Cake Bites



     My sister-in-law and I recently went to a cake decorating class for petit fours and had a great time.   One thing we both realized was how time consuming the real petit fours are to make! 

 

     Petit fours are really delicious, but you can only eat a couple at a time because they are SO sweet!   I didn't know why until the class.  The instructor's recipe said to put butter cream icing on the bottom of the petit fours, THEN add fondant to the top of them!  After they were dry, she then decorated the tops of them...more sugar!  Oh my goodness....can anyone say sugar coma?

 

     So, with that in mind, I came up with an easier solution.  I am calling them CAKE BITES.   They still have some of the sweetness, but not as much as hers.  One thing I want to warn you about is- these take a couple of days before they are ready to eat!  By the time you bake the cake, let it cool, freeze it overnight, cut it into squares, make fondant and  pour over each square and let dry all day, it's a long process!  Not hard, just takes awhile before you can eat them....

 

So, lets get started!

 

 

Cake

 

1 box chocolate cake mix

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs 

 

 

Blend all ingredients together at medium speed for about 2 minutes.  Pour into greased pan that is 11 x 15 inches.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Let cool completely.  Cover well and freeze cake overnight.  In morning, cut into approximately 1 inch squares while still frozen.  Makes about 80.

 

**Note:  You can make these with just about any cake mix.  Leave out the cocoa in the fondant if you don't want chocolate.



 

Fondant

1 cup half and half
dash salt
1/4 cup cocoa
2 lbs. powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1 teaspoon butter
2 Tablespoons shortening

In double boiler, mix shortening, milk and salt.   Heat until shortening melts.  Remove from heat and add vanilla, butter, cocoa and powdered sugar.  Mix well with mixer.   I put three bite size pieces of cake on a spatula and pour the fondant on them with a spoon.  (See below.)

Put them on a wire rack with a cookie sheet under it to catch the dripping fondant.  Let air dry approx. 18-24 hours until set.

The hard part is trying NOT to eat them while they are drying!


These just melt in your mouth!  The great thing is, this recipe makes quite a bit and can last on the counter for 5-7 days.  They probably won't, because you can't eat just 1 or 2.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Beignets - The Cajun Donut

     This morning I was hungry for donuts, so I decided to make beignets.  They are what I like to call the Cajun donut.  I'll admit that they aren't exactly like Cafe Du Monde's in New Orleans.

     I do have a couple of recipes for beignets.  This one was in my moms recipe box, so I thought I'd make these first.  I'll make the other recipe another time.  You can help me decide which one is best!

Mom's Beignets

1 cup flour
1 T. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 cup powdered sugar for coating

Mix first 5 ingredients together and drop by spoonfuls into hot grease.  Batter will be a little thick.  Fry on each side 2-3 minutes.  Drain on paper towels.  Let cool a few minutes.  Put 1 cup powdered sugar in Ziploc bag.  Drop beignets in and shake well to coat.  Makes about 12 beignets.

***You could even make little ones like donut holes- the kids would love them! Putting them in the bag and shaking it up is something they can do to help-just make sure they are cool first.




           Mix all ingredients together except powdered sugar

 

 

 

                                             Fry 2-3 minutes on each side

      Put powdered sugar in Ziploc bag - add beignets and shake

 

 

 

These beignets are a good substitute for the donuts you buy at the bakery.  Especially if you don't want to leave home to pick them up...

 

Let me know what you think!

Easy Buttery Biscuits

     These are my go to biscuits when I need something in a hurry,  because they are so easy!  I am sure some of you have seen some version of this recipe.  They are a lot like Popeye's biscuits...buttery!

Easy Buttery Biscuits

2 cups Pioneer Biscuit Mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup 7up or sprite
3/4 stick of melted butter


Mix biscuit mix, sour cream and 7up in large bowl.  Stir until combined.  Batter will be sticky.  Sprinkle extra biscuit mix on counter or chopping block.  Cover batter in biscuit mix on floured surface.   Roll out into large rectangle.  Cut into biscuits and put on baking pan that is sprayed with cooking spray.  Brush biscuit tops with melted butter.  Whatever butter is left, pour it over the biscuits.  It will end up on the bottom of the baking pan.  Cook at 375 degrees for about 20-25 minutes.   Makes 15-20 depending on size and thickness.


I love these with blackberry jelly, but you could use whatever you have on hand. They also make a good side to go with dinner.  Delicious!


                            Start with these three ingredients

Mix them all together in large bowl

 

Batter is sticky!

Roll into biscuits.....

Brush tops with butter - pour rest of it over them!

 

 

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 375 degrees.

 

Done!