Posts made in June, 2022

• Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 9×13 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray or butter.
• In a big bowl, mix together the cake mix, espresso powder (if using), butter, and egg. Press the dough into the bottom of the pan and even out. Bake for 7 minutes. While that’s cooking, prepare the filling.
• In the same big bowl (no need to wash it), mix together the sweetened condensed mix, vanilla, egg, pecans, and coconut. Once the crust’s first bake is done, bring it out of the oven. Pour the filling over it and even out. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
• Bake for an additional 24 to 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely, speeding the process in the fridge, if desired. Use foil to lift bars onto a cutting board to divide into slices. Store covered or individually wrapped at room temperature.

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• Preheat oven 350-degrees.
• Cut a piece of parchment to fit in the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Apply nonstick spray or butter over the inside of the pan, place the parchment inside, then grease it as well. Set aside.
• In a stand mixer, beat the butter, sugars, and orange zest together. Scrape the bottom of the bowl, then beat on medium until fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 egg. Crack the 2nd egg, placing the yolk with the other ingredients and setting aside the white for later use. Add vanilla bean paste to other ingredients and combine.
• In a separate bowl, stir together flours, salt, and nutmeg. Gradually add dry ingredients into the butter batter to create a thick dough. Scoop it into the prepared pan.
• Use a piece of plastic wrap to press the dough into an even layer. Discard plastic wrap. Lightly beat the reserved egg white. Use a pastry brush to gently apply the egg white across the top of the cake. Use the tines of a fork to make a crosshatch pattern across the top.
• Bake for 25 minutes. Rotate the pan. Continue baking until the surface is golden brown and the middle passes the toothpick test, which should be after an additional 5 to 10 minutes. Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes, then release the side latch to remove the ring.
• Let cake cool completely on a wire rack. Slice and enjoy. Cake keeps well covered at room temperature for at least 3 days. It can also be cut into slices and frozen for later enjoyment.

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• Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Cut parchment to fit the bottom of the springform pan. Grease the pan, then place in parchment round, then spray that as well.
• Peel and thinly slice the apples. In a big bowl, coat the apples with 1 Tablespoon white sugar, the citrus zest, and 2 teaspoons of fresh juice. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat eggs, vanilla, salt, and remaining 1 cup of sugar at medium high speed for about 7 minutes. It should turn thick and pale, the batter forming ribbons when the whisk is lifted up. Remove bowl from mixer.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and cardamom. Use a fine-mesh sieve to sift the dry ingredients into the egg mix. Gently fold the flour in until it’s just combined and there are no white streaks.
• Place half the apples in the prepared pan. Pour half the batter over them. Use an offset spatula to work the batter into nooks and crannies. Scatter the rest of the apples on top, followed by the rest of the batter. Again, use the spatula to spread the small amount of batter. For a couple minutes, thump the pan on the counter and tap the sides every now and then to cause bubbles to rise, smoothing batter again after.
• Bake cake. Check it at 30 minutes to see if it is getting too brown; if so, cover it with foil. Continue baking 10 more minutes (40 total) then test the middle with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. Let it cool on a rack for 15 minutes before carefully releasing the sides of the pan.
• Serve the cake warm, at room temperature, or cold from the fridge. Add a dusting of confectioners’ sugar on top for serving; if keeping cake for later, add fresh sugar each time, as it will gradually be absorbed. Store covered in the fridge or at room temperature.

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• Melt butter on the stove top or in the microwave. Add milk and heat until they are lukewarm. Place in bread machine. Add sugar, salt, flour, cardamom, and yeast. Begin dough cycle on machine. Check on dough as it mixes, adding more flour or milk, if needed. Let it complete its first rise.
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Lightly flour a surface. Dump out dough and roll it out into a rectangle about 1/3″ thick. Spread softened butter all over the surface. Stir together the sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle it over the butter. Roll the dough up to form a long log.
• Use a sharp knife or a piece of unwaxed dental floss to slice up 12 individual rolls. Set spaced out on prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap or a towel to rise for 30 minutes. In the meantime, preheat oven at 425-degrees.
• Brush beaten egg atop rolls. Sprinkle them with pearl sugar. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown. A digital thermometer in the middle of a center roll should read over 190-degrees. Cool for at least 15 minutes before eating.
• Swedish Cinnamon Rolls are best eaten within a day. If promptly frozen, they will keep for a prolonged period–just eat them soon after thawing.

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