Specialty Cake Recipe

Cashew Coffee Cake Bars Recipe

2012-02-24T02:32:00.000-08:00

These tasty Cashew Coffee Cake Bars are quite simple and quick to make.

I was inspired for these by a snack bar we got at one of the rare bakeries here in Thailand.

They consist of a soft raisin coffee cake base with a sweet and crunchy cashew nut brown sugar topping.

Here is what you need:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup raisins

Topping:
1/2 cup chopped cashews (can be natural or salted)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
4-1/2 teaspoons heavy whipping cream

To find out how to prepare these into the tasty bars check out the Cashew Coffee Cake Bars Recipe on my site.

Recipe and Instructions for Making Chocolate Cake from Scratch

2012-01-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

Chocolate cake is one of my most favorite to eat and to make. Sure, there is the simple and easy way to buy a box mix and add some oil, eggs, and water.

But it is an unbeatable baking experience to make chocolate cake from scratch.

The experience starts in the store when you are choosing your ingredients.

Looking for a high-quality cocoa powder will greatly influence the taste and quality of your chocolate cake.

And if you can, use high quality eggs as well, like the omega-3 kind or eggs from free range chickens.

Here is the full list of ingredients for a 8" or 9" double layered cake:

1/2 c + 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (lightly spooned)
1 c boiling water
3 large eggs
2 1/4 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 c + 2 tbsp sifted cake flour
1 1/2 c sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 c unsalted butter (softened)

Hop over to my cake blog to read the instructions for this delicious scratch chocolate cake.

Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookies

2011-10-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

With fall bringing change to nature and everything in it, it also changes the flavors and aromas that are filling the kitchen.

While these great cookies are wonderful to enjoy all year round, I especially enjoy the maple walnut combination around fall time.

If you would like to try these wonderfully delicious cookies, check out the recipe here: Maple Walnut White Chocolate Cookie Recipe

Zucchini Chocolate Brownies Recipe

2011-09-20T01:58:00.000-07:00

Over on my blog I was writing about my experiments with brownies made with shredded zucchini.

I was a little skeptical about the zucchini, but the finished brownies have no zucchini taste at all. However, the shredded vegetable gives a wonderfully moist texture to the brownies.

The full recipe and directions can be found on my blog: Zucchini Brownies Recipe

Vegan Fondant Recipe

2011-08-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

For an upcoming wedding cake order I ventured into experimenting with the making of vegan fondant.

It took a few tries but with a few recommendations and adapting a couple recipes I finally had my batch of vegan fondant.

Along that journey I took a lot of pictures with the goal to share a tutorial with you all.

Some of you might have seen it already released on my blog.

Here are all the ingredients that you will need:

3/4 tsp agar agar powder
1/8 cup cold water
1/4 cup glucose (I use light corn syrup)
1 tbsp vegetable shortening
1/2 tablespoon glycerin
a little more than 1 lb (4 cups) powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract or other flavoring

This makes enough to cover one 8" - 10" round cake.

For further instructions visit the blog post here.

Soon I will also make available a printer-friendly download version.

I am looking forward to hearing you responses and feedback if you are going to try out this recipe.

Strawberry Cake Recipe

2011-08-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite cake flavors for the summer time is strawberry cake. Just yesterday I made some yummy cupcakes from this recipe. There are many options, but I really enjoy them paired with chocolate icing.

Let me know your favorite summer cake recipes and what you think when you try this one. I am looking forward to hearing your feedback.

Strawberry Cake

2 c white sugar
1 (3 oz) package strawberry flavored gelatin
1 c butter, softened
4 eggs (room temperature, divided)
2 3/4 c sifted cake flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 c whole milk (room temperature)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 c strawberry puree made from frozen sweetened strawberries
a couple drops red or pink food coloring (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans.

Divide the eggs and beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add butter, egg yolks, and milk. Mix well until combined.

Blend in vanilla and strawberry puree. Sometimes if I feel like a vibrant looking cake I add a few drops red or pink food coloring at this stage.
Just before baking blend in the stiff egg whites.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted to the center comes out clean.

Allow cakes to cool in their pans over a wire rack for at least 10 minutes, before inverting them to cool completely.

Raspberry Mousse Recipe

2011-05-04T23:20:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons why I like the warmer season so much are the different fresh fruits that are becoming available.

One of the many ways to incorporate them with cake is a light mousse filling. In the following recipe raspberries can be replaced with many different berries and fruits. And if out of season even frozen fruit can be used.

Raspberry mousse
1 layer for a 10″ round cake:
7 oz (200 grams) raspberries fresh or frozen
1/2 cup (70 grams) powdered sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
5 sheets of gelatine or 5 tsp of gelatine powder
(use the directions described on the package)
2 1/8 cup (500 ml) heavy cream
1 large disposable piping bag

Step 1:
Leave the gelatine sheets to soften in a bowl with ice cold water for 30-45 minutes.

Step 2:
Place the raspberries in a small casserole along with the powdered sugar and vanilla. Slowly heat up the raspberry mixture, just until it starts to boil. Stir with a whisk and let the berry mixture simmer for 8-10 minutes. Take off from the heat and let cool down for 5-10 minutes before you continue.
Note: You can add more powdered sugar if you want it to be sweeter.

Step 3:
Whip the heavy cream until it reaches soft peaks.

Step 4:
Make sure that you have the berry mixture, gelatine and whipped cream all in front of you before you continue. Next take up the gelatine sheets and squeeze them for water. Put them or the gelatine powder mix into the berry mixture which should still be warm to the touch and stir with the whisk until it is all melted. Next add 1 cup of the whipped cream to the berry mixture and give it a good stir.

Step 5:
The mixture should now be luke warm. Then pour the berry and cream mix back into the bowl with the whipping cream and carefully fold it in until it is thoroughly combined.

Step 6:
Fill the raspberry mousse into a disposable piping bag and fill your cake.
Place the cake in the refrigerator overnight.
Cakes filled with raspberry mousse must be kept in the refrigerator. Take the cake out 1 hour before serving.

Feel free to share with me your experiences and pictures from trying this recipe.
And to stay updated with my current baking experiments and recipes I share subscribe to the newsletter in my website http://specialtycakecreations.com/

Recipe Secrets Reviewed

2010-07-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

Do you love eating out?
Did the recent recession also cause you to cut your budget for out-of-home meals?

Now you can have the restaurant experience at home. In America's Secret Recipes the authors show you how to cook your favorite restaurant dishes from home.

Applebee's, Olive Garden ... all those favorite recipes of yours they have.

Personally, as a cake decorator I am always on the lookout for fantastic new dessert recipes. And in America's Secret Recipes they have even those.

Specialty Cake Recipe & CopyCat CookBook Review

2010-03-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

Amazing Restaurant Recipes in Your Own Kitchen

I just came across a fantastic website for upscale recipes. And they have a great sale going right now, but sadly it ends tomorrow. I just cannot keep this from you.

CopyCat Cookbook offers a compilation of highly guarded recipes for dishes you find in you favorite restaurant like Red Lobster, Applebee's, Starbucks and others.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to have your favorite restaurant experience also in your home kitchen!

Copy Cat Recipes - CopyCat Cookbook

Of course they also include specialty cake recipes.

For more information on specialty cakes also visit www.specialtycakecreations.com

The Worlds # 1 Chocolate Cake!

2010-03-28T13:51:00.001-07:00

Are you looking for a cake recipe? Does the cake you are planning to make need to be special for a certain upcoming event? Find my favorite specialty cake recipes here!

Cake Recipes - Best Chocolate Cake Recipe!

With popular cake shows on TV like Ultimate Cake Off or Cake Boss, more and more people realize the potential and possibilities there is with cakes.
Weddings cakes don't have to be simply all white and there are so many more options to birthday cakes than ordinary bakery sheet cakes with candles on top.

The first condition to making a specialty cake is to start with the right specialty cake recipe. Specialty cakes with their astounding decorations undergo quite some manipulations through the bakers hand.

Therefore using a delicate, soft angel-food type of cake recipe is not suitable as a specialty cake recipe. More fitting as specialty cake recipes are more dense recipes as those for pound cakes.

The recipe I want to share today is The Worlds # 1 Chocolate Cake Recipe.

For more information on specialty cakes also visit www.specialtycakecreations.com