crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3-5 tablespoons ice water
1 lemon, zest finely grated
save 1/4 tsp for filling
Tag Archives: sweets
Pecan Pie Bars from justataste.com
For crust:
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
For topping:
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 cups chopped pecans
Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9×13-inch pan with foil, leaving enough for a 2-inch overhang on all sides.
First make the crust by creaming together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add in the flour and salt and mix until crumbly.
Press the crust into the foil-lined pan and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
While the crust bakes, prepare the filling by combining the butter, brown sugar, honey and heavy cream in a saucepan and stirring it over medium heat. Simmer the mixture for 1 minute, then stir in the chopped pecans.
Remove the crust from the oven and immediately pour the pecan filling over the hot crust spreading it to cover the entire surface.
Return the pan to the oven and bake an additional 20 minutes.
Remove the pan and allow the bars to fully cool in the pan.
Use the foil overhang to lift out the bars and transfer them to a cutting board. Peel off the foil, slice into bars and serve.
Lemon-Ricotta Bars from food52

For the Crust
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon zest
3/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cut into 1-inch pieces, slightly softened plus extra for greasing pan
For Lemon-Ricotta Filling
8 oz (1 cup) fresh whole milk Ricotta, drained
4 large eggs, beaten
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2/3 cup lemon juice from 3 to 4 large lemons, strained
1/4 teaspoon salt
To make the crust: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Using a pastry brush, lightly butter a 13-by-9-inch baking dish and line with one sheet parchment paper. Butter paper, then lay second sheet crosswise over it. Pulse flour, confectioner’s sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest and salt in food processor. Add butter and process to blend; then pulse until mixture is pale yellow and resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle mixture into lined pan and, press firmly with fingers into even layer over entire pan bottom and about 1/2-inch up sides. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, and then bake until light golden brown, about 20 minutes. To make the filling: Whisk ricotta, eggs, sugar, and flour in medium bowl, then stir in lemon zest, juice, and salt to blend well. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Stir filling mixture before pouring into warm crust. Bake until filling feels firm when touched lightly, about 30 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack; cool to room temperature, at least 2 hours. Transfer to cutting board, fold paper down, and cut into bars, wiping knife or pizza cutter clean between cuts. Dust with confectioner’s sugar.
Makes 18, 2-inches squares
cinna-buns from king arthur
Dough
1 cup (8 ounces) lukewarm milk
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup unsalted butter, cut up
4 3/4 cups (20 ounces) Mellow Pastry Blend OR 4 1/2 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
Filling
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Icing
one 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups glazing or confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Manual/Mixer Method: Combine all of the dough ingredients in a large mixing bowl, stirring till the mixture becomes cohesive. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled work surface, and knead it for 5 to 8 minutes, till it’s smooth. Or knead it in an electric mixer, using the dough hook, for 4 to 7 minutes at medium speed. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turn to grease all sides, cover the bowl with a proof cover or plastic wrap, and let it rise for 60 minutes, till it’s nearly doubled in bulk.
Assembly: Transfer the dough to a lightly greased work surface, and roll it into a 16 x 21-inch rectangle. Spread the dough with the 1/3 cup butter. Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle it evenly over the dough.
Starting with a short end, roll the dough into a log, and cut it into 12 slices. Place the buns in a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch pan. Cover the pan with a proof cover or plastic wrap, and let the buns rise until they’re nearly doubled, about 30 minutes.
Bake the buns in a preheated 400°F oven until they’re golden brown, about 15 minutes. While the buns are baking, make the icing.
Icing: In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and vanilla. Spread the icing on the buns while they’re warm. Yield: 12 big buns.
Chocolate Pudding From Dorie Greenspan
2 1/4 cups whole milk
6 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
2 large egg yolks
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into 4 pieces
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Bring 2 cups of the milk and 3 tablespoons of the sugar to the boil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
While the milk is heating, toss the cocoa, cornstarch and salt into the bowl of a food processor and pulse to blend; turn the dry ingredients out onto a sheet of wax paper. Place the egg, yolks and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar in the bowl and process for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the remaining 1/4 cup milk. Process for a few seconds, return the dry ingredients to the bowl and pulse, just until blended.
With the machine running, slowly pour in the hot milk, processing to blend. The mixture will be foamy, but the bubbles will disappear when the pudding is cooked. Return the mixture to the saucepan, set the pan over medium-high heat and, stirring without stop, cook for about 2 minutes, or until the pudding thickens and one bubble rises to the surface – the pudding should not boil. Scrape the pudding into the processor, add the remaining ingredients and pulse until everything is evenly blended.
Pour the pudding into six 1/2-cup bowls. If you don’t want a skin to form on the tops of the puddings, press a piece of plastic wrap directly against the surface of each pudding. (As you can see, I let the skin the form – we like it that way chez us.)
Chill for at least 4 hours before serving plain or topped with heavy cream, whipped or not. Makes 6 servings
Chocolate Lava Cake from Ginny Gary
1 1/2 oz semi sweet chocolate
1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate
3 Tbsp plus I tsp butter, softened
3 Tbsp sugar
1 egg
3 Tbsp flour
1/4tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cocoa
Optional: whip cream and cocoa powder for garnish.
Lightly butter 2 small ramekins. Melt chocolate in microwave or top of double boiler. Stir in 3 Tbsp of butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg, flour, baking powder and cocoa. With electric mixer, beat at med-high speed until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. Fill ramekins ½ full with mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 3 hrs. When ready to serve, put ramekins in preheated 375 degree oven on middle shelf 10 or 11 minutes. Edges should be set, but centers still shiny. Serve in dish. Serves 2. Do not double this recipe.
Maple Syrup Pie with Crème Fraîche from Cook’s Country, via thebittenword.com
1 (9-inch) pie dough round
1 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Roll dough into 12-inch circle on lightly floured counter. Loosely roll dough around rolling pin and gently unroll it onto prepared pie plate, letting excess dough hang over edge. Ease dough into plate by gently lifting edge of dough with your hand while pressing into plate bottom with your other hand.
2. Trim overhang to 1/2 inch beyond lip of pie plate. Tuck overhang under itself; folded edge should be flush with edge of pie plate. Crimp dough evenly around edge of pie plate using your fingers. Wrap dough-lined pie plate loosely in plastic and freeze until dough is firm, about 15 minutes.
3. Line chilled pie shell with parchment paper or double layer of aluminum foil, covering edges to prevent burning, and fill with pie weights. Bake until edges are light golden brown, 18 to 25 minutes, rotating pie plate halfway through baking. Remove parchment and weights and continue to bake until center begins to look opaque and slightly drier, 3 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes. (Baked, cooled crust can be wrapped in plastic and stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours.)
4. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bring maple syrup, cream, and salt to boil in a medium saucepan. Add butter and whisk until melted. Reduce heat to medium-low and whisk in cornstarch. Bring to simmer and cook for 1 minutes, whisking frequently. Transfer to large bowl and let cool at least 30 minutes. Whisk in eggs and yolks and vinegar until smooth. (Cooled filling can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Whisk to recombine and proceed to step 5, increasing baking time to 55 to 65 minutes.)
5. Place cooled crust on rimmed baking sheet, and pour filling into crust. Bake until just set, 35 to 45 minutes. Let pie cool completely on wire rack, about 2 hours. Transfer to refrigerator and chill until fully set, at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Crème Fraîche
1 cup pasteurized heavy cream, room temperature
2 tablespoons buttermilk, room temperature
Combine cream and buttermilk in 1-pint jar. Cover jar with triple layer of cheesecloth and secure with rubber band. Let sit in warm place (about 75 degrees) until thickened but still pourable, 12 to 24 hours. Stir to recombine. Serve. (Crème fraîche can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.)
Zabaglione with Fresh Peaches and Raspberries from LSQ
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Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Prepare an ice-water bath. Place peaches in boiling water and cook 10 seconds. Drain, and immediately transfer peaches to ice-water bath. Remove peels using your fingers or a paring knife. Slice peaches in half and remove pit; set aside.
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In a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water, add egg yolks, Marsala, and sugar. Beat until mixture is creamy and thick, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
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Divide peach halves evenly between 4 plates. Fill peach halves with berries and spoon over zabaglione. Serve immediately.
Carmelitas
32 caramel squares, unwrapped ½ cup heavy cream
¾ cup butter, melted
¾ cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8×8 pan or you can line with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easier removal. The carmel can get sticky. (can also be made in a 9×13 just double the ingredients)
- In a mixing bowl, combine melted butter and brown sugar. Add flour, oats, and baking soda. Mix until combined.
- Divide the cookie mixture in half and pat half of the mix into the bottom of the 8×8 pan. Bake for 10 minutes and remove.
- While baking, combine the caramels and heavy cream and stir until completely smooth. Can also be melted in the microwave, just stir after every 30 seconds being careful not to let it burn.
- Remove pan from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the crust. Pour carmel mixture over the chocolate chips and crumble remaining cookie dough on top.
- Return to oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges are lightly brown.
- Once removed from oven allow them to completely cool and the carmel to set up. The carmel is like molten carmel right out of the oven and you want to let it cool. You can speed up the cooling process by putting it in the fridge if needed.
Key Lime Tart

9 to 10 graham crackers (each 2 1/2 by 5 inches)
2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 4 to 6 limes), or fresh or bottled key-lime juice
4 large egg yolks
Pinch salt
Slivered lime zest, for garnish (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Process graham crackers and 2 tablespoons sugar in a food processor until fine crumbs form; add butter. Process until combined. Transfer mixture to a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom; pat into bottom and up sides. Place pan on a baking sheet, and bake until crust is fragrant and slightly colored, about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine condensed milk, lime juice, egg yolks, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and salt; whisk until smooth. Pour mixture into crust (warm or cool is fine), leaving 1/8 inch at the top; return to oven. Bake until filling is set around edge but still slightly loose in center, 20 to 25 minutes.
Cool completely at room temperature; then refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours. Serve, garnished with zest, if desired.


