DoughSeeDough

a balanced plate with room for dessert

Monthly Archives: June 2009


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Chocolate Cupcakes

These decadent cupcakes are filled with a marshmallow creme and topped with a chocolate ganache. I still haven’t figured out the perfect name for them yet, so “chocolate cupcakes” will have to do for now…

chopped chocolate

Chocolate Cupcakes

–For the cupcakes

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs

–For the filling

4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup marshmallow creme

–For the ganache

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon milk
2 cups confectioners’ sugar

chocolate cupcakes

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place liners into the muffin pans.
  2. To make the cupcakes, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium sized bowl. Bring the granulated sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Pour the sugar mixture into a large bowl and add the chocolate and butter. Let sit, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted. Stir in the vanilla and using a mixer, beat in the eggs. Mix in the dry ingredients. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, about 1/4 cup of batter per cupcake. Bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Move to a rack to cool completely.
  3. To make the filling, cream the butter with a mixer until light and fluffy. Carefully beat in 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar. Add the vanilla and 1 tbs. heavy cream, beating until smooth. Add the remaining 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar and 2 tbs. of heavy cream to the mixture. Beat in the marshmallow creme, mixing until smooth.
  4. To prepare the ganache, place the chocolate in a stainless steel bowl. Heat the cream and 1 tbs. butter in a small saucepan until just boiling and pour over the chocolate. Let stand for 5 minutes and then whisk until smooth. Add 2 tsp. vanilla and let stand until cool, but still liquid.
  5. Spoon the creme filling into a pastry bag fitted with a medium-sized tip. Insert the tip into the center of each cupcake, filling until the cupcake feels heavier. Be careful to to overfill so that the creme is overflowing from the top! Dip the cupcake tops into the ganache or use a spoon to top the cupcakes with ganache.


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Chocolate Freckles

chocolate freckles

Chocolate Freckles
yield varies depending on cookie cutter size

1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/3 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup cocoa powder
7 ounces dark chocolate, melted
Nonpareil sprinkles

  1. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder together into a medium-sized bowl.
  2. Beat the butter, sugar and egg in a bowl with an electric mixer until combined. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients, one half at a time.
  3. Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth – it shouldn’t take very long. Roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper until 1/4 inch thick. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  5. Using a round cookie cutter (I used a 1 1/2 inch biscuit cutter), cut out as many cookies as you can. Take the leftovers from each round of cutting and knead, roll, and refrigerate to get more cookies. Do this until you can’t possibly get any more cookies!
  6. Bake for about 11 minutes and then cool on a wire rack.
  7. Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave. Microwave in 15 second bursts, stirring after each time until the chocolate is melted.
  8. Spread the chocolate over the cookies and sprinkle the nonpareils on top!


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Raspberry Tartlets

I normally double (or triple) this recipe because everyone loves these! Another plus – they’re super easy to make! Feel free to try other preserves, too. I’ve used blackberry and strawberry before, but raspberry remains my favorite.

raspberry tartles

Raspberry Tartlets
yields 3 dozen

3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 egg, well beaten
1 tablespoon milk
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
Raspberry preserves, preferably with seeds!

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the egg, flour, milk, and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture and mix until incorporated.
  4. Line mini-muffin cups with cupcake liners. You can choose not to use the liners, but they are a lot easier to remove this way!
  5. Add about a tablespoon of batter to each mini-muffin cup. Make a cavity with your finger and fill with raspberry jam (a 1/2 or 1/4 tsp works well).
  6. Bake 20 – 25 minutes or until lightly browned.


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Peanut Butter Blossoms

These cookies are great because the ingredients are common and couldn’t be easier to find. Chances are, you already have them in your kitchen!

peanut butter blossoms

Peanut Butter Blossoms
yields 4 dozen cookies

1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Extra granulated sugar
48 Hershey’s Kisses (milk chocolate), unwrapped

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F
  2. Mix the shortening and peanut butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until blended.
  3. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the egg, milk and vanilla and mix will.
  5. Gradually stir in the flour, baking soda and salt to the peanut butter mixture.
  6. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls. Roll them in granulated sugar and place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  7. Bake for about 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Once out of the oven, immediately press a chocolate into the center of the cookie. The cookie will crack on the edges.
  8. Allow cookies to cool on a wire rack.


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Lemon Raspberry Swirls

These cookies were time-consuming, but well-worth it!

lemon raspberry swirl

Lemon Raspberry Swirls

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon fresh grated lemon peel
1/3 cup seedless red raspberry spread

For the icing (optional)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

  1. Beat the butter for 30 seconds with an electric mixer on medium-high speed.
  2. Add the sugar, baking powder, and salt and beat until combined, scraping the bowl occasionally.
  3. Beat in the egg, milk, almond extract and vanilla.
  4. Beat in the flour and 1 1/2 tsp. of the lemon peel.
  5. Cover and chill the dough for 2 hours.
  6. Place the raspberry spread into a small bowl and stir and mash until it breaks up and becomes smooth. Set aside.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to a 12 x 10 inch rectangle. Spread the raspberry spread on the dough to the end of both the short edges and one of the long edges. Leave a 1 inch gap of plain dough on one of the long edges.
  8. Roll the dough, starting at the long side that has the raspberry spread on it. Pinch the ends to seal
  9. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour, turning the dough every 15 minutes.
  10. While waiting for the dough to chill, preheat the oven to 375°F.
  11. Slice the dough into 1/2 inch thick slices and place an inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  12. Bake for about 14 minutes or until the edges are set and the bottom is slightly browned. Cool on cookie sheets for a minute and then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  13. For the icing, combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice and remaining lemon peel. Add enough water to get a drizzling consistency. Drizzle over the cookies and then sprinkle with almonds.


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Blackberry Lemon Dainties

I love, love, love these cookies! This recipe requires lemon curd. You can buy it at the store, but I strongly suggest that you make it. I bought it once at the store and decided to make it the second time I needed it. I will never, ever go back to store bought! I’ve included the recipe for it at the end of this post. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

blackberry lemon dainties

Blackberry Lemon Dainties
yields about 16 cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
Extra granulated sugar
1/3 cup blackberry jam
3 tablespoons lemon curd

  1. In a large bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer for 30 seconds.
  2. Add the 1/4 cup granulated sugar and salt. Beat until well combined, occasionally scraping the sides of the bowl.
  3. Beat in the lemon peel and vanilla.
  4. Beat in the flour, a half cup at a time. If your mixer starts to strain, turn it off and do this by hand!
  5. Wrap the dough and chill it for an hour.
  6. Preheat the oven to 400°F while the dough is chilling.
  7. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls (you will need an even number of them). Place them 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Use the bottom of a glass dipped in the extra granulated sugar to press the cookie into a 1/4 inch thick circle. Use a glass with a patterned bottom for a cookie with a design!
  8. Bake the cookies for 11 minutes or until the edges or just browned. Transfer to wire racks and allow to cool.
  9. Spread about a teaspoon of blackberry jam on the flat side of one cookie and a teaspoon of lemon curd on the flat side of another cookie. Gently press the cookies together to form a sandwich. Be careful – these cookies are extremely delicate and crumble easily.

Lemon curd
yields 1 cup

2 1/2 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 lemons, zested and juiced
1/2 stick of butter, cut into pats and chilled

  1. Bring an inch of water in a medium saucepan up to a simmer.
  2. Meanwhile, combine the egg yolks and sugar in a metal bowl that fits on the top of the saucepan without touching the water. Mix until smooth, about a minute.
  3. Measure out 1/3 cup of the lemon juice. If needed, use water to reach 1/3 cup.
  4. Add the lemon juice and zest to the egg mixture and whisk until smooth.
  5. Once the water reaches a simmer, reduce heat to low and place metal bowl on top of the saucepan.
  6. Whisk constantly until the mixture is thickened, about 8 minutes. It will be light yellow and will coat the back of a spoon.
  7. Remove from heat and whisk in the butter a pat at a time, allowing each one to melt before adding the next. Refrigerate until use.

You will probably have a ton of lemon curd leftover unless you make a lot of these dainties; I suggest that you try these lemon curd bars!


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Cranberry Orange Muffins

I made these muffins Saturday night and Sunday night – they were just that good!

cranberry orange muffins

Cranberry Orange Muffins
yields 16 muffins

2 cups flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup oil
1 egg
1 cup dried cranberries
2 teaspoons orange marmalade
1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts, or both!)
4 tablespoons sugar

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Mix the flour, brown sugar, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add the milk, orange juice, oil, and egg into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened.
  4. Stir in the cranberries and marmalade. The marmalade blends in more easily if placed in dollops around the batter instead of in one huge mass.
  5. Fill the muffin cups up 2/3 full or 3/4 full for more “top-heavy” muffins.
  6. Mix the pecans and sugar in a separate bowl and then sprinkle on top of the muffins.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

I find lining the muffin cups with liners makes cleanup a bit easier, but I would recommend that you don’t use them because I think the texture of the muffin turns out better without a liner. Either way, they are delicious!


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Pasta with Asparagus

I love buying produce from the farmers’ market and the market is located only blocks from my apartment. I loved this dish so much that I made it several times over the course of 2 weeks. Thank goodness I have a tolerant boyfriend…

asparagus

Pasta with Asparagus

1 lb asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces, using only the tips and tender parts of the stem
1 lb dried pasta
5 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tbsp finely chopped onion
1/2 cup heavy cream
nutmeg, salt, and black pepper
2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan, plus additional to serve

pasta with asparagus

  1. Cook asparagus in a pan of boiling, salted water until just tender – about 3 – 5 minutes. Drain and plunge into cold water until completely cooled. Drain and reserve.
  2. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water, until al dente.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, melt butter in a skillet. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally over medium heat, until soft, 5 minutes.
  4. Add asparagus and cream and simmer gently until the cream is just thickened, 1 – 2 minutes.
  5. Add nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste.
  6. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Add pasta with Parmesan to the hot sauce and toss gently, adding reserved water as needed.
  7. Serve immediately with additional Parmesan.


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Lemon, Basil and Marscapone Pasta

This pasta dish is cheap, quick and refreshing. It’s great for when you’re a super-busy student 🙂

lemon basil marscapone pasta

Lemon, Basil and Marscapone Pasta

1 lb dried pasta
5 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1 cup marscapone
salt and black pepper
1 handful torn fresh basil

  1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water, until al dente.
  2. While pasta is cooking, place the marscapone, with 2 – 3 tablespoons of pasta water, in a skillet over medium-low heat. When the marscapone is melted and smooth, slowly add in the lemon juice an zest. Warm gently, stirring constantly, until heated through – about 4 minutes.
  3. Salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Add pasta and basil to the sauce and toss well to coat, adding reserved water as needed.


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Deep Chocolate Brownies

I stumbled across this recipe for these decadent looking brownies. Making these was added on to my long to-do list. When I finally got a chance to bake, the only grocery store I have within walking distance was out of bittersweet chocolate. However, I discovered about 2 weeks later that Trader Joe’s has bittersweet chocolate for pretty dang cheap.

A few minor additions and a couple hours later, out of the oven came the best brownies I have ever had.

deep chocolate brownies

Deep Chocolate Brownies
adapted from epicurious.com

2 sticks unsalted butter
8 oz bittersweet chocolate
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 large eggs
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup chopped nuts – I used pecans

  1. Preheat the oven to 350.
  2. Butter and dust a 13 x 9 in baking pan with cocoa powder.
  3. Melt butter and chocolate in a 3 qt. heavy saucepan over low heat, whisking, until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm. Whisk in the sugar and vanilla. Whisk in eggs one at a time until the mixture is glossy and smooth.
  4. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder and salt and then whisk into chocolate mixture until combined. Fold the chopped chocolate and nuts in.
  5. Spread into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with gooey crumbs, about 30 minutes.
  6. Cool completely and store for 24 hours before slicing.

I know that the last step is hard because these brownies look (and smell) amazing. But, trust me – the longer they sit, the better they taste!