Elderflower syrup

Posted in Others by granellidizucchero

Scented Nectar

Ingredients

– 50 elderflower heads

– 2,4 kg of granulated sugar

– 2 unwaxed lemons

– 3 litres of water

– 50g of citric acidFirst of all inspect elderflowers carefully and remove unwanted guests (do not wash the flowers!). After that, place the lemon slices and the elderflower heads into a big bowl, large enough to accommodate 4/5 litres. Bring the water and the sugar to a boil in a large pot. Remove from heat and let cool for around 45 minutes.Add the citric acid and pour the lukewarm liquid over the elderflowers and the lemon slices. Stir the mixture well for around 5 minutes. Place a towel over the bowl and let the syrup stir in a cool and dark place for 3-5 days. Stir the mixture twice a day.After 3-5 days, take a sieve and lay a clean tea towel inside it to strain the syrup. Discard the flowers and the lemons. Pour the filtered syrup into clean glass bottles or jars. Store the syrup in the refrigerator or freezer. Elderflower syrup can be kept in the freezer since the high sugar content keeps it from freezing. Serve the syrup diluted with soda (4 parts water and 1 part elderflower cordial), with white wine or Prosecco and some mint leaves.

The ideal period to pick elderflowers is May-June … and this is where I picked up mines : Canale Quarantia, Foci dell’Isonzo (Italy)

Enjoy your drink,

Anna

24Dec2014

Snowman macarons

Posted in Meringue by granellidizucchero

Macarons à la Linzer

Ingredients

For the shells:

– 200g of almond meal

– 200g of powdered sugar

– 200g of caster sugar

– 146g of egg whites

– 5cl of water

– edible pearls, edible snowflakes, ribbons and food decorating pens

Combine the caster sugar and the water in a saucepan, place over medium heat and bring to 118°. In the meanwhile put half of the the egg whites in a mixer bowl and whip them on medium speed to soft peaks. Pour the 118° syrup in a thin, steady stream into the whipping egg whites.

Continue whipping the meringue on medium speed until the temperature drops to 50°.

In a large bowl combine the almond meal, the caster sugar and the other half of the egg whites and mix well.

Add a small part of the meringue to the almond paste and mix gently, then add the rest of the meringue, fold and scratch the surface until the batter starts to run glossy.

Put the mixture in a pastry bag with a large tip and form two circles (one big and one small) on parchment lined sheet pans. Allow the macarons shells to sit for 1 hour until the surface feels dry to the touch.

Preheat the oven to 150° and bake the shells for approximately 14 minutes. Cool the macarons shells on the sheet pans.

For the Linzer filling:

– 120g of red currant jam

– 38g of walnut meal

– 38g of almond meal

– 2 tsp of cinnamon

– 20g of powdered sugar

– the peel of 1 lemon

Mix together all the ingredients until smooth. Fill your snowman macarons with the Linzer filling. Decorate the snowmen with edible snowflakes and pearls, food decorating pens and ribbons.

I wish you all a sweet Christmas time!!

Bon appétit,

Anna

7Nov2014

Candied roses

Posted in Others by granellidizucchero

Last weekend I picked up the last roses in my grandmothers garden. I’ve decided to prepare 100% organic candied roses and petals to garnish my desserts.

Ingredients (for 5 roses and 20 petals)

– 50g of granulated sugar

– 1 egg white

– an artists’ brush

Preheat the oven to 5o° C. Clean up the roses and let them dry completely. Put the sugar in a small cup and the egg white in a separate one. Dip the paint brush into the egg white and brush the front and the back of the petals. Dip the flowers in the sugar and place them on a pan lined with parchment paper.

Let the flowers dry in the oven (at 50° C) for 2 hours. Place the flowers in a dry place.

Decorate your desserts with these beautiful flowers.

Bon appétit,

Anna

28Oct2014

BOO!

Posted in Cupcakes, Meringue by granellidizucchero

With Halloween right around the corner it’s time to wrak your brain for some spooky baking idea!

I’ve decided to bake some fluffy vanilla cream cupcakes topped by ghost meringues ideal for Halloween parties.

Ingredients

For the cupcakes (16 pieces):

– 5 eggs

– 150 g granulated sugar

– 5 g of vanilla sugar

– 100 g flour

For the cream:

– 3 egg yolks

– 250 ml of milk

– 80 g of granulated sugar

– 25 g of flour

– the peel of 1 lemon

– 5 g of vanilla sugar

– 250 ml of whipped cream

For the ghosts:

– 3 egg whites

– 1 pinch of salt

– 220 g of powdered sugar

– 5 g of vanilla sugar

First of all prepare the meringue ghosts. Preheat the oven to 80° C. Whisk the egg whites until foamy, add the sugars and the salt gradually while beating. Whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Put the mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a large spout tip and form your ghosts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for approximately 3 hours or until meringues are dry. Paint the eyes with edible pencils.

For the cupcakes preheat the oven to 180° C. Take the 5 eggs and separate the whites from the yolks. Whisk the egg whites with half of the sugar until stiff peaks form. Whisk now the egg yolks, the vanilla sugar and the other half of granulated sugar until the mixture is pale yellow and fluffy. Add slowly the flour.

Slowly and carefully add the yellow mixture to the whisked egg whites. Be careful not to deflate the mixture! Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake for around 20 minutes.

BOO! Ghosts cupcakes For the cream whisk together the egg yolks, the vanilla sugar and the lemon peel until light and fluffy. Add slowly the flour and the milk being careful not to form lumps. Cook the mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until it starts boiling. Let it cool down in the fridge for around 1 hour. Now whip the 250 ml of cream and add it slowly to the cold lemon and vanilla mixture.

Create a hole in the middle of your cupcakes and fill it with the cold cream. If you prefer, before adding the cream, you can also add some melted chocolate on the bottom of the hole. Put your meringue ghosts in the middle and decorate with some cream on the borders.

BOO! Ghosts cupcakes For a really scary Halloween ghost add a “BOO!” flag on each cupcake :)

Here you have your super spooky Halloween baking idea for delicious treats!

Bon appétit,

Anna

1Aug2014

Chocolate chip cookies

Posted in Cookies by granellidizucchero

When I started making my chocolate chip cookies my digital scale stopped working so I decided to proceed in a 100% American way: for the first time I used the “cups” system! To be honest I never loved it that much but after today I changed my mind! Try these soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies perfect also as ice cream cookies sandwiches.

Ingredients:

– 1 cup of butter (220g)

– 3/4 cup of granulated sugar (150g)

– 3/4 cup of brown sugar (165g)

– 2 cup of flour (256g)

– 1/4 cup of potato starch (35g)

– 1 cup of chocolate chips (180g)

– 1/2 cup of ground hazelnuts (70g)

– 2 big eggs

– 1 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

– 1 teaspoon of salt

In a bowl, whisk together the butter, the brown sugar and the granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at time, each one mixed in completely before adding the next.

Pass through a sieve the flour, the potato starch, the salt, the baking soda. Add them to the butter dough and mix slowly. Stir in the chocolate chips and the hazelnuts.

Put the dough in a plastic wrap and leave it in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 175° C (347° F).

Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges (20 minutes).

The best way to savour your cookies in summer is to fill them with a delicious ice cream!!!

Bon appétit,

Anna

22Jul2014

Midsummer cheesecake

Posted in Cakes by granellidizucchero

After a long period away from my baking oven, after tooooo much store bought desserts, after months living in the city of chocolate, Brussels, now I’m back to my kitchen!! Today’s cake is a delicious cheesecake perfect for summer dinners or a picnic with friends! Enjoy..

Ingredients

For the pie crust

– 200g of whole-wheat biscuits

– 60g of melted butter

– the juice of 1/2 lemon

For the filling

– 200g of Philadelphia

– 200g of ricotta

– 130g of granulated sugar

– 100g of cream

– 30g of yogurt

– 3 eggs

– 1/2 spoon of flour

– the bark of 1 lemon

– 1 vanilla bean

Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F).

For the crust grind the biscuits finely in a food processor. Melt the butter in a saucepan and stir in the biscuits. Put the biscuits mixture in a cake pan and press firmly to cover the whole surface of the pan (edges included). Pour the lemon juice on the surface. Your crust is now ready to be covered by the cheese mixture.

For the filling put the ricotta, the Philadelphia, the sugar, the cream, the yogurt, the eggs, the vanilla and the lemon bark in a large bowl and mix slowly. Stir in the flour.

Pour the cheese mixture on the biscuits crust and bake for 1 hour (160°C – 320°F).

Let the cheesecake cool for 2 hours and conserve it in the fridge. Serve the cake at room temperature and decorate it giving vent to your creativity!

Bon appétit,

Anna

28Dec2013

Rudolph cake pops

Posted in Cakes by granellidizucchero

Almond and cinnamon cake pops

Ingredients:

– 80g of butter

– 110g of granulated sugar

– 1 egg

– 135g of flour

– 1 teaspoon of baking powder

– 80ml of milk

– 60g of almond meal

– 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

– Cake pops silicone mould (for 18 pieces)

For the chocolate coat:

– 100g of dark chocolate

– 100g of white chocolate

– Gel food coloring

Preheat the oven at 160°.

Beat the softened butter with the sugar until the mixture is creamy.

Add the egg and continue whisking. Add the flour with the baking powder, the cinnamon and the milk. Continue mixing until you have a creamy texture. Add the almond meal and mix. Fill the buttered cake pops mould and bake for 20 minutes at 160°.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool, remove form the mould and insert the stick into each cake pop.

Melt the dark chocolate in a bain marie. Melt also the white chocolate. Coat half of the cake pops with the dark chocolate and the other half with the white chocolate, decorate with gel food coloring and little branches.

Have a sweet Christmas time,

bon appétit

Anna

22Dec2013

Christmas whoopies

Posted in Cookies by granellidizucchero

Ingredients (for 8 whoopies):

– 75g of dark chocolate

– 50g of butter

– 1 egg

– 90g of granulated sugar

– 110g of flour

– 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

– 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

– a pinch of salt

For the filling:

-50g of dark chocolate

– 125 ml of cream

– 2 tablespoon of chocolate chips

– 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

For the decoration:

– Royal icing and gel food coloring

Preheat the oven to 175° and line two baking pans with parchment paper.

Put the chocolate and the butter in a bowl and place them over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from heat when melted. With an electric whisk, mix the egg and the sugar and add the melted butter and chocolate. Pass through a sieve the cocoa powder, the baking soda, the flour, the salt and add them into the egg mixture. Stir well and slowly.

Put the dough into a pastry bag with a large tip and form the whoopie pies on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 9 minutes.

For the filling put the chocolate in a bowl and place it over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from heat when melted.

Whip the cream on medium speed. Add half of it in the melted chocolate, mix well but slowly and stir in the rest of the cream. Add chocolate chips and cinnamon to the mixture.

Put the cream into a pastry bag and cover the flat side of the whoopie. Top with another whoopie to assemble them.

Decorate with royal icing and gel food coloring.

I WISH YOU ALL A SWEET CHRISTMAS TIME!!!

Your Anna

10Oct2013

Choco garden

Posted in Cakes by granellidizucchero

Soufflé au chocolat

Ingredients:

– 100 g of powdered sugar

– 4 g of corn flour

– 30 g of flour

– 7 eggs (1 whole, 1 yolk and 6 egg whites)

– 60 ml of milk

– 75 ml of cream

– 75 g of dark chocolate

– 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder

Take five 200 ml soufflé dishes, brush them with butter and tip a little cocoa powder in each dish.

To make the chocolate cream, mix 30 g of flour, 7 g of corn flour and 15 g of powdered sugar.

Put one egg yolk and a whole egg into a bowl, mix them well and add half of the flour mixture, blend, and tip in the rest of the flour mix.

Put 60 ml of milk and 15 ml of cream into a pan and bring them just to the boil, remove from the heat. Add 25 g of dark chocolate and beat until it is melted. Add to this chocolate mix the flour and yolks mixture. Cook this mixture over a low heath for 5 minutes, let it cool down and beat occasionally with a wire whisk.

Slowly warm 60 ml of cream to make the ganache. Just before it boils take off the heath and add 50 g of dark chocolate. Mix until it is melted and add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder. Allow to cool.

Heath oven to 190°. Whisk 6 egg whites with an electric whisk and sprinkle in 85 g of powdered sugar while whisking.

Mix the ganche and the chocolate cream mixture in a large bowl.

Add 2 tablespoons of whisked egg whites to the chocolate mixture. Carefully fold in a third of the rest, mix slowly, add another third of the whisked eggs, take care not to lose the volume and add fold in the last third.

Fill the soufflé dishes by three-quarters with the mixture and bang each dish on to the surface so the mixture fills the sides.

Bake the soufflés for 17 minutes in the preheated oven (190°).

Decore with cocoa powder and fresh flowers.

Bon appétit,

Anna

16Jul2013

ITALIA!

Posted in Cupcakes by granellidizucchero

Muffin basilico, mozzarella, pomodoro

Ingredienti:

-200g farina

-3 uova

-100 ml latte

-10g lievito in polvere

-100ml olio di semi

-Parmigiano

-8 pomodori ciliegini

-1 mozzarella

-basilico

-sale

-pepe

-origano

-ricotta per decorare

Mettete le uova in una ciotola e sbattetele con una frusta, aggiungete del basilico tritato a pezzetti, del sale, del pepe e dell’origano e continuate a mescolare.

Versate l’olio di semi e successivamente il latte.

In un’altra ciotola unite la farina ed il lievito in polvere e versateci sopra il composto di uova continuando a mescolare per evitare che si formino dei grumi. Aggiungete al composto del Parmigiano grattuggiato, la mozzarella ed i pomodorini tagliati a cubetti.

Versate il composto in 12 pirottini, ricoprite la parte superiore dei muffin con un pò di Parmigiano grattuggiato ed infornate a 180° per 25 minuti.

Una volta fatti raffreddare potete guarnire i muffin con della ricotta.

I muffin “ITALIA!” sono ideali per accompagnare un aperitivo estivo … ovviamente all’italiana!! Ideali se gustati freddi o tiepidi.

Buon appetito,

Anna

Granelli di zucchero

Tag Archives: Rezept

Elderflower syrup

Scented Nectar

Candied roses

BOO!

Midsummer cheesecake

Rudolph cake pops

Almond and cinnamon cake pops

Christmas whoopies

Choco garden

Soufflé au chocolat

ITALIA!

Muffin basilico, mozzarella, pomodoro