Cranberry Orange Muffins

Dec 1, 2021

The Christmas season is hear and cranberries are one of those main ingredients. Cranberries for some are a no no and cranberry sauce is avoided at all costs at those dinners; but for me I’m all about my homemade cranberry sauce. So this year I thought wouldn’t having cranberries somewhere ese besides Christmas dinner could change a few minds. So here we go.

Cranberry Orange Muffins

Yield/Serving: 12 -16
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cook Time: 25 – 30 min.
Difficulty level is: Easy

Ingredients
Muffins
⦁ 3 cups all purpose flour
⦁ 1 tbsp baking powder
⦁ ½ tsp sea salt
⦁ ¼ tsp nutmeg
⦁ ½ tsp ground cardamom
⦁ ½ tsp ground ginger
⦁ ½ tsp cloves
⦁ ½ tsp mixed spice
⦁ 8 tbsp unsalted butter
⦁ 3/4 cup granulated sugar
⦁ 1/3 cup golden brown sugar
⦁ orange zest, from half a large orange
⦁ 2 tsp vanilla extract
⦁ 2 large eggs, at room temperature
⦁ 1 cup full fat sour cream, at room temperature
⦁ 1/3 cup orange juice
⦁ 2 cups fresh cranberries
Orange Glaze
⦁ 1 cups confectioners’ sugar sifted
⦁ 1 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
⦁ orange zest, from half a large orange
⦁ 2 tsp 2% milk
⦁ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Assembly
Muffin

1. Preaheat oben to 400°F.
2. Line muffin tin with muffin liners and spray with cooking spray.
3. Using a large bowl sift flour, baking powder, salt and all spices and set aside.
4. Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment combine butter, sugars, orange zest, vanilla extract and combine for about 3 minutes. Scape down the sides as needed with a spatula.
5. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides again as needed.
6. In another smaller bowl add sour cream and orange juice and whisk together.
7. Turn mizer back on low and alternate between flour and sourcream mixture ending on the flour until just combined.
8. Fold in fresh cranberries using the spatula until evenly mixed.
9. pour into muffin tins.
10. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, or until the top are lightly golden brown and a cake tester inserted comes out clean.
11. Let cool for 10 minutes in pan and the transfer to a cooling rack.
    Orange Glaze
12. Using a medium bowl combine confectioners’ sugar, ornage juice, zest and milk and whisk until smooth. (Add more milk if you like the consistency a little thinner.)
13. Brush over muffins and serve.

Please Enjoy
My thoughts
I honestly don’t make muffins a lot and I don’t know why. I was afraid to over fill the muffin cups which is why my recipe ending up with 12 muffins and 4 mini tea cakes. I was hoping for those muffins you buy at the baker that exploded at the top and these did not because I under-filled them. These are the perfect combo of sweet and tart. I’m a sucker for a tart recipe so I was very happy with these and the smell and taste of the fresh orange really pumped up the brightness of the muffins. I can’t wait to make these again already. My usual suspects that enjoy tart as much as me loved them and even one who isn’t a cranberry fan said they were good; so I’ll take it.

Vineyard Cake (aka Cleopatra Cake)

Jul 17, 2018

Vineyard Cake (aka Cleopatra Cake) – Candy Coated Culinista

A gourmet cake that’s so light and unique it’s a absolute must try.

Yield/Serving: 12
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 60 min.
Difficulty level is: Medium

From Sweet by Ottolenghi & Goh

Ingredients
Cake
• 4 cups all purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¾ tsp salt
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• ¾ cups unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Finely grated zest of 2 lemons (2 tsp)
• Finely grated zest of 1 oranges (2 tsp)
• Scraped seeds of ½ vanilla pod
• 4 large eggs
• 1 ¾ cups Carte d’Or or Muscat de Beaumes de Venise wine, at room temperature
• 3 ½ oz seedless red grapes, washed and halved lengthwise
Sugar Crust Topping
• 5 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3 ½ oz seedless red grapes, washed and halved lengthwise

Assembly
Cake
1. Preheat oven to 400°F and grease and lightly flour the angel food cake or chiffon cake pan, tapping away excess flour.
2. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.
3. Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment add sugar, butter, olive oil, lemon zest, orange zest along with vanilla seeds and beat for minutes at medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one by one letting them incorporate before adding the next.
5. Turn down to low speed and add a third of the flour mixture followed by half the wine.
6. Repeat with the remaining flour and wine finishing with the final third of flour continuing to beat at a low speed.
7. Once combined pour into pan and scatter grapes on top.
8. Bake for 20 minutes.
Sugar Crust
1. While the cake is in the oven immediately start on the sugar crust.
2. Place butter and sugar into a small bowl and beat into a thick paste using a wooden spoon.
3. When cake has been in oven for 20 minutes, remove from oven and scatter sugar crust onto cake into small pieces. Then add grapes evenly on top and place back in oven.
4. Immediately lower oven temperature to 350°F and continue to bake for 40 minutes, or until skewer inserted comes out clean.
5. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 30 minutes before removing from the pan.
6. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.

Tips
• The cake must be made in an angel food cake or chiffon pan. The cake is so large this is the only pan that can ensure an even bake. A Bundt pan will not work as you want the sugar crust and grapes to remain on top when it is served.
• The cake will keep for 5 days in an air-tight container.
• To make this non-alcoholic add grape juice, like I did.
• I added my grapes to the sugar crust mixture. Either way works out well.

Please Enjoy

My thoughts
This cake is a total hit and I can’t gush about this enough. Now some wouldn’t think this is a great idea for a cake adding olive oil, grapes or wine; but this cake is sheer magnificence. I subbed out wine for a concord grape juice to make this a non-alcoholic version and it tasted just as wonderful. My taste tester loved it and tucked in upon receiving their slices; which was 10:45 in the morning I might add and my other guest enjoyed it with Sunday dinner. I had to purchase a new cake pan for this recipe as I have never made an angel food cake before. I didn’t think I could make this and then I got lucky and found a cake pan. I will be making this recipe again for sure and I may try a different fruit and juice combination.

Valentine’s Day Cranberry Tart with Blood Oranges

Feb 14, 2018

Valentine’s Day Cranberry Tart with Blood Oranges – Candy Coated Culinista

Happy Valentine’s Day! With everything today being about love & romance and everything adorned in reds and pinks I thought this deep red tart tart would add to the day. So today enjoy those flowers, chocolates, candies and desserts as I know for a fact calories don’t count today.

Yield/Serving: 2 – 6” tarts or 1 – 9” tart
Prep Time: 30 min.
Cook Time: 55 min.
Difficulty level is: Medium

Ingredients
Cranberry curd
• 5 egg whites
• ½ cups granulated sugar
• 340g, (12 oz), fresh cranberries
• 1 stick of butter, cut into pats, cold
Crust
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp lime zest, about 1 lime
• ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 egg yolk
Garnish
• Blood oranges, thinly sliced & halved, 3-4 slices

Assembly
Cranberry curd
1. Using a medium saucepan pour an inch of water to the pot and let simmer on medium-high heat.
2. Using a metal bowl combine egg yolks and sugar and whisk until smooth, about a minute. (Metal bowl should be able to fit into the pot without touching the water in the saucepan leaving a gap between the water and the bowl.)
3. Add lime juice and zest to mixture.
4. Once pot has reached a simmer reduce to low heat and place bowl over saucepan.
5. Whisk mixture until thickened, about 8 minutes or when mixture coats the back of a spoon and is a light yellow colour.
6. Remove from saucepan and stir in butter pats one at a time allowing each pat to melt before adding the next.
7. Pour into a container and place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the curd.
Crust
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a food processor or electric mixer combine flour, sugar and lime zest until mixed.
3. Add in butter and egg yolk and combine until crumbs starts to clump together resembling peas.
4. Pour mixture into two 6” tart pan with a removable bottom.
5. Press mixture down and up the sides of the tart pan with your fingertips.
6. Bake crust for about 35 minutes or until golden brown and let cool.
Tart
1. Pour cranberry curd over tart and bake until curd jiggles about 25 minutes and let cool.
2. Refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight to let the curd set.

Tips
• Curd can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Please Enjoy

My thoughts
I’m crazy about tarts as you can see from the numerous times I post a tart and curds are quickly following behind because every time I bake one of my cakes I am left with egg yolks. Slightly tart and still sweet and with the addition of the blood oranges; which for the first time in 2 years I have found a decent bag of I knew I had to decorate with these. This is a seasonal tart that is perfectly coloured for Valentine’s Day and to share with your special someone.

Valentine’s Day Cranberry Tart with Blood Oranges – Candy Coated Culinista

T is for … Tangerine Crème Brulee

Feb 11, 2018

T is for … Tangerine Crème Brulee – Candy Coated Culinista

Nothing beats the cracking sound you hear when you break into a perfectly coated crème brulee. It’s like breaking into a present for me and my eyes light up. This is decadent, creamy and rich with a hint of tangerine … it’s simply divine.

Yield/Serving: 4
Prep Time: 30 min.
Cook Time: 25-30 min.
Difficulty level is: Medium

Ingredients
• 2 ½ cups heavy cream
• Tangerine zest, from 6 tangerines
• 3 eggs
• 5 egg yolks
• ¾ cups golden brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup freshly squeezed tangerine juice
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Tangerine segments, for decorating

Assembly
1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
1. Place ramekins in a roasting pan and create a “bain-marie” of hot water filling the pan three-quarters up the sides of the ramekins. (A bain-marie is a fancy French term for a container filled with hot water that is used through the cooking process to ensure that the custard doesn’t scorch or boil. It’s an insulator for the custards.)
2. Now remove the ramekins from the water and place pan in oven.
3. Over medium-high heat, combine cream and tangerine zest in a sauce pan. Warm until the cream is scalding, stirring occasionally.
4. Using a medium-sized bowl, whisk eggs and egg yolks together.
5. Stir in a half cup of the brown sugar and the tangerine juice.
6. Pour the egg mixture into the cream stirring constantly.
7. Add in the salt along with the vanilla extract.
8. Using a fine-meshed sieve. Strain the custard into a clean bowl.
9. Pour the custard mixture evenly into the ramekins, about three-quarters full.
10. Place the ramekins into the hot water bath and bake for twenty-five to thirty minutes, or until they are just set.
11. Once cooked, remove custards from the bain marie and let cool for twenty minutes, then refrigerate covered with saran wrap until chilled through. (cover to prevent the custard from absorbing any other scents from inside the fridge)
12. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup sugar evenly onto the tops of the custards.
13. Torch the custards until sugar caramelizes.
14. Place a tangerine segment on top and sprinkle a little more sugar and torch if desired.

Tips
• Make sure there is enough room between racks in the oven or remove the top rack if needed. I had them too close and it made it quite difficult to add in a heavy pan full of water that I couldn’t shake too much as I put it into the oven.
• It’s better to under cook than to overcook the crème brulees.
• Use a thermometer to ensure the cream reaches the correct temperature. Be careful once the mixture hits around 150°F it climbs fast and you can pass the simmering stage.
• Do not waste the egg whites. Mr. C. asked for an egg white scramble with diced green onion and green pepper with salt and ground black pepper. Or use it in another recipe that calls for egg whites. So this recipe calls for a little pre planning with two recipes on hand, or like me just make scrambled eggs.
• If you have a kitchen butane torch, it will make burning the top much easier. Alternatively set the oven to broil to brulee the tops until the sugar has caramelized..
• This is also a two day task as after you have baked the crème part of this recipe; let the crème set in the fridge overnight for best result. You can brulee and serve the same night if you give yourself enough time. This makes a good recipe to make in advance as all you need to do is add your sugar and brulee the tops when you are ready.
• Custard will keep for 5 days in the refrigerator un-bruleed.

Please Enjoy

My thoughts
I love love love a good crème brulee. I have had enough poor and odd flavoured crème brulee’s to know when one tastes amazing and this one is a keeper.