While I’ve always been a fan of eating cheesecake, I’ve never actually attempted to bake one. Apparently a lot of things can go wrong in the baking process: cracking, sinking, and over- or under-baking, to name just a few. So when I found this no-bake method of making cheesecake that looked fail-proof, I had to give it a go. And since Amoretti sent me their Natural Mango Artisan Flavor, I thought I’d make it a no-bake mango cheesecake. Turns out that the no-bake method is BRILLIANT and the mango flavor made it so perfect for Summer! 

You can flavor this no-bake cheesecake however you’d like, but I thought it was incredible with this Amoretti Natural Mango Artisan Flavor. It’s made with REAL mangoes, so the flavor is absolutely spot on. And it’s so concentrated that I only needed to add a couple Tablespoons to create the perfect sun-ripened mango flavor!

If you want to give this or any of the other Amoretti flavors a go, you can get FREE SHIPPING at checkout by using my code SPARROWCOFREESHIP. 

Let’s talk about this no-bake cheesecake method. You’ll basically whip most of the ingredients together to combine them, gently fold in some whipped cream, and pour it into a graham cracker crust. The filling sets into a thick mousse-like consistency in the refrigerator – rich and creamy but easily holds its shape when cut into slices. If you’ve had problems with traditional cheesecake in the past or have been afraid to try baking one, this no-bake method is the perfect solution! 

One thing I really love about this no-bake cheesecake is it’s the perfect make-ahead dessert. After you add the filling into your graham cracker crust, you’ll place it in the refrigerator to set up for at least 6-8 hours (but overnight is best). You can make it up to two days in advance.

Both making and decorating this no-bake mango cheesecake are easy as can be. After it was set, I placed fresh mango chunks and raspberries on top in a crescent shape. That’s all! You can decorate however you’d like, but I thought these fresh elements added the perfect pops of color. However you decorate, I hope you love this recipe as much as I do! 

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No-Bake Mango Cheesecake

The perfect easy dessert for Summer! This no-bake cheesecake is rich and creamy with perfect sun-ripened mango flavor.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Refrigeration 8 hours

Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes

Servings 12 slices

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

• 2 Cups (240g) graham cracker crumbs about 15 full sheets
• 1/3 Cup (67g) packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 Cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted

Mango Cheesecake Filling

• 1 1/4 Cups (300ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
• 24 Oz (678g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, room temperature not the spread
• 1/2 Cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 2 Tbsp powdered sugar
• 1/4 Cup (60g) sour cream, room temperature
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 1 Tbsp Amoretti Mango Artisan Flavor
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Make the Graham Cracker Crust

• In a medium bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter. Pour the mixture into a 9-inch springform pan or 10-inch springform pan. Pack it down tightly to the bottom and up the sides of the pan using a glass jar or measuring cup. You’ll want to pack it as tightly as possible to prevent it from crumbling apart when you cut the cheesecake. Freeze the graham cracker crust in the pan for 10-20 minutes while you prepare the mango cheesecake filling.

Make the Mango Cheesecake Filling

• Using a hand mixer with a medium bowl or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the cold heavy cream on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 4–5 minutes. Set aside.
• In another large bowl (either with a hand mixer or stand mixer), beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together on medium until creamy. Scrape down the bowl and paddle as needed. Add the powdered sugar, sour cream, lime juice, Amoretti Natural Mango Artisan Flavor and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth and combined (no lumps), about 2–3 minutes.
• Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the whipped cream into the mango cheesecake filling until combined.
• Remove the graham cracker crust from the freezer and add the cheesecake filling into it. Spread the filling to the edges of the crust and smooth the top using an angled spatula, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 2 days. For best results, chill the cheesecake overnight. This will yield the most set filling.
• When you’re ready to serve the no-bake mango cheesecake, remove the rim from the springform pan. Garnish with fresh mango and raspberries.

Notes

Make Ahead Tips:

1. After making and freezing the graham cracker crust, it can be stored in the refrigerator until you add the filling (1-2 days ahead is best for the freshest flavor).
2. You can make and assemble the no-bake mango cheesecake up to 2 days in advance, stored in the refrigerator and covered in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. You can alternatively freeze the cheesecake for up to 3 months after it’s set in the refrigerator. Be sure to cover well if freezing. I recommend one layer of plastic wrap and one layer of aluminum foil. 

Leftovers: Store leftovers (covered well) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

This recipe was adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction

Disclaimer: I was compensated by Amoretti for my work of creating this recipe, styling, filming, photographing, and writing about their products. As always, all opinions are honest and my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support Sugar & Sparrow.

The post No-Bake Mango Cheesecake appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.

Whenever Girl Scout cookie season rolls around, I have to have the Samoas (aka Caramel deLites). The toasted coconut covered in chewy caramel, the chocolate drizzle, the shortbread cookie crust – these little cookies are everything wonderful. So when Amoretti sent me their Toasted Coconut Extract and told me to get creative with recipe writing, Samoas were quick to come to mind. And instead of trying to make a copycat Samoa recipe, I decided to transform everything I love about them into a no-churn ice cream recipe that’s perfect for Summer. Spoiler alert: it was all that I hoped it would be and I couldn’t stop eating it. 

This no-churn Samoa ice cream starts with the most delicious toasted coconut ice cream base. It’s so easy to make – just whip up some heavy whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk, Amoretti Toasted Coconut Extract, and a little vanilla extract for good measure. I’m pretty blown away at how the extract adds the toastiness of toasted coconut and keeps the coconut flavor super authentic. After making the toasted coconut ice cream base, I gently folded in some caramel sauce ribbons and took things a step beyond. This made the perfect ice cream base for all the Samoa toppings I added in next. 

To capture the essence of Samoa cookies without actually adding them into the ice cream, I started by mixing together equal parts caramel sauce and toasted coconut. This made gooey toasted coconut caramel clusters that taste just like the Samoa cookie topping. I swirled those into the ice cream along with hot fudge sauce and baked shortbread crumbles. After freezing it all together for 6 hours, this ice cream is the perfect creamy consistency, packed with toppings in every bite, and tastes JUST like Samoa cookies in ice cream form. I am so pleased with this recipe! 

The best part about this ice cream recipe is you can make it any time you’re craving Samoas during the Girl Scout Cookie off-season (like now!). I will warn you though: this ice cream is completely addicting. I found myself thinking about it so much that I had to have a bowl of it every night until it was gone. The perfect toasted coconut ice cream base swirled with caramel, those gooey toasted coconut caramel clusters, the decadent hot fudge ribbons, the crunchy shortbread crumbles – it’s all so perfect and I hope you love this recipe as much as I do! 

The Amoretti Toasted Coconut Extract really gives this ice cream base the perfect flavor. Be sure to use my discount code: SPARROWCOFREESHIP for free shipping when you shop!

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No-Churn Samoa Ice Cream

No-churn toasted coconut ice cream base swirled with caramel ribbons, gooey toasted coconut-caramel clusters, decadent hot fudge, and crunchy shortbread crumbles. This tastes just like Samoa cookies in ice cream form!

Prep Time 45 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Freeze Time 6 hours

Servings 6 Cups (12 servings)

Ingredients

Baked Shortbread Crumbles

• 3/4 Cups (90g) cake flour
• 2 1/2 Tbsp (32g) granulated sugar
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 Tbsp (42g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Caramel Sauce

• 1 Cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 6 Tbsp (85g) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into cubes
• 1/2 Cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream, room temperature
• 1/2 tsp salt

Toasted Coconut Ice Cream

• 2 Cups (240ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
• 14 Oz sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tsp Amoretti toasted coconut extract
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Additional Add-Ins

• 1/2 Cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted*
• 1/2 Cup hot fudge sauce**

Instructions

Bake the Shortbread Crumbles

• Preheat the oven to 250°F/121ºC and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• Add the melted butter and vanilla extract. Mix with a rubber spatula until the mixture begins to form small clusters, then press the ingredients together with your hands to form even more clusters. Spread the clusters onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Cool the crumbs completely before using in the ice cream assembly.

Make the Caramel Sauce

• Have everything pre-measured and ready to go (you’ll be constantly stirring). Place the sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon, until it melts into an amber-colored liquid and no sugar clumps remain, 5-6 minutes. 
• Reduce the heat to medium. Carefully add the butter (it will bubble up when you do) and use a whisk to combine it with the sugar mixture until the butter is fully melted and incorporated, 2-3 minutes. 
• Add the heavy whipping cream in a steady stream while whisking. As soon as the cream is incorporated, let the caramel boil for a full minute before removing it from the heat and stirring in the salt. 
• Let the caramel cool to room temperature before using it in the ice cream assembly.

Prep the Additional Add-Ins

• In a small bowl, mix 1/2 Cup of the caramel sauce with the toasted coconut and set aside. Place the hot fudge sauce into a piping bag and snip off the end.

Make the Toasted Coconut Ice Cream

• Place a large metal bowl into the refrigerator and a loaf pan into the freezer to chill for at least 15-20 minutes before you begin.
• Remove the large chilled metal bowl from the refrigerator and add the heavy whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk, Amoretti toasted coconut extract, and vanilla extract. Beat with a hand mixer (or using the whisk attachment on your stand mixer) on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the remaining caramel sauce to create ribbons in the toasted coconut ice cream mixture.
• Remove the chilled loaf pan from the freezer and add 1/3 of the ice cream mixture into it. Smooth it down with a rubber spatula and add 1/3 of the caramel-toasted coconut mixture by the spoonful on top. Pipe on 1/3 of the hot fudge sauce and sprinkle a few handfuls of shortbread crumbles on top. Use a skewer to marble the toppings into the ice cream. Repeat twice more.
• Cover the loaf pan with a piece of aluminum foil and freeze for at least 6 hours, after which the ice cream should be semi-firm and ready to enjoy!

Notes

*To toast the coconut: preheat the oven to 325F. Spread sweetened shredded coconut onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through. 

**You can use store bought hot fudge sauce (I use Hersheys brand) or use a homemade recipe of your choice. 

Make Ahead Tips:

1. You can bake the shortbread crumbles ahead and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. 
2. You can make the caramel sauce ahead and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, reheat it in the microwave in 15 second intervals until it reaches room temperature. 

Storage Tips: This ice cream is best stored in an airtight container in the freezer. It will last for several months (if you can make it last that long). 

Disclaimer: I was compensated by Amoretti for my work of creating this recipe, styling, filming, photographing, and writing about their products. As always, all opinions are honest and my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support Sugar & Sparrow.

The post No-Churn Samoa Ice Cream appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.

I’ve been an admirer of Amoretti and their flavor selection for quite some time, so when they contacted me about partnering for their July flavor of the month (coconut!) I was a fast yes. They sent me their Toasted Coconut Extract and told me to get creative, so I got to work testing recipes and these toasted coconut cupcakes are just one example of the amazing results I had! 

This Toasted Coconut Extract is so spot on for flavor. The toasted element comes through beautifully and the coconut doesn’t taste one bit artificial. It was so easy to add authentic toasted coconut flavor to the buttercream and cupcake batter with just a little bit of this extract! If you’re a coconut fan, you need this in your life. And lucky for you, I have a discount code for free shipping if you want to try it. Use SPARROWCOFREESHIP at checkout to claim it!  

I made the cupcakes using my favorite coconut cake recipe, only I subbed the coconut extract for Amoretti Toasted Coconut Extract and scaled it down to make 15 cupcakes. These cupcakes are super fluffy and moist as-is, and with the addition of the extract they were packed with beautiful toasty coconut flavor. Perfect for Summer and beyond. 

You could pair these cupcakes with just about any frosting flavor, but I went full steam ahead with the coconut theme and whipped up some toasted coconut buttercream to pipe on top. During the taste test, my husband and I were both amazed at how well the toasted coconut flavor comes through. I’m not sure how they captured that toasty element but it is SO good. 

To decorate, I kept things simple by piping a swirl of toasted coconut buttercream with Wilton Tip 4B and adding some toasted coconut on top. To toast the coconut, just add some sweetened shredded coconut onto a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer, then bake at 325ºF for 5-10 minutes. You’ll want to shake the pan halfway through just to make sure everything gets equally toasted and a nice golden brown. 

Whether you add the toasted coconut or not, these cupcakes are absolutely delicious and I hope you love them as much as I do! If you’d like to try this Toasted Coconut Extract or any other flavor, remember to use my discount code SPARROWCOFREESHIP when you’re shopping. There are so many amazing flavors to choose from, so get ready to be inspired.

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Toasted Coconut Cupcakes

Moist and fluffy toasted coconut cupcakes with silky smooth toasted coconut buttercream, flavored with Amoretti extract for rich, authentic flavor.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Servings 15 cupcakes

Ingredients

Toasted Coconut Cupcakes

• 1 1/2 Cups (157g) sifted cake flour* DIY recipe in notes
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 Cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 Cup (150g) granulated sugar
• 2 large egg whites, room temperature
• 1 1/2 tsp Amoretti toasted coconut extract
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 3 Tbsp (45g) sour cream, room temperature
• 2/3 Cup (160ml) canned full-fat coconut milk, room temperature
• 1/2 Cup (39g) sweetened shredded coconut

Toasted Coconut Buttercream

• 1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 1/2 Cups (420g) powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp Amoretti toasted coconut extract
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 Tbsp whole milk OR coconut milk, room temperature
• pinch of salt, or to taste

Garnish

• 1/4 Cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted

Instructions

Make the Coconut Cupcakes

• Preheat the oven to 350°F/177ºC and line a cupcake pan with 12-15 liners.
• Whisk together the sifted cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.⁣
• In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer with a large bowl), beat the butter on high for 2 minutes until light and creamy. Add in the sugar and beat on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and paddle as needed. Turn the mixer to low and add the egg whites one at a time. Mix until well combined. Add in the Amoretti toasted coconut extract, vanilla, and sour cream, then mix for 1 minute on high.⁣
• Add the dry ingredients all at once and mix on low until just combined, then continue mixing while you add the canned coconut milk in a slow, steady stream. Mix until smooth, then gently fold in the shredded coconut with a rubber spatula.⁣
• Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cupcake tins and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.⁣

Make the Toasted Coconut Buttercream

• With a hand mixer or paddle attachment on your stand mixer, beat the butter on medium-high until it’s creamy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and paddle and add the powdered sugar about a cup at a time and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. ⁣
• Add the Amoretti toasted coconut extract, vanilla extract, milk, and a pinch of salt. Continue mixing on low speed until fully incorporated and smooth.⁣

Assembly

• When the cupcakes are fully cooled, prepare a piping bag with Wilton Tip 4B and fill it with toasted coconut buttercream. Pipe a swirl onto each cupcake and garnish with toasted coconut.

Notes

*DIY Cake Flour Recipe: To make your own cake flour, spoon and level one cup of all-purpose flour and remove 2 Tbsp. Add 2 Tbsp of cornstarch. Repeat per the amount of cake flour you need, then sift the flour and cornstarch mixture 4 times (don’t skip that step!). After sifting, spoon and level to re-measure the amount of cake flour you need. 

Make Ahead Tips: 

1. The toasted coconut cupcakes can be baked, cooled, covered in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature up to one day ahead of decorating. 
2. The toasted coconut buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for one day. Alternatively, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, bring it back to room temperature and re-whip with your stand mixer to bring it back to piping/frosting consistency.

Disclaimer: I was compensated by Amoretti for my work of creating this recipe, styling, filming, photographing, and writing about their products. As always, all opinions are honest and my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support Sugar & Sparrow.

The post Toasted Coconut Cupcakes Recipe appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.

When the ice cream truck came around my neighborhood as a kid, I always knew exactly what I wanted: a Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bar. There was no question. I was (and still am) head over heels for that strawberry center wrapped in creamy vanilla ice cream, the crunch of the strawberry shortcake coating, even the colors are mouth-watering! So while making this no-churn strawberry shortcake ice cream recipe, I was struck with the idea to make an ice cream cake inspired by my favorite nostalgic summertime treat. Behold the strawberry shortcake ice cream cake! 

This beauty is made with alternating layers of no-churn strawberry ice cream, no-churn vanilla ice cream, and strawberry shortcake crunch. All of these layers are built on a foundation of strawberry shortcake crust for extra stability and supreme flavor. I cannot get over how delicious this cake is and it couldn’t be easier to make from scratch.

Let’s talk about the magic of no-churn ice cream. If you’ve never made it before, rest assured that it’s as simple as it sounds. You’ll whip some heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks, then fold in sweetened condensed milk and flavorings. In this case you’ll be splitting the ice cream base and flavoring half of it with freeze dried strawberries and the other half with vanilla. After about 6 hours in the freezer, it firms up so beautifully and mimics churned ice cream so much that you’ll be amazed you made it from scratch. It’s a must try in my opinion, but you can sub the ice cream layers for store bought strawberry and vanilla ice cream if you want. 

The strawberry shortcake crunch is what takes this recipe beyond. It’s essentially the crunchy outer coating on the classic Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bar, which is what makes this ice cream cake version so nostalgic. It’s super easy to make with crushed Golden Oreos, strawberry jello (powder), and butter. I sprinkled the strawberry shortcake crunch in between the ice cream layers and used it to make a strawberry shortcake crust to build the cake on. I was originally planning on coating the entire cake in the strawberry shortcake crunch but after I saw how beautiful the layers were, I had to keep them exposed! 

To assemble this cake, you’ll need a springform pan lined with an acetate collar. You’ll press the strawberry shortcake crust into the bottom, then pour in alternating layers of no-churn strawberry and vanilla ice cream with strawberry shortcake crunch sprinkled in between. After 6 hours in the freezer, you’ll be able to unlatch the springform pan and peel off the acetate to reveal all of those gorgeous layers. They’ll be set firm and ready to enjoy! 

Whether you’re nostalgic for Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars or you simply think this ice cream cake recipe sounds irresistible, I hope you end up loving it as much as I do! I also hope you’re amazed at how easy it is to whip up a gorgeous ice cream cake from scratch. Unwrapping that acetate gives me the feels every single time!

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Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake

Inspired by my nostalgia for Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars, this ice cream cake features layers of no-churn strawberry ice cream, vanilla ice cream, and strawberry shortcake crunch (just like the outer coating of the real deal)

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 4 minutes

Freeze Time 6 hours

Servings 15 slices

Ingredients

Strawberry Shortcake Crunch

• 24 whole (280g) Golden Oreos
• 3 Oz box strawberry jello
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Strawberry Shortcake Crust

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1 Cup strawberry shortcake crunch (recipe above)

No-Churn Ice Cream Layers

• 1/2 Cup (15g) freeze-dried strawberries
• 2 Cups heavy whipping cream, cold
• 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract, divided
• 14 Oz sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 tsp strawberry jam or preserves

Garnish

• fresh sliced strawberries (optional)

Instructions

Make the Strawberry Shortcake Crunch

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF/177ºC. Lightly grease a cookie sheet or line it with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
• Crush the Golden Oreos into small crumbles using either a food processor or by placing them into a large Ziploc bag and breaking them up with a rolling pin. Place the crumbled Golden Oreos into a medium bowl, then add the strawberry jello powder and melted butter. Mix with a rubber spatula to combine.
• Spread the mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet and bake for 4 minutes. Let cool completely before assembling the ice cream cake.

Make the Strawberry Shortcake Crust

• Place a 6-inch cardboard cake circle into the bottom of a 6-inch springform cake pan and line it with an acetate collar.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter and 1 Cup of the strawberry shortcake crunch until it begins to stick together. Reserve the rest of the strawberry shortcake crunch for the cake assembly.
• Press the mixture into the bottom of the springform pan (on top of the cardboard cake circle) to create the strawberry shortcake crust. Place the pan into the freezer while you move on with the recipe.

Make the No-Churn Ice Cream Layers

• Wait to make the ice cream layers until right before you're ready to assemble the cake. Place a large metal or glass bowl into the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to chill before you get started.
• Using a food processor, grind the freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder. Set aside.
• Add the heavy whipping cream and 2 teaspoons of the vanilla extract into the chilled bowl, then whip it with a hand mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, 3-4 minutes. You can alternatively use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment for this part. Place the whipped cream into the refrigerator while you move on to the next step.
• Divide the sweetened condensed milk evenly between two medium bowls. To one bowl, add 1 teaspoon of vanilla. To the second bowl, add the finely ground freeze-dried strawberry powder and the strawberry jam/preserves. Whisk the ingredients together within each individual bowl to create the two different flavor bases (vanilla and strawberry).
• Divide the whipping cream evenly between each of the two bowls you created in the previous step. Fold each sweetened condensed milk mixture together with the divided whipped cream to create the vanilla ice cream and strawberry ice cream.

Assembly

• Remove the acetate-lined springform pan with the strawberry shortcake crust from the freezer. Add half of the strawberry ice cream mixture on top of the strawberry shortcake crust. Smooth and level it with a rubber spatula. Add half of the vanilla ice cream mixture on top of the strawberry ice cream layer and smooth it down with a rubber spatula. Top with half of the reserved strawberry shortcake crunch.
• Repeat the layering process, first adding the remaining strawberry ice cream mixture, then the vanilla ice cream mixture, then the remaining strawberry shortcake crunch. Freeze for at least 6 hours, until the ice cream layers are set.
• When you're ready to serve the cake, remove it from the freezer, unlatch the springform cake pan, and peel off the acetate. Garnish with fresh strawberries.

Notes

Make Ahead Tips: 

1. The strawberry shortcake crunch can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. 
2. The strawberry shortcake crust can be made ahead and pressed into the springform pan, covered with plastic wrap, and stored in the freezer for up to two weeks. 
3. The no-churn ice cream must be made right before assembling the cake and cannot be made ahead. 
4. The assembled cake or leftovers can be stored in the freezer, wrapped in acetate or plastic wrap, for up to two months. 

Did you make this strawberry shortcake ice cream cake recipe? I want to know what you think! Tell me about it in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you create with my recipes!

The post Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.

The week before I went into labor with my second son I got a serious craving for berry Chantilly cake. I’d only ever had it once or twice before from a grocery store bakery (Whole Foods), but for some reason I could not get it out of my head. The fluffy white cake, the creamy mascarpone-infused Chantilly cream frosting, the fresh berries throughout – it’s the perfect light and refreshing cake for Spring or Summer and I will say that after whipping up this recipe my cravings were fully satisfied! It’s the dreamiest. 

What is Chantilly Cake?

The name Chantilly is a French term meaning “sweetened whipped cream” and in the Southern United States, Chantilly cake pairs that beautiful sweetened whipped cream frosting with light and fluffy vanilla cake. It’s traditionally layered with fresh berries – strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and sometimes blackberries. It was made famous by a baker working at a Whole Foods and has been a staple at the grocery store chain ever since (which is where I fell in love with it). 

If you don’t like your frosting to be overly sweet, this Chantilly cream frosting is for you. It’s a subtly sweet whipped cream frosting made rich in flavor with mascarpone cheese, cream cheese, and almond extract. The cream cheese and mascarpone are the stabilizers here, making this frosting so easy to work with. You can frost a smooth finish, add some texture (like what’s pictured here), and even pipe with it! 

Let’s talk about this white cake recipe. It’s so light and fluffy, which makes it just the right match for this berry-studded Chantilly cream frosting. Even though these cake layers bake up fairly flat, it’s important to level the cake layers before assembling this cake. Not only will the finished cake be much more level and perfect overall, removing the caramelization from the top of the cake will help it soak up all the flavor and moisture of the jam, frosting, and berries. 

To decorate, I kept things simple with some rustic texture and fresh berries. I basically swiped a small icing spatula through the frosting diagonally to create the texture on the sides. The Chantilly cream frosting is so easy to work with, so feel free to go with a smooth finish, semi-naked finish, pipe some details, or just follow your heart! Top it with fresh berries for a pop of color and you’re good to go. 

How to Store Chantilly Cake

One thing that is definitely worth noting is that this Chantilly cake has to be refrigerated. I recommend taking it out of the refrigerator an hour or two before serving just to bring it to room temperature (I think it tastes better that way) but you can absolutely serve it cold. 

Also worth noting: you can assemble this Chantilly cake up to one day ahead of time, any longer than that and the berries may start weeping inside the cake. Check out the Make Ahead Tips in the notes section of the recipe below to help plan your cake baking/decorating timeline out. 

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Berry Chantilly Cake

Inspired by the iconic Whole Foods bakery dessert, this cake features layers of fluffy white cake, Chantilly cream frosting, and fresh berries throughout. The perfect cake year round, but especially refreshing in summer!

Prep Time 35 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Servings 15 slices

Ingredients

Bakery-Style White Cake

• 2 1/2 Cups (265g) sifted cake flour* DIY recipe in notes
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 Cups (300g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 Cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 4 large egg whites, room temperature
• 1/2 Cup (120ml) vegetable oil
• 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 Cups (300ml) full-fat buttermilk**, room temperature DIY recipe in notes

Berry Filling

• 1/4 Cup (60ml) berry jam of your choice
• 1 Tbsp water
• 4 Oz (105g) fresh strawberries, quartered
• 2 Oz (55g) fresh blueberries
• 2 Oz (55g) fresh raspberries
• juice and zest of 1/2 small lemon

Chantilly Cream Frosting

• 8 Oz (240g) mascarpone cheese, room temperature
• 4 Oz (113g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, room temperature must be brick-style, not the spread
• 1 1/2 Cups (180g) powdered sugar
• 1 Cup (240ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp almond extract

Garnish

• 1/4 Cup fresh berries

Instructions

Make the White Cake

• Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C and prepare three 6-inch or two 8-inch cake pans by spraying the sides with baking spray and fitting a parchment paper circle to the bottom of each pan.
• In a medium bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk together and set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter at high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and cream it together with the butter at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping the bowl and paddle at the halfway point. Turn the mixer to low and add the egg whites one at a time, mixing until they are just combined and scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed. Add the vegetable oil and vanilla, increase the mixer speed to high and beat for 1 minute.
• Turn the mixer off and add the flour mixture all at once. Mix the ingredients on low speed until just combined, then slowly pour in the buttermilk. Continue mixing at low speed for about 30 seconds, until the batter is uniform and combined. The batter will be slightly thin.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 28 to 32 minutes. They’re done when they spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs on it. Let the cakes cool in their pans for 5 minutes, then remove them from the pans and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.

Make the Berry Filling

• Mix together the berry jam and water. Set aside.
• Add the strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries into a medium bowl. Toss together with the lemon juice and zest. Set aside.

Make the Chantilly Cream Frosting

• In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, combine the mascarpone and cream cheese. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds. Add the powdered sugar a few spoonfuls at a time, beating on low speed until combined. Once fully incorporated, scrape down the bowl and increase speed to medium, and beat until fluffy, about 30 seconds.
• In another large mixing bowl, beat the cream and vanilla on medium speed until stiff peaks form, 2 min. Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture.

Assembly

• Once the white cake layers are completely cooled, level them to your desired height. Add a swipe of Chantilly cream frosting onto a cardboard cake circle and place the first cake layer on top. Spread half of the jam mixture onto the cake layer, then add a layer of Chantilly cream frosting. Press half of the lemon coated berries on top. Place the next white cake layer on top and continue filling and stacking the cake with jam, Chantilly cream frosting, and berries. Crumb coat the cake with chantilly cream frosting, then place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let everything settle. The chantilly cream frosting will not firm up much in the refrigerator, but it will be easier to frost over after a trip to the refrigerator.
• To create the design pictured, frost the cake with Chantilly cream frosting and use a small spatula to make diagonal swipes in the frosting on the sides of the cake. Garnish with a crescent formation of fresh berries.

Notes

*DIY Cake Flour Recipe: if you can’t find cake flour locally, here’s how to make a homemade version using all purpose flour and cornstarch. 

**DIY Buttermilk Recipe: add 1 Tbsp of white vinegar to a jar and top it with 1 Cup of whole milk. Stir and let sit for 15 minutes before using in the recipe.

Make Ahead Tips: 

1. The white cake layers can be made ahead and stored at room temperature, covered tightly in plastic wrap, for up to two days. Alternatively, you can cover with plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to two months before thawing to room temperature. 
2. The berry Chantilly frosting can not be made ahead because it will lose too much air when stored in an airtight container and therefore won’t be workable. You’ll want to whip up the frosting right before you’re ready to assemble. 
3. This cake can be assembled up to 1 day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Any leftovers should be refrigerated, covered, for up to 4 days. 
4. I don’t recommend freezing an assembled berry Chantilly cake, but you can bake the white cake layers in advance and freeze them for up to 2 months.

I hope you end up loving this berry Chantilly cake as much as I did! I ate way too many slices during the photoshoot and still had zero regrets. Let me know what you think in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me! I love to see what you create with my recipes.

The post Berry Chantilly Cake Recipe appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.

Between the weather getting hotter and my pregnancy cravings, I am on a full-blown ice cream kick. And since discovering how easy the no-churn ice cream method is, I can’t stop experimenting with different flavors! When you open my freezer these days, you’ll always see at least one loaf pan full of my latest ice cream concoction. My most recent flavor success is probably my favorite of all my ice cream recipes thus far: strawberry shortcake! 

This easy strawberry shortcake ice cream features delicious fresh strawberries that have been sweetened and reduced to amplify flavor, plus baked shortcake crumbs to give it extra texture and beautiful bursts of shortcake flavor. These toppings get incorporated into the base ice cream recipe, which is vanilla ice cream spiked with a little cream cheese to give it a rich and creamy cheesecake-like flavor. So, so good. Like, irresistibly good!

Like most great recipes, this one will require a little more involvement than the average no-churn ice cream recipe. It’s still easier than a churned ice cream recipe, there are just a couple elements that require cooking (the strawberries) and baking (the shortcake crumbles). 

You’ll start by chopping up some fresh strawberries and adding them into a saucepan along with some granulated sugar and a pinch of salt. These strawberries will cook for about 20-25 minutes, until most of the liquid has evaporated and you’re left with more of a jam-like consistency with big strawberry chunks in it. Eliminating the majority of the liquid not only amplifies the strawberry flavor, it will make the overall consistency of the ice cream perfect. Too much liquid will result in chunks of strawberry flavored ice in your ice cream, which isn’t the most pleasant. So be sure not to skip the reduction! And when it’s finished, just pop it into the refrigerator to cool completely. 

The next element is the shortcake crumbles, which involve mixing up a few dry ingredients and binding them together with melted butter and vanilla extract until the mixture is crumbly. Then you’ll throw them on a lined cookie sheet and bake them. You could even toss this part of the recipe together and bake the crumbles while you’re reducing the strawberries to make things even more efficient. 

Once your toppings are both completely cool, you’re ready to make the ice cream base and mix it with the toppings in a chilled loaf pan. To make sure there are strawberries and shortcake crumbles throughout, I like to do the assembly process in layers: add one layer of ice cream, top it with strawberries and shortcake crumbles, swirl everything together with a skewer, repeat twice more. After a 6 hour stay in the freezer, your strawberry shortcake ice cream is ready to enjoy! 

I could not stop eating this ice cream during the photo session. It’s so delicious in a cone or simply by the spoonful, so saturated with strawberries and shortcake crumbles that you get the best bite every time. If you love strawberry shortcake and ice cream, this is a dessert made in heaven just for you – a true must try!

Now all I want to do it turn this flavor combo into an ice cream cake. Stay tuned for that!

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No-Churn Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

No-churn vanilla ice cream with sweetened strawberries and baked shortcake crumbles in every bite. So dreamy and easy to whip up (no ice cream maker needed!)

Prep Time 40 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Freeze Time 6 hours

Servings 6 Cups (12 servings)

Ingredients

Strawberry Reduction

• 2 Cups (300g) fresh strawberries*, halved
• 1/3 Cup (70g) granulated sugar
• pinch of salt

Baked Shortcake Crumbles

• 3/4 Cups (90g) cake flour
• 2 1/2 Tbsp (32g) granulated sugar
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 Tbsp (42g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Ice Cream

• 4 Oz (120g) cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 1/2 Cups (12 Oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 2 Cups (480ml) heavy whipping cream
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Make the Strawberry Reduction

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the strawberries, sugar, and salt. The strawberries will begin to release their juices. Bring the mixture to a simmer and mash up the strawberries as you cook them down. 
• Simmer over medium-low heat until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture should become somewhat of a jam-like inconsistency after the reduction. Place into an airtight container and refrigerate until cold.

Bake the Shortcake Crumbles

• Preheat the oven to 250°F/121ºC and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• Add the melted butter and vanilla extract. Mix with a rubber spatula until the mixture begins to form small clusters, then press the ingredients together with your hands to form even more clusters. Spread the clusters onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Cool the crumbs completely before using in the cake assembly.

Make the Ice Cream

• Place a large metal bowl into the refrigerator and a loaf pan into the freezer to chill for at least 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, add the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla into a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
• Remove the large chilled metal bowl from the refrigerator and add the cream cheese into it. Beat with a hand mixer (or using the whisk attachment on your stand mixer) until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the heavy whipping cream and beat the two ingredients together on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold one half of the sweetened condensed milk mixture into the heavy whipping cream mixture. When combined, gently fold in the rest of the sweetened condensed milk mixture in.
• Remove the chilled loaf pan from the freezer and add 1/3 of the ice cream mixture into it. Smooth it down with a rubber spatula and add 1/3 of the strawberries and a few Tablespoons of the shortcake crumbles on top. Use a skewer to marble the toppings into the ice cream. Repeat twice more.
• Cover the loaf pan with a piece of aluminum foil and freeze for at least 6 hours, after which the ice cream should be semi-firm and ready to enjoy!

Notes

*You can use frozen strawberries, but since there is added liquid content from the ice, you may need to cook them for longer than this recipe indicates to reach a jam-like consistency. 

Time saving tip: Mix up and bake the shortcake crumbles while the strawberries are reducing! You’ll have plenty of time since the strawberries only need to be stirred occasionally. 

Make ahead tips: the strawberry reduction and shortcake crumbles can be made up to one week ahead of time. Store both in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator until ready to use. 

Storage tips: This ice cream is best stored in an airtight container in the freezer. It will last for several months (if you can make it last that long). 

Did you make this no-churn strawberry shortcake ice cream? I want to know how it went! Let me know in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you create with my recipes!

The post No-Churn Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.

I just discovered the easiest way to make homemade dulce de leche using just a can of sweetened condensed milk and I fell so hard for it that my brain is swirling with recipe ideas! We’re currently going through somewhat of a heatwave here in Portland, so the first thing that came to mind was ice cream. Specifically, no-churn ice cream because 1) it’s so simple and fail-proof to whip up with just a few ingredients and 2) I don’t have an ice cream maker, so it’s my preferred method of ice cream making.

This no-churn dulce de leche ice cream turned out insanely good. Like, better than I could have imagined! I could not stop sneaking tastes during the photo and video shoot. There are subtle swirls of dulce de leche and candied pecans in every single bite. It’s amazing on its own, or topped with more dulce de leche or hot fudge sauce. 

You can certainly make this no-churn dulce de leche ice cream without the candied pecans, but in my opinion, they really enhance the recipe. The pecans add a crunch and subtle sweetness to every bite. If you’re looking for alternatives, try chocolate chunks, brownie bits, or waffle cone pieces. 

What Does Dulce de Leche Taste Like?

Never had dulce de leche before? Neither had I until just recently, when a friend brought me back a small jar from Argentina. It looks a lot like caramel, only it’s smoother and creamier with notes of toffee and butterscotch. It’s made by slowly simmering together milk and sugar until it turns caramel or amber in color. 

Where to Find Dulce de Leche

If you’re not sure where to find dulce de leche, you have a few options:

• You can check the baking aisle at your local grocery store and see if you can find it next to the cans of sweetened condensed milk. La Lechera is a popular brand in North America. 
• You can easily make it yourself using a can of sweetened condensed milk, which is what I did! All you need is a big pot of simmering water and 2-3 hours for the cooking process, which is really hands off. Here’s the full recipe. 
• You can order dulce de leche on Amazon. I have not tried the vast majority of these brands before, so be sure to read the reviews before you choose one if you’re going this route.

Whichever dulce de leche you choose, I hope you love this ice cream recipe as much as I do! It’s got so many amazing textures between the candied pecans, gooey dulce de leche, and smooth no-churn ice cream. I cannot resist it! 

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No-Churn Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

Easy and delicious dulce de leche flavored ice cream with ribbons of dulce de leche and chunks of candied pecans throughout. No ice cream maker needed!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Freeze Time 6 hours

Servings 6 Cups (12 servings)

Ingredients

Candied Pecans

• 2 Tbsp (28g) unsalted butter
• 1/4 Cup (50g) packed brown sugar
• 1 Cup (115g) chopped pecans

Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

• 2 Cups (480ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 13-14 Oz dulce de leche, room temperature homemade recipe in notes below

Instructions

• Place a large metal bowl into the refrigerator and a loaf pan into the freezer to chill for at least 15-20 minutes.

Make the Candied Pecans

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a medium skillet over low heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together while stirring frequently. When the mixture is melted and uniform, add the pecans and continue to cook over low heat for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove the candied pecans from the heat and place them on the parchment lined cookie sheet to cool completely before moving on with the recipe.

Make the Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

• Remove the large chilled metal bowl from the refrigerator and add the heavy whipping cream and vanilla into it. Beat with a hand mixer (or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment) on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes.
• Reserve a few Tablespoons of the dulce de leche and fold the rest into the heavy whipping cream until it’s almost combined (you’ll want to keep some ribbons of dulce de leche in the mixture for best results). Reserve a few Tablespoons of the candied pecans and gently fold the rest into the ice cream mixture.
• Remove the loaf pan from the freezer and add the dulce de leche ice cream mixture into it. Use a rubber spatula to smooth it down and press it into the edges of the pan. Top with the reserved dulce de leche and use a toothpick to swirl it around, then add the reserved candied pecans. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and freeze for at least 6 hours, after which it should be semi-firm, scoopable, and ready to enjoy!

Notes

Find my easy homemade dulce de leche recipe here. It works amazing in this recipe!

Storage tips: This ice cream is best stored in an airtight container in the freezer. It will last for several months (if you can make it last that long). 

Did you make this no-churn dulce de leche ice cream? I want to know how it went! Let me know in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you create with my recipes!

The post No Churn Dulce de Leche Ice Cream appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.

My favorite way to make fruit-flavored buttercream is always with freeze dried fruit. It gives the frosting the most authentic flavor without compromising the consistency of the buttercream. So whenever I’m perusing the freeze-dried fruit selection at my local grocery store, I always check to see what kinds are available. When I saw that freeze-dried blueberries were a thing I just had to snatch them up for a buttercream recipe!

Amazing Natural Color and Flavor

This blueberry buttercream has the most authentic flavor and the natural color is just unreal. You make it by grinding freeze-dried blueberries into a powder using a food processor, then adding them to the buttercream. 

One thing I’ve noticed is that different brands of blueberries can yield slightly different colors. This is because of a natural pigment found in all blueberries called anthocyanin. Different types of blueberries have slightly different pigments. For example, wild blueberries have more of a red-violet pigment (like you see here) and cultivated blueberries have more of a deep blue or indigo pigment. 

To give you some visual examples of how this can affect the resulting buttercream color, I made this lemon cake with blueberry buttercream using these freeze-dried blueberries from Trader Joe’s and got more of a bluish purple color.

Then for this buttercream recipe, I used Natierra Organic Freeze-Dried Blueberries and it turned out way more red-violet, but with the same amazing blueberry flavor. Pretty wild! 

What are Freeze-Dried Blueberries?

The process of freeze drying removes all the liquid from the berries while keeping the color and flavor intact. The blueberries are essentially frozen, and then the ice is vaporized after that. This preserves all the nutrients of the blueberries, since the only element eliminated is the water content. The process also makes the blueberries dry enough to grind into powder for flavoring and dying foods like buttercream. 

You can usually find freeze-dried berries in the snack section at your local grocery store. I’ve seen them at New Seasons, Whole Foods, Target, Costco, and Trader Joe’s. If you can’t find them locally, Amazon is also a great resource. Just make sure they’re freeze-dried and not just dried. 

Can I Use Fresh or Frozen Blueberries?

Since both fresh and frozen blueberries still contain a ton of water, you can’t do a straight substitution in this recipe. Adding all that water content will make your buttercream split, plus the flavor won’t be as powerful. If you can’t find freeze dried blueberries locally or online, I’d recommend trying a reduced blueberry pureè to flavor the buttercream instead. That will mean pureèing the blueberries, then cooking them down in a saucepan to remove as much liquid as you can. 

What to Pair with Blueberry Buttercream

Here are some of my favorite cakes to pair with this blueberry buttercream:

• Lemon Cake
• Vanilla Cake
• Chocolate Cake
• Vegan Vanilla Cake
• Vegan Chocolate Cake

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Freeze-Dried Blueberry Buttercream

This delicious blueberry buttercream is packed with amazing flavor, natural color, and is the perfect consistency for decorating cakes and cupcakes.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Servings 3 Cups

Ingredients

• 3/4 Cup (18g) freeze-dried blueberries
• 1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 Tbsp (45ml) whole milk, room temperature
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 3 Cups (360g) powdered sugar
• pinch of salt

Instructions

• With a food processor, grind the blueberries into a powder and set aside.
• Whip the butter using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until it’s creamy and light in color (5 minutes). Add vanilla, milk, and blueberry powder and continue to mix on medium until fully combined.
• Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time and mix on low speed, scraping down the bowl and paddle after each addition. Add a pinch of salt and mix on low speed until fully combined and smooth, 1-2 minutes. 

Notes

Make it Ahead: This buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for one day, or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Bring it back to room temperature and re-mix with your mixer on low speed to bring it back to frosting consistency. 

Make it Vegan: you can easily substitute the butter in this recipe with your favorite vegan butter sticks. I like to use Earth Balance brand. Then substitute the whole milk in this recipe with your favorite non-dairy milk. Coconut and soy milk yield the best results in my opinion. 

Yield: This buttercream makes enough to:

• Frost 12-15 cupcakes with a piping bag
• Fill and crumb coat a three-layer 6-inch cake or two-layer 8-inch cake. To have enough for frosting and decorating as well, double the recipe. 

What will you do with your blueberry buttercream? Let me know in the comments or tag me on Instagram if you make this recipe!

The post The Best Blueberry Buttercream Recipe appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.

There’s this blackberry bramble in my yard that gets a little out of control every summer, which I am completely okay with because I can’t help but bake those berries up into all sorts of delicious things. I usually go for a blackberry crisp, blackberry pie, or basically any blackberry dessert I can enjoy a la mode. This year I decided it was time to get a little wild and make a full-on cake recipe with our blackberry harvest and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. It started out as a simple blackberry cake with blackberry buttercream, but before I knew it I was swirling blackberry purèe into cake batter and baking crumble topping to sprinkle between layers. The result is the most delicious blackberry crisp inspired cake and I could not be more happy with how it turned out!

This blackberry crisp cake is so fun to make and completely addictive upon first bite. It’s perfect for a summer gathering, sure to impress your guests with its creative flavor profile and beautiful natural colors. I started by purèeing some blackberries and reducing them along with some lemon, brown sugar, and cinnamon to really enhance the flavor. Then I swirled some of the reduced purèe into the cake batter to create a beautiful blackberry swirl in the baked cake layers. The layers turned out so moist, fluffy, and absolutely delicious. 

I put the rest of the blackberry purèe into the buttercream and it made the prettiest natural color. I love the little flecks of blackberry throughout and the flavor turned out so spot on as well. It’s got the perfect blackberry flavor, not too sweet, and worked wonderfully for filling, frosting, and decorating the cake. 

It was my husband who suggested the baked crumble topping for in between layers, and I am so happy that I included it! The crumble topping really takes the flavor of this cake beyond and adds such amazing texture. It tastes like a blackberry crisp in cake form! If you’re already a blackberry crisp or cobbler fan, you’re going to love this one. And if you’d rather make a more straightforward blackberry cake, you can always leave it out. But trust me, you don’t want to leave it out! 

I decorated this blackberry cake with crumble topping, swirls piped with Wilton Tip 4B, and fresh blackberries. I was worried about the blackberry flecks clogging up the piping tip but I didn’t have any issues with it! I love how this design turned out but regardless of how you decorate, this cake is going to taste amazing. I cannot wait for you to try it!

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Blackberry Crisp Cake

Layers of fluffy vanilla cake swirled with blackberry purèe, topped with fresh blackberry buttercream and baked crisp topping throughout. It tastes just like blackberry crisp in cake form and is so perfect for summer!

Prep Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 15 slices

Ingredients

Blackberry Purèe

• 2 Cups (453g) fresh or frozen blackberries
• 1 Tbsp lemon zest
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt

Blackberry Cake

• 2 3/4 Cups (290g) sifted cake flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 Cup (170g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 Cups (300g) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs + 2 large egg whites, room temperature
• 1/2 Cup (120g) sour cream, room temperature
• 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 Cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
• 3/4 Cup (180ml) blackberry purèe, room temperature

Baked Crisp Topping

• 1/2 Cup (40g) old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 Cup (60g) all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/4 Cup (50g) packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 Cup (57g) unsalted butter, softened

Blackberry Buttercream

• 2 Cups (452g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 7 Cups (840g) powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 Cup (120ml) blackberry purèe
• 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste

Instructions

Make the Blackberry Purèe

• Add the blackberries, lemon zest, lemon juice, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and salt into a medium saucepan. Cook over high heat until the mixture begins to boil, then use a fork to mash up the berries. Continue to cook for 10-15 minutes or until the purèe has thickened and reduced by about 1/3. You should have around 1 ¼ Cups of blackberry purèe after the reduction. Remove from the heat and place into an airtight container in the refrigerator to let cool for about 30 minutes, or until room temperature. It will thicken as it cools.

Make the Blackberry Cake

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare three 6-inch or two 8-inch cake pans by spraying the sides with a cooking spray (Baker's Joy is my favorite) and fitting a parchment paper circle to the bottom of the pan.
• Sift the cake flour and then measure by spooning and leveling it in your measuring cup. Add the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. 
• In the bowl of your stand mixer (a handheld mixer works fine too!), beat the butter on high for two minutes until it's light and creamy. Add in the sugar and continue to mix on medium-high for another two minutes. Turn the mixer to low and add the eggs and egg whites, one at a time, mixing until just combined and scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed. Add the vanilla and sour cream, turn the mixer to high, and beat for one full minute. It will look curdled at this point, but don’t worry – it will become smooth cake batter at the end.
• Add in the dry ingredients all at once and turn the mixer to low speed. Mix until just combined, then slowly pour in the milk. Continue to mix on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and give it a few stirs with a whisk to make sure there are no lumps. The batter will be slightly thick.
• Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Dollop the blackberry purèe by the spoonful on top of each cake and use a butter knife to swirl it into the batter, then bake for 30-35 minutes. They're done when they spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pan for five minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack for an additional few hours of cooling. Make sure they're entirely room temperature before applying any frosting. 

Make the Baked Crisp Topping

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Add all of the ingredients except for the butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix together on low to combine, then add in the softened butter. Continue mixing on low until the mixture begins forming pea-sized clusters.
• Spread the mixture evenly onto the parchment-lined cookie sheet, then bake for 5 minutes. Stir the topping around a bit, then bake for another 5 minutes until it begins to turn golden brown. Let the crumble topping cool completely to room temperature, then store in an airtight container until you’re ready to assemble the cake.

Make the Blackberry Buttercream

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter on medium-high until it’s creamy and light in color, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer to low and add the powdered sugar a few cups at a time, scraping down the bowl and paddle after each addition and making sure each cup is fully incorporated before adding the next one. 
• Add the vanilla, blackberry purèe, and salt and mix on low for another 1-2 minutes, or until fully incorporated. 

Assembly

• Once the blackberry cakes are completely cooled, level them to your desired height. Add a swipe of blackberry buttercream onto a cardboard cake circle and place the first layer on top. Add a layer of blackberry buttercream as filling, then sprinkle on about 1/4 Cup of baked crisp topping before adding the next layer on top. Repeat the filling and stacking process with the final cake layer. Crumb coat the cake with blackberry buttercream, then place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the buttercream set firm.
• Create a smooth buttercream finish with blackberry buttercream, then press baked crisp topping onto the bottom third of the cake. Use Wilton Tip 4B to pipe swirls with blackberry buttercream around the top edge of the cake (you may need to thicken the buttercream consistency for this part). Top each buttercream swirl with a fresh blackberry and sprinkle more baked crisp topping on top.

Notes

Make Ahead Tips: 

1. The blackberry purèe can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Bring it back to room temperature before using it in the cake and buttercream recipes. 
2. The blackberry cake can be baked ahead and stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to two days. Alternatively you can store the cakes in the freezer for up to two months.  
3. The baked crisp topping can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. 
4. The blackberry buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, bring it back to room temperature and re-mix in your stand mixer to bring it back to smooth buttercream consistency. 

Did you make this blackberry crisp cake? I want to know how it went! Let me know in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you create with my recipes!

The post Blackberry Crisp Layer Cake appeared first on Sugar & Sparrow.

Every time I make a new no-churn ice cream flavor, my imagination bursts with more recipe ideas. I can’t help but be inspired and I’m totally rolling with it! In this case, my no-churn s’mores ice cream recipe got me thinking about how amazing it would be in ice cream cake form.  And because you probably know by now that I cannot resist a s’more under any circumstances, making this s’mores ice cream cake recipe shot to the top of my list of things to try.  I am beyond happy with how it turned out! Just look at this beauty: 

This s’mores ice cream cake is what my dreams are made of. It starts with an extra thick no-bake graham cracker crust pressed into the bottom of a springform pan. Then, you’ll add layers of hot fudge, no-churn chocolate ice cream, graham cracker crumbles, and no-churn toasted marshmallow ice cream. The layers look so pretty all together and the flavor is insanely good! If you love s’mores and you love ice cream, this cake will be what your dreams are made of too. 

Let’s talk about these ice cream layers. They both begin with the same batch of no-churn ice cream base, which then gets divided into two separate bowls to create two different flavors. One half gets flavored with melted semi-sweet chocolate to create an amazingly simple (yet delicious) chocolate ice cream. The other half is infused with marshmallow fluff before folding in toasted mini marshmallows. After about 6 hours in the freezer, each of these layers becomes the perfect ice cream texture like magic! It’s the easiest way to make ice cream ever and blows my mind every single time.  

The hot fudge sauce is homemade in this recipe, but you can absolutely use store bought hot fudge as an alternative. If you do, I recommend Hershey’s brand or any brand that you already know you love. It’s important to have a good quality hot fudge here to tie the marshmallow and graham cracker flavors together.

The layers in this cake are beautiful all on their own, which means you really don’t have to decorate after assembling and freezing it. I chose to add a half drip with the homemade hot fudge that I had leftover and tossed on some more graham crackers and toasted mini marshmallows. Once the cake sets and you reveal those layers though, I completely understand if you’d rather just dig in than add anything extra!

If you know my love for s’mores then you know that I made sure every detail was perfect. It’s a must-make for the s’mores lover in your life (especially if that s’mores lover is you!). The best part about this ice cream cake is that it’s super easy to assemble and pop in the freezer way ahead of time – up to two months ahead if you want! That makes it an awesome option to have ready to go for your next summer gathering, saving you the stress of making dessert the day of. Enjoy!

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S’mores Ice Cream Cake

Layers of no-bake graham cracker crust, homemade hot fudge, chocolate ice cream, and toasted marshmallow ice cream. This is what s'mores lovers dreams are made of!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Freezing Time 6 hours

Servings 15 servings

Ingredients

Hot Fudge Sauce

• 2/3 Cup (160ml) heavy whipping cream
• 2 Tbsp (30ml) light corn syrup*
• 1/3 Cup (66g) granulated sugar
• 1/3 Cup (75g) unsalted butter
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 4 Oz (117g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened natural cocoa powder

Graham Cracker Crust

• 1 1/4 Cups (130g) graham cracker crumbs
• 2 Tbsp (25g) granulated sugar
• 5 Tbsp (70g) unsalted butter, melted

S'mores Ice Cream Layers

• 1/2 Cup (88g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 Cups (480ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 14 Oz sweetened condensed milk, divided
• 1/4 Cup (20g) marshmallow fluff
• 1 1/2 Cups (75g) mini marshmallows, toasted**

Additional Fillings & Toppings

• 1/2 Cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 Cup toasted mini marshmallows

Instructions

Make the Hot Fudge Sauce

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the heavy whipping cream, corn syrup, sugar, salt, butter, and vanilla. Whisk constantly until the butter is fully melted and the mixture begins to simmer.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and add the chocolate chips. Stir until melted.
• Whisk in the cocoa powder and continue to cook on low until fully incorporated and glossy, about 1 minute.
• Place the hot fudge into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator until room temperature, 20-30 minutes. It will thicken significantly as it cools.

Prepare the Graham Cracker Crust

• In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar, then pour in the melted butter. Mix well until all the ingredients are fully combined. Place a 6-inch cardboard cake circle into the bottom of a 6-inch springform pan, then use a glass jar or cup to press the graham cracker crust evenly on top of the cardboard cake circle and into the sides of the pan. Refrigerate the crust in the springform pan until you're ready to assemble the ice cream cake.

Make the S'mores Ice Cream Layers

• Wait to make the ice cream layers until right before you're ready to assemble the cake. Place a large metal or glass bowl into the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to chill before you get started.
• Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each one until the chocolate chips are fully melted. Allow to cool completely to room temperature, about 15-20 minutes.
• Add the heavy whipping cream and 2 teaspoons of the vanilla extract into the chilled bowl, then whip it with a hand mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, 3-4 minutes. You can alternatively use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment for this part. Place the whipped cream into the refrigerator while you move on to the next step.
• Divide the sweetened condensed milk evenly between two medium bowls. To one bowl, whisk in the melted and cooled semi-sweet chocolate. To the second bowl, whisk in the marshmallow fluff.
• Divide the whipping cream evenly between the two bowls you created in the previous step. Fold each sweetened condensed milk mixture together with the divided whipped cream to create chocolate ice cream and marshmallow ice cream. Fold the toasted mini marshmallows into the marshmallow ice cream mixture.

Assembly

• Un-latch the springform pan and place a sheet of acetate between the outer edge of the graham cracker crust and the inside of the pan. Re-latch the springform pan and tape the acetate together once it's the same diameter as the pie crust. Here are more detailed instructions on how to prepare the acetate collar.
• Reserve about 1/3 Cup of hot fudge sauce for the decorative drip, then pour the rest onto the graham cracker crust. Smooth with a rubber spatula to create an even layer. Add the chocolate ice cream on top of the hot fudge layer and smooth with a rubber spatula.
• Add about 1/3 Cup of the crumbled graham crackers on top of the chocolate ice cream before adding the marshmallow ice cream on top and smoothing it down with a rubber spatula.
• Freeze the s'mores ice cream cake for at least 6 hours. When you're ready to serve it, remove the cake from the springform pan and unwrap the acetate. Re-heat the hot fudge sauce in the microwave in 10-second intervals until it reaches room temperature, then use it to create a decorative half drip around the top edge of the cake. Garnish with more graham cracker crumbs and toasted mini marshmallows.

Notes

*The light corn syrup in the hot fudge recipe is optional, but it does help keep the fudge filling softer when frozen. I do recommend it, but you are safe to omit it if you want. 

**To toast the mini marshmallows: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with baking spray, then add the mini marshmallows in a single layer. I used a butane kitchen torch to toast the marshmallows from here, but you can alternatively place the marshmallows under the broiler in your oven. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t get too burnt. 

Make Ahead Tips: 

1. The hot fudge can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, gently reheat it in the microwave in 10 second intervals until spreadable. 
2. The graham cracker crust can be made ahead and stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the crust followed by a piece of aluminum foil and store it in the springform pan to keep it fresh. 
3. The ice cream layers must be made right before assembling the cake and cannot be made ahead. 
4. The assembled cake or leftovers can be stored in the freezer, wrapped in acetate or plastic wrap, for up to two months. 

Did you make this s’mores ice cream cake recipe? I want to know what you think! Tell me about it in the comments below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you create with my recipes!

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