Mocha Cheesecake for #SundaySupper

Mar 3, 2013 by

I’ve been craving cheesecake for a while now. In fact, I can’t even remember the last time I had some. Cheesecake has got to be one of my favourite desserts. I am a bit picky though. I have a weird thing about texture so my cheesecake has to be smooth and without chunky ingredients. Not to say that I won’t enjoy a cheesecake with fruits etc, but it probably wouldn’t be my first choice. A topping is fine – such as a classic cherry cheesecake. There’s just something about a cheesecake that brings such pleasure to the palate. The creamy texture. The delicious delight that it is. Some days, I just really need cheesecake. Today’s #SundaySupper theme is Cheese, Cake and Cheesecake. Our lovely host is Angie from Big Bear’s Wife.

I wanted to make something that worked well with cream cheese. Perhaps another favourite ingredient. I didn’t have to look far for a recipe. I reached for a recent addition to my cookbook collection – 500 Cakes by Susannah Blake. It was an obvious choice for me to choose the Chocolate Cheesecake. There were quite a few cheesecake recipes to choose from so I imagine upon the arrival of my next cheesecake craving, I know where I should look first.

 

Mocha Cheesecake_1

 

 

Chocolate Mocha Cheesecake for #SundaySupper

Prep Time: 50 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups Finely ground graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 Tsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (and extra for dusting)
  • 3/4 Cup Unsalted Butter, melted
  • 7 Oz Semisweet Chocolate
  • 16 Oz Low Fat Cream Cheese, softened (2 X 8oz packs)
  • 3/4 Cup Low Fat Sour Cream
  • 3/4 Cup Superfine Sugar
  • 2 Tsp Cornstarch
  • 3 Large Eggs
  • 1 Tbsp Instant Coffee dissolved in 1 Tbsp Boiling Water

Instructions

  1. Grease an 8-inch springform cake pan. Line with parchment paper
  2. In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and cocoa powder
  3. Place crumb mixture into the pan. Using your fingers, press the crumbs down and about half way up the sides, forming a firm crust.
  4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes
  5. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl, over a pot of simmering water to melt. The bowl should not be touching the simmering water. The steam is what gently melts the chocolate. Stir occasionally, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  6. Preheat your oven to 320F
  7. Retrieve your cake pan and wrap with 2 layers of foil. Wrap the bottom of the pan with the intention of keeping water from seeping in during baking.
  8. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth
  9. Beat in the sour cream, sugar and cornstarch
  10. Beat in eggs, one at a time until fully combined
  11. Fold in the melted chocolate and the coffee liquid until fully incorporated
  12. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan and level off using an offset spatula
  13. Place the cake pan into an oven proof pan or dish, that has a deep rim - a little taller than your cake pan.
  14. Pour enough boiling water into the dish until it gets about half way up the side of the cake pan
  15. Bake for 50 minutes until set
  16. Allow to cool completely
  17. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight
  18. To serve: carefully remove the springform pan and dust the cake with cocoa powder and shredded chocolate

Notes

Adapted from 500 Cakes by Susannah Blake

https://lovelypantry.com/2013/03/mocha-cheesecake-for-sundaysupper/

 

It seemed a little odd at first, to make a cake with no flour. But then I remembered that I’ve made a few flourless cakes – I just don’t make them often enough.

 

Mocha Cheesecake-1

Ingredients to make Mocha Cheesecake

 

The crust came together very well and did exactly what I needed it to do. I actually made the graham crumbs myself using my little Magic Bullet. That little gadget has really proven its worth. It gets more use than my blender. I cannot emphasize enough – wrap the springform pan well to avoid water seeping in.

 Mocha Cheesecake Prep

 

 

Mocha - coffee

Instant Coffee

The decision to add the mocha component happened as I was folding in the melted chocolate. Although the batter smelled wonderful, I wanted to give it a gentle kick to bring it up a notch. I’ll try the plain version another time. Hence the mocha cheesecake was created!

 

 

 

 

I used the biggest pan I had that was deep enough to bake this cake. Thank goodness for my roasting pan!

 

Mocha Cheesecake_5

 

The cake came out great! Almost perfect, actually. As it cooled, the edges pulled away from the pan and this made it easier to transfer to a serving dish.

 

Mocha Cheesecake-8

Cheesecake, fresh out the oven.

 

Slicing this cheesecake was a delight. The texture was so creamy and smooth. It was like we were meeting for this first time, this cheesecake and I. It took some time to prepare, and a little additional effort – but my oh my, it was worth it.

 

 Mocha Cheesecake_6

 

We enjoyed our Mocha Cheesecake. I enjoyed just looking at it even before I took the first bite! LOL!

 

Mocha Cheesecake_4

A slice of bliss…Mocha Cheesecake

 

The #SundaySupper Group has some super fantastic recipes for this week! Check out the  savory cheese dishes, wonderful cakes and amazing cheesecakes!

 

 

Cheese 

 

Cakes

 

 

Cheesecakes

***
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. This week we will be sharing our love of Cheese, Cakes AND Cheesecakes!  Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST!

Follow the #SundaySupper hash tag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat.Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
Join us Around the Family Table this Sunday at 7PM Eastern Time and share your favorite Cheese, Cake and Cheesecake Recipes with us!

 

 

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Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies for #SundaySupper

Dec 9, 2012 by

Cookies! Last year, I wondered if I could make them. I did …and they came out great! this year, I’m all in! I’m experimenting and finding tons of awesome cookie recipes. I’m not going to get to try them all but I’m building up a nice collection! That’s what makes this #SundaySupper so awesome! This weeks theme is Holiday Cookie Exchange! The titles are wonderful and I can’t wait to see everyone’s cookies!

Who doesn’t love a good cookie? We love cookies at my home, but I don’t buy them often. I feel much better making them myself, even if it’s just for the season. It also brings me comfort that they are home-made, and made with love. And a few chocolate chips. After all,  chocolate is love, right? Check out my Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies and Ginger Molasses Cookies. Crowd pleasers!

The cookie I’m sharing with you has been tested by me twice. I guess when I say “me”, I really should be saying “us”. The first batch was good, it was finished quickly and you know that’s a good sign.I made some slight changes on the second batch. I used a bit more cocoa powder and used white chocolate chips instead of dark. That’s all. And that’s what I’m sharing with you today.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies for #SundaySupper
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
These cookies are sweet with a hint of tartness. A wonderful combination and very festive.
Author:
Recipe type: Cookie
Ingredients
  • 1 Cup Wholewheat Pasty Flour
  • ½ Cup Dutch Processed Dark Cocoa Powder
  • ½ Cup + 2 Tbsp Butter, softened
  • ½ Cup Brown Sugar
  • ¼ Cup Granulated Sugar
  • ½ Tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Cup White Chocolate Chips
  • ¾ Cup Dried Cranberries
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. In a small bowl, sift in flour and cocoa powder. Combine with a whisk. Set aside
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and baking powder until combined
  4. Beat in egg until combined
  5. Beat in as much as the flour with the mixer
  6. Fold in chocolate chips and cranberries with a wooden spoon or spatula
  7. Using a cookie scoop, take up rounded portions and roll into a ball. Flatten then round the edges.
  8. Place on a parchment lined cookie tray with about 2 inches apart.
  9. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest in the tray for about 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely
Notes
This recipe yielded 33 cookies Store in an air tight container for 3 days at room temperature or freeze for up to 3 months

 

I’m no cookie expert. In fact, I’ve made cookies that could compete with a rock. I kid you not. I didn’t give  up though. I had to really learn about the importance of cooking time, and not necessarily how they look when they come out of the oven. Baking for too long, is just a no-no. The good thing about cookies is that once you get the hang of it, its smooth sailing after that!

Scoop, roll, flatten, shape.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies – Ready for baking!

 

To make these cookies, I did a test run first with about 3 cookies. I learned that they do not spread much. I found that they came out  better if I hand rolled and formed them. I used a cookie scoop so the cookies were very similar in size. Who ever came up with those scoops is a genius.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies – Freshly baked

 

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

These are great for giving as gifts!

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

My family really enjoyed these cookies. The inclusion of cranberries really made it festive and even more delicious.

 

Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

#SundaySupper has a special host this week, who knows all about Cookies ~  Janet Keeler, Food & Travel Editor for the Tampa Bay Times and Author of Cookielicious. Janet be joining us with tips on baking for the Ultimate Cookie Exchange and to answer any of your baking questions.  Grab a glass of milk and join us for The Ultimate Cookie Exchange during #SundaySupper this week.  We are giving away 5 signed copies of Cookielicious with 150 fabulous recipes to bake and share.

 

The Sunday Supper Favorite Cookie Exchange Cookies:

 

Do you have a favorite cookie to take to a Cookie Exchange?  Please join on us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper on December 9th.  In the evening we will meet at 7pm EST for our #SundaySupper Ultimate Cookie Exchange live chat.

All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.

We’d also love to feature your recipe for The Ultimate Cookie Exchange on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board to share them with all of our followers, too.

 

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Chocolate Banana & Truffle Muffins for #MuffinMonday

Nov 19, 2012 by

I guess every now and again, we can indulge in some chocolate goodness. Besides, there’s no better time than the upcoming holiday season. The sweet indulgences that I get flooded with on Pinterest leaves me no choice but to just dive in!

When I first saw this recipe as our selection for #MuffinMonday, the first thing I wanted to do was add chocolate chips. But then I thought… that’s too easy. And is it really festive? Of course it would taste great but, I wanted to do something else. From now until the end of the year, our #MuffinMondays will be quite sensational. I hope I can keep up! I’ll be wearing my special holiday pants on from now on. You know? The one with the stretchy waist? Yes, you know the one. We ALL have a pair!

On my trip to the grocery store, I went along my merry way, picking the items on my list. I came across my most favourite treats ever! Belgian Chocolate Truffles!!!! You guys have no idea how much restraint it takes for me not to have more than one or two at a time. That’s why I rarely buy them unless it’s around Christmas time.

While I was envisioning what I was going to do with my truffles, I had to figure out how not to eat them. Sadly, I lost about three before they could get to the batter. I wanted my muffins to have a truffle centre. Can you imagine that smooth velvety truffley centre of a muffin? Heavenly! What I love about this muffins that it’s not overly sweet but still quite a chocolatey muffin. This is the most decadent muffin I have made to date. The possibilities are endless, now that I’ve made these gorgeous muffins.

 

Chocolate Banana & Truffle Muffins

 

 

Chocolate Banana & Truffle Muffins
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A chocolate treat with a sweet and decadent truffle centre
Author:
Recipe type: Muffin
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 1 Tbsp 2% Milk
  • 2 Tsp Vanilla
  • 1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 2 cups All Purpose Flour, Unbleached
  • ¼ Cup Dutch Dark Cocoa
  • 1 Tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 15 of your favourite Truffles
Instructions
  1. Preheat Oven to 325F
  2. Grease a 12 hole muffin pan, or line with 12 paper cups
  3. In a medium bowl, mash bananas until smooth. Add milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix until combined
  4. In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy
  5. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition
  6. Add the banana mixture to the butter mixture and stir until combined
  7. In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and cocoa powder. Combine with a whisk.
  8. Add flour mixture gradually to the banana mixture, stirring to combine after each addition
  9. Put about 2 tablespoons of batter into each paper liner
  10. Add a truffle to the centre and then cover with batter until about ¾ full
  11. Bake for 22 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean
Notes
This recipe yields 15 muffins Adapted from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/banana-bread-recipe/index.html

 

I didn’t actually decide to add the cocoa powder until when I realized that the batter was going to be plain. Yes, filled with sweet flavourful banana, but plain. I added it on a whim, and hoped that it would turn out okay. I can’t see how I could have gone wrong with adding more chocolate.

 

Each Truffle inserted into batter

 

I used two spoons to  fill each cup with the remaining batter.

 

Truffles covered in batter

 

The kitchen was filled with that comforting aroma of chocolate. I could not wait to dig in! You have no idea!

 

Warm Muffins

 

And because I simple could not wait for my muffins to cool, this is what my truffle shavings looked like after a mere few seconds of making contact. I wasn’t complaining though! It wasn’t the look I was going for but hey ~ I ate this one first!

 

Melted Truffle Shavings

 

I just couldn’t help but wonder what the inside looked like… yes, the muffins were still warm. I was on a roll 🙂 The centre gets firmer when the muffins are completely cooled.

 

Warm Truffle Centre

 

Sweet, messy, awesome, Truffles! Believe me when I say none of this went to waste.

 

Truffle Shavings

 

I waited for the muffins to cool completely so that I could cover them with some truffle shavings. I allowed the truffles to firm up a bit by putting them in the fridge for a few minutes before using them.  This helped me to achieve the desired results. I was very VERY happy with these muffins. My family LOVED them!

 

Chocolate Banana & Truffle Muffins covered in Truffle shavings

 

Happy Monday!

 

Muffin Monday is an initiative by Baker Street. A culinary journey of sharing a wickedly delicious muffin recipe every week. Drop in a quick line to join her on her journey to make the world smile and beat glum Monday mornings week after week.

Muffin Monday: http://bakerstreet.tv/muffin-monday/

Muffin 101: http://bakerstreet.tv/muffin-monday/muffin-101/

 

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M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake by Anuradha of Baker Street

Jul 31, 2012 by

Today’s post is by none other than Anuradha from Baker Street!!! Anuradha is the brilliant baker behind Muffin Mondays. You all know how I look forward to Muffin Mondays. I always get to express my creativity with each weekly selection. I can’t wait to get back into the swing of things! Check out Anuradha’s awesome Muffin Recipes, Cake Recipes, and… okay look, just go to her blog. She has everything you ever dreamed of baking! From sweet to savory, there is something there to tickle your fancy. Her photography will leave you drooling (kind of like what I’m doing right now). You’ll thank me later!

Thank you Anuradha, for being so willing and might I say determined to see this post through! You’re such a trooper and I appreciate you! You made my day with this rich and amazingly chocolatey treat! What’s funny is – M&M’s is the treat that my kids get while they are here on vacation! A sweet coincidence! This cookie cake is absolutely perfect! Chocolate is my weakness!

Please enjoy today’s post by Anuradha: M&M And Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

***

Baker Street: M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

I’m thrilled to be guest posting for one of our very own Muffin Monday bakers, Lyn from The Lovely Pantry today. Her beautiful blog is a marriage of her two favorite hobbies – Cooking and Photography! A Jamaican Mom who improvises recipes as she goes along, her range is worth experiencing. She could whip up anything from a Chocolate Chip Granola Bar to a Spicy Thai Tuna and Fennel Salad.

Baker Street : M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

When Lyn asked me to guest post, I agreed immediately but the deadline was strict and even though I thought I would make it, my two traumatizing weeks at the dentist’s did not allow it. Lyn, despite being continents away, was entirely understanding and let me have additional time. I can’t thank her enough for it.

In turn I decided to bake for her my favorite chocolate chip cookie cake. A cake that is perfect for just about every occasion. It’s easy, delicious and easily adaptable. My variation today is a personal favorite – M&M and Chocolate Chips.

Baker Street | M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

M&M and Chocolate chip is quite a mouthful as it is and trust me the cake is perfect and needs no alteration but one thing I know about Lyn is she’s a chocoholic so I decided to give it a little bit of an extra chocolate glaze for her. A slice of this is just perfect to brighten any day.

Over to the recipe: Not a cookie, Not a cake. But the best of both worlds: A cookie cake sprinkled with M&Ms and chocolate chips.

M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake from bakerstreet.tv

Adapted from Food.com
 
5.0 from 5 reviews
M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake by Anuradha of BakerStreet
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert, Treat
Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ⅔ cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups flour, plus 4 tablespoons flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 11/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup M&Ms
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F
  2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl cream butter and both the sugars
  4. Add eggs and vanilla.
  5. Add dry ingredients to the batter and mix until well blended.
  6. Stir in chocolate chips and M&Ms.
  7. Spread the dough in a lightly greased cake tin and bake for 20 minutes.
 

M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake from Baker Street

Happy Baking!

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Coconut Jam Muffins

May 28, 2012 by

Recently, I’ve developed this fascination with coconut products that are out there. There are a lot of course, jumping on the coconut health food band-wagon. The use of coconut and its by-products has been well established in the Caribbean. I have only been using Coconut Oil and Coconut Milk for the past few months due to my growing interest in all things “natural” and healthy. Recently, I attended the Good Food Festival in Toronto and found the best thing I’ve ever tasted!! Okay, perhaps I’m going a tad bit over board. But I can honestly say I love what I found. I had no idea that it existed.

Have you ever heard of Coconut Jam? If you are familiar – kudos to you. If you are like me, and this is a new phenomenon to you… welcome! From the moment I tasted the samples at the booth, I knew I found something really cool. It comes in a few flavours – plain, vanilla and mango. The difference was really subtle between them, but I  went with the mango. I’ve had it on toast and english muffins, but I wanted to do something extra special so I adapted a basic muffin recipe and created my very own Coconut Jam Muffin. I should actually call it Triple Coconut – Jam Muffins because I used some Coconut Flour. And some Coconut Milk too. This is my first time cooking with coconut flour as well as the coconut jam. It came out very well. Certified AWESOME. I need to contact the company and secure some more of this good stuff. I’m hooked!

 

Coconut Jam Muffins

 

5.0 from 5 reviews
Coconut Jam Muffins
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A coconut infused muffin with coconut jam in the centre
Author:
Recipe type: Muffin
Ingredients
  • 1½ Cups All Purpose Flour, Unbleached
  • ½ Cup Coconut Flour
  • 1 Tbsp Baking Powder
  • ⅛ Tsp Salt
  • ¾ Cup Superfine Sugar
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 Cup Light Coconut Milk
  • 6 Tbsp Melted, cooled unsalted butter
  • 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 4 Tbsp Coconut Jam
  • 2 Tbsp Turbinado Sugar (Raw Sugar)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 400F
  2. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or line with paper liners
  3. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl
  4. Stir in the coconut flour and superfine sugar
  5. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Beat in the coconut milk, butter and vanilla extract
  6. In the bowl with the flours, make a well and pour in the liquid ingredients. Stir gently to combine and take care not to over mix
  7. In either the muffin liners, or greased muffin cup, fill each cup half way. Add about a teaspoon of jam into the centre of the batter of each cup.
  8. Fill each cup with the remaining batter to cover the jam.
  9. Sprinkle the batter with some Turbinado sugar
  10. Bake for about 20 minutes until muffins are golden brown and firm to the touch
Notes
Adapted from the book "100 Muffins from 1 Easy Recipe"

 

I need to contact these people. We need to be friends. VERY good friends.

 

Coconut Jam with Mango

 

I used some teaspoons to drop a small amount into the batter. I like that a little goes a long way. This jam smells so good. The kids loved it too – on toast, on crackers, in a sandwich and in muffins!

 

Teaspoon of Coconut Jam

 

I placed a dab of jam in the centre of the batter… just like this…

 

Coconut Jam in half a muffin cup of Coconut Muffin Batter

 

Then I covered it with more batter, then sprinkled it with my topping of preference if I am not using a streusel ~ Raw Sugar! I love that little crunch!

 

Batter and Turbinado Sugar

 

This one is mine!!!

 

Coconut Jam oozing out of the muffin

 

Allow muffins to cool for a few minutes because the jam will be hot. Don’t ask me how I know this.

 

Coconut Jam Muffins - ready

 

 

Aside from the amazing aroma these muffins gave my home, I really love a few things about these muffins. Just looking at them, they look like ordinary muffins. Nothing special, at a glance. A few crunchy bits on the top, and a tender but firm exterior. But then there’s that one muffin where the jam started to ooze out. That is what drew me to that muffin, that slight difference. A slight imperfection, perhaps? Many times, there is goodness in the ordinary. We just have to take a chance and dig deep. See beyond what is right before us. Only then, will we see and experience that beautiful sweetness and goodness that a muffin can offer.

 

Coconut Jam in the middle

 

Biting into that jam was the business! LOL! Happy Monday everyone!

 

~Lyn

 

 

 

 

 

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