Blueberry Crumb Bars

Blueberry Crumb Bars

3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 C white sugar (original recipe calls for 1 C, feel free to use that much if you like sweeter desserts) 

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup cold butter (2 sticks or 8 ounces)

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

Zest and juice of one lemon

4 cups fresh blueberries

1/4 cup white sugar

4 teaspoons cornstarch

Topping:

Confectioner's/powdered sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9 x 13 baking pan.

In a medium bowl whisk together the 3 cups of flour, 3/4 C sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Use a pastry cutter or fork to cut into the butter until the butter is in peices no larger than a pea then mix in the egg. Or you can do this in a food processor. The dough will be crumbly but stick together when you squeeze it. Pat half of the dough into the pan.

In another bowl, mix the sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Add the blueberries and gently toss them to coat. Pour the blueberry mixture on top of the dough in the pan. Then crumble the rest of the dough evenly over the surface of the berries.

Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the top is slightly browned. Cool completely then cut into squares. Dust with powdered sugar if preferred. Can be stored in the fridge for a few days.

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Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies with Dried Cranberries and Pecans

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies with Dried Cranberries and Pecans

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies with Dried Cranberries and Pecans

1 C all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 C old fashioned rolled oats

1 C toasted pecans, chopped

1 C dried cranberries

1 C semi sweet chocolate chips or 4 oz. bar of semisweet or dark chocolate, chopped

4 oz./ 1 stick butter, at room temperature

1 C packed brown sugar, preferably dark

1 large egg

2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a heatproof bowl, pour about one cup of hot water on the dried cranberries and let them soak for 5 minutes. The cranberries will absorb some of the moisture and retain their chew after baking and won’t dry out. While the cranberries are soaking, chop the toasted pecans. After the cranberries have soaked, drain in a sieve, rinse them off under cold running water, and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. In another bowl, toss the chopped pecans, chocolate chips, and oats together.

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until fluffy, add the brown sugar and beat again. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the egg and vanilla and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, like frosting. Add the flour mixture and mix the dough is beginning to come together. Then add the oats, nuts, and chocolate mixture and cranberries and continue to beat until the dough is evenly mixed

I like to line my cookie sheets with parchment instead of a silicone baking mat, I find that cookies don't spread and brown as nicely on a baking mat. Scoop 1/4 C of the dough and space the dough 3 inches apart. It's easiest to use a trigger release cookie/ice cream scoop. Use your hands and flatten them slightly until they are about 3/4 inch thick and look like a hockey puck. My cookie sheet can hold 8 or 9 cookies and I like to bake only one sheet at a time.

Bake for 10 minutes then rotate the sheet, and continue to bake for another 5 to 8 minutes. The cookie edges should golden brown but the center will look a little underdone and still gooey and doughy in the middle. Remove the tray and let the cookies set for 1 minute on the sheet tray then using a spatula, slide them onto a cooling rack.

Makes 16 cookies.

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Vanilla pound cake

vanilla pound cake

simple vanilla pound cake

8 ounces all purpose flour (approximately 1 3/4 cup)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon table salt

8 ounces unsalted butter at room temperature

8 ounces granulated sugar (approximately 1 1/4 cup)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract or one vanilla bean split lengthwise and scraped

8 ounces or 4 large eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Butter and flour or line with parchment a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Set aside.  

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder together until no lumps remain. Set aside.

Beat butter until smooth and creamy, approximately 2 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl, add the eggs and beat briefly until eggs are scrambled. Drizzle 1/4 cup of the beaten eggs into the butter mixture and continue beating the butter until the eggs are completely incorporated. Scrape the bottom of the bowl. Repeat with another 1/4 cup of egg and continue until all the eggs have been beaten into the butter, scraping the bowl between each addition. 

Sift the dry ingredients into the butter mixture and mix on the lowest setting until almost no streaks or clumps of flour remain. 

Finish the batter by folding with a rubber spatula to get rid of any last streaks or lumps.

Scrape the batter into a prepared pan.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 70 to 80 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

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Banana Brownie Cake Recipe

Banana Brownie Cake is a haelthy variant of the brownie cake. Learn how to make/prepare Banana Brownie Cake by following this easy recipe. 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients of Banana Brownie Cake:
    3 Extra ripe Bananas
    1 cup flour
    2 egg Whites
    1 cup Sugar
    2 tsp Vanilla Extract
    1/4 cup Buttermilk
    1/2 cup Cocoa
    1/4 tsp Baking Soda
    1/4 cup dry milk powder
    1/4 tsp salt
    Banana Topping

 

 

How to make Banana Brownie Cake:

    Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
    Grease a 9 inch fluted tube pan with cooking spray and dust it with flour.
    In a large bowl, combine flour, unsweetened cocoa, dry milk powder, baking soda and salt.
    In a food processor, add bananas, sugar,vanilla extract, egg whites and buttermilk.
    Process until smooth.
    Add dry mixture into the banana puree.
    Whip just until blended.
    Pour batter into the prepared pan.
    Bake for 50 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
    Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack or tray.
    Place on Serving plate.
    Pour Banana topping over the cake.
    Banana Brownie Cake is ready to serve.
    Enjoy!
 

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Lemon Coffee Cake Recipe

 
Ingredients:

• 1¼ cups Sugar
• ¾ cup Canola Oil
• 4 Eggs
• 2 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• Salt to taste
• 473 gm Lemon Pie Filling
• 1½ tsp Cinnamon (ground)
   
 

How to make Lemon Coffee Cake:

•    Take 1 cup sugar with oil in a bowl and mix it well.
•    Beat in eggs until it is light and lemon colored.
•    Mix flour with baking powder, salt in a bowl.
•    Blend in egg mixture and transfer the half mixture to the baking pan.
•    Spread over the pie filling and add on remaining sugar with cinnamon.
•    Bake it at 350°F for 30 min or until a toothpick comes out clean.

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Pastry Apple Bars Recipe

Ingredients:
• 10 Apples (peeled, cored and sliced)
• 2-1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 cup Butter
• 1 Egg Yolk
• 2/3 cup Cold Water
• 1 cup Cornflakes Cereal
• 3/4 cup White Sugar
• 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Confectioners' Sugar
   
How to make Pastry Apple Bars:
•    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
•    In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.
•    Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
•    In a cup, beat egg yolk, stir the cold water into the yolk.
•    Gradually stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture until dough can be packed into a ball.
•    On a clean dry surface, roll out 1/2 of the dough large enough to cover the bottom and sides of a 9x13 inch pan.
•    Lay the dough in the pan and place the cornflakes over the dough in the pan.
•    Arrange apple slices over the top of the corn flake layer.
•    Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon over the apples.
•    Roll out the second half of the dough to cover the entire pan.
•    Lay over the filling and pinch the edges of the two crusts together.
•    Beat the egg white until foamy, and brush onto the top crust.
•    Bake for 45 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown.

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Heart Shaped Cake Recipe

Ingredients:
• For Cake
18.25 ounces White Cake Mix
• 3 ounces Red Jell-O Powder (Strawberry, Raspberry, or Cherry flavor)
• 1 cup Milk
• 3 Eggs
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 cup Butter (melted)
• 3 cups Buttercream Frosting

For Buttercream Frosting
• 1/2 cup Butter (softened)
• 4 tbsp Milk
• 3 - 3/4 cup Confectioner's Sugar (sifted)
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Liquid Food Coloring (optional)
   
How to make Heart Shaped Cake:
•    For Buttercream Frosting
•    Take a big bowl and beat butter in it with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Keep the speed low.
•    Combine sugar, milk, and vanilla with it and now beat for one minute on low speed.
•    Now raise the speed of the mixer to medium and keep beating for another one minute till frosting is fluffy.
•    Now add food color to it. Just put few drops at a time.
•    Keep beating till the desired shade is reached.
•    If frosting is thin, add more confectioners' sugar and if it is thick, add milk.

For Cake
•    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
•    Grease a 9 inches round cake pan and one 9 inches square cake pan properly. Dust uniformly with flour, keep it aside.
•    Take a big mixing bowl and add cake mix, Jell-O powder, milk, butter, eggs, and vanilla.
•    Now beat for one minute with an electric mixer, keeping the speed low.
•    Raise the speed of the mixer to medium and keep on beating for about two minutes, till the batter is soft and properly blended.
•    Now place the batter evenly in the two prepared pans.
•    Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, till the light brown color is reached as well as a toothpick placed in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool on wire racks for about 10 minutes.
•    To make a heart shaped cake, rotate the square cake so that it seems to be a diamond.
•    Now make two semi-circles from the circle cake.
•    Set the semi-circles on the top two sides of the diamond to create a heart shape.
•    Use buttercream frosting and decorate the cake.

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French Chocolate Cake Recipe

Ingredients
    1/2 cup butter, softened
    2 cups packed brown sugar
    2 egg yolks
    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    6 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
    1 cup cold strong brewed coffee
    3 cups all-purpose flour
    1-1/2 teaspoons salt
    1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
    1 cup buttermilk

    RUM GLAZE:
    2/3 cup sugar
    1/2 cup milk
    1/4 cup butter, cubed
    1 teaspoon rum extract

    FILLING:
    1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
    1/4 cup milk
    1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
    Chocolate curls
 
Directions

•    Line two greased 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until crumbly. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Stir in chocolate and coffee. Combine flour, salt and baking soda; gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with buttermilk (batter will be thick).
•     Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes.
•     Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring sugar, milk and butter to a gentle boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; stir in extract.
•     Invert cakes onto wire racks; drizzle with glaze. Cool completely. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and milk; stir until smooth. Refrigerate until spreadable, stirring occasionally.
•     Place one cake on a serving plate; spread with filling. Top with remaining cake. Spread whipped topping over top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator. Garnish with chocolate curls. Yield: 12 servings.

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Strawberry Heart Cake Recipe

Ingredients:
• 4 Eggs
• 1/2 cup Cold Water
• 1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1/2 cup Butter (softened)
• 3 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
• 3 ounces Strawberry Gelatin
• 5 cups Confectioners' Sugar
• Red-Hot Candies (optional)
• 18.25 ounces White Cake Mix
• 10 ounces Frozen Sweetened Strawberries (thawed)
   
How to make Strawberry Heart Cake:
•    Take a mixing bowl and add cake mix, gelatin and flour to it. Add oil and eggs to it and mix properly.
•    Set aside 1/2 cup of syrup for frosting.
•    Drain strawberries; add berries and water to the egg mixture batter and mix properly.
•    Now place the batter evenly in the two waxed paper lined 8 inches baking pans, one square and one round.
•    Bake the cake for 30 to 35 minutes in the square shaped baking pan and for about 35 to 40 minutes in the round shaped baking pan at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
•    Allow them to cool for about 10 minutes.
•    Transfer to the wire racks and let the cakes to cool completely.
•    Take a small mixing bowl; add butter and 1/2 cup of reserved syrup to it.
•    Combine sugar with it and beat for about 2 minutes, till the mixture is light and soft.
•    Place the square cake on a 20 x 15 inches covered board and rotate the cake so that it seems to be a diamond.
•    Now make two semi-circles from the circle cake.
•    Set the semi-circles on the top two sides of the diamond to create a heart shape.
•    Decorate the cake with butter-syrup mixture as well as with red-hots candies if desired.

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Caramel Cake Recipe

Caramel Cake is a perfect recipe for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day and Christmas. Learn how to make/prepare Caramel Cake by following this easy recipe.


Ingredients:
• 3 Cups, sifted cake flour
• 1-3/4 Cups white sugar
• 3 tsp Baking powder
• 1/3 Cup hot water
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 2/3 Cup milk
• 3/4 Cup butter
• 3 Eggs
   
How to make Caramel Cake:
•    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
•    Line two 9 inch pans with parchment paper and sift flour, baking powder and salt together 3 times, keep aside.
•    For caramel syrup heat 1/2 cup of the sugar in a heavy skillet, keep stirring.
•    Continue to cook and stir till melted sugar turn into dark brown.
•    Remove it from the fire.
•    Add hot water to it and stir till dissolved, keep aside to cool.
•    In a large bowl, cream shortening with rest of the sugar till light and fluffy.
•    Add eggs one at a time to it, beating thoroughly.
•    Combine vanilla and 3 tbsp caramel syrup.
•    Add flour mixture and milk alternately to it and beat till soft.
•    Pour the mixture into two 9 inch pans.
•    Bake it in the preheated oven for about 25 to 30 minutes till a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

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CHOCOLATE CHERRY CAKE RECIPE

Ingredients:

6 Eggs White

1 Chocolate Cake Mix

21 oz Cherry Pie Mix

For Frosting:

2 Eggs White

1 1/2 cup Sugar

1/4 tsp Cream of Tartar

1/3 cup Water

1 tsp Vanilla Essence

How to make chocolate cherry cake:

•     In a bowl mix egg whites, chocolate cake mix, cherry pie filling.
•     Grease 9" X 13" pan and make a layer of flour on it.
•     Pour the batter into the pan.
•     In a preheated oven bake the pan for 35 - 40 minutes ot till the toothpick comes out clean.
•     Take tthe cake out and cool it.
•     To make the frosting, mix all the frosting ingredients and pour in a double boiler and with a beater, beat for 1 minute.
•     Then place this boiler on boiling water and again beat for 7 minutes.
•     Remove from heat and beat for 2 minutes on high speed.
•     Frost the cool cake with this mixture.

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STRAWBERRY CAKE RECIPE

Learn how to make this classic strawberry cake made of strawberries, eggs and vanilla extract.

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 vanilla pudding cup
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
2 tsp vanilla extract


How to make strawberry cake:

    Start by thawing the frozen strawberries in one cup of powder sugar.
    In a separate bowl beat together sugar and butter until creamy.
    Add in the eggs one at a time and then finely pour in the vanilla pudding.
    Add the thawed strawberries.
    Stir in the flour and baking powder to the mixture and mix well.
    If the batter is thick add in the milk so that the batter gets a little smooth.
    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F or 175 degrees C.
    Grease and flaw a 9X9 inch pan.
    Pour the prepared batter into the 9X9 inch pan and bake for 30-40 minutes till a knife inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
    To check if the cake is done or not see that the cake sprints back to the touch.

 

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EGGLESS CAKE RECIPE

 

Ingredients:

8 oz. plain flour
3 oz. margarine
pinch of salt
4 tspful baking powder
3 oz. sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
about 1/2 cup milk and water


How to make eggless cake:

    Mix flour, baking powder and salt.
    Mix in the margarine, add the sugar and vanilla and mix to a dropping consistency with the milk and water.
    Turn into a greased 7 inch tin and bake in a moderate oven for 3/4 to 1 hour.

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CHOCOLATE ANGEL CAKE

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
1/4 cup Hot Water
1 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
3/4 cup Fine Wheat Flour (Maida)
1/4 tsp Salt
12 Eggs White
1 tsp Cream of Tartar

How to make chocolate angel cake:

    In a bowl mix cocoa powder and hot water and keep aside.
    Preheat the oven at 350F
    In a separate bowl sift together flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and keep aside.
    Beat the eggs till foamy and then add cream of tartar.
    Beat till the mixture forms peak.
    In the egg mixture add the remaining sugar.
    Now then gently add half the sifted flour.
    When completely mixed add the remaining half of flour.
    Now pour some of this mixture in the cocoa powder mixture and stir well.
    When done pour this egg cocoa mixture back to the remaining egg flour mixture.
    Mix lightly.
    In an ungreased dish pour this mixture.
    Bake this dish for 50 minutes or till the tooth pick comes out clean.
    When baked completely let it cool.
    Then with the help of a knife invert it on a plate.
    Serve it with fresh berries and vanilla ice cream.

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BANANA CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE

Relish this culinary bliss of banana chocolate cake with following ingredients banana, sweet chocolate chips and milk.

Ingredients:
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup meshed banana
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsalted butter which is melted
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup milk


How to make banana chocolate cake:

    In a large mixing bowl stir together all purpose flour, sugar, salt and baking powder.
    Take another bowl and mix together melted butter milk egg and meshed bananas.
    Now add the banana mixture into the flour mixture until thoroughly blended.
    Be careful not to overmix.
    Add the chocolate chips. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F to 175 degrees C.
    Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
    Pour the batter into the pan and bake it for 32-35 minutes or until the toothpick inserted into it comes out clean.
    When the cake gets baked take out the pan from the oven and let it cool for 10-15 minutes.
    This cake will have some melted chocolate but no crumbs.

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APPLE CAKE RECIPE

Try an attempt at baking this apple cake made of cinnamon, nutmeg and glazed with brown sugar and vanilla essence.

Ingredients:
1 cup oil
2 cup sugar
3 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp cloves
1 cup baking soda
4 cups chopped apples

Glaze
2 tblsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup brown sugar


How to make apple cake:

    In a bowl mix the oil, eggs and vanilla extract together.
    In a separate bowl sift the dry ingredients together and add this mixture to the oil and egg mixture and mix well.
    Add in the apples and the nuts.
    Pour this mixture in a baking pan and bake for 1.15 minutes at 350 degrees F.
    For the glaze mix all the glaze ingredients together and boil the mixture for one minute.
    When the cake is baked remove it from the oven and white it is worm pour the glaze on it.
    Apple cake is ready.

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