Recipes: Cakes & Cupcakes

February 07, 2012

Chocolate Raspberry Creamcakes

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You're probably beginning to notice my love affair with all things mini. I admit it. I'm Serena and I love all mini treats.

I made these creamcakes because I wanted to make something delicious with what I had on hand. These cakes are chocolately, creamy, and perfectly sweetened with raspberry. But best of all, they're really simple and a modern adaptation of the cakes my sister would make me as a child, all covered in jam.

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Chocolate Raspberry Creamcakes

1 package Thin Chocolate Cookie Wafers (such as Nabisco)

8 ounces Mascarpone*

1/4 cup Raspberry Jam (I recommend Smuckers Simply Fruit)

3 tablespoons Milk

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Raspberry Jam for drizzling and frosting

Whip mascarpone, jam, milk, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy and completely combined. Pipe or spread the whipped mixture onto the top of 5 cookie wafers. Stack wafers atop each other to form the little cakes. (Drizzle extra jam between layers, if desired). Frost the top of the little cake with the mascarpone mixture or jam, or both. Continue assembling the cakes, one at a time. Place the cakes onto a tray, wrap each one with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least five hours or overnight. Serve cold.

*You can substitute cream cheese for the mascarpone. If you do, make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature, as it won't blend well when cold).

Recipe makes 6 cakes.

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May 13, 2011

Strawberry Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

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One of my favorite spring flavor combinations is strawberry and rhubarb and every year, I love experimenting with recipes that include them. My Strawberry Cake is sweet and aromatic while the Rhubarb Topping is a bit tart, really buttery, and delicious. Desserts really don't get any homier than this.

Rhubarb Topping:

3/4 cups butter (1 1/2 cubes)

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar (not packed)

3 cups fresh rhubarb, cut into 1/2" - 3/4" chunks

Add butter and brown sugar to a saucepan and cook over medium high heat until butter is melted and sugar has dissolved. Pour into a 13"x9" baking pan. Top with the rhubarb chunks and set aside while you prepare the Strawberry Cake batter.

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Strawberry Cake:

2 heaping cups fresh strawberries, blended to produce 1 1/2 cups 

2 1/2 cups flour

2 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup milk

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash and hull strawberries and quarter. Blend strawberries and measure out 1 1/2 cups of the mixture. Set aside.

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Add flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda to a mixing bowl and stir together. Add butter, milk, and the strawberry mixture and beat at medium speed, scraping bowl as needed, for one minute. Add eggs and beat on high for two minutes, scraping bowl as needed. Pour batter atop the Rhubarb Topping in the baking pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes until the cake is set in the center, and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool for five minutes. After five minutes, loosen cake from edges of the pan with a spatula and invert onto a cooling rack or platter.

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Serve cake at room temperature as the cake and rhubarb are most flavorful after they've cooled.

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March 09, 2011

Homestyle Lowfat Carrot Cake

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February 02, 2011

Brownie Bites

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January 21, 2011

Mini Donut Cupcakes

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December 13, 2010

Woodsycake

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July 09, 2010

Strawberry Shortcakes

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May 24, 2010

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake

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March 08, 2010

Springcakes

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February 12, 2010

Quadruple Chocolate Mousse Cake

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December 11, 2009

Peppermint Fudge Cakes

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March 21, 2009

Classic Chocolate Cake

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February 13, 2009

Dark Chocolate Butter Cake

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January 05, 2009

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

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January 01, 2009

Moist Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

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