Espresso Cheesecake Brownies

These brownies are absolutely delicious. Each creamy, espresso-spiked, chocolaty, brownie bite gets better and better as consumption continues! You can't freeze them, because of the sour cream topping. So when you make them, your only option really is to eat them. Its a pretty simple decision. This cheesecake makes makes about 16 servings.

INGREDIENTS:

For the brownie batter

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 ounces coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

For the cheesecake batter

1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1 tablespoon boiling water
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

For the topping

1 1/4 cups sour cream
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

PREPARATION:

Preheat the oven to 350. To prepare the brownie batter, in a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.

In a microwave safe bowl, add butter and chocolate - heat at 50% power just until the butter has melted and the chocolate has softened. Stir the mixture and if any lumps of chocolate remain, reheat briefly, stopping every 30 seconds or so to stir.

Whisk sugar into the chocolate mixture. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined after each. Whisk in vanilla. Add dry ingredients and stir just until combined - set aside.

Next, prepare the cheesecake batter. In a small bowl, stir together espresso powder and boiling water - set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until completely smooth. Add sugar and beat until well combined, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla and espresso mixture. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined after each. Mix in the sour cream. Add flour and stir until combined.

Stir brownie batter and pour three quarters of it into a 9" baking pan coated with nonstick spray. Pour cheesecake batter on top of the brownie batter. Drop dollops of the remaining brownie batter on top and gently swirl the dark batter into the cheesecake batter, making sure not to push the knife down into the bottom brownie layer.

Place into the oven and bake until the cheesecake layer is beige in the center and lightly browned around the edges, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove and place pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Place cooled pan into the refrigerator and chill at least 2 hours.

Finally, prepare the topping. In a small saucepan, add sour cream and confectioners' sugar - warm over very low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and pour evenly over the cold cheesecake layer.

Place the pan back into the refrigerator and chill until the topping is thoroughly cold, at least 1 hour before serving.

Rhubarb Crumble Pie

This rhubarb pie is topped with a buttery spiced oat crumb mixture. Serve with a scoop of ice cream for a perfect summer dessert.

INGREDIENTS:
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
1 1/2 pounds rhubarb stalks
1/3 cup water
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar

Topping:
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

PREPARATION:
Heat oven to 350°. Prepare pie shell or thaw a frozen pie shell.

Trim and rinse the rhubarb stalks. Slice large stalks in half lengthwise. Slice rhubarb stalks crosswise in 1/2 to 1-inch lengths. Combine sliced rhubarb and water in a medium saucepan.

In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons flour and 3/4 cup sugar, stirring until well blended; add to the rhubarb mixture. Stir well and bring just to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low. Cover but leave the cover ajar to let steam escape and continue simmering for about 5 minutes, or just until tender. If desired, add a little red food coloring to make the filling more colorful. Spoon filling into the prepared pie shell.

With a pastry blender or fingers, combine the topping ingredients until blended and crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of the pie. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until topping is browned and the filling is bubbly.

Coffee Cupcakes with Mocha Ganache and Mascarpone Cream

I came across this delicious coffee-inspired recipe at LaBelle Cuisine. It creates a cupcake dessert that looks like an little espresso drink! You can substitute 6 tbsp natural unsweetened cocoa powder & 1/4 tsp baking soda for 6 tbsp dutch-process cocoa powder. This recipe makes 30 cupcakes, however you could halve the quantities to make fewer and bake in espresso cups as we have done here to make a stunning dessert!

INGREDIENTS:

Chocolate coffee cupcakes
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup water
6 tablespoons dutch-process cocoa powder
1/4 cup instant coffee powder
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs

Mocha ganache
1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup coffee beans, crushed
8 ounces milk chocolate, finely chopped

Mascarpone cream
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted

PREPARATION:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 30 standard muffin cups with paper liner. Combine the milk, cocoa, coffee and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, constantly whisking, until the cocoa and coffee have dissolved. Let cool and pour into a liquid measure.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. In the bowl of a mixer, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk mixture in three batches, ending with the liquid.

Fill each muffin cup halfway with the batter. Bake 18 to 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the cupcakes from the pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, to make mocha ganache, combine the heavy cream and coffee beans in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from the heat, cover and let infuse for 10 minutes.

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan and bring back to a boil. Put the chocolate in a medium bowl and pour the hot cream over it, stirring slowly, until the ganache is smooth. Spoon enough ganache over each cupcake to fill the liners to the rim.

To make mascarpone cream, using a whisk or in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Add the mascarpone and confectioners’ sugar and whisk until smooth. Spoon the mascarpone cream into a pastry bag fitted with a medium round tip and pipe the cream on top of the ganache in a circle.

Dark Chocolate and Macadamia Brownie

This chocolate brownie tastes stunning, with the layer of caramelised bananas adding a banoffee-like flavour to the rich chocolate and macadamia cake. Allow around 40 mins prep and 35-40 mins baking time. Eggwhite powder is a professional pâtisserie product and can be found at many shops; if you cant find any then simply replace using 1 egg white = 1 3/4 tsp. eggwhite powder. This recipe makes a brownie cake that serves 10.

INGREDIENTS:
200 gms butter, coarsely chopped
100 gms dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), coarsely chopped
3 eggs
210 gms caster sugar
100 gms plain flour
100 gms macadamias, coarsely chopped
100 gms brown sugar
1 tbsp finely grated ginger
5 bananas, halved lengthways

Milk chocolate mousse
2 eggs
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 1/2 leaves of gelatine, softened in cold water
5 gms eggwhite powder (see note)
600 ml pouring cream
400 gm milk chocolate (36% cocoa solids), melted and cooled slightly

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 150C. Melt butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Whisk eggs and caster sugar in an electric mixer until thick and pale (5-6 minutes), fold through chocolate mixture, then fold in flour and macadamia. Spoon into a buttered and baking paper base-lined 22cm-diameter springform pan, smooth top and bake until just firm to touch (20-25 minutes). Cool completely in pan.

Heat brown sugar in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until melted (2-3 minutes). Add ginger, stir to combine, then add bananas in a single layer and cook, turning occasionally, until caramelised and tender (4-5 minutes). Arrange on top of the brownie, squash to make a uniform layer then cool completely.

Meanwhile, for milk chocolate mousse, whisk eggs and sugar in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water until thick and can hold a ribbon (10-12 minutes), then remove from heat. Squeeze excess liquid from gelatine and whisk in gelatine with eggwhite powder. In a separate bowl, whisk cream until soft peaks form, add chocolate and fold to combine, then fold in egg mixture. Spoon mousse over caramelised banana, smooth top and refrigerate until set (2-3 hours). Dust with cocoa, scatter with chocolate balls and serve immediately.

Chocolate Cherry Cake

This delicious cake is easy, rich but light, and so wonderfully moist. There is about 20 minutes prep time, and around 55 minutes cooking time. To make chocolate curls, melt dark chocolate, spread thinly onto a marble slab or inverted heavy tray, set aside until firm. Scrape with a knife at a 45-degree angle (away from you) to create curls. These extravegent curls give this dessert that 'cake shop' glamour!
Serves 10.

INGREDIENTS:
150 gms dark chocolate (54% cocoa solids)
150 gms butter, softened
170 gms caster sugar
6 eggs, separated
150 gms self-raising flour, sifted
3 tsp cornflour
50 ml kirsch, plus extra to drizzle
250 ml 1 cup) pouring cream

Cherry compote
1 1/2 cups caster sugar
500 gms pitted cherries

Ganache
150 gms dark chocolate (54% cocoa solids), coarsely chopped
140 ml pouring cream

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 175C. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Cool slightly. Beat butter and 150gm caster sugar in an electric mixer until pale and creamy (4-8 minutes), then add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add melted chocolate and stir to combine, then fold in flour in batches. Whisk eggwhites to soft peaks, then fold through chocolate mixture. Pour into a greased and baking paper-lined 23cm spring-form pan and bake until a skewer withdraws clean (30-40 minutes). Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

For cherry compote, combine sugar and 500ml of water in a saucepan and cook, stirring over medium heat, until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil, add cherries, bring to boil again, reduce heat and simmer until cherries are tender (5 minutes). Remove from heat and set aside. Makes 1 litre of cherries and juice.

Meanwhile, drain juice from cherries (reserving 180ml and discarding remaining). Place cherries in a bowl. Mix cornflour with 20ml reserved cherry juice to make a paste. Combine remaining cherry juice, drained cherries and cornflour paste in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens (2-3 minutes). Add 30ml kirsch and set aside to cool.

For ganache, melt chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (3-5 minutes). Remove from heat and stir until smooth and glossy.

Whisk cream and remaining sugar until stiff peaks form, add remaining kirsch and whisk briefly to combine. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.

Halve cake horizontally, drizzle base generously with kirsch, spread with cream and spoon over cherry compote. Sandwich with top half of cake. Drizzle with more kirsch, then pour over ganache and scatter with chocolate curls.

Dark Chocolate and Orange Mud Cakes

What is the difference between a standard chocolate cake and a dark chocolate mud cake? Chocolate mud cake usually has some gooey components, like a pudding consistency or a fudge sauce typically found in the centre. These rich individual mud cakes use a swirl of orange liquor to achieve their hints of citrus, and are fantastic served with sliced mandarins and choc-orange / jaffa ice cream.

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups caster sugar
100 gm dark chocolate (64% cocoa solids), finely chopped
60 ml orange liqueur
2 egg yolks
60 gm cocoa
40 gm plain flour
4 egg whites
2 mandarins, peeled and segmented

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 160C. Combine 165gm sugar, chocolate, liqueur and ¼ cup hot water in a heatproof bowl placed over simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat, add egg yolks and mix to combine, then fold in flour and cocoa.

Whisk egg whites using an electric mixer until soft peaks form, add 55gm sugar and whisk to combine, then fold through chocolate mixture. Place 6 buttered 6cm-high 7.5cm-diameter metal ring moulds (see note) on a baking paper-lined oven tray and divide mixture among them. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until risen and firm to the touch, remove from oven and cool in rings.

Meanwhile combine remaining sugar, orange liqueur and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan and stir over low-medium heat until sugar dissolves, add mandarin segments and simmer for 20 minutes or until segments are translucent. Cool in syrup.

To serve, unmould cakes, and serve with mandarin segments and syrup and chocolate ice-cream to the side.

Serves 6.
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Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar

Sometimes the quickest and simplest recipes can be the best; there is great joy in throwing together ingredients quickly and yet making such an incredible tasting dessert. Balsamic vinegar and black pepper intensify the flavor of strawberries and bring out their sweetness. You can use any type of fruit balsamic vinegar if you wish; raspberry or fig vinegars go particularly well.

Makes 6-8 servings.

INGREDIENTS:
16 oz. fresh strawberries, hulled and large berries cut in half
2 tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

PREPARATION:
1. Place strawberries in a bowl. Drizzle good Balsamic Vinegar over strawberries, and sprinkle with sugar and lemon juice.

2. Stir gently to combine. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour but not more than 4 hours.

3. Serve plain, with vanilla ice cream or creme fraiche and a grind or two of black pepper.


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