Fondant recipe

Fondant is a edible clay like material that stretches over cakes and can be made into anything for cupcakes and cakes. You can get ready made fondant at a craft store in the baking section. This takes a little while to make.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups of sugar
1 cup of water
1/5 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions:

1. combine ingredients. Heat to the boiling point, stirring until sugar dissolves.
2.Continue boiling, brushing syrup from sides of pan until the temperture reaches (238* on a candy thermometer) or until a small amount dropped into cold water will form a soft ball.
3. Remove to a shallow dish. When lukewarm, stir until white and creamy. add any desired flavoring or coloring. Cool.
4. When ready to use for icing, warm slightly over hot water.

TIP: Remember, a little food coloring goes a long way. Always start with only a drop or two. Add more if you want a deeper color.

Puppy chow

I made this when my family was watching the Super Bowl. Great for parties, snacks and sleepovers.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
9 cups Crispix cereal (any flavor)
1 - 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Combine peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl


2. Microwave for one minute then stir to blend the mixture thoroughly. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir well.


3. Place the 9 cups of Crispix cereal in a very large bowl.


4. Pour the penut butter-chocolate mixture over the cereal and toss evenly, making sure all the cereal gets a good covering.


5. Coat with powdered sugar, sprinkling evenly over the cereal and tossing as you sprinkle to cover each piece well.

Vanilla Butter Frosting

Cooks note: if there are any lumps in the confectioners sugar the frosting will be lumpy unless the sugar is sifted or pulverized in a food processer until smooth. Use only good quality pure vanilla extract. Cheap vanilla or imitation will leave more of an achohol taste since this is not going to be baked or cooked. Using vanilla that has sat on a shelf for several years may produce a bland taste or require more vanilla to be used.
If you have concerns about using raw egg whites, you can always use store-bought pasteurized egg product.


Ingredients:
1 pound (1 box) confectioners sugar, sifted if lumpy
2 egg whites
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and beat for 5 minutes or until very light and creamy. If the mixture is too dry and too thick, add a few drops of milk. Frosting should still be thick. If mixture is too thin add a few more tablespoons of confectioners sugar.

To make chocolate butter frosting: Beat 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate (1 square) that has been melted, into the recipe above.

Enough to fill and frost an 8 inch layer cake.

Homemade Vanilla Cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F



2. Line 2 (1/2 cup - 12 capacity) muffin tins with cupcake liners



3. In a small bowl, combine the flours and set aside



4. In a large bowl, cream the butter until smooth, at medium speed add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy which would be about 3 minutes



5. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition



6. Add the flour mix in 3 parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not over beat.



7. Scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure ingredients are well blended.



8. Carefully spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about 3/4 full.



9. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the top of the cupcake comes out clean



10. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool before frosting

This recipe makes 24 cupcakes.