Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse Cake

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A lot of my favourite foods or flavours are associated with some fond childhood memories. The combination of chocolate and orange is one of them. Have you ever tried Jacob’s Club chocolate orange biscuits? Growing up in Hong Kong, it was such a precious and delicious treat for me as a kid and I would eat it as slowly as possible, trying to cherish every single bite ! This food nostalgia has also given me the idea to make this mousse cake ! I made them into three layers…. cake, mousse and a ganache on top. It does require more time and work, but it’s worth it. Not only do layered desserts look sophisticated, the different textures make every bite more enjoyable.

I made these in minis, but the recipe is good for a six inch cake too. If you don’t have ring molds, spring-form pans will work, but run a warm knife or spatula around the cake before releasing the spring, otherwise the cake may crack.

For the cake

Makes 4-5 three inch mini cakes

  • 150 g all-purpose flour
  • 150 g cake and pastry flour
  • 50 g cocoa powder
  • 6 g baking powder
  • 3 g baking soda
  • 3 g salt
  • 240 g granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 120 mL buttermilk
  • 120 mL vegetable oil
  • 60 mL fresh orange juice
  • Zest of half an orange
  • 5 mL pure vanilla extract
  • 5 ml pure orange extract
  • 120 mL hot water

  1. Preheat oven to 350o F
  2. Lightly grease a 9″ x 9 ” square pan or a similar size baking tray and line the bottom with parchment paper
  3. Sift together flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside
  4. In another mixing bowl, hand whisk together granulated sugar and eggs until frothy
  5. Mix in buttermilk, oil, orange juice, orange zest, and extracts
  6. Slowly combine wet ingredients into dry ingredients
  7. Add in hot water, a little at a time, mix until just blended, do not overmix
  8. Pour batter into baking pan and bake for about 20-25 minutes. (To help keep the cake moist, you can bake it on top of a cooking sheet filled with hot water, but handle very carefully)

For the Mousse

  • 150 g dark chocolate
  • 375 ml cold whipping cream
  • 2 gelatin sheets (1 g each)
  • 2.5 mL pure vanilla extract
  • 2.5 mL pure orange extract
  1. Chill the mixing bowl in the fridge for at least 30 minutes
  2. Place gelatin sheets in cold water for a few minutes to bloom
  3. Heat about half a cup of whipping cream in a pot over medium heat until just starting to boil, turn heat off
  4. Squeeze gelatin sheets to remove excess water, add into heated cream and stir until dissolved
  5. While it’s still hot, pour over dark chocolate, stir until smooth
  6. Mix in extracts and let cool
  7. Using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk remaining whipping cream in the chilled mixing bowl until stiff peak is formed
  8. Gently fold in chocolate mixture, do not over mix

To assemble

  1. Trim top of sheet cake with knife or wire cake cutter to about 1/2″ to 3/4″ thick
  2. Cut out individual cake using 3″ ring molds and place each, with the ring, on a small piece of parchment paper
  3. Pour mousse on top of cake and smooth with a spoon, do not fill to the top, leave some space for the ganache
  4. Refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours to set
  5. Prepare ganache when mousse is set

For the ganache

  • 90 g dark chocolate
  • 75 ml whipping cream
  • 2.5 ml pure vanilla extract
  1. Heat chocolate and whipping cream in the microwave for about 30 seconds (Since we only need a small amount of ganache, it’s easier to heat it up in the microwave)
  2. Stir until smooth, add vanilla and let cool
  3. Pour ganache on mousse cake and refrigerate for another 2 hours
  4. To serve, remove molds by using a kitchen torch and gently heat around rings or carefully run a warm knife or spatula around the cake

Lemon Meringue Tart

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My kids have always been part of my blog. They give me ideas of what to make, write and/or post. As they grow up, they are able to help me more in the kitchen or even make a meal, especially my daughter who loves to cook and bake. She’s the one that made this lemon meringue tart, from rolling the tart shells to torching the meringue. I was just there to guide her and help clean up ! I always feel that cooking is a very important life skill that all of us should learn and I am very glad my kids have the interest in doing so.

About this recipe…. we tried using a Swiss meringue the first time but it was too soft and sticky, and wouldn’t hold its shape. So we switched to an Italian meringue which was much more stable. They both taste great but the Italian one works better for the tarts. And yes…we ended up with a lot of tarts to consume, but we didn’t mind at all ! Also, if you have leftover dough, you can use it to make cookies ! Just roll and cut them in shapes you like and bake at 350oF for about 8 minutes.

You can prepare the dough and the lemon curd 1- 2 days ahead of time, then make and torch the meringue on the day of serving.

Makes about 4-6 small tarts

For the tart shells

  • 120 g cold unsalted butter (cut into small pieces)
  • 75 g granulated sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 180 g cake and pastry flour, sifted
  1. Mix together butter and sugar using a wooden spoon until no more lumps
  2. Add egg yolks, mix until blended
  3. Add flour all at once, mix with the wooden spoon, then transfer onto a table or counter and gently knead dough together (just work until ingredients are mixed in)
  4. If the dough is too soft to work with, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes
  5. Preheat oven to 350ºF
  6. Roll dough to about 1/8 inch in thickness on a floured surface, dock with a fork
  7. Place inside slightly greased tart molds, trim off excess dough
  8. Bake for about 12 minutes till golden, let cool

For the lemon curd (recipe adapted from https://www.ricardocuisine.com/en )

  • 4 whole eggs
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 180 g graulated sugar
  • zest of one lemon
  • 120 ml lemon juice
  • 180 g unsalted butter, softened
  1. Whisk together all ingredients except butter
  2. Heat mixture in non-stick pot over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened (mixture should coat back of spoon)
  3. Turn heat off, mix in butter, a few pieces at a time until all melted
  4. Strain and let cool
  5. Spoon into cooled tart shells, and refrigerate for about 2 hours or until curd is set

For the Italian meringue

  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 g cream or tartar
  • 180 g granulated sugar
  • 60 ml of water
  1. Combine sugar and water in a small sauce pan, bring to boil and cook until thermometer measures 110 o C (230 o F)
  2. In an electrical mixer, whisk egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peak is formed.
  3. Then while beating, slowly and carefully pour hot syrup in a stream over egg whites.
  4. Continue beating until meringue is cooled and stiff peak is formed
  5. Spread meringue on the cooled tarts and caramelize with a culinary torch

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

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2020 has been a tough year for everyone.  Dealing with all the unknowns, stress, worries, even the lost of loved ones…..Reading all the news everyday can be depressing and exhausting.  For me, one way to deal with the stress is to do what I love.  Baking, making desserts……

I was making some macarons couple weeks ago. It is one of the trickiest thing to bake, even if you follow the recipe religiously, or you’ve made it a thousand times, it can still turn out to be a disaster !  Well, that’s what happened to me……I eventually succeeded but left with A LOT of egg yolks ! So 
I turned them into this Cookies and Cream Ice Cream ! It’s super easy to do, yummy and a perfect treat for hot summer days ! 

Makes about 1.5 L

  • 200 g granulated sugar
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1.5 cup whipping cream
  • 1 vanilla bean or 1 tablespoon vanilla paste
  • 15-20 Oreo cookies (crushed)
    1. Whisk together egg yolks, sugar and 1/4 cup of milk
    2. In a non-stick pot, heat remaining milk, vanilla bean (scraped) or vanilla paste, over medium heat until just boiled
    3. Add 1/3 cup of hot milk into egg mixture to temper, then pour everything back into pot
    4. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly until just thickened. Mixture should coat back of spoon. Alternatively, you can use a thermometer, and heat until it reaches 82 ºC / 180 ºF 
    5. Remove from heat immediately, strain through a fine mesh twice
    6. Let sit in an ice bath, stir in whipping cream
    7. Let cool completely, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight 
    8. Place in ice cream machine and churn according to manufacturer’s instructions
    9. Stir in crushed Oreo cookies and freeze until serve

     

 

Orange Olive Oil Cake

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The world has changed a lot over the past few months… It’s literally a whole new world. We are in the middle of a pandemic….staying home, social distancing, online schooling have all become the new normal. It is no doubt a very stressful time. Nevertheless, I think we are all doing our best and staying positive. I am very thankful that my family is keeping safe and healthy.

Because of the situation, my spring market got cancelled, but I am still baking a lot. Last month, my friends and I did a charity bake sale. We sold lots of cookies, cupcakes, brownies……The support was overwhelming! Together, we raised $1000 for the Vancouver Hospital Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund. A big thank you to everyone that donated.

More time at home also means more time to work on recipes! I have been wanting to make an olive oil cake for a while. My first time eating one was years ago at a little cafe and I loved it. It makes the cake soft and moist without leaving a strong taste. I used orange for this recipe, but I think lemon will work wonderfully as well.

Makes one 9.5 inch bundt cake

  • 150 g cake and pastry flour
  • 150 g all purpose flour
  • 6 g baking powder
  • 3 g baking soda
  • 2 g salt
  • 180 g sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 180 mL extra virgin olive oil
  • 180 mL milk
  • 50 mL fresh orange juice
  • zest of a medium orange
  • 5 ml pure vanilla extract
  • 4 mL pure orange extract
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350° F
  2. Sift together flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside
  3. Beat together sugar and eggs until frothy, using an eletrical mixer or hand whisk
  4. Mix in olive oil, milk, orange juice, orange zest and extracts
  5. Gradually add flour mixture and mix until just cooperated
  6. Pour batter into a 9-inch non-stick bundt pan and bake for about 35 minutes (you can use any other cake pan, but baking time may have to be adjusted)
  7. Dust with icing sugar when cooled if desired

Chocolate Madeleines

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Madeleines are buttery little cakes originated from France. These shell-like sweets are actually very easy to make. Of course, you will need a madeleine pan. The classic flavour is usually lemon. But as a chocolate lover and an avid baker, I am “obligated” to make some chocolate ones ! And (almost) everything is better with chocolate, right ? They may not be the most eye catching desserts, but they are absolutely delicious ! And I finally tempered my own chocolate! It’s much smoother and shinier !  Here is the recipe that I followed https://www.cordonbleu.edu/news/technique-tempering-chocolate/en . Again, it’s something that looks more difficult than it actually is.  All you need is a thermometer, good chocolate and some patience ! But trust me, it’s worth it ! 

Makes about 20-24 madeleines

  • 120 g unsalted butter + 30 g for greasing pan, melted
  • 60 g all-purpose flour
  • 90 g cake and pastry flour
  • 30 g unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 g baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 180 g granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 7.5 mL pure vanilla extract
  • melted dark chocolate for drizzles
  1. Melt 120 g of butter in a sauce pan or microwave, cool slightly 
  2. Sift together flours, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt, set aside 
  3. Whisk together eggs, sugar and vanilla until frothy 
  4. Fold flour mixture into egg mixture 
  5. Gently mix in melted and cooled butter, 2-3 tablespoons at a time until just blended 
  6. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight 
  7. When ready to bake, prepare madeleine pan by melting about 30 g of butter in a sauce pan or microwave, cool slightly 
  8. Brush moulds with melted butter, coat with flour, tapping off excess
  9. Place coated pan in freezer for at least one hour
  10. Preheat oven to 375°F
  11. Drop about 1 tablespoon of batter into each mould without spreading it out
  12. Place madeleine pan on another large baking tray and bake for about 12 minutes 
  13. Cool in moulds for a few minutes then completely on rack 
  14. Drizzle with melted, tempered dark chocolate, best to consume within 2 days

Baked Pears

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Our fall weather has been kind of cold. It seems like we had summer, lots of rain, then winter is here …..Do you ever crave for a nice warm dessert after dinner on a cold night ? My daughter and I certainly do ! And often we want something that’s slightly healthier.  Here is one very simple recipe. You can just put it together just before having dinner, put it in the oven and it’s ready when you finish !  You can serve them with some vanilla yoghurt….or ice cream ! Well, I think that’s still pretty healthy….. 

Makes 4 servings

  • 4 ripe Anjou pears
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup crushed walnuts
  • 3-4 tablespoons maple syrup
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F
  2. Cut pears in halves and remove cores
  3. Mix together walnuts, cinnamon and maple syrup
  4. Spoon fillings into pears
  5. Sprinkle and drizzle with more cinnamon and maple syrup
  6. Bake for about 40 minutes until soft
  7. Serve warm with vanilla yoghurt if desired 

 

Blueberry Tarts

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I feel like I need 48 hours a day ! I seriously do. I have so many things I want to do, so many things I have to do but just not enough time…..I know I sometimes over-schedule myself, but at the same time, I feel the most productive this way….So yes, this post was done much later than I planned, but at least I manage to do it before the end of July! 😅

How can I not make something out of blueberries in the summer! We are so lucky to have some locally grown blueberries and I would buy at least 20 lbs of them! This is a super easy recipe. You can make the tart dough ahead of time and freeze it until use. Try to spoon the fillings in just before serving so the tart shells won’t get soggy.

Makes about three 4-inch tarts or six to eight mini tarts

For the tart shells

  • 120 g cold unsalted butter (cut into small pieces)
  • 75 g granulated sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 180 g cake and pastry flour, sifted
  1. Mix together cold butter and sugar using a wooden spoon until no more lumps
  2. Add egg yolk, mix until blended
  3. Add flour all at once, mix with the wooden spoon, then transfer onto a table or counter and gently knead dough together (just work until ingredients are mixed in)
  4. Wrap with plastic wrap, refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours or overnight
  5. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350ºF
  6. Knead dough until pliable
  7. Roll dough out to about 1/8 inch in thickness on a floured surface, dock with a fork
  8. Place inside slightly greased tart molds, trim off excess dough
  9. Bake for about 12 minutes till golden, let cool

For the blueberry fillings

  • 300 g fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 75 g granulated sugar
  • 15 mL lemon juice
  • zest of half a lemon
  • 15 g corn starch
  1. In a non-stick pot, heat blueberries, sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest over medium heat
  2. When mixture starts to boil, sift in corn starch
  3. Mix until thicken, then let cool

Right before serving, spoon blueberry fillings into cooled tart shells

Berries and Tofu Smoothie Bowl (Vegan)

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Over the past year, I have been trying to eat less meat and more plant-based proteins. I was never a big meat eater, so the transition was pretty easy. To me, the change has been beneficial, especially for my gut. I have a lot less indigestion and heartburn. Trying to cooperate these ingredients in recipes has been fun too. Tofu is my favourite, I mostly use it in savoury dishes or soups, but I can also make it into a simple and nutritious sweet treat, like this smoothie bowl ! You can use any berries and toppings of your choice. For a thicker smoothie, freeze some of the berries first. Look at the beautiful and vibrant colours ! It’s definitely a treat for your eyes and your tummy !  

Makes one serving

  • 150 g mixed berries (I used fresh raspberries, frozen blueberries and blackberries)
  • 150 g soft tofu
  • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to sweeten (optional)
  • Toppings of choice (other fruits, seeds and nuts)

Blend all ingredients together then add toppings 

Vanilla Cake with Blueberry Cream Cheese Frosting

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Sorry! I was one day late for my Mother’s Day post ! Well, but I think we can treat our moms (and myself) any time of the year, and we should ! It doesn’t have to be just Mother’s Day, right ? This cake is very simple, and the blueberries give it a stunning, beautiful color that you don’t need to do much decorations ! I added some freeze-dried blueberries.  If you cannot find them, just add a little more puree to enhance the blueberry flavour. (Just a little otherwise the frosting may become watery). The cream cheese frosting is quite soft, so you should keep it in the fridge until serving. I use vanilla cake as I find it very versatile. You can pretty much pair it  with any flavour, berries, citrus, caramel, chocolate,etc. Once you have a good recipe, you are set and good to go. You can also use this recipe to make cupcakes, just decrease your baking time to about 18-20 minutes. 

I hope all moms had a good Mother’s Day yesterday ! I got a nice surprise from my daughter. She made me some Blueberry Chocolate Bark !  How sweet !

Makes one 6 inch cake

For the vanilla cake

  • 300 g cake and pastry flour
  • 6 g baking powder
  • 3 g baking soda
  • 2 g salt
  • 180 g granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 180 mL buttermilk
  • 120 mL milk
  • 10 mL pure vanilla extract
  • 100 g unsalted butter (melted)
  • 100 mL vegetable oil
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
  2. Line the bottom of two 6 inch round cake pans with parchment paper, lightly oil and flour the sides
  3. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside
  4. Whisk together eggs and sugar until pale
  5. Mix in milk, buttermilk, vanilla, butter and oil (it’s ok if batter is lumpy, the butter may just be solidifying)
  6. Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mix until just cooperated.
  7. Pour batter into the cake pans and bake for about 40 minutes
  8. Cool completely  before assembling

Tips:

To keep the cake moist and evenly baked, you can bake them in a hot water bath. You can also use cake strips, which you soak in water for a few minutes, squeeze out excess, wrap it around the cake pans and bake.

For the frosting

  • 270 g unsalted butter (soften)
  • 225 g soft cream cheese
  • 120 g icing sugar
  • 45 g blueberry puree (store bought or homemade) 
  • 20 g freeze-dried blueberry powder (optional)
  1. To make the puree, blend fresh or frozen blueberries (you may need more than 45 g of whole blueberries) 
  2. To make the blueberry powder, grind freeze-dried blueberries with food processor until fine
  3. Beat together butter and cream cheese until smooth
  4. Sift in icing sugar, beat until light and smooth
  5. Add blueberry puree and powder, mix well
  6. Refrigerate until use

To assemble

  1.  Trip top of cakes to flatten
  2. Layer cakes with frosting in between
  3. Coat side and top of cake with more frosting
  4. Decorate as desired
  5. Keep in fridge until ready to serve

 

You can get the cake strips through the Amazon website by clicking the link below. I will receive a small compensation if you purchase the item. 

 

Wilton Bake Even Cake Strips, 2 Pieces

Lemon Coconut Muffins

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My friends often ask me how I come up with recipe ideas. Most of the time is seasonal, like using berries in the summer and pumpkin in the fall. Sometimes it’s just sort of random and use whatever I have at home. The other day, I was cleaning up my pantry, I found a bag of shredded coconut, some coconut oil and a few leftovers that I’ve only used once or twice ! Then I remembered I had  some coconut milk in the fridge too ! (Wow…didn’t realize I love coconut so much…..) So, I came up with these very “coconuty” muffins ! I added some lemon juice and zest to add fresshness and balance the flavour, and I just love that golden crust on top ! So, if you have some extras lying around, don’t waste them ! Create your own recipes ! You may come up with something really delicious ! You never know !  

Makes about 8-10

  • 200 g all-purpose flour
  • 3 g baking powder
  • 3 g baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 egg
  • 100 g granulated sugar
  • 120 mL unsweetened coconut milk
  • 80 mL buttermilk
  • 60 mL coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
  • 5 mL pure vanilla extract
  • 30 mL lemon juice
  • Zest of a small lemon
  • 30 g unsweetened shredded coconut + more to sprinkle on top
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
  2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, side aside
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar and egg
  4. Mix in coconut milk, buttermilk, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract and lemon juice
  5. Add wet ingredients into dry ingredient, mix until just blended
  6. Stir in lemon zest and shredded coconut
  7. Spoon batter into muffin tins lined with lightly greased muffin cups, about 3/4 full
  8. Sprinkle top with more shredded coconut
  9. Bake for about 18-20 minutes