Category: DESSERTS

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.

BROWN SUGAR PECAN LOAF CAKE

This is a delicious cake, so good in fact that my Honey wanted me to share this with all of you for Try A New Recipe day. And in some ways it is a new recipe, because this cake, while delicious and moist only has 1/4 cup of butter in the whole cake. That has to be new.
I also think it has to do with the separation of the eggs. However, you do use all of the eggs, first beating in the yolks and then the egg whites. That has to be new.

Let’s make cake, shall we?

Brown Sugar Loaf Cake
adapted from:  cakes from scratch in half the time
by:  Linda West Eckhardt
400 degree oven – a cooks wisdom:  375 degrees at most!

the intro:  Luscious and sweet, this dark, caramel-colored sugar cake is crumbly, spicy and everything nice.

2 large eggs – room temperature or see warming tip below
1/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cup flour – divided
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cloves (original recipe called for 1/2 t, but cloves and I don’t get along!)
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Before we begin:  I do not own or use aluminum pans, it is a personal choice. This cake will be baked in my steel loaf pan. There is a theory and practice for shiny pans and it is thought to affect the end product for crust and appearance, and while this may be true, my guess is, this cake will not suffer for being baked in a pan different than prescribed by the author.

Prepare to bake:  Arrange the rack in the middle of the oven and preheat it to 400 degrees. Spritz a 9X5 inch shiny aluminum loaf pan and the shiny side of a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the top of the pan with pan spray. Place the unbroken eggs into a bowl of (comfortable) hot water.
Make the batter:  Cream the butter until light, then add the brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Separate the eggs. Add 2 of the yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then add the egg whites and beat well.  Toss 1/4 cup of the flour with the nuts. Mix the remaining 1 cup flour with the baking powder, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Add to the butter mixture in thirds, alternately with the milk and vanilla. Fold in the nuts.
Bake the cake:  Pour the batter into the prepared pan, lay the foil, shiny side down, loosely over the top, and bake for 25 minutes.
Quickly remove the foil and continue baking until a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 20 more minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely.
When cool, place on a serving platter, add a knife and let everyone serve themselves. Store any leftovers in plastic wrap to keep it moist.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!
I appreciate your time and your comments.

And for more great recipes and food and kitchen ideas, stop by Mom’s Sunday Cafe!

BLACK & BLUE COBBLER

BLACK & BLUE COBBLER BOWLS
1 cup blackberries
1 cup blueberries
1 cup whole milk
1 cup self-rising flour*
1/2 cup butter + 2 tablespoons, both melted separately
3/4 cup fine sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar

  • Mix together the fine sugar and flour.
  • Whisk in the milk.
  • Whisk in 1/2 cup melted butter.
  • Pour into well greased bowls.
  • Distribute berries evenly on top of batter.
  • Mix 2 tablespoons melted butter with brown sugar until crumbly.
  • Sprinkle on tops.
  • Bake 45-60 minutes until golden and toothpick comes out clean.

*If you prefer a heavier crust, use bisquick

CHERRY APRICOT GALETTE

Pie Dough Ingredients*
For a 9-inch crust
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) of butter, cold and cubed
  • 1/4 cup ice water
Filling Ingredients**
For one 9-inch galette
  • 3/4 pound fresh apricots, pitted and chopped
  • 1/2 pound fresh cherries, pitted
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup sugar + more for sprinkling
  • Juice of half a lemon
Ingredients for Assembly
  • 1 egg, beaten
ASSEMBLY
  • Cut butter into small cubes and place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  • Pulse flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. 
  • Add butter and pulse until it resembles a coarse meal. 
  • Gradually add ice water and pulse until the dough forms a coarse meal. 
  • Turn the dough out onto a work surface and very lightly and sparingly, knead just to incorporate dry ingredients. 
  • Flatten into a circle; wrap individually in plastic. 
  • Refrigerate dough for at least an hour. 
  • Remove dough from refrigerator; place on floured work surface. 
  • Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a rough 11-inch circle. 
  • Trim the edges to a clean circle with a pairing knife. 
  • Transfer the circle to a baking sheet or pizza pan lined with parchment paper. 
  • Mix 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl and spread on the bottom of the dough. 
  • Toss apricots and cherries with the rest of the cornstarch, sugar and lemon juice. 
  • Arrange the fruit on the bottom of the dough, leaving 2 inches of dough left outside. 
  • Fold up and pleat the dough over the top of the fruit, leaving the center uncovered. 
  • Lightly brush the top of the pastry with the beaten egg and sprinkle both the dough and the fruit with 1/4 – 1/3 cup sugar. 
  • Place the Galette in the oven and cook for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. 
  • Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack immediately. 
  • Serve warm or at room temperature with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
*If you are in a huge hurry, Pillsbury from the dairy case can be substituted.
**1 can Comstock cherries can be substituted.  Just add apricots!

Brown Butter Cupcakes with Apricot Pineapple Frosting

my picture sucked so this one is compliments of google images and looks almost identical!

Brown Butter Cupcakes with Apricot Pineapple Frosting

Cupcakes:
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk (low fat is ok)

Frosting: 
1 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter softened
1/4 cup Smuckers apricot preserves
1/4 cup Smuckers pineapple preserves
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Apricots for garnish

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners or spray well with PURE.
  • Melt butter in a small saucepan and cook over low-medium heat until butter has turned an amber color and smells toasty, but not burnt. Butter will darken quickly once it begins to turn. 
  • Pour butter, scraping all the browned bits from the bottom with a spatula, into a small bowl to cool.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and sugar.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together cooled butter, eggs, vanilla and almond extracts with the milk. Pour into flour mixture and stir until just combined.
  • Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin cups.
  • Bake for 16-19 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
  • Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

For the Frosting:

  • In a small bowl stir together the preserves until well blended. 
  • Mix Cream Cheese and Butter in a medium sized bowl using an electric mixer until creamy.
  • Add vanilla and almond extracts and blend well.
  • Add half the preserve mixture until well mixed. Add half the powdered sugar and mix well, alternate between the preserves and the powdered sugar until the frosting is at a good spreading consistency.
  • Garnish with Apricot wedges.

Adapted from The Baker Chick

MELTING MOMENTS SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Martha from A Sense of Humor is Essential here to fill in for Joanne and to share a special shortbread recipe that is easy to make, with ingredients readily at hand, and has a nice, not too sweet taste, which goes wonderfully with coffee and tea. These cookies are also always a hit at baby showers,  bridal showers, and as hostess gifts too.

MELTING MOMENTS SHORTBREAD COOKIES
1 cup salted softened butter
5 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 cup corn starch 1 1/4 cup flour (I used whole wheat)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Mix all ingredients using mixer for approximately 3-5 minutes until a soft ball dough is formed. The dough will look like cornmeal prior to the dough ball forming.
  • Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Drop by teaspoons unto un-greased cookie sheets.
  • Bake until golden at edges, approximately 12 – 15 minutes.
  • Allow cookies to completely cool on cookie sheet. 
  • Frost with glaze or frosting if desired. Refrigerate if necessary. 

APPLE RUM RAISIN NOODLE BAKE

Apple-Raisin Noodle Bake
1 pound wide egg noodles

2 teaspoons sea salt
6 tablespoons butter, softened + 1/3 cup butter, softened for topping
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar     
2 cups small curd cottage cheese
2 cups sour cream
6 eggs, separated
1 cup golden raisins
3 teaspoons cinnamon
3 tablespoons rum
11/2 cup apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup golden brown sugar
PURE
  • Set oven to 350 degrees.
  • Set shelf to lowest position.
  • In a small bowl pour the rum over the raisins.  Set aside.
  • Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with PURE.
  • Cook noodles with 2 teaspoons salt in boiling water; drain well, and toss with the 6 tablespoons of softened butter in a large bowl while still warm.
  • In a mixer bowl, beat the cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until light.
  • Add in the cottage cheese and sour cream; blending well.
  • In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks until consistent in texture and color then add to the cream mixture with the cinnamon; blending well.
  • Pour this mixture over the egg noodles in the bowl; mix to combine.
  • Mix in the chopped apples and raisins (rum and all); blend well.
  • In a bowl beat the 6 egg whites until stiff; with a spatula, fold the egg whites into the noodle mixture.
  • Pour into prepared baking dish.
  • Add a loose foil tent to prevent pasta from crisping.
  • Bake for 45 minutes.

While casserole is baking:

  • In a small bowl, mix together the 1/3 cup butter and 1/4-1/3 cup brown sugar.
  • After 45 minutes of baking, remove the casserole, and sprinkle the butter/brown sugar mix over top of casserole.
  • Return to oven and bake another 30-45 minutes.

APPLE RUM RAISIN NOODLE BAKE

Apple-Raisin Noodle Bake
1 pound wide egg noodles

2 teaspoons sea salt
6 tablespoons butter, softened + 1/3 cup butter, softened for topping
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar     
2 cups small curd cottage cheese
2 cups sour cream
6 eggs, separated
1 cup golden raisins
3 teaspoons cinnamon
3 tablespoons rum
11/2 cup apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup golden brown sugar
PURE
  • Set oven to 350 degrees.
  • Set shelf to lowest position.
  • In a small bowl pour the rum over the raisins.  Set aside.
  • Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with PURE.
  • Cook noodles with 2 teaspoons salt in boiling water; drain well, and toss with the 6 tablespoons of softened butter in a large bowl while still warm.
  • In a mixer bowl, beat the cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until light.
  • Add in the cottage cheese and sour cream; blending well.
  • In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks until consistent in texture and color then add to the cream mixture with the cinnamon; blending well.
  • Pour this mixture over the egg noodles in the bowl; mix to combine.
  • Mix in the chopped apples and raisins (rum and all); blend well.
  • In a bowl beat the 6 egg whites until stiff; with a spatula, fold the egg whites into the noodle mixture.
  • Pour into prepared baking dish.
  • Add a loose foil tent to prevent pasta from crisping.
  • Bake for 45 minutes.

While casserole is baking:

  • In a small bowl, mix together the 1/3 cup butter and 1/4-1/3 cup brown sugar.
  • After 45 minutes of baking, remove the casserole, and sprinkle the butter/brown sugar mix over top of casserole.
  • Return to oven and bake another 30-45 minutes.

STRAWBERRY BANANA DACQUIRI CAKE ~ Save Room for Dessert

I subscribe to Lagniappe, the free email newsletter of Louisiana Cookin’ magazine.  It’s published each Friday, and typically contains 3 Louisiana-centric recipes.  Friday’s newsletter contained this recipe, and I knew I had to make it, even though I had already written today’s post.  But, as strawberries are in season, I decided to share this recipe with you all.
The flavor is lovely, although the texture was a little moist.  No one seemed to mind, however, and the cake was the perfect ending to a delicious grilled meal on the patio.  I think it would be perfect for a Memorial day cookout, as it’s quick to whip up and if you’re like me, I find it quite nice to have something on my menu that takes little thought and prep.  Be sure to save room for dessert when you make this delicious cake… 

Strawberry-Banana Daiquiri Cake

1 Strawberry Cake Mix
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed
1 ripe banana, mashed
2 eggs
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon light rum (did not use, I increased lime juice to 3 tablespoons)
Lime Glaze (recipe follows)
  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Grease and flour a Bundt pan; set aside.
  • In large bowl, combine the cake mix, berries, banana, eggs, and lime juice.
  • Beat for 2 minutes at highest speed.
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • Prepare glaze while cake is baking.
  • Cool cake upright for 25 minutes before inverting onto serving place.
  • Spoon glaze evenly over cake. Garnish with lime zest, if using.
Lime Glaze
Juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon butter
Powdered sugar
  • Microwave lime juice and butter until butter melts. 
  • Whisk in powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached.

HOLY COW CAKE ~ Save Room for Dessert

Crazy name, huh?  It’s an adaptation of the Holy Cow cake from the Cake Mix Doctor cookbook.  The original recipe calls for a chocolate cake mix, which I think would be divine, but I was making this cake for the husband, who, unbelievably, is not a chocolate lover.  I thought this version was good, but if I made it again, I’d definitely use a chocolate cake mix.  I sprinkled on crushed Butterfinger candy on 1/3 of the cake, chopped Peanut Butter Snickers on 1/3, and I drizzled on extra caramel sauce on the remaining 1/3.  I had many opinions about which was better, and honestly, all three tasted delicious.  So, whichever you choose, be sure to save room for dessert…

Holy Cow Cake
1 package yellow or devil’s food cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 large eggs

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray or butter a 13×9 baking pan, and set aside.
  • Combine cake mix, water, vegetable oil, vanilla, and eggs; beat for 1 minute, scraping down sides.  Continue to beat for 2-3 minutes, or until well-mixed. 
  • Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake cake for 35 – 38 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and with a chopstick or wooden skewer, poke holes into cake.
  • Pour caramel mixture over hot cake, slowly, so that mixture is absorbed into cake.
  • Spread cool whip mixture over cake and sprinkle on crushed Butterfingers, if using, or drizzle on extra caramel topping.
  • Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes before cutting into squares.

Caramel Mixture and Cream Cheese Topping
8 ounces caramel topping, plus additional for garnish
1 can (14-oz) sweetened condensed milk
4 Butterfinger bars, crushed – optional
12 ounces Cool Whip, defrosted
8 ounces cream cream, softened

  • Stir caramel topping and sweetened condensed milk together; set aside until cake is done.
  • In another bowl, combine the Cool Whip and cream cheese, beat together until smooth.

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.