Chess Cake

I had never heard of Chess Cake before and was confused when my friend requested it for her birthday. I had to research what it was and what went into baking it. I was pleasantly surprised with how delicious it looked. I tweaked recipes that I found to make it my own. I started out with a homemade yellow cake and topped that with a cream cheese mixture. The end result was moist, delicious, and messy. This recipe is messy! So don't expect a pretty result, but you can expect a yummy result. My best advice is to just dig in with a fork. :)

Chess Cake Recipe:
Yellow Cake: makes 1 8 inch layer
1/2 cup of butter
3/4 cup of sugar
4 egg yolks (Do NOT put egg whites in the batter)
3/8 cup of milk
3/4 tsp of vanilla extract
1 cup of cake flour
1 tsp of baking powder
1/4 tsp of salt
First, preheat the oven to 350. Then prepare an 8 inch cake pan by spraying it with vegetable oil. Then, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Then, beat the butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy.

Then, add in the egg yolks one at a time and beat until combined.

Then, add in the vanilla extract and beat until well combined.

Next, add the milk and the flour mixture. Do this alternately in about 3 sections. First the flour, then the milk and so on. Beat until well combined.

Then, pour this mixture into the prepared cake pan and refrigerate it while you prepare the cream cheese mixture.

Chess Cake topping:
1/2 cup of butter
2 eggs
8 oz of cream cheese
4 cups of powdered sugar
First, beat the butter, the cream cheese, the eggs, and the sugar and beat it until well combined.

Then, pull the cake batter out of the fridge and pour the cream cheese mixture on top. Spread it evenly.

Then, bake for about 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Grab a fork and dig in! :)

Coconut Macaroons

Midterms are approaching so obviously I celebrated that by baking something. I bake when I am stressed, it calms me. I love anything coconut and I love coconut dipped in chocolate even more.This recipe is only a few simple steps and is delicious. The sweet coconut mixes perfectly with the semi sweet chocolate at the bottom. The tops are crispy and golden brown and the middle is soft and creamy. Literally the perfect dessert or anytime snack :)

Coconut Macaroons:

14 oz of shredded sweetened coconut

7/8 cup of sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated) 

1 tsp of vanilla extract 

2 egg whites 

1/4 tsp of salt

4 oz of semi sweet chocolate (or more, it depends on your preference)

First, preheat your oven to 325 and spray a baking sheet with oil. In a bowl mix together the coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and the vanilla extract.

Then, in your mixer beat together the egg whites and the salt until stiff peaks form.

Then, add the coconut mixture to the egg whites and mix together.

With two spoons form the mixture into ball shapes and place on the baking sheet. 

Then, bake for about 25 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown and the tops. 

Then, let them cool and melt the chocolate. 

Then, dip the bottoms of the macaroons in the chocolate. 

Refrigerate the macaroons and let the chocolate harden. 

Enjoy! :) 

Irish Soda Bread

It is St. Partick's day weekend and of course I had to celebrate it by baking something Irish. I am very proud to be Irish and I love bragging about being Irish, so I love St. Patrick's Day. I have always loved Irish Soda Bread, it has a sweetness and a heartiness to it that is just delicious. This recipe is really simple and easy to follow. I am a huge currant fan so that makes this recipe even more amazing. If you don't know what currants are, they are kind of like a sweet raisin. So, if you are Irish and proud or wish you could be Irish make this bread to celebrate!

Irish Soda Bread:

4 cups of all purpose flour (Plus extra for the currants and to flour the board to knead the bread)

4 tbs of sugar 

1 tsp of baking soda 

1 1/2 tsp of salt 

4 tbs of cold unsalted butter cut up into pieces 

1 3/4 cup of buttermilk 

1 egg

1 tsp of orange zest

1 cup of dried currants 

First, preheat your oven to 375 and spray a baking sheet. Then, in your mixer mix together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. 

Then, mix in the cut up butter. 

In a separate bowl, mix together the buttermilk, egg, and the orange zest. Make sure the egg is beaten and that the buttermilk is shaken. 

Then, mix the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture and beat together until well combined. 

Then, mix the currants with a tablespoon of flour and coat them. 

Then, add the currants into the mixture and mix it all together, 

Then, flour a board and pour the bread mixture on the board. Knead it a few times in the flour into a round shape and cut an X shape at the top of the dough.

Place the dough onto the baking sheet.

Bake for about 55 minutes of until a knife comes out clean and the bread is browned on top.

Serve it warm and Enjoy! :) 

Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies

These cookies are super easy and you don't even need an oven! Just a sauce pan and a cookie sheet are needed. They are chocolately and full of peanut buttery goodness. These are a big hit and are something super simple to whip up for any event. Who doesn't love chocolate and peanut butter? My best friend requested these for his birthday and I gladly obliged.

Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies: Makes 15

1/4 cup of butter 

1 cup of sugar 

1/4 cup of milk

1/8 cup of cocoa powder 

1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

1/4 cup of peanut butter 

1 1/2 cup of old fashioned oats 

First, bring the butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa powder to a boil over medium heat. 

Then, remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and the vanilla. 

Then, stir in the oats. 

Then, drop the cookies on a cookie sheet with parchment paper and let them harden. 

Enjoy!