Showing posts with label orange. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orange. Show all posts

8.26.2011

Pistachio Cardamom Cake

I was given a huge
bottle of ground Cardamom
by my mom yesterday!

Score!!

So, I rushed home,
gathered the ingredients
and started a Persian-inspired cake batter.

{To only realize I was out of pistachios!!}

Ahh!! ran through my mind!
But, then I saw a box of
Pistachio Pudding Mix ...


Ingredients
1 box French Vanilla Cake Mix
1 box Pistachio Pudding Mix
1 cup Flour
1/2 cup Sugar
1 cup Whole Milk
1 cup Sour Cream
4 Eggs
5 tbsp Butter, room temp.
3/4 tsp Ground Cardamom
Zest of half Orange
Splash Vanilla Extract


Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease three 9 or 10 inch cake pans and set aside.
In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, slowly mix the dry ingredients together. Add eggs, milk cream and butter and stir until combined. Add the zest and vanilla and beat on medium speed until a smooth batter forms. Pour a third of the batter into each pan and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when tested in the center of the cake.

While the cake layers are cooling, start the frosting.

8 oz. Cream Cheese
1 stick Butter, room temp.
2 tbsp. Whole Milk or Cream
2-3 cups of Powder Sugar
1/4 tsp. Ground Cardamom
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract, or One Vanilla Bean - insides only.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together. Slowly add milk and powder sugar until desired consistency is achieved. Add cardamom and vanilla to finish. Use to fill the layers and ice the outside of cake.

The pudding makes the cake
SUPER MOIST!
And, the cardamom and orange
flavors meld so well together!

The hubs gave it
2 thumbs up
and cleaned his plate!

{Coming from someone who thinks Reese's is the best thing on earth, I'd say that's a compliment!}

8.12.2011

Orange-Chocolate Cupcakes

Do y'all watch Cupcake Wars?
I just recently got into the show
and now DVR every episode 
so I don't miss a one!

I just LOVE all the ideas
and cutting edge flavors
that are discovered through 
the pressure to impress.

About 2 weeks ago
there was a contestant who 
used a hallowed out orange
as the cupcake liner ...

GENIUS, right!?!

Needless to say,
that got my juices flowing!
Here's my take:


Ingredients for Six Cakes
{adapted from Stefani Pollack of Cupcake Project}
Cupcakes:
3 Oranges
1/4 cup Flour
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Instant Coffee or Espresso
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
2/3 cup Dark Cocoa Powder
2/3 cup Orange Juice
3 tbsp. Butter, melted
1 egg
1/4 cup Dark Chocolate, roughly chopped
Zest of 1/2 Orange

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut each orange in half and juice, reserving for later.


Hallow out the inside. Turn each half on it's side and slightly trim the bottom, giving it a flat surface to sit upon. Set aside.


In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients together until combined. Fill each half orange with batter, being sure not to over fill.

{ FYI: This is over-filled ... lol, made quite a mess! ;) }

Place each half orange on a baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when tested in cake. Let cool.

Nutella Ganache
1/4 cup Nutella
1/4 cup Dark Chocolate, roughly chopped
In a microwave safe bowl, place ingredients in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds. Remove and stir. Cook for 30 more seconds and stir again. It should be a great ganache consistency.
Dip cooled cupcakes into ganache.

Candied Orange Butterflies
If you would like to make these super cute and yummy little butterflies, I followed THIS recipe from foodnetwork.com.
Top each cupcake with a butterfly and serve with a spoon!


I don't even have words
to describe how
flippin' fantastic 
these little guys are!


The cake is
moist,
rich and
chocolaty ...

the ganache is
creamy,
smooth and
nutty ...

and the orange flavor
seeps into the cake
to flavor each bite 

perfectly!


{Oh, did I forget the butterfly? It adds wonderful flavor and crunch!}


Try 'em!
You will fall in LOVE!
Enjoy and
Happy Baking!
PARTY TIME:
Sweets For A Saturday - Sweet As Sugar Cookies
Weekend Wrap Up - Tatertots and Jello
Fat Camp Friday - Mangoes and Chutney
Weekend Show Off - Ladybird Ln.
Show And Tell - Be Different, Act Normal
Shindig Saturday - Kims Kandy Kreations
Strut Your Stuff - Six Sister's Stuff
Sweet Indulgence Sunday - A Well Seasoned Life
Savory Sunday - The Sweet Details
Savvy Homemade Mondays - Home Savvy A-Z
M.M.M. - C.R.A.F.T.
Craft-O-Matic Mondays
Amaze Me Mondays - Dittle Dattle
Mingle Monday - Add A Pinch
Recipe Sharing Monday - jam hands
Show Me What Ya Got - Not Just A Housewife
Topsy Turvy Tuesdays
What I Whipped Up Wednesday - Sugar and Dots
Cast Party Wednesday - Lady Behind The Curtain
What's Cooking Wednesday - Extreme Personal Measures
This Chick Cooks
Whatever Goes Wednesday - Someday Crafts
Sweet Treats Thursday - Something Swanky
Show Off Your Stuff - Fireflies and Jelly Beans
Recipe Swap - Prairie Story