I’ve been tinkering with the proportions in this Rosewater Buttercream recipe for years. I first made it as part of a lemon curd filled white cake for Easter. It was delicious but the buttercream was too sweet, a bit grainy and the rosewater flavor overwhelmed the delicate flavor of the cake. I had all but given up on making this recipe “blogworthy” but then I was helped by some divine intervention.
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These realistic rock cookies are so fun and surprisingly straightforward and forgiving to create! Once your cookies are baked and dipped in royal icing, you dilute food gel dye in vodka and just sweep, dot and stripe the cookies willy nilly. The surface of the icing is eaten away by the vodka, roughening the surface. These would be a great gift for the rockhounds in your life, or people you secretly think should eat rocks. Win-win!
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I recently posted a recipe for Scandinavian Heart Basket Cookies where I referenced my Swedish roots. I immediately received several gentle reprimands from Danes, who pointed out that those paper heart baskets are Danish, not Swedish. As much as I hate the spread of misinformation, I really do associate those baskets with my family’s Swedish Christmas traditions. To make up for how gauche I am, I’ve made some holiday shortbread bars with an unequivocally Swedish ingredient, lingonberries! Take that Denmark!
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These chocolate banana cupcakes are insanely delicious. Moist banana cake dipped in dark chocolate then topped with chocolate almond buttercream and a banana chip. After getting rave reviews for these Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes, I put my thinking cap on to see if I could come up with a new take on the chocolate-covered cupcake. This was a no-brainer. My family says that these are the best cupcakes I have ever made. They look so appealing and the two kinds of chocolate take it to the next level. It’s like a decadent version of the classic chocolate chip banana bread. Continue reading “Decadent Chocolate Banana Cupcakes”
I love my little weirdos. All of my three kids have special talents and hilarious quirks. My son has an insane amount of energy, charm, musical ability and dramatic flair. If the entire cast of a cruise ship musical production could be crammed into one person, that would be Simon on a slow day. My middle daughter, Ramona, is artistic, soulful and passionate. Her art teacher once told me, “She’s like a conduit, the ideas and inspiration just pour out of her.” I wish this were a kids’ art blog because she is truly gifted. Continue reading “Weezy’s Honey Cake”
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Last year I decided to forego the fancy brunches and forced outings and just spent some time working on a cake that pleased my palate. And my palette! I wanted something light and tart paired with something unexpected. Something that could be made and assembled quickly but still look and taste impressive. Continue reading “Lemon Blackberry Cake with Matcha Marshmallow Frosting”
Despite my own personal views, apparently cupcakes are not the solution to every problem. Sometimes you need to bake something for a brunch, for a potluck, or for a weekend treat and for some reason cupcakes just won’t work. Sigh. You don’t have to like it, but you do have to have a go-to, delicious, and simple recipe that will still get rave reviews. This is it. Plus, they have fruit in their name, so I’m thinking they’re probably very healthy. Continue reading “Blackberry Bramble Bars”
It’s handy to have a basic frosting for every occasion and this Crusting Cream Cheese Frosting is a decorator favorite. It holds it’s shape perfectly to show of ornate designs. It smooths easily for a finish as crisp as fondant and is sturdy enough to weather warmer temperatures. And the flavor! Yum! Continue reading “The Perfect Crusting Cream Cheese Frosting”
This week I’ll be posting three of my best frosting recipes, a basic frosting for every occasion. Today’s topic: Rich Chocolate Buttercream made with cocoa powder. Some recipes call for melted chocolate. But melting chocolate just adds more bowls to wash and more steps. This recipe is insanely delicious and is finished in minutes. Super chocolatey, super rich. The almond extract and hint of salt put it over the top. It is my most-requested frosting, hands down. Continue reading “Rich Chocolate Almond Buttercream”
This week I’ll be posting three of my best frosting recipes, a basic frosting for every occasion. Today’s topic: the Best Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream. Continue reading “Best Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream”
