Easy Cranberry and Apple Cake (Ina Garten)

Ingredients

• 12 ounces fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over for stems
• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest (2 oranges)
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 1/8 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Combine the cranberries, apple, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. With the mixer on medium, add 1 cup of the granulated sugar, the butter, vanilla, and sour cream and beat just until combined. On low speed, slowly add the flour and salt.
Pour the fruit mixture evenly into a 10-inch glass pie plate. Pour the batter over the fruit, covering it completely. Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkle it over the batter. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean and the fruit is bubbling around the edges. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Sponge Cake [Rachel Allen]

SERVES 6–8 / VEGETARIAN
This is a classic sponge cake, made all the more gorgeous with the rhubarb cream filling. Also try filling it with raspberry jam and whipped cream, sliced strawberries and whipped cream, or with fresh, hand-picked blackberries and cream. This is perfect for Father’s or Mother’s Day (that’s a hint, boys!) or, of course, as a birthday cake.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and flour the sides of two 8-inch cake pans, and line the bases with discs of wax paper.
Cream the butter until soft, then gradually add the sugar, and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one by one, beating well all the time. Sift the flour and baking powder, and stir in gently, then stir in the milk until just combined.
Divide the mixture between the two pans, hollowing it slightly in the center, so that it will be flat on top when cooked. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the center of the cake springs back when you push it gently. Turn out onto a wire rack and allow it to cool. (Place the cake that will become the top layer on its base so that the top isn’t marked by the cooling rack.)
Meanwhile, place the sliced rhubarb, sugar and water in a saucepan, cover and cook over a gentle heat for about 10 minutes, until the rhubarb is soft. Take off the lid and boil while stirring until it is thick. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool. Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks, then fold in the rhubarb. Sandwich the cakes with the rhubarb cream and sprinkle with sifted confectioners’ or superfine sugar.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Recipe courtesy Terri Wahl

For another by Paula Deen go here

Prep Time:50 min

Inactive Prep Time:30 min

Cook Time:55 min

Level:Easy

Serves:16 cupcakes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

• 15 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/4 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 13 ounces granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 3 eggs

Directions

2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons red food coloring

• 1 1/4 teaspoons vinegar (white or apple cider can both work)
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/8 cup water

For the cream cheese frosting:

• 1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 pound butter, room temperature
• 2 pounds powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For the cupcakes:

Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder into a bowl and set aside.
In a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix oil, sugar, and buttermilk until combined. Add eggs, food coloring, vinegar, vanilla and water and mix well. Add the dry ingredients a little bit at a time and mix on low, scraping down sides occasionally, and mix until just combined. Be sure not to over mix, or the batter will come out tough.
Line a 16-cup cupcake pan with paper liners, scoop the batter into the liners and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.

For the cream cheese frosting:

Whip the butter and cream cheese together in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until creamed. Gradually add powdered sugar to the mixture and scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and mix until combined.
The frosting can be used right away, or stored in the refrigerator up to a week.
Frost cooled cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting.

Glorious Sponge Cake

Ingredients:

6 eggs 1 cup white sugar 1/4 cup water 1 teaspoon lemon extract

1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 cup cake flour 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1.	How to Guide to Sponge Cakes. Separate the eggs. In a large mixing bowl, beat egg yolks until very thick and lemon colored. Beat in sugar gradually. Add water, lemon extract and lemon rind. Beat in flour.
2.	In another bowl, beat egg whites until frothy. Then add cream of tartar and salt. Beat mixture until whites are stiff, but not until they are dry. Fold this whipped mixture into yolk mixture.
3.	Pour batter into an ungreased 9 inch tube pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for one hour, or until done.

2 Egg Sponge Cake

2 egg yolks
2/3 c. cold water
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. lemon extract
2 egg whites

Beat egg yolks and cold water until they make 1 quart in volume. Keep beating and slowly add sugar, beat for 8 more minutes. Continue beating and add in flour, cream of tartar and lemon extract. In a separate bowl beat egg whites, until stiff. Fold into other mixture. Pour into sponge cake and bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Chocolate Sponge Cake Cut Outs

Makes 10 to 12 servings

Butter or cooking spray
6 eggs, separated
3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2/3 cup sugar, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (baking cocoa)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling of your choice (see options list)

Lightly grease or spray 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1-inch jelly roll pan. Line bottom with waxed paper. Grease again. Set aside.

Beating Eggs: In large mixing bowl at high speed, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Add 1/3 cup of the sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating constantly until sugar is dissolved and whites are glossy and stand in soft peaks. To test, rub just a bit of the egg white-sugar mixture between thumb and forefinger to feel if sugar has dissolved. Set aside.

In small mixing bowl at high speed, beat egg yolks until thick and lemon-colored, about 3 to 5 minutes. Gradually beat in remaining 1/3 cup sugar and vanilla until blended. In small bowl, stir together cocoa, flour and salt. Sprinkle over reserved beaten whites. Add beaten yolk mixture. Gently, but thoroughly, fold yolk and cocoa mixtures into whites. Pour into prepared pan. Gently spread evenly.

Bake in preheated 400° F oven until top of cake springs back when lightly touched with finger, about 10 to 12 minutes. With spatula, loosen cake from sides of pan. Turn out cake by inverting pan over wire rack. Carefully pull waxed paper off bottom of cake. Cool completely.

Using cookie cutters, cut shapes from cooled cake, making sure there are at least 2 of each shape. Spread or top one side of a cake shape with filling ingredients. Cover it with another cake piece of the same shape to make a sandwich. Repeat until all shapes are used.

Tips for beating egg whites:
• When you’re going to beat egg whites, take the eggs out of the refrigerator and carefully separate the yolks and whites (see the next tip). Then, let the whites sit at room temperature about 20 minutes. Warming the whites just enough to take the chill off helps the whites beat up to the best volume.

• Both fat and salt make it hard for egg whites to beat up well. Use an egg separator or a funnel to carefully separate egg whites and yolks so that no fat from the yolk gets into the whites. Use a clean glass or metal bowl for beating because plastic bowls can absorb fat and hold it in their pores. Add salt to the recipe’s dry ingredients or to the yolks, not to the whites.

• Be sure to use the amount of cream of tartar, vinegar or lemon juice called for in the ingredient list. These are all acids. Acids help egg whites to hold air.

• Sugar helps prevent overbeating in egg whites and helps make the foam stable. It’s important to add the sugar slowly, about 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time.

• Test egg whites to see if they’re beaten just right to make a dish puff. Turn off the mixer and tilt the bowl a little. If the egg whites slip and slide, beat a little more and test again. Stop beating when the beaten whites stop slipping and sliding. Don’t let beaten egg whites sit too long. If you do, the air will escape and some of the whites will turn liquid again.

• Try not to overbeat egg whites. Beating too much causes the whites to lose air so a recipe won’t puff as it should. Overbeaten whites also form dry, brittle clumps that don’t mix well with other ingredients.

• When baking, preheat the oven. Use the right size baking dish or pan for the recipe. It’s easier for air-filled whites to climb up a rough surface than a slick one. So, don’t grease the dish unless you also dust (sprinkle) it with a dry ingredient, like sugar, nuts, corn meal or bread crumbs. Place the baking dish on a rack in the lower third of the oven. All these things help the air bubbles to expand and make the recipe rise in volume.

Tips for beating egg yolks:
• It’s hard to overbeat egg yolks. It takes about 3 to 5 minutes of beating with an electric mixer on high speed to beat yolks enough for most recipes. Stop beating when the yolks are thick and they turn a pale lemon-yellow color. Turn off the mixer and lift the beaters a little. If the yolks flow back into the bowl in ribbons, they’re done.
For fillings, choose foods the family likes. Possibilities include:
• ricotta and/or mascarpone cheese and chopped fresh fruit, chopped Maraschino cherries or dried fruit bits
• softened cream cheese or whipped cream cheese and fruit preserves, jam or jelly
• fruit butter, such as apple butter
• fruit-flavored yogurt
• peanut butter and sliced bananas
• softened ice cream and chopped nuts
• softened sherbet or frozen yogurt
• marshmallow fluff with mini chocolate morsels

Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting *****

This is one of, (if not) the BEST banana cake I have ever tasted! I thought the oven temp of 275° sounded a little low, but this cake baked up (and rose) beautifully in my oven at this temp after pretty much exactly one hour. I do not know if the little "freezer trick" to this recipe is what ensured its moistness or not, but I did it, and this cake was exceptionally moist & delicious. Would be interesting to see if it still came out as great if this step was skipped. All I know is that I followed this recipe EXACTLY as stated (except that I had no buttermilk, so I subbed with a mix of lemon juice & milk) and I got exceptional results. Depending on the amount of frosting you like you can decide whether to half the recipe or not. I used the full recipe and had some leftover. I sprinkled on the chopped walnuts and threw this baby in the fridge and cut it the next day...TO DIE FOR! I really liked it slightly chilled, but great at room temp too! It got better each day it sat, I always make this cake at least the day before I need or want it. I was extremely pleased with this cake and will be making it over & over again!! So glad I came across this one!! (on another website). (* * Just to update the recipe, (based on some of the reviews), the baking time may vary based on individual ovens. It was RIGHT ON for my oven, but some others have stated it has taken 1 hour 10 minutes, 1 hour 20 minutes, and my sister just informed me that it took 1 hour 30 minutes in her oven!!!!!)

by Rhonda *J*

1¼ hours | 15 min prep

SERVES 16 , 1 9x13 pan

• 1 1/2 cups bananas, mashed, ripe
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/8 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups icing sugar

Garnish

• chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 275°.
2. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan.
3. In a small bowl, mix mashed banana with the lemon juice; set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
5. In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy.
6. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 tsp vanilla.
7. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
8. Stir in banana mixture.
9. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
10. Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.
11. For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
12. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
13. Add icing sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed until frosting is smooth.
14. Spread on cooled cake.
15. Sprinkle chopped walnuts over top of the frosting, if desired.

Gingerbread Cake with Yogurt Cream

- A perfect blend of sweetness and spice.
Cake Mixture
1/2 cup butter at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
1 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 eggs, beaten
Yogurt Cream
1 cup well-chilled heavy cream
2 1/2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup plain yogurt
Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the molasses and mix well. Stir in yogurt. In a separate bowl sift together flour, baking soda, ginger and cinnamon. Gradually stir dry ingredients into yogurt mixture. Stir in eggs. Pour the batter into a well-greased 9x13-inch pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center come s out clean. Cool slightly. In a large bowl, beat cream with confectioners' sugar until it holds soft peaks and beat in yogurt. Serve gingerbread warm or at room temperature. Top with yogurt cream.
Yields: 12 Servings

Self-Rising Flour

4 cups flour + 2 teaspoons salt + 2 tablespoons baking powder

Combine all ingredients; store in tightly covered can or jar. Use in any recipe calling for self-rising flour. Makes 1 pound of self-rising flour.

Self-rising flour is a relatively soft all-purpose flour to which baking powder and salt have been added. Manufacturers suggest using it for biscuits, quick breads, and cookies and eliminating the baking powder and salt called for in the recipe.

Cake Flour

2 min | 2 min prep

2 cups

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch

1. To make two cups of cake-and-pastry flour (cake flour), combine 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup cornstarch; proceed with your recipe.
2. The easiest way to do this substitution is to put 2 tbsp of cornstarch in the bottom of a 1-cup measuring cup, then fill the cup as usual with all-purpose flour and level top. Repeat process to get your two cups.
3. If you only need 1/2 cup of cake flour, put 1 tbsp cornstarch in bottom of 1/2 cup measuring cup, then fill and level as above.

Cake flour, the lowest protein flour, has undergone a special bleaching process (distinct from the process used for other white flours) that increases the flour's ability to hold water and sugar. This means that when you're making baked goods with a high ratio of sugar to flour, the flour will be better able to hold its rise and will be less liable to collapse.

7-Min Frosting (Paula Deen) *****

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar or 1 tablespoon white corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water
2 egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Place sugar, cream of tartar or corn syrup, salt, water, and egg whites in the top of a double boiler. Beat with a handheld electric mixer for 1 minute. Place pan over boiling water, being sure that boiling water does not touch the bottom of the top pan. (If this happens, it could cause your frosting to become grainy). Beat constantly on high speed with electric mixer for 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Frosting for 1 layer cake or approximately 8 to 12 cup cakes

Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake (Paula Deen) *****

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups sifted self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4 inches above counter, then dropping it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely and spread cake layers with your favorite frosting to make a 3-layer cake.

Old-Fashioned Cupcakes

1 3/4 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into cubes
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Old Fashioned Frosting, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside.

Combine in a bowl both flours, sugar, baking powder and salt. Mix on low speed until combined for about 3 minutes. Add in cubed butter, mixing until just coated with flour.

Add eggs 1 at a time until combined. Slowly add milk and vanilla to batter until completely mixed scraping down the bowl as you mix.

Scoop batter into baking cups filling about 1/2 - 2/3 full. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.

Cool and decorate with Old Fashioned Frosting.

Old-Fashioned Frosting:
2 sticks butter, room temperature
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract or other flavoring

Cream softened butter and add 4 cups sugar, milk and vanilla. Beat with paddle attachment until smooth gradually add the rest of sugar to reach frosting consistency*.

*Cook's Note: Add more sugar to get this consistency.

Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting (Ellie Kreiger) *****

3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup natural applesauce
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups finely shredded carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
4 ounces 1/3 fat cream cheese (recommended: Neufchatel)
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

Sift together the first 6 ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk the oil, brown sugar and eggs until well combined. Whisk in the applesauce, vanilla and carrots. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Stir in 1/4 cup of the chopped walnuts.

Divide the batter between the muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

With an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and lemon zest until smooth and creamy. Frost the cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts. The cupcakes should be stored in the refrigerator.

Miraval Pound Cake with Choc Sauce

Prep/Cook Time: 1 hr 30 min (12 servings)

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch sea salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
1 1/3 cups turbinado raw cane sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2/3 cup fat-free milk
1/2 cup Fantasy Fudge Sauce, recipe follows
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Equipment: 9 by 5-inch loaf pan

Spray and flour a loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the applesauce, sugar and vanilla to the butter. Add the eggs 1 at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Stir the flour into the butter, on low, alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour.

Put 2/3 of the batter in the prepared loaf pan. Add the fudge sauce and the baking soda to the remaining batter and mix until just blended. Spoon the chocolate mixture on top of the batter in the pan and swirl with a butter knife.

Bake for approximately 1 hour or until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Cool 10 minutes in the pan. Remove from the pan and cool completely.

Fantasy Fudge Sauce:
1 cup concentrated fruit sweetener or reduced fruit juice
4 tablespoons cocoa powder

Place the sweetener in a medium pot over low heat and reduce by 1/3 until thick.

Mix in the cocoa powder until combined and set aside to cool, (it will foam up). Place in a sealable container and refrigerate until needed up to 2 weeks.

Cakemix Pumpkin Cake

18.25 oz yellow cake mix

3/4 c sugar

1/2 c enova oil

1 c canned pumpkin

1/4 c water

1 t ground cinnamon

4 large eggs or 1 c egg substitute

whipped topping

350 oven. Grease standard bundt pan or 9x13 pan or 2 9" cake rounds. In large bowl mix cake mix, sugar, oil, pumpkin, water, cinnamon and eggs. Beat until well blended. Trf to baking dish(es). Bake at 350 for 45 mins. Top with topping. Serves 18

240 cals, 11 g fat (1 g sat), 3 g protein, 0 chol, 210 sodium, 1 g fiber, 32 g carbs