Need a Winning Bake-Off Recipe
My company is having a baking contest, and I am determined to win it. Points are awarded for presentation and taste. I will work with any ingredients, and am fine with something that might take several days' preparation. The only limiting factor: I don't have access to a stand mixer. So, what should i make?
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15 Comments:
mr guy are you my coworker? We're having a bake-off on Thursday and I still haven't decided if I'm going to bother ... but if I do I'll probably make zucchini bread with one of the last zukes from my garden. I would share the recipe, but I don't have a standard go-to one yet ... and there's still a chance you're my coworker and would be my competition :P So this isn't very helpful to you, I'm sure, but best of luck (and I don't have a stand mixer either ... we can have that pity party later though haha)!
joyyy at 7:52PM on 10/06/09
I always laugh at these posts. Like the time someone wanted us to help her bake a cake with marshmallow tunnel so she could win 10 grand.
No offense intended but you got to give me more than that.
What ingredients were you planning on using, a flavor, a baked good in particular. We help with homework but I am not doing it for you.
Lay some clues down.
JerzeeTomato at 1:38AM on 10/07/09
Well then Mr. Guy I suggest you crack open a collection of family recipes and get yourself a bag of flour. What if you actually had worked on a recipe and someone won the contest with someone else's recipe? That's nerve.
therealchiffonade at 7:44AM on 10/07/09
Jerzee: Looking for something sweet: a cake, tart, sweet pastry or simple candy. Nothing as elaborate as a marshmallow tunnel. Just a thing you may have baked recently that made you say "wow this is amazing".
therealchiffonade: i didn't expect moralizing in a simple post like this. we're not talking about Top Chef here, the prize is $50 and bragging rights. As long as the item is homemade, nobody cares if it's from a recipe.
Joyyy- i don't think we work together- A. you're too nice to be anybody from my office, B. if you have a garden you probably don't live in New York, and C. our contest isn't until next week. Best of luck though!
mr guy at 12:12PM on 10/07/09
Do you want to do something seasonal? Sweet or savory?
Who's judging? What do they like? (judge's preferences can make or break it)
Let us know and we can come up with a few suggestions.
CJ McD at 2:49PM on 10/07/09
One more thing-
What is your baking skill level? Are you up for things like a multiple layer cake with special frosting? Do you bake bread? Are you a cookie or cupcake person? Do you feel comforatble handling pie crusts?
This, too, will help us think of a "wow" factor recipe suggestion for you.
CJ McD at 2:53PM on 10/07/09
Without any answers at the moment, the one thing most people find irresistable is caramel-cinnamon-pecan rolls. Between the sweet yeast dough, buttery cinnamon-sugar filling and the gooey caramel pecan topping......
CJ McD at 3:02PM on 10/07/09
If you are looking for a really decadent dessert...with a great wow factor....I would suggest this Chocolate Caramel Tort:
http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Chocolate-Caramel-Tart
The minute we saw the photo, my partner and I decided we HAD to make it.....we have since made it for several events where we needed to bring a course.....and it tastes even better than it looks.
And you don't need a mixer....
2qrs at 3:31PM on 10/07/09
CJ McD- I'm not much of a baker to tell the truth but i know my way around a kitchen (at thanksgiving, i'm the guy who makes everything EXCEPT the desserts) and can follow recipes well. Complicated doesn't scare me.
The caramal cinnaman pecan rolls sound perfect (as long as they don't require a stand mixer!) but if you have any other suggestions - like that amazing chocolate caramel tort from 2qrs (thanks!) i'd love to see them.
mr guy at 3:42PM on 10/07/09
complicated & beautiful & tastes amazing... opera came to my mind first.
hmw0029 at 3:49PM on 10/07/09
That chocolate caramel torte sounds pretty wowie too.
So- what about the judges? What are they're taste preferences?
I'll do a little digging and post later.
CJ McD at 3:54PM on 10/07/09
Here is a recipe for Fudgy Raspberry Chocolate Bars. The name is misleading because it's really a cake and is so delicious and decadent and the presentation is really beautiful but it's also simple.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Fudgy-Chocolate-Raspberry-Bars-4340
jdbknits at 4:15PM on 10/07/09
These are my favorite cookies in the whole world...my coworkers used to beg for them. They're pretty, too!
http://www.kartme.com/recipe/giant-chocolate-toffee-cookies-recipe-epicuriouscom
saj1139 at 4:31PM on 10/07/09
Woah mama- that rasberry bar sounds fantastic too.
Here's another chocolate recipe- You'll have to dress up the presentation. Mabe a couple of berries and mint spring tucked into a dab of whipped cream or a drizzle of rasberry syrup swirled across the plate. But the recipe tastes fab.
TRIPLE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE BARS
Preparation time: 30 min Baking time: 18 min
Yield: 64 bars
Bar Ingredients:
3/4 cup special dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, cut into chunks
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
Glaze Ingredients:
3/4cup real semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 (1-ounce) square white baking chocolate, melted
Heat oven to 350°F. Line 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, extending over edges. Grease and flour foil; set aside.
Place 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips and butter in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH (100% power), stirring every 30 seconds, or until chips are melted (1 to 2 minutes). Stir until smooth.
Combine sugar and eggs in medium bowl. Beat at medium speed until thick and smooth. Add melted chocolate mixture; continue beating until smooth. Stir in flour and remaining 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips just until mixed.
Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until edges are set and center appears soft. (DO NOT OVERBAKE.) Cool completely.
Meanwhile, place semi-sweet chocolate chips in small bowl. Place whipping cream in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until whipping cream just comes to a boil (3 to 4 minutes). Pour warm cream over chocolate chips; let stand 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Cool. Spread over cooled bars.
Drop 8 small portions of melted white chocolate randomly over glaze. Pull knife through white chocolate to create design. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours or until serving time.
Carefully lift bars out of pan using foil ends. Cut into bars using sharp knife. (If necessary, wipe knife occasionally.)
To serve, place small bars into paper mini baking cups. Store leftover bars in refrigerator.
Recipe Tip
Dark chocolate has less sugar and milk than semi-sweet and milk chocolate. It also has a richer chocolate flavor.
CJ McD at 4:37PM on 10/07/09
Here's the pecan roll recipe too.
Give them all a test runa dn inote us over for the pre-judging! ;oP
Grandma’s Pecan Rolls
Prep 1-1/2 hours Cook 40 minutes Stand 30 minutes
Total 2 hours, 40 minutes
Sweet Roll Dough
2 c. warm milk
1/2 c. butter
2 large eggs
2 t. salt
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. dry active yeast
5 cups flour (may need up to 1 cup more)
Caramel Mixture
1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
6 T. butter
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup water
1 cup pecans
**Filling
3 T. softened butter (do not mix with cinnamon sugar)
1 cup sugar combined with 1-1/2 T. cinnamon
Sweet Roll Dough
Heat milk and butter in a medium saucepan until the milk is warm, not hot and butter is softened. Pour into a large mixing bowl. Add yeast, eggs, sugar and salt. Mix and set aside until the yeast is dissolved. Add 3 cups of flour and beat well. Gradually add 1 1/2- 2 cups more flour, mixing after each addition until the dough is not sticky and pulls away from the side of the bowl.
Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until the dough looks satiny and is not sticky, adding 1/3-1/2 cup more flour while kneading, if needed. Lightly oil a large mixing bowl and place dough in it, turning once to oil all sides. Cover and let rise until doubled.
Caramel Mixture
Mix brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour into a greased 11 x 15 x 3 inch cake pan. Sprinkle the pecans evenly over the mixture and set aside.
When the dough has doubled, turn it onto a floured surface and roll out into a 10 x 20 inch rectangle. **Spread the softened butter over the rectangle. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly over the buttered dough. Starting with the long side, roll the dough firmly. Cut it into 15 slices and place the slices atop the caramel-pecan mixture. Let rest for for 10 minutes.
Place in a pre-heated 375 degree oven. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a 12 x 18 inch cookie sheet or platter. Scrape the caramel mixture mixture remaining in the pan onto the rolls.
Recipe from Grandma’s Home Kitchen by Wanda Peterson Mango
(Where lessons and life were mixed with love. Family Recipes and Traditions of Grandma’s Swedish Bakery, Door County) (Wagon Trail Inn)
CJ McD at 4:38PM on 10/07/09