Day 50 - Strawberry Mousse Sugar Cookie Cups

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Today I made a recipe from one of my favorite blogs "Cookies & Cups" called Strawberry Mousse Sugar Cookie Cups. Even though the title is a mouthful, it looks really yummy and easy. The dessert is basically "cups" made out of sugar cookies, filled with chocolate and topped a strawberry mousse.

I started by making the cookie cups. I used store bought sugar cookie dough and scooped out small dollops of batter into mini muffin tins. The cookies bake for about 8-10 minutes and as soon as they come out of the oven I dropped 4-5 chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate and white chocolate) in the center of each cookie cup. The heat from the cookie melts the chocolate chips and I smoothed out the chips as best as I could.

Cookies ready to bake

Chocolate Chips

Out of the oven

While the cookies cooled completely, I made the strawberry mousse filling. The mousse is created by mixing cream cheese and confectioners sugar together until it is smooth. Cool whip is then incorporated to create a nice mousse texture. Finally, fresh, chopped strawberries are added to the mousse and it is put into the refrigerator to set.

Cream cheese and confectioners sugar

Finished mousse

A few hours later, I filled a pipping bag with the mousse and pipped small dollops in the center of the cookie cups. I garnished a few with a slice of fresh strawberry and they looked really pretty! These tasted really yummy, not my typical type of dessert, but a nice, small treat that you can easily pop into your mouth! 

Finished Cups

Stay tuned until next time :)

Day 49 - Eclair Cake

Friday, April 20, 2012

Today I am making an Eclair Cake. I had actually never heard of an eclair cake before until I saw it on a blog called "Chef in Training" this week. I love classic eclairs; the light, fluffy dough, sweet cream center, and thick chocolatey topping. What's not to love? So when I saw the recipe for an eclair cake that had the same basic ingredients in a cake form, I was thrilled.

The cake is simple (and actually requires no baking!). It is formed by layers of graham cracker and a vanilla cream mixture. Like the classic eclair, it is topped with a thick chocolate frosting. I started by making the "cream" mixture which is just two packages of vanilla instant pudding and a tub of cool whip. I prepared the pudding according to the package, mixing the powder with about 3 1/2 cups of milk. I whisked the pudding for about 2 minutes until it thickened and then folded in the cool whip.

Vanilla Pudding

Pudding mixed with cool whip 

In a 9x13 pan, I lined graham crackers to create the bottom layer, and then spooned half of the cream mixture over the top of that. A second layer of graham crackers and cream are added and it is topped off with a final graham cracker layer. Chocolate frosting tops the cake and I decided to take the easy way out with this part by using store bought chocolate frosting. I heated the frosting in the microwave so it was pourable, and spread it evenly over the top of the cake.

Graham cracker base 

Layering graham cracker over the cream 

Topped with chocolate frosting

The trick to this cake is that it needs to sit in the refrigerator over night, hence why I am "baking" on a Friday night.

Ready for the refrigerator!

Can't wait to see how this turns out tomorrow!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Today my Dad and I decided to try the cake. As soon as I cut into it I could tell the graham cracker had softened perfectly. One bite and I was in heaven; it was amazing. The cream and graham cracker together was amazing, so creamy and delicious and really did resemble the taste of an eclair! My only criticism (and I'm nit-picking here) would be that the chocolate was possibly a little bit too sweet. It may have been worth making my own topping with melted semi-sweet chocolate as it probably would be a little less sweet. Still, this dessert is definitely worth a try!

Stay tuned until next time :)

Day 48 - Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Today I was baking for a co-workers (belated) birthday. I decided to make cupcakes in ice cream cones. I have seen this many times online and have always wanted to try these. They are really simple. All you have to do is make your favorite cupcake batter (I used white and chocolate boxed mixes), fill ice cream cones with the batter, and bake!

White Cake Batter

Chocolate Cake Batter

Ice Cream Cones

Ready for the oven

Just out of the oven 

Frosted and Ready to Eat!

Even though these are so easy to make, what makes them special is the presentation. They look so cute and can be make with any cake and any frosting!

Stay tuned until next time :)