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Showing posts with label frosting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frosting. Show all posts

Friday, February 20, 2015

Classic Cinnamon Rolls :)

You may have already seen the upside down version of these-- But sometimes-- The classics are where it's at ;)


Ingredients:
Dough:
2c warm water
1 1/2c sugar
1tbs yeast (or one package)
1tbs salt
egg
1/2c vegetable oil
7flour

Filling:

3/4c butter, melted
1 sugar (brown is best, used white with a tea spoon molasses)
2tbsp cinnamon
1⁄2raisins 

Whipped Frosting (optional):
1 large egg whites only
1/4 cup sugar
1tbs  water
dash pure vanilla extract

Serves: 15 people

Time: 2 hr

Directions:

1) Dissolve yeast and warm water in a very large mixing bowl for about 5 minutes.  Add about two pinches of sugar to help the yeast out.

2) Add the rest of the sugar and water stir. This is a good step to move to a mixer with a dough hook if you have one.  Or you can stirr with a wooden spoon.

3) Beat the egg in a separate bowl, then add it to the yeast and sugar.  It won't mix properly with just the dough hook which is why it needs to be beaten first.

4) Add the oil to the sugar mixture.

5) Gradually mix in flour and salt to the liquid mixture. You might not need the entire amount of flour. Add flour until dough begins to move away from sides of bowl and is soft but manageable.  Take it slow!  The dough should look soft but not soupy.  It won't look like bread dough it will be far softer.

6) Cover dough and let rise until doubled. This will take some time, and is temperature dependent so it's difficult to estimate.

7) Punch dough down and divide in half. The dough wants more flower.  So be generous!  It will take quite a bit more flower to mange touching the dough, as much as a cup maybe needed for handling.

8) Roll out one half into a rectangle, be generous with the flower, execs will just fall off so don't be stingy.  Flower your hands supper generously.

9) Combine filling ingredients except raisins. Spread evenly over rectangle with rubber spatula. Sprinkle evenly with raisins if desired.

10) Roll up dough, beginning at long end. Pinch ends to seal. Using thread or dental floss, slice into rolls, about 14. Place cut side down in a greased pan.  Cutting with a spatula works well too.  The rolls will be very soft.  They may look like just lumps when they are in the pan.  Try and have the sliced edge down.  It may not look like it makes a difference with this dough, but it will once it bakes.  The rolls will tolerate a fair bit of abuse, try to be fast so they don't spread out.

11) Repeat with remaining half of dough and filling.

12) Cover and let rise until doubled.




















13) In a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, combine egg whites, sugar, salt, and water. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until sugar has dissolved (or mixture registers 150 degrees on an instant-read thermometer), 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high until glossy, stiff peaks form (do not overbeat), about 3 minutes; reduce speed to low, add vanilla extract, and beat just until combined. Use immediately.


14)  Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. Time varies from oven to oven. Check at earliest time to prevent over browning.
















15) Generously frost warm rolls, about 5 minutes after removing from oven.

Cost:

yeast                                1.20
salt                                  0.10
vegetable oil                   1.35
flour                                1.50
cinnamon                         0.10
raisins                              0.35
eggs                                 0.34
dash pure vanilla extract 0.10
crushed pecans                0.76
honey                               0.15
butter                               1.00
sugar                                1.50                   
Total                               $8.30
Per Roll                         $0.55

Sunday, September 14, 2014

The Most Colorful Birthday Cake EVER

This three layer tie-dye Birthday Cake with homemade custard filling and chocolate frosting "takes the cake" for both the best looking and the best tasting birthday cake I have ever enjoyed.  My husband made it for me, so please bare with me through some of the photos, etc. (Disclaimer: Initial idea did come from a box mix.  However, this blog is about how to take that box mix and make it that much more awesome!)
Ingredients:

1        box (Tie tie cake OR white cake)
3        egg (or as box reads)
1/3 c  oil (or as box reads)
food coloring
2 tbs white sugar
2 tbs molasses
1 tbs butter
frosting (or powered white sugar)
8 inch round cake pan (or smaller), or something close to this :) 

Time: 
2 hours total

I have to say, although my role was more supervision on this one-- Just watching this cake get made was a blast!  Feel free to have fun with it, as there will never be another cake like it-- even if all your cakes are tie-dye from this day forth! A nice thing about this particular cake is that quickly getting the batter into the oven is not as important.  So make sure to relax and enjoy the fun :)

Directions:

1) Make up the cake as instructed EXCEPT, do not include the yoke of the egg.  An easy way to do this is to crack the egg without letting the inside of the egg fall into the bowl.  Then, over a bowl, pass the egg yoke back and forth between the two shells until nearly all of the translucent "whites" of the egg are in the bowl, and the yoke is still in one of the shell halves.  Set the yokes aside for now.

2) Preheat the oven to 350.

3) Divide the cake batter into 5 (or more) bowls. 

4) Mix in food coloring to make intense colored batter. Go heavier rather than lighter on the food coloring.  And feel free to get creative!  The purple on the right was a good five minute project for my husband as he got it 'just right.'
5) Add about a third of all the batter colors to your greased 8 inch round pan.  If you don't have an 8 nice round pan, a small crock pot dish also works well! (Featured above.)  Make sure to pour in one place for each color, so that batter color can sink to the bottom of the cake.

6) Bake each round for 30 minutes.  If you only have one pan, wait ten minutes before removing the baked cake layer from the pan.

7) Repeat 4 through 6 for the other two layers!

8) While you are making the layers of the cake, you can start on the filling: Take the three egg yokes, two tbs molasses, 2 tbs white sugar, and 1 tbs butter.  If inclined, add a 1/4 tsp of orange extract as well.  In a small double broiler, beat the custard mixture continuously over low heat.  If you don't have a double broiler, then put the ingredients in a small metal mixing bowl, and the water (for the broiler) in a small pot. Balance the metal bowl in the small pot that is 1/3 filled with water.  No mater what you use to this, mix continually! 

9) Once all bake layers are baked and cooled, it's time to construct the cake.  One whatever dish you will be serving the cake, place the first round.  Add 1/2 of your custard mixture to the top.  Then add your next round and repeat.  After the last round is on top-- It's frosting time! You can use a pre made mix, (like I said my husband was doing this one), or you can make the frosting.  As this is a budget friendly blog, I recommend making it.  Just combine well 1/4 cup butter and 3 cups powdered sugar.  Add coloring or flavorings of choice to that.  Some butter frostings have milk, but I find the frosting is stiffer without it.
10)  Add the sprinkles!  This is a very important step :D

11) Sever up!
Cost:
box cake mix     $3
egg                    $0.60
oil                      $0.10
food coloring    $0.20
white sugar       $0.20
molasses           $0.45
butter                $0.25
frosting             $3.00 or less
Total                 $7.80



The Chef at his best!


A very happy birthday to me :)


Even the crumbs are fun!