Big Batch Hawaiian Surprise Cake Food

BAKED HAWAII

Steps:

• For the pineapple: Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the pineapple and its juices. Cook, stirring occasionally, until all of the liquid has evaporated and the pineapple has caramelized, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in the condensed milk and salt; cover and freeze 30 minutes.
• Beat the cream and vanilla bean paste with a stand mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir the chilled pineapple mixture to loosen it up, then fold in the whipped cream.
• Cut out a 4 1/2-inch round of pound cake using a 1-quart plastic deli/soup container as a cutter; this will be the base of the Hawaii. (If the pound cake is small, you can form the base out of multiple pieces.) Wrap the cake round in plastic and set aside until ready to use.
• Line the quart container with plastic wrap so that 4 inches hang over the sides. Add 2 cups of the pineapple ice cream, smooth the top, cover and freeze until solid, about 3 hours. Freeze the remaining pineapple ice cream for another use.
• Top the pineapple ice cream with the pistachio gelato, pushing it down to fill in all the gaps. Unwrap the pound cake round and press it into the top of the ice cream to make it adhere. Cover the top using the overhanging plastic wrap and freeze until solid, 2 to 3 hours.
• For the honey meringue: Boil the honey, sugar and 1/3 cup water without stirring in a medium saucepan until a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, whip the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on high speed until soft peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. With the mixer running, carefully pour the hot syrup into the whites in a thin, steady stream. (The whites will deflate slightly at first, but as the sugar syrup becomes incorporated, they will thicken, turn white and begin to fluff up.) Continue to whip until very thick and glossy, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a large piping bag fitted with a large closed-star tip; set aside until ready to use.
• Use a 2 1/2- and a 1-inch round cutter to cut 2 rounds of pound cake. Pipe a tablespoon of the meringue in the center of a cake stand, then invert the frozen container of ice cream onto the center of the cake stand to unmold it, pressing the pound cake base into the meringue to glue it in place. Pipe a teaspoon of the meringue on the top of the ice cream core and press the 2 1/2-inch cake round on top. Pipe another teaspoon of meringue on the top of that cake round and press the 1-inch cake round on top. Working quickly, pipe a wide band of meringue around the circumference of the ice cream core about 2 inches from the bottom. Pipe another band just above so that the two bands touch. Repeat, making two additional bands forming a thick meringue "belt" in the center of the core. Use a small offset spatula to sculpt and smooth the belt into a pineapple shape, with the widest part in the center and tapering at the top and bottom; use more meringue if necessary. Pipe meringue over the two cake rounds on top and sculpt and smooth to completely cover and form the tapered top of the pineapple. Freeze for 2 hours. Store the remaining meringue in its piping bag at room temperature.
• For the fronds: Place the attached PDF of pineapple fronds on a rimmed baking sheet and place a piece of parchment on top. Melt the candy melts with 1 tablespoon of the coconut oil, stirring occasionally, in a heatproof bowl set inside a pot of simmering water. Turn off the heat and transfer 2 tablespoons of the melted candy to a small piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Trace the outside border of the pineapple fronds with the melted candy and freeze to set, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir the remaining tablespoon coconut oil into the remaining melted candy in the bowl. Flood the pineapple top by spooning the liquid candy melt into the outlines of the frond. Freeze to harden, about 15 minutes.
• Pipe concentric bands of meringue stars to cover the surface of the pineapple. Freeze 30 minutes. Use a kitchen torch to toast the meringue, then freeze at least 10 minutes. Keep frozen until ready to serve.
• Right before serving, use a chef's knife to cut a 2-inch slit in the top of the pineapple. Insert the candy fronds into the slit and serve.

GIANT ICE CREAM SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the short sides.
• Prepare the cake mix with an extra egg. Divide the batter between the 2 baking sheets; spread evenly with an offset spatula. Bake until set, 8 to 9 minutes; let cool.
• Measure 2 1/2 inches in from each long side of one cake; mark with toothpicks. Score using a ruler, then remove the toothpicks and trim along the scored lines so the cake is 7 inches wide.
• Round the corners of the cake with a knife. Punch out holes with a straw (4 holes across, 10 down). Trim the other cake (no need to punch holes). Freeze the cakes 30 minutes.
• Invert the cake without the holes onto a clean baking sheet; peel off the parchment. Snip open 1 ice cream carton with kitchen shears, then slide the ice cream onto the cake.
• Repeat with the other 2 cartons of ice cream, arranging them side by side on the cake. Cover with plastic wrap and press with your hands to smooth the ice cream and fill the gaps.
• Remove the other cake from the parchment with a thin spatula; place it on the ice cream. Trim any excess cake and smooth the sides. Freeze at least 2 hours before serving.

HAWAIIAN SUNSET CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes., Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, combine the pineapple, sugar, 3-1/2 cups coconut and sour cream. Set aside 1 cup for frosting. Place one cake on a serving plate; top with a third of the remaining pineapple mixture. Repeat layers twice. , Fold whipped topping into the reserved pineapple mixture. Spread over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle with toasted coconut if desired. Refrigerate until serving.

HAWAIIAN SURPRISE CAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream the butter, 2/3 cup sugar and cream until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg yolks and preserves; beat well. Stir in extract. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; beat into creamed mixture until combined. Stir in the chips, nuts, oranges, cherries and coconut. , In another bowl, beat egg whites and remaining sugar on medium speed until soft peaks form; fold into batter. Pour into an 8-in. fluted tube pan coated with cooking spray. , Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. , In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and extract; beat until smooth. Frost cake. Store in the refrigerator.

MAI TAI FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• In a large pitcher, add the light rum, Jamaican rum, orange liqueur, lime juice, orange juice and orgeat syrup and stir until combined. Add crushed ice to rocks glasses, then pour the mai tai over the ice. Add a splash of grenadine to each, then garnish with an orange wheel, lime wheel and maraschino cherry.

BIG CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heavily grease and dust with cocoa four 9-inch round cake pans.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt.
• In a saucepan, melt the butter. Add the cocoa. Stir together. Add the boiling water, allow the mixture to boil for 30 seconds and then turn off the heat. Pour over the flour mixture and stir lightly to cool.
• Combine the buttermilk, baking soda, vanilla and beaten eggs. Stir the buttermilk mixture into the butter/chocolate mixture.
• Divide the batter among the prepared cake pans and bake for 20 minutes.
• Cool completely before icing. Refrigerate the layers after cooling for best results.
• For the frosting: Heat the cream until very hot, and then pour over the chocolate pieces. Stir to completely melt, and then pour into the bowl of an electric mixer. Refrigerate to cool.
• Once completely cooled, add the vanilla and beat with an electric mixer until light and airy.
• Frost the cake in between each layer, on the top and around the sides.

BIG BATCH COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in the nuts and chips. , Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.