Author Archives: cups + spoonfuls

Simple White Cake With Whipped Strawberry Frosting + 5 Spring Party Cake Links!

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I have been away from this space for far too long.  After a long winter of constant illness, including the flu, I’m finally regaining some energy.  I’m back and ready to bake, cook, write and share all of this with you.

So where do we begin?  We begin with a simple white cake with whipped strawberry frosting.  This cake is light and fresh, reminiscent of spring and brighter days.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

See you soon with more stories and recipes to share.

Simple White Cake with Whipped Strawberry Frosting

recipe adapted from Bake from Scratch

Makes 1 9-inch cake

Ingredients for cake:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 + 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

2 + 1/4 cups cake flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

3/4 cup whole milk, at room temperature

4 large egg whites, at room temperature

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350F.  Butter and flour two 9 inch cake pans and line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.

Grab a medium bowl and sift together flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.  Add vanilla and almond extract.  Lower the speed on the mixer and add the flour mixture alternating with the milk.  You should begin and end this process with the flour mixture.  Beat until just combined.  Transfer batter to a large bowl and set aside.

Next, beat the egg whites at medium speed until stiff peaks form.  Be sure to use a clean bowl when beating the egg whites!  Fold half of the egg whites into the batter, then fold in the remaining egg whites.  Divide batter evenly between pans.

Bake until the cake tester inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean, about 25-20 minutes.  Cool in pans for 10 minutes.  Remove from pans and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

Next, make the whipped strawberry frosting.

Whipped Strawberry Frosting

Ingredients:

1/3 cup freeze-dried strawberries

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar, divided

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup chopped fresh strawberries

1 + 1/4 cups whipping cream, chilled

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

Directions:

Place freeze-dried strawberries in your food processor and pulse until they turn into a powder.  Set aside.  Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, 1/3 cup of confectioners’ sugar and salt.  Add fresh chopped strawberries and the strawberry powder and beat until combined.  Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.

Clean the bowl of the stand mixer and attach the whisk attachment.  Beat cream and orange juice on medium speed.  Slowly, add the confectioners’ sugar.  Continue to beat until stiff peaks form.  Fold half of the cream mixture into the cream cheese strawberry mix.  Next, add the remaining cream.  Use the whipped frosting immediately, decorating cake layers as desired.

Refrigerate the cake until ready to use.  Bring to room temperature before serving.  The cake tastes best the day it is made.  Refrigerate any leftovers in an air-tight container.  Enjoy!

5 Spring Cake Links

Love lemon cakes? Check out Spoon Fork Bacon’s unique twist on a classic lemon cake.

I love this beautiful watercolor buttercream cake from Sweetpolita.  It is so pretty I’m not sure I could eat it!

Strawberry season and sunny days are just around the corner. Embrace this time of year and make Hungry Rabbit’s strawberry banana milkshake cake or make my strawberry buttermilk birthday cake.

One of my favorite baking blogs, Hummingbird High, now has a recipe for my favorite cake/frosting combination with a slight twist: classic yellow cake with chocolate creme fraiche frosting. My mouth is watering!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biscoff Cream Cheese Brownies + 5 Gotta Make Brownie Links

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Happy 2018! Another year, another chance, a gift, really, to try again.  I’m starting the year off with a simple brownie recipe slightly adapted from David Lebovitz.  I added a delicious Biscoff cream cheese swirl which pairs perfectly with the rich chocolate flavor of the brownie.  I hope you enjoy this brownie and welcome 2018 with big, open arms.

Biscoff Cream Cheese Brownies

Recipe adapted from David Lebovitz

Makes about 12-16 brownies

Ingredients for the brownie batter:

1/2 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour

1/4 cup Dutch Process cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

a good pinch of kosher salt

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs at room temperature

1 egg white (save yolk for cream cheese swirl)

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Directions for brownie batter:

Preheat the oven to 325F.  Line a 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil.  Spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray or brush with melted butter.  Set aside.  Grab a small bowl and add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.  Whisk together until well-combined and no lumps remain.

Using a medium saucepan, melt the butter, semi-sweet chocolate and unsweetened chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth.  Remove from heat and whisk in 1 cup of sugar.  Add the eggs one at a time.  Next, add the egg white and vanilla extract.  Continue to mix until smooth.  Add dry ingredients and stir until just combined.  Be careful not to overmix!

Spread half of the brownie batter into prepared pan.  Add dollops of the Biscoff cream cheese mixture.  (See recipe below.) You should use about half of the mixture.  Gently swirl with a butter knife.  Add remaining brownie batter to the pan and gently smooth the top.  Spoon large dollops of the remaining Biscoff cream cheese spread over the top.  Swirl gently with a butter knife.  Sprinkle with a bit of sea salt.  Bake until center is almost set, about 50 minutes.  If you insert a toothpick into the center of the brownie it should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs attached.

Remove from oven.  Allow brownies to cool completely before cutting.  They can also be refrigerated overnight.  When ready to serve, lift the foil to remove brownies.  Use a sharp knife to cut the brownies.  In between each cut, wipe the blade clean for neater slices.

The brownies will last in an air-tight container, at room temperature for up to 4 days.  Enjoy!

Ingredients for Biscoff cream cheese swirl:

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1/3 cup sugar

1 large egg yolk

1/2 cup Biscoff Cookie Spread

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of kosher salt

Directions for Biscoff cream cheese swirl:

Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.   Next add egg yolk, vanilla, salt and Biscoff Cookie Spread.  Continue to beat until smooth and creamy.  Set aside until ready to use.

5 Gotta Try Brownie Links for 2018

Dark chocolate brownies topped with creamy goat cheese and perfectly sweet raspberries are on my must make list.  Head to the Kitchn for the recipe.

If you love sweet and salty desserts check out The Brick Kitchen’s salted caramel pretzel brownies.  My mouth is watering!

Are you a s’mores lover?  If so, head to Seven Spoons for Tara’s triple layer s’mores brownies.

Looking to spice things up in 2018?  Try Tutti Dulci’s spicy chocolate brownies.  I’m intrigued!

Be sure to check out Food 52’s 12 ways to customize brownies for some unique twists on the beloved brownie.