Recipes

Subterms

    consigliato per te

    • in Recipes

      Chickpea Water or Aquafaba Meringue Cookies

      ha scritto per te

      Try this recipe the next time you open a can of chickpeas! Deliciously crunchy, light, and airy meringue cookies can be made using aquafaba, which is the water that surrounds chickpeas in their commercially prepared can.It’s been said -repeatedly- this past month by various cooking sites, blogs, and news outlets – canned chickpeas are having a moment. It’s the shelf-stable food of choice for many during these days of sheltering at home, because they are loaded with nutrients, protein, and they make an excellent replacement for meat in lots of dishes.I always keep canned chickpeas in my pantry, but I’ve been draining away a useful ingredient every time I made my favorite chickpea dishes! Chickpeas leach starch and protein into the water that surrounds them in their cans, which makes the liquid whippable to voluminous proportions!
      Begin by draining the chickpeas into a sieve over a bowl or glass measure. You should have about 6 oz. of aquafaba from one 15.5oz (439g) can. This is just a smidge more than 3/4 cup.
      Use an electric hand mixer or a standing mixer to whip the bean water, along with some cream of tartar and powdered sugar. It’s miraculous how billowy this stuff gets! I researched a few recipes that used granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar, but I found the powdered sugar gave the most fluffy end result.(Side note: If you’re looking for a cheap, powerful hand mixer, this one is ridiculously strong. Low speed is like high speed. I don’t know how long it will last, but for the past month it has replaced my 5 speed KitchenAid hand mixer for its swift work. Be sure to read all the reviews! They are mixed.)
      You can tint the meringue by folding in gel food color. Try to do this quickly, because I found that as the meringue stands it begins to lose volume. I re-whipped some of the mixture that began looking deflated, and it puffed right back up!
      I went a little crazy with varying the shapes and colors of the cookies, but I really enjoyed the process. If you don’t have piping tips, you could simply drop the meringues from a spoon on parchment, or use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped to pipe some meringue kiss shapes.
      Sprinkles make me happy! 
      Sprinkle tiny nonpareils over the meringues before baking, if desired. Most any sprinkle will survive well in the oven because they bake at a very low temperature.
      I piped a few meringue nests to hold all of the little colorful meringues, which made things feel a little more springy.

      I had some passionfruit flavoring on hand (from this set) which made these cookies so delicious! A few meringues were dipped in chocolate, or drizzled. I highly recommend doing this.
      Aquafaba meringues are even lighter than those made with real egg whites. Chickpea water has less protein in it than egg whites (2.4g for the water versus about 3.6g each white) which could account for its cotton candy-like texture (they practically melt in your mouth!). I also think using the powdered sugar helped keep them super airy.I encourage you to try making a batch next time you’re planning to use chickpeas (zero waste feels good!). But plan ahead, because like standard egg meringues, these cookies need to bake at a low temperature for a couple of hours.

      Chickpea Water or Aquafaba Meringue CookiesYields about 6 dozen1 can (15.5 oz/439g) chickpeas1 teaspoon clear extract (do not use oil-based candy flavoring)1 teaspoon cream of tartar1 cup (140g) powdered sugarOptional:Gel food coloringSprinkles, nonpareilsMelted chocolatePreheat oven to 200°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.Drain the chickpea water into a cup or bowl. Reserve chickpeas for another use.Pour the chickpea water into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium speed until frothy. Add the clear extract and increase the speed to high. With this mixer running, add the cream of tartar. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time (3-4 additions) while the mixer runs. When the mixture turns opaque and fluffy, turn the mixer off and dip your mixer beater(s) into the meringue. If it holds a peak that stands on its own, it’s ready for baking. If not, continue to whip until this consistency is achieved.Divide and tint the meringue as desired. Pipe or spoon onto parchment-lined sheets. Add sprinkles if desired. Bake meringues for two hours, rotating the pans on the oven racks mid-bake. Turn off the oven and let the meringues cool completely inside the oven. (You can also remove and cool on the stove top, but the cookies are more prone to crack). Peel the meringues from the paper and dip in melted chocolate or drizzle.Store meringues in an air-tight container for 3-4 days.Notes:Oil-based flavorings will deflate aquafaba meringue. Make sure you use alcohol or water-based extracts. You could also add the seeds of one vanilla bean for flavor.Deflated meringue can be re-whipped. Pipe or spoon the meringues on the baking sheets soon after it is whipped to avoid them losing shape and becoming flat.
      link Chickpea Water or Aquafaba Meringue Cookies By Heather Baird Published: Thursday, April 09, 2020Thursday, April 09, 2020Chickpea Water or Aquafaba Meringue Cookies Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Strawberry Jam Muffins with Cinnamon Oat Streusel

      ha scritto per te

      These eggless muffins have a tender crumb and a pocket of strawberry jam baked inside. The cinnamon-oat streusel topping makes them so perfect for breakfast!I’m not sure why, but when I wake up in the morning it takes a while for my appetite to kick in. My husband on the other hand, is ready for breakfast the moment his feet hit the floor. His preference is something sweet – waffles, pancakes, English muffins with jam or cream cheese pastries. Those recipes usually require a good amount of eggs, butter, and milk. Since we’re still carefully conserving those items, I turned to pantry staples once again – and these muffins are the result!
      The vanilla muffin batter is easy enough to whip together using a hand mixer, and it contains no eggs or butter. I used some canned evaporated milk in the recipe, but if you don’t have that on hand you can replace it with water, or even oat or nut milk.
      A dollop of jam is swirled into the centers of the muffins, and then each muffin is topped with a generous amount of streusel. Good streusel usually contains butter, but I used vegetable shortening which was just fine, but a little crumbly. If you have two tablespoons of butter to spare, then use that instead!
      I baked these in cupcake liners, which I prefer because clean-up is much easier. 

      This recipe can be endlessly varied with whatever jam you have on hand. I’m eyeing a jar of fig jam in the fridge that needs to be used for a second batch of muffins. I like these best warm, but not hot. Let them cool a little after you take them out of the oven, because the jam in the center is molten and will burn your tongue (I learned the hard way!).We really loved these, and I hope you will too!

      Strawberry Jam Muffins with Cinnamon Oat StreuselYields 12 muffinsMuffins1 3/4 cup (210g) all-purpose flour3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 cup (120ml)evaporated milk (can substitute water, oat or nut milk, or cow’s milk)1/3 cup (80ml) vegetable oil1 tablespoon white vinegar or cider vinegar1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/2 cup (120ml) water6 tablespoons strawberry jam or other jam (tested with Smucker’s Seedless Strawberry Jam)Streusel1/3 cup (40g) all-purpose flour1/3 cup (25g) old-fashioned oats1 tablespoon sugar1 tablespoon ground cinnamonPinch of salt2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening (or cold butter or margarine)Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a standard cupcake pan with 12 paper liners.In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt. Whisk to combine. Add the evaporated milk (or recommended substitution), oil, vinegar, and extract. Mix on low speed until thick. Add the water and mix again until the batter is smooth with a pourable consistency.In a small bowl, stir the jam with a spoon until smooth. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin and place about 1-2 teaspoons of jam in the centers of each cup of batter. Use a skewer to swirl the jam down into the batter (turn the batter over the jam with the skewer instead of swirling it throughout the batter).For the streusel, combine the flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Add the shortening and use a fork to mash the ingredients together until crumbles form.Divide streusel mixture among the tops of each muffin and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20-23 minutes, or until the tops are well puffed and spring back when pressed. Or test with a toothpick – it should come out with only jam clinging to the pick, and no uncooked batter.Let cool before serving. These are wonderful served warm, but hot-from-the-oven muffins will hold a pocket of molten jam, which will cause burns. Let them cool down before serving.Store in an air-tight cupcake keeper, or on a platter covered with plastic wrap.
      link Strawberry Jam Muffins with Cinnamon Oat Streusel By Heather Baird Published: Saturday, April 04, 2020Saturday, April 04, 2020Strawberry Jam Muffins with Cinnamon Oat Streusel Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Flourless Brownie Cookies

      ha scritto per te

      These Flourless Brownie Cookies are absolutely irresistible with their crisp, crackled exteriors and chewy, fudgy centers.I think we all should stop and give ourselves a pat on the back for making it through the strange and turbulent month that was March. It seems we are in for more social distancing this month, and I am ready to comply. The next 30 days will surely have its challenges, but whenever I feel stressed or anxious I like to put on my metaphorical Mr. Spock ears – it’s time to be logical. Or at least try to be as much as possible. With level heads and strong hearts, we can do this!Although I have some flour on hand (and bread recipes are sure to follow) I’m still favoring flourless recipes. I wonder, what are you baking right now? And what ingredients are you having trouble finding? Today I’m sharing this deeply chocolaty cookie recipe that only requires one fresh ingredient: egg whites. (Or, fresh-ish egg whites, the carton of liquid whites I had in the back of my fridge worked perfectly in this recipe!)
      The recipe is adapted from chef François Payard’s famous Chocolate Epiphany cookies. It begins very simply with powdered sugar and cocoa. Egg whites are added in a variable amount – you’ll need about 2, although I used 2 1/2. The amount of cornstarch in powdered sugar varies across brands, which is why you’ll use more or less egg whites.You’ll need the muscle of an electric mixer for this batter, because it will be thick and sticky. Upon completion it should resemble thick brownie batter.
      Dollop batter on your largest parchment-lined cookie sheet, about four inches apart. These cookies will spread as they bake!
      I added coarse pieces of English walnuts to the batter because my favorite brownies also have a hearty amount of walnuts in them. I highly recommend adding a few walnut pieces on top of the unbaked cookie batter, because the nuts toast as they bake.
      If you really want to elevate these cookies, add a sprinkle of coarse or flake sea salt immediately after removing them from the oven. I used the DIY Vanilla Salt I made last Christmas – so, so good!

      My husband, who can be spare with praise, has proclaimed these as his new favorite cookie. I agree that they are exceptional. Their success relies on following the rules of using room temperature egg whites, and resting the batter as directed.

      Flourless Brownie CookiesYields about 131 1/2 cups (170g) powdered sugar6 tablespoons (35g) unsweet cocoa (I used dark cocoa)1/8 teaspoon salt1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons egg white (about 2 to 2 1/2 egg whites) room temperature2 tablespoons vegetable oil2 teaspoons vanilla extract1 cup (95g) coarse walnut pieces, plus more for garnishPreheat the oven to 350◦F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Lightly spray paper with cooking spray.In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, cocoa, and salt. Add 1/4 cup egg whites (2 whites) the oil, and the vanilla extract and mix on low speed using an electric mixer. Increase mixer speed to medium as the sugar and cocoa is absorbed into the liquids. The mixture should be very thick. If the mixture looks too dry, beat in additional egg white 1 tablespoon at a time. Add the walnuts and fold together using a rubber spatula. Allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes. The dough should be thick and viscous.Portion mixture well-spaced on the baking sheets using a cookie scoop or by the heaping tablespoon. Dot tops of cookies with additional walnut pieces, if desired. Let the dough rest on the pans 5 minutes.Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the tops are glossy and crackled. Watch them carefully so they don’t over-bake, especially if your oven tends to run hot. Allow the cookies to cool on the pans. When the cookies are completely cooled, gently peel them from the parchment paper. They will be soft and delicate, so do this carefully.Keep cookies in an air-tight container, and they will stay fresh for about 3 days.
      link Flourless Brownie Cookies By Heather Baird Published: Wednesday, April 01, 2020Wednesday, April 01, 2020Flourless Brownie Cookie Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Flourless Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

      ha scritto per te

      These flourless cookies are a quick fix and packed with big peanut butter flavor. They’re soft-baked for your ultimate snacking pleasure!Hello! I hope everyone reading this is doing well and feeling fine. I’m still baking on the practical side, trying to conserve and stretch ingredients, although yesterday’s post might make you think differently. However, the Easter Bunny Cake was created weeks ago when my kitchen life was different. Now it feels like an extravagance to have enough butter to whip up a big batch of buttercream frosting!Until life gets back to normal (and it will!), I’m leaning into easy recipes that rely on fewer ingredients, and that give us happiness and comfort. These cookies fit that description.
      Oatmeal is an ingredient that you can always find in my pantry. It’s a wonderful replacement for flour in this recipe. I used old-fashioned rolled oats, which gives the baked cookies chewy texture. If you only have quick-cooking oats, those will work too, but the cookies will be slightly softer.
      Eggs have been scarce, but this dough uses only uses 1, which I think is a pretty good trade-off for 1 1/2 dozen cookies. I considered halving this recipe, but then thought better of it. 18 cookies disappear pretty fast in my house (especially peanut butter cookies!). But if you’re not keen on baking a whole batch, then the dough freezes beautifully. Freeze half for later and your future self will thank you.
      Portion the cookies using a cookie scoop if you have one, or if you don’t, the amount of dough per cookie is about 4 teaspoons (4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon). Roll cookies into balls and then flatten with your palm or the bottom of a cup or bowl.

      10 minutes of oven time will yield a soft-baked cookie with set edges and a soft middle. Fresh from the oven they’ll be too soft to transfer to a cooling rack, so allow them to cool on the pan.This is such an easy little weekend bake with big payoff! Keep them in a zip-top bag with the air removed, or in an air-tight container and they’ll last all week.

      Flourless Peanut Butter Oatmeal CookiesYields 18 cookiesIf you’re avoiding gluten, be sure to use oats and baking chips clearly labeled “gluten-free”.1 cup (270g) smooth/creamy peanut butter (shelf-stable)3/4 cup (160g) brown sugar, tightly packed1 large egg1 teaspoon vanilla extract3/4 cup (75g) old-fashioned rolled oats1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/3 cup (55g) semisweet chocolate chips, plus more for garnishPreheat oven to 350◦F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the peanut butter and brown sugar. Mix well on medium speed until creamy. Beat in the egg; mix in the vanilla extract.To the creamed mixture, add the oats, baking soda and baking powder. Beat on low speed until crumbly; mixture will be thick. Use a rubber spatula to fully incorporate the ingredients into the mixture. Fold in 1/3 cup of semisweet chocolate chips.Portion the dough using a cookie scoop (4 teaspoons, or 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon), roll into balls between your palms, and transfer to the prepared cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with your palm or the bottom of a cup or bowl. Dot tops of cookies with 3-4 additional chocolate chips.Bake for 10 minutes and cool completely on the pans. Transfer cookies to an air-tight container, or a zip-top bag with the air removed.Freeze cookies: After dough is rolled into balls, transfer them on the cookie sheet to the freezer. When the dough is frozen, transfer them to a zip-top bag with the air removed and return to the freezer. Thaw and flatten before baking as directed.
      link Flourless Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies By Heather Baird Published: Saturday, March 28, 2020Saturday, March 28, 2020Flourless Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Easter Bunny Cake

      ha scritto per te

      Hippity-hoppity, Easter’s on its way! Celebrate with this charming bunny-shaped carrot cake, complete with edible Easter grass and candy eggs.Easter is arriving earlier than usual this year (April 12th – last year it was on the 21st!), so now’s the time to commence the making of bunny and egg-themed treats. I was so happy when Wilton invited me to make a spring-themed cake with their products, I couldn’t reply YES fast enough! Soon a box of tools and colorful ingredients arrived at my doorstep, and they inspired this funny bunny cake.

      Look at ALL THE THINGS! I couldn’t wait to get started. Here’s a list of all the items I used and some shopping links in case you’re looking to make your own bunny cake this year.
      I decided early on that this bunny would be made of carrot cake (what else?) and I really appreciated how my favorite carrot sheet cake recipe fit perfectly into the bunny pan. I covered the cooled cake with white buttercream and added some pink fondant ears and a heart-shaped nose. The eyes are jumbo black confetti sprinkles with black fondant eyelids and lashes, which are easy to make using a small circle cutter (see here).

      This egg mold makes the most beautiful candy eggs that have a smooth, matte finish – just like an eggshell! I used pink, orange, and yellow candy melts, but you could use whatever color you have on hand. 

      See how pretty they turned out? Next I’ll be making some chocolate-peanut butter eggs using this mold.
      The Easy Blooms Tip Set was so fun to try! I used it with confectioners’ buttercream that I tinted with the Neon Gel Food Color Set. To achieve flowers with yellow middles, spread icing on a sheet of plastic wrap, and pipe a yellow line of icing in the center -then roll it together, snip the end and place the frosting in a piping bag fitted with an Easy Bloom tip. You could also use a variety of other Wilton piping tips to create pretty flowers for bunny’s crown.I practiced piping on a piece of parchment, and if you try these tips, I recommend you do the same. You’ll soon find a method for applying the right pressure to the piping bag. When I started getting consistently nice-looking flowers, I piped a whole bunch of them on a baking sheet and popped them in the freezer. After a quick chill, I easily transferred the best looking blooms to the cake with a spatula.
      Brushing the cake board with piping gel helped hold on the grassy-looking sprinkles (I used both the Easter Grass Sprinkles and Easter Eggs with Grass Sprinkles). If you don’t have piping gel, then a small amount of corn syrup would also work. I think the molded candy eggs look right at home nestled in the grass.
      I gave bunny some sprinkle freckles – HA! – which totally made me happy and I giggled for a good minute before moving on to adding bunny head-shaped sprinkles to the flower crown. (How silly is that sentence!?) Both of these sprinkles are part of the Spring Sprinkles set.
      What a fun project! And the cake is so colorful, it’s like a ray of sunshine – which I think we all could use right about now.Follow my favorite carrot sheet cake recipe, which is usually baked in a 13×9-inch pan and comes with a quick cream cheese frosting recipe. The batter fits perfectly in the Easter Bunny Cake Pan, and you can find my American Buttercream recipe here, which I used to frost and decorate Bunny.

      Carrot Sheet CakeYields 15 servings1 1/2 cups (180g, or 7 oz.) all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup (200g) granulated sugar1 1/4 cups grated carrot (about 2 1/4 large carrots)2/3 cup (160ml) vegetable oil2 large eggs8 oz. crushed pineapple, drained1 teaspoon vanilla extractPreheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 13×9-inch baking pan.In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the first six ingredients. Whisk to combine. In a separate bowl, combine the carrot, oil, eggs, pineapple, and vanilla. Stir well to combine. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick tester inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.Quick cream cheese frosting3 oz. cream cheese, softened4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract2 1/4 cups (310g) powdered sugar, siftedIn the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium speed. Mix in the vanilla. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Spread on top of cooled cake. Store the frosted cake in the refrigerator covered in plastic wrap. Bring to room temperature before serving.
      link Easter Bunny Cake By Heather Baird Published: Friday, March 27, 2020Friday, March 27, 2020Easter Bunny Cake (Carrot Sheet Cake Recipe) LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Vanilla Crazy Cake

      ha scritto per te

      This deliciously easy Depression era recipe makes a single vanilla cake layer and requires no eggs or dairy. It’s made with simple pantry staples and tastes terrific!As promised, I’m delivering the vanilla version of the Chocolate Crazy Cake I posted last week. I’m just so pleased that many of you made the chocolate version and found it to be delicious and helpful during this time of scarce ingredients.This vanilla version is just as simple as its predecessor. It’s a one-bowl wonder that whips up with no electric mixer and the baked cake keeps well at room temperature.
      The flavor of this cake really depends on good vanilla extract, but you don’t have to limit yourself to vanilla! This cake would be wonderful flavored with citrus extracts, or you could literally spice it up with a tablespoon of pie spice for the world’s easiest spice cake.The recipe as I’ve written it here tastes like vanilla birthday cake. I added a simple confectioners’ glaze made with powdered sugar, water and vanilla extract, and then tossed on some sprinkles for fun.I noticed a few things that were different about this cake as compared to the chocolate version. The cake wanted to stick ever-so-slightly in the pan at the bottom center. I think next time I’d properly grease and flour the pan instead of just using cooking spray – so I recommend you do this from the get-go, or use a flour-based baking spray. I also found that the flavors of the cake improved overnight. The vanilla tasted creamier and had a much more pronounced flavor the next day.
      Of the two ‘Crazy’ cakes, I think this one is more kid-friendly because of its mild vanilla flavor. And because it’s so simple to make, little ones could absolutely help add ingredients to the bowl, stir batter and add sprinkles – which sounds like sweet memories in the making to me.Enjoy and be well, friends!

      Vanilla Crazy CakeYields one 8-inch single layer cakeVanilla cake1 3/4 cups (210g) all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 tablespoon white vinegar6 tablespoons vegetable oil1 cup (200g) granulated sugar1 cup waterGlaze1 cup (116g) powdered sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used clear vanilla)2-2 1/2 tablespoons water      3 tablespoons sprinkles and one maraschino cherry, optionalPreheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour one 8-inch round cake pan, or use a square 8-inch baking pan.In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine. Add the vanilla, vinegar, oil, sugar and water. Whisk together until a smooth batter is achieved.Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is slightly puffed and a toothpick tester comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan 5 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.For the glaze, sift the powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl. Add the vanilla and one tablespoon of water. Whisk until the water is absorbed and some dry sugary crumbles form; add a second tablespoon of water. Whisk until the mixture is thick and stiff, and holds in the balloon of your whisk. It should slowly fall into a ribbon back into the bowl from the whisk. If the mixture is too thick to fall, add water a little at a time until the correct consistency is achieved. This glaze should be thick.Pour the glaze over the cooled cake and spread with a spatula. Decorate with rainbow sprinkles and a cherry on top, if desired. Store the cake in an air-tight cake keeper or in Tupperware for freshness. Variations:Lemon: Replace the vanilla extract in the cake with 2 teaspoons of lemon extract; replace the vanilla in the glaze with 1 teaspoon lemon extract.Spice Cake: To the cake batter, add 2-3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice. If you don’t have pie spice on hand, combine 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ginger in a bowl; add this mixture to the batter and blend well.Tea Cake: Replace the water in the cake recipe with your favorite brewed tea, such as Earl Grey. Brew it strongly, with 3-4 teabags instead of just one.
      link Vanilla Crazy Cake By Heather Baird Published: Tuesday, March 24, 2020Tuesday, March 24, 2020Vanilla Crazy Cake Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Chocolate Crazy Cake

      ha scritto per te

      This vintage cake recipe requires no eggs, milk, or butter, and instead relies on pantry ingredients for its success. Make it when you’re fresh out of fresh ingredients!Hello friends! I hope everyone is navigating this strange season of life with hope and optimism. Since baking is my happy place, I’ve been making small batches of essentials I know we’ll eat up with no waste (these are next for breakfast!). I’ve also been cleaning my kitchen and taking pantry inventory. My husband and I have made the decision to self isolate and make the best of what we’ve got on hand for as long as possible.That’s why this recipe is so timely! It requires nothing from the refrigerator and whips up by hand – you won’t even need an electric mixer.
      The recipe has roots from The Great Depression, when ingredients like butter and milk were expensive or heavily rationed. It goes by a few names you may recognize – ‘Wacky’ Cake, Poor Man’s Cake, or Depression Cake. There’s a vanilla version floating around in my recipe folder that I plan to dig out and share soon.The glaze is my addition to the cake. It relies on pantry staples also, and really makes this cake decadent. I added pecans and flaky sea salt on top because I have plenty on hand, but you could use practically anything – peanuts, baking chips, dried fruit, seeds, pretzels – you name it!

      A single layer cake like this is plenty for our small household, and stored air-tight the very last slice is still fresh 5 days later. Making this recipe is a great way to have comfort food while conserving your more perishable ingredients.Stay well, friends!

      Chocolate Crazy Cake8 servings, yields a single 8-inch cake layerSource: Cake recipe is vintage, glaze recipe by Heather.Chocolate cake1 1/2 cups (180g, or 7 oz.) all-purpose flour1/4 cup (28g) unsweet cocoa powder (I used dark cocoa)1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 tablespoon white or cider vinegar6 tablespoons vegetable oil1 cup (200g) granulated sugar1 cup waterGlaze1 cup (115g) powdered sugar3 tablespoons unsweet cocoa powder (I used dark cocoa)2-3 tablespoons brewed coffee or water    Chopped nuts and flake sea salt, *optionalPreheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8-inch round cake pan, or an 8-inch square pan.Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl; whisk until well blended. Add the vanilla, vinegar, oil, granulated sugar and water. Whisk together until well combined. Pour into the prepared pan.Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick tester inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.For the glaze, sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa in a large bowl. Whisk in coffee or water 1 tablespoon at a time until the glaze is smooth and pourable.Place the cake on a rimmed serving plate and pour on the glaze, allowing the glaze to drip over the sides. Top with chopped nuts and flaky sea salt, or use whatever delicious thing that inhabits your pantry. Dried fruit, pretzels, crumbled cookies are all good choices– anything goes!Store cake at room temperature in an airtight cake keeper or Tupperware for freshness.Update 6/25/20: I made this cake with Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour with excellent results. It baked in about 28 minutes, which is less time than it takes for the wheat flour version.
      link Chocolate Crazy Cake By Heather Baird Published: Friday, March 20, 2020Friday, March 20, 2020Chocolate Crazy Cake Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      English Muffins

      ha scritto per te

      This English Muffins recipe is cooked on a skillet and makes fluffy English Muffins full of the signature nooks and crannies we love.My Favorite English Muffins Recipe!When you’ve got four kids, you become a pro at quick and easy meals. Back in the day, I found myself going through loads of store bought English muffins because they make for a yummy, filling, and deliciously easy breakfast. Simply toast them and slather them up with butter and jam. Or, turn them into a breakfast sandwich with a fried egg and sausage patty. At dinnertime, well, my family is all about English muffin pizzas.It wasn’t long before I realized I’d have some major savings by making my English muffins at home! But, I psyched myself out. They’ve got to be hard to make, right?Wrong! They are so easy to make. They are lightly kneaded, only rise once, AND you won’t even need to turn on your oven. What Are English Muffins?When you think of English muffins, I’d bet you picture the signature nooks and crannies. I could just drool thinking about melted butter pooling in the large nooks and crannies. I bet you can, now, too. Are you picturing it? But, aside from nooks and crannies, what makes an English muffin an English muffin? Well, they’re not made in a cupcake or muffin tin. That’s it, really.If you go to England, they’re simply called muffins. And, what we call muffins are called American muffins or sweet muffins. Weird, right?!? Recipe IngredientsDon’t let these English muffins fool you! Aside from buttermilk and yeast, I’ll bet you’ve got everything you need at home right now!buttermilkbutterbread flourInstant Yeast saltsugareggcorn mealHow to Make English MuffinsMelt: In a microwave safe bowl heat the buttermilk and butter together in 30- second increments until the buttermilk is warm, reaching a temperature of 120°F – 130°F on an instant read thermometer. The buttermilk might separate and look curdled. Don’t worry, this is okay.Mix: Add the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and egg into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Pour in the buttermilk mixture and mix on low until combined. This should take about 1 minute. Remove the paddle attachment and replace it with the dough hook attachment. Turn mixer up to medium-high and mix for 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. If you don’t have a dough hook attachment, you can knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface for 5-6 minutes. It will take about the same amount of time and you know your dough is ready when it’s smooth, elastic and bounces back when pressed lightly with 2 fingers.Rise: Form the dough into a ball, and cover the bowl with a towel. Place the bowl in a warm, draft free place in your kitchen and allow the dough to double in size. This will take 1-2 hours, depending on the warmth of your kitchen. If your oven has a proof setting, this can be used as well.Prep: Prepare a large baking pan by sprinkling it liberally with corn meal. Once you’ve done this, set the pan aside.Divide: Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and divide it into 16 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten the ball until it’s about 3- inches in diameter. Place each into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with more corn meal. Cover the pan and let the dough rest for 20 minutes.Heat: Spray a griddle or large skillet lightly with nonstick spray, or coat it lightly with oil. Heat the pan on low and place the muffins onto the pan, working in batches, carefully transferring the muffins onto the griddle. You don’t want to handle them too much. This will cause them to deflate. Cook: Cook the muffins on each side for 7-10 minutes, until the crust on each side is golden brown and the center of the muffin reaches 180°F on an instant-read thermometer. If you don’t have an instant read thermometer, don’t stress! If your muffins cook in the skillet for 7-10 minutes on each side and are golden brown, they are pretty much guaranteed to be cooked. If the muffins are browning too quickly, place them in a 325°F oven on a parchment lined pan for 10 minutes, or until cooked thoroughly. Depending on the pan you use, this can happen and is not a problem at all!Cool: Allow the muffins to cool completely on a wire rack before using a fork to split them.Why Buttermilk?I get – hands down – the best English muffins using buttermilk. I’ve tried alllll the other options: whole milk, 2% milk, combinations of milk and water. Take it from me, buttermilk gets the best results. I really like the texture and flavor that buttermilk adds to my English muffins. The acidity in the buttermilk works really well with the yeast to rise and create a nice, airy dough. This is what gives my homemade English muffins the signature nooks and crannies we all loveDon’t worry if you don’t have buttermilk. You can quickly and easily make a buttermilk substitute right at home!What Happens If Your English Muffins Brown Too Quickly In Your Skillet?If the muffins are browning too quickly, don’t panic! Depending on the pan you use, this can happen and is not a problem at all! Simply, place them in a 325°F oven on a parchment lined pan for 10 minutes, or until cooked thoroughly. This can happen for loads of different reasons, but these are the most common:A dark pan like a cast iron skillet distributes and holds heat, which can lead to it getting too hot too quickly.Stove tops can heat on low at different temperatures. You might have an electric stove top, or a gas stove top…there’s no set temperature for “low” and temperatures may vary.If you’re working in batches, your skillet will be hotter on the second or third batch than the first, creating varying cook times.Tips for the Best English MuffinsIf you’re looking for my top tips for the best English muffins, I’ve got you, girl.  Here are my suggestions:Allow the dough to rise to at least double in size. If the dough isn’t rising, just give it more time, and make sure it’s in a warm, draft-free place in your kitchen.Does your oven have a proof setting? If yes, this works great with this dough. Let that dough rest. Once you’ve allowed your dough to rest for 20- minutes after you’ve formed them into flattened balls try not to handle them too much. They will rise slightly and this is when all the air pockets form giving you the distinct interior texture of an English Muffin.Both kinds of yeast work. You can use regular yeast instead of instant yeast, you just need to give it more time to rise!If your English Muffins are browning too quickly on the stove top, just place them on a parchment lined baking sheet in a 325°F oven for 10 minutes to bake them.How To Fork Split An English MuffinPlease! Never cut an English muffin with a knife! When you do this, you lose all of the nooks and crannies. Instead, you should ALWAYS fork split your English muffins. Here’s how:Hold your English muffin in one hand and your fork in the other hand.Insert your fork into the side of the English muffin.Spin your English muffin while simultaneously moving your fork in and out until it arrives back at the place you started.The two sides should completely separate. Serving IdeasEnglish muffins make for a great breakfast. They’re super simple to toast and serve with butter or jam. You can also use them as the bread on your breakfast sandwich – egg and cheese; egg, cheese, and bacon; egg, cheese, and sausage – on an English muffin. Scrambled eggs, over easy eggs, I’ve even been known to sandwich an omelette filled with cheese between two slices of English muffin. YUM!My kids have always enjoyed them as mini pizzas, too. All you have to do is fork split them, spoon on your favorite sauce, and top with shredded mozzarella. Then pop them in the oven until toasted and the cheese is melted. You could use your English muffins as the bread for any sandwich, really. Peanut butter and jelly? Sure! BBQ pulled pork? Yep! Burger?How to Store English MuffinsNow, it’s not likely that I’ll eat 16 English muffins in one sitting. Hey, I said it’s not likely, but it’s definitely not impossible. If you do end up needing to store your English muffins, you have two options. First, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days. Or, you can freeze your leftover English muffins in a ziptop bag for 30 days. Don’t forget to label your freezer bag so you are sure when to use them. Allow them to thaw to room temperature before using them. PrintEnglish Muffins Description:Making English Muffins at home is so rewarding…and delicious! This easy English Muffins recipe will have you enjoying homemade muffins in no time.Ingredients:1 3/4 cups buttermilk1/4 cup butter, cubed4 1/2 cups bread flour1 (0.25- ounce) packet Instant Yeast (2 teaspoons)1 teaspoon kosher salt2 tablespoons granulated sugar1 large egg, lightly whiskedCorn Meal for sprinkling on panInstructionsIn a microwave safe bowl heat the buttermilk and butter together in 30- second increments until buttermilk is warm, reaching a temperature of 120°F – 130°F on an instant read thermometer. Buttermilk might separate and look curdled. This is ok.Add the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and egg into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Pour in the buttermilk mixture and mix on low for 1 minute until combined. Remove the paddle attachment, replacing it with the dough hook attachment. Turn mixer up to medium-high and mix for 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Alternately, you can knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface for 5-6 minutes.Form the dough into a ball, and cover the bowl with a towel. Place the bowl in a warm, draft free place in your kitchen and allow the dough to double in size. This will take 1-2 hours, depending on the warmth of your kitchen. If your oven has a proof setting, this can be used as well.Prep a large baking pan by sprinkling it liberally with corn meal. Set aside.Once the dough is doubled, remove it from the bowl and divide it into 16 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten the ball until it’s 3- inches in diameter. Place each into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with more corn meal. Cover the pan and let the dough rest for 20 minutes.Spray a griddle or large skillet lightly with nonstick spray, or coat lightly with oil. Heat the pan on low and place muffins onto pan, working in batches, carefully transferring the muffins onto the griddle. You don’t want to handle them too much, causing them to deflate. Cook the muffins on each side for 7-10 minutes, until the crust on each side is golden brown and the center of the muffin reaches 180°F on an instant-read thermometer. If the muffins are browning too quickly, place them in a 325°F oven on a parchment lined pan for 10 minutes, or until cooked thoroughly. Depending on the pan you use, this can happen and is not a problem at all!Allow the muffins to cool completely on a wire rack before using a fork to split them.Notes:Store airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freeze in a zip-top bag for up to 30 days. Allow English Muffins to thaw at room temperature.Here’s the link to my Buttermilk Substitute in case you’re all out! Keywords:: english muffins recipe, homemade english muffins, how to make english muffins, english muffins pizza Want To Save This Recipe?PIN for later: LEGGI TUTTO