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Archive for the ‘Cakes’ Category

Peanut butter is not just good for sandwiches or peanut butter cookies these days. That's why this recipe for peanut butter cupcakes is genius. A delightful treat, you'll be happily surprised at how easy and quickly it's made.

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2/3 cup chocolate pieces
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 eggs

Directions:

Preheat oven350° F. Grease 24 muffin cups. In a large bowl, measure all ingredients except chocolate pieces. With mixer, mix at low speed, beat ingredients until blended. Increase speed to high for 2 minutes. Spoon into muffin cups. Top each cup with the chocolate pieces. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Cool in pan for 10 minutes.

Take it a step farther: Use this recipe to make Reese's peanut butter cupcakes!

• 1 cup sifted cake flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease only the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan and dust lightly with flour. Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Beat the eggs in a bowl until light and thick. Gradually beat in the sugar then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture gradually, stirring just until blended. Bring the butter and milk to a boil; add to the previous mixture, stirring steadily until smooth. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake 25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a cake rack.

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For this recipe, even after the lemon peel is grated, it should be minced into little specks and then soaked in the lemon juice. This softens the peel and prevents fibrous in the cake. To store, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and keep at room temperature. If eaten the day it is baked, the cake is light and fluffy, by the following day it will assume a denser texture, similar to pound cake.

For the cake

• Grated peel of 3 lemons
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup buttermilk, preferably low fat
• 3 large eggs plus 1 large yolk, at room temperature
• 18 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

For the glaze

• 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon buttermilk
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar

1. To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a Bundt pan, or spray pan with a cooking spray that contains flour.
2. Finely mince the grated lemon peel and combine with the lemon juice. Set aside to soften for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice mixture, vanilla, and buttermilk. In a small bowl, gently whisk the eggs and yolk to combine.
4. In a medium bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar at medium high speed about 3 minutes, until pale and fluffy. Reduce to medium speed and add half the eggs, mixing about 15 seconds, until incorporated. Repeat with the remaining eggs. Reduce to low speed. Starting and ending with the dry ingredients, add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately, mixing about 5 seconds, until just incorporated after each addition. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold the batter once or twice with the rubber spatula to incorporate any remaining flour.
5. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Set on the lower middle rack of the oven and bake 45 to 50 minutes, until the cake is golden brown.
6. To make the glaze: While the cake is baking, whisk 2 tablespoons lemon juice gradually as needed until the glaze is thick but still pour-able.
7. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack set over a baking sheet 10 minutes, then turn the cake onto the rack. Pour half of the glaze over the warm cake and let cool one hour; pour remaining glaze evenly over the top of cake and continue to cool to room temperature, at least 2 hours.

Another option is to order a big cookie cake instead of baking cake. They're delicious and easy to order.

• 2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour
• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 pound sweet chocolate
• 1 cup finely chopped filberts, walnuts or
• 1/4 cup brewed coffee
• Pecans
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 4 egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups sugar

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 10-inch tube pan and dust lightly with flour. Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Break the chocolate into small pieces and combine with the coffee in the top a double boiler. Place over hot water until melted; cool.Cream the butter. Gradually beat in the sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg yolk at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in the vanilla and melted chocolate. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beating until smooth after each addition. Stir in the nuts. Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry; fold into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared pan; smooth the top with a spatula. Bake 1 hour or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a cake rack 20 minutes before removing from pan. The cake may be served as is, cut in wedges, or split into as many layers as you like. Whipped cream or any filling may then be spread between the layers.

Related Items:

Gourmet Nuts

Chocolate Gifts

• 10 egg yolks
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee
• 2 tablespoons cognac
• 1 3/4 cups superfine sugar
• 2 tablespoons bread crumbs
• 3 cups ground nuts (walnuts,
  Brazil, almonds)
• 10 egg whites

Butter a 10-inch spring-form and dust lightly with bread crumbs. Beat the egg yolks and instant coffee; gradually add the sugar, beating until thick and light. Mix in the ground gourmet nuts, salt, cognac and the 2 tablespoons bread crumbs. Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry; fold into the nut mixture. Turn into the prepared pan. Bake in a preheated 350° F oven for 50 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a cake rack before removing the pan. Split and fill and cover with coffee-flavored whipped cream, if you like.

Dough:

• 1 lb. flour
• 1 egg
• 4 tbs. tepid water
• 2 tbs. sugar
• 2 tbs. claret
• 3 tbs. shortening
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• Pinch of salt

Dissolve sugar in tepid water. Mix all other ingredients except claret. Add water slowly. Knead well. While dough is stiff, gradually add wine. Continue kneading until dough can be rolled out easily. Place in bowl. Set aside in cool place for 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare this cream filling:

• 1 lb. ricotta
• 1 square bitter chocolate, chopped
• 1 tbs. chopped citron
• 1 tsp. almond flavor
• 4 tbs. sugar
• 2 tbs. grated orange rind
• 1 tsp. grated lemon rind
• 1 pt. peanut oil

Blend all ingredients, except peanut oil, thoroughly until custard like consistency is obtained. If too dry, add a little milk and continue blending. Place in bowl. Set in refrigerator until used. Cut dough into 3 sections. Roll out on lightly floured board until very thin. Cut dough into disks about 3 inches in diameter. Fry in very deep hot oil 1 minute or until golden brown on both sides. Drain on brown paper. Set aside to cool.

When disks are cold, put one in palm of hand and spread with a tablespoon of cream filling; top with another disk. This forms the tartlet. Repeat until all are used. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes about 2 dozen. These are great in holiday gift baskets.

When it comes to making delicious desserts, we have the recipes that great chefs look for. Whether it's cookies, pies, or Italian spice nut cake, for example. We've got it all. Follow the following recipe for a delicious Italian spice nut cake that guests will love.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sifted flour
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 1/2 cups blanched toasted sliced almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup finely diced candied fruits
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup sugar

Sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Combine the sugar, honey and water in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Remove from the heat and beat in the flour mixture until very smooth. Mix in the almonds and fruit. Turn into a well-oiled 9-inch pie plate. If you like, decorate the top with almonds and fruit. Bake in a preheated 300° F oven for 45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool thoroughly before turning out. Serve in very narrow strips.

Making chocolate desserts is always fun. Making marquis chocolate sponge cake is equally as fun! If you've never tried your hand at making this delicious dessert, then get ready because it's sure to be a good time!

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 squares (ounces) semi-sweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons cognac or brewed coffee
• 2/3 cup sifted cake flour
• 4 tablespoons soft butter
• 3 egg whites
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350°. Place oven rack on middle level of oven. Grease an 8-inch layer cake pan and dust lightly with flour.

Break the chocolate into small pieces and combine in a small saucepan with the cognac or coffee. Place over hot water and stir with a wooden spoon until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and beat in the butter, a little at a time, until smooth.

Beat the egg yolks then add ½ cup sugar, beating with an electric mixer or wire whisk until thick and light. Fold in the flour carefully.

Beat the egg whites and salt until soft peaks form, then beat In the 1 tablespoon sugar until stiff but not dry. Fold the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture. Fold in half the egg whites then fold in the remaining egg whites carefully. Turn into the pan. Bake 30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. (The top will crack in baking.) Cool in the pan 5 minutes, then run a spatula around the edge and turn out. Turn right side up and finish cooling on a cake rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Care to try another chocolate recipe? Try making Chocolate Souffle! It's delicious and fun to make.

Making chocolate treats is always a fun past-time. But these chocolate treats are beyond delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups sifted cake flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1 1/4 cups light cream
• 2 squares (ounces) unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease two 9-inch layer cake pans and dust lightly with a little flour. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar. Cream the butter; sift in the flour mixture. Mix in 1 cup cream, then beat very well. Add the eggs, vanilla, chocolate and remaining cream. Beat very well again. Divide batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake 25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a cake rack 10 minutes before removing from pans. Cool thoroughly before frosting with rich frosting.

If you want to try something even more unique, try this Grilled Pound Cake recipe. It's incredibly delicious and one-of-a-kind.

• 2 envelopes yeast
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 package semi-sweet chocolate morsels, melted
• 3/4 cup milk, scalded and cooled
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 cups sifted flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups sugar

Sprinkle the yeast into the water and stir until dissolved. Beat in the milk and 1/2 cups flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in a warm place until light and spongy, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, cream together the butter and sugar. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Add yeast mixture, remaining flour, melted chocolate, baking soda, salt and vanilla. Beat until well-blended. Turn into a well-greased 10-inch tube pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from draft, until light and bubbly, about 1 hour. Bake in a preheated 350° F oven for 50 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a cake rack 15 minutes then turn out onto the rack. Let stand until cold.

If after this, you'll want to make something more typical like cookies, try one of these recipes for the top ten most popular cookies. They're sure to please.