Tag Archives: dessert

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Blueberry Maple Cheesecake Ice Cream

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This weekend I have homemade fish-stick plans–or fish-finger plans, as I’ve been calling them since I ALWAYS fall into the “you-like-fishsticks?” trap (I always fall for this awful joke much to the delight of my husband and BFF…because we’re such adults and I’m SO DUMB). What do fish-fingers have to do with ice cream, you ask? Nothing. Aside from my fish-finger plans for the weekend, which I am weirdly excited about, I have ice cream eating plans…because it’s the weekend and um, ICE CREAM!

Plus, it’s this ice cream, which is ice cream+cheesecake+blueberries, all in one! This ice cream combines the flavor of tangy cream cheese with sweet, sweet maple, plus a fruity ripple of vanilla-scented blueberry sauce, and the requisite graham cracker crumbs…you know, to make it authentic.  I mean, it’s Friday, the eve of the weekend, and we deserve a little frozen indulgence, don’t you think?

Blueberry Maple Cheesecake Ice Cream

Ice Cream Base adapted from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home.

I made this recipe with Tonewood Maple Syrup*. You can read more about Tonewood here in my earlier post or on their website. As always, feel free to sub in your favorite syrup.

Ice Cream Base:

2 cups milk

1 tablespoon cornstarch plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch

6oz. softened cream cheese

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/4 cups cream

2/3 cup maple

1/4 cup corn syrup

Blueberry Ripple:

2 cups blueberries

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons lemon

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Graham Layer:

1 sleeve graham crackers, crushed

Mix together about 2 tablespoons or so of the milk with the cornstarch to make a slurry, set aside. In a large, heatproof, mixing bowl whisk the cream cheese and salt together.

Prepare an ice bath in the basin of a clean sink or large bowl.

In a saucepan combine the remaining milk, cream, maple syrup, corn syrup, and cornstarch slurry. Heat to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally, until thickened, continue to boil for about 4 minutes and remove from the heat. Gradually whisk the mixture into the cream cheese until smooth and combined. Either stir the mixture over the prepared ice bath or pour it into a gallon-size, zip-top freezer bag, seal, and place in the ice bath until cooled. If the base is totally cooled you can process in the ice cream maker at this point. I like to let it chill in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight before processing.

For the blueberry ripple:

In a saucepan combine the blueberries and sugar. Heat over medium-high heat until the blueberries release their juices and soften. In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice and cornstarch and stir into the blueberry mixture. Bring to a boil until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Cool completely before layering with the ice cream.

In a freezer-safe container layer about 1/3 of the processed ice cream base in the bottom and drizzle with 1/3 of the blueberry ripple, followed by a liberal sprinkling of graham crumbs, repeat with remaining ingredients, cover, and freeze for several hours before serving. If you have leftover ripple and crumbs, use them to top the ice cream when served.

*Tonewood kindly supplied me with the maple syrup used in this recipe. As always, all opinions are my own.

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Valentine Sprinkle Cupcakes

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It’s almost Valentine’s Day! I know there are a lot of differing attitudes surrounding this holiday, but really, I don’t care…I LOVE IT.

While we should share our love on the daily, it’s not a bad idea to spread a little extra love and appreciation on this day, Cupid’s Birthday (probably). Plus, I get to bust out all the pink and red and glitter and SPRINKLES! These mini cupcakes are an unapologetic celebration of all things sweet and saccharine that is Valentine’s Day. So, share a cupcake, give a Valentine, make a date with your love or your very best pals. Basically, just let your favorites know their your fave in the form of butter and sugar and sprinkles.

PS, can we talk about how Funfetti is NOT Rainbow Party Chip? Personally, I prefer the latter but don’t really know what those little rainbow chips are, cause they are definitely not sprinkles. Have you made this distinction? If so, discuss.

Sprinkle Cupcakes

Adapted from this recipe.

Makes about 48 mini cupcakes.

1 stick (4 ounces) softened, unsalted butter

1 1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup milk

5 tablespoons sprinkles

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line 2 mini muffin tins with paper liners.

In the bowl of a mixer (or in a mixing bowl with a hand mixer), beat the butter until creamy. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Mix on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until the mixture resembles a crumble topping. Add in the eggs and beat for 2 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Gradually add in the milk and vanilla until just combined. Fold in the sprinkles. Using a small cookie scoop or spoons, fill each mini cupcake cup about 3/4 full. Bake in the preheated oven, one pan at a time, for about 15 minutes or until the cupcake tops spring back to the touch. Cool on a rack completely before frosting.

Whipped Buttercream

Adapted from this recipe.

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 cup milk

pinch of salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup softened, unsalted butter

sprinkles for decoration

In a saucepan whisk together the sugar and flour, whisk in the milk until smooth, add the salt. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

Once cooled, beat the butter in a mixer (or using a hand mixer and mixing bowl) until creamy. Add the cooled flour mixture and vanilla. Beat until a smooth frosting forms (the mixture may look greasy or curdled at some point, just keep whipping it!). Spread or pipe onto baked and cooled cupcakes and decorate with additional sprinkles.

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Raspberry Donut Cakes

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I’m back!

…and I come bearing donuts. Donuts masquerading as shortcakes, topped with juicy, sweetened raspberries and lots of whipped cream.

This is the very first post I’ve prepared for you from our new apartment. I’m hoping to do a quick tour of the place once things get a little less crazy lookin’ around here, but for now just know that it has a great, south-facing window and a cozy kitchen, both of which I plan to utilize for much posting in the future.

But, for now, let’s talk these donuts. They’re the springy and tender like the best of cupcakes and scented with vanilla and almond. I love almond, especially with raspberries. So fragrant and delicious! The berries are simply macerated with some sugar and the cream is whipped and unsweetened. I actually over whipped my cream, which kinda drives me nuts but it was all I had so I went with it. Pay attention and whip that cream to the softest of peaks, don’t be like me.

Regardless of the over-whipped-cream debacle, these cakes were reminiscent of those shortcakes that don’t actually involve a biscuit-y shortcake but those spongey, little yellow cakes you find at the store near the strawberries…except, way better, ovbs, since they’re DONUTS and we’re baking them fresh.

 

Raspberry Donut Cakes

Adapted from THIS recipe, originally from Saveur.

Makes 12 baked donuts.

1 1/4 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

scant 1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup canola oil or other neutral oil

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Lightly coat a donut pan with cooking spray (I like coconut oil spray).

In a mixing bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl whisk together the canola, buttermilk, egg, and extracts. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and fold until just combined. Spoon (or pipe) batter about 1/2 way up each donut well and bake in the center of the oven for 8-9 minutes, or until the donuts spring back to the touch. Remove from the oven, cool in the pan about 1 minute before flipping out onto a cooling rack. Repeat with remaining batter.

For the raspberries:

3 cups raspberries, rinsed and dried

sugar to taste ( I used a scant 1/4 cup)

In a bowl mix the raspberries with the sugar and set aside until the sugar dissolves and the raspberries begin to slump. You can expedite this process by placing everything in a saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves.

For the cream:

1 cup cream

sugar and a dash of vanilla, if desired

Whip the cream using a hand mixer, immersion blender, or whisk until soft peaks form.

To assemble the cakes:

Place 1 donut on a plate, top with a generous amount of cream and berries, repeat on top with another donut, cream, and berries.