Dessert, Summer Time Recipes

Homemade Churro Smores

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amanda's plate homemade churro smores, churro smores

An absolute favorite summer treat are Smores! But the traditional store bought version can get boring (at least for me). I’ve been making my own marshmallows for 2 years now and I love have the versatility in this homemade confection. When I learned of the Feed Feed and Ghirardellis smore contest, I wanted to create my homemade churro smores! 

Amandas Plate Homemade churro smores

This dessert does take some effort, but it is TOTALLY worth it! You really can’t get any better than sandwiching a gooey, toasted marshmallow in between a fried sweet dough thats rolled in cinnamon sugar! Also, don’t forget the chocolate. I used a salted caramel dark chocolate in these smores, but feel free to use whatever it is you like 🙂 

 

amanda's plate churro smores, churro recipe

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Homemade Churro Smores
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6-8 servings
 
Ingredients
Marshmallows
  • 3 tablespoons gelatin (can use agar agar)
  • 1½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon good quality vanilla
  • 1 cup cold water, divided
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
Churro
  • 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 quarts oil for frying
Cinnamon Sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
Marshmallows
  1. Place gelatin and ½ cup cold water in bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment; this allows the gelatin to bloom.
  2. In a heavy bottom sauce pan, mix together sugar, salt, corn syrup, and remaining ½ cup water.
  3. Stir the mixture and heat to a temperature of 240 degrees.
  4. Begin whisking gelatin and slowly stream in sugar mixture.
  5. Add in vanilla extract
  6. Continue whisking until light and fluffy; about 15 minutes.
  7. Once the mixture resembles marshmallow fluff, turn off mixture
  8. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dust it with powdered sugar.
  9. Spread marshmallow fluff evenly across pan
  10. Allow to set for a minimum of an hour.
  11. Remove from pan and cut into desired shape.
  12. Dust with more powdered sugar
Cinnamon Sugar
  1. Combine ½ cup sugar with the cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
  2. Line a plate with paper towels.
Churros
  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together the water, 1½ tablespoons sugar, salt and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil then remove it from the heat.
  3. Stir in the flour. Mix until it forms a ball.
  4. Heat vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot set over medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees.
  5. Transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
  6. Pipe the dough into pinwheels (about 5 inches wide). Press the pinwheels down gently until they are flat.
  7. Fry the churros in oil until golden brown.
  8. Transfer the churros to the paper towel-lined plate to drain, then roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Assemble
  1. Build your smores
  2. Enjoy 🙂

 

You will need a candy thermometer to make the marshmallows. They are easily found at kitchen stores and on amazon. For the churros, you will need a star icing tip. These are also readily available. 

Homemade churro smores

 

Make this recipe? I’d love to see! Tag me using #CreateAmandasPlate

 

Xoxo, 

 

Amanda

 

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Dessert, Fall Recipes

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Marshmallow Meringue Topping

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pumpkin cheesecake, amandas plate pumpkin cheesecake

Cheesecakes are my absolute favorite desserts! They were the first recipe I learned to make on my own. I was in fourth grade and was looking for a book to purchase at the book fair. I selected a cookbook and I couldn’t wait to get home and start baking!

I made my cheesecake first at age 11 and ever since then, I have been tweaking and perfecting the recipe. I created this pumpkin cheesecake after multiple requests from Hussein! 😀

pumpkin cheesecake with marshmallow meringue topping

Tips For Cheesecake Baking: 

  1. Start with room temperature ingredients, this includes the cream cheese! It will be easier to mix your batter into a smooth, silky texture.
  2. Whip your batter far on low speed. You want the batter to be super smooth, but you do not want to introduce a ton of air in. The air will create pockets that will crack when cooling. 
  3. Pre-bake your crust! This helps ensure it is the proper texture and maintains its shape.
  4. Bake in a water bath. This means placing your cheesecake pan in a large pan and surrounding the cheesecake with water. *be sure to wrap your spring form pan in foil to prevent the water from ruining your crust.
  5. Allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven, with the oven door cracked. Do this for about 20 minutes for a slow cooling process to prevent cracking.

The cheesecake can be made a day ahead of time. Make the marshmallow meringue the same day you will be serving it!

marshmallow meringue pumpkin cheesecake

I mean, look at that topping!!!! 

 

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Pumpkin Cheesecake with Marshmallow Meringue Topping
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12
 
Ingredients
Pumpkin Filling
  • 3 (8oz) packages of cream cheese
  • 1¼ cups white sugar
  • 1½ cups pumpkin puree
  • 3 whole eggs
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • pinch of salt
Ginger Snap Crust
  • 2 cups finely ground ginger snap cookies
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
Meringue Topping
  • 3 large egg whites, at room temperature
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
Instructions
Crust
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Wrap 9 inch spring form pan with heavy aluminum foil. Be sure that the entire pan is covered in the foil and that there are no openings to the pan.
  3. Combine ginger snap crumbs, flour, brown sugar and melted butter.
  4. Using back of measuring cup, press crumbs onto sides of your pan.
  5. Bake crust for 10-12 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Cheesecake Batter
  1. Mix cream cheese, pumpkin puree, sugar, vanilla and spice on low speed until smooth.
  2. Add in eggs, one at a time, mixing well between each addition. Mix in flour.
  3. Pour batter into crust.
  4. Place spring form pan onto a large cookie sheet and surround with 3 cups of water.
  5. Bake for 55 minutes or until the center no longer jiggles when you shake it.
  6. Allow to cool in the oven, with the door open for 15 minutes.
Make your Meringue
  1. In your stand mixer, mix the egg whites until fluffy.
  2. Add cream of tartar. Continue whisking and increase speed.
  3. Add in vanilla extract.
  4. Add sugar and continue to whisk mixture until shiny, stiff peaks form.
Assemble
  1. Be sure to cool cheesecake completely.
  2. Pipe or scoop meringue onto the top of cheesecake.
  3. Torch the marshmallow meringue
  4. Enjoy 🙂

pumpkin cheesecake

Make this recipe? I’d love to see! Tag me @AmandasPlate or #CreateAmandasPlate

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Dessert, Fall Recipes

Candy Corn Cupcakes

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One of my favorite Halloween candies are candy corn! I know many people dislike them, but when they come around I can’t resist their super sweet marshmallow like flavor! And they are perfect color trilogy of colors in my Candy Corn Cupcakes!

 

candy corn cupcakes

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Dessert, Fall Recipes

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

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pumpkin spice cupcakes amandas plate

I know I am not alone when I say I can not keep up with all the national food days. It seems that every day of the week is a special celebration of America’s Favorite Foods! This is a great thing, and today is National Pumpkin Spice Day 😀 

Pumpkin Patch

For this special holiday, I am sharing my pumpkin spice cupcakes! 

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Dessert

Fig & Pistachio Pavlova

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A few weeks ago, while out with friends at Hot Cakes in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, we shared a delicious chocolate pavlova. I have since wanted to make my own.

I had some beautiful, sweet, figs on hand and thought, I should incorporate them into my dessert! BTW, do you know how figs are pollinated?? It’s

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Dessert

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

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I’ve always preferred vanilla cupcakes over chocolate. To celebrate my two year blog anniversary, I made these cupcakes to celebrate! I shared them with my friends, who were super excited to try the edible pansies that adorned the cupcakes 😀

Growing up, we made cakes and cupcakes often. But they were not always from scratch. Yes, we used box mixes 😛 As I spent more time watching the food network, I realized just how easy it was to make a cake from scratch.IMG_1935 

This recipe is very versatile and easy. You can add any extracts you like; think peppermint, coconut or lemon 🙂 I chose to top the cupcakes with a buttercream icing because it is also really easy and versatile! 

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a chance to win MasterChef Season 6 Winner Claudia’s new cookbook!

On to the recipe:

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Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1 dozen
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1¼ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1¼ cups all purpose flour
  • pinch of salt
ButterCream
  • 1 (8 tablespoon) stick of unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk (if needed)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line cupcake pan with liners.
  2. Using a mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy
  3. Add in eggs, one at a time, mixing well between additions.
  4. Mix in vanilla bean extract.
  5. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
  6. Add in the dry ingredients and the milk. Mix until just combined (do not over mix)
  7. Pour batter into the cups and bake for 12-14 minutes.
Buttercream
  1. Using a mixer, blend butter and powdered sugar together. Add in the vanilla and milk and mix until smooth.
  2. Use food coloring if desired.
  3. Pipe buttercream onto cooled cupcakes
  4. Enjoy 🙂

vanilla bean cupcake

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Dessert

Homemade Churros with Dipping Sauce

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If there’s one thing I know I love it’s fried dough. dipped in sugar. then dipped in chocolate. 😛

What better way to celebrate Cinco De Mayo than with a homemade churro! Cinco De Mayo, is not Mexican Independence Day, like many may believe. It is the celebration of the Mexican Army’s victory over the French forces in the Battle of Puebla (thank you, Wiki :))IMG_9324

I remember making Churros for the first time when I was 17 or 18. It was when I was working at my family’s grocery store and a customer brought some in. She told me how easy they were to make, and shared her recipe. I have since lost that recipe (boo!) but I have come across several online and have made some adjustments to mimic the one I remember eating almost 10 years ago!

homemade churro

This recipe is brought to you by, Fred Meyer Stores! All content, ideas and words are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors who allow me to create and share these fun, new recipes! They help keep this blog going 🙂 

IMG_9311 IMG_9309 

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5.0 from 4 reviews
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Homemade Churros with Dipping Sauce
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 2 dozen
 
Ingredients
Churro
  • 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 quarts oil for frying
Cinnamon Sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Chocolate dipping Sauce
  • ¾ cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
Cinnamon Sugar
  1. Combine ½ cup sugar with the cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
  2. Line a plate with paper towels.
Churros
  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together the water, 1½ tablespoons sugar, salt and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil then remove it from the heat.
  3. Stir in the flour. Mix until it forms a ball.
  4. Heat vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot set over medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees.
  5. Transfer the dough to a cloth pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
  6. Pipe the dough over the oil to a length of about 4 inches. Using a very sharp knife, cut the churro into the oil.
  7. Transfer the churros to the paper towel-lined plate to drain, then roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Chocolate Sauce
  1. Place the chocolate chips and cayenne in a bowl.
  2. Warm the heavy cream in small saucepan.
  3. Pour the warmed heavy cream over the chocolate. Let it sit for a minute then stir to combine.
  4. Serve and enjoy!

 

homemade churro

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