Dessert is arguably the best part of any meal. Sweet and satisfying, these recipes show you how to make delicious desserts from scratch.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
America’s favorite cookie, this slightly chewy delights are filled with sweet chocolate that will melt in your mouth
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, then line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Beat 1 cup of unsalted, room temperature butter with a hand or electric mixer until it is creamy and smooth. Add ¾ cups each of white and brown sugar and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in 2 large eggs one at a time, then add 1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract.
In another large bowl, mix ½ teaspoon of salt with 2 ¼ cups of white flour and 1 teaspoon of baking powder. Pour these ingredients into the egg mixture and beat well. Mix in 1 ½ cups of chocolate chips and add 1 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts if desired.
Using an ice cream scoop, drop the dough onto the baking sheets. Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges. This should take between 10 and 14 minutes. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack, then enjoy with a glass of cold milk.
To watch this recipe being made, check out this video:
Spicy Chocolate Cake
Similar to Mexican hot chocolate, this chocolate cake gets a burst of subtly spicy flavor from cayenne pepper and cinnamon.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, then coat a round cake ban with butter. Place a sheet of parchment paper on the bottom, coat it with butter and sprinkle it with a thin layer of cocoa.
Sift together ¼ cup of cocoa, 1 cup of flour, ½ teaspoons of salt, ¼ teaspoons of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and ½ teaspoon of baking powder in a medium bowl.
Melt ½ cups of unsalted butter and 6 ounces of bittersweet chocolate in a double broiler and set aside.
Beat 4 large eggs with ½ cup of white sugar and 1/3 cup of brown sugar in a large bowl for about five minutes. Slowly add the flour mixture and keep mixing until the ingredients are well incorporated.
Pour the batter into the pan, then bake for about 30 or 40 minutes.
While the cake is cooling on a wire rack, melt 2 ounces of chocolate using a double boiler. Drizzle the chocolate over the cake and serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.
Vanilla Cupcakes
This simple, sweet dessert is light and delicious when topped with buttercream frosting.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, beat 2/3 cup of white sugar with ½ cup of unsalted butter. Add three eggs and beat well, then add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Next, whisk together 1 lemon zest with 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder, ¼ teaspoon of salt and 1 ½ cups of white flour in a separate bowl. Slowly add this mixture to the egg mixture, scraping the bowl’s sides when needed.
Pour the batter into the muffin tin and bake for about 18 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack, then top with buttercream frosting.
To make the frosting, mix ½ cup of unsalted butter with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Slowly beat in 2 cups of powdered or confectioner’s sugar, then mix in 2 tablespoons of milk. The frosting can be tinted with food coloring if desired. Beat until fluffy, then pipe onto the cupcakes using a star decorating tip.
References:
Joy of Baking: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vanilla Cupcakes
Country Living: Hot Chocolate Cake
