Sunday, December 29, 2013

Cake Dome Sunday #43: Eggnog cake doughnuts



Eggnog Cake Doughnuts...yum!  The perfect way to use up some left over eggnog you might have in your refrigerator.  These were great with our morning coffee (or tea).   I've frozen up individual baggies for the Mister's lunchbox to take to work when he returns after his vacation.



 
Simple and fast to make and quite yummy with the flavors of eggnog, rum extract and nutmeg.
 
 
Eggnog Cake Doughnuts
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
 

Ingredients:
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup eggnog
  • 3/4 cup  granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons rum extract
Directions:
  1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. 
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, eggnog, sugar, butter and both extracts.
  3. Stir dry ingredients into the beaten wet ingredients just until moistened and combined.
  4. Spoon batter into greased doughnut pan.  Bake at 350 degrees until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. (about 10 - 12 minutes). 
  5. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the doughnut pans and finish cooling on wire racks.
  6. When cooled, dust tops with icing sugar.
Yield: 2 dozen Doughnuts
 

 

If you don't have a doughnut pan feel free to use a loaf pan.  Just grease it well and bake the loaf longer (maybe 30 minutes for a loaf).  When a testing stick comes out clean you'll know it is done.
 
 

Until next time,
 
Cheers!
 
 

 

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Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas day!


From our family (two and four legged) to yours, we wish you a blessed Christmas and good health and much happiness in the new year to come.
 
Cheers!
 
Jennifer

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Cake Dome Sunday #42: German Springerle Cookies

When my children were little it was tradition in our household to begin Christmas cookie baking on December 1st.   My children, our dog, the floor and countertops and myself were covered in flour and sprinkles.  And it was all good! 
 
My children are all grown and in their thirties and out on their own, but I still hang onto the December 1st cookie baking tradition.  This week I made the first of our traditional cookies for this year:  German Springerle Cookies.  I posted this recipe two or three years ago, but I thought for anyone who might like the recipe that I'd repost.


Everyone has a special cookie or sweet that they look forward to during special holidays. At Christmas time one cookie that I look forward to making is German Springerle Cookies. They are a beautiful white biscuit embossed by using a special carved rolling pin that impresses the design onto the dough. You make them at least a month in advance of when you want to eat them because saved in a cookie tin, the flavor of the anise oil and seed enhances.


In doing a bit of research on the cookie's history I learned that name Springerle comes from an old German dialect and means "little knight" or "jumping horse." Historians trace these cookies back to the Jul fest, a midwinter celebration of pagan Germanic tribes.


These cookies are white, flavored with anise oil and seeds and are made with a very simple egg, flour and sugar dough.
Before I place my cookies on the buttered parchment paper before baking I sprinkle the buttered parchment paper-lined baking sheet with anise seed. This way, there is a slight addition of the anise seed to the cookie as well. The original recipe didn't call for the seed but I like just a touch and since it is on the bottom of the cookie it doesn't interfere with the design on top.
 
In my family my husband and one of my sons really like these and now Springerle Cookies have become a holiday tradition to have at least a few to share. Both times my son was deployed to Iraq I made sure that in his Christmas goodie boxes these cookies were included. They travel well. The are hard on the outside and soft inside. And best of all, they improve with age.


Here is the recipe I use. If you don't have the detailed rolling pin, don't worry. You can cut them into rectangle with a knife after you've rolled the dough.

German Springerle Cookies
4 large eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon anise oil
4 cups all-purpose flour

Prepare baking sheets with buttered parchment paper. Avoid using insulated cookie sheets as they will cause the springerle cookies to brown during baking. These cookies should remain white and only the bottom will brown very slightly.

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs on high speed of your electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add sugar, butter and baking powder and beat at high speed for 15 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. (And YES I said 15 minutes! This is a time I'm ever so grateful for having a stand mixer that I can turn on and let run.)

Now add the anise oil and flour, just mixing the flour until the dough holds together in a ball.

On a lightly floured board, knead the dough a few times (the dough will be sticky at first so knead in just enough flour to make it manageable.

Roll out the dough with a standard rolling pin, into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick. Do NOT roll any thinner than 1/2 inch. This is important!

Next lightly flour your springerle special rolling pin and roll slowly and firmly over the dough to make a clear design impression. DO NOT roll it back and forth. You just want to impress the image into the top of the dough. Using a sharp knife cut the cookies apart and trim off the outside edges. Roll out scraps of dough in the same manner as before. BE SURE TO FLOUR THE ROLLING PIN AND BOARD BEFORE EACH PRESSING. THIS WILL INSURE THE DOUGH WILL NOT STICK.

Place cookies on your prepared baking sheets. Let the cookies stand, uncovered, overnight to dry. DRYING PRESERVES THE IMAGE DURING BAKING.

The next day PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Place oven rack in the middle of the oven.

Bake one baking sheet at a time. Bake approximately 10 minutes or until slightly golden on the bottoms, but still white on top. Remove from oven and transfer cookies to wire racks until cooled. (let the cookies stand overnight to completely dry before storing.

Storage: Keep cookies in a tight container for 2 or 3 weeks before using to achieve the best flavor.

The number of cookies yielded will depend upon the size and thickness of your Springerle cookies. I usually get two cookie sheets full.



Until next time,

Cheers!
 
 

 



I can be found sharing at these online parties:


 
 Clever Chicks Blog Hop, FoodySchmoody Tuesday Tastings,  Delish Dessert Link Party, Share your stuff Tuesdays, Anyonita Nibbles Tasty Tuesday'sShare it One More Time, Much Ado About MondayFeathered Nest Fridays, DIY Vintage Chic FridayThe Style Sisters Centerpiece Wednesday, Sew-Off Saturday Sew Can She , Brag about it Tuesday BeBetsy , Shabby Art Boutique Shabbilicious Friday , Give Me The Goods Monday , Homestead Barn Hop , Whimsy Wednesday , Knick Of Time , Hickory Trail , Make the Scene Monday (at Alderberry Hill), From the Farm Blog Hop , A Peek Into My Paradise , A Delightsome Life , Share your Cup Thursday Have a Daily Cup, Homework , Green Willow Pond , A Stroll Thru Life , Work It Wednesday , Savvy Southern Style , I Should Be Mopping the Floors , Common Ground Be Inspired , Simple and Sweet Fridays , Frugal Fit Family Friday Follow Along , Sweet and Savory Sunday This Gal Cooks Marvelous Mondays , This Silly Girl's Life, Living Better Together TGIF Linkparty , DIY Sunday Showcase , Dear Creatives Inspiration