Kathryn Rem: Bake red, white and blue for July Fourth
It’s not hard to add a little patriotic pizzazz to July Fourth celebrations.
Make ice pops or cookies in star shapes. Decorate desserts with red, white and blue candies or icings. Top a cake with strawberries, blueberries and whipped topping to resemble an American flag.
Beverages are another canvas. Add a festive note, and keep lemonade chilled with star-shaped ice cubes. Serve red and blue drinks, whether it be Kool-Aid or cocktails. Anchor each drink with a fireworks party pick.
Don’t forget the tablescape. Dress the table with stars-and-stripes napkin rings or tablecloths. Add a centerpiece of red, white and blue flowers or pinwheels. Or decorate each place setting with a glass jar filled with red, white and blue marbles and a small U.S. flag.
Below are some dessert recipes that carry out the Independence Day theme.
Sugar Star & Flag Cookies
1 cup butter, softenedIn large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and extracts. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, and mix well. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or until easy to handle.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness. Cut with floured 2- to 3-inch cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugars, if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 9 to 11 minutes or until set. Cool 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Decorate with icing and additional sugars, if desired.
Makes 120 cookies.
-- From www.TasteofHome.com
Independence Cake
1 cup waterPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13-by-9-inch baking pan; line with wax paper.
Heat water to boiling in small saucepan; remove from heat. Stir in potato flakes until moistened. Cool to room temperature. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl.
Beat sugar and butter until crumbly. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat in potatoes. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with milk. Stir in chips. Spoon into prepared baking pan.
Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 15 minutes. Invert onto wire rack; remove wax paper. Cool completely. Transfer to serving platter.
Frost sides and top of cake with whipped topping. Just prior to serving, arrange strawberry slices and blueberries on top of cake to represent the American flag.
Powder Sugar Frosting - News
Since you serve the cake out of the pan, it is a breeze to bake, transport and serve in this one pan. For frosting, I used a simple margarine and powdered sugar frosting (recipe below). I've included a fabulous cream cheese frosting recipe, too.
Combine powdered sugar and meringue powder; beat into shortening mixture. Spread 2 cups buttercream between layers and over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle top with colored sugar. Frost cookie pops; sprinkle with red, blue and clear sugars.
Sift the flour, baking soda and cocoa powder together in a large bowl. Add the sugar and stir to combine. Add the red wine vinegar and the vanilla essence to the liquid ingredients and stir. Add the liquids to the dry ingredients and mix well.
For the frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter on medium speed for 1 minute, until smooth. Sift in powdered sugar and 6 tablespoons cocoa powder and mix, starting on low and increasing to medium speed as the sugar is
Add the vanilla and powdered sugar little by little, beating until light and fluffy. (Note: When making this icing in hot weather, you may need to add extra powdered sugar and/or chill the frosting to reach a good piping consistency.
Recipe: Red Velvet Cupcakes
So before I got into this whole cooking thing, I use to hate red velvet cakes and everyone's obsession with it. I use to think it was just a vanilla cupcake turned red for fun. BUT, there is a lot more to this cupcake. This recipe combines both cocoa powder and vanilla extract. It also draws its flavor from buttermilk instead of regular milk. The secret though...the reaction of baking soda and vinegar that is added in at the very end. Now top them with a luscious cream cheese frosting for an awesome treat. This little guy is addictive. After you eat your first one, you will figure out why.
Powder Sugar Frosting - Bookshelf
Polish cooking
Powdered Sugar Icing Lukier The thin, satin-smooth crust of this icing is a nice complement to cookies, mazurkas, and cakes. Makes about 11⁄4 cups icing 2 ...Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book
Powdered Sugar Icing Start to Finish: 10 minutes Makes: % cup 1 cup powdered sugar % teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon milk or orange juice Milk 1. ...New cook book
Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth. This frosts tops and sides of two 8- or 9-inch cake layers. (Halve the recipe to frost a 13x9x2-inch ...The Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook
MAKES ENOUGH TO FROST ONE 2-LAYER, 8- OR 9-INCH ROUND OR SQUARE CAKE, OR THE TOP OF ONE 9 13- INCH SHEET CAKE POWDERED SUGAR FROSTING A primary frosting ...Bon Appetit Desserts, The Cookbook for All Things Sweet and Wonderful
Creamy Brown Sugar Frosting Adding the powdered sugar in several stages helps prevent it from flying out of the mixing bowl. ...Everyday Guide Directory
Cooks.com - Recipes - Powdered Sugar Frosting
POWDERED SUGAR FROSTING. Beat with mixer 3 to 5 minutes. If too thick, add milk (a little at a time - be careful not to add to much at one time) ...
Cooks.com - Recipes - Powder Sugar Frosting
Discusses sugar beets and sugar cane and the process of making sugar. ... BUTTER CREAM POWDERED SUGAR FROSTING. Whip with paddle until fluffy, then add: 1/4 c. ...
Powdered Sugar Frosting Recipes | ifood.tv
Meet people trying powdered sugar frosting recipes. ... This powdered sugar frosting is a fun frosting that can be used on sweet buns, cakes or any other dessert of choice. ...
Powdered Sugar Frosting Recipe | MyRecipes.com
Add powdered sugar alternately with evaporated milk, beating at low speed until blended after each addition. ... Note: Frosting may be stored in refrigerator up to 2 weeks. ...
Vanilla - Chocolate Powdered Sugar Frosting Recipe ...
Powdered sugar frosting, basic buttercream frosting, whatever you want to call it this ... Powdered sugar frosting, basic buttercream frosting, whatever you ...