Long John Donuts

How was everyone's Christmas? It definitely went by fast but was a lot of fun and very yummy with all the sweet treats.

So have you ever heard of long johns? No not the seafood the donuts! I never knew they were called long johns. So I decided to tackle them because my boyfriends grandma really likes them and I told her I would try my luck.

Dough Ingredients:
1 (1/4-oz) package active dry yeast (2 1/2 tsp)
2 Tbsp warm water
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour plus some for working the dough
1 cup milk, room temperature
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
3 large egg yolks
2 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Canola or other neutral oil for frying 

Let's make the dough... First add your warm water and room temp milk to the bowl of your stand mixer. Sprinkle in the yeast. Add the rest of the dough ingredients, the flour being the last addition. Use a dough hook to mix. The dough should come away from the sides of the bowl. If you don't have a stand mixer you can mix everything by hand with a wooden spoon. 

Next put your dough ball in a greased bowl and let rise for 2 hours. 

Something about rising dough...it's so cool :) 
When your dough has risen, turn it onto a floured surface and roll out into a big rectangle and slice into 12 equal pieces. 

Let your pieces rise again for 15-20 mins. During this time you can get your oil heated up to fry them. Bring your oil to 350 degrees and fry each side for 2-3 minutes and drain on a paper towel. 

Now time for the yummy filling!

Filling Ingredients: 
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups vegetable shortening
1 tsp clear vanilla extract
8 cups powdered sugar

Using a sauce pan on medium high heat dissolve the granulated sugar and water. Remove from the heat once boiling. Let cool completely then pour into a mixing bowl.

Mix in oil, shortening an extract on high. Beat in powdered sugar one cup at a time. It should be nice and fluffy. If it is too stiff add a table spoon of water until it's fluffy and smooth. 

To fill the donuts I used a knife to hollow out the center and I used a pastry bag to pipe in the frosting. 

Now for the finishing touch...chocolate frosting. mmmmmm!

Chocolate Topping Ingredients: 
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 Tbsp milk
1 Tsp light corn syrup
1 Tsp vanilla extract
3 oz bittersweet chocolate
1-2 cups powdered sugar




Heat the liquid ingredients and butter until hot. Do not boil. Stir in the chocolate until melted. Off the heat whisk in the powdered sugar. Spread on the donuts and ENJOY!!!

It's a little bit of work but soooo worth it. They were a hit! 

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday! 

Brownie Santa Hats & Cookies in a Jar

Hi sweet toothers! Santa is almost here!!! Today we are celebrating Christmas at my parents. I told my mom I would bring the dessert. I was originally going to bring a ho ho cake. Where you take chocolate cake and roll it with a white frosting center and top with chocolate ganache. Mmmmm yep sounds yummy...turned into a disaster!!! My cake crumbled all over the place, there was no rolling going on here :(. Oh well, improvise right? Right! I saw this idea on Pintrest as I'm sure many of you have. Bake your brownies, cut out with a small circle cookie cutter and top with frosting and strawberries...Perfect and oh so cute!

This year I am also giving some homemade gifts. What better than a jar of cookie mix! All they have to do is add butter, eggs and vanilla.

There are many many sites online with many many recipes to choose from. Did I say many???

I hope you have had a fun holiday baking season and have tried some of these yummy and cute ideas.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Mail from Grandma ~ Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Hello everyone! Can you believe only 11 days til Christmas!!! My baking is in full swing and today I am sharing with you another one of my childhood favorites. Grandma sent me the recipe and they turned out perfect!

Mail from Grandma

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Try it out for your holiday cookie tray! They taste like brownies...mmmm!

 1/2 Cup  OIL
  4 Squares  BAKERS CHOCOLATE -- MELTED IN DOUBLE BOILER
  2 Cups  GRANULATED SUGAR
  4 Eggs
  2 Teaspoons  VANILLA
  3 Cups  FLOUR
  2 Teaspoons  BAKING POWDER
  1/2 Teaspoon  SALT'

MIX OIL AND SUGAR TOGETHER. ADD EGGS THEN THE CHOCOLATE, VANILLA, FLOUR,
BAKING POWDER AND SALT. MIX WELL. ROLL IN BALLS IN
HANDS, THEN IN POWDER SUGAR. KEEP SMALL SO THEY PUFF UP. IF MADE TOO LARGE -WILL FLATTEN. PLACE ON COOKIE SHEET. BAKE APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES IN A 350 DEGREE OVEN. IF BAKED TOO LONG, WILL HARDEN. COOL SLIGHTLY BEFORE REMOVING FROM PAN.

Look how awesome they look all "crinkled" :)

Tip: I chilled my dough before I rolled it into balls. It was very sticky and hard to roll. Chilling it help a lot. 

Enjoy and Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday! 

~ Thanks Grandma for another great recipe!

Old Fashioned Christmas Cookies

Hi my fellow sweet toothers! Can you believe 18 more days until Christmas?! How is your holiday baking going? I started today with an oldie but goodie. I remember making these as a kid. My mom passed downed the cookie press to me this year. I couldn't wait to use it...

Anyone remember this?

Looks like it's been passed down a few times :). Inside includes the press with slides of different shapes for cookies and tips for frosting.

I chose the tree shape. There is a recipe on the box for cookie dough.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt

teeny tinny colorful ball sprinkles.

Mix butter, sugar and vanilla together well. Add 2 eggs and combined. then add flour and salt.

I tinted my dough green with a few drops of green food coloring.

Press the dough onto an non greased cookie sheet. Then press the sprinkles on the dough.

The directions on the box said to bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 mins...

Yea I don't think so :). I brought the heat down to 375 and baked for 6-7 mins.

So tinny and yummy! Brings back great memories.

These will for sure adorn our cookie platters again. It's been awhile.

Happy Holiday Baking & Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday!

Looks like there are new aged cookie presses out there ;)
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/wilton-pro-ultra-ii-cookie-press?ID=887711&cm_mmc=Google_PLA_Home_Cookware-_-Cookware+-+Bakeware+-+PLA-_-33522634744_adc_pg_305_11118_527ab444e4b0edb504b542e2_33522634744_{device}-_-_mkwid_70896440181USA|d{device}_33522634744|-|70896440181USA

Adventure #6

Hello everyone. I have my stretchy pants on today. My family and I are in WV celebrating Thanksgiving. Mmmm cannot wait. So since I am not in my kitchen I thought I would share a sweet adventure from the other weekend. My friends and I participated in The Hot Chocolate 5k, In Columbus. Whew it was a challenge for me but the reward was sweet. Who wouldn't run for hot chocolate and chocolate ganache?

Pilgrim Hat ~ Cut-out Cookies

Thanksgiving is almost here! Bring on the turkey, ham, stuffing, ::wear stretchy pants:: mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans casserole, ::wear stretchy pants:: rolls, cranberry sauce, coleslaw...oh ya dessert!::definitely wear stretchy pants:: Like I forgot the desserts...no no, they are my favorite part.

Don't forget to wear stretchy pants. Nothing is more uncomfortable than a growing waistline in button pants, just saying.

 I will be making some pies to take to my Aunt and Uncles this year. I also thought some cookies would be fun as well. When I think of Thanksgiving cut-out cookies I think of the norm...turkeys and pumpkins. How about some pilgrim hats and acorns?! So I was pretty excited with myself when I thought of the pilgrim hat idea. Take your witches hat cookie cutter and cut the tip off. Walla! Pilgrim hats :)

I decided to give royal icing a try. I buy the packet from my local cake supply. All you have to add is water and mix. Then I added almond extract and the coloring.

First I outlined the cookies with the stiff royal icing.

Then you water down the icing and pour it in the outline. I used a squeeze bottle. This is also great for kids to help with. Very easy with the squeeze bottle.

Let dry and enjoy your witches hats turned pilgrim.

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday and Happy Thanksgiving!

Cookies for Two

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday everyone. We have had the past week off of work and have been relaxing and chilling and eating sweets...kind of. Around 8pm we would get this sweet tooth. Now I did not want to make a whole batch of cookies, so why not cookies for two.

Ingredients:
2Tbsp butter
2Tbsp brown sugar
1Tbsp granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
1/4tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
1/4tsp baking soda
1/4 cup all purpose flour
Handful of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the microwave heat the butter until it just begins to melt and soften. Blend butter, sugars, salt and vanilla by hand. Next mix in the egg, then add the dry ingredients. Once all combined stir in your chocolate chips. Bake on a cookie sheet for 8-10 mins.

Enjoy!

Mail from Grandma ~ Pumkin Patch Pies

Hello everyone! I hope your Saturday is off to a sweet start. Today it's mail from Grandma's kitchen. It's a good one. I already ate 1, OK 2...fine fine 3 :). Enjoy!

  

Pumpkin Patch Pies

Here is what Grandma sent:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  ------------------------------  

 1         15 oz. can  pumpkin

      1/2           cup  sugar
  1 1/2      teaspoons  pumpkin pie spice
     1/2      teaspoon  vanilla
     1/4      teaspoon  salt
  2           14.1 oz.  refrigerated pie crusts
  1              large  egg -- lightly beaten
                        cinnamon sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set
aside. In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, pumpkin pie spice,
vanilla, and salt, stirring well. Unroll pie crusts on a clean, flat
surface. Using a 4 inch round cookie cutter, cut 6 rounds from each pie
crust.
Using a pastry brush, lightly brush edges of rounds with beaten egg. Spoon
about 1 tablespoon pumpkin mixture into center of round. Fold dough over
filling, pressing edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with remaining rounds
and pumpkin mixture. Place pies on prepared baking sheets. Brush tops of
pies with
beaten egg, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 10 minutes or until
lightly browned.
For extra fall flair, add leaf embellishments to Pumpkin  Patch Pies. Use
mini  cutters to make shapes  out of left over dough.Then,after you've
dusted pies
with cinnamon sugar, brush backs of cutouts with egg wash, and place on top.
If desired, use a toothpick to create details on leaves. Bake according
to recipe directions.

I made mine a little smaller because I do not have a large circle cookie cutter. The smaller they are the more you can have...right? Make that 4! mmmm yummy!

Another good one Grandma, thanks!

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday everyone!

 

Cupcake Wars

I kind of conducted my own mini cupcake wars :). They are very Fall inspired. In these leaf changing months there are campfires and tons of apples. So I made a s'mores cupcake and an apple cider maple spiced cupcake. Try them out and see which one is your favorite.

I found the recipes on Pinterest of course...man I'm addicted to that site. On the s'mores cupcake I decided to use my kitchen torch for the first time :) that was fun!

S'mores: http://myleskatherine.com/smores-cupcakes-graham-cracker-cupcake-with-marshmallow-fluff-frosting/
Apple Cider Maple Spiced: http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/apple-cider-maple-spice-cupcakes/

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday!

Mail from Grandma ~ Rice Pudding

Rice Pudding

So I kind of asked Grandma to send me this recipe, normally she surprises me but I was really really craving her rice pudding. There is something about the cool air and the smell of butter and cinnamon. mmmm so good and perfect for Fall. 

The best part is Grandma didn't have a written recipe for this, it's all in her head! So she shared all the steps with me. I'm glad I picked her brain. You will be too. Let's get started!

First boil 2 cups of rice. You will need 4 cups cooked rice.

Once cooked add 4 eggs and 1 cup of sugar. Mix well.

 Next stir in a cup of milk. You may not use a whole cup. Don't make it too runny.

 Mix in a handful of raisins...or two or three :)

Melt a half stick of butter into your baking dish. I used an 8x8 dish.

Pour the goodness into the dish and top with cinnamon.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Until the butter comes up on the sides and it is golden brown. 

Let it cool somewhat and dig in. You can share if you want, or eat the whole pan yourself, like I basically did. No I am not ashamed, if that's what you are thinking. You won't be either after tasting this! 

So So So YUMMMMY!

Ingredients:
4 cups cooked rice
1/2 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
Raisins
Cinnamon

I hope you all try this out and enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks for the recipe Grandma. I think I will make it again next week and yes eat the whole pan again. No shame here, no shame at all :)

Happy Sweet Tooth Saturday!