This chocolate espresso mousse is all about indulgence. PERIOD.
Owl Cake
I am not going to explain why my children had two birthday parties although their birthdays are only four days apart. And of course they had more than one cake. Spoiled! I know! Not to mention how my 4-year-old only cared about the candle blowing part but NOTHING!
Ingredients:
2 batches chocolate devil’s food cake
3 sticks unsalted butter, soften
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup Nutella
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 Oreo cookies
2 brown or black M&M’s
1 piece of orange rind
1 tablespoon small chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour two 8 1/2-inch (3 quarts) stainless steel mixing bowls and one 5 1/2-inch (1 1/2 quarts) stainless steel mixing bowl.
Put 3 cups of cake batter in each of the large mixing bowl, and 2 1/2 cups in the small mixing bowl.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
Let cool in the bowls for 10 minutes. Then invert the cakes onto a greased rack. Cool completely before frosting.
To prepare the buttercream, beat butter on high until fluffy. Add sugar and beat until incorporated. Reverse a cup to frost owl’s belly.
Add cocoa powder and beat until combined. Then add Nutella and cream, and beat until you get to the right consistency.
To assemble the cake, level the cakes if they come out with round tops. Place one large cake (round bottom down) on your serving plate, then flip another large cake on top, flat side down, to create a symmetrical owl body. Place the small cake (flat side down) on top of the owl body. Insert a wooden chopstick through the centre to keep the layers secured.
Spread the reserve white frosting on the front of the owl body for its belly.
Smear the Nutella frosting on the rest of the owl body and head. Gently press the tip of a small spatula in the Nutella frosting and pull it out to create the feathered effect.
Separate the Oreos, then secure a M&M’s on each halve with the white filling with a dab of white icing. Place 2 Oreo eyes onto the head. Then insert an orange rind between the eyes to make the owl beak.
Cut one of the remaining Oreo cookies in half. Insert them, curved side out, at the top of the head. Cover with Nutella frosting to match the body.
Dot chocolate chips to the belly area for a speckled look.
Rainbow Cake
My two children’s birthdays are in October. And this is when I will come up with a crazy cake which I will not make normally. Would you normally have a monkey cake, Elmo cake or Cookie Monster cake for dessert on a regular day?
Braided Egg Buns
Happy Monday! I started my week with this wonderful, homey, cozy braided egg buns. How about yours?
I know making bread might sound pretty intimidating and impossible. But it’s just that first step you start it, and trust me, you will get addicted!
Halloween Owl Cupcakes
When I came across this fun treat, it’s hard to not gather my little ones and get some fun. The owl decoration is so cleverly simple that my 3-year-old was having no problem doing it all by himself. And my 1-year-old…having no problem finishing the other sides of the Oreos that we didn’t need.
Ingredients (12 regular-sized cupcakes):
Quick Chocolate Cupcake with Nutella
1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water mixed with 2 tablespoons espresso powder
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup Nutella
Owl Decoration
24 pieces Oreo cookies
24 brown or black M&M’s
12 orange M&M’s
Directions:
Grease muffin tin or line with muffin liners.
To prepare cupcakes, in a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, mix together espresso, vinegar, vanilla and oil.
Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture, mix until just blended.
Divide the batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
Spread Nutella on top of each cupcake.
Separate the Oreos, then push a brown M&M’s on each halve with the white filling. Place 2 Oreo eyes onto the cupcake. Then put an orange M&M’s on its side between the eyes to make the owl beak.