Grapefruit Pound Cake

This pound cake was requested by my mom for her birthday. The recipe came from Cooking Light  magazine. My Grandpa exclaimed that the cake was, "Very refreshing!" Everyone agreed and the cake was devoured!

Ingredients:

Baking spray with flour

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

5/8 tsp salt, divided

1 2/3 cups granulated sugar

6 Tbs. butter, softened
6 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

1/4 cup canola oil

2 Tbs. grapefruit zest

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup 2% milk

1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Preparation:

 Preheat oven to 325°. 

Coat a 10-inch tube pan with baking spray. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring well. Place granulated sugar, butter, and cream cheese in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in oil, zest, and vanilla.

Add flour mixture and milk alternately to batter, beginning and ending with flour. Spoon batter into pan; bake at 325° for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Invert cake. Cool on rack.

Place juice in a saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to 3 tablespoons (about 4 minutes). Cool slightly. Stir in powdered sugar and remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt. Drizzle over cake.

Enjoy! 

* This would also be delicious if orange or lemon was substituted for the grapefruit. I would suggest changing the glaze by using 2 Tbs of orange or lemon juice and not reducing it, as you do with the grapefruit juice.

Bowling Cupcakes

Bowling-themed cupcakes for a very special little girl on her 6th birthday!!

Ultimate Chocolate Brownies

This is definitely my favorite brownie recipe. Simply impossible to resist!

Here is the recipe. Enjoy!

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

2/3 cup melted butter (divided)

1/2 cup boiling water

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 1/3 cup flour

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup chocolate chips (I like to use bittersweet chunks)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a large bowl, combine cocoa powder and baking soda. Stir in 1/3 cup of melted butter. Add the boiling water and stir until mixture thickens.Stir in sugar, eggs, vanilla, and remaining 1/3cup of melted butter. Stir until smooth.

In a separate bowl, combine flour and salt stirring with a whisk. Add to chocolate mixture and stir just until ingredients are incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until brownies start to pull away from the sides of the pan. Cool completely in the pan. Frost with chocolate buttercream (optional).

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

6 Tbs of butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 2/3 cup powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream butter. Add cocoa powder and powdered sugar, a little at a time, alternating with milk. Beat until combined, and frosting is spreadable. (More milk may be necessary) Blend in vanilla. Spread on cooled brownies. (Makes about 2 cups)

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog. I whipped up a batch of brownies today with enough chocolate to satisfy even the most extreme chocoholic! Stay tuned for the recipe and photos!