Poinsettia Cake Roll Food

POINSETTIA PINWHEEL COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat the cream cheese, butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour and salt until combined. Divide the dough between 2 large pieces of plastic wrap. Flatten each into a 1/2-inch-thick disk and wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Roll out 1 disk of dough on a lightly floured surface until about 1/8 inch thick, dusting with more flour as needed.
• Cut out 3-inch squares using a sharp paring knife or a 3-inch square cutter (you should be able to get 6 or 7 squares). Lift the cutouts using an offset spatula and arrange 2 inches apart on one of the prepared baking sheets. Re-wrap and refrigerate the dough scraps while you shape the pinwheels.
• Cut a 1 1/2-inch slit in all four corners of each dough square to form 8 points. Fold over every other point and press into the center of the square. Refrigerate while you make the leaves.
• Cut enough leaves out of the scraps using a sharp paring knife or a leaf-shaped cutter, making 2 leaves for each pinwheel. Arrange the leaves on the other prepared baking sheet. Lightly brush with water and sprinkle with green sanding sugar. Set aside in the refrigerator.
• Lightly brush the pinwheels with water and sprinkle half with red sanding sugar and half with white sanding sugar. Brush the end of 2 leaves and tuck underneath a pinwheel on opposite sides. (No need to press the dough; it will meld together as it bakes.)
• Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies are puffed and the edges are golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Immediately press a chocolate candy in the center of each warm cookie. Let cool 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Repeat with the remaining disk of dough, and any remaining scraps, to make more cookies.

RASPBERRY POINSETTIA BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter, sugar, vanilla, gelatin and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. On low speed, beat in flour.
• Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 375°F. On ungreased cookie sheets, place balls about 2 inches apart. With sharp knife, make 6 cuts in top of each ball about three-fourths of the way through to make 6 wedges. Spread wedges apart slightly to form flower petals (cookies will separate and flatten as they bake). Sprinkle about 1/8 teaspoon yellow candy sprinkles into center of each cookie.
• Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until set and edges begin to brown. Cool 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

POINSETTIAS CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Combine the butter, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer). Mix on low speed until mostly incorporated. Add the vanilla; increase the speed to medium-high and mix until smooth. Adjust the consistency with milk as desired. Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days. Allow to come to room temperature and mix on medium-high until smooth.
• Put 1/3 of the frosting into a medium bowl and the remaining 2/3 into a second bowl. Color the smaller amount of frosting with the green food coloring and stir to combine. Color the larger amount of frosting with 5 to 10 drops of red food coloring - until a dark red color is achieved. Transfer the green buttercream to a disposable piping bag fitted with a #63 leaf piping tip. Transfer the red buttercream to a disposable piping bag fitted with a #366 leaf piping tip.
• Pipe a dollop of red buttercream on the tops of each cupcake and smooth with a small offset spatula to cover the tops.
• Pipe red buttercream on top of each cupcake creating petals in a star shape. Pipe a second star shape pattern on top of the first but offset the points so they are in between the first layer of petals. Pipe the green frosting with the flat side of the piping tip facing towards the cupcake and make leaves in between each of the bottom layer of petals. Pipe a cross shape with the red frosting in the center of the flowers. Sprinkle the centers with silver dragees.

ORANGE SPICE CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE POINSETTIA TOPPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat three 6-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottoms with parchment; coat parchment with cooking spray. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Set aside.
• Stir boiling water and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside. Sift together flour, spices, salt, and baking powder into a large bowl; set aside.
• Put butter, sugar, and zest into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed; mix in molasses, liqueur if desired, orange juice, corn syrup, and baking soda mixture. Mix in flour mixture, then eggs and vanilla. Stir in nuts.
• Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool on racks 15 minutes. Invert to unmold onto racks; remove parchment. Reinvert; let cool completely. Store cakes at room temperature, wrapped well in plastic, up to 1 day.
• Trim tops of cakes flat. Spread 1/2 cup frosting on cut side of 1 layer. Top with a second layer; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with final layer, cut side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides, smoothing with an offset spatula.
• Place 6 or 7 green chocolate leaves on top of cake in a circle with tips facing out, overhanging sides slightly. Place 12 to 15 pink leaves on top of green leaves, leaving a hole in center. Roll marzipan into six to eight 1/8-inch balls; taper one end of each into a point. Place marzipan buds in center, point side down. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.

POINSETTIA MINI FLUTED CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F Prepare cake mix according to directions on package. Grease and flour wells of mini bundt or fluted pans. Divide batter evenly into wells. Bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pan five minutes. Move to rack and cool completely. Cakes can be wrapped individually and frozen for up to one month. Thaw completely before decorating.
• To decorate, microwave pink or red taffy or chews on high for five seconds; knead until smooth. If necessary, microwave for additional five second increments until softened.
• Sprinkle surface of candy with red or pink crystal sugar and roll out candy to form a thin ribbon, evenly coating the candy with sugar.
• For each poinsettia blossom, cut out six 2 1/2" petals and six 1 1/2" petals. Arrange first layer of larger petals over top of cake, securing with melted chocolate or frosting. Arrange the smaller petals, slightly offset over first layer.
• Fill center of blossom with miniature yellow candies. Do not refrigerate or freeze after decorating or the candy decoration will become sticky.