Celebration Red Velvet Cupcakes - This delectable, crimson, cupcake recipe is very elegant looking and looks stunning on any buffet table. They are topped with a decadent cream cheese icing, recipe included, that is phenomenal. This quick easy recipe is for all the red velvet cake lovers out there, enjoy!
Pineapple Carrot Cake - A rich, sweet, dessert cake that is, believe it or not, low fat, and, sugar free! The all natural sweetness of the fresh, healthy carrots and pineapple, is more than enough to satisfy any sweet tooth. Great for potlucks, as anyone can enjoy its pleasant taste.
Prep Time: 15-20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Servings: 8 Main Ingredient: Carrot, Pineapple Difficulty Level: 2
Ingredients to make Pineapple Carrot Cake
1/2 c Low Fat margarine,softened
3 Eggs** For low fat use egg substitute
1 c Thawed frozen unsweetened pineapple juice concentrate
2 ts Vanilla
2 1/2 c All-purpose flour
2 ts Baking powder
1 ts Baking soda
1 ts Ground nutmeg
1 ts Ground cinnamon
1/4 ts Salt
3 c Shredded carrots
ICING
8 oz Cream cheese, softened
1 cn (8 oz) crushed pineapple in unsweetened juice,drained
1 ts Vanilla
Directions to make Pineapple Carrot Cake
Step 1:Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat butter in large bowl until creamy. Blend in eggs, pineapple juice concentrate and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Gradually add to egg mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in carrots.
Step 2:Spread batter evenly into greased 12 x 8 inch baking dish. Bake 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack.
Step 3:Prepare Icing by combining all ingredients. Spread over cooled cake.
Amaretto-Amaretti Chocolate Cheesecake - While this tantalizing chocolate cheesecake may be a bit of a tongue-twister, that will be the only complaint from your tongue. This rich blend of flavors, baked into cheesecake, is almost too much, almost, but not quite!
Prep Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins Main Ingredient: Chocolate, Cheesecake Difficulty Level: 3
Ingredients to make Amaretto-Amaretti Chocolate Cheesecake
CRUST:
7 oz Amaretti (see note)
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 oz unsweetened chocolate,1 sqare
5 Tbsp sweet butter
FILLING
6 oz semisweet chocolate
7 oz Amaretti
4 oz almond paste
1/3 cup Amaretto liqueur
1 1/2 lb cream cheese
1/4 cup granulated sugar at room temperature
4 eggs (large or extra-large)
1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions to make Amaretto-Amaretti Chocolate Cheesecake
Step 1:(CRUST) Butter the sides only (not the bottom) of a 9-inch spring-form pan (2 1/2-3 inches deep). Grind the Amaretti very fine in a food processor or blender. Mix with sugar in a mixing bowl. Melt the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler, stirring occasionally. Add the melted mixture to the Amaretti crumbs and sugar and mix thoroughly. (Don’t wash the double boiler; you’ll be using it again in a minute.) Turn the mixture into the prepared pan. With your fingers, distribute it evenly over the bottom and press it down into a very firm, compact layer. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
Step 2:(FILLING) Adjust rack 1/3 up from the bottom of the oven and preheat to 350 deg. F. Partially melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler, then uncover and stir until completely melted. Remove the top of the double boiler and set aside to cool. Break the Amaretti coarsely into a bowl and set aside. Cut the almond paste into small pieces, and beat on low speed with an electric mixer, while gradually adding the Amaretto liqueur. Beat until thoroughly mixed, and set aside.
Step 3:the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until smooth again. Add the almond paste-Amaretto mixture and beat until thoroughly mixed. Add the melted chocolate and beat well again. Add the eggs one at a time, beating at low speed until they are incorporated after each addition. Add the heavy cream and beat until smooth. Add the coarsely broken Amaretti and stir gently only to mix. Turn into the prepared pan, pouring the mixture over the bottom crust. Rotate the pan gently to level the batter. (Don’t worry if the mixture comes almost to the top; it won’t run over.) Bake 45 minutes. It will seem soft and not done, but don’t bake any more; it will become firm when chilled.
Step 4:NOTES Amaretti are Italian almond-flavored wafer cookies. They are usually sold in metal tins with the wafers wrapped in packages of two inside the tin. You can also buy Amarettini, which are the same flavor but much smaller and not individually wrapped. Since you’re going to grind some of the wafers and break the others into chunks, it doesn’t matter which size you start with.
