On to new Cakes by Dar

This has been a terrific place to blog my cakesbydar, but I can no longer post pictures to this blog so I have started a new Cakes by Dar blog.

This blog will still be available, but check out the new one when you get a chance.
Kindest regards,
Darlene

It's Birthday Time Again ~ Ann's Birthday Cake ~ 11/11/12

Today is Ann's Birthday. Each year I try to do a special cake for her. 

This year's cake is the ~ Blueberry Swan Lake Cake from the Cake Bible. 

I had to do the meringue swans more than once due to breakage.

The cake is the the White Chocolate Whisper Cake and the Icing is the Neoclassic Buttercream.

 The Topping is Wilkin and Son's Ltd. Tiptree  Black Currant Preserve. 

The Swan's are filled with Stabilized Whipping Cream.

 I hope that she has a great Birthday.

Darlene

Halloween Gingerbread Skeleton Cookies ~ Spooky Halloween

 Halloween's special treat this year is the Gingerbread Skeleton Cookies!

Roll out the cookie dough and use the cutter to form the gingerbread man, then press the opposite side of the cutter onto the cookie to form your indentation. Be sure to sprinkle the cut out dough with some turbinado sugar to keep the press side of the cookie cutter from sticking to the dough.  Bake and let cool.  Make your Royal Icing and pipe it into the indentations. Let the Royal Icing dry and then enjoy!

Cookie cutter was purchased from Amazon.

MAKING CANDY CLAY

CANDY CLAY RECIPE 
1 package (14 Oz. Candy Melts) or a similar product. Any color.
1/4 Cup of Light Corn Syrup
Melt chocolate by package directions. Stir and blend in the corn syrup, it will incorporate quickly.
Pour onto wax paper and let it cool and dry to room temperature for at least one day.
Wrap well in an air tight container and store at room temperature.
Can be kept up to 3 weeks.

Sherbet Watermelon with Chocolate Seeds

Lime Sherbet with Raspberry Sherbet and Chocolate Seeds all go together  to make this a tasty and a refreshing Watermelon Sherbet Mold. So good on a hot summers day, like today.

I purchased the mold at an antiques store.
This was so much fun to make and even better to eat.
Thanks for reading, Darlene

SUMMER'S HARVEST ~ ZUCCHINI BREAD

                                            Wonderful Zucchini Bread ~ Summer's Harvest
Bake at 350 for 40-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out cleanly:           Makes 2 loaves
3  Cups ~  All Purpose Flour
2  tsp ~ Baking Soda

1 tsp ~ Salt or less

1/2 tsp ~ Baking Powder

1 and 1/2 tsp ~ Cinnamon

3  Eggs
2 Cups ~ Sugar
1 Cup ~  Corn or Vegetable Oil
2 tsp ~ Vanilla
2  Cups ~ grated Zucchini, squeeze excess water out with a kitchen towel
1  Can  ~ crushed Pineapple, drained = 8 oz.
4 oz  ~  Raisins
1 Cup ~ chopped Walnuts

Mix gently all of the ingredients and pour evenly into 2 greased and floured loaf pans.
This makes  two very moist loaves that usually taste better the next day.
Thanks for reading,
Darlene


                                                              

My First Angel Food Cake

My first angel food cake and the recipe that I used was the,
America's Test Kitchen 7 Rules for Making Angel Food Cake Recipe. 

The cake calls for superfine sugar and cake flour that is combined in the food processor, making it easier to incorporate into the whipped sugared eggs whites for a light, delicate crumb, that is snow white. The texture melts in your mouth.
I used the Chicago Metallic Angel Food pan design to let air circulate under the cake while cooling, hence the three legged pan.
No inverted cake teetering on the brink of disaster over a bottle.
I followed the 7 rules and was rewarded with a lovely Angel Food Cake that was superb.
This recipe was shown on America's Test Kitchen.  Thanks for looking, Darlene

Rose's Heavenly Cakes ~ Devil's Food Cake with Midnight Ganache

Devils Food Cake with Midnight Ganache from Rose's Heavenly Cakes Cookbook

                                                                     Devils food cake

                                                                 Brandied Dried Cherries

Rose's Heavenly Cakes Cookbook ~ Devils Food Cake with Midnight Ganache

Happy Father's Day

This is one luscious dessert for a special occasion.

Tea Time ~ Strawberry ~ Ginger Roulade

This is the recipe from Tea Time Magazine Vol.9 - Issue 2
March/April 2012      p.34
Strawberry ~ Candied Ginger  Roulade

My first attempt at a roulade and it was fun. I highly recommend this recipe, however,
I did add more candied ginger by 2 teaspoonfuls and instead of mixing the candied ginger into the batter, (almost forgot to add them).
I sprinkled them over the batter in the pans before baking.
It makes two roulades so I sent one next door. Yummy!
Ours is almost gone.  I'll wager that theirs is too.
Darlene

2012 ~ Kentucky Derby ~ Party

                                                      Sugar Cookies with Fondant Silks

                                               Rose's Whipped Cream Cake with Fresh Strawberries

                                                         Brownies with Nuts and Espresso

Run for the Roses ~ Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake made in Nordic Ware's Sweet Heart Cake Pans

         Race Horse Sugar Cookies in Rolled Fondant ~ Rose's Whipped Cream Cake with Strawberries ~
         Brownies ~ Red Velvet Rose Sweet Heart cakes. Find this recipe in my last blog. 
         This years party goodies for the Neighbor's Kentucky Derby Party.

Kentucky Derby ~ Duncan Hines Red Velvet ~ Nordic Ware Sweet Heart Roses

Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses ~
Preheat Oven to 325 and spray the cake pans heavily with non stick spray.

In a mixing bowl add the red velvet cake mix and the instant chocolate pudding mix, stir together.
Add  3 extra large eggs, 1/4 cup of Hershey's syrup, 1 cup of water, 1/3 cup of corn oil.
Mix slowly to incorporate, then stir on medium for 2 minutes.
Take a two inch ice cream scoop, fill to level, release into one rose cavity, repeat. This batter will make up two Nordic Ware Sweet Heart Cake pans.
Place one pan on the middle rack and the other pan on the rack above, until a tooth pick comes out cleanly. Bake for 19-20 minutes. Do Not over bake.
Let sit for 5 minutes and then invert onto racks until cooled.
Make sure to clean the pans in hot soapy water until all residue is gone, then rinse well and then dry. This will insure that your roses won't stick the next time that you use the pans.
Any questions?
Try these, they are easy and delicious. Great for the Kentucky Derby or anytime!
Darlene

Sugar Cookies and Mother's Day Tea Party

SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE ~  No spread

Items that you will need for a fun Mother's Day Tea Party
Sugar Cookie Recipe:
Preheat Oven to 350
Cream 1/3 Cup of soft unsalted butter with 1/2 Cup of Sugar until light and fluffy.
Add 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste and mix.
Add 1 room temperature extra large egg, mix well.
Add to mixture in thirds, 1 and 1/2 Cups sifted all purpose flour with 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder with a pinch of salt.
Mix gently ~ dough will be sticky, not firm.
Wrap the dough ball into cling and refrigerate for 1/2 hour.
You can use either flour or powdered sugar to flour your board. Don't be stingy, it takes a lot.
 I tried both and I much preferred the powdered sugar because the dough itself is not very sweet. Roll dough out to 1/4 of an inch.
Cut out your cookies and place on a parchment papered cookie sheet.
Bake 10 to 11 minutes depending on the size of the cookie cutter. Do not over bake ~ as the cookie should not have any brown edges. Let cool on parchment paper.
Icing:
If you choose to ice the cookies use 2 and 1/4 Cups of Powdered Sugar and 2 T. of Hot Water. Mix more or less powdered sugar until you get desired consistency.
The flower cookie cutter that we used had an opening so that the cookie sat inside of the tea cups.
Tips:
Use your best tablecloth and napkins.
That goes for the silverware and crystal glassware.
Have Fun!

Apricot Scones using Dassant Vanilla Scone Mix

I used dried apricots and chopped them into diced pieces, about 1 cup,  use more or less to your taste. Follow the scone mix instructions on the package. 

Please use top ingredients like the Horizon Heavy Whipping Cream and Land of Lakes unsalted butter.

 Place some extra sugar on the counter then flatting the scone mix to about 3/4 inch height.

Cut out your scones and place on a cookie sheet, lightly sprinkle left over sugar over the tops, then bake.

You can use all kinds of  dried fruits and cherries are one of my favorites.

These are terrific scones. I serve them at all of my teas. Enjoy!

Chocolate Valentine's Day Heart ~ Redux 2012

Nordic Ware Decorative Heart Cake ~

I used the recipe from the label. The picture has been lightened so that you can see the design on the cake.  It was soaked with a warm Coffee Liqueur Syrup after removing from the pan to cool. This cake tastes like a Chocolate Valentine's Cake should taste, heavenly! This tall, one layer, 10 inch cake feeds 10 to 12 people.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Tea with Bea

Vanilla Italian Butter Cream  ~  Tea with Bea
My Niece sent me the book ~ Tea with Bea ~ for Christmas.
I finally got around to trying the Italian Butter Cream. Which was so airy everyone said that it was the best vanilla butter cream that they ever had eaten. The cupcakes were vanilla flavored too, a double hit of vanilla bean paste.
I can't wait to try more of these fine recipes.
You will need a scale for weighing grams, new baking cookbooks are using grams, ounces, or ml's for more accurate way to bake.
Thanks for reading,
Darlene

Gingerbread Cookies with Chopped Candied Ginger

Gingerbread Cookies with Chopped Candied Ginger ~ Betty Crocker Gingerbread Mix
These cookies are so easy to make. Make the Betty Crocker Gingerbread Mix according to the cookie directions. Roll round balls of dough in turbinado sugar and place on a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Flatten the dough and add small diced pieces of Candied Ginger to the tops of the cookies and press lightly to adhere to the cookie. Bake as recommended.  I have added candied ginger to the dough but the flavor gets lost.  Hope that you will give these a try.

Hershey's Chocolate Cherry Kisses with Chocolate Dipped Cherries ~ The Christmas Mice ~ 2011

The Christmas Hershey's Chocolate Cherry Mice  ~  2011
Tradition dictates that the Christmas Mice are done early in December. These photos show the steps to  making the mice. This year the eyes were done with white frosting and black gel, along with black gel on the nose.  They always evoke delight from the recipients.  Thanks for looking and Happy Holidays!

Rose's Heavenly Cakes ~ The Fruit Cake Wreath ~ 2011

Rose's Heavenly Cakes ~ Fruit Cake Wreath Holidays 2011
Well, it is that time again to bake your Fruit Cake in anticipation of the Holidays.
I made this today and will wrap it in rum drenched cheese cloth, plastic wrap and then foil, to bring out when the Fruit Cake mood strikes. Truly one of the best ones that I have eaten. I did make the ribbon with the candied pineapple again this year, my signature look for the Wreath Fruit Cake.
 Happy Holidays to all,
 Darlene

Libby Pumpkin Cake Mix ~ Pumpkin Patch for Thanksgiving

Make your own pumpkin patch with pumpkin molds and Libby Pumpkin cake mix. Or follow the recipe on the pumpkin cake molds. Decorate with colored buttercream to make up your tray of edible pumpkins.

Rose's Heavenly Cakes ~ Sicilian Pistachio Cake with Golden Neoclassic Buttercream

Rose's Heavenly Cakes ~ Sicilian Pistachio Cake ~ Ann's Birthday Cake ~ 11/11/11
My friend Ann celebrated her Birthday yesterday. This was the cake that I made for her. I doubled the recipe and used four seven inch cake pans, for the batter. Then I tripled the Golden Neoclassic Buttercream and had very little left after filling and decorating. The topping was made from cake crumbs, chopped pistachio nuts, and superfine sugar in the food processor.  This cake was dense from the amount of pistachio nuts used and weighed in at six pounds.  She was delighted.