Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Vanilla Bean Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tiffany's Cakes for Sharon's Bridal Shower
1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising*
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes (Room Temperature)
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
So what do you guys think? I think half way through the process I thought I was nuts for taking on this project, but in all I think everything worked out. And the bride loved them so that's all that really mattered to me :)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Chocolate Cake Present with Dulce de Leche Cream Filling
I baked the 3 10 inch square layers earlier in the week and froze them. The dulce de leche I made the night before and refrigerated until was ready to make the dulce de leche cream. (Pull out and bring to room temperature before use.)
Chocolate Butter Cake from Sky High: Irresistible Triple-Layer Cakes (makes 3 10 inch square cakes)
4 cups cake flour
4 cups sugar
2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder, not Dutch process
4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound unsalted butter, at room temp
2 cups buttermilk
4 eggs
2 cups freshly brewed coffee, cooled to room temp
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 2 10 inch square cake pans. Line the bottom with parchment or waxed paper and butter the paper.
In a large mixer bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. With electric mixer on low speed, blend for about 30 seconds. Add the butter and buttermilk and blend on low until moistened. Raise the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy. About 2 to 3 minutes.
Whisk the eggs and coffee together, and add to the batter in 3 additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl and beating only until blended after each addition. Divide the batter among the 3 prepared pans, each 10 inch pan will take about 4 1/2 cups of batter.
Bake the layers for 40-45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 15 mins. Carefully turn them onto wire racks and allow to cool completely. Remove the paper liners only when they are cool.
Dulce de Leche Cream from Sky High
1 1/3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cups light corn syrup
1 small cinnamon stick
1 one inch piece of vanilla bean, split lengthwise
3 cups heavy whipping cream
Place the milk, sugar, corn syrup, and cinnamon stick in a heavy medium size saucepan. With the tip of a knife scrape the tiny seeds from the inside of the vanilla bean into the pot; toss in the pod as well. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat; stirring to dissolve sugar. Continue to simmer; stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden or silicone spatula, until the liquid turns a light amber color, about 45 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring more frequently as the milk darkens and the mixture reduces and thickens, until the color reaches a rich milk caramel, 45-60 minutes. Watch carefully and stir often near the end, because the milk caramel can burn quickly.
Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and vanilla pod and pour the caramel into a heatproof bowl. Let the dulce de leche cool slightly, then cover with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming and let cool completely.
In large chilled mixer bowl with chilled beaters, combine the cream with the dulce de leche. Beat on low to combine and dissolve the dulce de leche. Raise the mixer to medium-high and whip until stiff peaks form.
(I reserved a little dulce de leche before the creaming process to coat the layers before adding the cream. Although I am not really sure you could taste the difference)
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting from Bakerella ( I doubled this recipe)
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder ( I used Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa)
1 box (1 lb) confectioner's sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1-3 Tbsp milk
Cream the butter and cream cheese with a mixer.
Add the cocoa and vanilla.
Add the confectioner's sugar in small batches and blend on low until combined. Scrape down sides with each addition.
Add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until you get the consistency you desire.
When you are ready to assemble your cake, take the layers from the freezer and level any layers necessary. I put a little frosting on the cake board before placing the first layer down just to secure the cake. On top of the first layer I used a layer of dulce de leche, then the dulce de leche cream, next cake layer, dulce de leche, dulce de leche cream and then the final layer. I crumb coated the cake and let it sit in the freezer over night. This helped the next day when I was icing the cake everything stayed in place and wasn't moving around.
One of the 3 layers cooling before I triple wrapped them and put them in the freezer.
The cake was going to be a cake present with white fondant loop bow. This was the first time I have made this type of bow, so I was a little nervous. But a few days before the party I rolled out the fondant to 1/8 inch thick and cut strips 1 inch by 6 inches and formed the loops below. I left them out to dry for a few days and assembled the bow the morning of the party.
A shot of the bow loops drying.
Frosting the cake....Notice the wax paper pieces under the cake so I didn't mess up the cake board.
A picture of the dessert tables. My chocolate cake on the left and the beautiful cake from Cakes by Gina on the right.
A little closer up!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Snickerdoodle Cookies
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1.Preheat oven to 350°F.
2.Mix butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar and eggs thoroughly in a large bowl.
3.Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl.
4.Blend dry ingredients into butter mixture.
5.Chill dough, and chill an ungreased cookie sheet for about 10-15 minutes in the fridge.
6.Meanwhile, mix 3 tablespoons sugar, and 3 teaspoons cinnamon in a small bowl.
7.Scoop 1 inch globs of dough into the sugar/ cinnamon mixture.
8.Coat by gently rolling balls of dough in the sugar mixture.
9.Place on chilled ungreased cookie sheet, and bake 10 minutes. (I took mine about about 8 1/2 mins just to make sure they stayed soft and chewy!)
10.Remove from pan immediately. Place on cooling rack.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Cupcake Recipes from Baby Shower
Chocolate Cupakes from Joy of Baking
1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 cup boiling hot water
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp.
1 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 375 and line muffin tray with liners.
In a small bowl stir the boiling water and cocoa powder together until smooth. Let cool to room temp.
In another bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
Then in the mixer bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Beat in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture and beat only until combined. Then add the cocoa mixture and stire until smooth.
Fill each muffin cup 2/3 with batter and bake for 16-20 mins. (Mine took about 17 mins) Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.
This recipe made approximately 15 cupcakes. I used 9 for just plain chocolate cupcakes and the other six i used for the peanut butter cupcakes.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes (inspired by Ice Cream Before Dinner)
I used the same chocolate cupcake recipe above as I only wanted 6 peanut butter cupcakes. But really you can use any chocolate cupcake recipe you choose.
Place mini Reese Peanut Butter Cups in freezer for 30 mins prior to baking.
Once thechocolate batter is in the liner, place the frozen peanut butter cup on top of the batter in the center of the cupcake. It will sink down during baking and partially melt into the cupcake.
Frost with peanut butter frosting. (Recipe to follow)
Oreo Cupcakes (I dont remember where this recipe is from, I just have a print out.)
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, unsalted at room temp
1 3/4 granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 large egg whites
1 1/2 cup sour milk (I used buttermilk)
1 1/2 cups finely chopped oreo pieces
Preheat the oven to 350. Mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in medium bowl.
In large bowl, mix together the butter with the sugar and vanilla.
Then add the egg whites, half at a time. The mixture will go from crumbly to soupy.
Add half of the flour mixure and half of the sour milk. Mixxing until well blended. Repeat with the remaining halves. (The mixture should be a normal cake batter consistency)
Stir in the Oreo pieces.
Pour the batter into the liners and bake for 20 mins. Cool completely before frosting. Makes 24 cupcakes.
I honestly have no clue what I frosted these with I thought it was cream cheese with cookies pieces sprinkled on top. But my friend said it wasnt tangy, so it must have just been vanilla buttercream? God, I think I might be losing my mind!
Red Velvet Cupcakes from Martha Stewart's Cupcake Book
2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self rising), sifted
2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 large eggs, room temp
1/2 teaspoon red gel-paste food color
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
Preheat over to 350 F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together cake flour, cocoa and salt.
With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whisk together sugar and oil until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorportated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Mix in food coloring and vanilla.
Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with 2 additions of buttermilk, and whisking well after each. Stir together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl (it will foam); add mixture to batter and mix on medium speed 10 seconds.
Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three quarters full. Bake rotating tins halfway through, until a cake taster inserted in centers comes out clean, ab0ut 20 mins. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing. Makes 24 cupcakes.
Frosted with Vanilla Bean Frosting, recipe to follow.
Snickerdoodle Cupcakes from Martha Stewart's Cupcakes Book
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self rising), sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, plus 1/2 teaspoon for dusting
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp
1 3/4 cups sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for dusting
4 large eggs, room temp
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cups milk
Preheat oven to 350F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Sift together flours, baking powder, salt, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three bathes, alternating between with the 2 additions of milk, and beating until combined after each.
Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 20 mins. Transfer tins to wire rack to cool completely. Makes 28 cupcakes.
I did sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon sugar on top of each cupcake before I put in the oven, I figured it couldnt hurt!
Frosted with Seven-Minute Frosting from Martha's Cupcake Book (recipe to follow)
Vanilla Cupcakes from Billy's Vanilla Cupcakes
1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising*
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes (Room Temperature)
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions:Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly coat cupcake pans in nonstick spray with flour; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour. Consistency will be crumbly.In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat.Divide batter evenly among pans, filling about 2/3 full. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
These have become my go-to recipe for vanilla cupcakes. I am still out there searching for my go-to chocolate cupcake recipe.
Vanilla Bean Frosting from Cupcake Bakeshop
2 sticks of butter, unsalted at room temp
1 package cream cheese
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out
4-5 cups powdered sugar
Beat the butter at medium speed until creamy, add the cream cheese and beat until combined. Add vanilla extract, vanilla seeds and 3 cups of powdered sugar and beat on low speed until light and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar to get the consistency you desire. I added royal blue gel paste food coloring until I reached the color I desired.
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting from Bakerella
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 box (1 lb) confectioner's sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1-3 Tbsp milk
Cream the butter and cream cheese with a mixer. Add the cocoa and vanilla. Add the confectioner's sugar in small batches and blend on low until combined. Scrape down sides with each addition. Add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until you get the consistency you desire.
Peanut Butter Frosting
1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (I used closer to 2 cups)
3-4 tablesspoons of milk
Beat butter until creamy, add peanut butter and mix until combined. Add the powdered sugar in 2 batches. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time and beat until you reach the consistency you desire.
Seven Minute Frosting from Martha Stewart's Cupcakes Book
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup water
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
6 large egg whites, room temperature
Combine 1 1/2 cups sugar with the water and corn syrup in a small saucepan; clip a candy thermometer to side of pan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Continue boiling, without stirring, until syrup reaches 230 degrees.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg whites on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. With mixer running, add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, beating to combine.
As soon as sugar syrup reaches 230 degrees, remove from heat. With mixer on medium-low speed, pour syrup down side of bowl in a slow, steady stream. Raise speed to medium-high; whisk until mixture is completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the bowl) and stiff (but not dry) peaks form, about 7 minutes. Use immediately.
Whatever I frosted the Oreo Cupcakes with, I am still not sure. I will have to look through my recipe book and see if I can figure out which one I used.
Enjoy!Monday, August 24, 2009
Baby Shower Cupcakes & Karsyn's 3rd Birthday
For the shower I made 48 cupcakes, using vanilla, chocolate, oreo, red velvet, chocolate & peanut butter, and snickerdoodle as the flavors. I used chocolate, vanilla (which I made baby blue), cream cheese, peanut butter and seven minute frosting for all the icing! On top of the cupcakes I made airplanes out of a chocolate mold in all the primary colors of the babies nursery. I think they turned out super cute. Here are a few photos I snapped for delivering.
Here are some of the chocolate and vanilla cupcakes!
A shot of the box, all chocolate and vanilla with a few red velvet!
Snickerdoodle cupcakes with 7 minute frosting. (From Martha Stewart's Cupake Book)
Oreo Cupcakes....
Red velvet cupcakes....
And the favorite from what I hear, chocolate & peanut butter cupcakes!
Another shot of the other box.
Here are a few pictures they sent me afterwards on the set up! I think their presentation was adorable!
A little closer up on the cupcake plate!
For the little girls birthday, she wanted to do so strawberry cake pops. So how could I go with anything other than pink! I picked up a square 6 inch vase from Michaels and we order M&M's with the little girls names on them in both the light and dark pink. I filled that vase up a little more than half way with the M&M's and they stuck the cake pops in! This was the only picture I got before I left, but I thought it showed all the cute sprinkles!
One with the cute birthday day girl, Karsyn!

