Saturday, December 29, 2012

Champagne Cake

Wow! Can you believe it is almost 2013? The new year brings a time for reflection and new starts. As I reflect on the past year I realize how much I enjoy sharing my sweet creations and adventures with you. I hope you all have enjoyed the past few months of Sweet Tooth Saturdays and are excited to see what I have in store for the new year.

For Christmas I received a very unique dessert book...
He he he. The cakes in this book look and sound so delicious. I will try and share more recipes from this book with you this year. 

Since it is the new year, I found a very fitting cake...

Champagne Cake

Cake Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 egg whites
2 cups champagne

Let's get started. Preheat oven to 350.

Mix the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Mix in the vanilla and egg whites one at a time.

In a separate bowl combined the flour, baking powder and salt.

Beat in flour mixture and champagne in three alternating additions. Beginning and ending with the flour mixture to prevent curdling. 


Pour batter into 2 greased and floured cake pans. (9 inch)
Bake for 35 mins or until done.

While the cakes are baking work on your champagne frosting.

Frosting Ingredients:
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup champagne
1/4 cup whole milk
1 Tbs vanilla extract

Beat the butter for 1 minute. Gradually add sugar, champagne, milk and vanilla until smooth and creamy.

Once the cakes have cooled, frost and decorate how ever you would like. 


I hope your new year starts off Sweet & Sparkly!

See you next Saturday :)

 


Sunday, December 16, 2012

Fondant

Hello my fellow sweet toothers. I'm sorry I had to make you wait a day. Yesterday was a very family fun Fifth Saturday before Santa arrives. As a family we had a very special occasion to celebrate. Unfortunately I was very busy with cookie and cake pop orders for Christmas this weekend too. I have already shared those recipes with you in past posts. With everything going on and not enough hours in the day, I did not have time to do something Christmas themed for this weeks Sweet Tooth Saturday....I'm sorry! Like I said though we had a celebration yesterday and you can not have a celebration with out something sweet!

Are you all addicted to Pintrest? I am! :) I found this cake and cupcake idea there.

The cake and cupcakes are covered in fondant. Fondant and I have become very close pals over the  past few years. It all started with powdered sugar and melted marshmallows alllll over my counter tops. Let's just say it was not a nice and neat first experiment. I have perfected the process and truly enjoy working with the homemade fondant. Try it for yourself. I won't lie...it requires a little patience.

Ingredients:
1 bag of mini marshmallows
1 2lb bag of powdered sugar
3tsp of water

In a microwavable safe bowl add the marshmallows and water. Microwave in 1 minute intervals stirring in between until melted.

In a large mixing bowl sprinkle a little powdered sugar. Add the melted marshmallows to the bowl.

With a large wooden spoon mix in the powdered sugar. *This is where the patience comes in. It takes some time.

Eventually it will form into a play dough like consistency.

Next grease your hands with crisco and kneed the dough on a powdered sugar surface. You may have to keep sprinkling with powdered sugar.

Stop by during the spring and summer for wedding season and I will document the steps for you.

Like I said it takes time but I think it is well worth the effort.

Happy Sweet Tooth Sunday ;)


Saturday, December 8, 2012

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Hi everyone! Happy 4th Sweet Saturday before Santa arrives. Is your shopping done? I still have a few things to grab. I should probably be out today, facing the crowds and finishing up. Nah! I'd rather be in the kitchen fixing something sweet to share with you. That is exactly what I did. I feel like today's sweet treat would be something served at the North Pole...you know, where Santa lives :).
The Santa Clause 


He is drinking hot chocolate but they might also serve...

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
3oz of chocolate
2 tsp store bought hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups ice

Place the chocolate in the top of a double broiler over simmering water.


Once melted add the cocoa mix and sugar. Mix to combined and remove from heat.
Slowly add a 1/2 cup of milk. Stir to combined all ingredients and let cool to room temperature. 
Once cooled, add the remaining cup of milk and the chocolate mixture to a blender with 3 cups of ice.
Blend and serve in a glass topped with whipped cream and Christmas sprinkles of course!   
Sip in front of the Christmas tree...possibly wrapped in a blanket...it's a cold one :)
Here is what I did with the dog bone cinnamon ornaments from last week.
Great simple gifts for all our puppy loves :).

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Cinnamon Ornaments

Happy 3rd Sweet Saturday before Santa arrives! Today's post is not edible but sure smells sweet!

Cinnamon Ornaments
Ingredients:
3/4 cup apple sauce
1 bottle ground cinnamon (4.12 oz)

That's it! Very simple :)

In a bowl mix together the apple sauce and cinnamon until a smooth dough forms. 
Place the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap and roll out. 
Next use your selected holiday cookie cutters. Be sure to make a hole in the top for ribbon. I used a straw to make the hole. 
Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees for 2 1/2 hours.

Even though these are not edible they will sure make your house smell great while baking. Also, I'm sure Santa will love the smell of them on the tree while he is placing presents under it. Do you see the dog bones on my cookie sheet? Stop by next week to see how they turned out.

I hope you are having a very sweet Saturday! See you next week :)