Easter Cake!

Anyone who was at the Fam Easter celebration this year will know that I had a really hard time answering the question, "What kind of cake is that?" The reason Tipsy was stuttering? Not because I had a drink! This cake is so delicious and has so many key ingredients that I couldn't simmer it down to a brief title! Instead I replied, "Apricot Brandy, Almond Orange Cake with Apricot Brandy Jam, Apricot Grand Marnier Cream Frosting and Chocolate Ganache with Grand Marnier."

Is that a sentence? I don't think so! But this cake says enough for itself! I just loved it!

What says Spring more then some fruity boozey cake? To me, nothing! ;)

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1 cup sour cream (I skipped the sour cream and went for the fruit/booze! I substituted 1/4 cup apricot Brandy, 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/2 cup whole milk)

2 teaspoons vanilla

2.5 cup cake flour (sifted)

2/3 cups (unblanched) almonds (toast em' up and toss them in the food processor until finely ground)

.5 cup sugar

1/4 cup OJ

6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate (grate it up in the food processor separately from the almonds)

1.5 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons orange zest

1 cup butter

1/3 cup Grand Marnier ( I probably used about 3/4 cups...)

1/2 cup heavy cream


Chop up the almonds and broil them up in the oven...then toss into the food processor until finely ground.

Mix up the 1/4 cup OJ, vanilla, apricot brandy and eggs

Mix up all the dry ingredients with the orange zest.

Add the butter to the dry ingredients until well creamed-then add egg mixture in thirds and mix well between each addition.

This batter is sooooo yummy! I had to celebrate with a little voddie tonnie with my left over oranges!

Bake in (2) 9 inch round pans at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Once the cakes were done I used a toothpick to make holes all over...then brushed on a generous amount of orange juice and the Grand Marnier...you can't go wrong here!

Once the cakes were cool and the OJ & Grand Marnier was absorbed I filled the cake with Apricot Jam which I had heated up with some apricot brandy for extra flavor.

I whipped up some cream and added about a cup of Apricot Jam and some Grand Marnier for extra flavor. SO DECADENT!

Next, comes what I cannot live without...CHOCOLATE! Scald the cream on the stove and add the grated chocolate. Remove from the heat, stir until smooth and add some Grand Marnier to taste. It really just brings out the richness in the chocolate!

For decoration I wanted to add some Marzipan oranges. Just roll the color onto the Marzipan and then shape.

I added chocolate ganache to about half the cake so that there was something for everyone, scattered some grated almonds and then used the Marzipan pieces to complete the Spring look.

I couldn't wait to taste the final result, but it was worth it. So many fresh flavors happening...a perfect Spring inspired Easter dessert!

Cheers to boozey/fruity/chocolaty baked goods! This is just one of the reasons I love baking so much!

xoxo,

Tipsy

Italian Cream Cake Remix

With so many places to go I had to turn my kitchen into a bakery like never before! I had made a yummy Italian Cream Cake for someone at work and because it was for them, I didn't actually get to really try it. I just snooped a tiny morsel...so it was time to make one (or maybe 3 or 4) that I could sink my teeth into.

I found a great recipe at this Tasty Kitchen site...one of my new found favs.

I toasted the pecans in butter and brown sugar....these little bebes are irresistible by themselves!






Then, I toasted the coconut.

I made a few different sizes...using all the different pans that I had....of course, the little heart is for the hubs.

Getting the frosting and coconut coating going.

The many finished products..,

All the yummy pecans and coconut inside the rich cake! This is the richest tasting, non-chocolate cake evah!

Cheers to some rich Italian Cream Cake and many many parties! Even Tipsy is ALL partied out! Can you believe it!

Cheers to good times with friends and families and eating until you can't eat anymore!....and hopefully sticking with some New Years resolutions to undo the damage.

xoxo,

Tipsy

Pumpkin Obsession Finale

So, I know I got carried away with the pumpkin, but I love me some pumpkin! This is officially my last pumpkin creation for this Holiday season that I will admit to making!



My sassy cousin Kaitlyn shared this recipe with me after she made my Thanksgiving with it and I made it for my Thanksgiving II with the hubs and friends. It turned out so good and I think it is because this recipe actually uses a whole can of pumpkin...the more, the better!



Thanks Kaitlyn Rose!



3 eggs beat

1 cup sugar

1 can pumpkin

3/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoon cinnamon



Mix together and pour on a cookie sheet that has sides. I lined mine with parchment paper and plenty of pam.













Bake for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees. If you line the pan with the parchment paper and pam you can place the whole pan in the fridge for 20 minutes after it bakes. If not, turn the cake out onto a waxed paper covered in powdered sugar and then refrigerate. The cake is very sticky, so I would definitely recommend the parchment paper and pam option.






Mix up the filling:

1 cup powdered sugar

8 oz. cream cheese (soft)

4 tablespoons butter (soft)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla




Spread over the cake.








ROLL it up and then sprinkle powdered sugar on top. Mine looked a bit messy and split on the side, but it tasted so good and once you slice & serve it you can't see any of the flaws.







Sliced and delish!

Cheers to the pumpkin spice flavor that just brings in the Holiday feel! I love it!

xoxo,

Tipsy

Easter Upsidedown cake

For Easter this year my dad made his famous homemade rich vanilla ice cream. My job was to make something to go with/under it. I decided to go with something fruity instead of chocolate...after much debating and I am so glad I did!
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I went with a Nectarine Upside down cake recipe from America's Test Kitchen. http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/login.asp?docid=6329
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I started out with about 5 nectarines and because they weren't as ripe as I would have liked them to be, I tossed them in some Vanilla and Brown Sugar to sweeten them up and bring out that delicious fruity goodness.
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After melting about 2 tablespoons of butter into 9 inch round pans and adding 1/2 cup brown sugar to each, I tried out a couple of designs with the fruit.
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I just had to smuggle a few slices of the nectarines into my Sauvignon Blanc a la sangria style-so yummy!

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Mixing up the batter: with butter, sugar, 2 whole eggs+1 egg white, baking powder, salt, vanilla and whole milk-you can't go wrong!

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Out of the 350 degree oven and golden brown! Ice Cream please!!!!!

The caramelized sugar made the whole house smell super tasty!

FINALLY serving up the buttery carmely fruity goodness.

We heated up each slice in the microwave and then topped with my dad's ice cream.

A happy ending to our Easter eating extravaganza!

Hope you all had a very delicious and happy Easter!

xoxo,

Tipsy