Red Velvet Whoppie Pies

I first made these whoopie pies quite a while ago. Unfortunately, most of the pictures taken with my camera didn't turn out as it was in the bottom of my purse with a broken container of apple sauce. Luckily I took a couple of pictures with my iPhone. These whoopies pies were really good, I took them in to all of my co volunteers at Pride Toronto and they were devoured, I had a hard time getting them there without people eating them.

I used the recipe from the Food Network Kitchens and didn't make any big changes except the amount of food colouring. I've come to the conclusion that you don't need to use as much food colouring as many recipes call for. I still got a good red hue with half the amount of food colouring. Next time, I want to try natural food colouring or beets.

Red Velvet batter

Batter balls

Red Velvet Cookies

Finished Whoopie Pies

Enjoy,

National S'mores Day

If you're a reader of this blog you will know that I LOVE s'mores, anything with the combination of chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker is good in my book!

Here is a collection of s'more baked goods that I have made over the years and one s'more chocolate bar that I will be making as soon as I get home from vacation.

Plan Jane S'more Cupcakes (chocolate cake, marshmallow
frosting and graham cracker crumbs)

S'more Bars (recipe here)

S'more Whoopie Pies (recipe here)

Brownie cupcakes with marshmallow, chocolate
 chips and graham cracker chunks on top

The chocolate bar that I just have to try is over at Not So Humble Pie. The s'more chocolate bar that she has made looks absolutely wonderful. I can't wait to try it!

Happy National S'mores Day Everyone!
Enjoy,

Snicker French Macarons

I made these quite awhile ago and never posted them.  The macarons turned out great, they are quite finicky to make. They take patience and a stand mixer, there would be no way that I could hold on to a normal electric mixer.

These snickers macarons include a chocolate macaron shell, peanut butter and marshmallow nougat, chocolate ganache and caramel or dolce de leche sauce.  These macarons are decadent, you can only have one, maybe two at a time. I'm going to see if I can find the recipe, until then check out the photos, they'll make you drool!

Enjoy!

Strawberry Rhubarb Sour Cream Crumble Pie

This is my favourite pie ever!! The creaminess and tart taste makes it absolutely wonderful. You NEED to try this pie.  One don't - do not use frozen strawberries or rhubarb as it will make your pie and runny mess! The topping is absolutely wonderful with the rest of the ingredient, you need to to make it all come together.  I realize it isn't a diet pie but are any...no way!

Recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Sour Cream Crumble Pie

Pie Filling:


1 (10 inch) pie crusts, unbaked

1 1/3 cups sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 cup sour cream
3 3/4 cups fresh rhubarb, diced
1 3/4 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

Crumble:

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cold butter

Directions:


Set oven to 425 degrees F (will reduce heat later).
Make certain that oven rack is set to lowest position.
In a large bowl combine sugar, flour, sour cream, rhubarb and sliced strawberries; mix/toss to combine well.
Spoon into prepared pie shell.

In a small bowl mix together the flour and brown sugar.
Cut in the cold butter until crumbly.
Sprinkle on top of the fruit mixture in the pie shell.
Place the pie plate onto a baking sheet to catch spills.

Bake for 15 minutes. If the shells is too full make sure the spilt sour cream/sugar fixture doesn't start to burn on the sheet.

Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees F and continue baking for another 30 - 45 minutes.

Fresh Strawberries

Frozen Rhubarb (don't use)

Fruit with sugar and sour cream

Pie shell 

Coated fruit

Crumble topping

Pie already to go into the oven

Enjoy!

Favourite Summer Time Cupcakes

My favourite summer time cupcakes are angel food cake with fresh strawberry icing. Every year my cousin asks me to make them for her birthday. All you need is your favourite angel food cake recipe and an easy strawberry icing recipe

1/2 cup butter
2 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup strawberry puree (I make sure to drain it as best I can or else the icing is too runny no matter how much sugar you put in).

These cupcakes melt in your mouth, you barely feel like you've ate anything. They just might be my favourite!

Enjoy!

Enuka Okuma Wedding Cupcakes

I recently had the wonderful opportunity of attending and got to make cupcakes for the beautiful Enuka Okuma on her very special wedding day.  Although I don't have pictures yet, the cupcakes were shown on a clip from Entertainment Tonight Canada.  The part with the cupcakes is at the end but I think you should watch the whole thing, it was the most beautiful wedding.  Congrats Joe & Enuka! xo



Enjoy!

Peanut Butter and Jam Cupcakes

So I ran out of blogging material and it's been awhile since my last blog so I thought I'd make some cupcakes.  Of course it's 35 degrees outside and ridiculously humid outside but my curly hair can take it. I also got these cute Peanuts cupcake liners that I just had to use.

I made a vanilla or butter cake, cupcake and filled it with strawberry jam topped with peanut butter frosting AND strawberry frosting but unfortunately by the time I came around to making the strawberry one my butter was way too soft and I ended up with a really runny frosting.  I didn't have enough time to firm it up so it looks really funny in the pictures.

This recipe is now my new stand-by cupcake recipe, it looks kinda funny after it's made if you don't get the butter really soft but it still tastes great!

Yellow Butter Cupcakes (makes 18)

2 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream (full fat)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups cake flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda, baking powder and salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl (this will be your main bowl), in another bowl mix eggs, vanilla and 3 Tbsp. of the sour cream.  Add the butter and sour cream to the dry ingredients, mix in.  Slowly add the egg mixture, blend for a couple of seconds and you are ready to put the batter into the cupcake tin. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Cool in tins for 10 mins.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix all together until you get a desired consistency.

Jam Frosting

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup jam
2 cups powdered sugar
1 T. milk (if needed)

Mix all together until you get a desired consistency.

Assemble all together and om nom nom!

Enjoy!