: In Containers, Without a Gar Growing your own food is exciting, not only because you get to see things grow from nothing into ready-to-eat fruits and veggies, but you also don't have to worry about the pesticides they might contain, and you definitely cut down on the miles they—and you—have to travel. As it turns out, with pretty minimal effort, anyone can be a gardener. My boyfriend and I are essentially first-timers this season and so far have the beginnings of strawberries peeking out, tomatoes are on their way, the basil's about ready for a big batch of pesto, and once the last frost hits, the peppers, kale, spinach, chard, and mesclun will be on their way, too. All on a tiiiny little terrace (with the help of a little DIY carpentry). WATCH VIDEO: World's Greenest Homes: Rooftop Garden If you're up to the challenge—and it really isn't much of one—growing your own food can be so rewarding. Here's a starter list of all the crazy things even urban gardeners, without space for a garden, can grow at home. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Martha Stewart's Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes Recipe Posted by Grace Massa Langlois on Wednesday, 21st July 2010 I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t like Oreo cookies or Cream Cheesecake Cupcakes. Who could resist cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies? Not Me! Especially the double-stuffed Oreo cookie, it’s one of the best cookies for dunking into a cold glass of milk. I went out yesterday to do my weekly shop, came home, and before I was able to bring in the first grocery bag Matt was hunting for the cookies and cream ice cream. One of Matt’s favourite desserts of all time is cherry cheesecake and I thought to myself why not Oreo Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes, that should satisfy his craving. Plus these cheesecakes are super easy to prepare, everything comes together in one bowl and there’s no crushing chocolate wafers with a rolling pin, then melting butter, baking the crust first and then baking a second time when filled. Drop an Oreo cookie into each muffin tin, make filling, add chopped cookies, bake, and enjoy, how easy is that?