Cakes
 | Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving. |
 | My Favorite Coffee Cake 1/2 cup butter In a large bowl, blend together butter or margarine, white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla. Add to these ingredients the flour, baking powder, and soda. Blend until smooth. .To Make Filling: Combine cinnamon and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Grease and flour a large Bundt pan. Pour 1/2 of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mix on top of the batter in the pan, and cover with the remaining batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool. Make a thick glaze by mixing together confectioners' sugar with 2 to 3 tablespoons milk until smooth. Pour over cooled cake. |
 | Maple Delight Cheesecake CRUST For filling Preheat oven to 350° F. Make crust: In a food processor finely grind graham crackers (you will have about 3 1/2 cups). Melt butter. In a large bowl stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter, and maple syrup and press evenly into bottom and up side of a 10-inch springform pan. Wrap bottom and side of pan with 2 layers of heavy-duty foil to avoid leakage. Make filling: In bowl of a standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment or in a food processor beat cream cheese on low speed, scraping down side of bowl occasionally, until smooth. Add syrup and eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and cream and beat until just combined. Pour filling into crust and bake in middle of oven 1 hour (cake will not be set in center but will set as it chills). Cool cake in pan on a rack. Chill cake, covered, at least 8 hours and up to 4 days. Remove side of pan. Serve cheesecake in wedges, drizzled with maple syrup. |
 | Chocolate Dream Cake Semi-sweet chocolate baking squares 4 Heat chocolate, butter and water in heavy medium saucepan on lowest heat, stirring often, until chocolate is almost melted. Do not overheat. Remove from heat. Stir until smooth. Set aside. Combine next 6 ingredients in large bowl. Make a well in centre. Beat next 4 ingredients in small bowl until well combined. Pour into well. Add chocolate mixture. Stir until smooth. Grease 9 inch (22 cm) round pan. Line bottom with waxed paper. Turn batter into pan. Spread evenly. Bake in 325°F (160°C) oven for about 40 minutes until wooden pick inserted in centre comes out clean. Let stand in pan on wire rack until cooled completely. Run knife around side of pan to loosen cake. Invert onto serving plate. Carefully remove and discard waxed paper. Chocolate Icing: Heat chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan on lowest heat, stirring often, until chocolate is almost melted. Do not overheat. Remove from heat. Stir until smooth. Chill for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until spreading consistency. Makes 1 1/4 cups (300 mL) icing. Spread over top and side of cake. |
 | Pineapple Upside Down Cake 1 - 8 1/2 ounce can sliced pineapple Melt butter in a 9" square pan. Stir in brown sugar and mix well in the pan. Arrange pineapple slices in the bottom of the pan. Place 1/2 a cherry in the middle of each pineapple ring. Drain the pineapple, reserving syrup. Add water to remaining syrup to make 1/2 cup. Cream together shortening and white sugar until light. Add egg and vanilla. Beat until fluffy. Add dry ingredients plus 1/2 cup reserved pineapple syrup. Beat until all is well mixed. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan then invert the cake on to a plate. Great served warm with a dollop of whipped cream. |
 | White Cake 1 cup butter In a large saucepan, bring 1 cup butter or margarine and water to a boil. Remove from heat, and stir in flour, sugar, eggs, sour cream, 1 teaspoon almond extract, salt, and baking soda until smooth. Pour batter into a greased 10 x 15 x 1 inch baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 to 22 minutes, or until cake is golden brown and tests done. Cool for 20 minutes. Combine 1/2 cup butter or margarine and milk in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Mix in sugar and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Stir in pecans. Spread frosting over warm cake or decorate as you please. |
 To make the carrots you will need: Marzipan and orange and green icing colors (can use liquid or paste food coloring). Knead a small amount of orange food coloring into the marzipan until the color is distributed and is the desired "carrot" color. Shape into carrots, using a toothpick to make veins. Knead a small amount of green food coloring into the marzipan and make the carrot tops. Marzipan is a cooked mixture of finely ground almonds, sugar, and water. It is slightly sweeter and firmer than almond paste and has a smoother texture. It comes in plastic-wrapped rolls.  | "Bugs Bunny's" Favorite Carrot Cake 1 cup (100 grams) pecans or walnuts 3/4 pound (340 grams) raw carrots (about 2 1/2 cups finely grated) 2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 4 large eggs 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar 1 cup (240 ml) safflower, vegetable or canola oil (or other flavorless oil) 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract Cream Cheese Frosting: 1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature 8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature 2 cups (230 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted 1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (outer yellow skin) |
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter or spray two - 9 x 2 inch (23 x 5 cm) cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with a circle of parchment paper. Toast the pecans or walnuts for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely. Peel and finely grate the carrots. Set aside. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. Set aside. In bowl of electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the eggs until frothy (about 1 minute). Gradually add the sugar and beat until the batter is thick and light colored (about 3 - 4 minutes). Add the oil in a steady stream and then beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. With a large rubber spatula fold in the grated carrots and chopped nuts. Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. After about 5 -10 minutes invert the cakes onto the wire rack, remove the pans and parchment paper, and then cool completely before frosting. To assemble: place one cake layer, top side down, onto your serving plate. Spread with about one third of the frosting. Gently place the other cake, top of cake facing down, onto the frosting, and spread the rest of the frosting over the top and sides of the cake. If desired, press toasted and finely chopped nuts on the sides of the cake and decorate the top of the cake with marzipan carrots (see below). Cover and refrigerate any leftovers. Serves 10 - 12. Cream Cheese Frosting: In bowl of electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the cream cheese and butter, on low speed, just until blended with no lumps. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and beat, on low speed, until fully incorporated and smooth. Beat in the vanilla extract, and lemon zest.
 | Easy Cherry Cheese Cake Graham Cracker Crust Mix together graham cracker crumbs, margarine, and sugar in a bowl until well incorporated and crumbly. Press into a pie plate, going up the sides as much as possible. Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl until smooth and spreadable. Whisk whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until smooth. Pour cream cheese into prepared crust. Smooth the top with a spatula, and refrigerate until firm, about 2 to 3 hours. Spread the cherry pie filling over the top, and refrigerate until serving. |
 Decorate with icing, add smarties, food coloring, licorice, candy, to create different looks... | Birthday Cake/ Chocolate /Icing/Smarties Makes 2 eight-inch square or 3 eight-inch round layers Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter round or square cake pans, and line bottoms with parchment; butter parchment, and dust with cocoa. .Into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, sift cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low, stir in eggs, 1 1/2 cups warm water, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla until smooth, about 3 minutes. Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake, rotating once, until tester inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes for 8-inch layers, depending on amount of batter. Let cakes cool in pans on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely, right side up on rack. |
 | No-Bake Birthday Cake/Martha Stewart This is a great cake for birthdays-baby showers-wedding showers-family reunions.. You can decorate this cake with your own designs....Have Fun.. This kid-pleasing marshmallow-and-crisp-rice cereal confection has a sweet secret: chocolate-marshmallow icing inside. Cereal bits give it a festive trim. Candies in cupcake liners decorate each plate. Prepare the Basic Crisp-Rice Treats, then follow the molding instructions below to make the cake. Coat two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Prepare crisp-rice mixture; before pouring into pan, reserve 2 tablespoons for patching cake, and set aside, covered. Divide remaining crisp-rice mixture among prepared cake pans. Press into pans with greased fingers to level. Let cool until set, at least 30 minutes. Run a knife around edges of cakes to loosen; unmold onto parchment paper. While frosting is still warm, pour onto center of 1 cake layer, and spread evenly to edges. Let stand 10 minutes. Place second cake layer on top; press down gently. Using reserved pieces of crisp-rice mixture, patch edges where frosting is visible. Decorate with cereal, arranging pieces around top,middle, and bottom edges. Let cake stand until firm enough to slice, at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. After 2 hours, wrap cake in plastic wrap to prevent it from getting too hard to slice. |
 | Tiramisu Recipe Cream Filling 2 cups (480 ml) milk, divided Ladyfingers: |
Cream Topping: In a medium sized saucepan heat 1 3/4 cups (420 ml) milk and 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar just until boiling. Meanwhile, in a heatproof bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup (60 ml) milk, 1/4 cup (50 grams) sugar, flour, and egg yolks. When the milk comes to a boil, gradually whisk it into the egg yolk mixture. Transfer this mixture into another clean large saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil. When it boils, continue to whisk the mixture constantly for another minute or so or until it thickens. Remove from heat and strain into a large bowl. (This will remove any lumps that may have formed.) Whisk in the Marsala (or rum), vanilla extract, and butter. Immediately cover the surface of the custard with plastic wrap to prevent a crust from forming. Refrigerate until cold, approximately two hours. Once the custard has cooled sufficiently, remove from the refrigerator. In a separate bowl, with a wooden spoon, beat the mascarpone cheese until it is soft and smooth. Gently fold, or whisk, the mascarpone into the cold custard until smooth. Coffee Soaking Syrup: In a large shallow bowl combine the coffee (espresso), sugar, and Marsala (rum). Taste and add more sugar if you like. To Assemble: Line a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (23 x 13 x 8 cm) loaf pan with plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic wrap extends over the sides of the loaf pan. Have ready the ladyfingers, coffee mixture, and cream filling. Working with one ladyfinger at a time, dip 8 ladyfingers in the coffee mixture and place them side by side in a single layer over the bottom of the loaf pan. Spoon 1/3 of the cream filling over the ladyfingers, making sure they are completely covered. Repeat with another layer of ladyfingers by dipping them (8) ladyfingers in the coffee mixture and placing them on top of the cream. Again, cover the ladyfingers with cream and repeat with another layer of ladyfingers, cream, and ladyfingers. Cover the Tiramisu with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 6 hours, preferably overnight. To Serve: Remove the plastic wrap from the top of the tiramisu. Gently invert the Tiramisu from the loaf pan onto your serving plate and remove the plastic wrap. Sift cocoa powder over the top of the Tiramisu and decorate with grated or chopped semisweet chocolate and fresh raspberries. Makes 8 - 10 servings.
