Chocolate Babka

I would call this a chocolate cinnamon roll. Delicious, easy and makes a good amount. I did a different variation of the streusel topping. From the reviews of this particular recipe everyone complained that the topping didn't stay on the dough. So I did it different and it turned out great! Definitely worth trying. I also did my dough in my bread machine on the dough setting. Took 1 1/2 hours and it came out perfect.

Chocolate Babka

Prep Time: 2 Hours 35 Minutes

Cook Time: 25 Minutes Ready In: 3 Hours

Servings: 10

"These babka rings are made from a rich yeast dough spread with a chocolate and

cinnamon filling. The loaves are rolled up, finished with a sweet streusel topping, and

baked."

INGREDIENTS:

BABKA DOUGH

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup butter

2 cups bread flour

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup water

1 egg

3/4 teaspoon salt

CHOCOLATE FILLING

5 (1 ounce) squares semisweet

chocolate, finely chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/3 cup white sugar

1/4 cup butter, chilled

STREUSEL

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup butter, chilled

1 egg beaten with

1 tablespoon water for glaze (optional)

**MY TOPPING**

2 tablespoons of milk

2 tablespoons of melted butter

1/4 c. sugar

I brushed on milk, the sprinkled with sugar, brushed on butter and sprinkled with remaining sugar.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Warm the milk and melt 1/4 cup butter in a glass or ceramic bowl in the microwave

for 30 seconds, or on the stovetop in a saucepan. Combine the bread flour, 2 cups

all-purpose flour, yeast, and 1/4 cup sugar. Add the water, the milk-butter mixture,

the egg, and the salt to the dry ingredients and mix well.

2. Use the dough hook in a stand mixer on low speed or knead the dough by hand

until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 15 minutes. If the dough is too wet,

add more bread flour, about 2 tablespoonfuls at a time (up to 8 tablespoons) to

make a workable dough; too much flour can make the dough dry. Cover the dough

with a damp cloth and let rise until double in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

3. Make the chocolate filling and the streusel while the dough is rising. For the filling,

stir together the finely chopped chocolate, the cinnamon, and 1/4 cup sugar. Cut in

1/4 cup chilled butter with a fork. To make the streusel, combine the confectioners'

sugar and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; cut in 1/4 cup chilled butter until the mixture

resembles coarse crumbs.

4. When the dough has doubled, punch the dough down and cut it into two equal

pieces. Loosely shape each piece into a ball. Cover the dough with a damp cloth

and let it rest for 10 minutes.

5. Roll out one portion on a lightly floured surface to form a 15x4-inch rectangle.

Sprinkle with half the chocolate filling, roll up to form a long log, and seal the seam.

Attach the ends to form a circle and place the ring, seam-side down, on a

parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Use a

serrated knife or kitchen shears to cut slits at 1-inch intervals around the rings.

Cover the rings with damp kitchen towels and let rise until doubled in size, about 30

minutes.

6. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

7. Brush the loaves with the egg wash, if desired. Sprinkle streusel on top. Bake the

loaves for about 25 minutes, rotating the baking sheets to promote even browning,

until the bread is a deep golden brown.

**CAUTION** Do not unless you REALLY want to ruin how awesome these taste!

Nutrition

Information

Servings Per Recipe: 10

Calories: 477

Amount Per Serving

Total Fat: 20.4g

Cholesterol: 80mg

Sodium: 296mg

Amount Per Serving

Total Carbs: 65.5g

Dietary Fiber: 2.8g

Protein: 9.5g

Posted By : Tracy

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 4/24/2010

Strawberry Margarita Pie (non-alcoholic)

Well, it was good. Not really a strawberry margarita taste, but kind of. I didn't want to use alcohol because my kids wanted to eat it. Maybe next time we will do a grown up one and see if it tastes more like the drink.

Your favorite pie crust - baked and cooled.

1 1/4 qt. strawberries, sliced and divided.

3 T. cornstarch

1/2 c. sugar

2 T. margarita mix

Splash of orange juice

1/4 t. vanilla

Put a layer of fresh sliced strawberries on the bottom of the pie. Mash 1 qt. of strawberries and cook with sugar, cornstarch, margarita mix and orange juice. Stir constantly until the liquid turns clear. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Stir. Pour over fresh strawberries in pie crust and chill overnight or in the freezer for at least 4 hours. Top with whip cream if desired.

Posted by: Tracy

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Original NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookies

Estimated Times:
Preparation - 15 min | Cooking - 9 min | Cooling Time - 15 min cooling | Yields - 60

This famous classic American cookie is a treat no matter what the age or occasion. Enjoy it with a glass of cold milk.

Source:

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

PAN COOKIE VARIATION: Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars.

SLICE AND BAKE COOKIE VARIATION:
PREPARE dough as above. Divide in half; wrap in waxed paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Shape each half into 15-inch log; wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.* Preheat oven to 375° F. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices; place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

* May be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week or in freezer for up to 8 weeks.

FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKING (5,200 feet): Increase flour to 2 1/2 cups. Add 2 teaspoons water with flour and reduce both granulated sugar and brown sugar to 2/3 cup each. Bake drop cookies for 8 to 10 minutes and pan cookie for 17 to 19 minutes.

Posted by: Tracy

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

Ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions:

1.In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in confectioners' sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

2.Shape chilled cream cheese mixture into a ball. Wrap with plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

3.Roll the cheese ball in finely chopped pecans before serving.

NOTE: I did not use pecans. I rolled it in cocoa powder then patted it around with my hands to cover it well.
SERVE WITH GRAHAM CRACKER STICKS OR TEDDY GRAHAMS!!! YUMMY!!!!!!!

Slow Cooker White Chocolate Bread Pudding

Okay, I was at a friends house and she served this and it was delicious! Great for leftover French Bread!

6 cups French bread cubes
1 package (6 oz) white chocolate baking bar chopped (OR 1 cup vanilla baking chips)
1 cup fat-free egg product (OR 1 cup of eggs beaten)
3/4 c. warm water
1 t. vanilla
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated)

1. Spray inside of 3-4 quart cooker with cooking spray. Place bread cubes in slow cooker. Sprinkle with baking chips.

2. In small bowl, mix remaining ingredients; pour over bread cubes and baking chips.

3. Cover; cook on low heat setting 3 hours and 30 minutes to 4 hours or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm.

**** My friend doubled this recipe and used her big 5 qt. crockpot and it was great!

Cut-Out Cookies in a Flower Pot

Rated: Submitted By: Laura Servings: 72

"I received this recipe at a Cake and Candy store when I signed up for a class. We made fall leaves and put them in a clay pot - they looked great! For best flavor results use pure Mexican vanilla the creme de la creme of vanillas. You will need about 6 dozen dowels, cut to approximately 6 inches (with some longer and some shorter) for cookie sticks."

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups butter, softened 3 cups white sugar 4 eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon butter flavored extract 7 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs and flavorings and mix well. Stir flour, baking powder and salt together. Add to batter and mix well.
2.	CHILL 3-4 hours or overnight before using.
3.	Roll cookies out approximately 1/4 inch thick and insert cookie sticks at least 1/3 to 1/2 way into cookie.
4.	Bake cookies at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 8-10 minutes. This dough keeps well in a covered container in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.
5.	Decorate as desired. Display 3-7 cookies in a 6 inch clay pot (depending on size of cookie). Weigh pot down with dried beans and cut a circle of Styrofoam to fit snugly into top. Add ribbons and enjoy.

Nutrition Information Servings Per Recipe: 72 Calories: 126

Amount Per Serving Total Fat: 5.5g Cholesterol: 25mg Sodium: 86mg

Amount Per Serving Total Carbs: 17.7g Dietary Fiber: 0.3g Protein: 1.7g

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 2/12/2010

Royal Icing

Rated: Submitted By: Carol Servings: 12

"This icing is usually put on the wedding cake after the Almond Paste is applied."

INGREDIENTS:

2 egg whites 4 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Beat egg whites lightly and add enough sugar to make icing that will hold shape. Blend in lemon juice to get desired consistency. Spread over Almond Paste on cake and let harden. Decorate.

Nutrition Information Servings Per Recipe: 12 Calories: 159

Amount Per Serving Total Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 10mg

Amount Per Serving Total Carbs: 40.1g Dietary Fiber: 0g Protein: 0.6g

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 2/12/2010