Yellow Cake with Silky Chocolate Frosting

The best chocolate frosting. Ever. Silky, smooth, and really chocolaty. The yellow cake is the best yellow cake ever. Soft, fluffy, and yellow.

Ingredients: Yellow Cake (from here)

6 large egg yolks

1 cup whole milk

2 and 1/4 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups sifted cake flour, spooned and leveled

1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 tablespoon + teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Silky Chocolate Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted and slightly cooled

Recipe: Yellow Cake

Preheat the oven to 350F and grease two round cake pans.

In a measuring cup  lightly whisk the yolks, 1/4 cup milk, and vanilla.

In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients and mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend.

Add the butter and the remaining 3/4 cup milk. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened.

Increase to medium speed and beat for 1 and 1/2 minutes. Scrape down the sides.

Gradually add the egg mixture in 3 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition to incorporate the ingredients and strengthen the structure. Scrape down the sides.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. The cakes should start to shrink from the sides of the pans only after removal from the oven.

Let the cakes cool in the pan on racks for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides with a small metal spatula and invert onto greased wire racks.

Silky Chocolate Frosting

Beat the butter and sugar together, on medium-high, for at least 5 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and salt.

Pour in the melted chocolate and beat, scraping down the sides, until fully combined.

Enjoy!

Fiori di Sicilia Buttermilk Pound Cake

This is no doubt the best pound cake I’ve ever made. Soft and fluffy, but still a perfect pound cake. The glaze just makes it perfection. P.S. Fiori di Sicilia is a extract flavored with a combination of citrus and vanilla.

Ingredients: Buttermilk Pound Cake

1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon Fiori de Sicilia

2 large eggs, room temperature

1/2 cup buttermilk

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

5 tablespoons heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon fiori de sicilia

Recipe: Buttermilk Pound Cake

Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 9×9 loaf pan.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

In another bowl, beat the butter until pale; add in the sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the extracts and eggs, one at a time.

Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet batter until almost completely combined.

Mix in the buttermilk.

Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Glaze

Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Pour on warm cake.

Enjoy!

Kumquat Glazed Honey Oat Cookies

Picture this: A soft and chewy oatmeal cookie with a deep honey flavor- doesn’t that sound delicious? They were but they needed something more. Like a glaze. A citrus glaze. A tangy yet sweet super amazing kumquat glaze. Which brings you to perfection.

Ingredients: Cookies (adapted from Giant Honey and Oat Cookies in Betty Crockers Ultimate Cookie Book)

1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cups honey

1 large egg

1 large egg white

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 and 1/3 cups quick-cooking oats

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Kumquat Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup kumquat juice

Recipe: Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350F and grease two baking sheets.

On low speed, mix together the sugar, butter, honey, egg, egg white, and vanilla for about 2 minutes. Then mix on medium speed until smooth and combined.

In a separate bowl, mix together the oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add to the wet batter on low speed.

Scoop dough into 1/4 cup measurements.

Bake for 10 minutes- they will still be very soft on top and look undone. They’re not! Let cool before glazing.

Kumquat Glaze

Whisk together all ingredients!

Enjoy!

German Chocolate Fudge Pie

There is absolutely nothing to dislike about this pie. Unless you dislike chocolate, coconut, or pecans, and then we have problems. This German Chocolate Fudge Pie consists of a fudgy, chocolate, brownie-like filling on top of a buttery pie crust, and the icing on the pie is coconut pecan frosting. Delicious perfection.

Ingredients: Chocolate Fudge Pie (adapted very slightly from here)

1 nine-inch pie crust

1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup half-and-half

1/4 cup unsalted butter

4 ounces German chocolate

2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 large eggs

3 large egg yolks

Coconut Pecan Frosting (from here)

1 (14oz) can condensed milk

3 large egg yolks

1/2 cup salted butter

1 and 1/2 cups flaked coconut

1 cup roughly chopped pecans

Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Pie

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, flour and salt.

In a medium saucepan, melt together the half-and-half, butter, and chocolate, over medium heat, until smooth.

Let it cool slightly while you mix the eggs into the dry mixture. Then mix in the chocolate batter until smooth and well-combined.

Pour into the pie shell and bake for about 45 minutes, or until cracks start appearing on top of the pie.

Cool before serving.

Coconut Pecan Frosting

In a large saucepan over low heat, stir the condensed milk, eggs, and butter until the mixture has thickened and is slightly bubbly.

Take off heat and mix in the flaked coconut and pecans. Let come to room temperature before putting on the pie.

Enjoy!

 

Red Velvet Roll Cake

 

 

I just wanted to show you this cake and where I got the recipes from. It’s a gorgeous red velvet cake roll with the best cream cheese frosting. You’ll want to make this at least everyone Valentine’s Day.

I used this cake recipe and this recipe for cream cheese frosting.

Enjoy!

Strawberry Cream Pie with Cake Crumbs

No, it’s not the best picture, but it is a really, really, good pie. Strawberry infused milk creates a yummy custard topped with thick and fluffy whipped cream which is then topped with delicious cake crumbs. Yum. Plus it’s pink so, duh, make it for Valentine’s Day.

Ingredients: Strawberry Infused Milk

2 cups whole milk

1 cup half-and-half

2 cups chopped strawberries

Strawberry Cream Pie

3 cups strawberry infused milk

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 large egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Cake Crumbs

2 and 1/4 cups cake flour

1/4 cup dry nonfat milk powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Recipe: Strawberry Infused Milk

Bring all ingredients to a boil.

Let boil for 30 seconds and then remove from heat and cover for forty minutes.

Sieve before using.

Strawberry Cream Pie

Warm the strawberry milk for a minute on medium heat.

Add the sugar, cornstarch, and salt.

Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat.

Cover for two minutes.

Temper egg yolks with a tablespoon of the milk mixture and then add the egg yolks back into the custard.

Cook for one minute, stirring constantly,

Remove from heat and blend in the butter and vanilla.

Let sit until lukewarm before filling into the pie crust.

Cake Crumbs

Preheat the oven to 35oF.

Blend the flour, milk powder, salt, and baking powder together.

Mix in the butter and then the eggs and vanilla.

Beat until smooth.

Spread into a cookie pan and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown.

Let cool.

Whipped cream

Beat whipped cream until lighter, then add in the sugar, slowly, then the vanilla extract.

Whip until very light and fluffy.

Enjoy!

 

Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies

Another Valentine’s Day themed recipe! These red velvet cookies are amazing. They are soft and slightly chewy with the signature red velvet flavor.

Ingredients: Cookies

1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large egg yolks

3 tablespoons full-fat sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*red food coloring gel

1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Recipe: Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the egg yolks until smooth; add the sour cream, vanilla, and food coloring.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

While mixing on low, gradually pour the dry mixture into the wet until smooth.

With a spoon, stir in the chocolate chips.

Bake for ten minutes.

Enjoy!

Spicy Flourless Chocolate Cake

Well, it’s almost February. So it’s almost Valentine’s Day which means I have an excuse to decorate this cake in pink and marshmallows and sprinkles. Underneath all the glitz this cake happens to be very, very dark and chocolatey with the warm heat of cinnamon and cayenne pepper. The spicy ganache and the mascarpone cream perfectly complement the cake.

Ingredients: Cake

2 and 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

3/4 cup unsalted butter

5 large eggs, cold

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoon water

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Spicy Ganache

9 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Mascarpone Whipped Cream

8 ounces mascarpone cheese

1 cup heavy whipping cream

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe: Cake

Preheat the oven to 300F. Grease a 9″ round springform pan and line it with parchment paper. Dust with cocoa powder.

Melt the chocolate and butter in a medium metal bowl set in a skillet of simmering water, stirring until smooth.

Remove bowl from heat and let cool slightly.

Combine the eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, and water. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is very foamy, pale in color, and doubled in volume, about 2 minutes.

Gradually pour in the chocolate mixture. Increase the speed to medium high and continue beating until well blended, about 30 seconds.

Add the cocoa powder and mix on medium low just until blended, about 30 seconds.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a pick inserted in the center comes out looking wet with small gooey clumps, about 40 minutes. Don’t overcook. Let cool in the pan on a rack for 30 min.

If necessary, gently push the edges down with your fingertips until the layer is even. Run a small knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake.

Cover the cake pan with a wire rack and invert. Remove the pan and parchment and let the cake cool completely. The cake may look cinched in around its sides, which is fine.

Transfer to a cake plate. Cover and refrigerate the cake until it’s very cold, at least overnight.

Spicy Ganache

Put chopped chocolate into a medium bowl.

In a saucepan bring the cream and spices to a simmer then pour over the chocolate.

Let stand for a minute before whisking until smooth.

Mascarpone Whipped Cream

Beat all ingredients together on medium-high speed until thick but fluffy.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Glazed Almond Cupcakes

Ohmigod. I cannot believe how perfect these cupcakes are. These cupcakes are fancy cupcakes, like, wedding worthy cupcakes. They have the moistest golden almond cake you will ever have (seriously) and are topped with a rich dark chocolate ganache. Perfection.

Ingredients: Almond Cupcakes (the tiniest bit adapted from here), makes 18

1 and 1/3 cups granulated sugar

7 ounces almond paste

1 cup all-purpose flour, divided and spooned in and leveled

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, cubed

1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

6 large eggs, at room temperature

Chocolate Ganache Glaze

1 and 1/3 cups chocolate chunks

1 cup heavy cream

Recipe: Almond Cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 325F. Line 1 1/2 cupcake tins with liners.

In a food processor, grind the sugar, almond paste, and 1/4 cup of flour until the mixture resembles sand.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 3/4 cup of flour, baking powder, and salt.

To the almond mixture add the butter and the vanilla and almond extracts, then process until the batter is smooth and creamy.

Add the eggs one at a time, processing a little in between. After you add all the eggs, the mixture might look curdled- that’s okay.

Transfer the batter to a bowl and mix in half of the flour mixture Stir in the other half until the dry ingredients are just incorporated.

Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake tins and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the top is a deep golden brown.

Let cool before dipping in the ganache.

Chocolate Ganache Glaze

Put the chocolate in a medium bowl and set aside.

Pour cream into a small saucepan over medium heat. When the cream comes to a simmer pour over the chocolate and whisk until smooth.

Let sit the ganache for 20 minutes before dipping the cupcakes unto it.

 

 

Enjoy!

Coffee Cake

This is the fluffiest, moistest, and easily the most delicious coffee cake I have ever made (or eaten.) It has the best crunchy brown sugar topping and underneath a super awesome cinnamon sugar layer. All I can say is- make this now!

Ingredients: Crumb Topping (adapted from here)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup pecans, toasted

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed

Cinnamon Swirl

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cake

1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

8 ounces full-fat sour cream

2 teaspoons buttery vanilla bakery emulsion

Recipe: Crumb Topping

In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, and salt until combined.

Add the pecans and pulse until they are finely chopped and incorporated.

Add the butter and pulse until mixture looks like coarse sand.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Cinnamon Swirl

Mix ingredients together.

Cake

Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter a 9-inch spring-form pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.

Cream the butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about three minutes.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping bowl as needed.

Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat just until incorporated.

Add the dry ingredients in three additions, scraping down the bowl before each addition and beating only until each addition is just incorporated.

Pour cake batter into the prepared pan. Use an offset spatula to spread batter evenly in pan. Top with cinnamon swirl mixture. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the top of the batter. (Yes, there’s a lot of crumb topping, but that’s what makes it so good!)

Bake in the center of the oven for one hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!