Cupcake

A cupcake is a small cake designed to serve one person, which may be baked in a small thin paper or aluminum cup. As with larger cakes, icing and other cake decorations such as fruit and candy may be applied. A standard cupcake uses the same basic ingredients as standard-sized cakes: butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. Nearly any recipe that is suitable for a layer cake can be used to bake cupcakes. The cake batter used for cupcakes may be flavored or have other ingredients stirred in, such as raisins, berries, nuts, or chocolate chips. Because their small size is more efficient for heat conduction, cupcakes bake much faster than a normal layered cake. During baking, the volume of the batter initially increases due to the production of carbon dioxide, then decreases upon cooling due to the release of leavening gases. Cupcakes may be topped with frosting or other cake decorations. They may be filled with frosting, fruit, or pastry cream. For bakers making a small number of filled cupcakes, this is usually accomplished by using a spoon or knife to scoop a small hole in the top of the cupcake. Another method is to just insert the pastry bag in the middle of the cupcake. In commercial bakeries, the filling may be injected using a syringe. Elaborately decorated cupcakes may be made for special occasions.

Ice Cream Cake

An ice cream cake is ice cream in the shape of a cake with layers of sponge cake or cookie crumble in between. A popular form is a three-layer cake, with a layer of ice cream between two layers of cake. In a typical assembly, the cake component is baked in the normal way, cut to shape if necessary, and then frozen. Ice cream is shaped in a mold as appropriate, and these components are then assembled while frozen. Whipped cream is often used for frosting, as a compliment to the two other textures, and because many typical frostings will not adhere successfully to frozen cake. The whole cake is then kept frozen until prior to serving, when it is allowed to thaw until it can be easily sliced but not so much as to melt the ice cream.

Fruitcake

Fruitcake or fruit bread is a cake made with candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and optionally soaked in spirits. In the United Kingdom, certain rich versions may be iced and decorated. Fruitcakes are typically served in celebration of weddings and Christmas. Given their rich nature, fruitcakes are most often consumed on their own, as opposed to with condiments (such as butter or cream).

Charlotte Cake

A Charlotte is a type of dessert or trifle that can be served hot or cold. It is also referred to as an "icebox cake". Bread, sponge cake or biscuits/cookies are used to line a mold, which is then filled with a fruit puree or custard. It can also be made using layers of breadcrumbs. Classically, stale bread dipped in butter was used as the lining, but sponge cake or ladyfingers may be used today. The filling may be covered with a thin layer of similarly flavored gelatin.

Cheesecake

Cheesecake is a sweet dessert consisting of one or more layers. The main, and thickest layer, consists of a mixture of soft, fresh cheese (typically cream cheese or ricotta), eggs, and sugar. If there is a bottom layer, it often consists of a crust or base made from crushed cookies (or digestive biscuits), graham crackers, pastry, or sometimes sponge cake. It may be baked or unbaked (usually refrigerated). Cheesecake is usually sweetened with sugar and may be flavored in many different ways. It may be flavored by adding vanilla, spices, lemon, chocolate, pumpkin, or other flavors to the cheese layer. Additional flavors and visual appeal may be added by topping the finished pie with fruit, whipped cream, nuts, cookies, fruit sauce, chocolate syrup, or other toppings.

Chocolate Brownie Cake

INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup (100 grams) unsalted butter 1 cup (200 grams) soft brown sugar 125 grams (4 and 1/2 ounces) chocolate (dark/bittersweet), chopped 1 tablespoon maple syrup or golden syrup 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 cup (100 grams) all-purpose flour Fresh fruit, icing sugar or whipped cream to serve INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease an 8 inch (20 centimeters) cake tin with butter and then dust with flour. To a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, sugar, chocolate and maple syrup and melt until smooth, then take off the heat and cool slightly. This step can also be done in the microwave. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla, followed by the baking soda, salt, cocoa powder and flour. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 20-25 min. This cake can be served cold out of the fridge or warm, with fresh fruit, icing sugar and whipped cream or creme fraiche.

Frappé Coffee

Frappé coffee is a Greek iced coffee drink made from instant coffee (generally, spray-dried Nescafe), water and sugar. Accidentally invented by a Nescafe representative named Dimitris Vakondios in 1957 in the city of Thessaloniki, frappé is sold primarily in Greece and is among the most popular drinks in Greece and Cyprus, and is available at virtually all Greek cafés. The word frappé comes from the French word frapper, meaning 'to hit', as crushed ice does when mixed with a drink and shaken in a cocktail shaker. The frappé has become a hallmark of post-war outdoor Greek coffee culture. The coffee can be made either with a cocktail shaker or an appropriate mixer (e.g., a hand mixer). One or two teaspoons of instant coffee (traditionally Nescafe), sugar (to taste) and a little water are blended to form a foam, which is poured into a tall glass. To this is added cold water and ice cubes, and, optionally, milk (typically evaporated milk). The glass is served with a drinking straw.

How to Make a Macchiato

What distinguishes a macchiato from other espresso-based coffee drinks is the ratio of milk to espresso. An average size espresso macchiato has a 2 to 1 ratio of espresso to milk whereas an average cappuccino is 1 to 2 and a latte is 1 to 3. The intention is that the espresso is not overwhelmed by the milk, and instead, the milk adds a touch of sweetness enhancing the flavors of the coffee. A traditional macchiato is about 1 1/4 ounce—one shot (1 ounce) of espresso with a small amount of milk (1 to 2 teaspoons) that is mostly steamed with slight foam so there is a visible mark. The milk is often heated to 140 to 150 F, introducing steam into the milk causing the fats to expand and develop a layer of little bubbles, kind of a "micro-foam." This is most often done using an espresso machine and a steam wand.

Caramel Macchiato

The delicious, multi-layered Macchiato begins with milk steamed until it's stretched and smooth to bring out its natural sweetness and is topped by a dense, creamy foam. Then rich espresso is poured over and through the foam, where it mixes with the milk and creates a brown mark on top. Finally, the barista signs their work of art with a crosshatch of sweet caramel sauce.

What is Coffee?

Everyone recognizes a roasted coffee bean, but you might not recognize an actual coffee plant. White flowers on coffee tree Coffee trees are pruned short to conserve their energy and aid in harvesting, but can grow to more than 30 feet (9 meters) high. Each tree is covered with green, waxy leaves growing opposite each other in pairs. Coffee cherries grow along the branches. Because it grows in a continuous cycle, it’s not unusual to see flowers, green fruit and ripe fruit simultaneously on a single tree. It takes nearly a year for a cherry to mature after first flowering, and about 5 years of growth to reach full fruit production. While coffee plants can live up to 100 years, they are generally the most productive between the ages of 7 and 20. Proper care can maintain and even increase their output over the years, depending on the variety. The average coffee tree produces 10 pounds of coffee cherry per year, or 2 pounds of green beans.

Fruit Garnish