by Kathy Douglas | May 7, 2018 | Desserts
This simple make-ahead deconstructed lemon meringue pie includes lemon curd, delicious chocolate puff pastry, raspberry sauce and fresh berries. While it requires a few components, the lemon curd and sauce can be made ahead of time while the meringue is store purchased. Requiring only a few simple steps to prepare, the Chocolate Puff Pasty taste best when baked on the day of you are serving it.
INGREDIENTS
1 package Dufour’s Chocolate Puff Pastry
¼ cup ground sweet chocolate
¼ cup finely chopped dark chocolate chips
1 egg, whisked with 1 tablespoon of water
16 white meringue cookies
½ cup lemon curd, recipe below
½ cup raspberry sauce, recipe below
Fresh raspberries
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper. Remove the puff pastry from the packaging. Lay on a floured board. Cut into 4 quarters and then each quarter into four pieces. Mix the powdered chocolate with the chopped chocolate. Brush the top of the Puff Pastry with the egg wash. Sprinkle with the chocolate mixture and place on the parchment. Bake the squares for 18-20 minutes or until nicely puffed and dry to the touch.
Crush the meringue cookies into fine crumbs. Place the crumbs evenly on four plates. Top with ¼ cup of lemon curd, and then top with the chocolate puff pastry. Add raspberry sauce and fresh berries to the plate.
Lemon Curd
INGREDIENTS
4 large eggs
1 cup sugar
2/3 cups fresh lemon juice
Grated zest of one lemon
½ stick (2 ounces) unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into 8 pieces
INSTRUCTIONS
Use a bowl from an electric mixer that will fit over a saucepan of simmer water without touching the water. Fill the saucepan with 2 inches of water and bring the water to a simmer.
Add the eggs and sugar to the mixer bowl. Fit the mixer with a whisk attachment and whip at high speed until light and fluffy. Add the lemon juice and zest and whisk until incorporated. Set the mixer bowl over the simmering water and cook the mixture, whisking constantly by hand until smooth, thick and custard-like. Remove from the heat and one piece at a time whisk in the butter. Transfer to another bowl and cover with plastic. The curd can be made a week in advance. Keep in a refrigerator in an air-tight container.
Raspberry Sauce
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces of Raspberry Jam
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS
In a saucepan over medium heat, add the raspberry jam and melt. Whisk in the lemon juice and simmer for 20 minutes. Cool completely and refrigerate in an air-tight container for one week.
by Kathy Douglas | Apr 23, 2018 | Desserts
Choose your dessert straight up in a bourbon glass. Ditch that famous pie this Kentucky Derby and offer your guests a layered dessert in a bourbon rocks glass. We fitted bourbon infused brownies in the bottom of bourbon rocks glasses then added bourbon chocolate mousse, crème fraîche whipped cream and topped them with candied pecans. It’s a whole new twist on a“neat” bourbon.
Bourbon Brownie
INGREDIENTS
⅓ cup butter, plus extra softened to grease the pan
Ground unsweetened cocoa to flour the pan
¾ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup granulated sugar
3-1/2 ounces chopped high-quality bittersweet chocolate, preferably Scharffen-Berger chocolate
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons bourbon
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. With softened butter, grease an 8 x 8” baking pan. Line the bottom and up two sides with one piece of parchment; grease the parchment. Flour the pan and parchment liner with unsweetened ground cocoa; set aside.
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan combine sugar, butter, and 2 tablespoons of water. Cook and stir over medium heat just until boiling. Remove from heat.
Stir in the chopped chocolate pieces until melted. In a large bowl combine the eggs and vanilla. Slowly temper in the warm chocolate mixture into the eggs beating with a whisk until just combined. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading evenly.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean and edges start to pull away from sides of pan. Place pan on a wire rack and brush the top of the hot brownies with the bourbon. The brownies can be made a day ahead of time. Wrap airtight after completely cooled and store at room temperature.
Candied Pecans
INGREDIENTS
1 egg white
¼ cup sugar
Pinch of kosher salt
1 cup whole pecans
2 teaspoons turbinado sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 325° F. Line a quarter baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the egg whites until frothy. Add the sugar, salt, and whisk to incorporate. Toss in the pecans and mix until coated. Pour the nuts on the prepared baking sheet. Separate and place the nuts flat side down and sprinkle the tops with the turbinado sugar. Bake for 15 minutes or until browned. Let cool completely. Can be made a day ahead of time. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Bourbon Chocolate Mousse
INGREDIENTS
½ cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoons kosher salt
4 ounces high quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped, preferably Scharffen-Berger chocolate
4 large egg whites, at room temperature
INSTRUCTIONS
Bring the heavy cream and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan and immediately remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the bourbon, vanilla and salt. Add the chocolate and let it sit for 5 minutes without stirring. Whisk the chocolate and cream until smooth and transfer to a large bowl.
In another bowl, beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed until they form stiff peaks. With a rubber spatula, fold about one-third of the beaten whites into the chocolate to lighten it. Then gently fold in the remaining whites, in two batches, just until the white streaks disappear, being careful not to deflate the whites. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Vanilla Whipped Cream With Crème Fraîche
INGREDIENTS
1 ½ tablespoons confectioners sugar
1 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoons crème fraîche
INSTRUCTIONS
Chill the mixing bowl and whisk for 30 minutes in the freezer. Add the sugar and cream to the chilled bowl and fit an electric mixer fitted with the chilled whisk. Beat to medium peaks. Add the vanilla and crème fraîche then beat until incorporated and mixture is forming stiff peaks.
Assembly On The Day Of Your Event
Using a small knife or cookie cutter, cut a piece of brownie to fit inside the bottom of each of the six bourbon rocks glasses. Top with ⅙ of the chocolate mousse, then ⅙ of the vanilla whipped cream. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve. Right before serving, top each with the candied pecans.
by Kathy Douglas | Apr 16, 2018 | Desserts
These delicious morsels not only taste great and travel well but also sustain travelers well. So if you are headed out for a spring day or down to the waterfront to celebrate the seasonal events, bring some Trail Mix Cookies packed full of nuts, dried fruit, oats, coconut, chocolate chips and peanut butter chips to keep your energy going. The brown butter drizzle icing isn’t necessary, but we just loved the extra flavor.
INGREDIENTS
Cookies
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
½ teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 tablespoon warm water
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted and cooled
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup peanut butter chips
½ cup roasted and salted peanuts
½ cup roasted and salted cashew pieces
½ cup raisins
Brown Butter Icing
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
INSTRUCTIONS
Cookies
In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, and oats. In the work bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and with the sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, the baking soda mixture and the vanilla. Add the flour/oat mixture and mix until just combined. Stir in the coconut, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, peanuts, cashews, and raisins. Cover and chill the dough for one hour in the refrigerator.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Drop rounds of two tablespoons of the dough about two inches apart onto parchment lined baking sheets. Flatten the tops then bake the cookies in batches in the middle of the oven for 12 to 14 minutes, or until they are golden. Cool slightly on the baking sheets then transfer them with a metal spatula to cooling racks, and let them cool completely.
Brown Butter Icing
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until nut-brown in color, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat, and pour the melted butter into a bowl, leaving any dark brown sediment behind in the pan; discard the residue. Add the sugar, vanilla, and one tablespoon milk; whisk until smooth. If the icing is too thick to thin you can add the extra milk one tablespoon at a time whisking until you reach your desired consistency. Drizzle over the cookies and allow the icing to set before packing and storing in air-tight containers.
Makes about 24 cookies.
by Kathy Douglas | Feb 12, 2018 | Desserts
Show your love this Valentine’s Day with tasty mini cream puffs served with a creamy cinnamon sauce. Using pâte à choux dough to make these little treats, they are baked and filled with cinnamon whipped cream for a delightful Valentine treat. Our tasty dipping cinnamon sauce uses “Red Hots” candy tamed with cream to a beautiful rich smooth cinnamon flavor.
If you’re not a fan of “Red Hots” don’t let that deter you from trying this sauce – it has converted many who are not a fan of the candy. The cream softens the flavor to make a sweet, smooth, creamy cinnamon sauce.
Cream Puff Pastry (pâte à choux)
INGREDIENTS
1 cup water
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, cut into 16 thin slices
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs, plus egg whites if needed
1 egg for egg wash
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine water, salt, butter, and sugar. Bring to a boil and quickly stir in all at once the flour with a wooden spoon. Continue stirring for about 3 minutes or until the cohesive mixture starts to pull away from the pan and leaves a film of flour on the sides of the pan.
Remove from heat and transfer contents to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat for one minute or until slightly cooled. Add four of the eggs, one at a time, beating vigorously to incorporate the egg after each addition entirely. Check the consistency of the batter by dragging a wooden spoon through it. When the groove slowly closes on itself, you have added enough eggs. If not, add egg whites, one at a time, until the dough passes the groove test.
For the egg wash, whisk together the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water. Set aside.
Transfer the dough to a large pastry bag fitted with a 5/8-inch plain tip. Pipe 1-1/2-inch rounds onto each parchment lined sheet tray. Gently smooth the pointed peaks with a moistened finger, rounding the tops to ensure even rising. Brush tops with the egg wash. Bake until puffs rise and are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove baked puffs from the oven and using a very sharp knife, cut a slit into the side of each one allowing steam to escape and help prevent soggy puffs. Return them to the oven for 5 minutes longer, then remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store the baked Puffs at room temperature for up to 1 day.
Cinnamon “Red Hots” Sauce
INGREDIENTS
⅓ cup sugar
¼ cup Cinnamon Red Hots candy
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon cornstarch
⅔ cup water
¼ cup heavy cream
5 drops red food coloring
INSTRUCTIONS
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, Red Hots candy, cinnamon, cornstarch, and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, frequently stirring to melt the candy. When dissolved, boil for 5 minutes, stirring the entire time. Remove from the heat and strain through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a bowl. (This removes any impurities or wax in the candy.) Add back into a clean saucepan over medium heat and return to a boil; whisk in the cream and food coloring. Reduce the heat to medium-low, so the sauce is at just a simmer and cook, occasionally stirring, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and store in the refrigerator. The sauce can be made the day before use.
Cinnamon Cream Filling
INGREDIENTS
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
Pour heavy cream into chilled bowl. Beat on high speed using a stand mixer or hand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Slowly add the sugar and cinnamon. Continue beating until stiff peaks form.
To Assemble:
INGREDIENTS
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
Transfer the whipped cream into pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip. Insert the tip into the slit in each puff, and pipe to fill with the cinnamon pastry cream. Mix the powdered sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over the cream puffs. Serve immediately with the Cinnamon Sauce on the plate or serve on the side. Makes 25-30 mini-puffs.
by Kathy Douglas | Feb 6, 2018 | Desserts
All dressed up in pink and chocolate. Why give your special Valentine just one when they can have two? These easy mix-and-match iced sugar cookies are perfect for a gift, or just celebrating Valentine’s Day. Using Dorie Greenspan’s very easy Do-Almost-Anything Vanilla Cookie Dough and her Do-Almost-Anything Chocolate Cookie Dough, these recipes produce a total of 20-24 mix-and-match cookies. Or, choose just one method and double the ingredients for 20-24 cookies.
Chocolate Sugar Cookies with Pink Icing
Chocolate Dough
INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
⅓ cup cocoa unsweetened powder
2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into slices, at room temperature
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and more for sprinkling on the cookies
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 large egg white, room temperature
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk the flour and cocoa together. Combine the butter, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer, or using a handheld mixer, beat at medium speed for about 3 minutes or until creamy. Stop once or twice to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Combine the egg whites and vanilla extract. Reduce the speed to low and add the mixture. The dough may curdle, but it will smooth out once the flour is added.
On low speed, add the flour in 3 or 4 additions, only beat until it is almost incorporated before the next portion goes in. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed.
Evenly divide the dough and shape into two disks. Wrap in plastic cling wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours. Working with one disk at a time, roll out to a thickness of ¼ inch. Using cookie cutters, cut into an even number of rounds and heart shapes, rerolling scraps as needed. Stack the shapes between parchment paper on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before baking.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the cookie dough shapes on the baking sheets. Sprinkle the hearts only with sugar. Bake for 19 to 21 minutes until the cookies’ edges start to become golden. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Pink Royal Icing
INGREDIENTS
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
4 tablespoons meringue powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water
5 drops red food coloring
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the sugar and meringue powder to a bowl on a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or use a handheld mixer with a whisk attachment, and mix lightly together. Mix three tablespoons of the water with the vanilla and add to the dry ingredients. Mixing on low, slowly add the remaining water little by little until the mixture reaches the consistency of molasses. At this point, turn the mixer to high and whip for approximately three until the icing is light and fluffy with soft peaks like meringue. Add the food coloring and whip to distribute the color evenly.
Assembly: Spread the icing on the rounds and top with a heart cookie. Make 10-12 cookies.
Pink Sugar Cookies with Chocolate Icing
Pink Dough
INGREDIENTS
2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into slices, at room temperature
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, and more for sprinkling on the cookies
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 large egg white, room temperature
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
5 drops red food coloring
2 cups all-purpose flour
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine the butter, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer, or using a handheld mixer, beat at medium speed for about 3 minutes or until creamy. Stop once or twice to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Combine the egg whites, vanilla extract, and red food coloring. Reduce the speed to low and add the mixture. The dough may curdle, but it will smooth out once the flour is added.
On low speed, add the flour in 3 or 4 additions, beating only until it is almost incorporated before the next portion goes in. Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed.
Evenly divide the dough and shape into two disks. Wrap in plastic cling wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours. Working with one disk at a time, roll out to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Using cookie cutters, cut into an even number of rounds and heart shapes, rerolling scraps as needed. Stack the shapes between parchment paper on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before baking.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the cookie dough shapes on the baking sheets. Sprinkle the hearts only with sugar. Bake for 19 to 21 minutes until the cookies’ edges start to become golden. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Chocolate Royal icing
INGREDIENTS
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup meringue powder
1½ teaspoons vanilla
¼ cup, plus 3 tablespoons warm water
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the sugar, cocoa powered and meringue powder to a bowl on a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or use a handheld mixer with a whisk attachment, and mix lightly together. Mix four tablespoons of the water with the vanilla and add to the dry ingredients. Mixing on low, slowly add the remaining water little by little until the mixture reaches the consistency of molasses. At this point, turn the mixer to high and whip for approximately two-four minutes until the icing is light and fluffy with soft peaks like meringue.
Assembly: Spread the icing on the rounds and top with a heart cookie. Make 10-12 cookies.
by Kathy Douglas | Nov 28, 2017 | Desserts
Whether you and your holiday guests are Peppermint Bark fans, or not, everyone will enjoy this fantastic dessert – two-layers of cheesecake, one dark chocolate and one white chocolate topped with peppermint candy. Our recipe starts with a chocolate cookie crumb bottom topped with a layer of dark chocolate cheesecake. Next, a white chocolate cheesecake layer is added, and the cake is finished with a white chocolate ganache topping sprinkled with crushed candy canes.
To ensure a smooth, creamy texture for your cheesecake, have the cream cheese and eggs at room temperature. Additionally, this recipe uses a water bath (Bain Marie) technique to bake the cheesecake. This gentle method prevents your cheesecake from cracking in the center. Be sure to carefully wrap the springform pan with three pieces of heavy-duty foil to prevent the water from leaking into your cheesecake.
INGREDIENTS
Crust
2-1/2 cups high-quality, crisp chocolate cookies
1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch salt
¼ cup butter, melted
Chocolate layer
7.5 ounces high-quality bittersweet dark bar chocolate (preferably Scharffen Berger 70% Cocoa Bittersweet or Ghirardelli Chocolate), chopped
3 packages cream cheese, 8 ounces each at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 ½ tablespoons flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 extra large eggs, room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons pure peppermint extract
White chocolate layer
2.5 ounce high quality, white bar chocolate, preferably Ghirardelli, chopped
1 package, cream cheese, 8 ounces, at room temperature
7 tablespoons sugar
1 ½ teaspoons flour
1 extra large egg, room temperature
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Topping
¼ cup heavy cream
5.5 ounces high-quality white chocolate, finely chopped
½ cup finely crushed candy canes
INSTRUCTIONS
For crust:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Add a round piece of parchment to the bottom of the pan; butter the parchment.
Place the cookies in a food processor and grind until finely ground, Add the sugar and a pinch of salt and process until combined. Add the melted butter and process until well blended. Press crumbs evenly onto bottom only of the prepared pan. Bake just until set, about 8 minutes. Cool, leaving the oven on. When cooled, wrap the outside of the pan carefully using three layers of heavy-duty foil and be sure to keep the foil tight to prevent the water from leaking into your cheesecake. Place in a large roasting pan.
For the dark chocolate layer:
Stir chopped chocolate in metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Do not let the bowl touch the water. Remove and cool chocolate until just lukewarm. Meanwhile, In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour, and cocoa powder until smooth. Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the peppermint extract, mix in well, then add the chocolate and completely combine. Pour the filling over the crust; smooth the top. Add hot water to the roasting pan about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Place in the oven and bake the chocolate layer until the center is just softly set and starting to puff around the edges, about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes. While the chocolate layer bakes, make the white chocolate layer.
For the white chocolate layer:
Stir chopped white chocolate in metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove the bowl and cool the chocolate slightly. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and flour until smooth. Add the egg and mix well. Add the peppermint extract, then add the melted white chocolate and mix until well combined.
Starting at the edges, carefully spoon the white chocolate batter over the warm dark chocolate cheesecake; smooth the top. Place back in the oven and bake until the white chocolate filling is set in the center, about 30 minutes. When set, turn the oven off, open the door to release some heat, then leave in the oven one hour. Remove from the oven and carefully lift out of the water bath; remove the foil. Cool 15 minutes then run a thin knife around sides of cake to loosen from the pan. Cool completely in the springform pan, cover and chill overnight in the refrigerator.
For topping:
In a small saucepan over low heat, heat the cream to a simmer, stirring frequently. Meanwhile, place the finely chopped white chocolate in small bowl set over warm water on low heat. Stir often until melted. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth.
Add two-thirds of hot cream to melted white chocolate and gently stir to incorporate and then whisk until smooth. Gradually stir in remaining cream. Pour immediately into the center of the cheesecake, spreading into a smooth circle about ½” from the edge all the way around. Immediately top with the crushed candy cane pieces, pressing them into the white chocolate ganache. Chill in the refrigerator until the ganache is set.
Release the springform pan and remove the outer ring. Transfer cheesecake to platter. Let stand 2 hours at room temperature before serving. Makes 16 servings.
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