Fancy & Flavorful: Delightful Desserts for Cold Weather Baking!

Nothing keeps away the winter chills than filling your home with the smells of tasty baked treats—then filling your belly with them! These cold days are the perfect time to try and share a new recipe with your family or friends. But while you’re at it, why not ensure they look as good as they taste?

Check out these baked goodies that are big on flavor and flair so you can treat your family or show them off at a party!

The first tasty pick is a flourless chocolate cake from Sally’s Baking Addiction that comes together in one bowl for easy cleanup and looks spectacular, with no special decorating skills necessary!

Flourless Chocolate Cake

·        1/3 cup unsalted butter

·        6 oz high-quality semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped

·        2/3 cup granulated sugar

·        2 tsp espresso powder

·        1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

·        4 large eggs at room temperature

·        1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

·        1/8 tsp salt

·        Optional: ½ tsp baking powder

Mocha Whipped Cream

·        1 tsp espresso powder

·        1 tsp warm water

·        1 cup cold heavy cream

·        3 TBSP confectioners’ sugar

·        1 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder

·        Optional: raspberries

·        Optional: confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

1.      Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Make sure you have both the bottom and center oven racks in place.

2.      Grease an 8-inch round cake pan, line with parchment paper, and grease parchment paper.

3.      Cut butter into pieces and place in a large, heat-proof bowl with chopped chocolate. Melt in 20-second increments in the microwave, stirring after each increment until melted and smooth. Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes.

4.      Whisk sugar, espresso powder, and vanilla extract into the chocolate mixture. Whisk in eggs until smooth, then whisk in cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder (optional).

5.      Pour evenly into the prepared cake pan.

6.      Bowl a kettle of water. Place a large roasting pan or baking dish on the bottom rack of the oven. Fill with approximately 2 inches of boiling water. Immediately place the cake on the center rack and shut the oven to trap in the steam.

7.      Bake the cake for 30 minutes or until the edges are set and the center of the cake comes out clean. Be sure not to overbake!

8.      Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes in the cake pan. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and quickly invert the cake onto a serving plate or cake stand. Allow to cool completely.

9.      Mocha Whipped Cream: Mix the espresso powder and warm water in a small bowl using a fork. Let cool.

10.   Using a mixer, whip heavy cream sugar, cocoa powder, and espresso mixture at medium-high speed until medium peaks form (approx. 3-4 minutes).

11.   Pipe whipped cream onto the edges of the cooled cake. Fill the center with raspberries, top it with a dusting of confectioner's sugar, and serve.

To elevate the presentation of your cake even further, serve it on a fancy cake drum sheet!

Our next winter treats are these decadent brownie cupcakes from Taste of Home. They take just 10 minutes of prep, and the cupcake form makes them easy to hand out or grab and go!

Brownie Cupcakes

·        1/3 cup butter, softened

·        1 cup sugar

·        2 large eggs at room temperature

·        1 tsp vanilla extract

·        ¾ cup all-purpose flour

·        ½ cup baking cocoa

·        ¼ tsp baking powder

·        ¼ tsp salt

·        9 milk chocolate kisses

Ingredients

·        Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

·        In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (approx. 5-7 minutes). Beat in eggs and vanilla.

·        Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture and mix well.

·        Fill 9 muffin cups 2/3 of the way full. Place 1 chocolate kiss tip down in the center of each.

·        Bake 20-25 minutes or until tops spring back lightly when touched.

For a chic treat display, double the recipe and set your brownie cupcakes out on a wire treat stand or lacey paper doily.

What are you waiting for? Grab those oven mitts and give these yummy sweets a try!