FLUFFERNUTTER DAY: Fluffernutter Sandwiches

I post about Fluffernutter Sandwiches every year, mostly because I meet people who don't know what a Fluffernutter Sandwich is, and I feel I should enlighten them. LOL. The Fluffernutter sandwich—a classic New England treat-- is made with white bread, peanut butter, and Marshmallow Fluff. 

Today is National Fluffernutter Day. Fluffernutter sandwiches must contain Marshmallow Fluff. I always have a jar in my pantry. 

Marshmallow Fluff is not just any marshmallow crème. Fluff has been manufactured by Durkee-Mower of Lynn, Massachusetts since 1920, and is the preferred brand of the northeast. This gooey, spreadable, marshmallow-infused confection is used in countless recipes and found in a variety of baked goods—from Whoopie Pies and Rice Krispies Treats to chocolate fudge and beyond.

And beyond that lies the best concoction of all: the Fluffernutter sandwich—a classic New England treat made with white bread, peanut butter, and Fluff.

History of Marshmallow Fluff:

A sweet marshmallow-like spread called Marshmallow Creme was invented in 1917 by Archibald Query in Somerville, Massachusetts. In 1913 during World War I, Emma and Amory Curtis of Melrose, Massachusetts invented Snowflake Marshmallow Creme and published a recipe for a peanut butter and marshmallow creme sandwich, which is the earliest known example of a Fluffernutter. Query sold his recipe for Marshmallow Creme to Durkee-Mower, Inc in 1920, who renamed it Marshmallow Fluff. Over 100 years later they continue to sell it under that name today.

It was in 1960 that the term Fluffernutter was created by an advertising agency for Durkee-Mower in an attempt to effectively market the peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich. See the 1960s ad and jingle explaining the recipe below. How Retro!

So if the Fluffernutter sandwich is a classic New England treat made with white bread, peanut butter, and Marshmallow Fluff, it can only be better if you add chocolate. And, for me, press the sandwich in a panini press! 

Want to make your own Marshmallow Fluff? https://livforcake.com/homemade-marshmallow-fluff/

Chocolate Fluffernutter Sandwich:

Chopped dark chocolate, Marshmallow Fluff, Chunky peanut butter, soft good white bread - pressed hot in a panini press!

Have a Chocolate Fluffernutter Sandwich today!  

STARBUCKS COPY-CAT OREO FRAPPUCCINO: National Frappé Day

Today is Frappé Day. Most of us have a frappé of one kind or another in our lifetime.

A frappé is an iced beverage that has been shaken, blended, or beaten to produce a foamy cold blended drink, often with whipped cream and toppings. Ice can be added before or after beating the coffee and adding other ingredients such as sugar, milk, vanilla, and sweet sauces. It really depends on what you are shaking or blending it in - a shaker, frappe maker, or blender. According to one source, an ice-crushing blender is better than a shaker for blending a frappe. Traditionally frappés are made with coffee, but you can make other frappé drinks with tea, juice, or hot chocolate.

The word Frappé comes from the French word Frapper - which means to slap, knock, or beat. Cold coffee drinks named "café frappé" go back to the 19th century.

Which leads me to the Italian term: Frappuccino. In the last few years, I've had numerous types of Frappuccinos at Starbucks, most with chocolate. Here's a recipe for Starbucks' Oreo Frappuccino I found on StarbucksSecretMenu.net There are several 'Starbucks" secret menu recipes that you can order at Starbucks (you may need to know the recipe), but you can also make this at home. As always use the very best chocolate.

Starbucks CopyCat Oreo Frappucino

Ingredients
8 ounces whole milk
1 cup ice
2 scoops vanilla bean ice cream
2 Tbsp semisweet chocolate chips
1 Tbsp mocha syrup or chocolate syrup
1 Oreo
Whipped cream, for garnish
Crushed Oreos, for garnish

Directions
In a blender add milk, ice, vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate chips, mocha syrup, and an Oreo.
Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass, and garnish with whipped cream and crushed Oreos.

CHOCOLATE CHIP NOODLE KUGEL aka Noodle Pudding: National Noodle Day

Today National Noodle Day,so I'm posting this easy recipe for Chocolate Chip Noodle Kugel aka Noodle Pudding. With Yom Kippur coming at the end of the week, you might want to save this recipe and make it for the Breaking of the Fast!

A bit of  history about Kugel. Kugel is a traditional Ashkenazic Jewish dessert or side dish. Kugel is Yiddish for ball, but it is sometimes translated as pudding or casserole, and related to the German Gugelhupf. The first Kugel were plain -- made from bread and flour, and salty rather than sweet. About 800 years ago, the flavor and popularity changed when cooks in Germany replaced bread mixtures with noodles or farfel. Eventually eggs were incorporated. The addition of cottage cheese and milk created a custard-like consistency which is common for today's dishes. In the 17th century, sugar was introduced, which gave the option of serving kugel as a side dish or dessert. In Poland, Jewish women sprinkled raisins and cinnamon into recipes. Hungarians took the dessert concept further with a hefty helping of sugar and sour cream.

Today many people add corn flakes, graham cracker crumbs, ground gingersnaps, or caramelized sugar on top. Some people layer the dish with sliced pineapples or apricot jam, but since this is a chocolate blog, here's a recipe that includes chocolate chips! Enjoy this for the Breaking of the Fast or any time!

Chocolate Chip Noodle Kugel

Ingredients:
12 oz pkg medium wide noodles boiled & drained
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
8 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 pint (16 oz) cottage cheese (large curd)
2 cups sour cream
1 tsp pure vanilla
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Butter sides and bottom of 9 x 13 Pyrex or another Pan.
Beat together eggs and sugar. Add cottage cheese, sour cream, melted butter, and vanilla, and mix with wooden spoon.
Fold in noodles and chocolate chips.
Pour mixture into buttered pan.
Bake at 350°F for 40-60 minutes until just set.

CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CAKE with CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN GANACHE: Perfect for Fall!

I love chocolate sites: to buy chocolate, to learn about chocolate, and for recipes. Chuao Chocolatier is one of my favorite chocolate companies. I particularly like their specialty bars, so I was pleased to see this recipe on their site for Chocolate Pumpkin Cake with Chocolate Pumpkin Ganache. This cake really spices up the fall dessert table! The best part: There are pumpkin spice s'mores bars in the pumpkin spice cake. Yum. The original recipe calls for a salty-sweet, spiced pumpkin milk chocolate drizzle. That does take it over the top, but you can leave it off, as I have. Still, I'm including the recipe in case you want to take this cake up a notch. What's great about this recipe is that it's so easy! Except for the Pumpkin Spice S'mores bars, you probably have everything in your pantry. This recipe on Chuao is by Ashley Schuering at www.confessionsofagroceryaddict.com

CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN GANACHE

Ingredients

4 Chuao Chocolatier Pumpkin Spice S’mores Bars, divided - peel the pumpkin spice marshmallows off the bars to mix into the chocolate pumpkin cake batter. the remaining bars should be divided and chopped into small, chocolate chip-sized pieces. you’ll need 2 each for the cake and the pumpkin ganache.

3 Cups all-purpose flour - basic white flour is perfect for bundt cakes. feel free to replace up to one cup with whole wheat flour or graham flour for a nuttier flavor.

4.5 Teaspoons pumpkin pie spices.

1.5 Teaspoons baking soda + 0.5 teaspoon baking powder - for leavening.

1 Teaspoon kosher salt - a touch of salt helps awaken the chocolate and pumpkin flavors. Sustitute fine sea salt, if that's what you have.

1 Cup neutral oil - heart-healthy avocado oil or canola oil?

2.5 Cups granulated sugar - white sugar’s neutral sweetness is best for the full flavors of this pumpkin spice chocolate.  You can also use an equal amount of granulated cane sugar, caster sugar, or superfine sugar.

3 Llarge eggs, room temperature - for binding the cake batter and adding moisture.

1 teaspoon vanilla extract - for aromatic warmth. you can use an equal amount of vanilla paste or powder instead.

1 15-oz Can pumpkin purée - make sure you’re grabbing 100% real pumpkin, not canned pumpkin pie mix.

2/3 Cup heavy cream - at a minimum 36% milk fat, heavy cream offers the best mouthfeel for ganache. you’re welcome to use slightly lighter whipping cream, full-fat canned coconut milk, or vegan whipping cream if you prefer.

Cake Directions

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350ºf. spray a 10-12-cup bundt cake pan with floured nonstick spray.
step 

2. Dry ingredients: Add 3 cups flour, 4.5 teaspoons pumpkin spice, 1.5 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 0.5 teaspoon baking powder to a medium mixing bowl and whisk to combine. 

3. Wet Ingredients: Add 1 cup oil and 2.5 cups sugar to a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer to combine. add 3 eggs (one at a time) beating well after each addition. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 15-oz can of pumpkin purée to the bowl and beat to combine.

4. Incorporate: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, working in about 3 additions. Beat until the batter is free from any pockets of the dry mixture, but be careful not to over-mix. 

5. Fold in the pumpkin spice marshmallows from all 4 chocolate bars, as well as the chopped pieces of 2 chocolate bars.

6. Bake: Pour the pumpkin chocolate chip cake batter into the prepared pan. rap the pan firmly against the countertop to remove any air bubbles. Bake in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean of any batter. (you may get some gooey marshmallow or melty chocolate depending where you poke.)

7. Make ganache. While the chocolate chip pumpkin bundt cake bakes, heat ⅔ cup cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. as soon as it reaches a soft boil, remove the pan from heat and pour it over the pieces from the remaining two chocolate bars in a small mixing bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes to melt, then whisk together until mostly smooth. (the graham pieces will give it some texture.) Set aside to cool.

8. Cool the cake in the bundt pan for about 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to finish cooling. 

Drizzle Directions 

1. Once the cake is cooled and the ganache has thickened but is still pourable, spoon the ganache over the top, gently coaxing it to drizzle down the sides. work slowly. You may need to apply the ganache in a few coats, as it will drip off if you work too quickly.

2. Chill. Allow the ganache to cool off and set up at room temperature for about an hour or two before serving. Once firm, slice, serve, and enjoy!

Tips (these are great tips for lots of cakes!) Thanks, Ashley & Chuao

Grease your bundt pan well, making sure to get into every nook and cranny. if you don’t have baking spray with flour, use butter or oil to grease the pan, then sprinkle in a few spoonfuls of flour. Rotate the pan around, ensuring you can see every spot is covered—you don’t want the chocolate pumpkin bundt cake to break apart when you flip the pan!

Room-temperature eggs will mix into your batter more easily. Let them set out for about 30 minutes before you start baking

Don’t overmix the batter. as soon as the dry ingredients are incorporated, stop. Use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to fold in the chocolate to prevent overmixing, which can cause the cake to become tough.

Let the cake and ganache cool till they’re barely warm before adding the chocolate glaze. You can also freeze the cake for about 20 minutes before starting the process. The cold will help the ganache to solidify without so much dripping off!

Place the wire rack over a parchment-lined surface to collect the ganache as it drips off the cake. As each layer sets, scrape the drippings into a bowl, warm slightly as needed to reach a spoonable consistency, and add another layer. any extra ganache leftover at the end will be delicious over ice cream or as an added drizzle during serving!