Mocha Whoopie Pies With Caramel Buttercream Food

HUMMINGBIRD IPA CAKE WITH CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the frosting: Combine the granulated sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook, swirling the skillet, until the syrup turns deep amber brown (don't stir!). Remove the pan from the heat and pour in the cream. Once the bubbling subsides, stir the cream until the caramel dissolves and you have a thick caramel sauce.
• Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
• For the cake: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans then line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter and flour the paper.
• Whisk the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a bowl until evenly combined, then add the coconut and walnuts and toss again. In another bowl, whisk the bananas, oil, both sugars, vanilla, eggs and beer until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and whisk until the batter just comes together. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, then bake until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cool the cakes in their pans for 30 minutes, then invert them onto a cooling rack and remove the parchment paper to let them cool completely.
• Remove the caramel sauce from the refrigerator and let stand for 20 minutes to come to room temperature. Beat the butter for the frosting with an electric mixer on medium speed until lightened and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar, poppy seeds, vanilla and salt and beat until evenly incorporated. Add the caramel sauce and beat until the frosting is fluffy and light, about 3 minutes.
• Put a cake layer on a cake plate, then spread about 1 cup of the frosting over it with an offset spatula or butter knife. Top with the second cake layer, then scrape the remaining frosting on top. Spread it evenly over the top and sides. Refrigerate the cake until the frosting has firmed, at least 30 minutes or up to overnight, before serving.

MOCHA MOUSSE PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor to combine. Add the shortening and pulse until the mixture looks like cornmeal. Add the butter and pulse a few times until it is in pea-size pieces. Add the ice water and vodka and pulse until the dough starts coming together but is still crumbly. Turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap and pat into a disk, using the plastic wrap to help you. Wrap and refrigerate until very firm, at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out the dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate. Fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edge with your fingers. Refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes. Line the crust with foil and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until the edge is dry, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and continue baking until dry all over, 15 to 20 more minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the filling. Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Combine 3/4 cup heavy cream and the butter in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, then immediately pour over the chocolate. Add the vanilla and salt (do not stir), cover with plastic wrap and let stand 5 minutes. Whisk until melted and smooth. (If there are pieces of unmelted chocolate, microwave in 15-second intervals until smooth.) Set aside to cool.
• Beat the remaining 1 3/4 cups heavy cream and the confectioners' sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes. Gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture in three batches (do not overmix; the filling should be light and airy). Transfer to the cooled pie crust and smooth the top. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Remove the pie from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving. Make the topping: Beat the heavy cream and confectioners' sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Stir the chocolate syrup and espresso powder in a small bowl until dissolved. Fold about 2 tablespoons of the chocolate syrup mixture into the whipped cream, then spread on the pie. Drizzle with the remaining syrup mixture; sprinkle with the espresso beans.

CHOCOLATE GRASSHOPPER WHOOPIE PIES WITH MINTY GREEN BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Have ready two parchment-lined baking sheets.
• To make the whoopies, whisk together the cocoa powder, water, and espresso powder (if using) in a glass liquid measuring cup or small bowl and set aside. Whisk together the brown sugar, oil, and vanilla in a large bowl for 30 seconds; whisk in the egg and then the buttermilk, then sprinkle the baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl, one at a time, vigorously whisking after each. Fold half of the flour into the bowl with a flexible spatula, followed by the cocoa powder mixture, and then the other half of the flour. Fold just until the last streak of flour disappears. Don't overmix.
• Scoop 1 1/2 tablespoons of batter, using a portion scoop or measuring spoons, evenly placing 12 on each prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, rotating and swapping the placement of the sheets at the halfway point, until the pies are dry to the touch and bounce back when lightly pressed. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the pans before filling. Repeat with any remaining batter.
• To make the buttercream, beat together the butter, peppermint extract, and salt on medium-low speed in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until smooth. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup (60 grams) at a time, alternating with splashes of the cream, scraping the bowl with a flexible spatula, as needed. Add the food coloring, a drop at a time, until you achieve green nirvana, and beat for an additional 3 minutes on medium speed, until light and fluffy. Turn half of the pies upside down, top with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of filling, and cover with an upturned pie, pressing gently. Place the green sparkling sugar in a shallow bowl and roll the edges of the just-filled pies in the sugar and serve. Keep the whoopies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days.

VANILLA-CINNAMON WHOOPIE PIES WITH CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the cookies: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly coat with cooking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Mix in the cinnamon. Beat together the granulated sugar, butter and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until combined. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk in 2 batches, beating after each addition until just combined.
• Scoop 2-tablespoon mounds of batter onto the baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Moisten your fingers and gently form each mound into a round and slightly smooth the top. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bake, rotating the trays halfway through, until the tops of the cookies bounce back when gently touched, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the baking sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• For the buttercream filling: Put the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add half of the confectioners' sugar, beating. Beat in the milk 1 tablespoon at a time, then add the remaining confectioners' sugar and beat until incorporated, smooth and creamy, scraping the bowl as needed, about 3 minutes. Mix in the vanilla. Beat in the dulce de leche until smooth.
• To assemble the whoopie pies, flip half of the cookies over on a work surface and spread them with the filling. Top each with another cookie, bottom facing in, to make a sandwich.

MOCHA PIE

Steps:

• Cut cookie dough in half widthwise; let one half stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften (save the other half for another use). , Press dough onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9-in. pie plate. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 11-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Beat in marshmallow creme. Dissolve coffee granules in water. Fold the coffee, whipped topping and 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup into the cream cheese mixture. Pour into cooled crust. Chill for 1 hour. , Just before serving, sprinkle with nuts and drizzle with remaining chocolate syrup.