Desserts 4 Today

Fruitcake has become somewhat of a holiday joke to many people. Yet how many have actually tried a piece of truly delicious, moist fruitcake? Instead of passing a fruitcake on to someone else or saving it as an annual joke, why not make some yourself and help dispel the old myth?

The traditional fruitcake can trace its history back to the English plum cake, which came from plum pudding. These puddings were allowed to ripen in the cupboard for months, becoming hard and dry. Before being eaten, they were steamed to add moisture. After awhile, cooks found that if they saturated the cake in liquor, the cake would be preserved and it would keep it moist.

Dessert

An old holiday tradition was baking small trinkets into the fruitcake. A coin indicated wealth, a thimble thrift and a ship meant travel.

Recipe for Old Fashioned Fruitcake

Enjoy this rich cake full of tradition.

What You Need

• 3 cups dried figs, chopped


• 2 cups pitted dates, chopped


• 2 cups golden raisins


• 2 cups dark seedless raisins


• 2 cups dried currants


• 1-1/2 cups candied citron, diced


• 1 cup candied pineapple, diced


• 1 cup candied cherries, chopped


• 1 cup candied orange peel, diced


• 1 cup brandy


• 3 cups all purpose flour


• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice


• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves


• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda


• 2 cups butter, softened


• 1 pound dark brown sugar


• 6 large eggs


• 1/3 cup dark molasses


• 2/3 cup milk


• 5 cups pecans

In a large mixing bowl, combine dates, figs, raisins, currants, pineapple, citron, cherries, orange peel, and brandy. Cover the bowl and let it sit overnight, stirring several times while soaking.

Preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a dozen mini loaf pans. Line the bottom of each tin with waxed paper and grease the paper.

In a medium sized bowl, mix the flour, cinnamon, allspice, baking soda, and cloves.

In a large bowl, use your mixer to beat the butter and brown sugar until well blended. Increase the speed to medium high and continue mixing until the batter is fluffy and light. This should take about 5 minutes. Scrape the sides frequently. Reduce the mixer speed to medium. Add eggs one at a time, mixing them into the batter completely. Add molasses and mix. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture a bit at a time, alternating with the milk. You should start and end with the flour mixture. Blend well.

Pour batter into larger bowl and add fruit mixture, any brandy that was not absorbed by the fruit and the pecans. Mix.

Spoon batter into the mini loaf pans, spreading evenly. Bake in the oven until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean. This takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Let the fruitcakes cool in the pans on wire racks for 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edge of each cake and invert onto wire racks. Turn cakes upright and let them cool completely. Remove the waxed paper. Wrap cooled cakes in plastic wrap and then in a layer of foil. Keep in a cool place. They can keep in the refrigerator for up to a month before serving. Recipe makes 12 mini cakes.

Traditional Mexican food can trace some of its origins back hundreds of years. Following tradition is important in Mexican cuisine. Why not try some when you choose your Cinco de Mayo food in celebration of this rich culture?

MexicanDessertRecipes.net The Sweet Side of Mexican Food.

Homemade chocolate frosting tastes so much better than that ready made kind you buy in a can, although that is good when you don't have time, but really, it's pretty easy to whip up some frosting of your own with this recipe.

1/4 cup butter, melted

Confection

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

In a large bowl, combine butter and cocoa; beat until well mixed. Add in the milk, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until frosting is smooth and creamy. Add more milk if you want a thinner consistency.

=> Chocolate Cake Frosting Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Frosting Recipe

Here's a good chocolate fudge icing recipe that goes great with chocolate cake.

3 squares baking chocolate

5 tablespoons butter

3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

7 tablespoons milk

Dash of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

In a saucepan, combine the chocolate and the butter; cook on low heat until both are melted. Remove from heat. In a large bowl, add the sugar and stir in the milk, salt and vanilla. Slowly stir in the chocolate mixture and beat until frosting is smooth and easy to spread.

=> Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe: Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Recipe

Here's an easy frosting recipe that spreads creamy and smooth on your homemade cake.

2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

6 tablespoons butter

5-6 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cocoa. In another small bowl, add 1/2 cup of cocoa mixture and the butter; beat well. Alternately add in the remaining cocoa mixture and the milk; beat until mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in the vanilla.

=> Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe: Chocolate Chip Frosting

If you're a chocolate chip lover, this is quick way to make some homemade chocolate frosting.

1/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

In a saucepan, combine butter, sugar and milk; bring to a boil. Stir in chocolate chips and the vanilla. Remove from heat. Beat frosting until cool and is a spreading consistency.

=> Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe

The wonderful flavors of chocolate and peanut butter make a nice frosting to use on cupcakes.

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

2-2/3 cup confectioners' sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup cream or evaporated milk

In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter and cocoa; stir until well blended. Stir in the sugar, salt and vanilla. Add in the cream until the desired consistency is reached.

=> German Chocolate Frosting Recipe: German Chocolate Cake Frosting Recipe

Here's a great German chocolate frosting recipe that features coconut and pecans.

1 cup sugar

3 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup pecans, chopped

1 stick butter

1 can condensed milk

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 can coconut

Directions

In a saucepan, combine all ingredients and cook over low heat; stir constantly until frosting reaches a thick consistency (about 12 minutes). Stir in the pecans and coconut.

=> Chocolate Cream Frosting Recipe: Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

This makes a rich chocolate frosting that goes great on brownies and cupcakes.

4 squares unsweetened chocolate

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese (room temperature)

4 cups confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons evaporated milk

Directions

In a saucepan or double boiler, melt chocolate over low heat.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until it has a fluffy consistency. Stir in the melted chocolate; with an electric mixer, mix on medium speed until well blended. Mix in the vanilla and salt. Slowly blend in the sugar.

Increase mixer speed to medium high. Gradually add in the milk and beat until the frosting is a smooth consistency.

Brownies, Cheesecake, Fudge and more

[http://www.best-brownie-recipes.com]

When the candy canes come out, it's a sure sign that the holidays are near. Unlike nowadays, there used to be just one type of Christmas candy. These candies, colored red and white striped and peppermint flavored, are always a wonderful holiday treat.

More so than being delicious, candy canes were also hung on the Christmas tree and eaten when the job of opening presents was done. Now this Christmas treat has become decorations for many other places, and are much more than just tasty snacks. Listed below are eight of the best ways we have seen to decorate with candy canes.

Candy

1) Design a wreath made of candy. If you're looking for a change from the usual green boughs and red ribbons, make a peppermint candy wreath for your front door of your home or office. Small peppermint canes are the best choice for this as they can be bunched and hooked together to form a circle. Our favorite peppermint treats are always a nice addition to a traditional wreath made with almost any material.

2) Use them as a centerpiece! The vivid colors of candy canes make them fine decorations for any table or desk. A nice jar with a few treats sticking out would make a fine holiday centerpiece. You'll have a few disappear, so have some spares around.

3) Add decorations to the candy canes - they are the basis for many Christmas craft projects; turn them into reindeer with a pipe cleaner, some felt, some glue, and googly eyes and they'll fit in just about anywhere!

4) Create a holiday tree garland. Candy canes can go onto your tree in many ways, not just hanging from the branches. Several candy sticks and some ribbon will make a wonderful garland for your Christmas tree.

5) Candy canes are a great for "Santa's sleigh" made of gingerbread. They have the right shape to make great runners for St. Nick's sleigh

6) They can also make good aisle markers. Candy canes are available in different flavors and in various sizes. Purchase two in the largest size available, and they can become posts for an entranceway, a path, or a hallway.

7) Candy canes can be great parts of a gingerbread village. They have many uses when they are included in a gingerbread village. They are also ideal for making lamp posts, fences, trees, or even road borders.

8) Make a "Welcome Bowl". At the office, remember to have the welcoming bowl of small Christmas treats. Everyone loves the peppermint taste, and the sweets bowl helps remind people of the giving spirit of the season.

There are so many different ways to use candy canes throughout the season. This list barely covers the possibilities! Sweet delicacies like these are also a major part of any decorating plans for the holidays.

The candy man Christopher Pratt is President of Candywarehouse.com, a premier online bulk candy store, has stocked up on several varieties of yummy christmas candy canes, starlight mints, and other christmas candy for the season.