We did our annual fourth of July party this year and I had to make some yummy treats. I had my die hards show up this year, but sadly most of our friends were away or could not make it. I was left with a ton of food, which my dear friend took over to the neighbor's party to share. I keep telling myself I need to not do so much, but I can't seem to help myself .. lol.
So a quick round up of some food I made, for our small get together ... lol (small doesn't even cover it compared to past year .. yes I'm working on getting over it ...hehe).
RED, WHITE & BLUE WHOOPIE PIES:
Red White and Blue Whoopie Pies found on Ambrosia Baking (I also made a 2nd batch that I took to the staff / volunteers at The Boys and Girls Club). I got so many compliments on these cookies from them!
Ingredients
For the Whoopie Pies
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk, shaken
red and blue food coloring (I used Wilton gel colors)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners, and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a standard electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Add the brown sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, ending with the flour mixture, making sure to beat after each addition (I just did 1/2 of the flour mixture, followed by all of the buttermilk, and then the remaining half of the flour mixture). Beat only until just combined.
Evenly divide the cookie batter into two bowls. Add red food coloring to one bowl, and blue food coloring to the other bowl. Mix the food coloring into the cookie batter until it is evenly mixed and the cookie batter reaches the desired shade of color.
For the Whoopie Pies
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk, shaken
red and blue food coloring (I used Wilton gel colors)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners, and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a standard electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Add the brown sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, ending with the flour mixture, making sure to beat after each addition (I just did 1/2 of the flour mixture, followed by all of the buttermilk, and then the remaining half of the flour mixture). Beat only until just combined.
Evenly divide the cookie batter into two bowls. Add red food coloring to one bowl, and blue food coloring to the other bowl. Mix the food coloring into the cookie batter until it is evenly mixed and the cookie batter reaches the desired shade of color.
While the cookies are baking and cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In the bowl of a standard electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and the vanilla extract, and beat on high speed (start on low speed first and then increase the speed, otherwise you'll have a mess of sugar all over your kitchen!) until the frosting comes together and is completely smooth.
To assemble the whoopie pies, simply spread a little cream cheese frosting onto the bottom side of a cookie, and top it with a cookie of the opposite color. I decided to pipe the frosting onto the cookies with a large open star tip, but spreading the frosting on is totally fine as well. If the cream cheese frosting seems a bit too runny to spread, simply let it sit in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up. Once all the whoopie pies have been assembled, store them in the fridge until ready to serve, and allow them to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before eating.
To assemble the whoopie pies, simply spread a little cream cheese frosting onto the bottom side of a cookie, and top it with a cookie of the opposite color. I decided to pipe the frosting onto the cookies with a large open star tip, but spreading the frosting on is totally fine as well. If the cream cheese frosting seems a bit too runny to spread, simply let it sit in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up. Once all the whoopie pies have been assembled, store them in the fridge until ready to serve, and allow them to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before eating.
ALEXIS NOTE: I found when I did the second batch I didn't do the drop method I pipped them as circles to keep their form. These came out a lot nicer and I had a uniformed size. I took my circle cutter traced it onto wax paper and then pipped the dough in the circles.
FLAG CUPCAKES:
Red, White and Blue Flag cupcakes found on Reena Treats. I loved how this turned out! I used my basic moist white cake recipe (click for recipe) and my sturdy buttercream frosting recipe (click for recipe) using AmeriColor food coloring in Royal Blue Soft Gel and Super Red to tint the frosting.
ALEXIS NOTE: I frosted 10 white cupcakes, 10 red cupcakes and 4 blue cupcakes. On the blue I added some white stars I had (sprinkles in several colors in the shape of a star, I picked the white ones out).
BALD EAGLE BROWNIES:
Bald Eagle Brownies found on Hoopla Palooza. These were perfect since my parents have a mom and dad set of bald eagle's that live in their tree with their babies.
Bald Eagle Brownies found on Hoopla Palooza. These were perfect since my parents have a mom and dad set of bald eagle's that live in their tree with their babies.
Brownie Pop Silicone Mold (Found mine at Michael's)
Box Brownie Mix
Orange Mini Starburst
I use a box brownie instead of scratch to help things go faster for me. I wish I would have planned this a head of time and would have bought the set from Amazon got 2 silicone molds for almost the price I paid for one. I was able to get 16 brownie's out of the one box mix. I put mine in the fridge to cool them and make them ready to go in the melted Candy Melts. I dipped the brownie's and took my knife to make look the the melt was feathers. Before the melt dried I added 2 eyes and the mini starburst that was cut in half to look like the beak. I kept mine in the fridge until it was time to pack my car to head to the lake.
WATERMELON RICE KRISPY TREATS:
Watermelon Rice Crispy Treats found on Gingerly Made. I did this even though it's not a red, white and blue themed but it fit the time of year.
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Butter, divided
1 bag (10 oz) Marshmallows, divided
6 cups Rice Krispies, divided
Red & Green Food Coloring
Chocolate Chips
Spread out a sheet of wax paper on your counter and set the side of a spring form pan on top. You won't need the bottom portion of the spring form pan. Over at the stove, slowly melt 1.5 tablespoons butter & half the bag of marshmallows. Add 15 drops green food coloring. Combine with 3 cups rice krispies.
Spoon the green rice krispies into your spring form pan in a circle. It almost looks like a wreath. I used an additional sheet of wax paper to help me mold the rice krispies in place with out it sticking to my hands. Wash your saucepan and repeat with the other half of the ingredients except this time you'll be making red rice krispies.
3 Tablespoons Butter, divided
1 bag (10 oz) Marshmallows, divided
6 cups Rice Krispies, divided
Red & Green Food Coloring
Chocolate Chips
Spread out a sheet of wax paper on your counter and set the side of a spring form pan on top. You won't need the bottom portion of the spring form pan. Over at the stove, slowly melt 1.5 tablespoons butter & half the bag of marshmallows. Add 15 drops green food coloring. Combine with 3 cups rice krispies.
Before pouring your red rice krispies into the pan, add some chocolate chips to the bottom. Fill with red krispies. (And try not to drip any excess marshmallow mixture on your "rind" like I did.) Add more chocolate chips on top. You'll have to press these in a bit. Refrigerate. When cooled and hardened, remove and cut into slices.
ALEXIS NOTE: I kept the bottom in my spring pan to hold it on our travels. I put the chocolate chips on the top of the red once it was patted down into the mold.
There you have it, a few simple recipes that went with our theme (yes I know I'm a nut about themes).
Hope you all had a safe 4th of July
Everything looks so good! I would have loved to attended your party!
ReplyDeleteAhhh we would have loved to have you!
DeleteThose all look good! The whoopie pie recipe looks as though it would taste like red velvet cake; does it?
ReplyDeleteLOL, though, because my husband does NOT do food coloring. He wouldn't eat any of this, except maybe the brownies or cupcakes with white frosting.
Yes you got it red velvet. I use the food coloring gel's so it doesn't add any funky taste :)
DeleteI'm sorry your party wasn't well attended. They don't know what they missed
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
DeleteI am a sucker for a whoopie pie and a patriotic one? Yes please.
ReplyDeleteAll the goodies look so yummy. I'd love to attend one of your parties. They always look so fun.
ReplyDeleteThose are all so cute and looks so delicious!!! Glad your friend was able to share them at another party after all your hard work you wouldn't want them to go to waste.
ReplyDeleteYummy!! My favorite is the brownies.
ReplyDelete