Valentine's Day https://www.leah-claire.com/category/occasion/valentines-day/ Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:31:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.4 Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting https://www.leah-claire.com/red-velvet-brownies-with-cream-cheese-frosting/ https://www.leah-claire.com/red-velvet-brownies-with-cream-cheese-frosting/#comments Mon, 03 Feb 2014 13:00:09 +0000 http://www.leah-claire.com/?p=3226 Aren’t these Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting the cutest Valentine’s eats?! They came to be a few weekends ago when Shannon from Bake.Frost.Repeat. came to visit. We plan weekends around baking, of course! Just wait until you see what else we baked. 🙂 We wanted something fun for Valentine’s day and after consulting Pinterest and Google, decided on brownies. The recipe we picked used white chocolate buttercream, but Shannon and I are both big believers in cream cheese frosting belonging with red velvet. Topped with mini heart-shaped sprinkes, they are just the cutest sweet treats! Read more on Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese FrostingCopyright © 2009-2020 Leah Claire - Leah Claire


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Aren’t these Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting the cutest Valentine’s eats?! They came to be a few weekends ago when Shannon from Bake.Frost.Repeat. came to visit. We plan weekends around baking, of course! Just wait until you see what else we baked. 🙂 We wanted something fun for Valentine’s day and after consulting Pinterest and Google, decided on brownies. The recipe we picked used white chocolate buttercream, but Shannon and I are both big believers in cream cheese frosting belonging with red velvet. Topped with mini heart-shaped sprinkes, they are just the cutest sweet treats!

Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting | So, How's It Taste?

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Raspberry Cookie Tart https://www.leah-claire.com/raspberry-cookie-tart/ https://www.leah-claire.com/raspberry-cookie-tart/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:16:00 +0000 http://www.leah-claire.com/?p=76 Desserts are one of my most favorite things to cook up in the kitchen. I love when friends’ birthdays come around because it gives me an excuse to make something delicious and share it. For my friend Allison’s birthday I chose this Raspberry Cookie Tart. It’s basically a gigantic chocolate chip cookie, smothered in cream cheese, raspberries, and chocolate. Sounds like a happy birthday to me! So, how’s it taste? As awesome as it looks! It’s hard to go wrong with a chocolate chip cookie. The cream cheese is sweetened with a touch of orange, then you get a burst of fruit flavor with the raspberries. The drizzle of chocolate was just enough to make it special. For all of the ingredients, it would seem like it would be over-the-top sweet, but it wasn’t. The fruit flavors balance out the chocolate so well. Of course, you could use any berry or a mixture if you like. When I took this to the party and lifted the lid of my carrier, the smell was heavenly. One slice of this dessert and I was hooked. It’s also super easy to make which is always a plus in my book! Copyright © 2009-2020 […]


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Desserts are one of my most favorite things to cook up in the kitchen. I love when friends’ birthdays come around because it gives me an excuse to make something delicious and share it. For my friend Allison’s birthday I chose this Raspberry Cookie Tart. It’s basically a gigantic chocolate chip cookie, smothered in cream cheese, raspberries, and chocolate. Sounds like a happy birthday to me!

Raspberry Cookie Tart

So, how’s it taste?

As awesome as it looks! It’s hard to go wrong with a chocolate chip cookie. The cream cheese is sweetened with a touch of orange, then you get a burst of fruit flavor with the raspberries. The drizzle of chocolate was just enough to make it special. For all of the ingredients, it would seem like it would be over-the-top sweet, but it wasn’t. The fruit flavors balance out the chocolate so well. Of course, you could use any berry or a mixture if you like. When I took this to the party and lifted the lid of my carrier, the smell was heavenly. One slice of this dessert and I was hooked. It’s also super easy to make which is always a plus in my book!

Raspberry Cookie Tart

Ingredients:

1 roll (18 oz.) refrigerated chocolate chip cookies
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp. orange juice
1 pint (2 cups) fresh raspberries
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 tsp. vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Break up cookie dough and press into ungreased 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom.

2. Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

3. In medium bowl with electric mixer, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and orange juice on medium speed until well blended. Spread over cooled crust. Top with raspberries.

4. In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and oil on high 1 to 2 minutes; stirring until smooth. Drizzle over raspberries.


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Fudge Lover’s Strawberry Truffle Cake https://www.leah-claire.com/strawberry-truffle-cake/ https://www.leah-claire.com/strawberry-truffle-cake/#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:00:00 +0000 http://www.leah-claire.com/?p=66 I was searching for something different to bring to the company picnic and found this unique recipe. I love the combination of chocolate and strawberries (see Strawberry S’more Tart) and the way this cake is made, it reminds me of how cake pops are created. I was definitely curious to see how this Fudge Lover’s Strawberry Truffle Cake would turn out. The time it took to make was a bit overwhelming and I was glad I had baked the cake part the night before. It’s a process, but the end result is out-of-this-world good! So, how’s it taste? I was really blown away by how good this cake ending up tasting. I was a little worried that the texture might be too strange, but it is very similar to fudge, yet still like a cake! The fun part is chopping up the cake after it’s baked. Way to get your aggression out! Then the cake is mixed with heavenly ganache. (This one is not figure-friendly, folks!) The result is a fudge-like consistency, then strawberries are folded in, and the mixture is pressed into a springform pan. Once the cake is set, unmold it and frost the whole thing with more ganache. It […]


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I was searching for something different to bring to the company picnic and found this unique recipe. I love the combination of chocolate and strawberries (see Strawberry S’more Tart) and the way this cake is made, it reminds me of how cake pops are created. I was definitely curious to see how this Fudge Lover’s Strawberry Truffle Cake would turn out. The time it took to make was a bit overwhelming and I was glad I had baked the cake part the night before. It’s a process, but the end result is out-of-this-world good!

Fudge Lover's Strawberry Truffle Cake Slice

So, how’s it taste?

I was really blown away by how good this cake ending up tasting. I was a little worried that the texture might be too strange, but it is very similar to fudge, yet still like a cake! The fun part is chopping up the cake after it’s baked. Way to get your aggression out! Then the cake is mixed with heavenly ganache. (This one is not figure-friendly, folks!) The result is a fudge-like consistency, then strawberries are folded in, and the mixture is pressed into a springform pan. Once the cake is set, unmold it and frost the whole thing with more ganache. It was a chocoholic’s dream! Ganache instead of icing is crazy good. The strawberries add the perfect, fruity balance to the rest of the cake.

Some notes: Make this for a crowd as the cake is only good for about a day. The fruit starts to get too mushy and develops that alcohol flavor which is most unpleasant. I recommend making the whole thing in increments. Bake the cake one day, then add the ganache and assemble the next (on the day you plan to serve), or you’ll be in the kitchen for quite a long time. (It’s worth it though!) Lastly, just go nuts on cutting up the cake. Cutting it into cubes was a chore to later mix into the ganache. Smaller pieces of cake worked better in the mixer.

Fudge Lover's Strawberry Truffle Cake

Fudge Lover's Strawberry Truffle Cake

Ingredients:

Cake
1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist chocolate fudge cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups cut-up fresh strawberries

Ganache
2 packages (8oz. each) semisweet baking chocolate, finely chopped
1 1/3 cups whipping cream (heavy)
1/4 cup butter

Garnish
6 fresh strawberries, cut in half lengthwise
1/4 cup white baking chips
1/2 tsp. vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs.

2. Bake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

3. Meanwhile, in large bowl, place chopped chocolate; set aside. In 2-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream and butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and mixture comes to a boil. Pour cream mixture over chocolate; stir until smooth.

4. Line bottom of 9-inch springform pan with waxed paper round. Cut cake into 1-inch cubes (I cut into much smaller pieces to make mixing easier). In large bowl, beat half of the cake cubes on low speed until cake is crumbly. Add remaining cake cubes and 1 3/4 cups of the ganache (reserve remaining ganache for topping). Beat on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed until well combined (mixture will look like fudge). Fold in 2 cups cut-up strawberries. Spoon mixture into springform pan; smooth top. Cover with plastic wrap; freeze 45 minutes or until firm enough to unmold.

5. Run knife around side of pan to loosen cake mixture. Place serving plate upside down on pan; turn pan and plate over. Frost side and top of cake with reserved ganache. Arrange strawberry halves on top of cake.

6. In small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips and 1/2 teaspoon oil uncovered on High 45 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds, until melted. Place in small resealable food-storage plastic bag; cut off tiny corner of bag. Drizzle over top of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Cake is best served the same day.


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Strawberry S’more Tart https://www.leah-claire.com/strawberry-smore-tart/ Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:51:00 +0000 http://www.leah-claire.com/?p=20 Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! What better way to celebrate than with chocolate and strawberries. Throw in some graham crackers and marshmallows and you’ve got yourself a party! I’ve made this gorgeous Strawberry S’more Tart several times and it never ceases to impress. Don’t be fooled though, it’s extremely easy to make. So, how’s it taste? Absolutely delicious! You just can’t beat the combination of chocolate and strawberries. This tart is especially good because the chocolate is a ganache. With a graham cracker crust and swirls of marshmallow creme, it’s sinful. It looks like you worked hours on it, but it’s such a simple recipe. What a way to dress up a s’more, just in time for Valentine’s Day! Copyright © 2009-2020 Leah Claire - Leah Claire


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Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! What better way to celebrate than with chocolate and strawberries. Throw in some graham crackers and marshmallows and you’ve got yourself a party! I’ve made this gorgeous Strawberry S’more Tart several times and it never ceases to impress. Don’t be fooled though, it’s extremely easy to make.

Strawberry S'more Tart

So, how’s it taste?

Strawberry S'more Tart

Absolutely delicious! You just can’t beat the combination of chocolate and strawberries. This tart is especially good because the chocolate is a ganache. With a graham cracker crust and swirls of marshmallow creme, it’s sinful. It looks like you worked hours on it, but it’s such a simple recipe. What a way to dress up a s’more, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Strawberry S'more Tart

Ingredients:

Crust
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted

Tart
10 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup whipping cream
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced strawberries
1/2 cup marshmallow creme
8 whole strawberries

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, combine all crust ingredients; mix well. Press mixture in bottom and up sides of 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom or 9-inch pie pan. (If using tart pan, place on cookie sheet for easier handling.) Bake at 350°F. for 10 minutes. Cool.

2. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, heat whipping cream until bubbles form around edge of pan. Remove from heat; add chocolate and stir until melted. Cook over low heat until all of chocolate is melted, stirring constantly. Cool 5 minutes or until lukewarm.

3. Place sliced strawberries in single layer in crust. Pour melted chocolate mixture over strawberries.

4. Place marshmallow creme in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on MEDIUM for 30 seconds or until softened. Stir just until smooth. Quickly drop marshmallow creme by spoonfuls over chocolate layer. With tip of knife, swirl marshmallow creme and chocolate to marble.

5. Arrange 8 strawberries evenly around edge of tart. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving to set chocolate.


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