Tag Archives: sweet treats

Double Chocolate Rice Krispies Cookies

This is a delicious cookie – crispy on the outside, softer on the inside with a double dose of chocolate using good quality cocoa powder and chocolate chips and then two surprise ingredients. The first twist is using rice krispies which gives the cookie a light crunchy texture and then I top the cookie with coarse sea salt. I love to use Maldon sea salt. It gives a lovely subtle salty balance to the double chocolate sweetness. This sweet and salty cookie is definitely a wow!

From by the bay, wishing you sweet and salty chocolate food memories!

Maryann

blog choco krisp cookie

Double Chocolate Rice Krispies Cookies

Makes 24 to 30 cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup rice krispies

coarse sea salt, for topping (optional)

Directions

Place racks in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat for 1 minute more.

In a medium bowl shiftt together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients all at once to the butter and egg mixture. Beat on low speed until just combined.

Stop the mixer and stir in the chocolate chips and rice krispies.

Roll dough by the heaping tablespoonful. Place on cookie sheet, leaving about 2-inches between each dough ball.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until cookies are just done. the cookie will set while cooling.   Allow to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool before storing. Eat within the week.

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Donut Muffins

It’s fall and it’s seems like there is pumpkin spice all around us……..there is a reason, pumpkin spice smells and tastes delicious, but use it where it’s makes a difference. There is no finer place than sugar donut muffins! These light as air muffins are a perfect fall morning breakfast. I’ve updated the recipes for the season using my own pumpkin spice blend. This sugared blend is also perfect for your morning coffee. Enjoy!

From my the bay wishing you sweet pumpkin spice food memories!

Maryann

blog donut muffin

 

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Donut Muffins
Adapted recipe from Downtown Bakery and Creamery in Healdsburg, California
12 standard size muffins
Ingredients for batter
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
3/4 cup fine granulated sugar
2 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup buttermilk
Ingredients for Topping
6 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup sugar
4 teaspoons pumpkin spice mix ( see my pumpkin spice mix recipe below)
Preheat oven to 350 Degree F. Lightly grease a standard muffin tin. Sift together in a bowl the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Set aside. Using an electric mixer cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add one egg at a time, beating to combine. Using a wooden spoon to mix, alternate adding the flour mixture with the milk and buttermilk. Make sure everything is combined, try not to over mix. Spoon the batter evenly, into each muffin tin, filling the cup almost to the top. Bake muffins in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until a tester comes out clean. Let cool slightly, and remove muffins from the tin. In a bowl mix the sugar and pumpkin spice mix together. Use a pastry brush to brush each muffin allover with the melted butter and then roll into the pumpkin spice sugar mixture. Serve warm or cooled at room temperature.

blog pumpkin spice muffin

Pumpkin Spice Mix

Ingredients

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Directions

Mix spices together .

Pumpkin Cider Bread

Here is another great treat made not only with pumpkin but also apple cider for the perfect autumn food pairing. This easy pumpkin bread taste perfect just as it is moist and spicy or kick the taste up another notch by slathering some cider cream cheese frosting on top. It’s wickedly good!

From by the bay wishing you cider and pumpkin food memories!

Maryann

blog cider pumpkin cake

Pumpkin Cider Bread 

Makes 1 Loaf or 4 mini loaves

Adapted from Gourmet October 1991

Ingredients

  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin purée
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup raisins

Directions

In a saucepan boil the cider until it is reduced to about 1/4 cup, add raisins and let it cool. In a bowl whisk together well the pumpkin purée, the eggs, the oil, the brown sugar, and the reduced cider. Into the bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and cloves and stir the batter until it is just combined. Transfer the batter to a well-buttered 8 1/2-by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan and bake the bread in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 1 hour, or until a tester comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan.

blog cider pumpkin cake with icing

Cider Cream Cheese Icing

For the icing
1/2 cup apple cider
6 ounces cream cheese, cut into bits and softened
1/2 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

Make the icing:
In a saucepan boil the cider until it is reduced to about 1/4 cup and let it cool. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together the cream cheese, the confectioners’ sugar, the reduced cider, and a pinch of salt until the icing is smooth.

Sweet Treats – Best Baking with Pumpkin Recipes

With Halloween less than a week away, I thought this would be a good time to share three of my favorite recipes for making sweet treats with pumpkin! I think you will find it hard to pick a favorite!

From by the bay wishing you sweet pumpkin food memories!

Maryann

blog pumpkin coffee cake

Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Streusel
Serves 6-8
Ingredients

Streusel Topping

3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

Filling
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Cake

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs
1/2 cup pumpkin puree ( canned)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8” square baking pan. ( I find an 8″ square glass baking dish works best). Make the topping for cake by combining all dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir in melted butter and make large chunky crumbs, between 1/4″ to 1/2″ inch depending on preference. Place crumbs onto a parchment lined baking sheet and put into the refrigerator to cool for about 15 minutes. To make filling combine the dark brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.To make cake batter sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt in a bowl. Use an electric mixer to cream butter and sugars together until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Mix in the flour alternately with the sour cream and pumpkin puree and mix well. Once combined pour half the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread out with a spatula. Sprinkle the filling evenly atop the batter. Spread the remaining batter on top of the filling. Use a table knife to gently swirl the filling into the batter. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the top of the batter. Place in the oven to bake until golden brown and a cake tester comes out clean, when inserted into the center of the cake. This is approximately 50 to 55 minutes. Remove the cake from oven and let cool on cake stand about 20 minutes before removing from pan to serve.

blog pumpkin muf

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients

For Filling
4 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 teaspoons vanilla
For Muffins
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
roasted and salted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) to garnish top of muffins
Directions
In a small bowl mix the cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar and vanilla together. Place on a piece of plastic wrap and shape into a log. Place in the freezer for at least one hour. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Use a 12 cup muffin tray and line each cup with a paper baking cup, preferably unbleached. In a medium size bowl add the ingredients for the batter except the pumpkin seeds. Mix well. Fill each cup about 3/4 full. Remove the cream cheese from the freezer and cut into 12 rounds or pieces about 2 teaspoons each. Place the cream cheese into the batter, it should be level with the batter and showing the cream cheese in the center. Top each muffin with 5 ot 6 pumpkin seeds. Place in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until a tester
comes our clean from the batter part of the muffin, don’t use the tester in the cream cheese. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before removing from the muffin tray. Serve warm, cold or at room temperature.
blog pumpkin muffins

Pumpkin Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

Muffin batter

1 ¾ cup flour

¾ cup fine granulated sugar

½ cup dark brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground allspice

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

2/3 cup sour cream

½ cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon honey

2 eggs

½ cup pumpkin puree

Topping

1 tablespoon fine granulated sugar

½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions
In a small bowl mix topping by combining sugar and cinnamon and set aside. In another bowl mix together dry ingredient s of sugar, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice and ginger. Using another bowl combine sour cream, oil, honey, eggs and pumpkin puree. Whisk together. Add ingredients to the dry ingredients in the other bowl. Mix until incorporated, batter will be lumpy don’t over mix. Take a lined 12 muffin tin and fill each muffin tin to 2/3 with batter. Top the batter with cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake in a preheated 400 degrees F oven for 20-22 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on rack.