Snow Globe Cake Food

SNOW GLOBE CUPCAKES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the edible snow globes: In a small bowl, whisk together the cold water and gelatin. Let the gelatin bloom for 5 minutes, until the water is mostly absorbed. Microwave for 20-30 seconds, or until the gelatin is melted.
• Add the sugar and peppermint extract and stir until dissolved. Let cool for 10 minutes. If any foam rises to the top, skim off and discard.
• Spray the balloons with nonstick spray. Wipe gently with a paper towel to distribute.
• Dip each balloon in the gelatin until ¾ of the way submerged. Use tape or poke a small hole above the knot to attach the balloon to a skewer and stand it upright in a tall glass for 1-2 minutes. Dip in gelatin again, then stand it upright in a tall glass again. If the gelatin begins to set, microwave in 10-second intervals and continue until all of the balloons are coated. Let the balloons for at least 12 hours, until no longer tacky to the touch.
• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 12-cup cupcake tin with cupcake liners.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the brown sugar and whisk to combine.
• Add the hot water, canola oil, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla and mix until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake liners.
• Bake the cupcakes for 14-16 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
• Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
• Finish the edible snow globes: Carefully remove one of the balloons from the skewer. Pinch a bit of the balloon near the knot, and carefully snip a small hole. Let the air slowly release from the balloon, then pull out of the gelatin snow globe and discard the balloon. Trim the edges of the snow globe if uneven. Repeat with remaining coated balloons. Set the snow globes upright on a baking sheet until ready to top the cupcakes.
• Assemble the cupcakes: Frost the cupcakes with a dollop of vanilla frosting onto each cupcake, spreading evenly over the top.
• Sprinkle the shredded coconut on top of the frosting, dividing evenly between the cupcakes.
• Top each cupcake with a holiday lollipop, inserting the stick into the cupcake. Place the snow globes on top, and dust with powdered sugar.
• Enjoy!

HOLIDAY SNOW GLOBE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line bottoms of two greased 8-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper., In a large bowl, cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in rum. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with coconut milk, beating well after each addition., With clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Fold into batter. Transfer batter to prepared pans., Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove parchment. Cool completely., Using a long serrated knife, trim tops of cakes if domed. In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form., Place one cake layer on a serving plate, bottom side down. Spread jam over top to within 3/4 in. of edge; top with 1/2 cup whipped cream. Place second cake layer over whipped cream, bottom side up., Spread remaining whipped cream over top and sides of cake; sprinkle with coconut. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes. Just before serving, place Frosted Christmas Tree and snowman on center of cake. Carefully invert bowl over decorations.

SNOW GLOBE CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• For the crust: Add the graham cracker crumbs, butter and salt to a large bowl and mix to combine. Mix in the red sprinkles.
• Divide the crumb mixture equally among the cavities of a 5-cavity silicone muffin mold with 4.57-ounce cavities and press into the bottom. Put the mold on a baking sheet and freeze while you make the cheesecake mixture.
• For the cheesecake: Combine the gelatin with 1/4 cup water in a small microwave-safe bowl and set aside to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the confectioners' sugar, sour cream, lemon juice, vanilla and salt and beat on medium-high speed until incorporated and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Microwave the gelatin mixture, stirring as needed, until melted, about 30 seconds. Add the gelatin to the cream cheese mixture and beat on medium-high speed to combine, about 30 seconds.
• Divide the cheesecake batter among the cavities of the silicone mold on top of the crust and smooth out the tops. Tap the baking sheet a few times on a tabletop to release any air bubbles in the cheesecake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• For the gelatin snow globes: Place the attached PDF of Christmas trees on a rimmed baking sheet and place a piece of parchment on top.
• Add the green candy melting wafers and coconut oil to a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring in between each, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Add about 3 drops of green food coloring and mix to combine. Transfer to a small piping bag.
• Trace the outside border of the Christmas trees with the melted candy, then fill inside the borders, using a toothpick to move the melted candy around. Freeze to harden, about 5 minutes, and set aside at room temperature.
• Pour 3/4 cup of the lemon-lime soda into a small saucepan, sprinkle over the gelatin and whisk to combine. Let stand until the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
• Add the granulated sugar to the gelatin mixture and heat over medium-low heat, whisking occasionally, just until the gelatin and sugar dissolve, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the gelatin mixture into a large liquid measuring cup and stir in the remaining 2 cups lemon-lime soda. Use a spoon to scoop away any bubbles at the surface. Let sit at room temperature until the gelatin just begins to thicken and is the consistency of thin fruit jelly, about 20 minutes. Add the silver glitter and stir with a spoon. Scoop away any bubbles or lumped up sprinkles at the surface.
• Pour the mixture into the cavities of a 5-cavity silicone half-sphere mold with 4-ounce cavities and scoop away any bubbles at the surface. Refrigerate until the gelatin has thickened and is slightly set on top but still very wobbly, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Push a tree straight down into the center of each cavity and hold for a few seconds to allow the gelatin to split and fill back up around the tree. Refrigerate until completely set, at least 6 hours and up to overnight.
• To assemble: Fill a 9-by-13-inch glass dish with warm water. Set the half-sphere mold into the water and let sit until the gelatin spheres have loosened from the mold, about 5 minutes. Lift the mold from the water and invert onto a baking sheet. Set aside in the refrigerator.
• Carefully unmold the cheesecakes from the mold. Put the white nonpareils in a small bowl. Carefully dip the top of each cheesecake into the white nonpareils and transfer to a serving platter. Add a gelatin snow globe on top of each cheesecake.

SNOW GLOBE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Dust a work surface with flour, then flatten the cookie dough into a rectangle and roll to about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. (If the large piece dough is hard to work with, cut it into 2 equal pieces.) Use a 3 1/2-inch circle cutter to cut as many rounds as possible (you should get about 10). Transfer to a baking sheet.
• Use a 2 1/2-inch round cutter to cut the centers from the larger circles to make "O's". Using the bottom of a small gingerbread woman cutter (or other cutter with a flat base), cut the rolled center scraps into bases for the snow globes. Place the bases on the baking sheet touching the bottom of each "O" (they will fuse together when they bake). Place the cut cookies in the freezer for 20 minutes. Pat the dough scraps into a disc and chill until you can roll again and cut out more cookies to make about 1 dozen snow globes. When ready to bake, transfer the frozen cookies to 2 room-temperature baking sheets lined with parchment paper, evenly spacing 5 cookies per sheet. Bake the cookies, rotating halfway through cooking time, until crisp and golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• For the glass centers: Set up a workspace with your decorations and cooled cookies. (You will have to work fast once the glass syrup is made.) Transfer the cookies to clean pieces of parchment set on baking sheets. Stir together the sugar and corn syrup in a 2-cup or larger glass liquid measuring cup until it looks like wet sand. Microwave until the sugar is completely dissolved and is bubbling but still clear with no caramel color, about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Stir and microwave 30 seconds more. (This will depend on the power of your microwave, you want the syrup to be bubbling rapidly, but before it begins to caramelize).
• Pour the syrup into the center of 2 or 3 cookies, letting it spread to fill the entire opening. Working quickly, while the syrup is still hot and has not yet begun to harden, sprinkle with the decorations of your choice. Continue, filling a few cookies at a time and reheating the syrup in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds to keep it pourable, as necessary, until all of the glass centers have been poured.
• For the icing: Combine the confectioners' sugar and meringue powder in an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk to combine. With the mixer on low, add the lemon juice and 3 tablespoons water. Mix until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, and add about 1 to 3 tablespoons more water, a little at a time, to make an icing that drizzles slowly from a spoon dipped into the bowl. Increase speed to high and beat until the icing is very smooth, about 1 minute. Spoon half the icing into a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tip. (Alternatively, transfer to a resealable plastic bag and snip off a corner.) Color the remaining icing in the bowl with red food coloring and transfer to another piping bag fitted with a small plain tip.
• Pipe the white icing on the top of the snow globes, leaving a little in the bag to decorate the glass, if desired. Pipe the red on the bases. If desired, use the remaining white icing to pipe small snowmen in the glass part of the snow globes. Let sit until the icing hardens, 20 to 30 minutes.