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      Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake

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      Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake combines fluffy yellow cake, strawberry ice cream, and whipped cream for a nostalgic treat. Coated with strawberry cookie crumble for that signature crunch!

      We have many summer birthdays in our family. That means I’m always looking for chilly desserts that are worthy of sticking some candles into. Cake and ice cream are birthday essentials, and this Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake combines the best of both worlds! It’s a super easy fix that can be made ahead and kept frozen until party time.

      13×9 convenience.
      Mix up the yellow cake batter and spread it into a greased 13×9-inch baking dish. I’ve scaled down my yellow cake recipe to fill the pan halfway when it’s baked. This leaves just enough room for the creamy/crunchy toppings.
      Use your favorite store-bought strawberry ice cream. You’ll need a standard 1.75 quart container. Let it stand at room temperature for 20 minutes, then stir it until it has the spreading consistency of buttercream frosting. For easier work, you can paddle it in your stand mixer for about 1 minute until the texture is just right.

      Plan ahead, because the ice cream will need to refreeze until solid, about 4 hours. When the ice cream is firmed, spread on some homemade unsweet vanilla whipped cream. The other components of this recipe are pretty sweet so this layer really doesn’t need any sugar.

      Strawberry Crunchies.
      The crumble is super easy to whip up, especially if you use a food processor. Pulse together vanilla wafers, freeze-dried strawberries, a touch of powdered strawberry Jello, and a smidge of melted butter. If you don’t have a food processor, crush the dry toppings together in a bag with a rolling pin, then stir in the butter.

      This dessert was inspired by the Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Bars, which is a nostalgic favorite for many. It has bold strawberry flavor, and that crumbly topping… well. I could eat it by the spoonful.

      This is such an easy cake to make, and if you cut it into ‘party size’ pieces (wedding cake-size pieces) you can serve up to 24 people! My serving size is generous, so I ended up with about 16 servings.
      Enjoy this cake on a hot summer’s day. It’s like a slice of air conditioning.
      Related recipe: Strawberry Delight

      Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake

      Heather Baird

      Inspired by the nostalgic flavors of Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Bars, this cake delivers a sweet, creamy bite with a cookie crumble topping. Plan ahead because this cake needs to freeze 4 hours, or overnight. It’s a lovely summertime treat that you can make ahead and store in the freeze until time to serve.

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      Prep Time 15 minsCook Time 22 mins4 hours chill time 4 hrsTotal Time 4 hrs 37 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 16

      Equipment13×9 inch pan
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Yellow cake1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature1 cup granulated sugar2 large eggs room temperature1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 tablespoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt1/2 cup whole milk room temperatureIce cream fillings and whipped topping1.75 quart container strawberry ice cream1 1/2 cups heavy cream whipped to stiff peaks1 teaspoon vanilla extractCrunch toppings5 oz. mini vanilla wafers 1/2 package, such as Nilla1/2 oz. freeze dried strawberries 1/2 package1/2 tablespoon strawberry gelatin powder such as Jell-O3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
      Instructions Yellow cakePreheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.Beat the butter and granulated sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer. When the butter is lightened and fluffy, add the eggs one at a time. Mix until incorporated and smooth. Add in the vanilla and beat to combine.In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour and milk alternately to the creamed butter mixture, mixing until just combined with each addition. Begin and end with flour.Pour the batter into prepared baking sheet and spread evenly.Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown on top and a toothpick tester comes out clean. Cool completely.Ice cream filling and whipped creamAllow the ice cream to soften at room temperature 20 minutes. Stir it in the carton with a large spoon until the ice cream has the consistency of thick buttercream frosting. The ice cream will lose a little volume – this is normal. Alternatively, you can beat the ice cream in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle for 1 minute on low speed, or until it comes to spreading consistency.Pour the ice cream over the cooled yellow cake. Spread evenly. Freeze until solid, 2-4 hours.Whip the heavy cream with the vanilla extract to stiff peaks, about 5 minutes. Spread the whipped cream over the frozen strawberry ice cream layer.Crunch toppingsTo prepare the strawberry crunch, place the vanilla wafers and freeze-dried strawberries in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until just combined. Add the strawberry gelatin powder. Pulse to fine crumbs. Pour the butter through the feeding tube as you pulse 3-5 more times, or until crumbs clump and cling together. (See note for doing this by hand.)Sprinkle the strawberry crunch mixture generously over the whipped cream. Freeze, covered, until firm, 4 hours or overnight. Remove cake from freezer. Serve slices from the dish.
      NotesThe strawberry ice cream color can be intensified with a few drops of red food color. Mix it in a you stir it to spreading consistency.
      The crunchy topping can be made by hand by placing the cookies, freeze-dried strawberries, and Jell-O powder in a large zip top bag. Use a rolling pin to smash and crush the contents. Pour the mixture into a bowl and stir in the melted butter. Use this mixture to top the cake.
      I used Nilla Wafers in this recipe, but most any butter cookie will work. 15-20 Golden Oreos may also be substituted for the vanilla wafers. This version of the crumble will be slightly sweeter because of the cream filling.
      If you can’t find freeze-dried strawberries at your grocery store, increase the strawberry Jell-O powder to 2 tablespoons. This will give the crumble more strawberry flavor without using the actual strawberries.

      Keyword ice cream cake, strawberry crunch topping, strawberry ice cream, summer dessert, yellow cake

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Chocolate Fortissimo Cake

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      Chocolate Fortissimo Cake holds a symphony of bold flavors. It’s music for your taste buds! Coffee liqueur turns up the volume on its chocolate notes.

      Quite a long time ago, when I was a little kid taking music lessons, I first learned the meaning of the word fortissimo. In music, it means to play loudly. While browsing one of my European cake books I was surprised to see the word describe a chocolate cake. I just had to know – exactly how ‘loud’ is this chocolate cake?
      Turns out, Chocolate Fortissimo Cake is loud, yet refined. It has balance just like any good piece of music. Coffee liqueur such as Tia Maria (or Kahlua) is the ingredient that intensifies all of its chocolate components without making it heavy or too sweet. The genoise is light, the mocha buttercream silky. The barely sweet chantilly filling gives harmony to the score.

      Genoise, the foundation.
      Start by making a genoise sponge. The recipe in the cake book was so similar to my own chocolate genoise, I opted for my tried and true recipe. Never made genoise? You’re in luck! There’s a video at the end of this post that will show you how to properly whip the eggs to ribbon stage. Also, you can see the batter-folding technique in action, which is essential to making a well-risen sponge.

      Truffles for cake toppers.
      While the genoise cools, make the truffles. Yes, this cake is topped with rich, deeply chocolaty cocoa-dusted orbs of deliciousness. In my opinion, this is the ‘loudest’ part of the cake. The mixture stirs up quickly and requires 40 minutes to chill.

      Crème Chantilly.
      In the meantime, whip up the chantilly. This barely sweet whipped cream has just 2 teaspoons of powdered sugar added. Pour in a tablespoon of coffee liqueur and beat to stiff peaks. Cover and chill this 3 ingredient wonder while you prepare the remaining components.

      Mocha buttercream.
      This European style of buttercream was a bit of a revelation for me. Its base is heavy on the extra-creamy salted butter (82% milkfat) to just just 1 cup of powdered sugar. Beaten to its lightest, fluffiest texture, its silkiness rivals any meringue-based buttercream. Melted chocolate and espresso impart the mocha flavors.

      The construction.
      Torte the cooled genoise into three layers. They don’t necessarily have to be even, and the top layer can be on the thin side. Coat each layer with a little coffee simple syrup. Fill the first layer with 1/2 inch of the mocha buttercream, and the second with all of the chantilly. Next you’ll cover the cake with more of the mocha buttercream.

      Remember those truffles? Place the in a ring on top of the cake. These buttery, creamy gems could be a stand-alone dessert. They are rich and totally gift worthy in a pretty tin.

      A special garnish.
      Long-time readers will recognize this as one of my favorite decorating techniques. I figured it out on my own a long time ago when I made these Poured Fondant Honey Cupcakes. You can find a video tutorial for the technique in that blog post. I thought this cake deserved a garnish worthy of its name.

      Place the remaining mocha buttercream in a piping bag and pipe stars between the truffles. Then, stand the chocolate seals upright into each star.

      This cake is pretty special. It reminds me a little of another music-inspired confection – Classic Opera Cake. But this version is lighter with a genoise sponge.

      This cake offers bold grown-up flavors, yet still retains lightness. It’s so special occasion-worthy. Don’t hesitate to give it a try! And check out my video of the entire process, if you have questions. It’s more than 3 minutes long (which, the internet tells me is too long to hold your attention). I’m sure some may find it a bit tedious to watch. But I made it for beginners that would appreciate some visual instruction.

      Chocolate Fortissimo Cake

      Heather Baird

      In music terminology fortissimo means to play a passage of music loudly. True to its namesake, this cake has bold chocolate flavor, yet it retains lightness with its sponge base, silky buttercream and chantilly fillings. Overall, a symphony of really beautiful flavors and textures. This cake has several components and steps, but each is pretty straight forward. It is of intermediate skill level, and bakers with knowledge of making genoise sponge will have no trouble. If you’re a beginner baker, use the genoise recipe along with the video provided in the blog post for success. This cake hinges on a well-risen sponge because it is torted in three layers and must be tall enough after baking to do so.Tia Maria is the suggested coffee liqueur to use in this recipe, but Kahlua is a fine substitute. For the buttercream, use salted (yes, salted!) butter with 82% milkfat. This is sometimes labeled as ‘extra-creamy’ or ‘European-style’. Imported French butters are among those with higher milkfat.

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      Prep Time 45 minsCook Time 30 mins40 minutes chill time 40 minsTotal Time 3 hrs 15 mins

      Course DessertCuisine European

      Servings 12

      Equipment8×3 inch round cake pan, or springform panparchment paperwax seal stamp with music motif, such as treble clef or music notes
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Chocolate genoise3 large eggs3 large egg yolks3/4 cup granulated sugar1/8 teaspoon salt1/3 cup cake flour1/3 cup cornstarch1/4 cup dark unsweet cocoa powderTruffles2 teaspoons instant espresso powder2 tablespoons coffee liqueur4 oz. semisweet chocolate chopped you can also use chips4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar sifted1 tablespoon heavy cream1/4 cup unsweet cocoa powder not darkCrème Chantilly2/3 cup heavy cream2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar1 tablespoon coffee liqueurMocha buttercream2 teaspoons instant espresso powder2 teaspoons unsweet cocoa powder4 oz. semisweet chocolate chopped fine (can use mini chips)3 tablespoons boiling water2 cups european style salted butter with 82% milkfat such as Land-O-Lakes extra creamy1 cup confectioners’ sugarCoffee syrup6 tablespoons water3 tablespoons sugar3 tablespoons coffee liqueurChocolate seals2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chipsCrushed ice
      Instructions Chocolate GenoisePreheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch round baking pan. Line the bottom with a round of parchment paper.Set a medium saucepan filled 1/3 with water over medium heat.In a heat-proof bowl, preferably stainless, beat together the whole eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt, using an electric hand mixer at high speed. Place the bowl over the pan of simmering water and continue beating with the hand mixer until the mixture reaches ribbon stage, about 5 minutes. Ribbon stage is when the batter increases in volume, lightens, and the batter leaves a thick trail or ribbon when the beaters are lifted from the bowl. To get this right, set a timer for 5 minutes once you start mixing over the simmering water.Remove the bowl from the water. Sift the cake flour, cornstarch, and cocoa over the egg mixture. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture. Do this carefully as to not deflate the batter too much. This may take about 5-7 minutes of careful mixing. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cake springs back when touched with a finger. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Invert the cake onto the wire rack and peel away the parchment paper. Let cool while you make the truffles.TrufflesDissolve the instant espresso in the coffee liqueur. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate with the dissolved coffee in the microwave, about 1 minute at 100% power. Stir well until smooth. Let cool slightly.In a separate bowl, beat together the butter and sugar (I did this with a whisk, but you could use a hand mixer). Beat in the chocolate mixture and the cream. Whisk vigorously to combine. Chill for 40 minutes. Shape the mixture into 8 even-sized balls (use a small cookie scoop 4 teaspoon capacity). Dust in the cocoa powder and chill while you prepare the remaining cake components.Crème ChantillyIn a large bowl, whip together the cream and sugar with an electric hand mixer. Beat in the coffee liqueur. Beat on high speed to stiff peaks. Cover and chill.Mocha buttercreamStir together the instant espresso powder and cocoa powder in a small microwave-safe bowl. Pour in the chopped chocolate. Add 3 tablespoons boiling water and let stand 1 minute. Whisk together until smooth. If lumps of chocolate remain after whisking well, microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until smooth. Let cool until thickened but not set, about 5-7 minutes.In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar together for 5 minutes until fluffy and lightened in color. Add the chocolate mixture and beat again until well combined. Scrape down the bowl and beat again until lightened, thick and fluffy. Cover bowl with a damp towel and set aside at room temperature.Coffee syrupIn a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the water and sugar. Heat in the microwave at 100% power for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Stir until the sugar is melted. Stir in the coffee liqueur. Let cool.Chocolate sealsGently heat chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave at 30 second intervals; be careful to not over heat. Stir smooth.Transfer chocolate to a clean bowl. Let it stand 3-5 minutes or until it’s barely warm to the touch. It’s important the chocolate is not too hot when you make an impression with the stamp. The heat from the chocolate will warm the metal stamp and it will cause the chocolate to smear.Place metal wax seal stamps in the cup filled with crushed ice. The stamp bottoms need to be thoroughly chilled.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop dime-size amounts of chocolate onto the parchment paper. Remove a stamp from the ice and quickly wipe it free of water droplets with a towel. Place the stamp onto a mound of chocolate. Let the stamp stand pressed in the chocolate for 3-5 seconds, or until the edges of the chocolate turn matte. Press down very gently but firmly and lift the stamp (see instructional video for clear visual). You should be left with a clear impression in the chocolate. Replace metal wax stamp into the crushed ice until it is thoroughly chilled and repeat with remaining melted chocolate. You’ll need 8 seals for this cake’s décor. Make more than you need, and pick out the best 8. Refrigerate finished chocolate seals until firm.AssembleSlice the genoise cake into 3 layers using a wire cake leveler or a serrated knife. Sprinkle or brush on the coffee syrup onto each cake layer. Place one cake layer on a plate or cake board. Fill with about 1/2 inch thickness of the mocha buttercream. Spread evenly. Top with another cake layer. Fill with all of the Chantilly cream. Spread evenly. Cover with the remaining cake layer.Remove about 1/2 cup of the mocha buttercream frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large closed star tip. Set aside. Cover the entire cake with a thick layer of the remaining mocha buttercream. Place the chilled truffles on top of the cake, well-spaced. Pipe stars of buttercream between each truffle. Stand chocolate seals into the buttercream stars upright.Serve cake slightly chilled or at room temperature. This cake improves over 24 hours, as the flavors marry and syrup brushed crumb settles. Leftovers keep for 1 week in the refrigerator.
      NotesOrigins: This is an abbreviated version of Chocolate Fortissimo from the book Ultimate Cake by Barbara Maher. The original has the same components but is made with two genoise cakes. I developed this single layer genoise version to save a little time on an even lengthier recipe.
      Longevity: Improves over 24 hours in the refrigerator. Keeps for 1 week refrigerated. Freezes for 1-2 months, undecorated.
      Make ahead: The truffles and coffee syrup can be made ahead of time and refrigerated. The genoise can be made and frozen for future assembly.

      Keyword chantilly cream, chocolate buttercream, chocolate genoise, chocolate truffles, european desserts

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Slow Cooker Cheesecake in a Jar

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      This Slow Cooker Cheesecake in a Jar recipe makes perfectly portable single servings of cheesecake. Make them ahead for convenience and get creative with the toppings!

      I often host big family dinners, and I’m always looking for new ways to make the meal special. Especially the finale. Individual desserts feel special to me. While sorting the mail a few weeks ago, I spotted little jarred cheesecakes in a mail order catalogue that specializes in shipping fancy foods. Boy, were they cute. And expensive. I started researching, and it turns out, these little pots of creamy sweetness are not hard to make at home for much less.
      I’m finding the slow cooker baking method especially nice in these hot months when you don’t want to turn on your oven. A slow cooker won’t heat up your whole house like a range or wall oven will!

      Simple ingredients, simple prep.
      Mix up the simplest 3 ingredient crust: graham crumbs, sugar, and a smidge of butter. Divide this mixture between nine 4 oz. canning jars. You can find the jars at most grocery stores in the canning section for much less than you’d pay online. So look there first if you don’t already have a stash.
      Next, beat the cream cheese batter ingredients together. This can be managed just fine with a hand mixer, just make sure all the cold ingredients are at room temperature. We’re looking for a smooth, lump-free batter.

      Use a piping bag.
      Transfer the cheesecake batter to a large piping bag, or even a large zip-top bag with the corner snipped. This makes for the easiest portioning of the batter into the jars. Fill the jars up to the line, which is within about 1/2 inch of the rim.

      The easiest water bath.
      Place the jars in the slow cooker and very carefully (very. carefully.) pour tap water into the crock. Fill it until the water comes about halfway up the jars. Be careful not to splash water into the cheesecakes. If you’re worried that you might, you can temporarily lid them before this step. Then remove the lids before cooking them. Cook on high for about 1 hour.

      The cooldown.
      When done, the cheesecakes will be slightly puffed around the edges, with a wobble in the center. Remove the cheesecakes from the crockpot using a canning jar lifter. Or, let them cool down for 20 minutes inside the crock, until they are cool enough to handle. Cool at room temperature for about 10 more minutes, then refrigerate until firm – about 2 hours. The once puffed cheesecakes will deflate a little and have slightly concave tops. This makes room for toppings!

      Create your own cheesecake sampler!
      Jarred, canned, ready-made jams and sauces make the easiest toppers. Lemon curd and dulce de leche are two of my favorite toppers. Or, if you have more time for homemade toppings, my Spiked Hot Fudge Sauce is an excellent choice.

      I’ll have one of each, please! (Actually, I did have one of each. So good!)

      The texture of the cheesecake is similar to dense New York-style cheesecakes, so these little jars pack a big punch. They’re easy to lid and tote away to your favorite picnic spot.
      Watch me make Slow Cooker Cheesecake in a Jar in the video below!

      Slow Cooker Cheesecake in a Jar

      Heather Baird

      This is such an easy way to prepare individual servings of cheesecake. Make them ahead and they’ll keep for a week, or freeze them for up to 3 months. This is a great recipe for hot summer months when you don’t want to turn on your oven – your slow cooker won’t heat up your kitchen like a large range oven will!I use a large 8-quart slow cooker, which will hold all 9 jars. If your slow cooker is smaller, you can refrigerate half of the jars while the other half bake. The jars are easy to lid and tote to a BBQ, potluck, or picnic. See the recipe notes for topping ideas.

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      Prep Time 15 minsCook Time 1 hr2 hours chill time 2 hrsTotal Time 3 hrs 15 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 9

      Equipment8-quart slow cooker9 canning jars with lids and rings 4 oz. capacity 1 disposable piping bag or large zip top bag1 Canning jar lifter optional
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Crust1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon graham cracker crumbs1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter meltedCheesecake filling16 oz. cream cheese 2 packages softenedZest of 1 lemon3/4 cup granulated sugar2 tablespoons cornstarch1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 large egg at room temperature½ cup heavy cream at room temperature
      Instructions CrustHave nine 4 oz. jars washed and dried ahead of time. Place them on a baking sheet and set aside.Place the crumbs and sugar in a small bowl. Whisk to combine. Add the melted butter and mix together using a rubber spatula. Mash the crumbs into the butter and turn them over repeatedly until the mixture resembles wet sand.Place about 1 tablespoon of the crumb mixture into each of the 9 jars. Tamp down the crust using the bottom of a small glass (I used a shot glass). Set aside while you prepare the filling.Cheesecake fillingIn a large mixing bowl, place the cream cheese and beat on high speed with a hand mixer for 2-3 minutes until creamy and no lumps remain.Scrape down the bowl and add the lemon zest. Mix until combined.Add the sugar and cornstarch. Beat until well blended. Scraped down the bowl as needed.Add the vanilla, egg, and heavy cream. Beat until smooth.Transfer the cheesecake batter to a large piping bag or a large zip top bag with a corner snipped. Pipe the cheesecake batter over the crust in the jars within about 1/2 inch of the jar tops (to the first line).Place the jars, uncovered, in the slow cooker and very carefully pour in tepid tap water using a container with a pour spout (a teakettle works well). Pour the water about halfway up the jars.Place the cover on the slow cooker and cook on high for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. The cheesecakes will puff slightly. They’ll be set around the edges and have just a slight wobble in the center when they’re done.Remove the jars using a canning jar lifter, or allow the jars to cool inside the crock until the top edges are cool enough to handle. Remove to a countertop and let them cool slightly at room temperature. Transfer them to a baking sheet and refrigerate them until set, about 2 hours. The cheesecake will sink down a little bit and become concave with refrigeration. This makes a little more room for any toppings you’d like to add before lidding.The un-topped cheesecakes will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator. Or, freeze them for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
      NotesWhat to expect: This version of cheesecake is much like dense New York style cheesecake. A little lemon zest in the batter enhances the flavor without giving it overt lemon flavor. Serve with small dessert spoons.
      Toppings: The video in the blog post will give you some ideas for toppings, but the sky’s the limit! If you’re short on time, use prepared jarred jams and sauces that require no extra prep. Strawberry jam, dulce de leche, and lemon curd are all excellent toppers. If you have more time, my spiked chocolate sauce makes a delicious topper, or make a quick compote (this cranberry-orange sauce would be great around the holidays!). Fresh berries and whipped cream are also really great toppers.

      Keyword cream cheese, crockpot, easy cheesecake, graham cracker crust, individual servings, slow cooker

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Coconut-Lime Margarita Cake

      ha scritto per te

      This Coconut-Lime Margarita Cake is sure to be a summer favorite! Infused with coconut milk, lime juice, tequila, and orange liqueur, it tastes like a margarita on the beach.

      If you love the bright, luscious flavors of a coconut-lime margarita, then put this cake on your summer bucket list! It has tropical flavor that will practically transport you to a sunny destination. A shot of tequila and triple sec impart cocktail flavors without adding too much of a tongue-tingle. However, if you like that sort of thing, then there’s the option to add more spirits at your discretion.

      High sugar ratio batter.
      First, mix up the cake batter. It’s flavored with coconut milk and lime juice, which makes the end result totally delicious. Line the pans with parchment because these cakes have a high ratio of sugar, and they are prone to stick. Even with a generous coat of flour-based baking spray, they will cling. So, line those pans! Sugar promotes browning, so don’t be surprised if the top is brown halfway through bake time. This is normal. A deep brown crust gives the cakes structure for the next step in the recipe.

      We’ve got spirit(s)!
      After the cakes are baked, poke holes in them using a skewer and spread on the most decadent glaze. It’s made with plain yogurt, coconut milk, lime juice and zest, tequila, triple sec, and flake coconut. This gives the cakes an almost wet texture inside. The creaminess of the yogurt and coconut milk tempers any acidity, and just lets that beautiful lime flavor shine. After you mix up the glaze, give it a taste test. Dial up the alcohol content to your liking. Or, you can omit it completely for a alcohol-free cake. This cake will still taste amazing.
      After one side of the cakes saturate, flip them over and repeat the process of poking holes and glazing.

      Refrigerate the cakes until they are totally cooled and the glaze is set. You’ll have all kinds of coconut strands sticking to all sides of the cake, and that’s a good thing. I worried that it might make the cake difficult to frost, but everything went on pretty smoothly! This cake is frosted with lime buttercream tinted with Chefmaster neon green food color.

      Apply a thick layer of buttercream.
      Apply the buttercream a bit thicker than usual. I didn’t do a thin crumb coat, because I didn’t want to pull all of the coconut off the sides of the cake. You should have plenty of frosting to accommodate a nice thick layer all around. You can see the frosting technique in action in the video at the bottom of this blog post.

      Ever notice how Swedish pearl sugar and margarita salt look alike? They do! This sugar really is the perfect garnish for this cake. It adds just a little more sweetness and crunch to the party. I love it.

      Finishing touches.
      Reserved white buttercream (also lime flavored) is piped on top in big triple swirls and topped with more Swedish pearl sugar, and some flake coconut.

      These dried coconut chips are so beautiful with the small stripe of edible rind. I couldn’t stay out of them, and snacked on them as I applied the frosting. They make a striking garnish alongside some lime wheels on top of this cake.

      If I must be picky (I am) I have one complaint. It’s that this cake doesn’t slice as neatly as some other cakes. The flake coconut adds so much flavor and texture, but it drags through the crumb a little (like most coconut cakes do). Therefore slices may look a little ragged. But that doesn’t really matter. The flavor and texture are what people will notice! I can’t wait to share it at our next warm weather potluck or BBQ.
      Related recipe: Margarita Pie in Jars

      Coconut-Lime Margarita Cake

      Heather Baird

      This cocktail-inspired cake tastes like a tropical vacation! The coconut-lime-tequila glaze gives this cake margarita flavor and a wet texture inside. Serve it at room temperature, or chilled on a hot day.This recipe uses unsweet full fat canned coconut milk. One 13.5 oz. can will give you more than the 1 ¼ cups needed for the cake batter and glaze. Freshly squeezed limes are preferred for the lime juice in this recipe, but bottled lime juice can also be used. My batch of limes were extremely dry inside, so I had to resort to bottled juice. Use Nellie and Joe’s Key West Lime juice, if you ca find it, or ReaLime which is widely available.This recipe yields a little more than 6 cups of cake batter.

      #wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #5A822B; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }No ratings yet

      Prep Time 35 minsCook Time 40 mins2 hours resting time 2 hrsTotal Time 3 hrs 15 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 10

      EquipmentThree six-inch round cake pans or two nine-inch cake pansBamboo skewerLarge sheet panlarge closed star piping tipPiping bag
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Cakes1 cup unsalted butter2 cups sugar4 large eggs2 tablespoons lime juice2 ½ cups all-purpose flour½ teaspoon fine grain sea salt1 teaspoon baking soda½ teaspoon baking powder1 cup full fat coconut milk unsweet cannedCoconut-lime margarita glaze1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt1 cup granulated sugarZest of 2 limes2 teaspoons lime juice¼ cup full fat coconut milk unsweet canned1 cup unsweetened flake coconut3 tablespoons white tequila or more to taste2 tablespoons triple sec or other orange liqueur or more to tasteLime buttercream frosting1 ½ cups unsalted butter at room temperature5 cups confectioners’ sugar2 tablespoons lime juiceMilk or cream to thinChefmaster neon green food color2/3 cup Swedish pearl sugar6 fresh lime wheels from one large lime1/4 cup Unsweet coconut chips
      Instructions For the cakesPreheat the oven to 350F.Grease three 6-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. see notes for 9-inch pans.In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Add lime juice and mix until combined.In a separate mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk to combine.Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with the coconut milk. Begin and end with flour.Divide the batter evenly between the pans, about 2 cups per pan. Smooth evenly into the pans. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick tester inserted near the center comes out clean. This cake has high sugar content and will brown quickly. Cover cakes with foil the last 15 minutes of baking if cakes begin to overbrown.Let cakes cool in the pans 5 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks. Cool 10 more minutes. Cakes should still be slightly warm. Cover a large sheet pan with aluminum foil and transfer the cakes to the pan.GlazeIn a large mixing bowl, combine the yogurt, sugar, lime zest, lime juice, coconut milk, flake coconut, tequila and triple sec. Whisk together until well combined, about 5 minutes. Taste-test the glaze and adjust the spirits to your liking.Poke holes all over the surface of the cakes and spread on half of the glaze. Let stand at room temperature 10 minutes. Flip cakes and poke holes in the other side; spread on the remaining glaze. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature, then cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate until the cakes are completely cooled, about 1 hour.ButtercreamIn the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, beat together the butter and confectioners’ sugar. Add the lime juice. Beat in milk or cream a little at a time until the mixture comes to spreading consistency. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, and almost white in color, about 5 minutes.Remove 1 cup of the white frosting to a piping bag fitted with the large closed star tip. Set aside.Tint the remaining frosting with the neon green food color. Add color a little at a time until a vibrant green hue is achieved.AssemblyPlace a cake layer on a serving plate or cake board. Cakes will have coconut sticking to all sides – just leave this on the cake. Top the cake layer with ¼ inch lime green frosting. Top with the second cake layer and top with another ¼ inch of lime green frosting. Top with the remaining cake and apply a thick layer of frosting to the outside and top of the cake. Smooth the frosting using a cake smoother or bench scraper.Immediately after frosting, press Swedish pearl sugar onto the top edge of the cake. Scoop excess pearl sugar up and press against the bottom edge of the cake.Using the reserved piping bag of white buttercream, pipe six large swirls on the top edge of the cake. Immediately sprinkle on more pearl sugar. Place a lime wheel between each buttercream swirl. Sprinkle coconut chips over the top of the cake to finish.Serve cake at room temperature or chilled. Because of the cake’s wet texture, it’s great both ways!
      NotesWhat to expect: This cake is loaded with coconut lime flavor. It has a wet interior due to the glaze that saturates into the crumb. The glaze has a shot of tequila and triple sec, which adds margarita flavor without giving it an overly boozy note. Add more liquor to taste, if you prefer a more pronounced tequila flavor.
      This cake has high sugar content, which means it will form a deep brown crust during baking. This is normal, and helps the cake hold together after being poked full of holes and drenched with glaze.
      If using 9-inch round cake pans, decrease bake time to 28-30 minutes.
      Liquors can be omitted for a non-alcoholic version and the cake will still be totally delicious!
      This cake recipe is adapted from Doreen Howarth’s “Lime in the Coconut Cake” which won Food Network’s Ultimate Recipe Showdown: Cakes. You can find her original recipe right here. 

      Keyword coconut chips, coconut milk, coconut-lime margarita glaze, key lime buttercream, key lime juice, tequila, triple sec

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      A Vegetarian Farmers Market Brunch for HGTV.com

      ha scritto per te

      Throw The Ultimate Vegetarian Farmers Market Brunch! Turn your veggie haul into the season’s best brunch dishes.
      Spring Vegetable Frittata
      A few weeks ago, I loaded up my car with all the spring produce to make (and shoot!) A Vegetarian Farmers Market Brunch for HGTV.com. The scene was just perfect all around with temperate, sunny weather and big teakwood table on which to display all of our dishes.
      I’ve developed four delicious brunch recipes – both savory and sweet – along with instructions for an all-inclusive spring cheese board. I’m including some teasers and links in this post, but you can view the entire gallery right here.

      Fresh and Savory.
      Spring vegetable frittata (lead image) is such an easy main dish to make, and incredibly versatile. Take full advantage of all the tender new asparagus at the market, and don’t be afraid to pivot the ingredients as we move into summer months. Serve it with my Arugula Salad with Homemade Orange Poppy Seed Dressing.

      Roasted New Potatoes with Spring Herbs is another side dish I developed to perfectly compliment the frittata. It’s hearty and filling, yet light with a citrusy note. Serve the potatoes over a bed of spring greens for additional herbaceous flavor.

      Okay, this cheese board –swoon. It’s got a lot going on, and all of it is wonderful! The Ultimate Vegetarian Cheese Board ‘recipe’ is more of a guide for selecting spring cheeses. (Did you know cheese can be seasonal?). With it, we’ve added lots of other ingredients, such as comb honey, candied nuts, preserves, and lots of crunchy spring veggies for dipping.

      Here we’ve made a slightly smaller version of the cheese board to fit on a tabletop! A platter works well in place of a large serving board.

      The sweet stuff!
      What’s brunch without pastries? These Strawberry-Rhubarb Scones take advantage of rhubarb’s short season, and have buttermilk tang. I usually find scones to be quite dry, but these have a tender, moist crumb. My recommendation? Split one while warm and slather in butter!

      Lemon and blueberries together? You just can’t go wrong! Especially if those flavors are wrapped up in sweet yeast dough and baked farmhouse-style in a cast iron skillet. Get the Cast Iron Lemon-Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls right here. (Side note, developing this recipe inspired me to create these strawberry sweet rolls!)

      Special thanks to my colleagues (and friends!), a.k.a. the team that made this happen! HGTV editor and stylist Camille Smith, (Get her Strawberry Shrub recipe right here) stylist and art director Jill Tennant, and stylist and crafter Ann Nelson.
      View the entire gallery of brunch images at this link on HGTV.com.
      Please note: Some of you may not be able to view these recipes on HGTV.com due to geo-blocking, which is a necessary security measure. Unfortunately I can’t change this, but I’d be happy to send the recipes to those who comment below (just fill in your email address – it will stay private!).

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes

      ha scritto per te

      Make Movie Night even more fun with Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes! Buttery yellow cupcakes are topped with popcorn-flavored Swiss meringue buttercream and garnished with crunchy theater-style popcorn.

      I’ve always loved experimenting with the flavor of popcorn in my sweets and baked goods. Back in 2014, when I was writing Sea Salt Sweet, I developed a silky, salty-sweet Buttered Popcorn Panna Cotta (page 147, for those that have it). Corn is sweet by nature, and already holds buttery notes. I think the flavor works remarkably well in desserts.
      Today I’m adding another to the recipe index: Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes. They have true butter popcorn flavor, in a Willy Wonka’s Candy Factory kind of way. Or if you’re a fan of Jelly Belly’s Buttered Popcorn Jelly Beans? Well then. These are the cupcake version!

      The flavor makers.
      Start with my butter yellow cupcake recipe as the base for this confection. Cream together butter, sugar, and eggs, then add in the magic ingredient: Buttered Popcorn Flavoring Oil. Fat is an excellent carrier of flavor, so mixing it in at this stage with the butter ensures it will disperse well throughout the batter.

      Add the dry ingredients and mix well until a thick pale yellow batter forms. Then scoop the batter into the cavities of a lined cupcake pan. This recipe makes exactly 12 cupcakes.

      This step is optional, but I couldn’t help myself. I lightly brushed the top of each cupcake with melted salted butter. This just creates another layer of buttery flavor.

      The right buttercream for the job.
      Swiss meringue buttercream is the perfect choice for these cakes, and I’ll tell you why. It does not crust like American buttercream does. When a frosting ‘crusts’ it means the outer layer sets and becomes un-sticky. The popcorn garnish needs to be added just before serving so it’s nice and crunchy. Frost these cupcakes well ahead of time with the Swiss buttercream, and the frosting will keep its freshly piped texture. Well enough to hold on the popcorn just before you serve them to guests.

      Pop your own corn, if you’d like. But the color and flavor of this prepackaged Brim’s ‘Movie Theater Butter” popcorn is a ringer for the real thing! I love it, and it’s made right here in Tennessee, too!

      Pipe a big double swirl of buttercream on top of each cake and top with a handful of popcorn. I used a large open star pastry tip, which is Ateco 828.

      You can find the super-cute ‘TICKET’ cupcake wrappers right here, and the red and white stripe cups here.

      Adventurous eaters and fans of Jelly Belly’s Buttered Popcorn Jellybeans will love these cupcakes! They’re perfect for family movie night. Or bookmark this recipe for next year’s Oscars viewing at home.
      Check out my (award-winning!) Olive Oil Jalapeno Cornmeal Cake with Candied Citrus, if you’re just dipping a toe in to experimenting with corn flavor in desserts. It’s a good gateway to popcorn in desserts, and a wonderful ending to any meal.

      Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes

      Heather Baird

      Amaze your friends with the true flavor of buttered popcorn in cake form! Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes are delicious buttery treats that are perfect for the big game or family movie night. Please note, the Swiss meringue buttercream uses salted butter in this recipe, to convey the flavor of salty buttered popcorn. You may have buttercream left over if you don’t pipe a big double swirl as pictured. You may opt to halve the buttercream recipe if you plan for a more modest amount of frosting.

      #wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #5A822B; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }No ratings yet

      Prep Time 20 minsCook Time 20 minsTotal Time 40 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 12 cupcakes

      EquipmentCupcake pan12 cupcake liners6 “ticket” cupcake wrappers optional6 red and white stripe baking cups optional
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Cupcakes1/2 cup unsalted butter softened3/4 cup granulated sugar2 large eggs at room temperature1 dram bottle LorAnn Buttered Popcorn Flavor .125 oz1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt1/2 cup buttermilk at room temperatureSwiss meringue buttercream and garnish4 large egg whites1 cup granulated sugar1 1/2 cups salted butter at room temperature1 dram bottle LorAnn Buttered Popcorn Flavor .125 oz.Yellow gel food colorOrange gel food color3 cups prepared movie theater style popcorn such as Brim’s
      Instructions Yellow butter cupcakesPreheat the oven to 350°F. Line a cupcake pan with 12 paper liners.In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar and medium speed until fluffy and lightened in color. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the buttered popcorn flavor. Scrape down the bowl and mix to incorporate once more.In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine.Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to the creamed mixture. Begin and end with flour, and mix on low speed until just combined. Scrape down the bowl and fold together any bits of remaining butter or flour by hand.Using an ice cream scoop, or a 1/4 cup measure, divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups.Bake the cupcakes for 20 minutes or until they spring back when pressed in their centers. Allow them to cool in the pan for 3 -5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.Buttered popcorn Swiss meringue buttercreamPlace a saucepan filled 1/3 full of water over medium heat. Bring to a simmer.In a large stainless-steel bowl, combine the egg whites and sugar. Set the bowl over the simmering water and cook while whisking intermittently. Cook until the mixture is hot (110°F) and you can no longer feel sugar granules when the mixture is rubbed between your finger and thumb. Transfer the hot mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed for 10 minutes or until a thick, shiny meringue forms that holds stiff peaks. The bowl should feel cool to the touch. If it doesn’t, refrigerate the meringue in the bowl for 10 minutes. Return the bowl to the mixer and swap the whisk attachment for the paddle attachment.Beat the room temperature butter into the meringue one cube at a time on medium-low speed, waiting to add the next cube when the previous cube disappears. The batter will deflate with the butter addition, and may even look curdled (if the butter was the slightest bit cold this happens), but this is normal. When all of the butter is added, beat the mixture on high speed until light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the buttered popcorn flavor. Add drops of yellow gel food color until a bright yellow hue is achieved. Add 1 or 2 drops of orange food color to bring the hue closer to the color of theatre style buttery popcorn. Scrape down the bowl and beat on high speed until fluffy and the color is consistent.Place the buttercream in a large pastry bag fitted with a large French piping tip, such as Ateco #828. Pipe a large double swirl of buttercream on top of each cupcake. Don’t top cupcakes with the popcorn until just before serving.Just before serving or displaying cupcakes, top each with a handful of crunchy theater style popcorn. The popcorn will become hydrated over time, so serve within an hour of garnishing.
      NotesOptional step: While the cupcakes are still slightly warm, brush their tops with a little melted salted butter. This adds an extra layer of buttery flavor. About 2 tablespoons will be more than enough.
      Use your favorite ready-made popcorn for this recipe, or you can pop your own. I love prepackaged Brim’s movie theater-style popcorn for this recipe.
      Swiss meringue buttercream video tutorial can be found in this blog post. 

      Keyword butter cake, buttered popcorn, movie night, swiss meringue buttercream, yellow cake

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Classic Buttermilk Waffles

      ha scritto per te

      Crisp on the outside, tender and light on the inside, these homemade Classic Buttermilk Waffles are a brunch staple. A secret ingredient gives them delicate texture.

      Like many of you, I’m getting ready for a brunch-y weekend with mom, with all the fixings. And these waffles are on the menu! They are so crisp and airy just out of the waffle iron. Crunchy and light on the outside, with a soft interior. They’re so easy to whip up using just a whisk!

      Dry ingredients.
      First, mix up the dry ingredients. Flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and the secret ingredient: cornstarch. Studied waffle makers may already be familiar with this method. Replacing some of the flour with cornstarch (in just about any waffle recipe) will make the exterior extra crisp, while maintaining a soft interior. It’s extra-good in this double buttery recipe.

      Wet ingredients.
      Buttermilk gives the waffles tangy flavor, and melted butter makes gives them richness. Mix up all of the wet ingredients. If you’d like a creamy cake note, add a splash of vanilla at this stage.

      Mix it up! (But not too much.)
      Pour in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, and expect a few small lumps. This is normal. If you don’t have lumps, then you’ve overmixed the batter. So, keep those lumps in there!

      Waffle irons: so many options!
      You’ll need a waffle iron, of course. And boy, waffle makers sure run the gamut! I have two now; a round Belgian-style waffle iron, which makes big, fluffy waffles with deep pockets. With that one, I can only make one at a time. And this new one (above) that makes four slightly thinner square waffles with deep pockets. I’m loving this one. I wish I’d had this one at the last brunch I hosted! Making a single fresh waffle for each guest was so time-consuming.
      Fill and bake the waffles in your iron according to the directions that came with your waffle maker. This iron held about 1 1/4 cups of batter and baked for 5 minutes. However, waffle irons vary greatly, so consult the manufacturers instructions.

      Mmmm. Golden brown goodness! Classic Buttermilk Waffles are practically a blank canvas ready for butter, maple syrup, berries. Even chocolate sauce with whipped cream. (Not that I’d know anything about that. Ahem.)

      I’ve really enjoyed this recipe on repeat. It’s a true staple for breakfast. The batter is a quick fix requiring no fussy whipping of egg whites or resting the batter. It’s ready to go as soon as your waffle iron is hot.
      For a uniquely southern twist, try my Grits Waffles, also made with buttermilk!

      Classic Buttermilk Waffles

      This classic buttermilk waffle batter is quick to whip up using just a whisk. Cornstarch is the secret ingredient which makes the waffle exterior crisp, while keeping the inside fluffy. If you don’t have cornstarch on hand, you may increase the flour to 1 3/4 cups and omit the corn starch. The waffles will be slightly more chewy, but still delicious.

      #wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #5A822B; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }No ratings yet

      Prep Time 10 minsCook Time 20 minsTotal Time 30 mins

      Course Breakfast, BrunchCuisine American

      Servings 8 waffles

      Equipmentelectric waffle iron
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1/4 cup cornstarch2 tablespoons granulated sugar2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt2 large eggs1 3/4 cups whole buttermilk1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly2 teaspoons vanilla extract optional
      Instructions In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt.In separate large bowl (I use a batter bowl with a pour spout) beat together the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla extract, if using.Pour the dry ingredients over the wet, and stir just until mixed and almost smooth. A few small lumps should remain.Coat a waffle iron with a non-stick cooking spray and preheat it. Cook the batter according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A waffle is usually ready to remove from the iron when it stops steaming, but waffle irons vary, so consult the user’s manual.Serve waffles immediately with plenty of salted butter and real maple syrup. ENJOY!
      NotesWaffles are best served fresh, but you can reheat them in the oven for 5 minutes at 375F, or you can pop them in a toaster for a few minutes to crisp them up.
      Freeze cooled waffles between sheets of waxed paper stored in freezer bags. Defrost, then reheat them in the oven with the above instructions. 
      For more savory applications, omit the sugar and optional vanilla from this recipe. Serve as the bread for a savory sandwich, or as the base for chicken and waffles. 

      Keyword all purpose flour, buttermilk, cornstarch, unsalted butter

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Strawberries and Cream Sweet Rolls

      ha scritto per te

      Move over cinnamon rolls, Strawberries and Cream Sweet Rolls are here to spruce up your spring brunch! Fresh strawberries and preserves are rolled up and baked in sweet yeast dough. Topped with swirls of light and fluffy cream cheese frosting.

      Boy, have I been missing out. I don’t often stray from My Mom’s Cinnamon Rolls recipe. Because it is truly perfect as-is. But spring will make a gal like me wander off the beaten path. I might give into little impulses, like cutting myself some fringe (I’ve resisted so far). This time, thankfully, it was my favorite sweet dough recipe that received the spring makeover.

      Really good strawberry preserves, topped with an abundance of fresh strawberries, rolled up in yeast dough and baked to golden brown goodness is a real spring kind of thing. Fluffy cream cheese frosting is lightly sweet, beaten to a cloud-like texture, and not at all optional on these Strawberries and Cream Sweet Rolls.

      Sweet yeast dough.
      Begin with active dry yeast. Let it foam in a bowl with some warm water and a little sugar. This should take about 5 minutes.
      After that, a couple of eggs and warm milk mixed in creates the perfect tepid environment. Mix in flour and some melted butter for richness, then knead well. You can do this by hand, but I rely on my standing mixer and dough hook attachment.

      After a 45 minute rise in a greased bowl, punch down the dough and divide it in half. Roll out each half to about 1/8 inch thickness. Then spread on some high quality prepared strawberry preserves. I recommend and use Bonne Maman. But before I started spreading, I mixed a little vanilla exact into the preserves. The vanilla lends a creamy note to the filling.

      A fresh addition.
      Scatter on some fresh strawberries. Quartered strawberries do the trick, although I wonder if dicing them would make them a little easier to roll up. Maybe I’ll try that next time. Roll everything together and place the dough seam side-down.

      Use a serrated knife and light sawing motions to cut through the dough. The sawing motions help cut through the berry chunks. Wipe your knife clean after each cut. This can get a little messy, so have a damp towel close to hand.

      Place each batch of buns in 9-inch cake pans (or even 9-inch square pans). This recipe makes 24 rolls, that means 12 to each pan. Let them rise under plastic wrap until puffy and touching each other. Bake them until golden brown and fragrant.

      Good gracious! I could have eaten six of these in one sitting. I didn’t. Maybe I’m getting better at controlling those impulsive urges? Honestly, it’s hard to say because I ate one just before dinner last night.

      It’s good for the soul to mix things up sometimes. I’ve never been afraid to experiment with flavors, but with beloved traditional family recipes, like my mom’s cinnamon rolls, I was… hesitant. Luckily, everything turned out just right. And I think she’d love these.

      Strawberries and Cream Sweet Rolls

      Heather Baird

      Fresh strawberries and prepared strawberry preserves are rolled up and baked in sweet yeast dough. Topped with swirls of light and fluffy cream cheese frosting. It’s the perfect spring brunch pastry!

      #wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #5A822B; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66 stop { stop-color: #5A822B; }No ratings yet

      Prep Time 2 hrsCook Time 25 minsTotal Time 2 hrs 25 mins

      Course Bread, Breakfast, DessertCuisine American

      Servings 25 rolls

      Equipment9 inch round cake pans (2) or 9 inch square pans
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Dough1 cup whole milk1/2 cup sugar1 1/2 teaspoons salt4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast1 teaspoon sugar1 cup warm water 90-110°F2 large eggs room temperature6 cups all-purpose flour sifted4 tablespoons unsalted butter meltedFilling1 cup prepared strawberry preserves divided1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 drop red food color optional2 cups quartered strawberriesFrosting1/2 cup salted butter at room temperature4 oz. cream cheese at room temperature2 cups confectioners’ sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract
      Instructions DoughHeat the milk, 1/2 cup sugar and salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until sugar melts and a few small bubbles appear at the edges of the pan. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm.Meanwhile, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in very warm water (90°F to 110°F) in the bowl of a standing mixer (or a large bowl if you don’t have a stand mixer). Stir the mixture with the paddle attachment or a wooden spoon until well blended. Let stand for 5 minutes or until the mixture foams and bubbles.Beat the eggs into the yeast mixture. Stir in the lukewarm milk. Switch to the dough hook then add in flour a little at a time until a shaggy dough forms. Mix in the melted butter then add in more flour until the dough is elastic and pulls away from the sides of the mixer. Note: you may not have to use all the flour. Do not add so much flour that the dough does not stick to your hands.Set a timer and mix with the dough hook for 5 minutes. If you are kneading by hand, work the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes.Place the dough in a buttered bowl and turn it over to coat the entire surface. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled.Punch down dough and turnout onto a lightly floured surface. Knead a few times and cut into two pieces. Roll out each piece to roughly 1/8-inch thickness, about 15×12-inch rectangles.FillingStir together the strawberry preserves, vanilla extract, and food color, if using.Evenly spread 1/2 cup of the preserves onto one of the dough pieces. Scatter 1 cup of the quartered strawberries across the dough. Starting at a long end, carefully roll up the dough. Trim away about 1″ of the tapered ends to even the roll (discard). Cut the dough into 12 buns using light sawing motions with a serrated knife. Repeat the process with the remaining dough and filling ingredients.Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with flour-based baking spray. Place 12 slices in each pan, just touching. Cover and let rise for about 45 minutes or until well puffed.Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°.Bake rolls for 22-26 minutes or until golden on top. Keep a close eye on them so they don’t over-bake! Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before frosting.FrostingBeat the butter and cream cheese together in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix in the confectioners’ sugar until just combined. Add the vanilla extract and beat again. Spread the frosting over the warm sweet rolls in the pans. The frosting will melt slightly.Serve warm.
      NotesRolling up the dough: Usually, when I roll up filling into the dough, the ends of the roll are tapered slightly. I always trim this away on each end so the roll is more even before I cut it into buns. If this happens, you can do this too, and still easily get 12 buns from each roll. 
      Preserves: Bonne Maman is an excellent purveyor of delicious high quality strawberry preserves. If you have homemade preserves, all the better! You may want to pulse chunky preserves in a blender so that will spread easily. I add a drop of red food color, which really makes these buns beautiful, but it’s completely optional.
      Baking tips:
      The preserves may bubble out and slightly overflow 9×2 inch round cake pans (I had a drip or two), so place a foil-lined pan on the bottom rack under the rolls to catch drips. Alternatively you may use 9×3 inch springform pans, or even 10 inch cast iron skillets, which have a 9-inch base and measure 10-inches across the top. The springform pan has high sides and the cast iron skillet has flared sides, which will provide more room and prevent drips. Bake time for the cast iron skillet may be reduced by about 5 minutes.
      If you’re a perfectionist – the row of buns closest to the edge of the pan always brown on top first. Usually by the time the time sounds, everything is golden except the middle bun. It will be cooked through, just a little paler than the buns on the edges. Place foil over the buns around the edge of the pan so only the middle buns are exposed. Broil 2 minutes to brown. 

      Keyword active dry yeast, cream cheese frosting, fresh strawberries, strawberry preserves

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