Showing posts with label Almond. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Almond. Show all posts

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Blueberry Muffins w/ Almond Streusel Topping


I'm telling you, I am loving this new baking book!  Bouchon Bakery - Thomas Keller & Sebastien Rouxel.

ENJOY!



Blueberry Muffins w/ Almond Streusel Topping
(Makes 6 jumbo Muffins or 12 Regular Muffins)

Muffin Ingredients:
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons (180 grams) - Frozen Wild Blueberries
1 tablespoon (10 grams) - All Purpose Flour
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (86 grams) - All Purpose Flour
3/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons (109 grams) - Cake Flour
1/2 plus 1/8 teaspoon (2.8 grams) - Baking Powder
1/2 plus 1/8 teaspoon (2.8 grams) - Baking Soda
3/4 teaspoon (2.4 grams) - Salt
3.4 ounces (96 grams) - Unsalted Butter (@ room temperature)
1/2 cup (96 grams) - Granulated Sugar
2 tablespoons (40 grams) - Unsulfured Blackstrap or Dark Molasses
2 1/2 tablespoons (54 grams) - Clover Honey
1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons (72 grams) - Eggs (or about 1 large egg)
1/4 teaspoon (1.2 grams) - Vanilla Paste
1/4 cup (57 grams) - Buttermilk

Procedure:

1.  Toss blueberries with the 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour in a small bowl, and place in the freezer.
Place remaining 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour in a medium bowl. Sift in the cake flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add salt and whisk together.

2.  Place butter in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, turn to medium-low speed, and cream the butter, until it’s the consistency of mayonnaise.

3.  Add sugar and mix on medium-low speed for about 1 minute until the mixture is fluffy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add molasses and honey and mix on low speed for about 1 minute to incorporate.

4.  Add eggs and vanilla paste and mix on low speed for about 30 seconds, until just combined. Add half the flour mixture and mix on low speed for 15 seconds, or until just combined. Add half the buttermilk and mix for 15 to 30 seconds to combine. Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients, followed by the remaining buttermilk.

5.  Remove the bowl from the mixer stand and scrape the bottom of the bowl to incorporate any dry ingredients that have settled there. Transfer the batter to a covered container and refrigerate overnight, or up to 36 hours.

Baking the Muffin:

1.  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a 6-cup jumbo muffin pan with muffin papers and spray the papers with nonstick cooking spray. Remove the batter from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to begin to soften.

2.  Stir the blueberries into the batter and spoon batter evenly into the muffin papers, stopping about 3/8 inch from the top (about 140 grams each). Sprinkle 30 grams or a generous 3 tablespoons of the streusel on top of each muffin.

3.  Place pan in the oven, lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees, and bake for 36 to 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Set the pan on a cooling rack and cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

4.  The muffins are best the day they are baked, but they can be wrapped individually in a few layers of plastic wrap or stored in a single layer in a covered container at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 week. Defrost the muffins still in the container so any condensation will form on the outside of the container and not on the muffins. Place on a sheet rack and refresh in a 325-degree oven for about 5 minutes, if desired.

Almond Streusel Topping

Ingredients:
(Makes 3 3/4 cups)
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (120) grams - All-Purpose Flour
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon (120 grams) - Almond Flour/Meal
1/2 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons (120 grams) - Granulated Sugar
1/4 teaspoon (0.6 grams) - Kosher Salt
4.2 ounces (120 grams) - Cold, Unsalted Butter (cut into 1/4-inch pieces)

Procedure:
1.  Combine the all-purpose flour, almond flour, sugar and salt in a bowl and whisk to break up any lumps.

2.  Add butter and toss to coat the pieces. Work the mixture with your fingertips, breaking the butter into pieces  no larger than 1/8 inch and combining it with the flour mixture. Do not overwork the mixture or allow the butter to become soft; if it does, place the bowl in the refrigerator to harden the butter before continuing.

3.  Transfer the streusel to a covered container or re-sealable plastic bag. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days, or freeze up to 1 month. Use the streusel while it is cold.

4.  This recipe makes about twice as much streusel as you will need to make 6 jumbo blueberry muffins. Just freeze the remaining streusel to use when you bake another batch of muffins.
 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Almond-Grape Tea Cake



I came across this recipe from the Everyday FOOD Magazine, September 2011 issue.  The image was lovely and I was intrigue to taste tea cake with grapes being bake.  The baking grapes were bursting in my mouth filled with a bold sweetness to it, similar to dates.  Who knew texture of baked grapes can be this phenomenal.  Enjoy!


Almond-Grape Tea Cake
(ADAPTED FROM Everyday FOOD, SEPT. 2011)


Ingredients
10 Tbsp - Butter, @ room temperature
1 Cup - All Purpose Flour
3/4 Cup - Sugar
3 - Large Eggs
8 oz - Slivered almonds (I used almond meal)
1/4 tsp - Salt
1 tsp - Pure Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 tsp - Lemon Zest
18 grapes, halved crosswise

(Creaming Method)


Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Mini Almond Cake



I heart the flavor of almond! Here, I've created an almond cake filled with creme chantilly in the center and topped with a toasted almond. Sounds yummy doesn't it? It is indeed scrumptious and of course, you can always fill the center with another filling. Lemon custard would be a nice filling to try one day since lemons are in season. Enjoy! (Portion control :P)
Mini Almond Cake
Serving:  7-8 pieces

Ingredients 
1 large - Egg, at room temperature (makes cake fluffy, maximum volume, and soft)
1/3 Cup - Sour Cream, split in 1/2
1/4 tsp - Almond Extract
1/8 tsp - Vanilla Extract

2.75 oz - Cake Flour
0.75 oz - Almond Meal
3.25 oz - Granulated Sugar
1/4 tsp - Salt
1/4 tsp - Baking Powder
1/4 tsp - Baking Soda

3.00 oz - Butter, soften

Procedure
1.  Mix egg, 1/2 sour cream, almond extract, and vanilla extract altogether and set aside.

2.  Mix all the dry ingredients together until combined, whisk in butter and remaining sour cream and beat until light and fluffy (approx. 1 1/2 minutes).

3.  Add the Egg mixture into the flour mix and combine until incorporated.  Place mix into a piping bag and pipe into silicone mold or cupcake pan of your desire.

 4.  Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes, depending on the type of mold use.