Category Archives: desserts

NYC-style chocolate chips cookies

by lor3nzo

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (227 gr) cold butter cut into 1/4″ (7 mm) slices.
  • 1.5 cups (300 gr) sugar.
  • 2 eggs.
  • 3 cups (420 gr) flour.
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda.
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt.
  • 1 cup (135 gr) chocolate chips >=72% cacao, semi-sweet.
  • 2 cups (220 gr) walnut pieces or macadamia nut pieces.

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 410 F (210 C).
  • Mix the butter and sugar for about 3-5 minutes till creamy.
  • Add the eggs, and mix thoroughly.
  • Fold in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix thoroughly.
  • Fold in the chocolate chips and the nuts.
  • Divide the dough into 12 pieces, and shape the pieces into irregular round cookies about 1″ thick, do not compress the dough but leave it formed but relatively loose.
  • Put the dough in the refrigerator for about 10-20 minutes or overnight.
  • Bake them for 9-11 minutes, and let them rest for 9-11 minutes.
  • Enjoy them warm!

GINGER AND CHOCOLATE CANTUCCINI

by carlina

Ingredients:

500g flour
400g sugar
100g butter
6 eggs (6 egg yolks and 3 egg whites)
lemon zest
1tbs baking powder
125g candied ginger
125g chocolate chips
pinch of salt

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400F.

In a bowl beat the eggs with the sugar and a pinch of salt, trying to get a frothy mixture.

Add the butter, flour, lemon zest and baking powder.

Add the ginger and chocolate chips to the mixture.

Divide the dough into three parts and form loaves of about 3 cm thick, brush them with the egg whites and bake for 20 minutes.

Take the loaves out of the oven and cut them into 1 cm slices. Cook the biscuits for ten more minutes. Enjoy!

RUSTIC DUNKING CAKE (CIAMBELLA)

by carlina

Ingredients:

Unsalted butter for greasing baking sheet
All purpose flour for dusting baking sheet and work surface
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups corn flour or very finely ground cornmeal
2/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsps cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp anise seed, or to taste
5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
3 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sweet white wine
2 eggs

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Grease baking sheet with softened butter and dust with flour, shaking off the excess. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, corn flour, sugar, cream of tartar, baking soda, and aniseed. Add the melted butter, olive oil, milk and wine. Stir to mix well.

In a small bowl, beat the eggs lightly, then set aside 1 teaspoon for glazing. Add the remaining egg to the flour mixture and stir ingredients together thoroughly. Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until the dough holds together in a compact mound, about 5 minutes.

Plunge both thumbs into the center of the mound and pull the dough into a thick ring about 8 inches in diameter. Center the doough ring on the prepared baking sheet and brush the top and sides with the reserved beaten egg.

Bake until golden brown and a wooden skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. (The flavor of the cake improves on the second or third day after baking. Tightly wrapped and refrigerated, it keeps for a week.) Cut into slices to serve.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

CARIBBEAN CRUISE RUM CAKE

by carlina

caribbean-cruise-rum-cake.jpg

Ingredients:

2 sticks unsalted butter (250 grams), plus additional for pan
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 large eggs at room temperature
2 tsp. rum (Bacardi Gold rum preferred)
1 cup cake flour plus additional for pan
Use an 8 cup fluted bunt pan

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 300° F (175° C)

Cream soft butter with sugar on medium speed of a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low, add 2 eggs (1 at a time) scraping the bowl after the eggs and add a little four to the mix. Add vanilla and rum to the mix. Add remaining 2 eggs, mix one more minute, and then add the rest of the flour until combined.

Lightly coat the bunt pan with butter, making sure to coat entire surface. Sprinkle the additional flour over the cake pan turning and tapping to ensure the pan is coated with the flour. Remove excess. Put the batter in to the pan. Put into the over for 45 minutes. The cake should be golden brown. Use a tooth pick to check for doneness. Insert tooth pick into the cake, the tooth pick should come out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before soaking.

While the cake is baking, prepare the soaking syrup.

1/2 cup rum (Bacardi Gold rum preferred)
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup sugar

Heat water and sugar in sauce pan over low heat, until light simmer.

Remove from heat. Add rum and stir until combined. Once cake has rested for 2-3 minutes from oven, gently insert thin bladed pairing knife into the cake (three to four places only). Slowly pour 1/2 of the liquid, the cake will absorb the liquid slowly, if it doesn’t soak up the liquid straight away, wait a few minutes, then add the rest. Cool the cake completely in the pan before turning it out onto a plate. The cake is delicate and should not be moved after unmolding.

Must share with friends only.

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Photography by Stuart Spivak

OLIVE OIL and ROSEMARY CAKE

by carlina

olive-oil-cake.jpg

Ingredients:

1 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon fine salt
3 large eggs at room temperature
1-1/4 cups whole milk
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup Cointreau or other orange liqueur
1-1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil, plus more for oiling pans
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 teaspoons anise seed
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup powdered sugar, for garnish
2 fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Oil a 10-inch round cake pan.

In a nonreactive saucepan, reduce the orange juice over medium heat to 1/4 cup. Add salt, stir, and let cool.

Lightly beat eggs on high for 1 minute until frothy. Add milk, sugar, Cointreau, olive oil, reduced orange juice, lemon zest, anise seed, and chopped rosemary. Mix for 1 minute until well-blended. Mix in the flour, baking soda, and baking powder until smooth.

Pour the mixture into the oiled cake pan. Bake for 1 hour.

Place on a rack to cool. Run a knife around the edges and flip over on a plate.

While the cake is still warm, use a sifter, fine sieve, or mesh colander to sprinkle powdered sugar lightly and evenly on the cake.

Garnish the cake with a rosemary sprig. Cut into wedges and serve.

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Photography by lor3nzo

GINGER-LEMON SEMOLINA CAKE

by carlina

lemon-ginger-cake.jpg

Ingredients:

10 ounces (20 tablespoons) butter
6 tablespoons minced ginger
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
2 1/2 cups cake flour
2 ounces coarsely ground semolina
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Juice and zest of 2 lemons
1 cup buttermilk
3 extra large eggs
1/2-3/4 cup Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
butter for greasing cake pan
flour for dusting cake pan
fresh fruit for serving
lemon zest, for garnish, if desired

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees convection (350 standard) and prepare a 10-inch cake pan by greasing, lining with a round of parchment, greasing and flouring.

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, cream together butter, ginger and sugar. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, sift together salt, powdered ginger, flour, semolina and baking soda. In a second large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together lemon zest and juice and buttermilk.

When butter and sugar are thoroughly combined, add eggs one at a time, allowing each to be incorporated fully before adding the next, scraping continually. Now, begin adding your wet and dry ingredients; alternate adding flour and liquid, allowing each to be incorporated before adding more, constantly scraping.

Spoon batter into a 10-inch cake pan, until it reaches 1/2 to 3/4-inch from the top and bake* in middle of oven until center springs back when touched with fingertip. Remove from oven and, while still in pan, pour Canton Ginger liqueur over hot cake. Let cool on a rack and then remove from pan and serve in slices, garnished with extra lemon zest, if desired.

Timing/Temperature:

Convection: 325 degrees, 45 minutes
Standard: 350 degrees 1 hr. 15 min

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Photography by avlxyz

LEMON-POPPY SEED SCONES

by carlina

lemon-poppy-seed-scone1.jpg

Ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup (or more) whole milk

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Position rack in top third of oven.

Mix flour, 1 cup sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, lemon peel, and salt in processor. Add butter and cut in, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Whisk egg and lemon juice in medium bowl to blend. Add to flour mixture. Using on/off turns, process until moist clumps form. Add 1/3 cup milk. Using on/off turns, process just until dough comes together, adding more milk if dough seems dry.

Using floured hands, gather dough into ball. Flatten into 8-inch round. Cut round into 8 wedges. Transfer scones to large baking sheet; brush with milk. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.

Bake until scones are golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

Makes 8 scones.

from Bon Appétit | March 2002

GIANDUIA BROWNIES

by carlina

GIANDUIA BROWNIES

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups hazelnuts (about 6 1/4 ounces)
4 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
3 ounces fine-quality milk chocolate
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
1/4 cup Nutella
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350° F. and butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan, knocking out excess flour.
Toast and skin hazelnuts (procedure this page). In a food processor pulse hazelnuts until coarsely ground (bits should be about 1/8 inch).
Chop chocolates into small pieces and in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolates with butter and Nutella, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat.
While chocolates are melting, into a bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and a pinch salt. Whisk sugar into chocolate mixture until combined well. Add eggs, whisking until mixture is glossy and smooth. Stir in flour mixture and hazelnuts until just combined.
Pour batter into baking pan and bake in middle of oven 35 to 40 minutes, or until a tester comes out with moist crumbs adhering to it. Cool brownies completely in pan on a rack and cut into 16 squares. Brownies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container at cool room temperature, 5 days.
Makes 16 brownies.
From Gourmet Magazine

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Photography by Stuart Spivack

CANTUCCINI

by carlina

cantuccini1.jpg

Ingredients:

1/2 kg ( 1 pound) 00 or pastry flour
100 gr (3 ounces) shelled whole hazelnuts
150 gr (3 ounces) sugar
80 ml (1/3 cup) milk
100 ml (1/2 cup) olive oil
2 eggs
grated rind of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon aniseed
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
16 gr (1 tablespoon) baking powder

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F). Mix eggs and sugar until well amalgamated and then add all other ingredients. Add more milk if necessary to obtain a soft dough.

Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured working surface and divide in two pieces. Using the palms of your hands roll each piece into a rope that must be about 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter.

Place the two cantuccini ropes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure that ropes are far enough apart to give them room to rise as they bake.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 min or until golden. Remove for the oven and cut each biscuit diagonally into 3/4 inch wide strips and return them to the oven, cut side up, until completely cooked and dry, about 20 min.

If you cut the cantuccini when still warm they will not crumble. Let them cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Makes 25 cantuccini.

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Photography by Kochtopf

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

by carlina

chocolate-chip-cookies.jpg

Ingredients:

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content
Sea salt

Preparation:

Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.

Makes 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.

Adapted from Jacques Torres

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Photography by Stuart Spivack