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      Throw the Ultimate Backyard Oktoberfest Party with a Feast of German Fare

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      Bring Bavaria to your backyard with our ultimate Oktoberfest party guide! Here you’ll find a feast of authentic savory German fare, tempting sweets, and festive drinks.

      A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to plan and develop recipes for an entire Oktoberfest feast, at the request of my friends at HGTV.com. My pal and colleague, Camille, (HGTV.com managing editor and all-around creative whirlwind) was putting together a shoot for a huge Oktoberfest party guide. I was beyond thrilled to be invited to contribute! And if that were not enough excitement, the party would be held in my own backyard. You guys. I was completely over the moon! (Still am.)

      While Camille and her team set up a beautiful biergarten/drink station under our big poplar tree, we dressed a buffet table nearby. We donned it in Oktoberfest party pennants, blue linens, and a white tablecloth that totally gave me peasant shirt vibes. Then we filled it to the brim with the best German fare we could find and make – including a German fare charcuterie board to rival all others. Read on for links to all of the recipes.

      Party-Perfect Recipes for German Fare.

      You could say this is the German version of mac-and-cheese. My mini Käsespätzle, pies recipe is a riff on the classic German cheesy noodle dish. Here I’ve transformed it into a hand-pie for your party. Get the recipe at this link: Mini Käsespätzle Pies.

      This classic Kartoffelpuffer recipe (German potato pancakes) is easy to make as appetizer-sized mini pancakes to feed a crowd. Serve the crispy mouthfuls with applesauce and sour cream for dipping. Get the recipe at this link: Mini German Potato Pancakes.
      Brezen and Brot.

      It wouldn’t be much of an Oktoberfest party without soft pretzels! These soft, chewy twists are a frequent sight in German biergartens and the perfect salty companion to spicy mustards and beer cheese. And! This recipe shortcuts the work with pizza dough. Get the recipe at this link: Easy Bavarian-Style Soft Pretzels.

      Homemade bread bakers, this one is for you! Dense, nutrient-rich dark seeded breads are well loved in German culture. And dreikernebrot, is the perfect example of dense, chewy German bread full of aromatic grain flavors. Making it is a bit of a production, but the end result is well worth it. Find the recipe at this link: Homemade German Seeded Bread Recipe.
      Old World Sweets.

      Black Forest Cakes in miniature! This rich chocolate cake hails from the Black Forest region of Germany (you may recall my full-sized version here). It’s a layered confection soaked with Kirsch (cherry liqueur), and filled with whipped cream and Morello cherry preserves. Find the recipe at this link: Mini Black Forest Cakes.

      These individual strudels have a crunchy phyllo wrapper with a sweet interior of shredded apples, golden raisins and walnuts. Find my recipe at this link: Mini Apple Strudel Recipe.
      A Cozy Sip.

      Although Oktoberfest is ALLLL about the beer, it’s also nice to have something warm to sip on a cool fall day. Traditional glühwein, which translates to ‘glow wine’ will make cheeks rosy and keep Oktoberfest and fall fun in full swing. Find the recipe at this link: Authentic German Mulled Wine Recipe.

      Speaking of cozy! Even Cashew got in on the fun. We found some puppy lederhosen, and he and brother Biscuit crashed the party in style. (Look for Biscuit in the image gallery – he’s the one eating cheese!)

      The real Oktoberfest in Munich was cancelled this year because of :: gestures wildly at everything:: so this is a great time to take party matters into your own hands. I hope this guide will inspire you to create your own Oktoberfest party at home!
      Be sure to browse the entire Oktoberfest party gallery on HGTV.com, with links to all the crafty details.
      xo-h

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding with Maple Toffee Sauce

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      Celebrate the arrival of fall with this seasonal take on everyone’s favorite comfort food. Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding is light and custardy while Maple Toffee Sauce sweetens it with butter and brown sugar notes.

      Fall doesn’t officially begin until next week, but it’s already arrived in my kitchen. Recently I’ve been seeking out the coziest, most delicious fall comfort foods that will fit all occasions. This Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding is a perfect example. It’s simple and causal enough for a weekday bake, but also totally holiday dinner-worthy. The Maple Toffee Sauce really makes it special.

      Start this recipe with a loaf of soft brioche. Cube it up or tear it into bite-size pieces.

      Whisk together the custard ingredients and add a whole can of pumpkin puree to the bowl. When buying canned pumpkin, read he label carefully to make sure you’re buying pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling – been there!

      Stir in the brioche and toss to coat. Brioche is soft and cottony, and will do a good job of soaking up all that delicious pumpkin spiced custard.

      Pour it all in a 2 quart shallow baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about an hour.
      You could also use French bread in this recipe, but it has a denser texture. So, if you use it instead of brioche, plan on letting it soak for at least four hours or overnight.

      The toffee sauce is so easy to make. Use English brickle toffee bits, which can be found next to the chocolate chips in most US grocery stores. You’ll stir them together with butter and maple syrup until melted, then whisk in evaporated milk. The sauce adds some sweetness and buttery toffee flavor to this pudding.

      You just can’t get any cozier than this, friends! It’s a lovely dessert, but I’ll admit to having this for breakfast a few mornings in a row. It’s a decadent way to start the day, and could be a nice breakfast offering if you’re having overnight guests for Thanksgiving this year.

      Bread pudding is often my go-to dessert for family gatherings and holiday dinners (like this one, which is over-the-top in the best way possible!). And who doesn’t love something you can make ahead?
      Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding with Maple Toffee Sauce will be in heavy rotation at my house this season. I hope you’ll love it as much as we do!

      Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding with Maple Toffee Sauce

      Heather Baird

      Bread pudding gets a fall twist with pumpkin puree and spices. It’s simple to assemble and casual enough for a weekday treat, but also fitting for a holiday dinner. Serve it warm with scoops of ice cream for an extra-indulgent treat.

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      Prep Time 10 minsCook Time 35 mins1 hour chill time 1 hrTotal Time 1 hr 45 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 8

      Equipment2 quart shallow baking dish
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Pumpkin bread pudding1 1/2 cups half and half1/2 cup evaporated milk3 eggs1/2 cup packed brown sugar1/2 cup granulated sugar1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg2 teaspoons vanilla extract15 oz. can of pumpkin puree14 oz. loaf brioche bread cubed1/2 cup golden raisins optionalMaple toffee sauce
      Instructions Pumpkin bread puddingGrease a 2-quart shallow baking dish with cooking spray.Combine the half and half, milk, eggs, sugars, spices, and vanilla in an extra-large bowl and whisk to combine. Whisk in the pumpkin puree. Add cubed brioche, and toss to coat them in the mixture. Stir in the raisins, if using. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Cover and chill for at least one hour before baking.Preheat oven to 350 F.Remove bread pudding from refrigerator, and bake uncovered 35-40 minutes, or until set in the center. Test with a knife inserted in the center of the pudding. It will come out clean when done. Place the pan on a wire rack and let cool slightly, about 15-20 minutes before serving.Maple toffee sauceWhile the bread pudding cools, prepare the sauce. Combine the butter, maple syrup and toffee over medium high heat. Cook until the toffee begins to melt, then gradually whisk in the evaporated milk. Cook while whisking until the mixture is consistent. There will be a few bits of almonds from the brickle floating in the syrup, so expect this. Transfer to a small serving pitcher and let cool.Serve the bread pudding warm with a generous drizzle of warm maple toffee sauce.
      NotesBits O’ Brickle is a baking ingredient that can usually be found in grocery stores in the baking aisle beside the chocolate chips. Or order it online.
      French bread can be used in place of the brioche. It will need more time to soak up the custard due to its firmer texture, so plan on refrigerating it for 4 hours, or overnight before baking.

      Keyword bits o’brickle, brioche, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, toffee sauce

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Bourbon-Apple Butter Cake for a Small Autumn Wedding

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      This Bourbon-Apple Butter Cake is perfect for a fall gathering or an intimate autumn wedding. Layers of brown sugar cake are soaked with tongue-tingling bourbon and layered with Swiss meringue buttercream. Seasonal fruit gilded with edible gold leaf and a crown of fresh rosemary make this little cake wedding-worthy.

      I made this cake last fall for a sweet couple’s small wedding reception, and I liked end result so much I asked them if I could share the recipe. With their approval, here it is! The flavor of bourbon-brown sugar cake is never out of season, but those warm notes taste even sweeter when the weather turns cool.

      Regular blog readers will already be acquainted with a slightly different version of this cake recipe. It’s from this Bourbon Vanilla Layer Cake. For this iteration, I soaked the cake layers with Four Roses single barrel bourbon. And I filled it with my mom’s homemade apple butter. A barely there coat of Swiss meringue buttercream holds it all together before the blue ganache drip is poured over.

      The blue ganache is made with dark blue candy melts and heavy cream. Very simple. It looks stunning with edible gold leaf brushed on. Honestly this picture does not do the real thing justice.
      Fresh details.
      Instead of a wedding cake topper, the couple opted for an autumn fruit and flower arrangement. It’s a nice alternative to the usual little plastic couple décor, although that can be super cute and kitsch.

      This is the sketch I sent them in the early stages of development. I’d planned for an autumn bounty on top with fresh figs, but I just couldn’t find any. (Turns out, nothing was a sure thing in 2020 – not even figs in fall!) However, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I found some beautiful cape gooseberries. So I snatched them right up!

      For those attempting this cake, bake and soak the layers a day or two ahead of time. As a result, the bourbon will mellow and the flavors will marry.
      The finished cake is delicious and SO quintessentially fall with apple butter, spices, deep caramel and oaky bourbon notes, and the vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream balances it all with a creamy note.

      Finding a presentable box for wedding cake delivery is a task unto itself. I lucked out finding this 10x10x2 windowed bakery box. Although the boxes come with ribbon (and a ‘best wishes card’), I tied some of my own blue velvet ribbon on to match the wedding colors.
      Big thanks to Jacob and Kayla for trusting me with the cake for their special day!

      Bourbon-Apple Butter Cake for a Small Autumn Wedding

      Heather Baird

      This Bourbon-Apple Butter Wedding Cake is perfect for a fall gathering or an intimate autumn wedding. Layers of brown sugar cake are soaked with tongue-tingling bourbon and layered with Swiss meringue buttercream.The cake batter requires a large standing mixer (6-8 quart bowl) for mixing. If you don’t have one, the recipe can be halved and made twice for a more manageable batter quantity. I suggest making the cake layers a day ahead of assembly. Stack them between sheets of parchment and cover them in plastic wrap. The next day the cakes will be soft and the crumb will be well set. Prepared spiced apple butter is used in this recipe, and can be found in the jams and jellies section at the grocery store. Yields one 8-inch layer cake, 4 layers tall, about 28 wedding slice-size servings.

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      Prep Time 1 hrCook Time 30 mins45 minutes chill time 45 minsTotal Time 2 hrs 15 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 28

      Equipment8 inch round cake pans, 4Pastry brushBench scraperCake turntableSmall kitchen-dedicated art brushGreen floral tape
      Ingredients  Bourbon cake layers2 cups unsalted butter softened4 cups light brown sugar packed1/2 cup molasses12 large eggs at room temperature2 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract6 cups all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon salt1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda8 oz. sour cream1 cup bourbon I used Four RosesBourbon simple syrup1 cup granulated sugar1 cup water1/3 cup bourbonSwiss meringue buttercream and filling12 egg whites3 cups sugar1/4 tsp salt5 cups unsalted butter softened1 tablespoon vanilla extract3/4 cup prepared spiced apple butterBlue ganache drip6 ounces dark blue candy melts finely chopped5 tablespoons heavy creamDecorateEdible gold leaf 4 small sheets1 blemish-free red pear12 long rosemary stems 7-8 inches each4 sprigs thyme6 cape gooseberriesWhite food safe flowers such as organic roses
      Instructions Make the cake layersPreheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease four 8-inch round cake pans with flour-based baking spray (or grease pans and line bottoms with parchment).In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, beat together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the molasses and beat until incorporated. Scrape down bowl with a spatula. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.Whisk together flour, salt and baking soda in a separate large bowl. In another bowl, combine the sour cream and bourbon. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 additions, with the mixer on low speed, alternating with sour cream mixture and starting and ending with flour mixture. Scrape down the mixing bowl with a large rubber spatula and turn the batter over several times to ensure all of the ingredients are well incorporated.Divide batter between pans, filling them about 3/4 full. Bake until golden and cakes spring back when pressed in their centers, about 30-35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans for 5 minutes. The cakes should pull away from the sides of the pan. Invert cakes, remove pans and let cool completely on a wire rack. Level the cakes using a cake leveler or serrated knife.Bourbon simple syrupIn a microwave-safe bowl combine the water and sugar. Cook at 100% power for 1 minute 30 seconds. Stir well until the sugar is completely melted. If sugar crystals remain, heat another 45 seconds to 1 minute, or until completely melted (you can also make this on the stove top in a saucepan over medium-high heat if you don’t have a microwave). Add bourbon; drizzle on, or brush syrup over cake layers using a pastry brush.Swiss meringue buttercreamSet a saucepan filled one-third full of water over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.Whisk together the egg whites, sugar, and salt in a large heatproof bowl (I suggest a stainless bowl). Set over the simmering water and whisk until the mixture is hot to the touch and the sugar has dissolved (120-140 degrees on a candy thermometer, to be sure).Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Increase to medium-high until stiff peaks are formed.Continue beating at medium-high speed until the mixture is fluffy and has cooled (the mixing bowl should feel cool to the touch).Turn the mixer off and switch from the whisk attachment to the paddle. Turn the mixer on medium-low and add the butter, a few cubes at a time, beating until well incorporated before the next addition. The mixture may deflate and look curdled – this is normal. Keep adding butter and mixing. Add the vanilla extract. Beat until the frosting on high speed until it is thick and completely smooth.Fill a disposable piping bag with the frosting and snip a 1/2-inch hole in the end; set aside. Cover the remaining frosting with tea towel.AssemblePlace a cake layer on a cake drum, cake stand, or serving plate. Place on a cake turntable. Using the piping bag of buttercream, pipe a line around the top edge of the cake. Spread 1/4 cup of the apple butter on the cake layer. Top the cake layer with a second cake layer. Repeat the piping and filling process and place final cake layer on top. Cover the cake with the remaining buttercream. Using a bench scraper, remove most of the buttercream so that the cake layers show through (‘naked’ cake technique). Chill the cake in the refrigerator while you prepare the blue ganache drip.Blue ganache dripIn a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chopped red candy and heavy cream. Place in the microwave and heat at 100% power at 30 second intervals, stirring well between heating (about 1 minute total cook time). Alternatively, you may use a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Stir until completely melted. Let cool slightly.Pour the ganache starting at the top center of the cake, and move outward to the sides so that some of the ganache drips down the edges of the cake. Use a spatula to spread the ganache evenly and to coax the ganache down the sides. Let stand until set, about 10 minutes. The ganache will set quickly on a well-chilled cake.DecoratePick up some of the gold leaf using the small art brush and place it on the blue drip ganache. Allow the leaf to cling to the ganache naturally. Place on other areas of the cake, if desired. Brush a little of the gold leaf onto the red pear. If the leaf doesn’t adhere naturally, brush a little corn syrup on the pear skin and try again.Lightly bend rosemary stems in a half-circle shape and lay around the top edge and bottom edge of the cake. Add in sprigs of thyme. Snip flower stems short and wrap the cut ends with floral tape. Insert them into the cake to one side, or arrange as desired. Place the pear on top of the cake, along with the cape gooseberries with their husks peeled back. Serve slices at room temperature.
      NotesFruit and flowers arranged on the cake should keep fresh and beautiful for at least 24 hours kept in the refrigerator.

      Keyword apple butter, bourbon, bourbon simple syrup, brown sugar cake, swiss meringue buttercream

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Peach Ring Cake

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      This Peach Ring Cake is bursting with tangy-sweet peach candy flavor. Filled with fluffy peach marshmallow mousse and coated with crunchy sanding sugar, the inspiration is unmistakable!

      I’m so happy to finally share this cake! The idea for it has been rolling around in my noggin for more than six months, and a couple of weeks ago I finally worked out the details. If you’ve been reading this blog for very long, then you know I’m a kid at heart, and I love a candy-inspired cake. This one is quite good and fun to make!

      The first thing you’ll need before you get started is a bottle of LorAnn Peach Flavor Oil. This whole cake is built around the flavor in that bottle. I had purchased it as an alternative to peach schnapps to boost the flavor in my peach desserts. But when I opened the bottle and took a whiff it was pure nostalgia. It is truly peach ring candy in a bottle.

      Reverse Creaming
      Begin this cake with three 8″ white cake layers. This happens to be my favorite white cake recipe made with the ‘paste’ or ‘reverse creaming’ method. Unfamiliar? That just means instead of creaming butter and sugar together, you’ll beat butter into the flour until its crumbly/sandy-looking. The butter-coated flour slows the formation of gluten and results in a slightly more sturdy cake that still has a soft texture.
      This method sounds totally contradictory to most cake recipes, but these layers come out perfect every time. It also uses a lot of egg whites, but there’s no whipping or folding them into the batter. The egg whites go in without any extra prep. I may have to dedicate and entire blog post to just these white cake layers.
      The filling is a simple marshmallow mousse made with few ingredients that includes a bag of mini marshmallows. This element is inspired by the yellow marshmallow side of the peach ring candies. This mousse molds well in 8″ cake pans in the freezer so you can pop them on top of the cake layers without much effort.

      Coat this cake with peach flavored orange and yellow buttercream. You’ll need to chill the frosted cake in the fridge until firm, and then spray it with a 50/50 mixture of water and light corn syrup. If you’ve never tried this technique for coating a cake with sanding sugar, then I think you should! It’s so easy and FUN. You will need a kitchen-dedicated spray bottle, so pick one up the next time you’re at the dollar store. (Or order one right here.)

      Sparkle and Crunch.
      Gorgeous sanding sugars in peach ring candy colors really drives home the inspiration for this cake. It provides a nice crunch, too. Arrange lines of sanding sugar on a large baking sheet. After the cake is sprayed with the corn syrup mixture…

      …roll it in the sugar. The effect is pretty neat! Definitely check out the video I made of this cake’s construction just before the recipe card. It’s definitely not a hard technique to master. Just make sure your cake is well set and very cold so it won’t melt with the body temperature of your hands.

      Finish it up.
      After frosting the cake you’ll have enough left over to create some tall two-tone buttercream swirls.

      Place a peach ring candy between each frosting swirl to complete the cake. Tah-daaa! Totally cute.

      I just adore all that sparkle! And the marshmallow mousse is so light and bouncy. Honestly, the colors are giving me some fall vibes. Which makes me think this could be a really fun Halloween party cake.

      This cake slices like a dream, which is a result of the cake’s tight-yet-light texture. The marshmallow mousse is a fun surprise inside with loads of peach candy flavor. This would be such a great birthday cake for the peach ring candy-lover in your life.
      Again, the star of the show is the peach candy flavor you’ll find in a bottle of LorAnn peach candy oil, found right here.

      Peach Ring Cake

      Heather Baird

      This candy-inspired cake has all the flavor of nostalgic peach ring candy. You’ll need a bottle of LorAnn peach flavoring oil to get started (see blog post for source). White cake layers are made using the reverse creaming method, which results in a tight crumb with soft texture.The marshmallow mousse filling will need to set for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator, so plan ahead.

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      Prep Time 1 hrCook Time 25 mins1 hour chill time 1 hrTotal Time 2 hrs 25 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 12

      Equipment8 inch round cake pans (3)Small kitchen-dedicated spray bottle
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric White cake layers3 1/2 cups cake flour sifted2 1/3 cups granulated sugar4 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt3/4 cup unsalted butter softened1 1/2 cups whole milk at room temperature2 teaspoons vanilla extract7 lightly beaten egg whites at room temperatureMarshmallow mousse2 cups heavy whipping cream10 oz. bag mini marshmallows1 tablespoon LorAnn peach candy flavoring oil1 1/2 tablespoons grenadine or maraschino cherry juice from a jar of maraschino cherriesYellow food colorButtercream and decors2 cups unsalted butter at room temperature8 cups confectioners’ sugarMilk or cream to thin as needed2 tablespoons LorAnn peach candy flavoring oilOrange gel food colorYellow gel food color2 tablespoons light corn syrup2 tablespoons water1/3 cup red sanding sugar1/2 cup orange sanding sugar1/2 cup yellow sanding sugar8 gummy peach ring candies
      Instructions White cake layersPreheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Turn the mixer on low speed and add the softened butter one cube at a time.After all of the butter has been added, let the mixer run on low speed until the flour mixture resembles fine cornmeal, about 5-7 minutes. With the mixer still running, add half of the milk and the vanilla extract. Increase speed to medium; mixture will be thick.Add the remaining milk and egg whites. Beat until just combined on medium speed. Stop the mixer and scrape down the edges of the bowl. Fold batter with a rubber spatula until the mixture is consistent with no streaks or pockets of flour remaining. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake for 22-27 minutes, or until a toothpick tester comes out clean.Let cool in the pans for 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely. Level the cakes evenly using a cake leveler or large serrated knife.Marshmallow mousseLine two 8-inch round cake pans with plastic wrap so that it overhangs all sides of the pans.In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip the cream until stiff peaks form.Microwave the marshmallows in a large heatproof bowl for 45 seconds, or until they have puffed up considerably. Remove from the microwave and stir until the marshmallows have melted and completely lost their original shape. This will be very sticky and gooey – keep stirring. Stir the peach flavoring oil into the marshmallow, followed by the grenadine and the yellow food color. Fold the whipped cream into the marshmallow mixture.Divide the mixture between the two prepared pans and chill until firm, about 2 hours in the refrigerator, or 1 hour in the freezer. Keep layers chilled until you’re ready to assemble the cake.ButtercreamIn the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together on low speed until just combined. Increase speed; add milk or cream a little at a time until the mixture comes to spreading consistency. Whip on high speed 2 minutes. Beat in the peach flavoring oil. Divide the buttercream into two bowls and tint one bright orange; tint the other bright yellow. Cover each bowl with a damp paper towel to prevent it from drying out.Assemble the cakePlace a dot of frosting in the center of a cake board or serving plate. Add a white cake layer. Lightly frost the layer with a thin coat of yellow buttercream.Remove the marshmallow mousse from the refrigerator and pull it out by the overhanging plastic wrap. Turn it onto the frosted cake layer and pull away the plastic. Top with a second white cake layer and repeat the process with the second mousse layer. Finish with the last white cake layer on top.Crumb coat the entire cake with a thin coat of orange buttercream on the bottom 1/2 of the cake, and a thin coat of yellow buttercream on the top 1/2 of the cake. Chill 15 minutes. Frost the cake with a final layer of buttercream, corresponding the colors with the crumb coat. Chill the cake until very firm, about 30 minutes.Meanwhile, place a large sheet of plastic wrap on a work surface. Place the remaining orange and yellow buttercreams side-by-side in a 6-inch line in the center of the plastic. Roll the frosting into the plastic jelly roll style and snip one end. Load the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a large closed star tip. Set aside.Place a 1 1/2-2-inch line of the red sanding sugar on a large baking sheet. Place a thicker line of orange sanding sugar touching the red sanding sugar. Place a thick layer of yellow sanding sugar touching the orange sanding sugar. Make sure all the sugars combined are tall enough to coat the height of the frosted cake.Place the corn syrup and water in a small kitchen-dedicated spray bottle and shake to mix thoroughly.Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Spray a light coating of the corn syrup mixture all over the sides of the cake. Let stand 1 minute. Pick the cake up and place it on its side in the sanding sugar. With a hand on the bottom cake drum, an a hand on the top center of the frosted cake, roll the cake into the sugar. Pick it up and move it backward onto the sugar, then roll forward to completely coat the cake. Stand the cake upright and smooth the top of the cake if you’ve made any impressions with your hand.Use the loaded piping bag of two-tone frosting to pipe 8 swirls on top of the cake. Place a peach candy ring between each swirl.Keep cake refrigerated. Serve slices at room temperature.

      Keyword marshmallow mousse, peach candy flavoring oil, peach ring candies, white cake layers

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

    • in Recipes

      Fried Peach Shortcake

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      Fried Peach Shortcake tastes just as good as it sounds! Fresh summer peaches are sliced and skillet-fried in butter and spices, then sandwiched between tender wedges of shortcake.

      Summer is slipping by too quickly! And it’s been too long since I last posted here. Fall projects are ramping up and have taken priority. But the good news is that I’ll have all kinds of delicious things to share with you this autumn. Although I look forward to all things fall baking, I’m still enjoying all the things summer gives us. A good peach crop is one of the best things about summer, if you ask me. This shortcake is a wonderful and simple way to use them. (Here’s another favorite.)
      Nearly everybody knows about fried apples – but fried peaches? They are totally a thing! And, they might be even better than their well-known counterpart.

      If you find yourself at the grocery store examining fresh peaches for this recipe, look for freestone peaches. The name says it all – the pits are easy to remove from the fruit.

      This recipe takes about 6 cups of sliced peaches. I’d estimate this at about 8 medium-sized peaches. You could also use frozen peaches (thawed) if you have them on hand. However you slice them, have them prepped ahead of time and tossed with a tablespoon of lemon juice to prevent browning.

      For the cake, whisk together the few dry ingredients called for, and then add heavy cream. Heavy cream has everything needed to bring this dough together. Namely, fat and flavor. Mix until you have a sticky dough.

      Press the dough into an 8×8-inch pan. Wet your hands first, and the dough won’t stick to them. While the shortcake bakes, fry the peaches.

      You’ll simply put all of the ingredients in the pan at once, stir, and then cook until the peaches are fork tender.

      Mmmm. These are pretty darn perfect warm from the stove top. The fried peaches alone are a fine dessert. If you have a tablespoon of bourbon on hand, it wouldn’t hurt anything to add it right after you pull them off the heat.

      Slice the cake into portions in the pan, or you could turn it out on a wire rack like I did. I always seem to ruin the first piece of cake getting it out of the pan, so this was better for me.

      Cut twice in each direction with light sawing motions with a serrated knife for 9 servings.

      To finish, split each cake and fill with fried peaches. Then spoon over more fried peaches. Shortcake wouldn’t be complete without a creamy element, so top each warm serving with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a mountain of freshly whipped cream.
      I hope everyone has had a happy and safe summer so far! Let’s enjoy every last little bit of it.

      Fried Peach Shortcake

      Heather Baird

      Fresh peaches are sliced and tossed with spices, brown sugar, and fried with butter in a skillet. Lightly sweet shortcake is the perfect foil for the sweet peach mixture, and it should all be served warm with a scoop of ice cream (or whipped cream) on top.Use ripe but firm peaches for this recipe. If the peaches are too soft they will cook down to a mushy consistency.

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      Prep Time 10 minsCook Time 26 minsTotal Time 36 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American, Southern United States

      Servings 9

      Equipment8×8 inch square pan
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Shortcake2 cups all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking powder1/4 teaspoon baking soda2 tablespoons sugar1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt1 1/2 cups heavy creamFried peaches6 cups fresh peaches sliced 1/2 inch thick (about 8 medium)1 tablespoon lemon juice1 teaspoon ground cinnamon plus more for garnish1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt1/2 cup light brown sugar tightly packed1/4 cup unsalted butterVanilla ice cream for serving
      Instructions ShortcakePreheat the oven to 400°F. Coat an 8×8 square baking pan with flour-based baking spray (or grease and flour pan).In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt. Add the heavy cream. Stir until thick, slightly sticky dough is formed.Spread the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Tamp the sticky dough down using wet hands (so the dough won’t stick to them) or using a rubber spatula coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until puffed and golden, or when a toothpick tester inserted near the center comes out clean. If the cake is done and still pale on top, place it under the broiler for 2 minutes or until golden.Gently turn the cake out from the pan to a wire rack to cool. The cake will be tender, so be careful not to break it. Slice the cake into 9 portions, cutting it twice in both directions. Use a serrated knife and light sawing motions for the neatest slices.Fried peachesPlace all of the fried peach ingredients in a large saucepan. Stir together. Set over medium heat and cook until the butter melts. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until the peaches are fork tender and a syrupy sauce forms, about 6-8 minutes.AssembleSplit a shortcake piece horizontally and place on a serving plate or bowl. Add a big spoonful of fried peaches between the cakes. Top the cake with another spoonful of the warm peach mixture. Top with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and garnish with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, if desired. Repeat with remaining peaches and cakes.
      NotesFrozen peaches can be used for this recipe. Thaw and pour off the liquid before using.
      2 tablespoons of peach schnapps will really improve the peach flavor if using frozen peaches. Add it right after you pull the fried peaches from the heat.
      Bourbon would be a wonderful addition to this already southern dish. Like the schnapps, add it at the end of cooking the peaches.
      Heartier servings can be made by cutting the cake once in on direction, and twice in the other to yield 6 larger servings.

      Keyword brown sugar, cinnamon, fresh peaches, vanilla ice cream

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    • in Recipes

      Deep Dish Sausage and Cheese Quiche

      ha scritto per te

      Brunch is served! Deep Dish Sausage and Cheese Quiche is filled with sausage crumbles and sharp cheddar, which makes a hearty bite for breakfast and beyond.

      I made this quiche last week for the first time and really enjoyed it. My work days are getting busier the closer we inch towards fall (online publishing always starts the season early!). So I’ve been looking for a make-ahead dish that is easy to grab for lunch. Quiche might just be the perfect workshop lunch. There’s plenty of things from the garden right now to add on top, such as cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. Eat a slice cold or re-heated- either way it’s a hearty and quick bite!

      Slice up some melon and berries (which are at summer peak) and you’ve got a beautiful brunch. I served this with what I call ‘Strawberry Salad’. Which is not really salad at all, but sliced fresh strawberries brushed with melted strawberry jam and sprinkled with poppyseed. It’s a great side to this quiche and really, there’s no recipe needed! I make a bunch ahead and it keeps well refrigerated.

      Start this recipe with my easy all-butter crust. However, you can absolutely start this recipe with a ready-made deep dish frozen pie crust. No judgement. My recipe is easy to make in a food processor and comes together quickly.

      To reduce mess, roll the crust between two sheets of parchment to 12-inches. Peel off the top sheet and flip the crust on the second sheet of paper onto the deep dish pan. Peel the paper away and fit it into the deep dish pan. Then, turn the excess crust under at the edges and crimp or pinch the edges. At this point, stick it in the freezer to chill while you prepare the rest of the recipe.

      Fill it up!
      Next, brown some sausage. I recommend regular breakfast sausage – not sage, not hot, not maple-flavored – just the good ol’ standard. Then, in a little of the sausage drippings, sauté onion and bell pepper. When all of this cools down a little, mix it together with shredded sharp cheddar.
      In another little bowl, you’ll combine the wet ingredients. Now. This recipe only uses three eggs which won’t seem like enough. When you pour the mixture over the sausage in the pie shell, it will disappear to the bottom. This is right. This is normal. This quiche will not have a custard-y finish. Instead, it’s a stick-to-your-ribs kind of dish that focuses more on the filling.

      This provided several lunches daily for me and the two other people who dine with me. It was nice being able to breeze in and out of the refrigerator with slices of quiche, melon wedges, and sweet strawberries on the side.

      Deep Dish Sausage and Cheese Quiche is great for summer, especially topped with sun-ripened cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs (or greens like arugula!). But I’m also eyeing it for an easy Christmas Eve breakfast. I’m always looking for a good time-saver for the holidays (here’s another good one!).
      This recipe was adapted from Carolina Cooking.

      Deep Dish Sausage & Cheese Quiche

      Heather Baird

      Brunch is served! Deep Dish Sausage and Cheese Quiche is filled with sausage crumbles and sharp cheddar, which makes a hearty bite for breakfast and beyond.A frozen, unbaked deep dish pie shell can replace the scratch-made crust. This recipe can also be varied with whatever shredded cheese you have on hand.

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      Prep Time 15 minsCook Time 30 minsTotal Time 45 mins

      Course BreakfastCuisine American, French

      Servings 9

      Equipment9 inch deep dish pie pan
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric All-butter quiche crust1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon fine grain salt1/2 cup unsalted butter cold5 tablespoons ice waterQuiche filling1 lb. ground pork breakfast sausage1/2 cup finely chopped onion1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper1 1/2 cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar1 tablespoon all-purpose flour3 eggs1 cup evaporated milk1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley1/8 teaspoon fine grain salt 2 pinches1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
      Instructions CrustIn the bowl of a food processor, add the flour and fine grain salt. Pulse to combine. Cube the butter and add it on top of the flour. Pulse 2-3 times until roughly incorporated and large chunks of butter remain. Continue to pulse as you add the tablespoons of water. Pulse until the mixture forms a rough dough to one side of the bowl.Turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper and top with a second piece. Roll to a rough 12-inch circle. Remove the top piece of parchment paper and pick up the crust by the paper and invert onto a 9- inch deep dish pie pan. Remove the paper and press the crust into the pan. Fold under the excess dough at the edges and crimp. Transfer to the freezer while you prep the filling.QuichePreheat the oven to 350F.Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir constantly while cooking until well done, about 8 minutes. Remove sausage to a paper towel-lined plate reserving 1 tablespoon of the drippings in the pan.Sauté the onion and bell pepper over medium-high heat until the onions are translucent and the pepper is tender. Let cool slightly. Remove the pie crust from the freezer and place on a baking sheet.In a large bowl, combine the sausage, onion and pepper, sharp cheddar, and all-purpose flour. Toss to combine. Spoon this mixture into the pie crust.In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, parsley, salt, and pepper. Pour over the sausage mixture. The egg mixture will disappear to the bottom of the pan – this is normal.Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and set. Cool slightly.Slices can be served warm or chilled, but I prefer this hearty sausage quiche warmed.
      NotesThe homemade crust can be replaced with a 9-inch frozen unbaked deep dish pie crust shell.
      Reheat slices in the microwave for 1:30 seconds at 100% power, or at 350 for 10 minutes in the oven.
      Top with whatever fresh thing you have on hand – cherry tomatoes, basil, arugula, watercress -anything goes!

      Keyword all butter pie crust, breakfast sausage, extra-sharp cheddar

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    • in Recipes

      Browned Butter S’mores Skillet Cookie

      ha scritto per te

      This S’mores skillet cookie has extra toasty flavor thanks to a magic ingredient – browned butter. Serve slices of this cookie warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate summer treat!

      What goes better together than a campfire and s’mores? A cast iron skillet and this giant Browned Butter S’mores Cookie! The cookie dough bakes crisp on the edges and remains gooey in the center. It tastes extra-toasty with the addition of nutty browned butter.

      The magic ingredient.
      Browned butter is made by cooking unsalted butter until the milk solids turn golden. This yields a deep, rich, nutty flavor in baked goods. Use a light colored pan to best gauge the color of the butter as you’re cooking it. It’s much harder to determine doneness in a dark nonstick pan.

      After the browned butter cools a little, it’s cookie time! Mix up the sugars, browned butter and eggs. You won’t even need an electric mixer for this. I used a whisk.

      Add the dry ingredients, which includes some graham cracker crumbs for authentic s’mores flavor. Stir together until thick dough forms. Swap the whisk for a rubber spatula when it gets too thick to whisk.

      Fold in some semisweet chocolate chips. At this point it looks like regular chocolate chip cookie dough, but the graham crumbs give it a different personality!

      Skillet love.
      I’m always making a case for the Lodge 10.25″ skillet. It’s just a good pan at a decent price. Nobody’s paying me to say that. You can usually find it for less than $20 everywhere (such as here and here). It’s the perfect tool to use for this skillet cookie – and any skillet cookie, really!
      Spread the marshmallow cream over half of the cookie dough in the pan. Portion the remaining dough on top of the marshmallow with a cookie scoop, or use two spoons to place the dough.

      Pat the dough down into the pan using greased hands (or damp hands, dip in water then press – no sticking!). Don’t worry about covering all of the marshmallow cream. We want some of that to be exposed because it gets brown and toasty in the oven.

      This cookie stays soft in the middle and has crisp edges. It may look slightly underdone in the center when you take it out of the oven, but the marshmallow cream keeps everything ooey-gooey. Let it cool for a few minutes because nobody wants a burn from sticky marshmallow cream.

      This treat is so perfect treat for summer. There’s no way the vanilla ice cream is optional here. It gets melty on slices of warm cookie, and creates the most wonderful creamy foil for such a rich dessert. A sprinkle of flake sea salt never hurt anything, either.
      This blog post is sponsored by Go Bold With Butter!

      Browned Butter S’mores Skillet Cookie

      Heather Baird

      This S’mores skillet cookie has extra toasty flavor thanks to a magic ingredient – browned butter. Browned butter is made by cooking unsalted butter until the milk solids turn brown. This yields a deep, rich, nutty flavor. Serve slices of this cookie warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate summer treat!

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      Prep Time 15 minsCook Time 30 minsTotal Time 45 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 10

      Equipment10.25 inch cast iron skillet
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 3/4 cup unsalted butter1 cup brown sugar packed1/2 cup granulated sugar2 eggs2 teaspoons vanilla extract1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs1 teaspoon cornstarch1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup chocolate chips1 cup marshmallow cream3 graham cracker sheets3 oz. bar chocolateVanilla ice cream for serving
      Instructions Preheat the oven to 350° F.Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Use a light-colored metal saucepan so you can easily see the color of the butter change. Cook until the butter foams and steams. Swirl the pan occasionally as the foam subsides and watch closely as the butter turns golden brown and the milk solids drop to the bottom of the pan. Pour the browned butter and butter solids into a small bowl and let stand until cool but not solidified.Use a pastry brush to coat a 10-inch cast iron pan with a little of the browned butter. Set aside.In a large mixing bowl, combine the browned butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until well incorporated.Add the flour, graham cracker crumbs, cornstarch and salt. Mix well until thick dough forms. Stir in the chocolate chips.Press half of the cookie dough in the bottom of the prepared pan. Top with dollops of marshmallow cream. Place remaining cookie dough on top of the marshmallow cream using a spoon or an ice cream scoop. Allow some of the marshmallow cream to remain exposed. Smooth down the dough with a greased rubber spatula or by pressing it down with damp hands (dip hands in water, then press).Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top of the cookie is well set and golden brown. (The center of the cookie will be gooey, and the edges crisp). Immediately garnish the top of the cookie with graham crackers and squares of the bar chocolate.Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
      NotesWhile browning the butter you’ll notice that it goes through several stages of bubbling. First it gets medium-sized soapy-looking bubbles with milk solids clinging to them. Then bubbles will get smaller as the butter cooks until it almost turns into a foam. Usually, just after the foaming part the butter will begin to brown. Watch the pan carefully while swirling it so you can best see what color the butter is turning. When it’s deep golden, pour it into a bowl to cool.
      The center of this cookie stays gooey, so testing for doneness with a toothpick is out. The cookie is done when the edges are puffed and the top is golden. If you need extra insurance, stick an instant read thermometer in the center. A reading of 160F or higher is safe, as eggs are cooked at 160F. 
      If the marshmallow cream doesn’t get as brown as you’d like in the oven, stick it under the broiler for 2 minutes. Or use a chef’s torch to toast it.

      Keyword browned butter, dipped graham crackers, graham cracker crumbs, marshmallow cream, semisweet chocolate chips

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    • in Recipes

      Cereal Milk Pudding Shooters

      ha scritto per te

      These fun Cereal Milk Pudding Shooters can be made with your favorite sweet breakfast cereal. This version uses Froot Loops, which makes a colorful party food that’s kid-friendly, too!

      Sometimes I forget how good scratch-made pudding is. Whenever I make it I always wonder why I don’t make it more often. This pudding is extra good, because it comes with a hit of childhood nostalgia. We have Milk Bar to thank for introducing the world to cereal milk as an ingredient. The thing is, we’ve all likely made this as kids sitting in front of the TV, eating sugary cereal and watching Saturday morning cartoons. Who knew we’d be using it to make desserts?

      Selecting a cereal.
      Start this recipe with the biggest bowl of cereal, ever! Five cups of milk to four cups of cereal. I must admit, stirring this together was super satisfying. I was tempted to take a big bite.
      Froot Loops (with marshmallow shapes) is my sweet cereal of choice, but you could use Fruity Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch, or even less sweet Cornflakes. You might remember my previous recipe made with cereal milk – Toasted Corn Flakes Cupcakes with Cereal Milk Pipettes. Still love those!

      Cover the enormous bowl of cereal and refrigerate it. Let the mixture steep for at least an hour. Longer is better to coax out as much cereal flavor as possible. Aim for 2-3 hours.

      Next, strain out the cereal. The loops will soak up some of the milk, so you’ll have less than you began with. You should end up with about 4 1/2 cups of cereal milk.

      Divide the cereal milk. 4 cups will be heated in a saucepan, and 1/2 cup will go in a bowl with cornstarch and egg yolks to make a slurry. Add this little bowl of ingredients to the saucepan to thicken the pudding as it cooks.

      After the mixture was all whisked together and thickened, something was obviously missing. The thick, pale yellow pudding didn’t really resemble the colorful Froot Loops cereal milk I’d had as a kid. A drop of red food color will make it look more authentic. This is optional.

      Cool the pudding before dividing it between shot glasses. I used a piping bag with a tiny hole cut in the end to portion it into the glasses, but you could also just spoon it in.

      Party perfect.
      Add some whipped cream and crushed cereal on top, and you’ve got instant party food! This recipe will make about 20 shooters served in these 2.4 oz. dessert shot glasses. However, you can also divvy the pudding up in larger servings to serve 6-8 people.

      How fun would these be for a kid’s party? They’re so creamy and they’re a good summer refresher when chilled. They can be made a couple of days ahead, so if it’s hot where you live right now, wait until night time when it’s cooler to make them. It takes about 15 minutes on the stove top. Enjoy!

      Cereal Milk Pudding Shooters

      Heather Baird

      This recipe can be endlessly varied with your favorite cereal. This version uses Froot Loops, which makes a fun and colorful party food. Kid-friendly, too! These take about 4 hours to chill completely, and can be made 2 days ahead.

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      Prep Time 10 minsCook Time 15 minsTotal Time 25 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 20 dessert shooters

      Equipment20-24 shot glasses, 2.4 oz. eachPiping baglarge closed star piping tip
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Cereal milk pudding5 cups whole milk4 cups fruity breakfast cereal such as Froot Loops or Fruity Pebbles1 cup sugar1/3 cup cornstarch5 large egg yolks1/2 teaspoon sea salt1 drop liquid red food color optionalWhipped cream and topping2/3 cup heavy cream2 tablespoons granulated sugar1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract1/4 cup loosely crushed fruity cereal such as Froot Loops or Fruity Pebbles
      Instructions Cereal milk puddingCombine the milk and cereal in a large bowl and stir to combine. Let the mixture steep for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Strain out the cereal. You should be left with about 4 1/2 cups of cereal milk. Discard the cereal.Pour 1/2 cup of the cereal milk in a medium bowl. Add the sugar, cornstarch egg yolks and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the bowl. Whisk to combine.Add 4 cups of the cereal milk to a saucepan and set over medium heat until steaming but not boiling.Add 1/3 cup of the hot cereal milk from the saucepan to the egg mixture, whisking constantly to keep the eggs from scrambling. Once mixed, add the egg mixture back to the saucepan of milk in a pencil-thin stream, whisking constantly as you pour.Cook over medium heat, whisking continually, until the mixture thickens up to the consistency of pudding, about 7 minutes. Stir in food color, if using. Transfer to a bowl and place plastic wrap on the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Allow the mixture to cool at room temperature until barely warm. Portion into approximately 20-24 shot glasses, 2.4 oz. each. Alternatively divide between 6-8 ramekins or dessert cups.Whipped cream and toppingsBeat the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add in the granulated sugar while beating. Add in the vanilla extract. Beat until stiff peaks form.Transfer the whipped cream to a piping bag fitted with a large closed star tip. Pipe whipped cream on top of each pudding shot. Garnish each with crushed fruity cereal.Refrigerate until ready to serve.
      NotesLighten this recipe by using low fat milk or almond milk.
      I’ve found that allowing the cereal to steep for 2 hours in the milk will impart more flavor.
       
       

      Keyword cereal milk, froot loops, heavy cream, whole milk

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