Lil Devils Recipes

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 12 (1/2-cup) muffin cups with paper liners. Whisk the flour with the cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Beat the butter with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium-high and gradually add the sugar. Beat until light and smooth, about 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and beat in the whole eggs and yolk 1 at a time, incorporating each fully before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Bring water just to a boil in a small saucepan and remove from the heat. With the mixer at low speed, beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture in 4 additions. Drizzle in the hot water, about 2 tablespoons at a time, and mix briefly to make a smooth batter. Divide the batter among the muffin cups filling them 2/3 full. Bake until the centers of the cupcakes spring back when pressed gently, about 20 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the tin on a rack for 10 minutes then remove from the tin and cool completely before frosting.
• For the frosting: Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Pour cream over chocolate and shake the bowl gently so cream settles around the chocolate. Set mixture aside until the chocolate is soft, about 5 minutes. Whisk gently until smooth, taking care not to incorporate too many air bubbles. Stir in 1 of the flavorings, if desired. Dip the tops of the cooled cupcakes into the frosting. (Frosting can also be chilled and whipped, then piped or spread onto the cupcakes.) Set them upright and let stand 1 or 2 minutes, until frosting is slightly set, then decorate with fresh berries, candies, or chopped pistachios, if desired. Let cakes stand on rack until frosting is completely set.

Steps:

• For the best chocolate sheet cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Use an 18-by-13-inch sheet cake pan. Cut parchment paper to fit the pan and spray each side with baking spray.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar and salt. In a saucepan, melt the butter. Add the cocoa to the butter and stir together. Add 1 cup boiling water to the pan and then allow the mixture to boil for 30 seconds. Pour over the flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.
• Pour the buttermilk into a bowl and add the baking soda, vanilla and beaten eggs. Stir the buttermilk mixture into the butter/flour mixture. Pour into the prepared cake pan and bake for 20 minutes. Let the cake cool completely.
• Cut the cooled cake into circles with a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter, and then lay the circles on another sheet pan with a wire rack; set this pan in the fridge to make sure there is no warmth to the cake at all. (The frosting is so light and fluffy, the coolness will help keep it all together.)
• For the white frosting: In a small saucepan, whisk the flour into the milk and heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. You want it to be very thick--thicker than cake mix, more like a brownie mix. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. If in a hurry, place the saucepan over ice in the sink for about 10 minutes or so until the mixture cools. It must be completely cool before you use it in the next step. Stir in the vanilla.
• While the mixture is cooling, cream the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. You don't want any sugar graininess left. Then add the completely cooled milk/flour mixture and beat the living daylights out of it. If it looks separated, you haven't beaten it enough! Beat it until it all combines and resembles whipped cream. Grab a spoon and taste this wonderful goodness. If there is any left after your taste test, spread it on a cooled chocolate cake.
• For the ganache: Heat the cream until very hot. Add the vanilla, and then pour over the chocolate pieces. Stir to completely melt.
• To assemble: Place the white frosting into a frosting bag. Squeeze the frosting onto one circle of cake. Press a second circle on top. Using a ladle, pour ganache over the cake, allowing the chocolate to run over the sides. Place 3 cherries on the center. Repeat the process with each cake. Chill the cakes until ready to serve!

Steps:

• Combine melted butter and dry cake mix.
• Reserve 1 1/2 cups of this topping for top crust.
• Put remaining crumb mixture into an ungreased 9x13 cake pan.
• Top that layer with combined peanut butter and marshmallow cream and spread evenly.
• Crumble remaining mixture over that and gently press into filling.
• Bake 20 minutes at 350°F.
• Cool.

Steps:

• Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well.
• Strain into a chilled cocktail glass over ice.
• Drop in the cherry.

Steps:

• Cut eggs lengthwise in half. Remove yolks; place in medium bowl. Add dressing, pickles and hot sauce; mix well.
• Spoon yolk mixture into resealable plastic bag. Cut small corner from bottom of bag; use to pipe yolk mixture into egg white halves. Sprinkle with paprika.
• Decorate with remaining ingredients as shown in photo, trimming olive pieces as needed.

Steps:

• Slice eggs in half, and remove yolks to a separate bowl.
• Combine mustard, mayonnaise, curry powder and salt with yolks, mashing with the flat end of a large spoon. You may have to adjust mustard and mayonnaise quantities to reflect your taste for moisture of the deviling, and the size of the yolks.
• Mix in the chopped dill pickle or the capers (if necessary, drain them first).
• Stuff the egg white "boats" using a spoon. You may stop here and chill in refrigerator until serving, OR you may go on to make the decorated eggs.
• To decorate the Lil Devils: the capers become eyes, the pine nuts and pimento become noses, more pimento for mouths and for devil horns. The dill serves as hair and as beards. Create some Devils as victims, too. Round mouths, the like. Roasted pepper works well as pimento (is really the same thing), just cut or slice it to the shapes you want.