Lemon Cake - The best you've ever had

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I was going through my freezer and forgot I had lemon curd in there (I made it a while ago!). I had a dinner party, and a family lunch the next day so I made a big batch of lemon cake.

I found this recipe and was really excited to make it. I adjusted a few things and make it 100% better (Ha, in my humble opinion, and those of my family, that couldn't get enough of it!)


Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter , softened - (I used veggie oil)
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
5 tablespoons lemon juice - (I used 6 tbsp of lemon curd)
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons lemon zest - (I didn't put any in, it was already in the curd)

Icing - (I doubled the recipe, I love a lot of icing!)
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter , softened
2 tablespoons lemon juice - (I used 2-4 tbsp of lemon curd)
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest - (I didn't use this, it was already in the lemon curd)
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
Additional lemon juice or milk , as needed



Instructions:

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 10 x 10 in. pan with vegetable pan spray.

Step 2
 In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; mix well. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, lemon juice and vanilla; mix until smooth. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in lemon zest. Place batter in prepared pan.

Step 3
Bake 30-33 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Remove from pan; cool completely.

Step 4
For icing, beat shortening and butter in large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add lemon juice and zest; mix well. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. If icing is dry, add additional lemon juice or milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Color as desired with icing color. Ice cake and if desired, garnish with fresh lemon zest curls and mint.

I thought the above cake was pretty, this picture (below) is what it really looks like.

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Funnel Cake; My New Best Friend

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I'm not sure if you're ever had funnel cake before, but it's DELISH!

I've had it at festivals, and Disney World, and well, I can't get enough of it. We've made it a few times with friends, and I think it's even become a New Year's Day tradition.

SO, if you haven't tried it, it's a must.

Ingredients
2 cups milk
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) melted butter
Powdered sugar, for topping


Directions 
Combine milk, egg, vanilla in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and sugar and gradually add to wet ingredients. Beat with a mixer until a smooth batter forms. Fold in melted butter. Pour batter into a funnel or squeeze bottle while using your index finger to stop the flow of the batter. Bring the funnel over the hot oil and release your finger to start a stream of batter while moving the funnel in a circular motion to create spiral-like shapes. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown and slightly puffed. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Adapted from here

Flour-less Chocolate Cake

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So far this is the best flour-less chocolate cake I have found! It tastes amazing and is super moist and rich (I added more cocoa). I give it a 9 out of 10 (only because maybe there is still something better out there that I haven't found) 

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 6 1-ounce squares coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• For Glaze:
• 2 1-ounce squares coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate squares
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoon milk OR light coconut milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Agave syrup OR honey
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F

Spray a 7-inch tart pan with removable bottom with cooking spray. If you don't have a tart pan, use a 6 to 7-inch springform pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and spray the paper.

1. Melt 6 ounces of chopped chocolate and butter in a heavy saucepan over medium low heat. Stir until chocolate and butter are melted and smooth.
2. Add sugar and salt and reduce heat to low. Cook while stirring for about one minute, until sugar starts to dissolve.
3. Remove pan from heat. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. The mixture will look smooth and glossy.
4. Use a mesh hand sieve to sift cocoa into mixture. This prevents lumps. Whisk until the cake batter is smooth.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes. The center of the cake should be just firm to the touch, but be careful to not overbake the cake or it will be dry.
6. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Invert the cake on a plate.
7. To prepare the glaze, melt 2 ounces of chopped chocolate and 1 1/2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in the same saucepan you used to make the cake. When melted and smooth, remove the pan from heat. Add milk and Agave syrup OR honey and vanilla and stir until smooth and glossy. Let the glaze cool for about 3 minutes before pouring it on the cake.
8. Pour all of the glaze in the middle of the cake. Use a silicone or rubber spatula to spread the glaze evenly over the cake, allowing the glaze to evenly run down the sides of the cake.
   
   Serves 6

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Baking My Way: Cranberry and Orange Pinwheels

So as you can see my cookies didn't turn out so well. I'm not too sure what happened. The dough seemed fine, I rolled it just the way they said and in transfer to a cookie sheet, to put it in the fridge, it all fell apart. I decided instead of baking it like a blob I'd make it into a sort of cake. I lowered the temperature to 325 and back for around 45 minutes and you know, it turned out really great! I can't say I'm going to give this another go, still so many other recipes to try, but it's pretty great like a cake too, ha ha.

Cookies 
 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/4 teaspoon salt
 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

 Filling 
3/4 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
 1/4 cup orange marmalade
1 tablespoon cornstarch

In large bowl, beat brown sugar, butter and egg with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in remaining cookie ingredients until well blended, scraping bowl occasionally. Cover dough with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling.

Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, mix filling ingredients. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cover; refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

On lightly floured work surface, roll dough with rolling pin into 16x8-inch rectangle. Spoon and spread cooled filling evenly over dough to within 1/2 inch of edges. Starting with one 16-inch side, roll up. Cut roll in half to form 2 (8-inch) rolls. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375°F. Generously grease cookie sheets with shortening or cooking spray. With sharp knife, cut dough into 1/2-inch slices; place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. 5 Bake 9 to 13 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets.

Truffles, Truffles, Truffles!

Cookie Dough

  Birthday Cake

Oreo

  Coconut

Peanut Butter

  Thin Mints 

How to temper chocolate

 So I made these last nigh!! YUM!! I had never tempered chocolate before and so I'm pretty proud of my first go! If you've ever wondered how to do it here you go!

Chop your chocolate. It is best to use at least 1 pound of chocolate, as it is easier to temper (and retain the temper) of larger amounts of chocolate. If this is more than you need, you can always save the extra for later use. Be sure that your chocolate is in block or bar form, not chocolate chips. The chips have additives that allow them to retain their shape at higher temperatures, and so they will not temper properly.

Melt 2/3 of your chocolate. Place it in the top of a double boiler, set over simmering water. Securely clip a chocolate or instant-read thermometer to the side of the boiler to monitor the chocolate’s temperature.

Stir gently but steadily as the chocolate melts and heats up. Use a rubber spatula, not a wooden or metal spoon.

Bring the chocolate to 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 C) for dark chocolate or 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 C) for milk or white chocolate. Do not allow the chocolate to exceed its recommended temperature. When it is at the right temperature, remove it from the heat, wipe the bottom of the bowl, and set it on a heat-proof surface.

Add the remaining chunks of chocolate and stir gently to incorporate. The warm chocolate will melt the chopped chocolate, and the newly added chocolate will bring down the temperature of the warm chocolate.

Cool the chocolate. Once the chocolate gets below 84 degrees F (29 C), remove the remaining chunks of chocolate. They can be cooled, wrapped in plastic wrap, and saved for another use.

Reheat the chocolate briefly. Place the chocolate bowl over the warm water in the double boiler for 5-10 seconds, remove it and stir, and repeat, until the temperature reaches 88-89 degrees F (31 C), or 87 F (30 C) for milk and white chocolate. Do not leave the chocolate over the hot water, or allow it to exceed 91 degrees.

Your chocolate should now be tempered! To make sure it has been done properly, do a spot test: spread a spoonful thinly over an area of waxed paper and allow it to cool. If the chocolate is shiny and smooth, it is properly tempered. If it is dull or streaky, it has not been tempered correctly.

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Chocolate Guinness Cake

Oh yum!! I'm not a beer drinker but I think I would really like this cake! Check out the recipe here.

Salted Caramel Six Layer Chocolate Cake

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Doesn't this look amazing? I can't wait to try this recipe! Check it out here!

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

 

 I love this zucchini bread. It's so moist, and rich, and you can't even tell there's any zucchini in it. This recipe is taking the place of my usual chocolate cake recipe, it's that much better! I know it's just a zucchini bread recipe but it makes amazing cupcakes, cake, and you could change it up a little bit to make it even healthier.

 

Ingredients

• 4 cups grated zucchini (from about a pound and a half of zucchini)
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa (use natural unsweetened cocoa, NOT Dutch processed)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter (12 Tbsp or 1 1/2 sticks), melted
• 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Method

1 Place the freshly grated zucchini in a sieve over a bowl to catch any excess moisture as it drains, while you work on prepping the other ingredients and preparing the recipe. If for some reason your zucchini is on the dry side, hydrate the shredded zucchini by soaking it in water first, and then place in sieve.

2 Preheat oven to 350°F, with a rack in the middle. Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans with baking spray or butter.

3 Vigorously whisk together the flour, unsweetened cocoa, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Whisk until there are no more clumps and the ingredients are well combined.

4 In a separate large bowl, beat together the sugar and eggs until smooth, about a minute. You can do this with an electric mixer on medium speed, or by hand with a wooden spoon. (I'm lazy and use a mixer but it's easy enough to do by hand.) Add the melted butter, instant coffee granules, and almond extract and beat until smooth.

5 Mix the shredded zucchini into the sugar egg mixture. Add the flour to the zucchini mixture in 3 additions, stirring to combine after each addition.

6 Work quickly, and divide the batter between the two prepared loaf pans. (Work quickly because once the dry ingredients have mixed with the wet ingredients, the leavening has begun.) Place into the oven. Bake for 50 minutes at 350°F, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and easily. Remove to a rack. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then run a blunt knife around the edges to separate the bread from the pan. Remove from the loaf pans and let cool completely on a rack. 

Adapted from here 

Double Berry Swirl Pound~like Cake

Doesn't this look great? It's a perfect summer time cake/bread too!! Check out the yummy (and easy) recipe here.

Baking Goal: Lemon Pound Cake

Every day for morning tea when I lived in Australia we had a lemon cake like this! It brings back such good memories! 

Check out the recipe at Goddess of Baking

14 Layer Cake

Oh my gosh! Wow! I want this cake, all to myself, right now! Doesn't it look amazing?! I've never taken on a cake like this before but I think I'm going to give it a go. I need a good reason, and I already have all the valentine's day stuff covered for this year, so maybe next year? Or my birthday? Or Marshall's birthday? But then I really would be waiting a while. Well either way I'm going to do it and I'll show you my take on it when I do!

In the mean time check out these great photos (I'm using them as inspiration!) and the recipe!

The Cake
Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour , sifted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter , at room temperature
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 6 large eggs , at room temperature
• 3 cups milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder , preferably Dutch process
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter , cut up
• 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Pecan halves, for garnish

Directions

Position racks in the center and bottom third of the oven and preheat to 375°. Lightly butter four 8 1/2- to 9-inch cake pans (you will bake the cakes in three batches) and line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper. Flour the pans and tap out the excess.

To make the layers, sift together the sifted flour, baking powder and salt. Sift the mixture one more time, and set aside.

Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with the paddle blade on high speed until light in color and texture, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Scrape down the bowl and be sure the mixture is well-blended. On low speed, add the flour in 3 additions, alternating with 2 additions of the milk, beginning and ending with the flour, and beat until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl often with a rubber spatula. Beat in the vanilla. Using a scant cup for each layer, spread the batter evenly in the pans. It will make a thin layer.

Staggering the pans on the racks so they are at least 2 inches from each other and the sides of the oven and not directly over each other, bake the layers until they feel firm when pressed in the centers and are beginning to pull away from the sides of the pans, about 12 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Invert the layers onto cake racks, remove the parchment paper, and cool completely. Wash and prepare the pans. Repeat the procedure until all 12 layers have been baked and cooled.

To make the icing, bring the sugar, cocoa, butter and evaporated milk to a full boil in a large saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the icing has thickened slightly (it will resemble chocolate syrup but will thicken as it cools), about 3 minutes. Stir in the vanilla. Let the icing cool until thick enough to spread, but still pourable.

Place a layer of cake on a wire rack set over a jelly-roll pan. Spread with a few tablespoons of the icing, letting the excess run down the sides. Stack the remaining cakes, icing each layer. Pour the remaining icing over the top of the cake. If you wish, smooth the icing on the edges to cover the sides. Place pecan halves around the top perimeter of the cake. Let stand until the glaze sets. (The cake is best served the day it is made. To store, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day.)

Recommended technique: If you buy inexpensive aluminum foil cake pans at the grocery store (they can be saved for another time as well), you will be able to knock out layers in no time. And no washing between baking!

Dark Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder ( I used Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa)
1 box (1 lb) confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1-3 Tbsp milk

• Cream the butter and cream cheese with a mixer.
• Add the cocoa and vanilla.
• Add the confectioner’s sugar in small batches and blend on low until combined. Scrape down sides with each addition.
• Add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until you get the consistency you desire.

For all the yummy details check out the original post!

Baking Goal: Old-Fashioned Chocolate Layer Cake

Doesn't this look great? I posted about the Lilac Bakery a few weeks ago and this cake looks almost exactly the same and I just can't wait to try it! 

Check out the recipe at Our Best Bites

My Next Birthday Cake

I know my birthday is far away but I'm already dreaming about my next birthday cake :)

Baking Goal: Mango Cream Cake

Mango! I love mango! I think it's from all my travels and being in places where they naturally grow and getting that right from the tree fruit. 

Check out the great recipe at Don't Disturb This Groove

Cherry Chocolate Cheese Cake

 My dad was going away and he was going to be away still when his birthday happened so I got it together and baked him a cake and had him over. His favorite cake is black forest so I thought this would be pretty close (I wanted to used what I had in the house)

 Ingredients
1 pkg (each 8 oz/250 g) cream cheese
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
1 Pinch salt
1 1/2 cups sour cream
3/4 cup of pitted cherries
1 bar of chocolate (or as much as you want!)

Crust:
10 graham crackers 


Preparation

1. Crust: Layer the graham crackers at the bottom of a 7'' spring form pan

2. In large bowl, beat cream cheese until softened. Gradually beat in sugar; beat for 3 minutes or until smooth and light, scraping down bowl twice. Using low speed, beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down bowl often. Blend in lemon juice, vanilla and salt, then sour cream. Pour over crust.

3. Bake in centre of 325°F (160°C) oven for 1-1/4 hours or until shine disappears and edge is set yet centre still jiggles slightly. Let cool. Service with chocolate or cherry sauce or ice cream!  

Bread Pudding

This was my first time making bread pudding and I'm really excited now about all the options out there on different variations. This recipe is super simple and I love that you can use up all those loaf ends (that no one in my house wants to eat)!

Ingredients
6 slices day-old bread
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Break bread into small pieces into an 8 inch square baking pan. Drizzle melted butter or margarine over bread. If desired, sprinkle with raisins.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Beat until well mixed.

Pour over bread, and lightly push down with a fork until bread is covered and soaking up the egg mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly tapped.

Baking Goal: Vanilla Peach Coffee Cake

Oh yum! I almost broke down and made this today but I just have to wait until I'm done my baking challenge.

Check out the recipe at Flour Me With Love

Mocha Mud Pie for my brithday

Now mud pie is my all time favorite dessert and I've had it right a couple of times (one being back home) but I find it's very hard to find a place that does it just right (to my standards at least, and I'm pretty picky when it comes to this!) so I decided for my birthday this year I was going to try and make it (I thought that would be a good idea now that I have an ice cream maker!).

I searched high and low for a good recipe but most of them weren't very good or sort of cheated using premade ice cream so I came up with my own, with a little help from here and here.

I couldn't be happier with how it turned out and I kid you not it's the best mud pie I have ever had! (And I'm not just saying that because I made it. I'd be honest if it sucked! ha ha)

It's pretty easy to make:
1) Make the crust, press down into 2 3'' spring form pan (I'm sure this would also be enough for a 6'' or a thinner cake in a 9'')

2) Make the ice cream and spread over crust
(I had some store bought hot fudge sauce that I put a spoonful of right in the middle of the crust before I poured the ice cream in. It was a nice treat to discover that when eating the cake after. I haven't found a good recipe yet to make it at home but at soon as I do you bet I'll be posting it!)

3) Set in freezer at least over night


Mocha Ice Cream

• 1 cup whip cream
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt
• 2-3 tablespoons instant coffee granules
• 1/4 cup chocolate syrup

Preparation: 

Combine ingredients. Stir until sugar and coffee granules dissolve. Freeze according to ice cream freezer's directions.

Chocolate Syrup
1 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 dash salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:
Stir together.

Boil 2-5 minutes, stirring rapidly, until sauce begins to thicken.

This must be stored in the fridge.


Crust
13 Oreos
1 tbsp Butter

Preparation:
Take 13 oreos & 1 tbsp butter, grind up, smooth it out in the spring form pans

(The toppings are just whip cream and store bought caramel sauce) 

Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake

This cake is wonderful! It's super moist and very tasty! I didn't peel the apples because, well they were tiny and that's way more effort that I want to put in and a lot of the nutrients are in the peel.

I loved the crumbly layer. I think next time I will double that part of the recipe because I love that part so much.

I give this recipe a 5 out of 5. I will most definitely make this coffee cake again! 


Ingredients

Cake:

1 stick plus 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups peeled, cored and chopped apples

Crumble Topping:

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Brown Sugar Glaze:

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish with 2 teaspoons of the butter.

In a large bowl, cream together the remaining stick of butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating after the addition of each. In a separate bowl or on a piece of parchment, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients, alternating with the sour cream and vanilla. Fold in the apples. Pour into the prepared baking dish, spreading out to the edges.

To make the topping, in a bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter, and mix until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the topping over the cake and bake until golden brown and set, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes.

To make the glaze, in a bowl, combine the sugar, vanilla, and water and mix until smooth. Drizzle the cake with the glaze and let harden slightly. Serve warm.

Adapted from... Here!