Glazed Cranberry Minicakes Food

LOW-FAT GLAZED CRANBERRY MINI LOAVES

Steps:

• Set oven to 350°F.
• Set oven rack to second-lowest position.
• Grease 2 mini loaf pans.
• Pick out any discolored cranberries and discard then chop coarsely.
• In a large bowl combine the flour with the next 5 ingredients, then mix in the cranberries.
• In a small bowl whisk together the egg with oil, 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons orange juice and vanilla.
• Add to the dry ingredients; using a wooden spoon mix JUST until combined (the batter will be thick, do not use an electric mixer for this).
• Divide the batter between the two mini loaf pans.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the loaves test done.
• Cool loaves completely.
• For the glaze in a bowl whisk all glaze ingredients together until smooth adding in more sugar or milk until a fairly thick glazing consistency is achieved.
• Using a spoon drizzle the glaze over the top of the loaves.

GLAZED CRANBERRY MINI CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F
• Lightly grease or paper-line small muffin cups (1-3/4 inches in diameter).
• Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla extract in large bowl until light and fluffy.
• Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually mix into butter mixture.
• Add milk; stir until blended.
• Stir in cranberries, walnuts and 2/3 cup white chips (reserve remaining chips for glaze).
• Fill muffin cups about 7/8 full with batter.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans to wire rack.
• Cool completely.
• To prepare the white glaze: place remaining 1 cup white chips in small microwave-safe bowl; sprinkle vegetable oil over chips.
• Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 30 seconds; stir.
• If necessary, microwave at MEDIUM an additional 30 seconds or just until chips are melted when stirred.
• Drizzle white glaze over top of mini-cakes.
• Refrigerate 10 minutes to set glaze.

GLAZED ALMOND MINI CAKES

Steps:

• Set an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease the bottom of an 8-by-12 inch metal baking pan and line the bottom with parchment. Then grease and flour the bottom and sides of the pan. Set aside.
• For the cake: sift together the flour and baking powder. Add the salt and stir to combine.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add 1 cup of butter and sugar and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, as needed. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating on medium speed and scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and beat to combine. On low speed, mix in half of the flour mixture, then mix in the milk. Mix in remaining flour mixture until just combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until a tester comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly, then unmold and cool completely.
• To make the cake filling, using a serrated knife, cut the cake into an 8x8-inch square. Set aside. Crumble the portion of the cake that was removed and reserve 2 1/2 cups. Add the remainder of the cake crumbs to a large mixing bowl along with the remaining 1/4 cup melted butter, jam and almonds. Mix well (your hands are the best tool here) to make a spreadable filling.
• To assemble the cake, use a serrated knife to split the cake crosswise into 2 halves. Arrange both halves so they're facing cut-side up. Brush the cake with about 2/3 of the cooled almond syrup. With a small offset spatula, gently spread the jammy filling over the entire bottom half of the cake and top with the top half of the cake, cut side down. Press gently to adhere. Flip the cake so the flat bottom is now facing up, to create a flat top. Freeze the cake until firm, 1 hour.
• With a serrated knife, cut off the rough sides on the frozen cake and cut into 16 squares. Set the cake on a cooling rack over a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Coat the cakes 1 at a time by pouring the icing around the edges and letting it drip down to coat the sides, then fill in the top. (Set the bowl over hot water and stir if it begins to thicken before you are done.) Top with sprinkles or non pareils before the icing begins to set.
• Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat and cook to dissolve the sugar, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the almond extract and stir to combine. Cool completely.
• Melt the chocolate chips or candy melts in a double boiler and stir until smooth.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the confectioner's sugar, corn syrup, hot water and vanilla. Mix on low speed until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and continue to mix to make a very smooth, pourable icing, about the consistency of molasses. Add food coloring as desired.

LEMON-CRANBERRY MINI LOAVES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the lemon juice and zest. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk. Fold in cranberries and walnuts. Pour into four greased 5-3/4x3x2-in. loaf pans. , Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. For glaze, whisk sugar and lemon juice until sugar is dissolved. Immediately spoon over bread. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

CRANBERRY GLAZE (FOR HAM)

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan.
• Heat slowly, until smooth, beating with a wire whisk or rotary beater.
• Spoon over ham at last 1/2 hour of baking.
• Garnish with whole cranberries.

GLAZED LEMON-CRANBERRY MINI TEA BREADS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter four mini-loaf pans that measure about 5 1/2 by 3 1/2 by 2 inches.
• Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, stir together cranberries and 1 tbsp of sugar. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter, lemon zest, and remaining 1 cup sugar until smooth and lightened slightly in color, about 1 minute.
• Beat in eggs until smoothly blended, about 1 minute. On low speed, mix in half the flour mixture, just to incorporate it. Mix in milk and vanilla until blended. Mix in remaining flour mixture until it's incorporated. Use a large spoon to sir in cranberries.
• Divide batter evenly among the four pans. Place the pans on a cookie sheet for easy placement and removal from oven. Bake until tops are golden, edges are light brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes.
• Prepare the glaze. In a small saucepan over low-medium heat, stir together sugar and lemon juice until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Using a toothpick to poke 5 holes in each of the slightly cooled loaves. Spoon about 3 tbsp of glaze over each loaf. Cool loaves completely in their pans.
• The loaves can be wrapped tightly in platic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to three days or frozen for up to one month.