Category: DESSERTS

ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Chocolate chip cookies were one of the earliest recipes I began making on my own. There was always the great nut debate between my grandfather and uncle who both believed they didn’t like nuts. I LOVE walnuts in my cookies and brownies and even as a child learned that there are two ways to skin a cat as my dad would say. It turns out that what I liked was the flavor, didn’t really care about the actual nut one way or the other. So, I learned to “fake” out my grandfather and uncle who despite their belief in no nuts had no problem devouring a batch of my cookies! I’ve tweaked this recipe for years to make a larger batch and keep everyone happy.

ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 1/2 cups white sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple extract
3 3/4 cups flour
1 cup walnut pieces
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 cup golden raisins

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Using a stand mixer cream the butter and sugar together.
  • Add molasses and blend until smooth.
  • Add eggs one at a time until well blended.
  • Add vanilla and maple extracts and blend until smooth.
  • Sift together the flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder.
  • In a small food processor, chop nut pieces until a fine flour.
  • Gradually add the nuts and flour mixture until well blended.
  • Gently fold in milk chocolate chips and raisins.
  • Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an un-greased cookie sheet.
  • Bake 10-12 minutes
  • Enjoy

BOSTON CREAM PIE

When I was a little girl Boston Cream Pie was my FAVORITE Sunday dinner dessert and my grandma made it for me regularly until I was about 10 years old and then Sunday dinners as we knew them stopped on a regular basis. Since then I have craved Boston Cream Pie on a regular basis and finally have resurrected her recipe.

According to about.com, Boston Cream Pie is “Not a pie, but not your average cake, Boston Cream Pie is one of the city’s signature recipes. A descendant of pudding-cake pie, the Boston cream pie is considered to be the creation of French chef Sanzian of the Parker House Hotel (now the Omni Parker House). In 1996 the Boston Cream Pie was named the official dessert of Massachusetts.”

CAKE
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 JUMBO egg
  • 1 1/4 cup cake flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup whole milk

CUSTARD***

  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • scant 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 3 JUMBO egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

GLAZE

  • 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons hot water

CAKE

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9 1/2-inch springform baking pan. I use a square one to make pieces easier to cut.
  • Combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. Cream together using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each one.
  • In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cream of tartar and salt. Combine with the creamed mixture and add the milk.
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan*. Bake in the middle of the oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack.
CUSTARD
  • Combine the cornstarch, sugar, milk, eggs, cream, vanilla extract, and salt in a saucepan. Whisk until smooth.
  • Bring the custard to a boil over moderate heat, whisking constantly. Continuing to whisk, let the custard boil for two minutes.
  • Remove from heat, and whisk in the butter. Set custard aside to cool, continuing to whisk occasionally.
GLAZE
  • In a double boiler, melt together the chocolate and butter until smooth. remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in hot water 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency.
BUILDING THE PERFECT PIE
  • Remove the cake from the pan and cut it in half horizontally with a long serrated knife.
  • Place one half of the cake on a plate with the cut side facing up. Top with custard.
  • Place the other half of the cake on top, with the cut side down.
  • Coat the top of the cake with glaze allowing it to drip down the sides.
  • *I like to use my square spring form pan for a couple of reasons; it make cutting pieces a lot easier since the slices when it is cut as a pie tend to try and fall over and my serving plate is rectangular in shape.
  • ***The traditional custard substitutes in this recipe for a pineapple custard which is what we like to do.

BANANA SPICE CAKE from A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband

I seriously adapted this recipe into a modern day form from its original recipe. Adapted from ‘A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband’ by Louise Bennett Weaver and Helen Cowles LeCron (page 142)
BANANA SPICE CAKE
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cups sour milk
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour, sifted
2 small VERY RIPE bananas, well mashed
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup maple syrup

  • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
  • GREASE loaf pan or 8×8 baking dish.*
  • With a wooden spoon blend the butter, sugar and eggs.
  • Blend in bananas until well mixed.
  • Sift dry ingredients together.
  • Add dry ingredients and mix well with swift strokes.
  • Add vanilla and raisins.
  • Bake 45-55 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
  • Immediately invert on to serving plate.
  • Wait 15 minutes for cooling.
  • Warm the maple syrup in the microwave for 30 seconds.
  • Using a toothpick, pierce holes into the top of the cake.
  • Drizzle maple syrup over the cake and allow it to drip down the sides.
*Works really well in today’s decorative bundt style pans.

CHOCOLATE OATMEAL PEANUT BUTTER BLUEBERRY BARS

CHOCOLATE OATMEAL PEANUT BUTTER BLUEBERRY BARS
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking flour
1 teaspoon salt + pinch salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups packed dark brown sugar
2 JUMBO eggs
3 cups old fashion oats
1 1/2 + 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 + 1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts
1 /2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup dried blueberries
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons peanut butter
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Sift together the flour, soda, teaspoon of salt and cinnamon.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter.
  • Add the brown sugar and blend well.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, blending well after each one.
  • Add vanilla and blend until light & fluffy.
  • Add flour mixture and blend until smooth.
  • Gently mix in oatmeal and 2/3 cup peanuts.
  • Set aside 2 cups of mixture.
  • Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 well greased baking dish.
  • Scatter the blueberries randomly over the top of the oatmeal mixture.
  • In a double boiler mix together the sweetened condensed milk, peanut butter and chocolate chips until melted and well blended.
  • Stir in vanilla, raisins and remaining peanuts.
  • Spread over the oatmeal layer.
  • Working in small amounts flatten oat oatmeal dough and top chocolate mixture.
  • With well greased fingers press gently on the top oatmeal dough to spread it out evenly over the chocolate layer.
  • Bake 30 minutes.
  • Cool completely before cutting.

On a personal note I would like to point out SnoWhite from Finding Joy in My Kitchen. She has 32 different and yummy oatmeal recipes for you to choose from. Head on over and check out her impressive list of oatmeal recipes. I made the oatmeal waffles this morning myself and was very surprised by them. They were really yummy!






CARAMEL PRETZEL CRISPS ~ MOCK TURTLES

These are sooooooooooooooooooo simple and sooooooooooooooooooo good too!
CARAMEL PRETZEL CRISPS ~ MOCK TURTLES
1 bag pretzel crackers (regular pretzels work too)
3 rolls ROLOS
1 bag pecan halfs

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Line a cookie sheet with pretzel crackers.
  • Set 2 ROLOs side by side on the crackers.
  • Bake 2-3 minutes, just long enough to soften ROLOs.
  • Press down pecan halves into each ROLO.
  • Cool.
  • Enjoy.

*MAPLE VANILLA CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

One of hubby’s favorite cookies is chocolate chip.  I’ve experimented for years on getting the right combo of flavors.  According to hubby I’ve finally done it.

MAPLE VANILLA CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
3 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/3 cups butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 Jumbo eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple extract
pinch cinnamon
12 ounce package milk chocolate chips

  • Preheat oven to 375˚,
  • Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda.  Set aside.
  • Cream butter.
  • Add sugars and cream again.
  • Add eggs and cream again.
  • Add vanilla and maple, beating until smooth.
  • Gradually add the flour mixture until we blended.
  • Add chocolate chips and nuts if desired.
  • Drop by spoon fulls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Bake 10 minutes.

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CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

I wanted to make something special to take to my nieces house for Superbowl Sunday so thought I’d try Chocolate Covered Cherries. I found the recipe in an old Taste of Home magazine. This recipe is sooooooooooooooooo simple, but messy! Have fun making them. They are quite rich though – be forewarned!

1 cup butter, melted
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 pounds confectioners sugar (about 8 cups)
3-10 ounce jars maraschino cherries(about 120 cherries), really well drained
1-2 pounds milk chocolate candy coating, chopped (I used almond bark)

  • Combine butter and milk until smooth.
  • Gradually add in confectioner’s sugar until a soft dough forms.
  • Roll into 1 inch balls and flatten into 2 inch circles.
  • Place a cherry in the center of each one.
  • Wrap sides around cherry until cherry is completely covered and roll into a smooth ball.
  • Melt chocolate until smooth and dip each ball into the chocolate.
  • Place on wax paper until cool and sprinkle with sprinkles.
  • Cool well.

GINGER PUMPKIN BREAD & MAPLE BROWN BUTTER GLAZE

Delicious pumpkin bread smothered in a maple brown butter icing. Ginger Pumpkin Bread adapted from Martha Stewart by SIMPLY SCRATCH BLOG and then by me.

adapted from  SIMPLY SCRATCH BLOG
GINGER PUMPKIN BREAD & MAPLE BROWN BUTTER GLAZE
Yield: 8-10                                      Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 60-70 minutes             Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

12 tablespoons {1 1/2 sticks} unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree (1 3/4 cups)
3 large eggs


**2/3 cup golden raisins


**1/2 cup chopped walnuts


**these were my additions and we loved them!!!

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • In a 8×5 loaf pan; lightly butter or spray with baking spray and then dust wit flour (tap out any excess flour and discard), set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, ginger, and salt.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together sugars, pumpkin, melted butter, and eggs. Next add in the flour mixture, and stir until just combined.
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a cake tester is inserted into the center and comes out with only a smidgen coating it, which is about 60 to 70 minutes.
  • Let cool 10 minutes; invert pan and transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely.

FOR THE GLAZE: 

1/4 cup Real Maple Syrup
1/4 teaspoon Real Vanilla Extract
2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
1/3 cup Powdered Sugar, plus more if needed
1 tablespoon Heavy Cream
A pinch of Kosher Salt

  • Heat a small skillet over medium/medium-high heat.

  • Once the pan is hot, add in the two tablespoons of unsalted butter. The butter should instantly start to melt and turn golden.

  • Once melted and a deep golden, turn off the heat and add in the maple syrup and vanilla, whisking constantly {it should bubble up}.

  • Once the bubbles have subsided a bit, whisk in the powdered sugar.

  • Keep whisking while adding the tablespoon of heavy creamy and a pinch of kosher salt.

  • Drizzle warm icing over cooled cake. Slice and serve!

CINNAMON RAISIN LOAF doubles as awesome french toast!

CINNAMON RAISIN LOAF
2 cups + 2 teaspoons warm water
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
5 3/4 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons cultured Buttermilk powder
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 cups golden raisins
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 Jumbo egg, beaten
1 egg white, beaten
  • Combine 1/4 cup of the warm water and yeast in your mixer’s bowl.
  • Let sit until creamy, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the flour, buttermilk powder, 1/4 cup of the sugar, salt, 3 tablespoons of the butter and the remaining water.
  • Mix on low just until combined.
  • With dough hook mix on medium 5 minutes.
  • Add raisins and mix until firm.
  • Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead into a ball.
  • Oil a large bowl, place dough inside, cover and let rise in warm place until double in size – about 1 1/2 hours.
  • Generously spray 2 loaf pans with PURE.
  • In a small bowl combine the remaining sugar and cinnamon, setting aside a tablespoon as topping.
  • Split dough in half re-wrapping 1/2 in the oiled bowl.
  • Press the other piece of dough into a 10×12 rectangle.
  • Brush with 1/2 the whole beaten egg.
  • Sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar.
  • Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the melted butter.
  • With the back of a spoon lightly rub over the butter and cinnamon blending the butter and sugar mix.
  • Starting with the short end roll up the dough gently.
  • Pinch the ends together.
  • Transfer to pan, seam side down.
  • Cover with greased plastic and allow to rise 1 hour.
  • Repeat with other loaf.
  • At 45 minutes pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Brush each with the egg white.
  • Top with 1/2 the reserve sugar/cinnamon mixture.
  • Bake 15 minutes and then lower temperature to 400 degrees.
  • Bake 15 minutes more and lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake 15 minutes more.

CHOCOLATE BLACKBERRY MUFFINS



CHOCOLATE BLACKBERRY MUFFINS
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup safflower oil
1 cup blackberry jam (seedless)
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips, chopped or chipped smaller
PURE or muffin liners

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Line muffin tin with paper liners or spray with PURE.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.
  • Make a well in the center of the flour mixture.
  • Whisk together the milk, egg and oil.
  • Pour into the well.
  • Mix together quickly with a wooden spoon. Do not beat! (The mixture will be slightly lumpy.
  • Fold in the jam and chocolate pieces.
  • Pour into muffin tins.
  • Bake 25 minutes.
  • Cool on wire rack.

Makes 18 muffins*
*Sometimes I will make Texas muffins instead and a couple of muffin tops only!

CARROT BRAN MUFFINS

CARROT BRAN MUFFINS – MOIST, JUICY and ADDICTIVE! 
Yield: 1 dozen
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup Kelloggs ALL Bran cereal crushed
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup SAFFLOWER oil
3 tablespoons molasses
1-1/2 cups grated carrots
1-1/2 cups GOLDEN raisins

  • Preheat oven to 375 °F.
  • In a bowl, combine bran cereal and buttermilk. Let stand for about 5 minutes. 
  • Combine the eggs, brown sugar, oil and molasses; add to bran mixture.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon.
  • Stir bran mixture into dry ingredients just until moistened. 
  • Fold in carrots and raisins.
  • Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. 
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. 
  • Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. 
  • Serve warm.

    • BUTTERMILK RAISIN BRAN MUFFINS

    BUTTERMILK RAISIN BRAN MUFFINS
    2 eggs
    1 1/2 cups sugar
    2 1/2 cups flour
    2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
    1/2 cup canola oil
    1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
    1/2 teaspoon cloves
    1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
    1 teaspoons vanilla
    2 cups buttermilk
    1 teaspoons salt
    1 cup golden raisins
    1/2 of a 14 ounce box Raisin Bran (about 2 1/2 cups)
    PURE

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
    • Spray muffin tin with PURE.
    • Beat together the eggs and sugar.  Beat well.
    • Add oil to egg mixture and blend well.
    • In a large mixing bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
    • Merge together the wet and dry mixtures until blended well.
    • Fold in raisin bran and golden raisins.  If a bit dry add milk until desired consistency.
    • Fill muffin tins 2/3 full.
    • Bake 15 minutes.