Purple Plum Torte

https://smittenkitchen.com/2013/10/purple-plum-torte/

1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder (the aluminum-free kind, if you can find it)
Large pinch of salt
1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar plus 1 to 2 tablespoon (depending on sweetness of plums)
1/2 cup (115 grams or 8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
12 smallish purple Italian purple plums, halved and pitted
2 teaspoons (10 ml) fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon or tablespoon ground cinnamon (see Note up top for explanation)

Heat oven to 350°F. Sift or whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. In a larger bowl, cream butter and 1 cup sugar together with an electric mixer until fluffy and light in color. Add the eggs, one at a time and scraping down the bowl, then the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. 

Spoon batter into an ungreased 9-inch springform pan (but if you’re worried, you can always lightly coat it first with butter or a nonstick spray) and smooth the top. Arrange the plums, skin side up, all over the batter, covering it. Sprinkle the top with lemon juice, then cinnamon, then remaining sugar. 

Bake until cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into a center part of the cake comes out free of batter (but of course not plum juice), about 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on rack. 

Once cool, if you can stand it, and I highly recommend trying, leave it covered at room temperature overnight as this cake is even better on the second day, when those plum juices further release into the cake around it, becoming not just “cake with plum,” but cakeplumughyum (official terminology, there).

—> added spices to the cake (1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 nutmeg, 1/4 cardamom); baked in cast iron at 400 for 30. 

 

Cardamom Cinnamon Cake

https://eye-swoon.com/cardamom-cake-with-honey-buttercream/

• 227 g (1 cup) unsalted butter – room temperature
• 400 g (2 cups) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk – room temperature
• 10 oz (1 and 1/4 cups) whole milk – room temperature
• Zest of 1 orange
• 383 g (3 cups) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground cinnamon
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Bring the cold ingredients to room temperature. The butter should be soft where you can easily press your thumb into it.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease three 6” circular cake pans and line each with parchment paper. Grease the paper and dust lightly with flour. Tap the pans to dump out the excess flour.
• Combine the flour, cardamom, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Mix the milk, orange zest, and vanilla together in a large measuring cup.
• Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream the butter on low until blended. Increase the speed to high and beat until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce speed to medium-low and add the eggs one at a time, beating until combined after each addition.
• With the mixer on low, alternate adding 1/4 of the flour mixture followed by 1/3 of the liquid mixture, beating until combined after each addition. Scrape the bowl with a spatula between additions.
• Divide batter between cake pans and smooth with a spatula. Bake until golden and a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
• Cool the cakes for 15 minutes and then carefully turn out on a wire rack to cool completely.

Halved it. One 6 inch pan. 350 for

Brown Butter Swiss Meringue

https://www.marthastewart.com/353415/swiss-meringue-buttercream

• 5 large egg whites 

  1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

• Pinch of salt 
• 1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons, room temperature

1. Combine egg whites, sugar, and salt in the heatproof bowl of a standing mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly by hand until mixture is warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved (the mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingertips). 
2. 2. Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low and gradually increasing to medium-high speed, whisk until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Continue mixing until the mixture is fluffy and glossy, and completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the bowl), about 10 minutes. 
3. 3. With mixer on medium-low speed, add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition. Once all butter has been added, whisk in vanilla. Switch to the paddle attachment, and continue beating on low speed until all air bubbles are eliminated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl with a flexible spatula, and continue beating until the frosting is completely smooth. Keep buttercream at room temperature if using the same day. If not, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Before using, bring to room temperature and beat with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth again, about 5 minutes. 
4. 4. To tint buttercream, reserve some for toning down the color, if necessary. Add gel-paste food color, a drop at a time (or use the toothpick or skewer to add food color a dab at a time) to the remaining buttercream. You can use a single shade of food color or experiment by mixing two or more. Blend after each addition with the mixer (use a paddle attachment) or a flexible spatula, until desired shade is achieved. Avoid adding too much food color too soon, as the hue will intensify with continued stirring; if necessary, you can tone down the shade by mixing in some reserved untinted buttercream.

1/2 c butter, browned, then cooked in fridge
2 egg whites
1/2 c sugar
Pinch of salt

Upside down banana skillet cake

https://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/07/upside-down-caramelized-banana-bread-skillet-cake/

Cardamom Vanilla Pound Cake

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/cardamom-vanilla-pound-cake-351920

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 vanilla beans, halved lengthwise
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 1/2 cups chilled heavy cream
• 2 1/2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Generously butter pan and dust with flour, knocking out excess.
2. Whisk together flour, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat together butter and granulated sugar in mixer at medium speed, scraping side of bowl occasionally, until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape seeds from vanilla beans with tip of a paring knife into butter mixture, reserving pods for another use, and beat until combined well, about 1 minute. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in lemon juice until combined well. At low speed, add flour mixture and milk alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture, mixing until just combined.
3. Spoon batter into pan, smoothing top. Gently rap pan on counter to eliminate air bubbles.
4. Bake until a wooden skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in pan 1 hour, then invert onto a rack and cool completely, about 1 hour more.
5. Beat cream with confectioners sugar and vanilla extract using whisk attachment of mixer until it just holds stiff peaks. Serve cake with whipped vanilla cream.

= = =

1/2 c butter

3/4 c sugar

2 eggs

Insides of 1 vanilla bean

1/2 tbsp ish lemon juice

1/2 c milk 

1 1/2 c flour

1 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking sofa

1/4 tsp salt

6 inch pan; 350 - 45 ish minutes 

Oreo ice cream cake

http://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/brownie-oreo-ice-cream-bars/

1 package brownie mix + ingredients called for
24 oreos + 3 for topping
1 container (12.8 ounces) hot fudge topping
1 container (48 ounces) cookies and cream ice cream
1 container (8 ounces) whipped topping, completely thawed

Prepare the brownies according to package directions. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with nonstick spray and bake the brownies according to package directions.
Remove and allow the brownies to cool completely.
Top evenly with oreos.
Warm the hot fudge for 30 seconds and then pour and smooth the hot fudge evenly over the brownies.
Place in the freezer for 10 minutes and remove the ice cream to soften a bit at this time.
Scoop large amounts of ice cream over the hot fudge. Evenly scoop out the entire container of ice cream over the hot fudge layer.
Smooth the ice cream down using a metal spatula until it is even.
Spread the whipped topping evenly over the ice cream and, if desired, garnish with three crushed up oreos (no need to remove the filling).
Cover and return to the freezer to fully harden.
Allow to sit out for a few minutes before slicing.

Mini Mango Upside Down Cakes

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/05/coconut-mango-upside-down-cake-recipe.html

• 10 tablespoons (5 ounces) unsalted butter, divided, melted
• 2/3 cup (4 2/3 ounces) packed light brown sugar
• 2 large mangoes, peeled, sliced
• 1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups (6 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut, chopped
•  1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Pour 4 tablespoons melted butter into 9-inch cake pan and swirl to coat bottom. Evenly sprinkle brown sugar into bottom of pan. Arrange mango slices in one even layer over sugar.
• 2. In large bowl, whisk remaining 6 tablespoons melted butter with sugar, salt, eggs, coconut milk, and vanilla. In small bowl, whisk flour, coconut, and baking powder until combined. Whisk into egg mixture until just combined. Spread into pan over fruit and smooth the top.
• 3. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cake cool in pan 45 minutes. Run knife along inside edge of pan to loosen, then invert onto serving plate or cooling rack to finish cooling.
• -subbed coconut oil for butter in pans, used muffin pans, added rum

Cake balls

Chocolate cake
Chocolate buttercream
White fancy chocolate
Butter

Smush, roll, chill, dip

Chocolate Buttercream

http://www.marthastewart.com/343890/chocolate-buttercream

Ingredients

• 10 large egg whites
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 32 ounces (8 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 24 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted

Directions

1. Whisk whites and sugar in a heatproof mixer bowl until combined. Set bowl over a large saucepan of simmering water, whisking until sugar dissolves and mixture registers 160 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes.
2. Transfer bowl to mixer, and whisk on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form and mixture is cool, about 10 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until incorporated before adding more. Reduce speed to low, and whisk in chocolate. Raise speed to medium-high, and whisk until well combined. (Buttercream can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month. Bring to room temperature before using; beat on low speed until smooth.)

Devil's food cake

http://www.marthastewart.com/330175/devils-food-cake-batter

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water
• 3 3/4 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 15 ounces (3 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 3/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 5 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups whole milk

Directions

1. Mix cocoa powder and boiling water in a bowl until smooth. Let cool.
2. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping bowl as needed.
3. Pour milk into cocoa mixture in a slow, steady stream, whisking until smooth. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with cocoa-milk mixture, starting and ending with flour mixture. Use immediately.

cream cheese icing

http://onceuponaplaterecipes.blogspot.com/2009/12/bite-size-vanilla-cupcakes-with-cream.html

Chocolate Cake

3/4 c butter
2 c sugar
3 eggs
1 c all purpose flour
1 c cake & pastry
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c cocoa
1 tbsp espresso powder
1/2 c whipping cream + 1 c water = 1 1/2 c
1 tsp vanilla

350
cupcakes - 12 minutes
cakes - 15 + 3/5/8 minutes (size dependent)

Classic vanilla cupcakes (little whimsical)

1 3/4 c cake flour
3/4 tsp salt
1 c sugar

1/4 c whipping cream + hot water = 130 ml
2 eggs
1 stick butter
1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

15 cupcakes - small domes
15 minutes


Batch 2

2 c all purpose
1 1/2 c cake flour
1 tsp salt
2 c sugar

1 c butter
4 eggs
1 c warm milk
1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp baking powder

350 - 15 minutes

Pound cake cupcakes

1 stick butter
1/2 pkg light cream cheese
3/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch salt

12 cupcakes - nice domes

12 minutes

VERY rich - a little heavy

Buttercream

1-1/2 sticks butter, room temperature
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Beat into oblivion. Didn't like the texture/feel, so I added some shortening and more sugar. Later, added some meringue powder. Very little difference - tougher though


Batch #2
1 stick butter
1/4 c crisco
1/8 c whipping cream + 1/8 c water
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tbsp meringue powder
3 cups powdered sugar
---> WAY too runny - wah! (made after cupcakes - kitchen was too hot, I think)

Batch #3 23 degrees in kitchen (feels cooler)
1/2 c butter
1/4 c crisco
2 1/2 c icing sugar
1/4 c milk
1 tsp ish vanilla
some meringue powder
---> much better - wondering if i measured the butter wrong last time

Batch #4
1 c butter
2 tbsp crisco
4 1/2 c icing sugar
1/2 c milk
1 tbsp meringue powder
1 tsp ish vanilla
---> perfect

Chocolate cupcake

3/4 c butter
2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp egg white
1 c all-purpose flour
1 c cake & pastry flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
skimpy 1/2 c cocoa
1 c 2% milk
1/2 c water
2 tsp vanilla

- cooked at 350 for about 18 minutes


http://cupcakeblog.com/?p=65

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cupcakes
24 regular cupcakes / 350 degree oven

3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cocoa powdered
2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
1-1/2 cups milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating 30 seconds after each addition.
3. Measure the flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and espresso powder into a medium sized bowl and whisk to combine.
4. Measure the milk and vanilla into a measuring thing.
5. Add about a third of the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar and beat to combine. Add about a half of the milk/vanilla and beat to combine. Continue adding, alternating between dry and wet and finishing with the dry.
6. Scoop batter into cupcake cups about 3/4’s full. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Royal Icing

4 cups powdered sugar/icing sugar (1 kg)
4 tbsp meringue powder or 4 egg whites
10 tbsp warm water (only if using meringue powder)
Snack-size plastic bags & twist ties

In a spotlessly clean, grease-free mixing bowl, mix the ingredients. Beat until the icing forms stiff peaks (approx. 6-8 minutes with heavy-duty mixer, 10-12 with hand-held mixer).

Transfer icing to individual bags (fill only about half full) and twist tie ends shut. Snip small hole in one corner of bags. When icing is not in use, store in airtight container in fridge. Icing can be kept this way for approx. 3 days.

Today's mod - about 1/2 cup cocoa; didn't seem to change effectiveness of cement

Apple "Pie"

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Swedish-Apple-Pie/Detail.aspx?washelp=1&rid=1160688#1160688

5 granny smiths, peeled and cored
1 tbsp lime juice
1 or 2 tsp cinnamon more needed
1 or 2 tsp brown sugar more needed

Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter (ish)
1 cup flour
1 egg

White quiche dish

350 - 55 minutes is too long (except if you like applesauce)

(Chocolate Chip) Pound Cake

Whimsical Bakehouse

8 oz (2 sticks) unsalted butter
8 oz cream cheese
1 ½ c sugar
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 large eggs
2 ¼ c cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 c semisweet chocolate chips

Grease and flour 2 9-inch round pans. Preheat oven to 350. All ingredients should be room temperature.

With a mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add cream cheese, mix, add sugar, mix a lot, add sour cream and vanilla, mix, add eggs (one at a time).

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and add to butter/egg mixture – beat on low speed until smooth.

Stir in chocolate chips by hand.

Pour into prepared pans and bake for 25 to 35 minutes. Cool on wire racks for 15 minutes before taking out of pans.

Eye-pple Cake

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Dutch-Apple-Cake/Detail.aspx

Loved this - especially the crunchy top