Category: DESSERTS

PERFECT CHEESECAKE ~ BAKING PARTNER’S CHALLENGE #9

We had many scrumptious choices this month – too many – hard to choose just one. It was a beautiful and classic cheesecake, tangy and sweet, with a velvety smooth and rich texture that I chose.  I added my homemade caramel sauce and served it for Easter.

adapted from Perfect Cheesecake by Simply recipes for Baking Partners GROUP

Crust
2 cups of Graham cracker crumbs (I used a combo of ginger snaps and vanilla wafers)
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch sea salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter (if using salted butter, omit the pinch of salt), melted

Filling
32 ounces cream cheese at room temperature and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 1/3 cup sugar
Pinch of Sea salt
2 teaspoons PURE vanilla
4 large eggs
2/3 cup regular sour cream
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

Topping – I omitted to help cut down on the cholesterol since I was adding the caramel sauce
2 cups regular sour cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

CRUST PREPARATION

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place a 9 inch spring form pan on a large sheet of heavy duty foil.  Smooth foil up the sides rolling at the top edge.  You are basically making your pan water proof.
  • Grind the graham crackers and/or ginger snaps in a food processor until finely ground.
  • In a large bowl stir together the crackers, sugar and salt. With your hands blend in the melted butter until you have a uniform consistency.
  • Press the cracker crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared springform pan.
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool.
  • Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees.

FILLING PREPARATION

  • Cream the cream cheese until smooth.
  • Add the sugar and beat for a few minutes more.
  • Add the salt and vanilla, beating until well blended after each addition.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until well blended after each addition.
  • Add the sour cream, beating until well blended.
  • Add the heavy cream, beating until well blended.
  • Scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl scraping up any thicker bits of cream cheese that has stuck to the sides or bottom.

BAKING

  • Place the foil-wrapped springform pan in a large, high-sided roasting pan.
  • Pour about 2 quarts of boiling water around the pan.
  • Pour the prepared cream cheese filling into the springform pan over the cracker crust.
  • Smooth the filling level.
  • Bake on the lower rack of your oven.
  • Carefully pour the hot water into the roasting pan creating a water bath for the cheesecake. Pour enough water to reach halfway up the side of the springform pan.
  • Bake at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Turn off the oven.
  • Crack open the oven door 1-inch or so, and let the cake cool in the oven for 1 hour. Slow cooling this way helps prevent cracking in the cheesecake.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and discard the foil.
  • With a fresh piece of foil, tent the cheesecake so that the foil doesn’t actually touch the cheesecake.
  • Chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 6 hours or overnight.

TOPPING PREPARATION

  • In a large mixing bowl cream together the sour cream, powdered sugar and vanilla, until well blended.
  • Chill topping mixture until you are ready to serve the cake.

PREPARE THE CAKE FOR SERVING

  • Run a table knife around the inside edge of the spring form pan to release anything that might have stuck during baking.
  • Remove outer pan ring.
  • Spread the sour cream topping evenly on cheesecake.
  • Drizzle with caramel sauce and serve.
  • Enjoy.

CARAMEL SAUCE
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
3/4 cup sugar
2+ tablespoons water

  • Combine the cream and butter in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
  • Remove from the heat.
  • In a medium saucepan cook the corn syrup over a medium heat until bubbly.
  • Fold in 1/4 cup of the sugar and continue to cook until the edges begin to turn a light amber color.
  • Add in 1/4 cup sugar more and repeat until all the sugar is blended in.
  • Continue cooking until amber color darkens stirring constantly.
  • Remove from the heat and carefully fold in the cream mixture.
  • Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until caramel is bubbling.
  • Serve warm.

Makes 1 1/2 cups. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

NOTE: Microwave20-30 seconds to soften refrigerated caramel before serving

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COUCH POTATO BARS

I got this recipe from Tablespoon because it sounded intriguing.  Hubs likes it, but honestly it didn’t have enough flavor for all the work.  I much prefer my Chunky Monkeys.

COUCH POTATO BARS
4 cups pretzel sticks, ground fine
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup potato chips, crumbled
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup peanut butter

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Line 9×9 baking dish with foil.
  • Combine pretzel crumbs, sugar and butter.
  • Press into pan.
  • Sprinkle bacon and chocolate chips over pretzel crust.
  • Sprinkle potato chips over bacon and chocolate chips.
  • Drizzle condensed milk evenly over the top.
  • Bake 20 minutes.
  • Let cool for 20 minutes on the counter and then chill in refrigerator for an hour.
  • Once bars are completely cooled, melt peanut butter in microwave for 30 seconds.  Drizzle peanut butter over top.
  • Remove foil from pan and cut into bars.
  • Keep refrigerated.

ORANGE BLOSSOM BRIOCHE ROLLS – BAKING PARTNERS

This month Baking Partners are making Brioche from this adapted recipe from the book by famous pastry chef Dominique Ansel: The Secret Recipes. 

Brioche is a pastry of French origin that is similar to a highly enriched bread with a high egg and butter content giving it a rich feel and taste.  It is light and slightly puffy.  It has a dark, golden, and flaky outer crust heightened by an egg wash. Brioche is made in the same basic way as bread, but has the richer aspect of a pastry because of the extra addition of eggs, butter, liquid (milk, water, cream, and, sometimes, brandy) and occasionally a bit of sugar.  Brioche is served as a pastry or as the basis of a dessert with local variations of added ingredients, fillings or toppings. 

ORANGE BLOSSOM BRIOCHE ROLLS  
Makes around 20-25 rolls

2 cups bread flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup sugar
2 ¼ teaspoon of  instant yeast
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon whole milk
11 tablespoon unsalted cold butter small dice
¼ teaspoon Orange extract
Grated orange zest of one orange
1 teaspoon orange blossom water
Non stick spray as needed for greasing
All purpose flour for dusting
    • In a bowl, combine the bread flour, salt, sugar, yeast and eggs and mix well using hands or if using kitchen aid stand mixer use dough hook. Mix until well combined, kneading well so that it develop gluten (may take 10 -15 minutes). When it develops gluten the dough will leave the sides and  it will pass the window pane test – when you pull a piece of dough you can extend the dough without breaking it, also you  can make a see through sheet that is called window pane test. 

 

    • Then add the cold diced butter, and mix again until all the butter is incorporated well. 

 

    • Then add orange extract, orange zest, orange blossom water and mix until everything is fully incorporated. The finished dough should be smooth, shiny and sticky. 

 

    • Lightly grease a medium bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on to the surface of the dough to prevent a skin from forming. Proof the dough at room temperature for doubled in size. It will take  about 1 ½ hours. 

 

  • Remove the plastic warp and punch down the dough by folding. Cover the dough again with plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface. Refrigerate overnight to relax the gluten.
Next day
    • When you are ready to bake, transfer the dough to lightly floured area and divide the dough into small pieces and shape it into balls/rolls or any shape you want. 

 

    • If you using muffin tin grease them well and transfer the shaped balls, set aside for 45 minutes or 1 hour until the rolls puff up well. As you can see I proofed mine in a really warm kitchen and the kind of grew together.

 

  • While the shaped rolls are proofing preheat oven to 400 F.
    • After 1 hour, brush the brioche rolls with egg wash and  bake them for 10 minutes or until they become golden brown in color. 

 

    • Leave the brioche for 5 minutes in the pan and carefully remove them and enjoy as much you want. 

 

  • Brush them with little jam or Nutella if you like.

BLUEBERRY CRUMB CAKE

Rainy and dreary here today so I started the crock pot and the oven for some yummy new recipes.

BLUEBERRY CRUMB CAKE also makes great muffins

CAKE
1/4 cup organic butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 JUMBO egg
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon PURE vanilla
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 cups small wild blueberries

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray a 10 inch spring form pan with non-stick spray.
  • In a large bowl cream butter with sugar.
  • Add egg, blending well.
  • Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
  • Alternately add flour mixture and milk, beating until well blended.
  • Fold in lemon zest and blueberries.
  • Spread into prepared pan.

TOPPING
1/4 cup organic butter, softened
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons chilled butter, sliced thin

  • In a medium bowl mix together softened butter, flour, oats, white sugar and cinnamon until well blended.
  • Sprinkle on top of cake.
  • Sprinkle brown sugar on top evenly.
  • Place chilled butter slices randomly around.
  • Bake 40-45 minutes until cake tester comes out clean from middle of cake.

CAPPUCCINO CRÈME CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE PIE

1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup Hershey’s cocoa
1/4 cup sugar
14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
1 – cup semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
2 – eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 cups ground ginger snaps
1 1/2 cups ground vanilla wafers
4 tablespoons butter, melted
CAPPUCCINO CRÈME (recipe below)
Cherry cordial Hershey’s milk kisses

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a small saucepan melt thebutter over low heat.
  • Stir in cocoa and sugar.
  • Add the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and eggs.
  • Stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Pour into crust.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until center is almost set.
  • Cool completely.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Just before serving, prepare and spread CAPPUCCINO CREME over top.
  • Garnish with chocolate pieces, if desired.
  • Cover and refrigerate leftover pie.

CAPPUCCINO CRÈME
1 cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream

1 1/2 teaspoons powdered espresso
2 teaspoons Hershey’s Cocoa
3 tablespoons powdered sugar

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, combine whipping cream, powdered espresso, Cocoa and powdered sugar. Beat until stiff. Makes about 2 cups.

CHOCOLATE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

I collect old recipe boxes. I am always on the look out when I browse antique stores. In one of those boxes I found this scrap of a recipe that was for Chocolate Upside down cake. If you turn it over it appears to be a flyer or insert from Pyrex.

This cake was amazing! It doesn’t rise a lot and is almost torte like, but the cake is light and fluffy. It is super rich and makes it’s own icing!  It is best served warm. I can also see a bunch of variations such as espresso powder, white chocolate…

CHOCOLATE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE
1 1/4 cups cake flour
3/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 ounce square bittersweet chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup broken nut meats (I used HEATH English Toffee Bits)

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
  • Melt together the butter and chocolate together until smooth.
  • Fold together the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture with the nut meats.
  • Pour into a well greased deep 9 inch baking pan.

2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar

  • Mix together the cocoa, sugar and brown sugar until well blended.
  • Sprinkle over cake evenly.

1 cup boiling water

  • Pour boiling water slowly over the sugar layer.
  • Bake 1 hour.
  • Cool 5 minutes.
  • Invert carefully to serving platter.

MARDIS GRAS KING CAKE

So Mardi Gras begins tomorrow and I thought this would be a good time to run this recipe for Mardis Gras King Cake. I threw in some history for you also since King Cake isn’t just for Mardi Gras though that is what it is most famous for these days.  I do have to admit I made this cake a few years back when we were living in Texas during Mardi Gras season though since then I have made it for Epiphany without the Mardi Gras colors and using traditional Christmas colors.

A king cake (sometimes rendered as kingcake, kings’ cake, king’s cake, or three kings cake) is a type of cake associated with the festival of Epiphany in the Christmas season in a number of countries, and in other places with Mardi Gras and Carnival.

The “king cake” takes its name from the biblical three kings. Catholic tradition states that their journey to Bethlehem took twelve days (the Twelve Days of Christmas), and that they arrived to honor the Christ Child on Epiphany. The season for king cake extends from the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Twelfth Night and Epiphany Day), through to Mardi Gras day. Some organizations or groups of friends may have “king cake parties” every week through the Carnival season.

Related culinary traditions are the tortell of Catalonia, the gâteau des Rois in Provence or the galette des Rois in the northern half of France, and the Greek and Cypriot vasilopita. The galette des Rois is made with puff pastry and frangipane (while the gâteau des Rois is made with brioche and candied fruits). A little bean was traditionally hidden in it, a custom taken from the Saturnalia in the Roman Empire: the one who stumbled upon the bean was called “king of the feast.” In the galette des Rois, since 1870 the beans have been replaced first by porcelain and, now by plastic figurines; while the gâteau des Rois Also known as “Rosca de Reyes” in Mexico.

In the southern United States, the tradition was brought to the area by colonists from France and Spain and it is associated with Carnival, which is celebrated in the Gulf Coast region, centered on New Orleans, but ranging from the Florida Panhandle to East Texas. King cake parties in New Orleans are documented back to the eighteenth century.

The king cake of the New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition comes in a number of styles. The most simple, said to be the most traditional, is a ring of twisted bread similar to that used in brioche topped with icing or sugar, usually colored purple, green, and gold (the traditional Carnival colors) with food coloring. Cajun king cakes are traditionally deep-fat-fried as a doughnut would be, and there are many variants, some with a filling, the most common being cream cheese and praline.

It has become customary in the New Orleans culture that whoever finds the trinket must provide the next king cake or host the next Mardi Gras party.

Some say that French settlers brought the custom to Louisiana in the 18th century where it remained associated with the Epiphany until the 19th century when it became a more elaborate Mardi Gras custom. In New Orleans, the first cake of the season is served on January 6. A small ceramic figurine of a baby is hidden inside the cake, by tradition. However now, the tradition is giving way to the baby being supplied and the customer placing the baby were ever they wish in the cake. Whoever finds the baby is allowed to choose a mock court and host the next King Cake party the following week (weekly cake parties were held until Mardi Gras).

The classic king cake is oval-shaped, like the pattern of a racetrack. The dough is basic coffee-cake dough, sometimes laced with cinnamon, sometimes just plain. The dough is rolled out into a long tubular shape (not unlike a thin po-boy), then shaped into an oval. The ends are twisted together to complete the shape  (HINT: if you want to find the piece with the baby, look for the twist in the oval where the two ends of the dough meet. That’s where the baby is usually inserted.) The baby hidden in the cake speaks to the fact that the three Kings had a difficult time finding the Christ Child and of the fine gifts they brought.

The cake is then baked, and decorated when it comes out. The classic decoration is simple granulated sugar, colored purple, green, and gold (the colors of Carnival). King cakes have gotten more and more fancy over the years, so now bakeries offer iced versions (where there’s classic white coffee cake glaze on the cake), and even king cakes filled with apple, cherry, cream cheese, or other kinds of coffee-cake fillings.

King Cake is traditionally served with chicory coffee’ as Coffee’ au lat’. It is best eaten warm and if you must break tradition, it can be eaten with ice cream, preferably chocolate.

King cakes are available at bakeries all over South Louisiana, but only after January 6 through Mardi Gras Day.

Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday” (in ethnic English tradition, Shrove Tuesday), referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which started on Ash Wednesday. Related popular practices were associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. Popular practices included wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc. Similar expressions to Mardi Gras appear in other European languages sharing the Christian tradition. In English, the day is called Shrove Tuesday, associated with the religious requirement for confession before Lent begins.

MARDI GRAS KING CAKE (makes 2 cakes)

PASTRY
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
2/3 cup warm water
1/2 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  
FILLING
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup melted butter
  
FROSTING/GLAZE
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon water

  • Scald milk, remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of the butter. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature. 
  • In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water with 1 tablespoon of the white sugar. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
  • When yeast mixture is bubbly, add the cooled milk mixture. 
  • Whisk in the eggs. 
  • Stir in the remaining white sugar, salt and nutmeg. 
  • Beat the flour into the milk/egg mixture 1 cup at a time. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil.
  • Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours. 
  • When risen, punch down and divide dough in half.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
  • Grease 2 cookie sheets or line with SILPATS or parchment paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, chopped pecans, 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup raisins. 
  • Pour 1/2 cup melted butter over the cinnamon mixture and mix until crumbly.
  • Roll dough halves out into large rectangles (approximately 10×16 inches). 
  • Sprinkle the filling evenly over the dough and roll up each half tightly like a jelly roll, beginning at the wide side. 
  • Bring the ends of each roll together to form 2 oval shaped rings. 
  • Place each ring on a prepared cookie sheet. 
  • With sharp knife make cuts 1/3 of the way through the rings at 1 inch intervals. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. 
  • Push the doll into the bottom of the cake. 
  • Decorate with beads.
  • Frost while warm with the glaze.

BANANA CREAM CHEESECAKE- revisited

My favorite all time cheesecake is the Banana Cream at the Cheesecake Factory with gooey hot fudge, caramel, fresh sliced bananas and fresh whipped cream. I kept trying to replicate the recipe and I believe I have finally developed a recipe that compares with the Cheesecake Factory.
BANANA CREAM CHEESECAKE

CRUST
20 vanilla cream-filled sandwich style cookies
1/4 cup butter, melted

FILLING
3-8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 eggs
3/4 cup finely mashed banana (2 medium bananas)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple extract

  • Use a blender to finely chop the cookies.
  • Add butter and blend until they are well blended.
  • Press mixture into the bottom of a 10″ springform pan and smooth it out.
  • Refrigerate the crust while you make the filling.
  • Beat cream cheese until creamy.
  • Add in sugar and cornstarch followed by the eggs one at a time.
  • Beat in the bananas, whipping cream, and vanilla.
  • Pour mixture into crust.
  • Place pan on a cookie sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 200 degrees and bake an additional 75 minutes, or until center is almost set.
  • Allow to cool completely before removing sides. Before removing the pan, run warm water over a knife and slide a knife around the edge of the cake to separate the cake from the pan cleanly.
  • Refrigerate cheesecake, uncovered, at least 6 hours.
  • Serve with sliced fresh bananas, Caramel Sauce, Mocha Hot Fudge Sauce and fresh whipped cream.
CARAMEL SAUCE

1/2 cup heavy cream
4 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
3/4 cup sugar
2+ tablespoons water

  • Combine the cream and butter in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Remove from the heat.
  • In a medium saucepan cook the corn syrup over a medium heat until bubbly. Fold in 1/4 cup of the sugar and continue to cook until the edges begin to turn a light amber color. Add in 1/4 cup sugar more and repeat until all the sugar is blended in. Continue cooking until amber color darkens stirring constantly.
  • Remove from the heat and carefully fold in the cream mixture.
  • Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until caramel is bubbling.
  • Serve warm.
  • Makes 1 1/2 cups. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
  • Microwave20-30 seconds to soften refrigerated caramel before serving.

MOCHA HOT FUDGE SAUCE 
1/3 cup warm water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
scant 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted & cooled
3 tablespoons strong brewed coffee
2 tablespoons golden rum

  • In a medium saucepan blend together the water, corn syrup dissolving the sugar and cocoa into it until smooth.
  • Bring to a low boil.
  • Remove from heat and whisk in the chocolate until smooth.
  • Gradually add the coffee and rum until desired flavor and consistency is reached.
  • Serve warm.
  • Makes 1 1/2 cups. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
  • Microwave20-30 seconds to soften refrigerated caramel before serving.

MOLASSES GINGER BROWNIE BARS with MOCHA GINGER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

I created this recipe around Christmas time, but only got around to “creating” it this past weekend.  These are sooooooooo good – they smell good and they taste good, literally melting in your mouth.

MOLASSES GINGER BROWNIE BARS with MOCHA GINGER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
BROWNIES
1 1/2 cups flour, sifted
1/4 cup Dutch processed cocoa
1 tablespoon finely ground espresso powder
1 teaspoon high grade (like Red Ape) cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Califronia lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
4 ounces Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup Grandma’s molasses

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • Line 9×13 baking pan with heavy duty foil (this will make it easier to lift out and cut brownies, plus keeps your pan clean)
  • Spray foil with non-stick spray.
  • Whisk together the flour, cocoa, salt, ginger, baking powder and baking soda and set aside.
  • Place chocolate pieces in a medium mixing bowl.
  • Melt butter in a small saucepan.
  • Pour melted butter over chocolate, allowing chocolate to melt and mixing until smooth.
  • In another large bowl whisk eggs with molasses until well blended.
  • Add in sugar, whisking until dissolved.
  • Add in chocolate mixture stirring until well blended.
  • Gradually add in flour mixture, stirring JUST until all incorporated.
  • Transfer batter to pan, spreading to level.
  • Bake,rotating pan midway for 25 – 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  • COOL COMPLETELY!

FROSTING
4 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
2 tablespoons butter, softened at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

  • Whisk or beat all ingredients together until smooth.
  • Spread on cooled brownies.
  • Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER STICKY BUNS/SPIRAL CAKE

This recipe can easily be made into one larger cake or individual sticky buns.  It’s YUMMY both ways!!!! 
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER STICKY BUNS/SPIRAL CAKE
adapted from The Galley Gourmet
Dough
2 1/2 + cup KING ARTHUR all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup whole milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup water
2 extra large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 2 cups of flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  
  • In a small saucepan over low heat, heat the milk and butter just until the butter melts.  
  • Add the water and set aside until warmed to 120º F-130º, about 1 minute.  
  • Pour the milk mixture over the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined.  
  • Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after addition.  
  • Add the vanilla. 
  • Add 1/2 cup more flour and continue to mix on low speed until smooth, about 30-45 seconds.  
  • Add 2 tablespoons of additional flour and mix on medium speed until the dough is smooth, but slightly sticky.  
  • Sprinkle you work surface with flour. 
  • Knead the dough gently on the floured work surface until it is smooth and no longer sticky, adding an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour if needed.  
  • Place the dough in a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap.  
  • Let the dough rise in a warm, draft free place until it has doubled in bulk, about 45-60 minutes.

Butterscotch Glaze
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon molasses
1/4 cup (2-ounces) unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon WHITE CHRISTMAS (RUM & BRANDY)

  • Meanwhile, lightly coat a 9 x 2-inch round cake pan with non-stick spray.  
  • In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the brown sugar, sugar, molasses, butter, and water and heat until the butter is completely melted.  
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the WHITE CHRISTMAS.  
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and tilt the pan to cover the bottom evenly; set aside.

Cinnamon-Butter Filling
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup milk chocolate chips, chopped small
1/4 scant cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup golden raisins (soaked in White Christmas for an hour and then drained VERY well)

  • In a small bowl, stir together the butter and cinnamon.
  • Center a rack in the oven and preheat to 350º. 
  • Press down slightly on the dough to relieve the gas build-up.  
  • On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough into a 16 x 12-inch rectangle.  
  • Using a pastry brush, spread the cinnamon-butter evenly over the dough.  
  • Sprinkle the dough with the chopped chips.  
  • Cut the dough into six 2-inch wide strips.  
  • VERY loosely (so the dough has some give as it expands in the oven) roll up one strip and place it in the center of the prepared pan on top of the glaze.

  • Continue coiling the remaining dough strips around the center strip (cinnamon-butter side facing towards the inside) one at a time, starting each strip at the end of the previous one to make a single large spiral.  
  • Loosely cover the pan with plastic wrap and let the cake rise in a warm, draft free place until it is almost doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
  • Bake the cake until the top is deep golden brown, about 20 minutes.
  • Loosely tent with foil and continue baking 15 minutes.
  • Let cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.
  • Gently tilt the pan and tap the side on a counter to release the sides of the cake.  
  • Invert a serving platter on top of the cake, then invert the pan and the plate.  
  • Leave the pan on the cake for 1 minute so the glaze transfers to the cake, then gently lift off the pan.  
  • Using a rubber spatula, scrape out any glaze remaining in the pan and spread it over the warm surface of the coffee cake.  
  • Serve the cake warm or at room. 

SNICKERDOODLE TREASURES

These cookies are best warm or at least warmed in the microwave for a few seconds before biting into that caramel chewy goodness. I wish I had a picture of the inside ooey gooey melted goodness, but they didn’t last that long.

SNICKERDOODLE TREASURES
1/4 cup extra fine sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  • Sift together and set aside.

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup unsalted butter, sliced
1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon PURE vanilla extract
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 package Kraft caramel bites
1/2-3/4 cup golden raisins
coarse sea salt

  • Sift together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and cinnamon and set aside.
  • Melt butter slices over medium high heat until browned with a nutty aroma, whisking continuously to prevent burning. Let cool to room temperature.
  • Cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar.
  • Add in egg, egg yolk, vanilla and sour cream and blend until smooth.
  • Gradually add in the flour mixture until well incorporated.
  • Form the dough into a ball and cover with saran.
  • CHILL OVERNIGHT!
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper inside baking pan.
  • Roll about 2 tablespoons of dough into a ball. *
  • Flatten ball into a 2-3 inch circle.  Place 3-4 caramel bites and 3-4 golden raisins inside and wrap dough around to form a ball again.
  • Roll ball in cinnamon sugar and place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
  • Sprinkle lightly with coarse sea salt.
  • Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
  • Cool on pan 2 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack until completely cooled.

*At this point I roll out all the dough into balls.  I then keep the balls in the refrigerator and work with a dozen or so at a time. It is easier to work with cold dough.

SOUR CREAM APPLE COFFEE CAKE

This SOUR CREAM APPLE COFFEE CAKE is so versatile – use whatever appropriate fruit is in season – love it with strawberries in May or peaches in August!

SOUR CREAM APPLE COFFEE CAKE
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla
4 large Honey Crisp Apples

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • Spray 9×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Prepare the topping (see below) and set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar and eggs.
  • Add sour cream and vanilla, blending well.
  • Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt until combined.
  • Gradually add flour mixture to the cream mixture until well mixed.
  • Pour half the batter into prepared baking dish. 
  • Layer half the apples over the batter.
  • Top with a scant half of the topping.
  • Pour remaining batter over topping, followed by the remaining apples and topping.
  • Bake 1 hour or until tester comes out clean.
  • Cool completely.
  • Refrigerate for an hour before serving.
  • Heat and top with Caramel sauce before serving (optional).

1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup Fisher’s Cinnamon Pecans

  • Combine the brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon and pecans, mixing well.
  • Set Aside.