Wintermint Cake: Baked Sunday Mornings

I have been looking forward to making this cake.  It is a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and peppermint buttercream.   I made a full recipe, but I made a small cake.  I baked a sheet cake and cut out circles then the left over cake and frosting and ganache will be used for cake balls!  Yummy!  I will post those when I get them done.

I really did think about doing the ombre petal frosting technique but I just didn't want to deal with all that mess...feeling a bit lazy.  I am pretty happy with the results.  I sampled the cake and it is moist and delicious.  I always have the best luck with Baked chocolate cakes...they are amazing!

Please take a look at what the other bakers did here.  To get the recipe go here.  It is really long, but don't let that shy you away from trying this beautiful and delicious cake!  It really was simple to make.  And might I say, I am getting pretty dang good at making the Baked buttercream!  :) 

Next up is Hair of the Dog Cake.  Now that sounds interesting!

Until then

Enjoy and have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

Date Squares: Baked Sunday Mornings

These were certainly an easy bake!  They smell so delicious but crazy me...I was in such a hurry to get these done, I forgot the oatmeal!   I was wondering why I didn't have much of the crumb mixture...I really had to stretch it...lol! Oh well, they still look pretty good even without the oats.

I sure do love dates!  I will make these again, only next time I won't forget the oats!

Please go and see how these bars are actually suppose to look.  My fellow bakers did a wonderful job! Take a peek here.

Recipe is here.

Next is Wintermint Cake!  Yummm!

Enjoy!

Election Day Palmiers: Baked Sunday Mornings

This is our first recipe from the new Baked cookbook, Baked Occasions!!  I am so excited to start baking from this cookbook, I really enjoy baking along with this fine group of bakers.  I am not sure I am worthy, but I love to give as many recipes as I can a try, most of recipes I have baked from the other Baked cookbooks have been winners and many were first time bakes which were great learning experiences....like this one.

I have never attempted Palmiers, although have been tempted to on occasion.  I thought they would be really difficult, but I found these to be not as bad as I imagined.  The recipe included cayenne pepper in the cinnamon-sugar mix, which I fully intended to do, but there was no 

cayenne pepper in my spice cupboard, *sigh*  I thought I had some, 

I forged ahead, with disappointment, sans the cayenne. 

The dough had to be shaped and folded like a business letter and chilled several times which made this time intensive but the end result was worth it as these were light, crispy and so delicious. 

I loved them!

and I could have eaten them all...but 

I had to be happy with just one.

The recipe is here.

Make these....they are worth the effort!

I just may add these to my Christmas cookie line up!

Next up for the Baked group is Campfire Cookies. 

Sounds interesting!

See you then!

As Always,

Enjoy!

Cranberry-Pumpkin Rolls: ABC

It's pumpkin time!  And the Avid Bakers are baking Cranberry-Pumpkin Rolls from the King Arthur Flour site. These rolls are very easy to make and pretty gosh darn delicious!  They would be perfect for Thanksgiving.  The recipe said to bake them in a muffin pan but there was a suggestion to do them in a 9x13 pan as well....I decided to do that since I wanted a soft sided pull apart roll.

They are light and fluffy and extra special with a little bit of pumpkin butter.

Yum!  

Next month we are baking Chocolate Eclairs! 

OMG!...be still my heart!

Until next time,

Enjoy!

Cranberry-Pumpkin Rolls

These deep-gold rolls will look lovely in your holiday breadbasket. 4 3/4 cups (20 ounces) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (optional) 1/4 cup (1 3/4 ounces) firmly packed brown sugar, light or dark 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 tablespoon instant yeast 3/4 cup (6 ounces) canned pumpkin or squash 2 large eggs 3/4 cup (6 ounces) water 1/4 cup (2 ounces) unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup (4 1/2 ounces) dried cranberries or golden raisins 1/4 cup (1 1/2 ounces) diced crystallized ginger Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients except the fruit and crystallized ginger — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — until you've made a soft, fairly smooth dough. Pumpkin varies in water content, so add extra water or flour if needed. Right at the end, knead in the fruit and crystallized ginger. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover the bowl, and allow the dough to rise for 1 1/2 hours, until it's almost double in bulk. Turn the dough out onto a lightly greased surface, gently deflate it, and divide it into 16 pieces, roughly 2 3/4 ounces each. Roll each piece into a ball. Place rolls in the lightly greased cups of a couple of standard muffin pans (which will help them maintain their round shape); or onto a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Set aside, covered lightly, to rise for 1 hour, or until the rolls look puffy. Bake the rolls in a preheated 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until they're lightly browned and the center of one reads 190⁰F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove the pans from the oven and turn the rolls out onto a rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature. Yield: 16 rolls.

Halloween Sweets

Pumpkin Spice Macarons

I just keep improving on making macarons.  It is one of my favorite cookies and everyone that tastes them falls in love with them!  So fun to finally make and make them right!

Creepy Witchy Fingers

An annual Halloween cookie...I love the smiles they bring to peoples faces!

Trick or Treat!
Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Macarons

tastykitchen.com

Description

Pumpkin spice macarons with pumpkin cream cheese filling.

Ingredients

• FOR THE MACARONS:
• 1 cup Powdered Sugar
• ¾ cups Almond Flour
• ½ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• ½ teaspoons Ground Turmeric
• ½ teaspoons Ground All-spice
• 2 whole Egg Whites
• ¼ cups Granulated Sugar
• 1 drop Orange Food Coloring Paste
• FOR THE PUMPKIN CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
• ¼ cups Fresh Or Canned Pumpkin Puree
• ¼ cups Cream Cheese, Softened

Preparation

Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Put a master template under the parchment paper or draw about twelve 1 1/2-inch circles in rows on the paper, about 1 inch apart. Set sheets aside.

Process powdered sugar, almond flour and all the spices in a food processor until finely ground. Sift the mixture through a sieve. If there are more than 2 tablespoons of large chunks left in the sieve, grind them and sift again. Set the mixture aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitter with a whisk attachment, beat egg whites at medium speed until frothy. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Increase the speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.

Sift the almond flour mixture over the egg whites. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the almond flour mixture into the egg whites until the ingredients are just combined. Add food coloring to tint the batter. Continue to fold the mixture until it has loosened and falls in a ribbon from the spatula.

Fit a pastry bag with a 1/2-inch round tip and fill the bag with the batter. Using the template as a guide, pipe circles onto the parchment papers.

Tap the bottom of each sheet on the work surface to release trapped air bubbles. Let the cookies stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This allows the cookies to develop their crusts.

Preheat oven to 300 F. Bake the macarons for 10 to 12 minutes, until set but not browned. Transfer the baking sheets to wire racks and let the macarons to cool completely on the pans. Once cooled, gently lift half of the cookies from the parchment paper and turn them upside down.

To prepare filling, combine cream cheese and pumpkin puree, and mix thoroughly.

Spoon or pipe a teaspoon of filling onto each of the upside-down cookies. Top with the remaining cookies.

Spooky Witches Fingers

allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup whole almonds
• 1 (.75 ounce) tube red decorating gel

Directions

1. Combine the butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Beat together with an electric mixer; gradually add the flour, baking powder, and salt, continually beating; refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheets.
3. Remove dough from refrigerator in small amounts. Scoop 1 heaping teaspoon at a time onto a piece of waxed paper. Use the waxed paper to roll the dough into a thin finger-shaped cookie. Press one almond into one end of each cookie to give the appearance of a long fingernail. Squeeze cookie near the tip and again near the center of each to give the impression of knuckles. You can also cut into the dough with a sharp knife at the same points to help give a more finger-like appearance. Arrange the shaped cookies on the baking sheets.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies are slightly golden in color, 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Remove the almond from the end of each cookie; squeeze a small amount of red decorating gel into the cavity; replace the almond to cause the gel to ooze out around the tip of the cookie.

Makes about 60 cookies

Cinnamon-Apple Twist Bread: ABC

This is the ABC challenge for October.  We are baking from the King Arthur Flour site and everyone who has baked this beauty has done a beautiful job...I just had to try it.  It took me a couple of tries to get this bread right.  The first time, I didn't realize that my yeast had expired and I ended up with a heavy rubbery mess (live and learn-right?)  So I gave it another shot.  It takes quite awhile but the end results are worth the effort.  I added a little more apples to the recipe, but I wish I would have even added more.  Next time I will double the apples.  The recipe makes 2 loaves, I made 

one loaf and some beautiful rolls to take 

to share with some friends tonight.  

The loaf is for my husband and step son to enjoy.  I have to manage to keep my mitts off of it!  Wow!  That is going to be hard.  I had my one piece and that will just have to satisfy me.

Next time we are baking Cranberry Pumpkin Rolls...sounds l

like a Thanksgiving treat to me!

Until then,

Enjoy!

Cinnamon-Apple Twist Bread

Dough 3 1/4 cups (13 to 13 3/4 ounces) Mellow Pastry Blend or King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour 1/4 cup (1 1/2 ounces) potato flour OR 1/2 cup dried potato flakes 1 heaping tablespoon (1/2 ounce) granular lecithin (optional) 3 tablespoons (1 1/4 ounces) sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) butter 1 teaspoon vanilla OR Sweet Dough Flavor OR Princess Cake Flavor 1 large egg 1 cup (8 ounces) milk Filling 1/2 cup (3 3/4 ounces) sugar 3 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) Instant ClearJel® powder or unbleached all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup peeled, grated apple (1 to 2 large apples, 10 to 12 ounces whole) 1 tablespoon lemon juice Glaze 1 cup (4 ounces) glazing or confectioners' sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 to 2 tablespoons water OR 2 to 3 tablespoons heavy cream Manual/Mixer Method: Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Note: It’s important to distribute the potato flour (or flakes) throughout the dry ingredients so it/they won’t clump when the liquid is added. Add the butter, flavoring, egg and milk, then mix until a shaggy dough forms. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes; this resting period allows the flour to absorb the liquid fully, making it easier to knead. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes; it should feel slightly sticky and soft. Add a couple of tablespoons of water if the dough feels firm or dry. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl, and let the dough rise until it's almost doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The amount of time this takes will depend on the temperature of your kitchen; yeast works the fastest at about 85°F, but we prefer the flavor the bread gets from a longer, cooler (about 70°F) rise. Filling: While the dough is rising, make the filling. Whisk together the sugar, ClearJel powder and cinnamon. (You may substitute 3 tablespoons of flour for the ClearJel; the filling will be runny, but it will firm up when baked.) Toss the grated apples with the lemon juice, then add that to the ClearJel and sugar mixture. Mix well, and set aside. Assembly: Gently deflate the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured or greased work surface. Fold it over once or twice to remove the excess gas. Divide the dough in half. Roll the first half into a 10 x 12-inch rectangle. Spread half the filling over the rolled-out dough, leaving a 1/2-inch margin clear of filling along all sides. Starting with a long side, roll the dough into a log, sealing the edge. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the log in half lengthwise. Place the half-logs, filled side up, side by side on a well-greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Keeping the filling side up, twist or "braid" the two logs together, working from the center to each end. Pinch the ends together. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Cover the twists lightly, and set them aside to rise for 1 to 2 hours. To Make Rolls: Follow the directions above to the point where you’ve rolled the dough into a log. Repeat with the remaining piece of dough, then cut each log into 1-inch slices. Place the slices cut side up (and down) in well-greased or parchment-lined pans, placing them close together (though not touching) for soft-sided rolls, or about 2 inches apart for crustier rolls. Allow the rolls to rise till they’re puffy. Baking: Bake the loaves in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes (or the rolls for 18 to 20 minutes), until they’re lightly browned. Check the loaves after 20 minutes and tent with aluminum foil if they’re browning too quickly around the edges. Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for about 1 hour before glazing and serving. Glaze: Mix together all of the glaze ingredients and drizzle it over the loaves or rolls once they’re cool. Yield: 2 loaves or about 24 rolls.

Nutella Cresents

 I have a granddaughter that love Nutella, I know, the nut does not fall far from the tree...right?  But anyway, I always make cookies for my grandchildren and send them on their birthdays.  I know Lily also loves pie...so what could be more perfect than Nutella rolled up in a nice flakey buttery pie crust? 

These cookies were so easy.  You could cheat and buy some refrigerated pie crust...personally I never use that stuff.  I love to make my own.  I sure hope she likes them!  

Happy Birthday Lily!

Until next time

Enjoy!

Nutella Crescents

The Novice Chef

Yield: 18 crescents

ingredients:

1 9-inch pie dough (store bought or homemade)
1/2 cup Nutella
1 tablespoon butter, melted
coarse sugar

directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.

Roll out pie crust into a 9 inch circle (or if it's store bought...open the package and unroll the pie crust) and slice into 18 triangles (like you would a pizza).

Spread each triangle with a healthy amount of Nutella. Roll into a crescent, starting with the wide end. Continue till all triangles are filled with Nutella. Transfer crescents to baking sheet, leaving about an inch for possible spreading.

Brush the top of each Nutella crescent with the melted butter and sprinkle generously with coarse sugar. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes, or until they are lightly golden brown.

Remove from oven and serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Pigapalooza 2014

http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/2011/06/basic-sugar-cookie-recipe-2/

Each year we host a big Pig Roast to celebrate the end of summer/beginning of fall and our wedding anniversary.  We have been married for 4 years now and I have to say that I have married a good man who I know will take care of me for the rest of my life.  I love him to the moon and back!  Enough of that mushy stuff!!    

My husband smokes the pig in the smoker that he built and it always turns out really delicious.  We shred the shoulders and make a big mess of pulled pork doused in my almost famous barbeque sauce.  People actually think I should bottle it!  It is a big hit and the highlight of the party. The rest of the pork is cut up and served in all it's smoky goodness.  
I also make Baked Exploration's Honey Cornbread Muffins....yummmm, homemade applesauce (you gotta have applesauce with pork, right?)  All the guests bring delicous covered dishes and we have a grand time!

I also make a bevy of sweets and desserts! 
 The desserts, my friends, are the reason I am here! 

gluten free chocolate piggy cupcakes

sunflower buttermilk cupcake

caramel apple mini cheesecakes

oatmeal pumpkin cream pies

S'mores Macarons

banoffee tarts

cookie tray

Piggy buns

 

This year I made my traditional Sunflower Cupcakes, Brooksters and Brown Butter Snickerdoodles.  Along with those tempting treats;  Apple Pie Cheesecakes,  Banoffee Tarts, Gluten-free Chocolate Piggy Cupcakes, Oatmeal Pumpkin Cream Pies, S'Mores Macarons, Sunflower and Piggy Sugar Cookies and I tried to make some adorable little piggy buns.  

It is alot of work but I absolutely love doing this every year!  

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Harvest Dunking Cookies: Baked Sunday Mornings

I can't believe that after this recipe there are only 3 recipes left of the Baked Elements cookbook.  I wish I could have baked them all.  I did what I could and 95% of the recipes that I baked were winners!  This cookie was super easy to make.  It is an oatmeal cookie with pumpkin, chocolate chips and dried cranberries added to it.  I didn't have eggs so I substituted applesauce,

 I am not sure if I baked mine long enough because they were very soft...I was expecting a crispier cookie since it is suppose to be a dunking cookie.  

I had them in the oven for 14 minutes and didn't want to risk it any longer.  I am thinking now that I should have. 

I didn't taste them but they smelled wonderful while they were baking away in the oven.  Hubby said they were really good!  I will have to 

take his word for it.

Next up are Chocolate Mayonnaise cupcakes. Not sure yet if I can bake that one without a taste.  We will see how my willpower is that day ;)

To get the recipe go here

And to see what the other bakers did with this challenge go here.

Until next time

Enjoy!