Chocolate Waffles
Chocolate Waffles
These are fun because they can be for breakfast, brunch or even dessert. I like to make a batch and keep them in the freezer. That way I can pop them in the toaster when I need dessert in a pinch. Topped with a scoop of ice cream and fresh strawberries they make a great dessert for a last minute dinner with friends.
Chocolate Waffles
2 eggs, room temperature
1/2 stick butter, melted and cooled
1 t. vanilla
1 c. buttermilk
1 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 each baking powder and baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. nutmeg
Beat first three ingredients until light and foamy, about 2 minutes. Stir in milk. Beat in dry ingredients just until blended. Bake until waffles are cooked through. Makes 4 cups batter. Serve with whipped butter or sour cream and fresh fruit. I like them just dusted with powdered sugar, too.
Chocolate Buttermilk Doughnuts
Chocolate Buttermilk Doughnuts
These are a cake type doughnut- using baking powder as leavening instead of yeast. These doughnuts have a soft texture inside with a slight crispiness to the outside. We made them yesterday using a doughnut cutter so we got both rings and doughnut holes. I am happy just serving them with a dusting of powdered sugar. With the help of some creative kids we ended up with chocolate doughnuts glazed, sugared and decorated with sprinkles. So pretty and so tasty. Here is the recipe.
Chocolate Buttermilk Doughnuts
3 1/4 cups flour
1/3 c. cocoa
1 T. baking powder
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
2 beaten eggs
1 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
2/3 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. butter, melted
oil for deep frying- I used coconut oil
assorted topping such as cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, powdered sugar glaze, sprinkles, chocolate glaze
Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Beat together eggs, sugar and vanilla. Combine the buttermilk with the melted butter. Add half the flour mixture to the egg mixture and stir until just blended. Beat in half of the buttermilk mixture. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Cover and chill dough for at least a couple of hours before using. When ready to make doughnuts heat oil in a pan until it reaches about 375 degrees. While oil is heating, on floured surface, roll dough 1/2 -inch thick and cut out with a doughnut cutter. Fry doughnuts about 1 minute per side. Drain on paper towels. If rolling in sugar do so while they are still warm. They can be frosted and decorated with sprinkles when warm or at room temperature. Makes 20-25 doughnuts.
Decorating the doughnuts
Dipped in glaze and rolled in sprinkles
Flourless Chocolate Mousse Cake
Flourless Chocolate Mousse Cake
If you are still looking for a special dessert for Valentine’s Day this cake might just be what you are looking for. It is easy to make and impressive to serve. I decorated it with powdered sugar and chocolate whipped cream.
Flourless Chocolate Mousse Cake
½ c. each sugar and water
1 stick butter
12 oz. semi sweet chocolate
6 eggs
¼ dark rum or other liqueur
Butter an eight inch cake pan and line with parchment. In saucepan heat together water and sugar until they boil. Stir in butter and bring to boil. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate until melted. Beat in eggs until smooth and stir in rum. Pour batter into prepared pan and place pan in a roasting pan. Pour boiling water into roaster to come up sides of pan 1 inch. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 45 minutes. Cool, invert onto plate.
Serve cake topped with whipped cream and decorate with raspberries, other fresh fruit or even toasted nuts. Dense and rich this cake serves 8-10. Leftovers can be frozen.
Fresh out of the oven
Chocolate Whipped Cream
1/2 c. whipping cream
1/4 c. powdered sugar
2 T. cocoa
Combine powdered sugar and cocoa and set aside. Whip cream until soft peaks form and then beat in the powdered sugar mixture. Pipe onto desserts.
Chocolate Whipped Cream
Coconut Snowballs
Coconut Snowballs
We made these in a chocolate cooking class last night. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching I thought I’d share the recipe with you. While the recipe calls for baking a cake and cutting it into squares I prefer to bake cupcakes. That way they can be called snowballs. All too appropriate this time of year. Whether you bake a cake and cut it into squares or make the cupcakes they do need to be frozen before dipping in the chocolate sauce.
Coconut Cake Squares aka Snowballs
1 white cake, prepared and frozen solid
1 c. cocoa
1 1/4 c. sugar
2 c. water
1 t. vanilla
½ c. desiccated coconut (available at cake supply stores and some health food stores)
Cut frozen cake into small squares, or cake can be baked in regular or mini cupcake tins. Keep cake frozen until ready to use. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients, except coconut in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil then simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.
Using toothpicks or fondue forks, dip cake in sauce let drain a few seconds, then roll in the coconut. Can be used right away or frozen again for later use.
