Tag Archives: chocolate

Makin’ Whoopie—-Pies, that is.

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Cakes, Snacks and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Did you know that June is Dessert for Dudes month?  Yes, the third annual!  What is Dessert for Dudes month you ask?  In honor of Father’s Day a fellow food blogger  (Bake at 350 ), is  highlighting desserts that are especially dude-worthy.  She has invited other bloggers to join in.  I think  this is a marvelous idea and so I too will be honoring the men in my life with desserts that they particularly like.  Last week (June 7) I presented the recipe for Rhubarb Pie which is my husband’s favorite kind of pie.  Today’s recipe is in honor of my dance partner, who loves all kinds of sweets, and chocolate in particular.

Last week we were dancing to the tune “Makin’ Whoopee” when he said “there’s a title for your blog,  what can you do with Whoopee”?  My reply:  “make Whoopie Pies”.  Now, I’m not sure how familiar you all might be with Whoopie Pies.  They began as a regional favorite that has been attributed to the Amish people, and the states of Maine and Pennsylvania, both of which had large populations of Amish, claim to be the birth place of the Whoopie Pie.  Here in the Northeast they can still be found in small convenience stores and country markets, usually located up front near the checkout.  The classic whoopie pie consists of two large discs of chocolate cake enclosing a mega-dollop of cream filling.

The recipe I have for you today is for the classic style whoopie pie, although they can be made in other flavors with complimentary fillings.   Individually packaged, they make a nice take-along for a hike, a picnic, or whenever the need arises for a sweet treat.  OK, enough background information,  let’s get started.  Whoopie Pies here we come!

Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Creme Filling.

This recipe calls for cocoa.  I like to use Dutch Process cocoa for its nice dark color but any cocoa will work.  I would recommend Hershey’s Extra Dark, if you can’t find Dutch Process cocoa.  Also I add a little espresso powder because I feel it deepens the chocolate flavor and adds a special little nuance.

Put all of the following in a large mixer bowl, and beat together, scraping down the bowl several times as you go:

  • Butter, 1/2 cup, softened
  • Brown sugar, 1 cup
  • baking powder, 1 teaspoon
  • baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon
  • salt, 3/4 teaspoon
  • vanilla, 1 teaspoon
  • espresso powder, 1 teaspoon
2.  1 large egg.  Add to above mixture, and beat again, scraping down the bowl well.
3.  1/2 cup  Dutch Process cocoa, whisked together with 2 2/3 cups flour.  Add to the creamed mixture alternately with 1 cup milk.
4.  Prepare 2  baking sheets by lining with parchment paper.  Now you need to decide on cookie size:  Standard pies are about 5 inches in diameter.  To get this size use a muffin scoop to measure batter;  i.e.,about 1/4 cup .  Yield will be 8-9 large pies.  For a smaller pie about 2 3/4 ” diameter, measure batter out with a cookie scoop, about 2 1/2 tablespoons of batter, for a yield of 16 pies.
5.  Drop batter onto prepared baking sheets leaving plenty of space between mounds as they will spread.  Bake 14-16 minutes. (start checking at 14 minutes)  They should look set, dull not shiny, and feel firm to touch.  Cool completely on baking pans.  When they are luke warm lift gently with a spatula if they are stuck.  Wait till completely cooled to fill.
      
Before baking (left), shiny, moist chocolate blobs.  After baking (right), puffed, dull, set,  firm to touch.
Creme Filling
Aaaaah, the filling!  These are the ingredients:
  • 1 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1 1/3 cup Marshmallow Fluff or Marshmallow creme
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt dissolved in 1 Tablespoon water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1.  Beat shortening, sugar and Fluff till well combined.  I’m anticipating your question:  “Can I substitute butter for shortening”?  Well, if you do you will be making a soft butter creme filling..  “Real” whoopie filling was made of lots of shortening, sugar and raw egg whites.  These days the egg whites are replaced by the Marshmallow Fluff.  This has a stiffer consistency than Marshmallow Creme, so if using Creme, you may need to add a little more sugar.  Remember if you don’t use shortening, you’re not making a true whoopie. Most shortening sold today is free of trans fats, if that’s your worry.

2.  Continuing:  Beat everything till smooth.  Now add the vanilla, and salt dissolved in water.  Beat again till smooth

.

3.  To fill the pies,  scoop about 1 Tablespoon filling (for smaller pies) and place on flat side of a chocolate cake.  Place another cake on top and gently squeeze together to push the filling to the edges.  To fill the larger size cakes, use 2-3 tablespoons of filling, and do the same thing;  put it on one cake, top with another cake and squeeze.

4.  Do these look like snack cake heaven, or what?

Try one and say,  WHOOPEE!

SOURCE:  adapted from One Girl Cookies

Banana-Chocolate-Hazelnut French Toast

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Breakfast, Brunch and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I don’t know why, but when I’m on vacation, I really enjoy having breakfast out.  Eating something rather sumptuous  that I didn’t make is such a treat.   Even coffee made by someone else tastes extra special to me.  Well, one recent weekend, I found that I had some ripe bananas that needed to be eaten or used, and at the same time an almost empty jar of chocolate-hazelnut spread.  Normally, I would have had a teaspoon in that jar in a  split second, eating the last of it right off the spoon,  but just in the nick of time I remembered once on vacation when I ordered “Stuffed French Toast”.  The filling was sliced bananas and peanut butter.  It was delicious, and I ate every last crumb.  I thought to myself, if peanut butter was so good , well then, hazelnut spread with chocolate must be as good or better, wouldn’t you agree?

So I tried it out and  yep, I was right!  If you have kids at your house I feel pretty sure they will like this, in fact kids of all ages will like it.  Pair this dish with a bowl of mixed fresh fruits to round out the meal.

Let me also add that in spite of the fact that the recipe may at  first sound high calorie, it really isn’t because I use skim milk, no butter, only 2 eggs (and  you could use egg-beaters instead to further lower cholesterol and calories) and  I get in some fiber by using whole-grain bread.  The recipe serves 4, and the calorie total as I make it comes to somewhere between 360-380 calories.  That’s less than 1/3 of a 1200 calorie diet.  A serving consists of 3 triangles of the stuffed toast, dusted with powdered sugar.  It is quite filling; you feel like you’ve had a special treat.

INGREDIENT LIST:

  • 1/4 cup skim milk
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 6 slices whole grain bread
  • 4 1/2 tablespoons chocolate-hazelnut spread ( such as Nutella)
  • 1 cup thinly sliced banana
  •  2 teaspoons canola oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons powdered sugar
  1.  Combine first 5 ingredients in a shallow dish.
  2. Spread each of 3 bread slices with 1 1/2 tablespoon chocolate hazelnut spread; arrange 1/3 of the banana slices on each slice of bread.  Top sandwiches with remaining 3 bread slices.
  3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Working with one sandwich at a time, place into egg mixture, carefully turn over to coat other side and then place into pan. Cook sandwiches about 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.
  4. Cut each sandwich into 4 triangles.  Place 3 triangles attractively on each plate and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Garnish with fruit or serve with a cup of mixed fruits.

SOURCE:  This is a riff on someone else’s recipe. I can’t take credit for this one, although I did modify it to be more diet friendly.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Bars and Cookies and tagged with , , , ,

OMG, I think these are the BEST chocolate cookies I have ever made!  Warm from the oven Mr.D and I ate a total of six.  Of course, as I have previously stated chocolate is my absolute favorite in any kind of dessert.  With these the addition of chunks of Peanut Butter Cup candy takes them well over the top.  The cookies are a generous size, moist and chewy, and very rich. 

The recipe predicts a yield of 16 large cookies, but I used a smaller cookie scoop, and got a total of 30 cookies that were still good sized.  Plus my conscience  is more forgiving if I have more than one of these.

Before you begin, place the peanut cup candies in the freezer for about 30 minutes.  This will make chopping them easier, and helps keep them intact while mixing into the dough.  You will need about 2 cups, chopped.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 2 large baking sheets or line with parchment paper.

  • 1 bag mini Peanut Butter Cup candies
  • 1 1/2 cups flour, plus additional 2 tablespoons
  • 6 tablespoons cocoa
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  •  1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 stick butter (6T) at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  1. Whisk together dry ingredients. ( flour through salt)
  2. Combine butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Beat at medium speed till light and fluffy. (1-2 min.)
  3. Add in egg, vanilla and milk. Blend till smooth.  ( I felt that my dough need 1 more tablespoon of milk)
  4. Mix in dry ingredients just to incorporate.
  5.  Fold in 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped peanut butter cup candies.

Use a large cookie scoop and drop mounds of dough 2–3 inches apart.  Gently press a few pieces of candy into tops of dough balls. 

Bake 12 – 14 minutes.  (They may seem too soft coming from the oven, but they will set up as they cool.) Do not over bake them!

Let cool about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.    Store airtight.

Source:  Annies Eats