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Category Archives: Dessert


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Red Velvet Cake

I made this cake for Mike’s 21st birthday party. It was a huge hit and everyone thought it tasted great. I made the cake with cream cheese frosting, even though that isn’t the traditional frosting used for red velvet cake. I think next time I will make the cake with the traditional frosting though!

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get great pictures of the cake after it had been cut since my camera ran out of battery, but I managed to get a few during the assembly process.

Red Velvet Batter

Red Velvet Cake

2 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 ounces red food coloring
1/2 cup unsalted butter,  room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk,  room temperature
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9 inch round baking pans.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. In a smaller bowl, mix together cocoa powder and food coloring until a smooth paste forms.
  3. In a large bowl with a mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs one at a time and then blend in vanilla extract and red cocoa paste. Make sure to mix thorougly, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
  4. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Add in half of the buttermilk. Mix in another 1/3 of the flour mixture, followed by the remainder of the buttermilk. Add the last 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix in, making sure that the batter is well incorporated.
  5. In a small bowl, mix together the vinegar and baking soda. Add this to the batter and mix in thoroughly. Divide the batter equally between the two pans.
  6. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, rotating pans once during baking. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool cakes in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and place on rack to finish cooling after 10 minutes.
  8. Frost the cake with the traditional icing or cream cheese icing – recipes are included below.

Red Velvet Assembly

Cream Cheese Icing

2 packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

  1. Blend together cream cheese and butter with a mixer until smooth. Add in vanilla extract.
  2. Add powdered sugar with the mixer on low speed.
  3. Blend the frosting on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Red Velvet

Traditional Red Velvet Cake Icing

1 cup milk
5 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine milk and flour. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Cool completely.
  2. Using a mixer, blend together sugar, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy.
  3. Stir in the flour mixture. Mix until the icing is a good spreading consistency.


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Rich Chocolate Brownies

Today was probably one of the hottest days so far this summer. After almost fainting from my run, I decided to do something stupid – make brownies. Why is this stupid? Well, I live in an attic apartment with horrible air circulation and no air conditioning. Turning on the oven was probably not the best thing to do. However, I think these were well worth it.

Rich Chocolate Brownies

Rich Chocolate Brownies
makes 16 2-inch brownies

2 ounces of bittersweet chocolate, chopped
6 ounces of unsweetened chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons of butter, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9 baking dish with aluminum foil.
  2. Place both types of chocolate and the butter into a microwaveable bowl. Heat in 15 second intervals, stirring after each one until smooth.
  3. In a mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, salt, sugar and vanilla until the eggs are a light yellow, about 2 minutes.
  4. Mix in the chocolate mixture until well combined.
  5. Fold in the flour and cocoa powder.
  6. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with gooey crumbs.
  7. Let the brownies cool in the pan before cutting. Sprinkle the brownies with powdered sugar, if desired.


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Chocolate Mint Cookies

I have yet to find a person that dislikes these cookies. I’m not a huge fan of chocolate, but I love these!! I have the ingredients to make these cookies on hand at all times, because you never know when you’re going to need it!

mint chocolate dough

Chocolate Mint Cookies
adapted from allrecipes.com
yields 3.5 dozen cookies

6 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon water
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 egg
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 (4.5 ounce) packages Andes mints

chocolate mint cookies

  1. Heat the butter, sugar and water in a small pot over medium heat; stir occasionally until melted. Remove from heat and pour in the chocolate chips. Stir until melted. Set the mixture aside to cool for 10 minutes.
  2. Pour the chocolate into a mixing bowl and beat in the egg. Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl and then stir into the chocolate mixture. Put the dough into the fridge for 1 hour to chill.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the cookie sheets.
  4. Roll the dough into 1-inch sized balls and place on the cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes, being careful not to overbake!
  5. When cookies come out, place 1 (or half) of an Andes mint on the top of each cookie. Let it melt slightly and then use the back of a teaspoon to swirl the Andes mint around to cover the top of the cookie. Let cool completely on wire racks.


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Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies

I find myself making a lot of cookies filled with preserves – usually raspberry. I have jars and jars of preserves at home and my fridge looks strange without a jar in it. Here’s yet another recipe that is filled with raspberry preserves. Trust me, they’re just as good as the other preserve-filled cookies.

raspberry almond shortbread cookies

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies
makes 3 dozen cookies

1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup seedless raspberry preserves (or blackberry or whatever preserves you love!)
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon milk

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in the 1/2 tsp. almond extract. Mix in the flour until the dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on ungreased cokie sheets. Using your thumb, make a small indent in the center of each ball and fill with preserves.
  3. Bake for 14 – 18 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cook for 1 minute on the cookie sheet.
  4. In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners’ sugar, 3/4 tsp. almond extract and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over the warm cookies. I placed this into a pastry bag with my smallest tip and used that to drizzle the icing onto the cookies; a plastic sandwich bag or Ziploc bag with a tiny hole cut in the corner works as well.

recipe from allrecipes.com


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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!