Mini Strawberry Princess Cakes Recipes

Steps:

• Set an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease the bottom of an 8-by-12 inch metal baking pan and line the bottom with parchment. Then grease and flour the bottom and sides of the pan. Set aside.
• For the cake: sift together the flour and baking powder. Add the salt and stir to combine.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add 1 cup of butter and sugar and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, as needed. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating on medium speed and scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and beat to combine. On low speed, mix in half of the flour mixture, then mix in the milk. Mix in remaining flour mixture until just combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until a tester comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly, then unmold and cool completely.
• To make the cake filling, using a serrated knife, cut the cake into an 8x8-inch square. Set aside. Crumble the portion of the cake that was removed and reserve 2 1/2 cups. Add the remainder of the cake crumbs to a large mixing bowl along with the remaining 1/4 cup melted butter, jam and almonds. Mix well (your hands are the best tool here) to make a spreadable filling.
• To assemble the cake, use a serrated knife to split the cake crosswise into 2 halves. Arrange both halves so they're facing cut-side up. Brush the cake with about 2/3 of the cooled almond syrup. With a small offset spatula, gently spread the jammy filling over the entire bottom half of the cake and top with the top half of the cake, cut side down. Press gently to adhere. Flip the cake so the flat bottom is now facing up, to create a flat top. Freeze the cake until firm, 1 hour.
• With a serrated knife, cut off the rough sides on the frozen cake and cut into 16 squares. Set the cake on a cooling rack over a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Coat the cakes 1 at a time by pouring the icing around the edges and letting it drip down to coat the sides, then fill in the top. (Set the bowl over hot water and stir if it begins to thicken before you are done.) Top with sprinkles or non pareils before the icing begins to set.
• Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat and cook to dissolve the sugar, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the almond extract and stir to combine. Cool completely.
• Melt the chocolate chips or candy melts in a double boiler and stir until smooth.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the confectioner's sugar, corn syrup, hot water and vanilla. Mix on low speed until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and continue to mix to make a very smooth, pourable icing, about the consistency of molasses. Add food coloring as desired.

Steps:

• To Make Ahead: Prepare the dough (Steps 2 and 3), cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Roll in the second coating of confectioners' sugar just before serving.
• Recipe Description:
• Working on this makeover of a classic Russian Tea Cake made Bridget Klein feel closer to her late sister, Gina, because they are "a great match for her personality: delicate and refined, pretty to look at, and yet a definite character that inspires adoration and loyalty." Gina's middle name, Sarah, means "princess," in Hebrew; hence the name of these confections. Klein's mom "swore these cookies couldn't be made without butter," she says, "until she tasted them." Klein continues: "Gina was a traditionalist, too, but I think I might have been able to fool her with these."
• Recipe Ingredients:
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pour oil into a medium bowl. Whisk all-purpose flour, white whole-wheat flour, 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar, cornstarch and salt in another bowl.
• Mix half the dry ingredients into the oil by spoonfuls. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add vanilla. Mix in the remaining dry ingredients by spoonfuls until thoroughly combined. (The mixture will resemble creamed butter and brown sugar.) Stir in nuts.
• Roll the dough into 1-inch balls; place about 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake the cookies until just set, being careful not to let the bottoms get too brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the pan for 2 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.
• When the cookies are still warm, but no longer hot, roll them in the remaining 1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar and place them back on the rack to continue cooling. (Reserve the sugar.) When the cookies are completely cool, roll them in the sugar again.
• Per cookie: 105 calories; 7 g fat (0 g saturated fat, 4 g mono unsaturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 11 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 8 mg sodium; 19 mg potassium
• 1 Carbohydrate Servings
• Exchanges: 1 other carbohydrate, 1 fat

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line 6 cups of a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
• Place melted butter for crust in a medium bowl. Stir in graham cracker crumbs and sugar until completely incorporated and mixture looks like wet sand.
• Divide crumb mixture evenly into the prepared muffin cups. Use the bottom of a glass to press the crumbs down until smooth.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 5 to 6 minutes.
• While the crusts are baking, prepare filling: blend cream cheese in a stand mixer until smooth and creamy. Add sour cream and sugar and blend until smooth. Blend in vanilla. Add egg; mix on medium speed until well combined and smooth, scraping down the sides and bottom as needed.
• Remove crusts from the oven and spoon filling mixture over top. My liners were very close to overflowing; you can fill them all the way to the top.
• Return to the oven and bake until just slightly wiggly in the very center of the cheesecakes, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for about 15 minutes. Carefully transfer cheesecakes to a plate and place in the refrigerator to cool for at least 3 to 4 hours.
• Combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and maintain a low simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Scrape sauce into a bowl and let cool until close to room temperature, 15 to 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• When ready to serve, plate cheesecakes and top with a generous spoonful or two of the strawberry sauce.