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Trix Cereal-Milk Milkshake

Written on July 28, 2014 by Wannabe Chef in Dessert, Drink

If you’ve ever had a bowl of cereal, you probably know the best part is the last bit of milk at the bottom(unless the only cereal you’ve ever had is Bran Flakes or Fiber One but that’s a different problem).

General Mills sent me some of their new Trix cereal to try out which was given a makeover for it’s 60th birthday (!!) to be fruitier than the old recipe. (Spoiler alert: No fruit shapes anymore; all of the pieces are circles) I can’t say I’m a Trix aficionado and remember what the old recipe tasted like but these are definitely fruity and delicious–by far the best lazy-night dinner I have in my cupboard when I get home past 8pm.

Living in NYC there’s no shortage of inspiration for out-of-the-box recipes whether it’s a cronut or a frozen hot chocolate. I’ve heard people rave about the cereal-milk from Momofuku’s and thought it was the perfect grown-up way to enjoy a kids’ favorite cereal.

This is just a variation on your standard 2:1 ratio milkshake. Add extra milk or ice cream to make it smoother or thicker.

You can really customize a recipe like this with any cereal–it’s a blank canvas! If Trix aren’t your thing, try Lucky Charms or even Reese’s Puffs with a chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

Trix Cereal-Milk Milkshake

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 0 minutes

Ingredients(Makes 2 servings):

1/2 cup Trix cereal plus more for garnish
3/4 cup whole milk
1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened slightly

Method:

Combine the Trix cereal and milk in a blender or food processor and mix until the Trix has fully dissolved into the milk. The milk should be smooth and darker in color.
Add in the ice cream and process until creamy.
Pour out evenly into two glasses.
Garnish with a little more Trix and enjoy with a straw or spoon.

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4th of July Flourless Chocolate Cake

Written on July 3, 2014 by Wannabe Chef in Dessert, Holiday

Cake is never my favorite dessert. Brownies, fudge and frosting are. So when I make a cake the fudgier and dense it is the better.

My mom’s made this flourless cake for years. I first had it during passover at a bake sale when it was one of the few flour-free treats people would flock to. Since then it’s been a go-to recipe.

The cake is just eggs, sugar, chocolate, and butter; it can’t get any simpler than that. For the frosting I used a basic vanilla buttercream and fresh berries to make it festive. When adding berries to baked goods you make the shelf life much much shorter, so add them at the last minute and make sure to eat it up fresh!

If you do prefer a lighter and cakier base, try this gluten-free recipe using almond and coconut flours.

4th of July Flourless Chocolate Cake

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Ingredients(Makes 20 servings):

For the cake:

1 stick butter, melted
3/4 cup sugar
6 eggs
1 cup chocolate chips OR 8.5 oz chocolate, melted

For the frosting:

1 stick butter, room temperature
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons milk or cream
1 pint strawberries, sliced
1 pint blueberries

Method:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Beat together the butter and sugar, adding in eggs one at a time until all of them are incorporated. The batter should be smooth and ribbony.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave.
Slowly temper the melted chocolate into the batter until it’s completely mixed in.
Grease a 9-inch cake pan and pour the batter in.
Bake for 40 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove the cake and let it sit undisturbed until it cools to room temperature. It should deflate as it cools. Don’t worry if the top cracks since it will get covered eventually.
To make the frosting, whip together the butter, sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth.
Lightly dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar to make sure the frosting doesn’t pull crumbs.
Spread the frosting on gently and evenly.
Arrange the strawberries and blueberries however you’d like right before serving. Store leftovers in a air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

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4 Memorial Day Dessert Recipes

Written on May 22, 2014 by Wannabe Chef in Dessert, Holiday, Recipe Round-Up

When the Summer comes around, it makes me realize how boring the Winter was. Every weekend someone’s having a picnic or a party or a birthday. It’s a really good problem to have.

Assuming you have one(or all) of those lined up for Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to share 4 of my favorite recipes to celebrate the warmer weather(of course if it’s too warm and chocolate starts melting, then it’s a travesty).

Any of these are a great way to finish off a picnic or a backyard barbecue depending on what your mood is. Each recipe is also gluten-free or easily tailored to be.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Flag Cake–Because every memorial day needs some patriotism. The great thing about cake is that it can’t melt, so if it’s hot out you can still have a tasty time. This cake defies normal gluten-free cakes with a super moist base and a rich vanilla frosting. You can’t really go wrong.

Chubby Hubby Cheesecake

Chubby Hubby Cheesecake is on my short list of recipes to make soon. It’s pretty much a home run with any crowd with good taste. It’s easy to make gluten-free, too, by using gluten-free pretzels or even vegan with dairy-free substitutes.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Chocolate Covered Strawberries are of course a classic dessert for any Summer party. As long as it’s not too hot out, these are a refreshing way to cool down. Create a variety by using milk, white, and dark chocolate.

Red, White, & Blue Strawberries take the chocolate covered strawberry idea and flip it inside out(literally). These take a little more time and skill but they’re worth the effort. If you’re up for a challenge and ready to impress, give these a go.

Happy Memorial Day!

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Banana White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Written on May 19, 2014 by Wannabe Chef in Dessert

Bananas get a worse rap than any other fruit. You never hear of people who refuse to eat blueberries or mangoes; what makes the banana so loathable?

If you do love bananas then this is the right cookie recipe. They aren’t overly cakey or fruity–they’re just right.

The flour I used was Betty Crocker’s gluten free baking flour. It’s mostly rice based which keeps the cookies light and airy. If you use wheat flour I’d suggest all-purpose or cake flour.

I made mine with coconut oil and the flavor was even better. If you don’t have coconut oil, try adding shredded coconut.

Banana White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 12 minutes

Ingredients(Makes 18 cookies):

1 banana, mashed
2 eggs
1/4 cup oil(coconut oil works well here)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup white chocolate chips

Method:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix together the banana, eggs, oil, and vanilla.
Add in the baking powder, sugar, flour, and salt and mix well until it makes a soft dough.
Fold in the white chocolate chips evenly.
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and flatten them to about 1/2 inch thickness before putting them on a nonstick baking tray.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until the bottoms begin to brown and the top is crispy.
Remove from the oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

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Raw Chocolate Fudge Pie

Written on April 30, 2014 by Wannabe Chef in Dessert

If there’s any way to make peace after 2 weeks of not posting it’s this recipe.

Spending the weekend with friends or family is great but usually leads to a week without recipes. Last weekend was the exception. My friend Eury visited and stayed with me and insisted(she’s going to hate that word–“suggested”) we make the raw fudge pie recipe she’s been working on.

Whether you’re gluten-free or gluten-full, vegan or a meat lover, there’s no denying raw desserts are just better than regular ones. They’re always fudgier, creamier, more flavorful, and easy to convince yourself they’re healthy so you can go back for seconds.

Rich raw chocolate fudge pie

With permission I’m sharing Eury’s recipe which’ll easily win over the staunchest crowd. The cashew filling has the same taste and texture as any milk chocolate fudge. If you do not care about the health benefits of eating raw and only make this because raw desserts have amazing flavors and textures, feel free to substitute the maple syrup for honey, corn syrup, or simple syrup.

Raw Chocolate Fudge Pie

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 0 minutes

Ingredients(Makes 16 servings):

For the crust:

3/4 cup almonds
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 Tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the filling:

2 cups cashews
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup coconut oil
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla

Method:

Pulse the almonds and walnuts in a food processor until finely chopped.
Add in the syrup, cocoa powder, and vanilla for the crust and continue processing until it forms a mixed dough.
Press the dough into a 9-inch pan until the bottom’s about 1/4-inch thick.
For the filling, process the cashews into a fine powder. Make sure not to over blend them into cashew butter.
Add in the maple syrup and water and continue blending until smooth.
Add in the rest of the ingredients and process until it forms a smooth liquid filling.
Pour the filling over the crust and spread into an even layer.
Refrigerate for ~4 hours until the center has set. Cut with a sharp knife into servings. Refrigerate when not enjoying.

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Peanut Butter Buttercream

Written on April 2, 2014 by Wannabe Chef in Dessert

These are not the best cupcakes I had for my birthday. In fact, the cake part didn’t come out all that well since I made them on the fly without measuring anything(only to be surprised Saturday night with a batch of homemade banana cupcakes with Nutella frosting). But they were entirely edible if only because of the frosting.

This frosting though was just right. It’s sweet and vanilla at first with a nutty peanut butter finish. It’d be great on just about any cake or cupcake, and it’s easy to decorate with chocolate chips or Reese’s Puffs.

For this recipe, look for natural peanut butter without any added oils or stabilizers. It’ll mix in with the other ingredients the easiest and have a better, stronger flavor.

Peanut Butter Buttercream

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 0 minutes

Ingredients:

6 Tablespoons butter, room temperature
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 Tablespoons all natural no oil peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 Tablespoons cream or whole milk

Method:

In a large bowl, mix together the butter, sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla with an electric beater.
Slowly add just enough milk until the ingredients make a thick but smooth buttercream.
Scoop into a pastry bag and use immediately.

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Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies

Written on February 18, 2014 by Wannabe Chef in Dessert

It’s a good think I never made a resolution to eat less sugar because if I did I’d be doing horribly at it.

I always like to have something sweet after dinner, whether it’s part of a chocolate bar or just a handful of chocolate chips. That’s probably why I buy a bag and end up finishing it before actually making a recipe. Oops.

These cookies are simple because all I had this weekend in my pantry was simple ingredients. But simple can be all you need.

Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients(Makes 18 cookies):

1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup cane sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup peanut butter chips

Method:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat together the peanut butter, sugar, egg, vanilla and baking soda.
Fold in the chocolate and peanut butter chips evenly.
Roll the dough into 1-ounce balls. Lightly press down on the balls with a fork in a criss-cross pattern to flatten it to about 3/4-inch thickness.
Bake for 12-14 minutes until the tops are firm to the touch and the edges begin to brown.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool before moving to a separate plate.

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Last Minute Christmas Desserts

Written on December 23, 2013 by Wannabe Chef in Holiday, Recipe Round-Up

T’was the day before Christmas

When all through the house

Not a stove pot was stirring

So I went and grabbed my mouse.

Click after click,

Page after page

I searched for a dessert

That’d be all the rage.

Chocolate or Nutella,

Peanut butter or not,

I just needed something quick

I could make on the spot.

I found a list

With time to spare

And blogged about it

For all to share.

Easy Nutella Brownies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Coconut Pistachio Bark

Bailey’s Hot Chocolate Truffles

Chubby Hubby Cheesecake

No-Bake Peanut Butter S’mores Bars

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark

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Ina Garten’s Caramel Sauce

Written on August 29, 2013 by Wannabe Chef in Miscellaneous

I like to think I can make most things without looking up a recipe. I can’t. More than a few first attempts end up in the garbage or down the drain. I don’t think it’s a waste though whenever you try something new and learn from it one way or another. Cooking’s an art, right? Mistakes are meant to be made.

I tried to make caramel sauce with what I had on hand(butter and 1%). That was a mistake. I didn’t really know what I was doing but I figured Ina Garten did and I tried again with her recipe which called for heavy cream and just a few other ingredients.

I’m sure Ina used pure Costa Rican sugar, organic grass-fed cream and homemade Madagascar vanilla bean extract—none of which I had on hand—but this came out pretty good even with store brand ingredients. It didn’t have as thick a body as store-bought caramel sauce because it doesn’t have any thickeners or stabilizers, but it tastes very simple and fresh.

I added a 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt after it had cooled which made the flavor pop a lot more. Caramel sauce should always be a little salty so you can taste how sweet it really is. Besides that I followed Ina’s original recipe. Oh and when she says “a warm chestnut brown” she just means a light brown for all of us who haven’t toasted fresh chestnuts over a log fire in Vermont. Silly Ina.

Here’s an Instagram video of the different stages:

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Homemade Peppermint Patties

Written on August 5, 2013 by Wannabe Chef in Dessert

I’m a candy addict. I like having a little after every meal; it just leaves a better taste in your mouth than pasta sauce or vegetables ever could. That’s probably why I’ve blogged this recipe 2 or 3 times in the past couple of years. But it’s so good I have to post it again.

I’ll admit I love the store-bought, corn syrup laden candy you get at grocery stores and movie theaters. Now and again though it’s fun to make your own. And it can be a great way to impress your family and friends.

I’d recommend looking for dark chocolate chips for this recipe; the bitterness of the chocolate is a nice contrast to the minty sweet filling. You can use butter in place of the coconut oil if that’s what you have on hand.

Homemade Peppermint Patties

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 0 minutes

Ingredients(Makes 24 patties):

2 1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 1/2 Tablespoons agave nectar(or any liquid sweetener)
1 1/2 Tablespoons water
1 Tablespoon coconut oil, softened or melted
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 bag(12oz) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips

Method:

In a large bowl, mix the powdered sugar, agave nectar, coconut oil, peppermint extract, and water. Continue mixing with your hands until it comes together and forms a dough ball.
Take off chunks of filling from the dough ball and roll them into 3/4-inch balls. Press the balls down in between your hands and form patties.
Lay the patties out on a baking tray on a non-stick surface and refrigerate or freeze for 20 minutes until firm
Melt the chocolate in a microwave or over a double-boiler. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Dip the frozen filling into the melted chocolate with a fork until the top and bottom are covered. Wipe off any excess chocolate from the bottom and lay it on the lined baking tray.
Refrigerate the patties for 10 minutes before removing them from the paper. Keep refrigerated when not eating.

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