Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Speculoos Chocolate Chip Scones

Photo and Recipe By: The Sweet Chick

A tasty treat for your kids to enjoy, follow recipe here:

Ingredients (12 scones)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 6 tbsp cold butter
  • 1/3 cup Speculoos spread
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 egg

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Mix flour, sugar, and baking powder. Cut up butter and add to flour mixture. Add Speculoos spread and chocolate chips. In a separate bowl mix eggs and milk until blended and add to the flour mixture.
Drop by spoonful on cookie sheet and shape into triangles by hand. No need to be perfect.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until tops are golden.

Eat and Enjoy!


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Speculoos Banana Smoothie

Photo and recipe by: Hoosier Home made

A very refreshing drink to try this spring, follow recipe below:

Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup Speculoos Spread
  • 1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 small banana, cut into chunks
  • 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Topping optional
  • Dollop of Cool Whip
  • Crushed Speculoos Cookies
  • Dried Banana Chip
Instructions

  1. Place all shake ingredients in a blender and combine until smooth
  2. Serve with topping if desired

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Speculoos Beer Floats



Photo and Recipe by: Baker’s Royale

When I say easy, Believe me! This simple treat is superb, follow recipe below:

Ingredients:
  • 1 half gallon Dreyer's Slow Churned ice cream (Or any Ice cream that you want)
  • 3/4 cup Speculoos spread
  • 22 oz. chocolate Porter beer
Directions:
  1. Soften ice cream and fold in Speculoos spread until combined. Place ice cream mixture back in freezer until hard.
  2. Scoop ice cream into glasses and pour desired amount of chocolate Porter beer over ice cream.


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Devil’s Food Cake with Speculoos Filling


This is a very sophisticated process but the end result is rewarding. Please follow the recipe clearly for great result J

For the Devil’s Food Cake
  • 2/3 cup (150 grams) unsalted butter, plus more for pans
  • 2/3 cup (50 grams) Dutch-process cocoa powder, plus more for pans
  • 2/3 cup boiling water
  • 1/3 cup whole milk, scalded
  • 1 1/2 cups (210 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cup (300 grams) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the Whipped Speculoos Ganache
  • 4.5 ounces (150 grams) bittersweet (70% cacao) chocolate, chopped
  • 4.5 ounces (150 grams) milk (40% cacao) chocolate, chopped
  • one 14-ounce (400 grams) jar Speculoos spread
  • 1 2/3 cups (400 grams) heavy cream, cold
For the Chocolate Shards
4 ounces (120 grams) bittersweet (70% cacao) chocolate, chopped

MAKE THE CHOCOLATE SHARDS

In order for the chocolate shards to stick to the cake easily, the whipped ganache should be at room temperature, so make sure to have them ready by the time you are finished with the ganache.
Place the chopped chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over hot water and allow to melt, stirring often. Place a 16-inch-long parchment paper on your work surface. Pour the melted chocolate onto the paper and using an offset spatula, spread it in a thin and even layer, about 1/3 of an inch off each edge. Place a second sheet of same-sized parchment paper on top and gently press to release the air bubbles. Starting with one short end, roll the parchment paper tightly into an-inch-wide tube. Place it seam side down on a rimmed baking tray and chill in the refrigerator until set, for at least 2 hours.
Have a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper ready and remove the tube from the refrigerator. Unroll the tube in one quick motion, which creates the chocolate shards. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper, and with the help of a large offset spatula go underneath the pieces, pick them up and transfer them to the lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to use.

You can make the chocolate shards 3 days in advance.

1. Adjust the oven rack to the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter the parchment papers, dust with cocoa powder, tap out excess and set aside.

2. Sift cocoa powder into a medium bowl, add boiling water and whisk until the cocoa is completely dissolved. Add milk and whisk to combine. Set aside to cool.

3. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.

4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat on medium speed for 5 more minutes, scraping down the sides with a spatula as necessary. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each one is fully incorporated before adding the next. Beat in vanilla.

5. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the cocoa mixture.

6. Divide batter evenly among the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of each layer comes out clean, rotating pans halfway through for even baking. Allow to cool in the pans for a few minutes, then take out and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

Making the Whipped Speculoos Ganache
Place both chocolates in the top of a double boiler set over hot water and allow to melt, stirring often. Remove from heat and whisk in the Speculoos spread. Add the heavy cream and with the help of an electric mixer, whisk until soft peaks form. Be careful not to overbeat, as the frosting will become grainy.

Composing the Cake

1. Remove parchment papers from the bottoms of the cakes. Using a long, serrated knife, remove the top crusts to flatten the surface of the cakes. Place one cake on an 8-inch cardboard round or your serving plate (wide strips of parchment paper placed under the cake will keep the serving plate clean after frosting).

2. Frost the top with a little more than 1/3 of the ganache. Place the second cake on top and frost the top and the sides with the remaining ganache.

3. Take the frozen chocolate chards out of the refrigerator and gently stick the shards to the ganache with the help of a tweezer. Use long pieces for the sides and smaller pieces for the top. Place the cake in the refrigerator until the ganache is firmly set, for about an hour, then serve.