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Culinary Tales/ Sweet Things

Black Forest Cupcakes

Black Forest Cake is a sweet combination of Chocolate and Cherry, a classic cake choice. Making it in a handheld cupcake form only seems right! These moist, chocolate cupcakes are topped with a creamy, cherry frosting and filled with the sweet cherry cream! Read on for the full recipe to make these Black Forest Cupcakes!

Black Forest Cupcakes

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Place cupcake liners in a pan.

In a large bowl mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Gradually add in the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and butter. Mix well until there are no lumps.

Fill the cupcake liners leaving about an inch from the top.

Place in oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let them cool completely.

Once they’re cool you can use a cupcake corer (or a knife) to remove a small circle out of the middle of each cupcake.

To prepare the frosting you’ll need cool whip, frozen cherries, and brown sugar. Mix them together in the food processor. Once it’s thoroughly mixed you can spoon some into the middle of the cupcke.

This frosting is so yummy, try not to eat it all before you get it on the cupcakes! Use the rest to cover the top!

This frosting is a little thin, but it really does stick to the top (kind of like the frosting on hostess cupcakes). It’s perfect because it pairs so well with the chocolate!

Finally, Garnish them with a cherry. Refrigerate for about twenty minutes before serving!

Black Forest Cupcakes

Print Recipe
Serves: 24

Ingredients

  • Cupcakes
  • 1/2 Cup Butter (softened)
  • 3 Eggs
  • Buttermilk
  • 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Cup Flour
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Tsp Cinnamon
  • 6 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa
  • 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/4 Tsp Salt
  • Frosting
  • 1 Cup of Cherries (Frozen or Fresh pitted)
  • 1 Tub Cool Whip
  • 4 Tbsp Brown Sugar

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners!

2

In a large bowl mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt.

3

Gradually add in the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and butter. Mix well until there are no lumps.

4

Fill the cupcake liners leaving about an inch from the top.

5

Place in oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

6

Let them cool completely.

7

Once they're cool use a cupcake corer (or a knife) to remove a small circle out of the middle of each cupcake.

8

Prepare the frosting you'll need cool whip, frozen cherries, and brown sugar. Mix them together in the food processor. Once it's thoroughly mixed you can spoon some into the middle of the cupcake.

9

Then cover the top and garnish them with a cherry.

10

Refrigerate for twenty minutes or more!

August 31, 2020
0
Culinary Tales/ Sweet Things

Cherry Cheesecake Sugar Cookie Bars

These sweet bars are the best of both worlds! Sugar Cookie meets Cherry Cheesecake. Cherry Cheesecake Sugar Cookie Bars are easy to make and oh so yummy! These don’t last long in our house, and Christmas or Thanksgiving watch out, these desserts are the first to go.

Cherry Cheesecake Sugar Cookie Bars

I’ll be using prepared sugar cookie dough, neufchatel cheese (Which is basically the same as cream cheese, it just has less fat. You can use either.), sugar, cherry pie filling, eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon juice.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper. Spray with non stick spray.

In a bowl mix the sugar, sour cream, eggs, vanilla, lemon juice, and neufchatel cheese. Set aside.

  • Add Cream Cheese to the bowl!
  • Add the Vanilla Extract & the Lemon Juice!
  • Add the sugar & the sour cream!
  • Add the eggs!
  • Blend, blend, blend!

After that take your cookie dough out of the fridge and spread it out evenly on the bottom of your lined pan.

Then, add the cream cheese mixture on top.

Finally, place the pan in the oven and bake for about 35 minutes. You can tell the bars are done when it starts to brown on top and after you place a toothpick in the middle and it comes out clean!

Let the bars cool completely. Cut them into squares and add the cherry topping.

They taste best eaten within a day or two but, they can easily be frozen for a few weeks as well!

Cherry Cheesecake Sugar Cookie Bars

Print Recipe
Serves: 12 Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • Sugar Cookie Dough
  • 16 oz. Cream Cheese
  • 1 Can Cherry Pie Filling
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/4 Tsp Sour Cream
  • 2 Tsp Lemon Juice
  • 3 Eggs

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2

Line a 9x13 Pyrex Dish with parchment paper.

3

Spray with non stick spray.

4

In a bowl mix the sugar, egg, vanilla, lemon juice, sour cream, and cream cheese. Set aside.

5

Take your cookie dough out of the fridge and spread it out evenly on the bottom of your lined pan.

6

Add the cream cheese mixture on top. Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 35 minutes.

7

Turn the pan around halfway through.

8

Place a toothpick in the middle and when it comes out clean they are ready!

9

Let the bars cool completely. Add the cherry topping.

10

Cut into squares!

July 24, 2020
0
Culinary Tales/ Sweet Things

King Cake Pull Apart Doughnuts

These King Cake Pull Apart Doughnuts are the perfect way to celebrate Mardi Gras. They even have a special surprise inside: Raspberry & Chocolate filling!

They only take about 10 minutes to prep then they get popped in the oven to bake! To make these scrumptious doughnuts you’ll need: puff pastry, chocolate hazelnut spread, raspberry jam, some food coloring, and some sprinkles!

King Cake Pull Apart Doughnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a cupcake pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Next, start by slicing your puff pastry into three different strips.

On the first strip spread purple sprinkles over it generously. On the next strip place a few drops of green food coloring, and using a spoon spread it across. Then do the same on the third strip with the yellow food coloring.

Once you have your strips colored, slice each of them into two more strips lengthwise (You should have 6 strips total). Now, slice those in half once horizontally.

Take one yellow strip, one purple strip, and one green strip and lay them flat together touching with their colored side facing down. Spread 1 tsp of raspberry jam and one tsp of chocolate hazelnut spread on them.

Then twist them closed, keeping the filling inside!

Place them one by one in the cupcake pan as you finish. Once you’ve twisted each of them and added them to the pan, place the pan in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes.

The doughnuts are done when the dough is a light golden brown, and if you stick a toothpick in them it comes out clean!

These make for a festive breakfast on Mardi Gras! They are the perfect size and are best eaten warm!

I sprinkled the tops with a little powdered sugar as well!

King Cake Pull Apart Doughnuts

Print Recipe
Serves: 10-12 Cooking Time: 40 minutes total

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet of Puff Pastry
  • 3 Tbsp Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
  • 3 Tbsp Raspberry Jam
  • Purple Sprinkles
  • Green Food Coloring
  • Yellow Food Coloring
  • Powdered Sugar for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2

Spray cupcake pan with non-stick spray.

3

Slice puff pastry into three different strips.

4

On first strip spread purple sprinkles over it generously.

5

On next strip place a few drops of green food coloring, and using a spoon spread it across.

6

Do the same on the third strip but, with the yellow food coloring.

7

Once strips are colored, slice each of them into two more strips lengthwise (You should have 6 strips total).

8

Now, slice those in half once horizontally. (For a total of 12 strips altogether!)

9

Take one yellow strip, one purple strip, and one green strip and lay them flat together touching with their colored side facing down.

10

Spread 1 tsp of raspberry jam and one tsp of chocolate hazelnut spread on them.

11

Then twist them closed, keeping the filling inside!

12

Place each twist in the cupcake pan as you finish.

13

Bake for about 30 minutes.

14

The doughnuts are done when the dough is a light golden brown, and if you stick a toothpick in them it comes out clean!

King Cake Baby

Traditionally King Cake has a little plastic baby inside and whoever receives the piece with the baby “wins”. They are then treated like royalty the whole night.

You can carry on this tradition by placing a baby in the middle of one of the doughnuts After it’s baked and cooled – just be cautious to let everyone know before hand that one of them does contain a baby! (And I would not try this with children!)

You can even simply place a the baby on top for decoration! If you cannot find a “Marci Gras” section at your local store just head on over to the baby shower section of any craft store or Walmart. You can generally find a whole pack of plastic babies for less than $2.00!

If you enjoyed this recipe be sure to check out my Quick & Easy King Cake Recipe as well!

Happy Mardi Gras!

February 25, 2020
0
Culinary Tales/ Sweet Things

Easy Strawberry Poke Cake

Today I’m making this Easy Strawberry Poke Cake. Not only is this cake super easy to make, it’s delicious and very appropriate for Valentine’s Day!

The idea behind the poke cakes is that after the cake comes out of the oven and is cooled, you pour a liquid over top – most of the time Jello! To make this cake I’m sticking true to form and using strawberry jello! I’m using a box cake mix. Could you make the cake from scratch? Sure. Do you need to? Absolutely not. This is going to taste homemade and it’s going to cut the time in half.

I’m also decorating the cake with strawberries and raspberries to keep with the flavors and red theme of Valentine’s Day!

Easy Strawberry Poke Cake

Start off by following the directions on your cake box. Mix the egg whites, vegetable oil, and cake mix in a large bowl.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees . Spray your cake pans with non-stick cooking spray and pat with a little flour . Pour your batter into the pans. Place the pans in the oven to bake . They should take about 24 minutes to bake. You can test them with a toothpick , stick it in the middle and if it comes out clean it’s ready!

After removing your cakes from the oven let them cool in the pan on a rack for about 15 minutes. Next transfer them to a plate to cool for and additional 15 minutes. After they are completely cool you’re going to replace them in the pan so that you can pour the jello over top.

Take a fork and poke wholes all around the cake. Boil 1 cup of water on the stove top and then add the jello packet to the water stirring. Pour the jello mix over top of the cake slowly and evenly!

Place the cakes in the fridge for at least 3 hours. After they’ve chilled for long enough, remove them from the cake pans and get ready to frost them!

Mix 3/4 of a tub of cool whip with one can of frosting. Separate the frosting in to two bowls and place a little red food coloring in to one bowl. After mixing it frost the top of the bottom cake with it.

Next, place the other cake on top.

Begin frosting the edges of the cake. The easiest way is to sort of spin the cake slowly as you apply the frosting with a spatula. Finally, apply frosting on top evenly.

Once your done frosting it sprinkle some white crystal sprinkles all over the middle and place strawberries around it in two separate layers of a circle. Lastly, place the raspberries right in the middle on top of the crystal sprinkles!

Easy Strawberry Poke Cake

Print Recipe
Serves: 8-10 Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 boxes white cake mix
  • 1 box strawberry jello mix
  • 1 can of vanilla frosting
  • 1 Cup of Strawberries
  • 1 Cup of Raspberries
  • 2 Tbsp of Sprinkles

Instructions

1

Bake cakes according to box directions!

2

Let cakes cool for 15 minutes. Remove from pans and cool for an additional 15 minutes.

3

Place them back in the pan so that you can pour the jello over the top.

4

Take a fork and poke wholes all around the cake.

5

Boil 1 cup of water on the stove top and then add the jello packet to the water stirring.

6

Pour the jello mix over top of the cake slowly and evenly!

7

Place the cakes in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

8

After they've chilled for long enough, remove them from the cake pans.

9

Mix 3/4 of a tub of cool whip with one can of frosting.

10

Separate the frosting in to two bowls and place a little red food coloring in to one bowl.

11

After mixing it frost the top of the bottom cake with it.

12

Place the other cake on top and begin frosting the sides.

13

Sprinkle some white crystal sprinkles all over the middle and place strawberries around it in two separate layers of a circle. Lastly, place the raspberries right in the middle on top of the crystal sprinkles.

February 10, 2020
0
Culinary Tales/ Sweet Things

Avocado Chocolate Mousse

This Avocado Chocolate Mousse is decadent, rich, and sweet but you don’t have to feel guilty because it’s made with 4 simple ingredients! Avocados, sugar, almond milk, and cocoa powder.

I’ve been wanting to try this for sometime now and I’m so glad I did. Because, this came out really well.
One thing I want to note is that you can fully customize this recipe. You can use any kind of milk and any kind of sweetener. It will not effect your texture since the avocados are what make this so perfectly creamy!

Avocado Chocolate Mousse

Start by cutting the avocados in half (vertically). Using a spoon remove the avocado from the skin. Add it to your blender or food processor. Next, add your cocoa powder, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.

Finally, add in the sugar and almond milk. Place lid on securely and blend.

Blend until its fully mixed and there are no clumps or avocado chunks. Divide into saucers or bowls and eat right then or feel free to refrigerate for up to 48 hours.

I also had some mint in my garden and decided to use that as garnish, adding a little sprig to each.

Avocado Chocolate Mousse

Print Recipe
Serves: 4 Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 large ripe avocados
  • 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 6 Tbsp of Almond Milk
  • 1/2 cup of Raw Sugar (or sweetener of choice)
  • 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract (optional)
  • Dash of Cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1

Using a spoon remove the avocado from the skin. Add avocado to blender.

2

Add cocoa powder, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Finally, add in the sugar and almond milk.

3

Blend well. Divide into serving dishes and enjoy!

Satisfy that chocolate craving while giving your body the nutrients it needs! Did you know avocados are super high in rich antioxidants and there’s a million reasons to eat more of them every day! Check out my article ‘7 reasons you should eat an avocado a day’ to read more about it!


January 9, 2020
0
Culinary Tales/ Sweet Things

Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie

The holidays are here. And I’m continuing my search for the best pie recipes, starting with this Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie. With warm gooey chocolate, notes of bourbon, and of course delicious pecans. It hits all the spots for traditional Pecan Pie enthusiasts and those wanting more.

We made this last year and it was big a hit. Honestly, I’d describe the flavors as a warm chocolate brownie meets a crisp pecan pie. You can eat this delicious pie as is, top this with ice cream of course, or my favorite way: add this creamy, dreamy Cold Brew Whipped Cream to the top!

Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie

To make this pie you’ll need pecans, milk chocolate chips, bourbon, pie crust – store bought or homemade (see recipe below), vanilla extract, corn syrup, eggs, dark brown sugar, cream, and butter!

Perfect Pie Crust

This Crust can be used with any pie filling. It’s a basic flaky, buttery – perfect pie crust!
First, grease a 9-inch pie dish with nonstick spray. Set dish aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Next, in a large bowl start whisking the flour, salt, and baking powder.


Then, add your wet ingredients, the oil and water. Mixing until combined. Form it into a ball.

Spread the ball of dough into the bottom of your greased pie dish, spreading it out. Until it fits perfectly in your dish with the sides covering the top of the dish’s rim. Trim where need be.

This is also the time where we can decorate the edges I opted to make small triangles. I overlapped them along the edge.

Filling

Next, in a saucepan combine the butter & chocolate. Remove from the heat to let it cool. In a large bowl mix the eggs until they’re frothy and blend the sugar in . Add your vanilla, bourbon, salt, and the chocolate butter mixture. Stir well until fully mixed.

Pour the mixture into your pie crust. Add the pecans. Carefully place the pie in the oven. Bake for about 40 minutes.

The pie is done when its set and the edges are golden brown. You can insert a toothpick or knife in the center to see if it comes out clean.

Also, if you find your crust getting too dark too soon, you can easily cover the edges with some foil to protect them from browning too fast while the rest of the pie cooks.

Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie

Print Recipe
Serves: 6-8 Cooking Time: 60 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Pie Crust
  • 2 Tbsp Bourbon
  • 1 Cup Chocolate Chips
  • 1 1/2 Cups Pecans
  • 1/3 Cup Butter
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 Cup Corn Syrup
  • 1 Cup Dark Brown

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2

Spread pie crust into greased pie dish.

3

In a saucepan combine butter & chocolate.

4

Remove from heat, let it cool.

5

In a large bowl mix the eggs until they're frothy and blend the sugar in .

6

Add vanilla, bourbon, salt, and the chocolate butter mixture. Stir well until fully mixed.

7

Pour mixture into pie crust. Add the pecans.

8

Place the pie in the oven. Bake for about 40 minutes.

9

Pie is done when its set, edges are golden brown, and a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

This pie can even be made ahead of time and frozen! Try this at your next family gathering for rave reviews!

    November 12, 2019
    3