Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

11.30.2012

Knock Off {Cranberry Bliss Bars}

Cranberry Bliss Bars...
you know, the ones from Starbucks?
Totally awesome, right!?

Well, the other night
I was wasting time on Pintrest {again}
and came across a copy cat recipe for them!

I know what you're thinking -
"WHAAAAT!"
Yeah, that's what I said, too! ;)


Ingredients
{Recipe adapted from Averie Cooks}
1 stick Butter, melted
1 cup Brown Sugar 
1 Egg
Vanilla Beans, scraped from 1 pod
1 cup Flour, all purpose
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 cup Dried Cranberries, lightly chopped
1/2 cup White Chocolate Chunks {or chips}

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Chop dried cranberries and set aside. If using a white chocolate bar rather than chips, chop into small chunks and set aside.
Grease a baking pan {I used a 9 inch round, but if you want smaller slices, an 8x8 inch square will be your best bet. If you want to double the recipe for a large batch, use a 9x13 inch rectangle pan.} and set aside.
In a medium size bowl, mix butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla beans {1 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract can also be used} with a wooden spoon. Add in flour and salt and stir just until the thick batter comes together. Next, stir in white chocolate and cranberries making sure not to over mix. Pour batter into your pan and bake for 18-20 minutes. Invert onto a pretty little plate and let cool completely before frosting the top. While the bars are cooling, prepare the 

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
4 oz. Cream Cheese
1 cup White Chocolate, melted in a double broiler
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Powder Sugar
1/4 cup Dried Cranberries, lightly chopped 

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix cream cheese, 2/3 cup of the melted white chocolate and vanilla extract until combined. Slowly add powder sugar {note: you may need a little more or a little less sugar, depending on your frosting consistency preference}and beat on med-high for several minutes. 

When the bars have cooled, smooth the frosting on top with a spatula or knife. Sprinkle chopped cranberries on top and drizzle with remaining melted chocolate. Cut into slices or squares and serve! YUM! If you wish to slice in triangles like Starbucks, simply first cut into squares and then make a second cut across {from corner to corner} each square.

Whoa, momma!
These things are magical morsels
of pure happiness!


The bar is moist and chewy
with just the right amount of
sweet texture from the white chocolate.

But, you know what really put these over the edge?
The tart bite from those
dried cranberries!

Starbucks ain't got nothin'
on this recipe, baby dolls!


Not only would they look amazing
on a Christmas dessert table,
but your guests will also go ga-ga over the taste!

You could always bake up
a huge batch
for gift giving, too!

Or, keep the whole pan for yourself!
I think I'm indulging in another
blissful moment after dinner!

Enjoy and Happy Baking!

Yeah, I partied this week ->

Check out where on my sidebar!

12.03.2009

Gingerbread Christmas Cookies


If Christmas had a scent, gingerbread would be it!! There's nothing better in this world than walking into a home with warm spices, orange essence and molasses floating in the air! Baking cookies on Christmas Eve has been a long family tradition that I plan to carry on with my new family...and the perfect recipe follows: (Makes about 6 dozen.)

  • 1 1/2 sticks lightly salted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 orange, zested
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1/2 cup additional for rolling, if needed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground dry ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup dark molasses
  • 1 lemon, juiced

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, add the butter, sugar and orange zest and beat until smooth, 5 to 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, dry ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Whisk to blend. Set aside.

In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, molasses and lemon juice.

When the butter and sugar are integrated, lower the speed of the mixer and add the dry ingredients. Add the egg mixture and when blended, remove the bowl from the machine. Divide the cookie dough in half. Press the first half of the dough in between 2 sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill for 15 minutes. Repeat with the second half. This step will make it easier to finish rolling out the dough when it has chilled. It will also mean you only have half of the dough getting warm as you roll it.


Lightly flour a flat surface. Use a floured rolling pin to gently roll the first half of the dough about 1/2-inch thick. Lightly flour the cookie cutter(s) and cut the shapes, making as few scraps as possible. Use a metal spatula to gently transfer them, cookie by cookie, (the cookies should be similar size) to a baking sheet. Repeat with the other half of the dough and transfer them to another baking sheet. Bake until brown around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.


Now you are ready to decorate using just about anything your heart desires...from royal icing to fondant...from sprinkles and edible pearls to just about every candy! The fun part is making a unique cookie even Santa himself would enjoy!


I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family has! Orders may also be placed up until December 22nd for homemade cookies delivered to your door!


Jade Cahoon

Sweet Street Designer Cakes and Cupcakes

Place orders at sweetstreetsc@aol.com

10.26.2009

Busy Weekend Past, II

I think this past week/weekend was the second busiest I've been since April! I am so thankful to have the greatest clients and enjoyed every second of each of these sweets...

First, I made cupcakes for a Halloween themed BUNCO meeting. I just joined this group and had an absolute blast playing with and getting to know all the ladies!! Four flavors and different decoration made the dessert not only tasty, but super cute as well! All of the decor was edible.


Second was my husband's birthday and although I usually make him a chocolate peanut butter cake, I decided this year to do something a little different. As you all know I recently added Cake Truffles to my menu of yummy treats...so, I wanted to practice with them a little more. I made chocolate cake balls filled with peanut butter frosting and covered them in milk chocolate and Reese's Pieces (my hubby's favorite). He thought they were the best things I've ever made him...so he didn't miss that cake at all! :)


Third, I had a 20th birthday cake and cupcakes due. The client decided on a chocolate cake with caramel and toasted pecan filling for the cake and a dozen of my Black & White cupcakes. I used my homemade Marshmallow fondant to cover the cake and ran with a zebra print theme. I am in love with bows, especially for a birthday, so I finished the cake and cupcakes in handmade blue fondant bows. The client, as well as the birthday girl loved it all!


Next was a girl cow cake. This was for a 3rd birthday party at Chic-Fil-A! The birthday girl wanted confetti cake filled with pink buttercream and a hair bow to match her's. I also added edible pearls and earrings to accent the "girlie" theme. I found out later that the birthday girl ended up becoming ill and they had to cancel the party at the last minute...but she still got a piece of birthday cake! Hopefully, that made her feel a little better!


And lastly, I had an order for cake truffles. My client wanted a array of flavors for thier dinner party, but did not care which. So, I made White Vanilla Bean, Marble, Chocolate Covered Strawberry and Raspberry.


After all of that, I needed a vacation!! :) So, my family went on a camping trip...

I enjoyed my busy week...almost as much as I enjoyed relaxing in the mountains with the in-laws! Thanks again to all of my clients. Without you I wouldn't be able to do what I love!

Jade Cahoon
Sweet Street Designer Cakes and Cupcakes
sweetstreetsc@aol.com