Easter Dessert Ideas

Easter is just a few days away!  Here are some last minute dessert ideas for you...

Easter Cakes:

Easter Cupcakes...

Easter Cookies...

Happy Spring Baking!  
xoxoxo,

Samantha

Pistachio Cake ~ Watergate Cake Recipe

Pistachio Cake Recipe

#watergatecake

#pistachiocake

Let's talk PISTACHIO CAKE!!!

    The famous Watergate Cake, from the Watergate Hotel, is a delicious pistachio cake that my family has made since I was a little girl. The original recipe was published in a newspaper in the 1970's.  If you love pistachios, this is the cake for you!

Here is the newspaper recipe...














Here are the changes we make...

Ingredients:

Ingredients for Watergate Cake

Pistachio Frosting 

Baking 101 ~ Always line your pan with parchment paper and spray or grease! 

We sift the nuts out of our cake and frosting.  You do you!

Mix!

 Pistachio Cake Ingredients
     Watergate Cake Recipe
*1 box white cake mix
*3 eggs
*3/4 cup vegetable shortening
*1 cup lemon lime soda
*1 box pistachio pudding mix

Mix bake at 350 until done in the center.  The cake will have a nice golden brown on top.  Don't worry, it's pretty green inside!

Now for the pistachio frosting:
    Our changes:  We sift out the nuts, and we don't add the pecans and coconut.  But again, you do you! 

Sift pudding mix.

Mix pudding and milk.

Add Cool Whip or

homemade whip cream, your choice!

 Frost and ENJOY!  Keep refrigerated!

Watergate Pistachio Cake Recipe

This vintage recipe is a family favorite!

Happy Baking!

Xoxo,

Samantha

Whipped Buttercream Frosting Recipe

     Let's talk BUTTERCREAM!  Want to know how to get your buttercream frosting super silky smooth and whipped?  It's not rocket science.  You just need these few tips...

* SOFTEN your BUTTER at room temperature until it is totally soft and ready to be mixed.

* WHIP IT!  Use your whisk attachment on your KitchenAid mixer and let it mix on high for 10 - 15 minutes or more, until desired consistency.

* Choose a brand of VEGETABLE SHORTENING with a nice smooth consistency.
~like Crisco or Great Value or Clover Valley

* Use a good buttercream recipe...
    
     oh, here's one... 😘
Best Buttercream Recipe:
ingredients:

1 1/2 sticks butter SOFT
3/4 cup pure vegetable shortening
2 tsp. vanilla extract or (1 1/2 vanilla, 1/2 tsp. almond extract)
2 1/2 - 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (depends on desired consistency)  *If you want it sweeter, add more sugar! 💗

I don't use milk in this recipe.  You can make your favorite buttercream frosting recipe and use the tips above to have a smooth whipped buttercream :)

Directions:
With your whisk attachment, mix on high, butter and shortening.  Add vanilla.  Mix on high until smooth and fluffy, "whipped."  This varies due to mixers and materials, but I usually mix it for at least 15 minutes sometimes 20 or more.  Then whip in your powdered sugar and continue mixing until your frosting is silky smooth. 

That's it!  Smooth, whipped buttercream frosting!  Yum! 

As always,
    sweet 💖 to ya!
Happy Baking!

~ Samantha
      s.e.

Chocolate Chip Cookies 3 Different Ways

Chocolate Chip Cookies Three Different Ways...
         
       So we decided to take our chocolate chip cookie recipe and try adding other ingredients to make yummy options!  They turned out great!  Since we had macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips, we instantly thought of the delicious Subway cookies.  So here's what we did and they were awesome...
#chocolatechipcookierecipe
#baking
#cookies
#subwaycookies
#cookierecipe

Our basic chocolate chip cookie recipe:

Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
     modified for Subway Copycat Cookies

ingredients:
2 1/2 sticks butter softened 
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 3/4 cup and 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. coarse salt

3 1/3 cups flour 

1/3 cup cornstarch

Mix ins (ingredients to add)

*white chocolate chips

*macadamia nuts chopped

*maraschino cherries (chopped and drained on paper towel)

*chocolate chips

       (We used left over Sarris milk chocolate from Christmas!)

Cream your sugars and butter, add other ingredients and mix well.  Separate dough into 3 parts.  Add your mix ins. Bake at 350 until slightly golden brown on edges.  Let rest on cookie sheet until cool.  That's how you get soft cookies.

These cookies are buttery, crispy, and soft!  Yummy!

Photos:

cookie dough

Mix ins...

 3 different cookies, one dough mix...

white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts

Subway Copycat Cookies

now add cherries, yum!

~delicious milk chocolate

Chocolate Chip Cookies Three Different Ways

Email me or comment questions anytime!

Happy Baking!

xoxo,

Samantha and Izzy

Donut Key Chains

The cutest donut ornaments on the block are now available in key chain form...

The cuteness factors just went up, up, and away...

#donutkeychain

#donuts

#doughnuts

#funnyfood

#noveltykeychains

xoxo,

Samantha

More to come to check back soon!

Hot Chocolate Dip

Christmas Cookie Dip Recipes
           *Hot Cocoa Dip

      Whip up this fun and delicious dip for a simple but fantastic dessert to serve at your holiday parties!

Hot Chocolate Dip Recipe

4 envelopes hot cocoa (no marshmallows)
1 8oz cream cheese (soft)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 oz. whip topping (Cool Whip)

Garnish:
Chocolate Chips
Mini Marshmallows 
Rest of whipped topping

Mix cream cheese with hot cocoa(one at a time),
add vanilla, mix in whip topping, and add garnish. Store in frig!  

Use these yummy cookies for dipping...

Happy Holidays from Samantha's Sweets!