Intense Chocolate Cheesecake

 Chloe's choice of cake for her birthday- cheesecake

Baker By Nature

For the Crust:

• 1 and 1/2 cups (24 chocolate cookies) like oreos
• 1/4 cup (57g/2 ounces) unsalted butter, melted

For the Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake:

• 2 cups (340g/12 ounces) bittersweet dark chocolate chips (A)
• 1 and 1/2 pounds (680g/24 ounces) full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup (198g/7 ounces) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (53g/1 and 7/8 ounces) light brown sugar, packed
• 3 Tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 4 large eggs plus 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup (170g/6 ounces) heavy cream, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Ganache:

• 1 and 1/3 cups (226g/8 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 and 1/4 cups (12 ounces) heavy cream
• 1/4 cup (57g/2 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into cubes

Instructions

 

For the Crust:

• Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Wrap the outside of the pan in layers of heavy duty aluminum foil. You’ll be placing this pan in a water bath, so be sure the pan has been wrapped from every angle.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the chocolate wafer crumbs and melted butter. Pat the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Set the pan on a wire rack and cool the crust completely. Leave the oven on.

  For the Ultimate Chocolate Cheesecake:

  • Fill a medium pot one-third full with water and bring it to a low simmer over medium heat.
  • Place a heatproof bowl that will fit on top of the pan snugly, but will not touch the simmering water, on top of the pan. Reduce the heat to low and add the chopped chocolate into the bowl over the pot. Heat until the chocolate is completely melted, stirring occasionally with a silicon spatula. Remove the pot from the heat, leaving the bowl of chocolate over the hot water. Set aside until needed.
  • In the bowl of a food processor (or high-powered blender), pulse the cream cheese until completely smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, about 2 minutes. Add in both sugars and cocoa powder and beat smooth. Add in the eggs, egg yolks, and heavy cream and mix until just combined, about 20 seconds. Fold in the chocolate. Finally add in the vanilla and pulse for another 20 seconds.
  • Remove the bowl from the food processor and, using a rubber spatula, stir the filling several times to ensure it’s evenly blended.
  • Scrape the filling over the partially baked crust in the prepared pan.
  • (B) Place the springform pan in a roasting pan or large baking pan. Place the roasting pan in the preheated oven and pour enough hot water into the pan to come 1-inch up the sides of the springform pan.
  • Bake the cheesecake in the water bath for 1 hour and 30-40 minutes, or until the center of the cake is set but still slightly jiggly. The cake will set completely as it cools.
  • Remove the cake from the water bath and  place the pan on a wire rack. Carefully loosen the foil, then immediately run the tip of a knife around the sides of the pan, to prevent the top from cracking. Cool completely (in the pan), then transfer cheesecake to the refrigerator to chill for at least 6 hours before removing from the pan and slicing. 

  For the Chocolate Ganache:

  • Add chopped chocolate to a medium bowl; set aside.
  • In a small saucepan over medium-heat, bring the cream to a low simmer. Pour half of the cream on top of the chocolate pieces and set aside for 1 minute. With a whisk, begin to incorporate the melted chocolate into the cream. Slowly add the remaining cream and continue carefully whisking until smooth and glossy.
  • Add in the butter and use a spatula to stir until the butter is completely melted. The mixture will be dark and glossy. Set aside, at room temperature, until needed.
  • Pour ganache over cooled cheesecake. Set aside until ganache is set, about 1 hour.
  • To serve, slice the cheesecake with a thin-bladed sharp knife, wiping the knife clean between each cut.
  • Store, loosely covered, in the refrigerator, for up to 5 days. 

  (A) I used one 10oz bag of dark chocolate chips. I turned on the stove to cook the cookie crumb crust and I put the new bag of chocolate chips right where the oven emits heat so the oven would melt the chocolate chips so I wouldnt need to do a double boiler or melt the chocolate chips in the mirco.

(B) I did wrap the cheesecake springform pan with a crockpot plastic liner so the cheesecake wouldn't get wet by the water bath. it worked out perfect

Christi Zulim Chocolate Cake

 Our Journey To Home

Chocolate Cake

• 2¼ cups flour
• 1⅔ cups sugar
• ⅔ cup cocoa powder
• 1¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup butter
• 1¼ cups water

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter and flour 3 round 8-inch pans, 2 round 9-inch pans, or 9×13 pan.
• Add all the ingredients to a large bowl. Mix on low for 30 seconds then scrap the bowl with a spatula to make sure all the ingredients are combined. Then beat on medium high speed for 3 minutes.
• Bake for 30 minutes for 8 inch pans, 30-35 for 9 inch, and 40-45 minutes for 9×13. When a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely for 1 hour.
• Frost and serve!

Frosting

Add A Pinch

• 1½ cups butter, softened
• ▢1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢5 cups confectioner’s sugar
• ▢½ cup milk
• ▢2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Add cocoa powder to a large bowl or bowl of stand mixer. Whisk through to remove any lumps.
• Cream together butter and cocoa powder until well-combined.

• Add sugar and milk to cocoa mixture by adding 1 cup of sugar followed by about a tablespoon of milk. After each addition has been combined, turn mixer onto a high speed for about a minute. Repeat until all sugar and milk have been added.
• Add vanilla extract  and combine well.
• If frosting appears too dry, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency. If it appears to wet and does not hold its form, add more confectioner’s sugar, a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency.

Peanut Butter Bars

Six Sisters Stuff

Original recipes (SNGL- Single)  Makes 24 bars- makes half cookie sheet 

Double (DBL) makes 48

-------------------Cooked Peanut Butter Bars---------------------

DBL           SNGL

2 C           1 cup butter softened (or any mixture of different oils- coconut, nut butter- sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews, olive oil)
--------------1 cup sugar (I usually dont add this, I just add the brown sugar)
2 C           1 cup brown sugar firmly packed (could use maple syrup)
1/4c          One time I added 4 T of molasses
2 t             1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4               2 large eggs
5 C           2½ cups peanut butter divided
4 C           2 cups old fashioned oats
4 C           2 cups flour
2 t             1 teaspoon baking soda
2 t             1 teaspoon salt

Frosting

1/4 cup butter softened, plus 3 T peanut butter and 3 T coconut oil                

 (or from original recipe 1/2c butter)
¼ cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

1- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2- In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar and brown sugar together.
Add vanilla, eggs, and 1 cup of the peanut butter; stir to combine.
Add oats, flour, baking soda and salt and mix until well combined.
4- Spray a baking sheet (half sheet jelly roll pan that is approximately 17.8 x 12.8 x 1 inch) with nonstick cooking spray and spread out dough in an even layer.
5 Bake for 15 minutes and remove from oven.
6- Drop remaining peanut butter (about 1 1/2 cups) by very small spoonfuls (we use a baby spoon) all over on top of warm bars. Let set for about 5-6 minutes and gently spread when peanut butter has begun to melt. It will spread easily when the peanut butter has softened on the warm bars. Don't try to spread it while still thick.
7- Then let the bars cool until peanut butter has set up.
While cooling, mix together frosting ingredients with a hand mixer until smooth and spread on top of bars.
Cut into bars and serve.

6/24/23 Amy Baked the bars in a rectangular cake pan (12.7" X 8.9" X 2"), so the bars cooked for 25-30min and they are thicker, lets see if the girls like thick peanut butter bars

4/24/25 can add oat flour instead of oats, that just makes the bottom layer smoother without the oat flakes
I cooked the bars for 10 min, I wanted them to be a little softer not so crunchy.

Also there can be.......

---------NO BAKE PEANUT BUTTER OAT BARS-----------

ERIN LIVES WHOLE

Ingredients-

1 cup salted peanut butter (if not salted, add in a pinch)
1/4 cup + 1 tbsp maple syrup
3/4 cup oat flour certified gluten-free (1 cup almond flour also works here)

Topping:

1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter

• 
  

In a medium bowl, mix together peanut butter, maple syrup, and oat flour until well combined.
Press mixture into an 8×8 dish.
Pour chocolate chips and remaining peanut butter into a microwave safe dish and microwave on 30 second increments until chips are melted.
Pour melted chocolate peanut butter mixture over peanut butter base.
Place in freezer for one hour, then cut and serve.
Store in fridge or freezer!

Lily chocolate Muffins

Baker Bettie 

• 1 1/2 cups (180 gr) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (50 gr) cocoa powder (dutch processed preferred but natural cocoa powder can be used)
• 2/3 cup (130 gr) granulated sugar
• 1 TBSP (14 gr) baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 cup (235 ml) whole milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) vegetable oil or canola oil
• 1 cup (170 gr) chocolate chips + more for topping if desired

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 425 F (220 C). Line a muffin tin with muffin liners or spray with nonstick spray.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, vanilla, and oil until well combined.
4. Combine Wet & Dry Ingredients: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon or rubber spatula until just combined. This process will go quickly, and should only take about 10 stirs to complete. Fold in the chocolate chips at this point. Do not over-mix your batter or your muffins will be dense and dry.
5. Divide the batter between the muffin cups filling them almost all the way up. Top with more chocolate chips if desired.
6. Bake at 425 F for about 10 minutes and then turn the oven heat down to 350 F (175 C) for about 5 more minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs.

Nutella Magic Cake

Jo cooks 

4 eggs (at room temperature, separated)
1 cup icing sugar
1 cup Nutella
1/2 cup butter (unsalted, melted but room temperature)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon cocoa powder
3/4 cup all-purpose flour (minus 2 tbsp )
2 cups milk (lukewarm)
icing sugar ( for dusting cake)

• Preheat your oven to 325 F (160 C) degrees. Line a 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
• Separate the eggs and add the egg whites to the bowl of your mixer. Mix until egg whites are stiff. Place the egg whites in a bowl and set aside.Add the egg yolks and icing sugar the the bowl of your mixer and mix together until mixture becomes like a cream and is light pale yellow in color.Add the Nutella, melted butter, vanilla extract, salt, cocoa powder and continue mixing for another minute until well incorporated.With the mixer on low, start adding flour to the mixer, one tablespoon at a time, until all the flour has been incorporated into the mixture.With the mixer still on low, slowly start adding the milk and beat until everything is well mixed together. The mixture should be very thin, almost like a crepe batter.Start gently folding in the egg whites, a third at a time using a spatula. Repeat until all the egg whites have been folded in. They do not have to be completely mixed in, it's OK to still see foamy bits floating around the top of the batter.Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 40 to 70 minutes or until the top is browned. The cake should be firm to touch, and should not wiggle.Let cool completely, then place in the fridge for at least 2 hours.Sprinkle some icing sugar before slicing into it.