Easy Blueberry Skillet Cake

Ingredients


Streusel Topping:
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon


Coffee Cake:
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 (12-ounce) tube buttermilk biscuits
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen and thawed


Directions
For the streusel topping: Combine the almonds, sugar, butter, flour, and cinnamon in a food processor and pulse until large crumbs form.


For the coffee cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.


In a 9-inch cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, cook the butter and brown sugar over medium heat until melted. Arrange the biscuits in a single layer in the skillet. Scatter the blueberries over the biscuits, and then distribute the streusel topping over the berries. Bake until the biscuits are golden and a tester inserted in the center of a biscuit comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool slightly and serve from the skillet.


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Mississippi Mud Cake

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 cup water
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 bag miniature marshmallows


Icing:
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons cocoa
6 tablespoons milk
1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 13 by 9-inch baking pan.


Combine the sugar, salt, and flour in a large mixing bowl. Bring the butter, oil, cocoa, and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Add to the flour mixture.


Beat together the eggs, baking soda, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add to the chocolate mixture, mix well, and pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes.


While the cake is baking, make the icing by melting the butter in the cocoa and milk over low heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat. Stir in the confectioners' sugar. Slowly mix in the nuts and the vanilla. Take the cake from the oven, and when it cools a bit cover it with miniature marshmallows. Pour the warm icing over the cake and the marshmallows. Cool the cake before serving.


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Ginger Biscuit Cake

Ingredients
1 (25-ounce) bag frozen Southern-style biscuits, baked according to package directions, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 (5 1/4-ounce) package ginger thins, crushed (recommended: Anna's Ginger Thins)
1/2 cup crystallized ginger, chopped
4 cups half-and-half
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses (recommended: Grandma's Molasses)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Molasses Butter Cream Sauce, recipe follows
Chopped walnuts, for garnish


Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.


Place the biscuit pieces evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle the crushed ginger thins evenly on top of the biscuits. Top evenly with the crystallized ginger.


In a large bowl, combine the half-and-half, eggs, brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, and butter. Pour over the biscuits layer and let stand until the liquid is absorbed, about 45 minute. Bake until fluffy and golden, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Serve warm with Molasses Butter Cream Sauce. Garnish with walnuts, if desired.


Cook's Notes: Day-old biscuits work best in this recipe. To easily crush ginger thins, place in a plastic resealable bag, seal, and crush with a rolling pan.


Molasses Butter Cream Sauce:
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup molasses (suggested: Grandma's Molasses)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water.
In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the butter, cream, milk, and molasses. When at a low simmer, add the brown sugar and Irish cream liqueur. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture and cook until thickened. Stir in the walnuts.


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Peaches and Cream Muffins

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (15-ounce) can sliced peaches, drained and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces


Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat the cups of a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.


In a large bowl, mix together the flour, butter, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla. Gently fold in the peaches.


Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a serving platter and serve immediately or transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, before storing.


This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.


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Gooey Toffee Butter Cake

Ingredients
Cake:
1 (18.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 large egg
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 (16-ounce) box confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup almond toffee bits or chocolate toffee bits


Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13 by 9 by-2-inch baking pan.


For the cake: In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well. Pat into the bottom of prepared pan and set aside.


For the filling: Still using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Dump in confectioners' sugar and beat well. Reduce the speed and slowly pour in butter. Mix well. Fold in toffee bits.


Pour filling onto cake mixture and spread evenly. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Don't be afraid to make a judgment call on the cooking time, because oven temperatures can vary. You want the center to be a little gooey, so don't bake it past that point!


Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares. Just remember that these wonderful cakes are very, very rich, and a little will go a long way.


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Perfect Chocolate Cake

Arnold Palmer Cupcakes

Ingredients
1 cup milk
5 black tea bags
1 cups unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tablespoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoons salt


Directions
In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat milk until hot to the touch. Place tea bags in hot milk, and let steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags. Let milk cool.


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with paper liners.


In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 1/2 cup milk and tea mixture, lemon zest and lemon juice. Mix well.


In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add dry mix into the wet ingredients.


Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Spread or pipe Arnold Palmer Frosting evenly over cupcakes.


Arnold Palmer Frosting:
1 cups unsalted butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
1/2 cup reserved milk/tea mixture
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
In a large bowl, beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar alternately with tea/milk mixture slowly. Beat in lemon juice until creamy.


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Cupcake

Fresh Fruit Tart

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened and sliced

Filling:

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:

• Fresh strawberries, kiwi slices, blueberries, raspberries

Glaze:

• 1 (6-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• Whipped cream, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust: In a food processor, combine the confectioners' sugar, flour, and butter, and process until the mixture forms a ball. With your fingers, press the dough into a 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, taking care to push the crust into the indentations in the sides. Pat until the crust is even. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until very lightly browned. Set aside to cool.

For the filling and topping: Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together until smooth. Spread over the cooled crust. Cut the strawberries into 1/4-inch slices and arrange around the edge of the crust. For the next circle, use kiwi slices. Add another circle of strawberries, filling in any spaces with blueberries. Cluster the raspberries in the center of the tart.

For the glaze: Combine the limeade, cornstarch, lime juice, and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until clear and thick, about 2 minutes. Let cool. With a pastry brush, glaze the entire tart. You will not use all of the glaze.

Keep the tart in the refrigerator. Remove about 15 minutes before serving. Slice into 8 wedges and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

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Tarts

Fresh Fruit Salad with Creamy Custard

Ingredients

• 6 kiwis, peeled and chopped
• 2 ripe mangoes, peeled, cored, and sliced
• 1 melon, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 1 quart strawberries, hulled and quartered
• 1 quart blackberries
• 1/2 quart blueberries

Custard:

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 6 large egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the fruit:

• Place fruit into a large bowl and toss together.

For the custard:

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk milk and sugar constantly.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly incorporate the hot milk into the egg mixture. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Heat the custard over low heat about 5 minutes or until thickened slightly, stirring constantly. (It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not let the mixture come to a simmer or the eggs will curdle.)

Remove from heat and melt the butter into custard. Add vanilla. Immediately strain the custard into a small bowl. Place in refrigerator to cool.

Drizzle over fruit and serve.

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Custard

Chocolate-Dippy Doughnuts

Ingredients

• Peanut oil
• 1 can store-bought biscuits
• 1 (4-ounce) bar sweet chocolate (recommended: Baker's German's)
• 1/2-ounce (1/2 square) unsweetened chocolate
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat fryer with peanut oil to 350 degrees F.

Separate pre-cut biscuits. Make a hole in the middle with your hand and sculpt dough into a doughnut shape. Place doughnuts into fryer and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, flipping to fry both sides. Place doughnuts aside onto a paper towel lined plate to remove excess oil.

Melt the chocolate and butter in a saucepan over very low heat. Stir in the sugar, alternating with the evaporated milk, blending well. Raise the heat to medium and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat and cook, stirring, until the mixture becomes thick and creamy, about 8 minutes. Stir in the vanilla then remove the pan from the heat.

Stick a fork through the doughnut holes and dip the doughnuts immediately into the chocolate mixture before the chocolate starts to cool. Place the doughnuts on a plate and serve when the chocolate on the doughnuts sets, about 5 minutes.

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Pink Lemonade Layer Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more, for coating pans
• 1 (18 1/4-ounce) box white cake mix
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons sweetened pink lemonade drink powder
• 1 pound confectioners' sugar
• 5 tablespoons frozen pink lemonade concentrate
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper or waxed paper.

Prepare the cake batter according to the package directions. To the batter, stir in the lemon zest, vanilla, and pink lemonade powder. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Carefully turn the cakes out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting by beating together the confectioners' sugar and remaining 1 cup butter until fluffy. Beat in the remaining frosting ingredients until combined.

Transfer one cake to a cake stand or large platter. Using an offset spatula, spread the top of the cake with a layer of frosting. Place the second cake on top of the first. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of both layers.

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Sweet Lemon