Tag: Nielsen-Massey

Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies

 Note: I was sent ingredients from Plugra Premium Butter in order to make this post. Opinions are mine alone. Ingredients included: 1 bar unsalted Plugra Premium Butter,1 container of the Spice House’s Vietnamese Saigon Cinnamon, Valrhona Manjari 64% Dark Chocolate, and Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract.

Do I have a tasty recipe for you today! I was contacted recently by Plugrá Kitchens with a delicious sounding brownie recipe (these Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies) using some of my favorite ingredients, so I knew I had to share it. This brownie recipe is based off the flavors of Mexican Hot Chocolate, which is a hot chocolate that is spiced with cinnamon and sometimes a little bit of chili to bring additional warmth and heat. 

Plugra Kitchens was nice enough to send me a package with the best goodies to make these brownies, including (of course) Plugrá Premium Unsalted Butter, Spice House Ground Saigon Cinnamon, Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, and Balrhona Manjari 64% Dark Chocolate.

Plugrá Butter is an awesome ingredient to use for baking. Made by Dairy Farmers of America, its slow-churn and extra creaminess has the perfect balance of moisture and fat for use in baking. The Spice House‘s Vietnamese “Saigon” Cassia cinnamon is the strongest and sweetest cinnamon in their collection. The Vietnamese cinnamon bark is ground in house to produce a dark, rich texture that is fiery and fragrant, making it perfect for these brownies. My love of Nielsen-Massey‘s Madagascar Bourbon is well known to those that frequent this blog. Their Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla extract is made from premium, hand-selected vanilla beans cultivated in Madagascar, the world’s leading supplier of high-quality vanilla. It then utilizes a slow, cold extraction process to gently draw out and preserve all 300 natural vanilla flavor notes to create the richest tasting vanilla. Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla has a flavor profile that is full, sweet, creamy, and mellow with velvety after-tones. Valrhona Chocolate has been a partner of artisans of taste since 1922 and is a pioneer and reference in the world of chocolate.

With ingredients like that, you know this recipe is going to taste good! I adapted the recipe a bit, but the overall gist is still there. These Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies are soft and chewy, with a subtle warmth and heat that pairs really well with the richness of the chocolate.

Ingredients (makes 18 servings):

  • 1 (8 oz) bar unsalted butter, like Plugrá® European Style Butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, like Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, like Saigon cinnamon from the Spice House
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup dark chocolate, like Valrhona Manjari 64% Dark Chocolate, chopped

Continue reading Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies

Brioche Cinnamon Rolls

Note: I was sent a bottle of Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract in order to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.

It seems like everyone has really taken to home baking while staying-at-home during this pandemic. I’ve been impressed with everyone’s sourdoughs, banana breads, and other baked goods! So why not add another awesome option to your repertoire: Cinnamon Rolls, or more specifically, Brioche Cinnamon Rolls!

Nielsen-Massey recently published a new video showing how to Knead Dough by Hand, which comes in handy while making this recipe.

This recipe for Brioche Cinnamon Rolls is based off a recipe from the Nielsen-Massey website as well.

Ingredients:

Dough:

  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1 2/3 cups flour, divided
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 large whole eggs, divided
  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cubed

Cinnamon Roll Filling:

  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Almond Extract

Vanilla Icing:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract

Continue reading Brioche Cinnamon Rolls

Gingerbread Fudge

Note: I received a bottle of Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Vanilla Extract in order to write this post. All opinions are mine alone.

I have quite a few holiday cookie recipes on my blog. I even highlight a cookie recipe on my Instagram every day leading up to Christmas. But I have never tried to make fudge before. So when Nielsen-Massey contacted me about highlighting their Holiday Flavors Bundle, I was excited to find a holiday-themed Gingerbread Fudge in their recipe section!

The fudge uses Nielsen-Massey’s Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, one of the extracts included in the Holiday Flavors Bundle. The Holiday Flavors Bundle also includes their Pure Almond Extract and their Pure Peppermint Extract, so you’re all set for your holiday baking!

Source: https://nielsenmassey.com

Ingredients:

  • 3 1/4 cups white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1/3 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract, like Nielsen-Massey’s Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • sprinkles, if desired (I used red and green sprinkles)

Continue reading Gingerbread Fudge

Maple Bacon Cupcakes

Note: I received a bottle of Nielsen-Massey’s Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract in order to write this post. All opinions are mine alone. #BetterYourBake

How is it already nearly October? Every fall, time seems to speed up and the months for the rest of the year just fly by! With so much happening in the fall, it makes sense that it feels like things are in fast forward. But it’s important to take the time to step back and do something you enjoy amid all the chaos.

Nielsen-Massey was nice enough to remind me of that, and sent me a bottle of their Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract to do what I love: bake! Recent studies have shown that creative activities, such as baking, help people feel more relaxed and happier in their everyday lives.

But in order to benefit from the mindful nature of baking, basic techniques must first be mastered. To help learn some new baking tricks, Nielsen-Massey has developed “Better Your Bake,” which delivers technique-based videos, tips and tools to help home bakers learn and master the basics of baking with the help of Nielsen-Massey products.

I was asked to show off my newest learned skill after watching some of Nielsen-Massey’s videos: how to temper chocolate. It takes some effort, but it’s easier than an initially thought!

  • Tempering chocolate is typically used for special occasions and results in a smooth, glossy chocolate coating that dries shiny and has a crisp snap
  • The process involves divvying and melting a portion of the chocolate, stirring in the reserved chocolate and heating the whole batch to the required temperature
  • Tempered chocolate is great for cake pops, fruit, candy molds and more

So, what could be better than chocolate covered bacon? This recipe, from Nielsen-Massey’s website, originally developed by Pastry Chef Jessica Ellington, is for Maple Bacon Cupcakes, topped with a maple buttercream frosting, crumbled bacon, and a half slice of chocolate dipped bacon. And yes, they are every bit as delicious as you are imagining!

Nielsen-Massey has a bunch of videos that are helpful for this recipe, so I’ve linked to them throughout the post.

Ingredients:

Maple Bacon Cupcakes

  • 8 slices of bacon, cooked and crispy
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 4 eggs, yolks and whites separated
  • 1 teaspoon Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 ½ cups cake flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup whole milk

Chocolate-Covered Bacon

  • 1 cup bittersweet chocolate, chopped, divided
  • 9 slices of bacon, cooked and crispy

Maple Buttercream Frosting

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks)
  • 1 ½ cups pure maple syrup
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup half and half
  • ¾ teaspoon Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Continue reading Maple Bacon Cupcakes

Chocolatey Buttercream Frosting

I make more frosting (and desserts!) than I probably should. Luckily, I have friends, family, and coworkers more than willing to help me out with my baking experiments, and this recipe for Chocolatey Buttercream Frosting is definitely a favorite!

I love making fun frosting flavors, like cinnamon cream cheese, vegan peanut butter, key lime, and bourbon-orange cream cheese. But, my absolute favorite frosting is, and always will be chocolate.

So it’s about time I shared my ultimate chocolatey buttercream frosting!

The secret to this frosting is a hint of coffee to really enhance the chocolatey flavor. I use Nielsen Massey’s Pure Coffee Extract to bring out the best chocolate flavor.

Ingredients (makes enough for 12 cupcakes):

  • 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 (16 oz box) confectioners sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon coffee extract
  • 1/4 cup milk, plus more as needed

Continue reading Chocolatey Buttercream Frosting

Orange Mulled Whiskey Cider

cThis has been quite a dreary and rainy fall so far. One of my favorite remedies for blah weather is a warm beverage. In the fall, you really can’t go wrong with a mulled apple cider, like this Orange Mulled Whiskey Cider!

 

Nielsen-Massey sent me a sample of their Pure Orange Extract to use in this citrusy spiced cider. Nielsen-Massey has offered high quality vanilla and other flavors since 1907. They are my go to for extracts, vanilla beans, and vanilla powder. Their Pure Orange Extract is a great pantry way to always have citrus flavor on hand. Just 1/2 teaspoons of the orange extract equals two tablespoons fresh orange juice.

They must have known Philadelphia has been basically sitting under a cloud and that I needed a warm pick me up! The addition of the pure orange extract to this cider brings some brightness to the mulled cider.

 

This cider uses some of my favorite spices to really bring the fall flavor. I picked up my spices at the Head Nut in Reading Terminal, but you can also find them at Penzey’s.

Recipe (serves 6):

  • 2 quarts apple cider
  • 1/2 cup 100% pure pomegranate juice
  • 1/3 cup 100% pure maple syrup
  • 1 Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean
  • 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Orange Extract
  • 3 large cinnamon sticks
  • 12 whole cloves
  • 5 whole allspice berries
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom seeds
  • 3/4 cup whiskey

Add the apple cider, pomegranate juice and maple syrup to a large saucepan; heat over medium-high heat.

Split vanilla bean in half lengthwise with the tip of a small knife.

Scrape both sides of the bean with the knife’s dull side and add the seeds and bean to the saucepan. (The seeds are the black flecks in the cider.)

Add the orange extract, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries and cardamom seeds to the saucepan; stir to combine. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 30 minutes. Strain mulled cider through a fine mesh sieve.

Add whiskey; stir to combine. Serve with a fresh apple or orange slice.

 

This cider tastes just like fall! What a comforting beverage as the weather turns colder.

The spices in the cider add a nice warmth to the drink, complementing the apple and whiskey flavors nicely.

The orange flavor from Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Orange Extract comes through as well, adding a burst of bright citrus and making for a super tasty drink!

Print
Orange Mulled Whiskey Cider

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 quarts apple cider
  • 1/2 cup 100% pure pomegranate juice
  • 1/3 cup 100% pure maple syrup
  • 1 Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean
  • 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Orange Extract
  • 3 large cinnamon sticks
  • 12 whole cloves
  • 5 whole allspice berries
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom seeds
  • 3/4 cup whiskey

Instructions

  1. Add the apple cider, pomegranate juice and maple syrup to a large saucepan; heat over medium-high heat.
  2. Split vanilla bean in half lengthwise with the tip of a small knife.
  3. Scrape both sides of the bean with the knife’s dull side and add the seeds and bean to the saucepan. (The seeds are the black flecks in the cider.)
  4. Add the orange extract, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries and cardamom seeds to the saucepan; stir to combine. Bring to a boil.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 30 minutes. Strain mulled cider through a fine mesh sieve.
  6. Add whiskey; stir to combine. Serve with a fresh apple or orange slice.
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Vegan Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

I personally am not vegan. But as more of my friends dabble in veganism, I have been getting more requests to do some vegan friendly recipes. I’m honestly finding vegan baking to be relatively easy; most of the substitute ingredients are already in my pantry!

I received a bag of One Degree Organics Sprouted Spelt Flour along with some vegan baking recipes that sounded really tasty! I have never made a vegan cookie before so I appreciated the nudge towards trying and decided to make some Vegan Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies.

Sprouted Spelt Flour works generally like normal flour, you just need to adjust your dry-to-wet ingredient ratio (less dry ingredients or more wet ingredients). Sprouted Spelt Flour contains more fiber, vitamins, and essential fatty acids than regular flour so it seems like a generally good switch to make. (I’m not giving up eating cookies, but hey, at least I’ve increased my fiber!)  🙂

 

One Degree Organics prides itself on using only organic foods grown using natural veganic methods for its grains used in its cereal, bread, and flours. The company also does not add any synthetic ingredients and practices sustainable growing methods. One Degree Organics actually includes a QR code and alphanumeric code on each package so that you can learn about where that specific product came from and the family of farmers behind it. Pretty cool right?

 

So I was really excited to use their Sprouted Spelt Flour in this recipe! Because this is my first time baking vegan cookies, I kept the recipe mostly intact. I did add some walnuts for a bit of crunch which resulted in these Vegan Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/3 cup One Degree Organic Sprouted Spelt Flour
  • ¼ cup Coconut Palm Sugar
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla powder or extract
  • ¼ cup + 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil
  • ½ cup vegan chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup walnut pieces

Continue reading Vegan Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

Plum Swirled Cheesecake Bars

This recipe for Plum Swirled Cheesecake Bars is a result of me going a little off the grocery list last time I went food shopping. Have you ever seen an ingredient in the supermarket and decided you just have to make something with it? This happens to me quite a bit.

Unfortunately, I normally do not have a recipe lined up to take advantage of my new purchase. I wanted to take a break from some peach recipes I’ve been making recently (Brown Sugar Cinnamon Peach Pie, Peach Cobbler, and Bourbon-Peach Lemonade to name a few) and focus on a relative of peaches: the plum. I haven’t worked with plums much in the past (I actually only have once recipe: Plum Sweet and Spicy Chicken) but I just could not resist how great they looked!

I decided to take a Martha Stewart recipe for Apricot Cheesecake Bars and instead make my own Plum Compote as a substitute for the Apricots, resulting in these Plum Swirled Cheesecake Bars.

Ingredients:

Plum Compote:

  • ½ cup port wine
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 vanilla bean, cut lengthwise
  • The zest of one orange
  • 6 plums, stones removed and sliced

Cheesecake:

  • 18 graham crackers (I used cinnamon graham crackers)
  • ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla powder (I used Nielsen Massey)
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract (I used Nielsen Massey)
  • Coarse salt, to taste
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature

Continue reading Plum Swirled Cheesecake Bars

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