Easy Cakes and Desserts 

Spiced Coconut Cake Recipe
Makes one 9-inch cake, about 12 servings

This Spiced Coconut Cake recipe is a tropical twist on an old favorite. Rich with coconut, sweet spices and nuts, this will be your new all-time favorite cake recipe. Serve with sorbet or soft whipped cream.   

Be careful not to overcook the coconut cream/egg mixture or it will curdle.  If it does, pour the hot mixture into a blender and puree at high speed until smooth.  

To toast the coconut for the outside of the cake; spread coconut out on a baking sheet and toast in a 300F degree oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.  Stir often.  Cool before applying to cake.

Easy Rum Orange Cake Recipe
Makes one 10-inch Bundt cake

Easy Rum Orange Cake is a delightful mix of flavors with a rich and delicious texture.  This cake can be made 1 day in advance.  Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.  

For more rum flavor, add 3-4 tablespoons of rum to the cake batter and either leave in, omit or decrease the rum from the glace.

Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe
Makes 1 10-inch tube cake

1 (18.25 ounce) package dark chocolate cake mix
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
 3 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup coffee flavored liqueur
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.  

In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, eggs, oil and coffee liqueur.  Beat on low until ingredients are well blended.  Beat on medium until well mixed.  Fold in chocolate chips. Batter will be thick. Spoon into prepared pan.  

Bake for 1 hour, or until cake springs back when lightly tapped. Cool 10 minutes in pan, then turn out and cool completely on wire rack.  Spread with your favorite frosting or sprinkle with confectioners sugar.  Also serve plain chocolate cake with ice cream or whipped cream

Bourbon Chocolate Cake Recipe
 Makes 1 9" round cake

Cake
1 package chocolate cake mix with pudding
3 eggs
1/2 cup  bourbon
1/2 cup cold water
1/3 cup vegetable oil

 Frosting
 16 ounces whipping cream
 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 1/2 cup bourbon
 1 cup pecans, walnuts or almonds, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Grease and flour two 9" round cake pans. 

Combine cake mix, eggs, bourbon, cold water and vegetable oil in large bowl of mixer. Beat for 2 minutes on high speed until very light. Pour into pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until tests done. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove cakes and cool completely. Split layers in half horizontally.

Place one layer on a cake plate. Spread frosting evenly over the cake layer. Sprinkle with some of the nuts.  Place next layer on top and spread that layer with frosting and sprinkle with nuts.  Repeat with the remaining two layers.  Cover the sides with frosting if desired.  Chill at least 2 hours.  Refrigerate leftovers

Frosting
In large mixing bowl, combine whipping cream, cocoa, powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until stiff then fold in the bourbon. 

 

White Chocolate Crème Brulee Recipe
Serves 4

So simple, so rich, so fabulous!  Garnish each ramekin with a few raspberries and a mint sprig, and serve chilled. Creme brulee can be made up to 2 days in advance, covered and stored in the refrigerator.

4 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
4 ounces high-quality baking white chocolate, broken into l/4-inch pieces, or 3/4 cup white chocolate pieces
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 teaspoons sugar for finishing

Fresh berries and fresh mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 300ºF.  Arrange 4 ¾-cup ramekins or custard cups in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until frothy and smooth.  

In a 2-quart saucepan, bring the whipping cream to a simmer over medium-high heat.  Remove from heat, add the white chocolate and let sit for 1-2 minutes. 

Whisk the mixture until the white chocolate is smooth.   Gradually add to the egg yolk mixture, whisking continuously until smooth. Add the vanilla extract.

Divide the custard among the ramekins.  Pour boiling water into the roasting pan (do not allow any water to fall into the ramekins) until the water is halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

Bake until the custards are firm yet jiggle slightly when shaken, about 45 minutes.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours. 

Just before serving, preheat the broiler and sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over each ramekin.  Place under the broiler until sugar has caramelized, watching closely to avoid burning.  

For best results, use a small, hand-held torch to melt sugar.  Re-chill custards for a few minutes before serving.

Tiramisu means "pick me up", which make sense since it contains coffee.   This luscious dessert is not as complicated as it may sound. 

Mascarpone cheese is an extra thick Italian cream cheese found in your grocers deli cheese case.  If not available, use softened cream cheese instead.  

If you are not a coffee drinker,  buy a cup of coffee from a coffee shop and try espresso for extra richness.  This tiramisu can be made in any sized dish. Adjust layering accordingly.  Make tiramisu up to one day in advance and keep tightly covered in refrigerator

36 ladyfinger cookies, soft or crunchy type
 1 1/2 cups strong brewed coffee, cooled
 12 ounces mascarpone cheese
 1/2 cup sugar
 3 tablespoons coffee liqueur
 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 2 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
 4-5 ounce dark chocolate bar, grated

In the bottom of a 13x 9 x2 inch baking pan or serving dish, place half of the ladyfingers in a single layer.  Sprinkle ladyfingers with half of the coffee. 

In a large bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese and the sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the coffee liqueur and vanilla extract. 

In a separate bowl, beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form.  Carefully fold the cream into the cheese mixture.

Spoon half of the cream and cheese mixture over the ladyfingers and spread evenly with a spatula.  Sprinkle with half of the grated chocolate.  Repeat this process for the second layer.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight

Chocolate Toffee Trifle
Serves 10-12

This dramatic but easy dessert is the perfect ending to a dinner party.  If you're pressed for time, use a purchased chocolate pound cake.

Trifle can be prepared 1 day ahead and kept refrigerated.  The chocolate cake can be prepared 1 day ahead.  Cover with foil and store at room temperature.

1 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup sifted cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups (packed) light brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups chilled whipping cream
1 1/2 cups chocolate-covered English toffee bits (two 6-ounce bags)

Semisweet chocolate shavings for serving

Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan with 2-inch-high sides. Melt 1 1/2 ounces chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from over water. Let cool 10 minutes.

Sift flour, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Beat brown sugar and butter in large bowl until blended. Add egg; beat well.  Beat in yolk.  Add melted chocolate; beat until blended. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Add 1/2 cup boiling water and vanilla; stir until blended (batter will be thin.)

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer pan to rack and cool completely

Beat cream in large bowl until stiff peaks form. Spoon 1 1/2 cups whipped cream into bottom of large glass trifle bowl. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup toffee bits.

Crumble 1/3 of cake over toffee. Repeat layering of whipped cream, toffee bits and cake, creating 3 layers of each. Spoon remaining whipped cream over top, spreading to cover. Cover trifle; refrigerate at least 4 hours.   Sprinkle trifle with chocolate shavings and serve.

Adapted from Bon Appetit Nov. 1996

Spanish Flan Recipe  (Carmel Custard)
Makes 8 servings

To make this Spanish Flan recipe, use a traditional Spanish flan mold OR eight 6 oz. ramekins OR  one 2 quart baking dish.  Dish should have at least a 1 ½ depth.  Use a 13x9 dish for the water bath. 

Caramel
3/4 cup sugar

Custard
4 cups whole milk
Pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup sugar
 2-inch cinnamon stick or vanilla bean
 Small piece of orange or lemon rind (optional)
 4 eggs
 6 egg yolks

To make the caramel:
Heat 3/4 cup sugar in a small, heavy frying pan  over low heat until it begins to dissolve. Shake the pan slightly (do not  stir) until all the sugar has melted. Increase the flame and let the sugar  bubble and color. Pour the caramel into the mold and quickly turn it around  in

up the sides has been lightly coated with the caramel.  If the caramel thickens and becomes sluggish, gently heat the mold in a pan  of hot water or over low heat, depending on the material, and continue the  coating action. Set aside to cool. 

To make the custard:
Put the milk, salt, sugar, and cinnamon or vanilla into a saucepan and bring slowly to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Continue boiling slowly, taking care that it does not boil over, until the milk has reduced by about 2/3 cup. Set aside to cool.

Place an oven rack on the lowest rung of the oven and heat to 325 F.

Beat the eggs and yolks together and stir into the tepid milk. Pour the mixture through a strainer into the flan mold and place it in a hot water bath in the oven. Test after 2 hours with a skewer or cake tester; if it comes out quite clean, the flan is cooked. Remove from the oven, but allow to sit in the water bath for about 15 minutes longer.

Remove and set aside  to cool completely before refrigerating.   

Mexican Dessert Recipe: Tequila-Flamed Mangos
Serves 6

Peanut Chocolate Cookies  Recipe
Makes about 24 cookies

Chocolate Walnut Biscotti Recipe
Makes about 48 cookies

Don't be put off by the different steps involved in this biscotti recipe.  These crispy cookies come together easily and are superb for dunking in your morning coffee or as a light dessert.

1 cup walnut halves (about 4 ounces)
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter (1/2 pound) softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
5 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into 1/2-inch chunks (about 1 cup)

Preheat the oven to 400º. Toast the walnuts for about 8 minutes, or until golden brown. Let the nuts cool, then coarsely chop them. Lower the oven temperature to 325º.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, blending thoroughly after each addition.    Add the vanilla. Gradually stir in the flour mixture, then fold in the nuts and the chocolate until just blended.

Divide the dough into 4 pieces and shape each piece into a 12-inch log. Set the logs on 2 lightly buttered baking sheets and refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.

Bake the dough logs for about 20 minutes, or until they are firm and starting to brown.  Transfer the logs to a rack and let cool slightly. Lower the oven temperature to 250º.

Using a serrated knife, cut the logs crosswise diagonally, 1/2 inch thick. Set the cookies on their side on the baking sheets and bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool before serving.

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