Friday Desserts

It's finally Friday. What better way to start the weekend than with six yummy Friday Desserts. Check out the Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Pudding, the No-Bake Yogurt and Cool Whip Pie, or any of the yummy desserts, sure to see you through the weekend. Enjoy!

CHRISTINA TOSI'S CROCKPOT CAKE

This comes from Same Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, "Christina Tosi, the pastry chef and an owner of Momofuku Milk Bar, sits near the beating heart of David Chang’s eclectic and innovative Momofuku restaurant empire. Off the clock, though, her cooking runs to inspired simplicity, as in this simple, tangy, slightly-caramelized at the edges slow-cooker cake, a version of which appears in her cookbook from Clarkson Potter, “Milk Bar Life.” Slow-cooker recipes invariably tell you to make something at night and enjoy them in the morning, or to make them in the morning and eat them after work. That only works if you don’t sleep much, or have a part-time job. This is a recipe for a weekend afternoon, or for cooking from the moment you get home until the very near end of a dinner party. It is a four-to-six hour affair."

Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: About 5 hours

This was featured in "The Slow Cooker, Redeemed", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017227-christina-tosis-crockpot-cake.

Ingredients

1/2 pound unsalted butter (2 sticks), at room temperature

1-1/4 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

3 large eggs

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup neutral oil, like canola or grapeseed

1-1/2cups cake flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

Put all but 1 tablespoon of the butter and the sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and cream with the paddle attachment at medium-high speed, until the mixture is smooth and pale, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in the eggs and vanilla, then continue to mix for another 3 minutes, until fluffy. Add the buttermilk and oil and mix briefly to combine.

Set the mixer to a very low speed and add the cake flour, baking powder and salt, mixing for a minute or so and scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice, until the batter has just come together, with no lumps.

Use the remaining tablespoon of butter to grease the interior of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, then pour the batter into the pot. Cover and cook on low for somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 to 6 hours, until the cake has set and is cooked through at the center. To serve, run a knife around the edge of the slow cooker to loosen the cake and then carefully invert onto a platter, or simply spoon the cake out of the slow cooker.

CREAM CHEESE TIRAMISU

This is from Betty Crocker kitchens, and begins, "Make your kitchen game a whole lot stronger with this decadent Tiramisu dessert! It's an elevated showstopper, made with cream cheese, and is the perfect pairing to any great meal. Creamy, comforting, and downright delicious! You know what they say, 'leave the best for last'!"

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes; Makes 9 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/cream-cheese-tiramisu/7e944cbf-d9ce-4641-9c5c-c669d188eb2a.

Ingredients

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons light rum or 1/2 teaspoon rum extract

1 cup whipping (heavy) cream

1 package (3 ounces) ladyfingers, (12 ladyfingers)

1/2 cup cold prepared espresso or strong coffee

2 teaspoons baking cocoa

Directions

Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in rum on low speed; set aside.

Beat whipping cream in chilled small bowl on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into cream cheese mixture.

Split ladyfingers horizontally in half. Arrange half of the ladyfingers, cut sides up, on bottom of ungreased square pan, 8x8x2 inches, or round pan, 9x1-1/2 inches. Drizzle 1/4 cup of the espresso over ladyfingers. Spread half of the cream cheese mixture over ladyfingers.

Arrange remaining ladyfingers, cut sides up, on cream cheese mixture. Drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup espresso. Spread with remaining cream cheese mixture.

Sift or sprinkle cocoa over top. Cover and refrigerate about 4 hours or until filling is firm. Store covered in refrigerator.

Expert Tips

For 9 grams of fat and 170 calories per serving, substitute reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel) for the regular cream cheese. Substitute 2 cups frozen (thawed) reduced-fat whipped topping for the beaten whipping cream.

“Carry me up” is the translation for tiramisu, pronounced tir-ruh-mee-SOO. This rich Italian dessert is usually made with mascarpone, a buttery rich, slightly sweet and smooth Italian cream cheese.

Look for mascarpone in the cheese case in large supermarkets, specialty cheese shops or gourmet food stores.

OLD-FASHIONED BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING

The last time my dad came to visit before he died, he and my step-mom checked out several of the grocery stores for boxed butter scotch pudding. The stores where they lived only carried the instant stuff, and he wanted the boxed kind that you had to cook. They didn't find any in the stores down here, either, but I did finally manage to find a supply of the boxed cooked stuff at the one store we didn't try. (Guess what he got for Christmas that year?)

Dad and Step-Mom, Phylis





If I had found this recipe for Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Pudding at that time, it would have come in handly. This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking section. For this, Melissa wrote, "This creamy pudding, thickened with cornstarch and egg yolks and stirred together on the stove, is as homey as it gets. Spiking the mixture with a little bourbon or Scotch isn’t strictly traditional, but it does add a pop of flavor. Choose bourbon to underscore the caramelized notes of the brown sugar, or Scotch for a savory smokiness and a nod to the name. Here’s a tip: Make sure to bring the pudding to a full, vigorous boil to activate the cornstarch. Otherwise, it may not set. If you’ve ever ended up with thin, runny pudding, undercooking may have been the issue."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes, plus 2 hours' chilling

This was featured in "The Best Butterscotch Pudding Is Homemade" (which includes the line, "This unfussy, old-fashioned recipe is easy to stir together on top of the stove, and hard to mess up."), and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021800-old-fashioned-butterscotch-pudding.

Dad, this is for you.

Ingredients

4 large egg yolks

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

3/4 packed cup dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

2 cups whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon bourbon or Scotch whisky (optional)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whipped cream, sour cream or crème fraîche, for serving

Chopped candied ginger, sliced almonds, Demerara sugar, shaved chocolate, cocoa nibs or flaky sea salt (or a combination), for garnish (optional)

Preparation

Put egg yolks, cornstarch and salt into a large heatproof bowl, and whisk until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps.

In a medium pot over medium heat, combine brown sugar and butter, whisking, until the brown sugar melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture starts to smell like hot caramel and darkens slightly, about 1 minute longer. (Don’t walk away, or the mixture may burn.)

Immediately pour the milk and cream into the pot. (It will bubble fiercely and seize up.) Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the clumps melt, 2 to 4 minutes.

Slowly whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture into the bowl with the egg yolks, whisking yolks until smooth, then whisk in the remaining hot cream mixture. Pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan and place it over medium heat.

Cook pudding, whisking constantly especially around the bottom and edges of the pot, until it comes to a full boil. (Don’t worry about the eggs curdling. You’re going to strain the mixture later.) Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring the mixture constantly, until it thickens enough to mound thickly on the spoon, 4 to 7 minutes. If at any point the pudding looks curdled, whisk to help smooth it out.

Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a heatproof container or bowl, then stir in the Scotch or bourbon, if using, and vanilla. To prevent a skin from forming, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding. (If you like the skin, don’t cover pudding until it cools.) Chill for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.

When serving, spoon pudding into dishes. Top with dollops of whipped cream, sour cream or crème fraîche, and any of the optional garnishes.

Tip

Make sure to bring the pudding to a full, vigorous boil to activate the cornstarch. Otherwise, it may not set. If you’ve ever ended up with thin, runny pudding, undercooking may have been the issue.

NO-BAKE YOGURT AND COOL WHIP PIE

This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "If you're looking for an easy no-bake dessert, this Cool Whip pie recipe is the one to try. It will be a welcome treat on a hot summer evening and can be the prettiest dessert at the next cookout; it's also the perfect recipe to get the kids involved as there is no stovetop or oven required. This pie is completely customizable since you can choose the yogurt flavor, matching it to whatever fruit happens to be in season. Consider strawberry or peach slices, cherry halves, mandarin orange segments, or whole blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries. It's also a healthier dessert option so you can enjoy a piece of pie without all of the guilt.

"This recipe comes together quickly, calling for just a container of Cool Whip, flavored yogurt, a ready-made graham cracker crust, and some fresh fruit. Just keep in mind the pie will have to firm up in the freezer for about 2 hours before serving."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Freeze Time: 2 hours; Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/cool-whip-pie-recipe-3376704.

Ingredients

8 ounces whipped topping

18 ounces yogurt, any flavor

1 prepared graham cracker crust

Fresh fruit (e.g., berries, peaches, oranges), for garnish

Directions

Gather the ingredients.

In a mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the Cool Whip and yogurt until smooth.

Pour the yogurt and Cool Whip mixture into the pie crust. Freeze until firm, about 2 hours.

Remove the pie from the freezer approximately 20 minutes before serving.

Slice the fruit if necessary and top the pie with the fruit.

Cover and refrigerate any leftover pie, or freeze for later.

Tips

Cool Whip is sold frozen and will need to be defrosted beforehand. This can be done in the refrigerator, microwave, or in cold water. Thawing in the refrigerator will take some planning as it needs to sit in the fridge for about 5 hours (or overnight). The microwave method is simple, but you will need to pay close attention; remove the lid and microwave on the defrost setting for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until smooth. A third method is to place the tub in a bowl filled with cold water and let it sit for 30 to 40 minutes.

To give the pie a more sophisticated look, arrange the fruit slices on top before you fully freeze the pie. Depending on the weight of the fruit, you might want to freeze the pie for an hour before adding the slices or whole fruit so they don't sink into the yogurt mixture.

What Is Cool Whip Made Of?

Cool Whip is made from water, hydrogenated vegetable oil, corn syrup, skimmed milk, and natural and artificial flavors, as well as other additives. If you'd rather not use this whipped topping, you can substitute with whipped cream.

Recipe Variations

Although a store-bought graham cracker crust is convenient, it is easy to make your own graham cracker crust or a sugar-free graham cracker crust.

Instead of a graham cracker crust, you can use a cookie crust. Vanilla cookies go nicely with a lemon yogurt filling, or a chocolate cookie crust pairs well with coconut flavored yogurt topped with coconut flakes.

This light pie is fairly low in calories for a dessert, but if you'd like to reduce the fat and calories, this recipe can be made with reduced-fat or no-sugar varieties of Cool Whip, yogurt, and graham crackers.

APPLESAUCE BROWNIES

Recipe Yield: Servings: 16

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/applesauce-brownies.

Ingredients

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup chopped nuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Combine oil, applesauce and cocoa. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients together and stir into the mixture.

Pour the batter into a greased and floured (or wax paper lined & sprayed) 9 inch square pan. Sprinkle on nuts (optional).

Bake about 20 to 30 minutes or until top is set but edges are not dried out. Toothpick will come out clean. Cut into 16 or 24 squares.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 165; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 84 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch; 1 Fat; 1 Fruit

NOT SO GUILTY BROWNIES

Recipe Yield: Servings: 24

Source: Cinnamon Hearts

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/not-so-guilty-brownies.

Ingredients

Brownie Ingredients:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup oil

2 tsp chocolate extract or flavor

2 eggs

Frosting Ingredients:

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 T unsweetened cocoa

1 T skim or 2% milk

1/2 tsp chocolate extract or flavor

1/8 tsp butter flavor

Directions

Heat oven to 350F.

Grease bottom only of 8-inch square pan.

Combine all brownie ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well. Spread in greased pan.

Bake at 350 F. for 13-18 minutes, or until top is dry and springs back when touched lightly in center.

Cool for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine all frosting ingredients in a small bowl & mix well.

Spread over top of slightly cooled brownies or cut brownies into squares and drizzle with frosting (as shown, adjust milk to get the right consistency).

Cool completely.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 80; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 50 mg; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Carbohydrates: 13 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat

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