Apple Spice Bundt - Day #9 of Food Librarian's I Like Big Bundts 3

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Apple Spice Bundt Cake- I Like Big Bundts 2011
Apple Spice Bundt
I Like Big Bundts - Day #9

An apple a day. Or at least an Apple Bundt a Day.

It's Day #9 of my I Like Big Bundts extravaganza - 30 days of bundts leading up to National Bundt Day! Thanks for following along. I love, love hearing that you are planning to make a bundt for National Bundt Day (November 15th). What are you planning on making? Remember, I'm doing a round-up and sending you a special something if you bake along with me.

I Like Big Bundts 3 Logo by JustJennDesigns

Apple Spice Bundt Cake- I Like Big Bundts 2011
As you know, I bring in my baked goods to the library and that has established a lot of goodwill! :) I'm very lucky to work with a great group of people.

The other day, I was writing my To Do list: Apples, buttermilk, Brita filter, Dog toy. 

Then, magically, my co-worker Ruth Ann came up to me with a 3-pound bag of apples from Oak Glen (near Los Angeles). Amazing!

I immediately went back to my list and wrote "George Clooney."

Sadly, he hasn't popped by the library yet. But the apples were put to good use.

Apple Spice Bundt Cake- I Like Big Bundts 2011
This is a Martha Stewart recipe. I've made it before and it is a great Bundt. Definitely something to keep in your recipe book. It is made with veg oil and no butter so the cake is dairy-free (dairy in the caramel sauce).

Apple Spice Bundt
A caramel sauce is poured over the top. I didn't let it go very long because last time I made this, I let it go too long and ended up with a crazy tough caramel that would have ripped out fillings. So, the sauce should be somewhere in-between. Martha's website also has a video of Dorothy Mae Brown making the cake on her show. She's a sweetie.

Apple Spice Bundt Cake- I Like Big Bundts 2011
I'm keeping "George Clooney" on my list...just in case...

Recap of I Like Big Bundts 3:
Day #1: Buttercake Bakery's Marble Bundt Cake
Day #2: Lemon Bliss Bundt
Day #3: Double-Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ganache Glaze
Day #4: Spice Bundt Cake with Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Glaze
Day #5: Gingery Pumpkin Breakfast Bundt
Day #6: Maida Heatter's Budapest Coffee Cake Bundt
Day #7: Dark Chocolate Bundt
Day #8: Banana Chocolate Chip Bundt

Recipe: Click here for Martha Stewart recipe

Bundt Pan: Traditional 12-cup Bundt Pan
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Banana Chocolate Chip Bundt - Day #8 of Food Librarian's I Like Big Bundts 3

Monday, October 24, 2011

Banana Chocolate Chip - I Like Big Bundts 2011
Banana Chocolate Chip Bundt
I Like Big Bundts - Day #8
We all have great intentions. Like exercising everyday. Putting away the dishes as soon as they're dry. Making your bed. And eating all the bananas you bought.

This cake may not help with the exercise bit, but it will take care of those bananas!

I Like Big Bundts 3 Logo by JustJennDesigns

Whoo hoo! We are on Day #8 of my marathon bundt making adventure because I Like Big Bundts! November 15th is National Bundt Day and I hope you make a bundt to celebrate!

Banana Chocolate Chip collage
This bundt is based on Dorie Greenspan's awesome Banana Bundt in her book, Baking: From my Home to Yours. That was my pick for Tuesdays with Dorie and it was well loved by the bakers! I promise you'll love it. I added one cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the recipe for an even more delicious treat.

Banana Chocolate Chip - I Like Big Bundts 2011
This bundt can be eaten plain or with just a touch of powdered sugar. With bananas, sour cream and butter or yogurt? It is so moist!

Banana Chocolate Chip - I Like Big Bundts 2011
Happy Monday! If you have some bananas sitting around, be sure to make this deliciousness.

Recap of I Like Big Bundts 3:
Day #1: Buttercake Bakery's Marble Bundt Cake
Day #2: Lemon Bliss Bundt
Day #3: Double-Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ganache Glaze
Day #4: Spice Bundt Cake with Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Glaze
Day #5: Gingery Pumpkin Breakfast Bundt
Day #6: Maida Heatter's Budapest Coffee Cake Bundt
Day #7: Dark Chocolate Bundt

Recipe: Click here for printable recipe

Adapted from Dorie Greenspan's Baking from My Home to Yours (page 190) (Find it in your library here or on Amazon - really, everyone should have this book and it makes a great holiday gift!)



Bundt Pan: Traditional 12-cup Bundt Pan
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Food Librarian Bundt Favorites

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Bakers are pulling out their bundt pans to get ready for November 15th National Bundt Day! Kimi asked me on twitter for my favorite bundts. I said, "That's like picking my favorite child!" I love them all, but the following are the ones I make repeatedly or have received great reviews from eaters and bakers.

Cinnamon Chocolate Bundt - I Like Big Bundts
My go-to Bundt. Completely simple to make with ingredients you probably have on hand. Don't even need a KitchenAid mixer - just a big bowl and whisk.

Buttermilk Butternut Squash Bundt with Spiced Vanilla Icing - I Like Big Bundts
Shredded butternut squash makes this cake delicious! You can count it as a vegetable ;)

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake with Buttermilk Icing - I Like Big Bundts
Pumpkin Spice Bundt with Buttermilk Icing
This cake got great reviews from those who made it and enjoyed it. Everyone needs a pumpkin bundt in their recipe box.

Persimmon Bundt Cake - I Like Big Bundts
Fuyu Persimmon Bundt
This one got me in the book, Cake Simple! Fuyu persimmons are at the farmer's market now (at least in California) and this cake is a favorite.

Brown Sugar and Chocolate Chip Bundt with Maple-Espresso Glaze - I Like Big Bundts
Brown Sugar and Chocolate Chip Bundt with Maple-Espresso Glaze
Brown sugar makes cakes moist and this one sure is! The maple espresso glaze is a perfect topping.

Classic Banana Bundt Cake - Food Librarian
Classic Banana Bundt
Always a winner. This recipe from Dorie Greenspan is delicious... and look for a twist on it tomorrow!

Orange-Ricotta Pound Cake with Marmalade Glaze
Orange-Ricotta Pound Cake Bundt with Marmalade Glaze
This cake has a terrific crumb and subtle taste. Love it!

For a listing of more bundts, see the I Like Big Bundts page and my Recipes page!
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Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake - Day #7 of Food Librarian's I Like Big Bundts 3

Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake - I Like Big Bundts 2011
Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake
I Like Big Bundts - Day #7

Good Morning! It's Day #7 of my crazy I Like Big Bundts 3 celebration of the awesome Bundt cake. I hope you will make a Bundt on National Bundt Day - November 15th! Can you believe how fast the year is going? Halloween, Bundt Day, then Thanksgiving! :)

I Like Big Bundts 3 Logo by JustJennDesigns
30 days.
30 bundts.
What? I'm only a week in? Stick with me and see if I make it!

Dark Chocolate Bundt collage
For this bundt, I  headed to the library's 641 section and leafed through some cookbooks. Do you use your library to browse cookbooks? I hope so!  Classic Southern Desserts: All-Time Favorite Recipes for Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Puddings, Cobblers, Ice Cream & More from the Editors of Southern Living Magazine has a Dark Chocolate Bundt recipe. Can't go wrong with more chocolate bundts, right?

This bundt calls for a 16 ounce can of chocolate syrup. I searched and searched for a can of Hershey's but couldn't find it in the 10 stores I visited (this bundt marathon is hard work!). I ended up using Trader Joe's Midnight Moo chocolate syrup. I wasn't sure if the 16 ounce can was by weight or volume...and I only had 8 ounces (volume, 1 cup) that weighed 11 ounces. Anyway, it was all I had and it worked out okay. The book was published in 2010 by the editors of Southern Living - is canned chocolate syrup more abundant in the South (along with White Lily Flour)?

Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake - I Like Big Bundts 2011
Just a dash of powered sugar was enough for this cake.

Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake - I Like Big Bundts 2011
The crumb is tight. The combo of the chocolate syrup and melted chocolate make a heavier cake - no one is going to confuse this with a chiffon cake! Although the title is "Dark Chocolate" is uses semi-sweet chocolate and whatever is in the chocolate syrup. It isn't "dark" like bittersweet chocolate, but does have a rich chocolate taste. Perfect for an afternoon coffee break.

Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake - I Like Big Bundts 2011

Recap of I Like Big Bundts 3:
Day #1: Buttercake Bakery's Marble Bundt Cake
Day #2: Lemon Bliss Bundt
Day #3: Double-Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ganache Glaze
Day #4: Spice Bundt Cake with Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Glaze
Day #5: Gingery Pumpkin Breakfast Bundt
Day #6: Maida Heatter's Budapest Coffee Cake Bundt

Recipe: Click here for printable recipe

Adapted from: Classic Southern Desserts: All-Time Favorite Recipes for Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Puddings, Cobblers, Ice Cream & More from the Editors of Southern Living Magazine



Bundt Pan: Traditional 12-cup Bundt Pan

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Buttercake Bakery's Marble Bundt Cake - Day #1 of Food Librarian's I Like Big Bundts 3

Monday, October 17, 2011

Buttercake Bakery's Marble Bundt Cake - I Like Big Bundts 2011 Buttercake Bakery's Marble Bundt Cake
Day #1 - I Like Big Bundts 2011
Where has the time gone?! I'm back for another marathon of Bundts! Because I cannot lie, I Like Big Bundts!

I Like Big Bundts 3 Logo by JustJennDesigns
For those who are new to the blog or just visiting, I love the Bundt cake. I like cake but don't care for frosting (too sweet for me). The bundt? It's perfection with just a light dusting of powdered sugar or a light glaze. A couple years ago, I thought I would celebrate National Bundt Day on November 15th by making 30 different bundt cakes prior to an awesome holiday. I mentioned this to my totally sharp friend, JustJenn and she said, "I Like Big Bundts!"

I hope this year is fun for you, and I hope you mark November 15th on your calendar! Last year, if you made a Bundt for National Bundt Day, I mailed out a JustJenn designed button proclaming that you too like Big Bundts. This year, I have something special planned for those who bake along! (submission info coming next week)

Picnik collage
Dust off your Bundt pan and let's get going! And hey, a TUBE pan isn't a Bundt pan. I feel Bundts need to be inverted and have some sort of sexy curves! Tube pans are just so boring compared to the Bundt! Here is a look at my collection of Bundt pans!

It's Day #1 of I Like Big Bundts: 30 days of bundt cakes! I hope you stick around, and I hope you find a recipe to try on National Bundt Day (November 15th).

Buttercake Bakery's Marble Bundt Cake - I Like Big Bundts 2011
I saw this cake on Jami's Night Baking blog. Have you been to her blog? It is stunning. Jami makes the most creative birthday cakes and cupcakes. Check out this SoCal themed (complete with surfboard) cake and these cute Penguin cookies. If you don't have Night Baking on your reader, add it now!

Buttercake Bakery's Marble Bundt Cake - I Like Big Bundts 2011
Come back tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.... for another Bundt!
- mary the food librarian


Recipe: Click here for printable version

Bundt Pan: Traditional 12-cup Bundt Pan
Recipe adapted from the Los Angeles Times Food Section Culinary SOS. Culinary SOS is great - readers ask (well, most of the time they beg) for a recipe from a local restaurant or bakery. In 2008, someone asked for the Buttercake Bakery's recipe. If you are in So Cal, visit the Buttercake Bakery in West LA or West Hollywood. (I used Night Baking's weight measurements and have included them on the recipe. Thanks Jami!)
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Texas Sheet Cake or The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake (Pioneer Woman)

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Texas Sheet Cake
Texas Sheet Cake or Pioneer Woman's The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever.

If you are a blogger, do you have orphan posts? Electronic files of photos in your Flickr account with no home? Half finished posts because you may not remember what recipe you even used? Not saying that has happened to me or anything :) ... but here is something I made back in July. Seems like forever ago. I do remember that my co-worker, Kathy loved this cake. So there. That's all you need to know. And Pioneer Woman herself calls it "The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever."

Texas Sheet Cake collage
This recipe is ridiculously simple. Boil a bit of stuff and pour it into a half-sheet pan. Bake for only 20 minutes and then top with a heated frosting. Seriously easy. I skipped the pecans.

Texas Sheet Cake
The result? A cakey, moist chocolate cake, not as dense as a brownie, with a simple cocoa frosting. Delicious.

Recipe:
Pioneer Woman's The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever.
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Barefoot Contessa's Fresh Nectarine Cake

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Barefoot Contessa's Nectarine Cake
Barefoot Contessa's Fresh Peach Nectarine Cake

Oh, Ina. I just heart you.
Ina makes a Fresh Peach Cake to celebrate summer. And I'm celebrating the soon-to-be end of summer with a Fresh Nectarine Cake. It takes Los Angeles a while to get into fall...especially since it was 95 degrees this weekend!

Nectarine Cake collage
This recipe has two (count 'em! two!) layers of fresh peaches or nectarines. Lay the thick batter on the bottom of the pan, top with fruit and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. More batter goes on top and another layer of peaches/nectarines. Ina tops her cake with pecans but I used sliced almonds. I only did half the cake as one of my co-workers doesn't eat nuts (before you go nuts, she not allergic, nuts just bother her tummy).

Barefoot Contessa's Nectarine Cake
If you still have peaches or nectarines available, make this cake as a good-bye to summer! The cake is moist, the fruit is sweet and delicious and it's perfect for breakfast or tea...or anytime!

Barefoot Contessa's Nectarine Cake
Recipe:
Adapted from the Barefoot Contessa's Fresh Peach Cake

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature (I used 2 large eggs from the fridge, put in warm water for 5 minutes before use)
1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

3 large ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced

Topping:
1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped pecans (I used about 1/4 cup silvered almonds on half the cake)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch-square baking pan. I placed a sheet of parchment paper and sprayed with with Pam with Flour.
2. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, combine the 1/2 cup sugar and the cinnamon. This is the topping. Set aside.
4. In the bowl of the KitchenAid with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy on medium speed (about 4 minutes). With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, then the sour cream and vanilla, and mix until the batter is smooth.
5. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the batter and mix just until combined.
6. Spread half of the batter evenly in the pan. Top with half of the nectarines, then sprinkle with two-thirds of the sugar mixture. Spread the remaining batter on top, arrange the remaining nectarines on top and sprinkle with the remaining sugar mixture and the pecans.
7. Bake the cake for 45 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm or at room temperature. My cake took 60 minutes to cook.
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7 Layer Finger Jello

Monday, August 29, 2011

Jello 7 Layer Jello
7 Layer Finger Jello

I used to make 7 Layer Finger Jello a lot, until my friend JustJenn turned me onto Broken Glass Jello. Broken Glass Jello takes less hands-on time in the kitchen. You need to be around more for 7 Layer Jello (each layer needs to chill out for 15 minutes). However, both are tasty and always a crowd pleaser!

Jello 7 Layer Jello
Please make sure you have a level refrigerator! :)

Jello 7 Layer Jello
With the wide variety of flavors now, you can make this layered Jello in all different colors! My original recipe called for lemon, orange, lime, strawberry because they didn't have blue and purple back in the big hair days. (Please note - you only need 3 ounces or a small box of Jello per layer. I'm showing you 6 ounce boxes because that's what I have. I used my scale to measure out half a box, or 3 ounces and saved the rest.)

7 Layer Finger Jello Collage 1
You need to make 4 layers of Jello. It's totally simple. Small box of Jello (3 ounces), and half an envelope of Knox gelatin. Dissolve in 1 cup boiling water, cool to warm temp and then pour into the 9 x 13 Pyrex pan. I make the next flavor while the milk layer is chilling - that allows the mixture to cool for 15 minutes. 

Note: Some recipe books say you should "grease" the pan with mayonnaise or Pam spray. This recipe doesn't call for that and I usually don't grease my pans when making Jello.

7 layer Jello collage 2
The Milk layer is condensed milk, water and some gelatin. You need to bloom the gelatin by measuring out 1/2 cup of COLD water into a small bowl. Then sprinkle 2 envelopes of gelatin on top. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes until the gelatin blooms. Add 1/2 cup of boiling water to fully dissolve the gelatin. Then that mixture gets added to the sweetened condensed milk + boiling water mixture.

Jello 7 Layer Jello
You can change up the colors in all different ways - Red & Green for Christmas, Blue & Yellow for UCLA Football game! I made a Valentine's Day one here. Have fun!!


Recipe:
7-Layer Finger Jello
(adapted from the Arlington Elementary School PTA cookbook, 1979)
Printable recipe here

4 small packages (3 oz) Jello in different colors (such as lemon, orange, lime, strawberry)
(If you buy the larger 6 oz packages, just measure out half the mixture)

4 envelopes of unflavored gelatin (each Knox envelope is 1/4 ounces)

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)

Boiling water

You will have 4 layers of Jello and 3 layers of milk. Start and end with Jello.
 
Jello Layer:
Mix one 3-ounce package of Jello with 1/2 package of Knox. (1 package of Knox is approximately 2 1/4 t so half a package is 1 1/8 t).
Add 1 cup boiling water and stir to dissolve.
Cool to room temperature and pour into 9 x 13 pan.
Refrigerate 15 minutes until solid enough for next layer.

Milk Layer:
In a large bowl, mix 1 can sweetened condensed milk with 1 cup boiling water.
In a small bowl, place1/2 cup cold water. Sprinkle 2 packages of Knox unflavored gelatin on the water. Allow to sit for a 2-3 minutes for gelatin to bloom. Add 1/2 cup boiling water to dissolve the gelatin.
Combine the dissolved gelatin with the milk mixture.
This will yield a little more than 3 cups of milk mixture. Each layer will get about 1 cup of milk.
Cool to room temperature and pour over the Jello mixture. Refrigerate 15 minutes until solid enough for next layer.

Repeat Jello and Milk layers (starting and ending with Jello)
Refrigerate until Jello is fully set and cut into blocks or shapes.

See more of my Jello recipes here! Also, check out JustJenn's site for more Jello recipes!
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Flour Bakery Yellow Birthday Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Ganache Frosting

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Flour Bakery - Yellow Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Ganache Frosting
Flour Bakery Yellow Birthday Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Ganache Frosting

My friend Rosie came over to bake! We were supposed to bake together...but somehow I ended up making Jello (that post is coming soon), lying on the couch, eating Red Vines and watching Top Gear. Anyway, I took photos of Rosie making a cake in my kitchen. That's close enough, no?

Flour Bakery - Yellow Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Ganache Frosting
Rosie's been on the blog in the past (Lessons from a Pastry Chef and Challah) and is a recent graduate of the Baking and Pastry Arts program at the prestigious Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. She's heading back to finish her BS degree in a couple weeks...and guess who's going to Parent's Weekend?! Road Trip! (Well, JetBlue red eye trip to be exact). My friend Helen (Rosie's mom) and I are going to J&W Family Weekend in early October. I've known Rosie since she was three years old, picked her up from pre-school, been the emergency contact on her school forms, and watched her grow up - so I earned my place at Family Weekend! Can't wait to see Rosie in situ at her college. We have other day trips planned too...more on that later. ;)

Flour Bakery - Yellow Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Ganache Frosting
I've made Flour Bakery's Yellow cake in the past (cupcake form) and I did make the ganache for the frosting. But frosting it? Rosie did all that...while watching Top Gear. Somehow, it took us all day to make this cake, but I'm sure if you are more efficient than us, you will get this done in a jiffy.

Flour Bakery Yellow Cake collage 2
We had about one cup of frosting remaining. We planned to pipe a nice border, but time got away from us and we needed to head out. I dropped off a slice to my friend JustJenn and she said it needed more frosting. I hate frosting so I thought she was crazy (hee hee)...but you might want to use all the frosting.

Flour Bakery - Yellow Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Ganache Frosting
We decided to put little ball decorations on the edges - chocolate balls, pearl balls from NY Cake Company, and silver nonpareils dragees. These silver balls aren't sold in California due to a lawsuit so my friend Mary of Popsicles and Sandy Feet mailed me some from the East Coast. Thanks Mary!

Flour Bakery - Yellow Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Ganache Frosting
Anyone would love this for their birthday!!

Flour Bakery - Yellow Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Ganache Frosting
Cidney the Girl Dog helped (?) out too by just being cute.

Thanks Rosie for coming over and baking! And thanks for helping me reorganize that pesky junk drawer in the kitchen. See you at Family Weekend at Johnson & Wales!

Recipe:
Joanne Chang has very detailed directions in her book. You should really purchase the book Flour Bakery because it is way awesome, or get the book at your library. The Daily Meal posted the recipe.
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