Classic Yellow Cake with Yogurt Cream and Berries

I was looking for a simplified recipe for a classic birthday cake that didn’t require three different bowls and beating egg whites. This recipe fit my criteria and was delicious. I cannot bring myself to put 1 1/2 cup of sugar in a single recipe so I reduced to 1 cup and no one missed that extra sugar.

Classic Yellow Cake with Yogurt Cream and Berries
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Servings
10 servings
Servings
10 servings
Classic Yellow Cake with Yogurt Cream and Berries
Print Recipe
Servings
10 servings
Servings
10 servings
Ingredients
Cake
Yogurt Cream Frosting
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Arrange a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°F.
  2. Brush two 9 inch layer cake pans with butter. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper; brush again with butter.
  3. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
  4. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl, scraping down sides as needed, until light and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla and yolks in 2 additions, scraping down bowl after each. Reduce mixer speed to low and add dry ingredients, alternating with milk mixture in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients and beat just until smooth.
  5. Divide batter between prepared pans.
  6. Bake cakes until light golden brown and a tester inserted into the centers comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 30–35 minutes.
  7. Let cool in pans at least 15 minutes. Invert cakes onto racks, peel off parchment, and let cool completely.
Cream Frosting
  1. Beat the whipping cream with a mixed until the beater starts making tracks. Slowly add the powdered sugar while continuing to beat, add vanilla and beat just until cream is stiff.
  2. Carefully fold in the Greek yogurt with a spatula.
  3. Spread the 1/3 of frosting on the first layer. Cover the layer with berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or a mix of berries).
  4. Place second layer, topside down. Spread remaining frosting on the top layer, letting it run down the sides. Place berries on top of the cake.
Recipe Notes

Modified from

Epicurious: Classic Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

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Easter Fruit Cookie

Fruit on a cookie, so fun to make!The first time my mini-chef M made was rather stressful. She wanted to do it her way. I quickly realized my then-four-year-old has her own creative instinct. It was a sloppy “Easter Egg” but she was so proud of it, and it was delicious.

Since then, this has become our dessert and a family tradition on Good Friday. M and her cousins love making it. The colors are so pretty, it’s delicious and I get huge satisfaction serving a fruit dessert everyone enjoys on a weekend of too much sugar and sweet.

I make two “egg” shaped whole-wheat sugar cookies ahead of time. When the cousins arrive, I set out different fruit in separate bowls and let the children decorate their “Easter egg” cookie however the muse inspires them.

As they’ve gotten bigger, their cookies get more decorative and neat. Pretty or not, they’re always delicious to eat.

I aim to use fruits that are local and seasonal if possible (strawberries). I do supplement with imported fruits for color (blueberries) because Easter is a special occasion.

Avoid fruit that will oxidize and turn brown (apples, pears) and those that will make the cookie soggy (oranges)

Variation

  • Spread raspberry or blackberry preserves on cookie
  • Spread cream cheese on cookie. I blend 1 – 2 tablespoons of honey with about 1/2 cup of cream cheese

 

Easter Egg Fruit Cookie
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Easter Egg Fruit Cookie
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Ingredients
Adjust servings: 16 servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400.
  2. Prep the fruit. Wash and lay out on clean dishtowels or paper towels to dry.
  3. Make cookie dough.
  4. Divide cookie dough in half . On a floured surface, roll out cookie dough into an egg shape about 1/4 inch thick.
  5. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat with the second half.
  6. Bake 8 – 10 minutes until edges just begin to turn golden.
  7. Remove from oven and cool.
  8. While cookies are baking, prep the fruit.
  9. Prep cream cheese, mix with 1 tablespoon honey and if more sweetness is desired, mix in another tablespoon honey.
  10. Let the cookies cool.
  11. Spread each “egg” with cream cheese/honey mix (or raspberry preserves)
  12. Place the fruit decoratively on the cookie.
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Frozen Orange Mousse Torte with Berry Sauce

I get enthused about certain recipes and make them with frequency until they’re no longer interesting and they fall off my repertoire. But this recipe has endured more than 10 years of entertaining.
It’s one of my absolute favorite desserts because:

  •  everyone loves it
  • can be made days in advance
  • gluten-free
  • can double recipe for a large dinner party (24 guests). I cut modest size servings and can serve 12 per torte
Frozen Orange Mousse Torte
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Servings
12 - 16 servings
Servings
12 - 16 servings
Frozen Orange Mousse Torte
Print Recipe
Servings
12 - 16 servings
Servings
12 - 16 servings
Ingredients
Make Crust
Make Berry Sauce
Make Mousse
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
Make Crust
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Blend first 4 ingredients in processor until almonds are coarsely chopped.
  3. Add melted butter and blend until moist crumbs form. Using a square of parchment paper, press almond mixture onto bottom (not sides) of 9-inch-diameter spring-form pan.
  4. Bake crust until golden, about 8 minutes.
  5. Chill while preparing mousse.
  6. Can be prepared a week or two before, covered and frozen.
Make Berry Sauce
  1. Place berries, sugar and orange juice in a medium saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil, turn down to simmer and cook about 10 minutes. Cool.
  3. Purée berry mixture in processor. Strain through sieve set over bowl, pressing on solids.
  4. Mix in orange juice and peel. Cover and refrigerate until cold.
  5. Can be made the weekend before. Keep refrigerated.
Make Mousse
  1. Whisk orange juice, sugar and egg yolks in a medium metal bowl.
  2. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (the bowl should not to touch the water). Whisk until candy thermometer registers 170°F, about 5 – 6 minutes.
  3. Remove bowl from over water. Using electric mixer, beat yolk mixture until cool and thick, about 6 - 8 minutes. Carefully mix in 1 cup plain Greek yogurt. Beat in Grand Marnier.
  4. In a separate bowl, beat 1 cup cream and orange peel in bowl until stiff. Fold cream into yolk mixture. Pour mousse into crust.
  5. OPTIONAL: Beat 1/3 whipping cream until stiff. Spoon whipped cream into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe cream around top edge of torte. Cover spring form pan and freeze overnight. *
Serve
  1. Cut around pan sides to loosen torte. Release pan sides.
  2. Cut torte into wedges.
  3. Pour a couple spoonfuls of Berry Sauce on each wedge and serve.
Recipe Notes

*Note: Frozen torte can be made a week or a few days before. Cover springform pan tightly with cling wrap.

Modified from:

Epicurious: Frozen Mousse Orange Torte with Boysenberry Sauce

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Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are usually made with white flour and too much sugar. I use whole-wheat flour and reduce the amount of sugar almost half.

I was not a fan of sugar cookies until I had a child. Now I can seem to stop making them! In carrot-shape at Easter, or pumpkin shape in the fall…

I’ve lost count of the number of times we made them in all sorts of shapes for play dates. I blend powdered sugar with just enough water to make “spreadable” icing, and a drop or two of India Tree coloring (no synthetic dyes). Each child gets a portion of icing in a cup and decorates happily away, adding sprinkles on top.

Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies
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Servings
36 - 48 cookies
Servings
36 - 48 cookies
Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies
Print Recipe
Servings
36 - 48 cookies
Servings
36 - 48 cookies
Ingredients
Adjust servings: cookies
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl fitted with an electric whisk cream the butter. Gradually add sugar mixing until it is all blended in. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla until well mixed.
  4. By hand mix in flour about 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  5. Roll the dough out onto a floured surface until it's about 1/4-inch thick.
  6. Cut with cookie cutters into desired shapes. Place cookies onto an ungreased baking sheet.
  7. Bake in oven for 6 – 8 minutes until edges turn golden brown.
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Orange Marmalade Cookies

In our garden in Cochabamba is a magical orange tree. Magical because of the astonishing amount of fruit it produces, magical because of the intense vivid flavor of not only the juice but also the peel. These oranges make the most amazing orange marmalade, I can taste the sunshine in every bite.

When I bring back a jar of that marvelous homegrown, home-made orange marmalade to Houston, it is too precious to use in these cookies. But the cookies are also so delicious that I use store bought orange marmalade to make them. When our Cochabamba marmalade is gone, these cookies are a flavor from home.

Variations

  • For an extra-special treat, I dip the cookies (baked and cooled) in chocolate. I melt about 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate with 1 tablespoons of butter or cream. Place the cookies on a silpat or well-buttered cookie sheet until the chocolate hardens.
  • Or add chocolate chunks into the batter
Orange Marmalade Drops
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Servings
36 - 40 cookies
Servings
36 - 40 cookies
Orange Marmalade Drops
Print Recipe
Servings
36 - 40 cookies
Servings
36 - 40 cookies
Ingredients
Adjust servings: cookies
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease cookie sheets.
  2. Beat butter until soft, gradually add sugar beating until light and creamy.
  3. Mix in eggs until creamy, add marmalade and mix just until blended together.
  4. Sift flour with baking powder. Stir sifted ingredients into butter mixture.
  5. Drop the batter from a teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet.
  6. Bake about 8 minutes.
  7. If using chocolate, once the cookies are completely cool, melt chocolate with 1 tablespoon butter or coconut oil. Dip cookies in melted chocolate and place on a silpat until chocolate is solid.
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Carrot-Shape Sugar Cookies in Oreo “Dirt”

By request, this is the third year these cookies are part of my Easter menu; they’re becoming a family tradition.

The instructions seem long-winded and intimidating but don’t let the step-by-step instructions alarm you. They’re so worth it. Or recruit the kids and make it a family project; it will be fun!

I use India Tree food coloring (available on  Amazon) made from highly concentrated vegetable colorants; they contain no corn syrup or synthetic dyes.

What to do with all the leftover Oreo dirt?
I freeze it for another time; here is one of my favorite ways to use the Oreo crumbs
Epicurious: Frozen White Chocolate and Raspberry Mousse

I’m going to give this Grasshopper a try, it evokes happy childhood memories! Have you ever had Grasshopper Pie?

Simply Recipes: Grasshopper Pie

Carrot Shape Sugar Cookies in Oreo Dirt
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Carrot Shape Sugar Cookies in Oreo Dirt
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Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. In a medium-sized bowl whisk together flours, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl cream, with electric beater (or by hand), butter and sugar together for several minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla until thoroughly combined.
  3. Add a few drops of yellow food coloring and one drop of red.
  4. Slowly add flour mixture until well mixed. Adjust food coloring one drop at a time until it has the desired orange shade.
  5. Turn off beater and shape dough into a ball.
  6. Divide in half; roll each half into a log on a silpat or floured surface. If the dough is too soft and sticky, refrigerate for 10 - 15 minutes. Don't let it get too cold or it will be difficult to shape.
  7. Cut into ½” slices
  8. Roll (either on the counter or between your palms) each slice into a cone shape
  9. Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
  10. After cookie sheet is full, slightly flatten the “carrots”
  11. Refrigerate a couple of hours or overnight; they hold their shape better if they're really cold before baking
  12. Bake at 350 for 5 – 8 minutes (depending on the size of your “carrots) peeking to make sure the tips don’t get too dark. Cool
  13. Stick a toothpick in the top of each cookie, carefully pushing it almost all the way in. Make an assembly line. Tie a green ribbon on the tip of toothpick. I use fabric-with-wire ribbon because I can shape them.
  14. Grind Oreo cookies in a food processor or blender. Place the Oreo “dirt” in a serving dish.
  15. Dip bottom half of "carrot" cookie into Dulce de Leche and stick in the Oreo dirt.
Recipe Notes

NOTE: Make ahead so it’s not overwhelming. For example

  • 1 or 2 weeks earlier a) make and freeze the cookies to bake later or b) make AND bake the cookies. If making ahead; I freeze them (baked or unbaked it’s the same process) in a large ziploc bag lined with parchment paper. Place parchment paper between the layers or cookies also so they don’t stick together.
  • Make the Oreo crumbs by pulsing 6–8 cookies at a time in a blender or food processor. Store in a covered container.
  • One or two days before, tie green ribbon on toothpicks and insert into baked cookies. I like using fabric ribbons wire to hold the shape)
  • Day of: recruit your kids to dip the “carrots” in Dulce de Leche and place in Oreo “dirt"
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Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

And oh lala! The zucchini makes these brownies lusciously moist. Plus the added nutritional benefit. The original recipe is from Fabulessly Frugal.

I modified by reducing the sugar by half, using coconut oil and spelt flour and changed up the frosting.

 

Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
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Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
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Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 9 x 9 baking pan wth coconut oil or expeller-pressed canola oil.
  2. In a medium saucepan over medium low heat, combine oil, chocolate chips, and cocoa, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar.
  3. Add eggs and vanilla, and whisk until combined. Stir in zucchini.
  4. Fold in flour, baking soda, and salt, until batter is well-combined, but don't over mix.
  5. Spread batter into prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs.
  6. While the brownies bake, melt together the chocolate and coconut oil
  7. When the brownies come out of the oven, pour chocolate/coconut oil on and spread it evenly over the top. Cool for 5-10 minutes, then lift foil to remove brownies from pan, cut into pieces, and serve.
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Chocolate Coconut Macaroons

Absolutely spectacularly chocolaty, crispy on the outside, somewhat gooey-chewy inside. One of my all-time favorite cookie recipes. Gluten-free too.
Active Time: 10 min
Total Time: 50 minutes

Chocolate Coconut Macaroons
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
30 cookies 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
30 cookies 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Chocolate Coconut Macaroons
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
30 cookies 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
30 cookies 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Ingredients
Adjust servings: cookies
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Place 1 cup chocolate chips in microwave-safe bowl; microwave on low setting at 30 second intervals, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted. Cool slightly.
  3. Using electric mixer beat egg whites and salt in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, then vanilla, beating until whites are thick and glossy.
  4. Fold in melted chocolate and coconut, then remaining 1/3 cup chocolate chips.
  5. Drop batter by heaping teaspoonfuls onto prepared sheets, spacing 1 1/2 inches apart.
  6. Bake cookies 10 minutes. Reverse sheets. Bake until tops are dry and cracked.
Recipe Notes

Modified from Epicurious: Chocolate Coconut Macaroons

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Apple Cranberry Crisp

Fruit crisps are one of my favorite desserts, bursting with lovely bites of berries, peaches, or whatever the fruit may be. Generally associated with summer, this crips takes us into fall with the bright, tartness of cranberries.

Apple Cranberry Crisp
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Servings
8
Servings
8
Apple Cranberry Crisp
Print Recipe
Servings
8
Servings
8
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish.
  2. In a bowl mix brown sugar, oats, flour, 1 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspooon cardamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg.
  3. Add butter, pressing with a fork until it resembles crumbs. Mix in chopped pecans.
  4. In another bowl toss apples, cranberries, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg.
  5. Transfer apple mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle topping over. Bake 45 – 50 minutes until apples are tender, and topping is crisp.
Recipe Notes

Serving suggestions

1. For a special treat, serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

2. Serve at room temperature with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt (first mixed with honey to taste)

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Orange and Pineapple Medley with Mint

Simple and fresh, it dresses up a table and makes taste buds happy.
This recipe is part of Father’s Day (or anytime) Brunch menu.

It can easily become dessert with a scoop of orange or mango sorbet and a dollop of whipped coconut cream

Orange and Pineapple Medley with Mint
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Orange and Pineapple Medley with Mint
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Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Cut oranges into bite-size cubes.
  2. Cut pineapple into bites-size cubes.
  3. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and chill at least one hour.
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