Sunday, September 29, 2013

Lemon Pound Cake




3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
3 cups sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup shortening, room temperature
5 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
6 Tbsp lemon juice
1 lemon, zested

Preheat oven to 350F

Spray or butter and flour 2 loaf pans or one large Bundt pan.

Sift flour, baking powder and salt into medium bowl.  Set aside.

Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, shortening and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time, beating until well blended after each one.

Add dry ingredients in three additions to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Mix in lemon juice and zest.

Pour batter into prepared pans.  Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.  Cool cakes in pans for 15 minutes.  Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely.

No-Bake Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes



















Ingredients
For the crust
  • 1 sleeve graham crackers (about 9 crackers)
  • ½ stick (4 tablespoons) butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
For the filling
  • 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
  • 3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 1-ounce package sugar free cheesecake-flavored instant pudding mix (or 1/3 of a non-sugar free instant pudding may be used)
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 12-ounce container frozen whipped topping, plus extra for garnish if desired
Instructions
  1. Place the graham crackers in the bowl of a food processor and pulse the crackers into fine crumbs. Add the melted butter, sugar and brown sugar and pulse until combined.
  2. Spoon the crumbs into individual 9-ounce plastic cups (or other individual sized cups for serving). Place in the refrigerator to set while you are preparing the filling.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until light and creamy.
  4. Add the pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and pudding mix and beat until completely mixed, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure that all ingredients are well combined.
  5. Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix again until well combined.
  6. Change your stand mixture attachment to the wire whisk. On slow speed, fold in the tub of Cool Whip until well combined.
  7. Allow the mixture to sit in the refrigerator for about an hour to firm up.
  8. Using a large pastry bag with a large tip, or a spoon, top the graham cracker crust in each cup with the pumpkin mixture and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  9. Garnish with additional whipped topping if desired.