King Cake (Galette des Rois)

This King Cake (Galette des Rois) is a very popular French pie. It celebrates the holiday of Epiphany, the day when 3 wise men came bearing gifts for newborn Jesus. The traditional way to bake this king cake is to place a porcelain figurine, a charm or “fève” into the center of the galette.  The person who receives the slice with the charm is “King of the Day”. The lucky winner gets to wear a (paper) crown for the rest of the day!

King Cake (Galette des Rois)

Natalija
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Resting time (refrigerator) 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup (100 g) softened butter
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) almond flour
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp rum (optional)
  • 2 sheets ready-to-use puff pastry ( Puff Pastry Sheets)
  • 1 egg yolk

Instructions
 

  • Beat the softened butter and sugar together, then beat in the eggs. Stir in the almond powder. Add vanilla, rum and set it aside.
  • Roll out one sheet of puff pastry. Poke holes with fork.
  • Spread the almond filling over the center of the dough, leaving a 1 inch (1.2 cm) exposed border. If you wish, place a little porcelain figurine “fève” somewhere in the almond filling.
  • Brush the edges of the pastry with water and cover with another circle of dough on top and press down to seal the edges.
  • Brush with beaten yolk then use a paring knife to create a design on top of your galette,
    Poke 8-10 holes in the top, to allow steam to escape while baking.
  • Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 380 degrees F. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. (Bake on the bottom rack of the oven).
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Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles

Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles is one delicacy that no one can refuse. The roasted hazelnut compliments the rich cacao powder. Store the truffles in container in the fridge for up to 5 days, but they will disappear from the fridge a lot faster, trust me on this.

Chocolat Hazelnut Truffles

Natalija
If you don’t have hazelnuts, feel free to use almonds, cashews, walnuts or any other nuts you like. Just don’t forget to roast them in the oven before making the truffles. Fresh nuts taste way better.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 22 minutes
Servings 45 pieces

Ingredients
  

  • 30 g hazelnuts
  • 150 ml heavy whipping cream
  • 200 g dark chocolate (60-70% cacao)
  • 50 g unsalted butter
  • 2 Tbsp cacao powder

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the nuts in an even layer on the baking sheet, and roast it for 10-15 minutes. Stirring every 3 minutes. Check the nuts. You are looking for the color to be a few shades darker. When the nuts are browned and smell nutty, remove from the oven and transfer onto a plate. Cool it and clean from the flakes. I like my truffles extra tiny, so I cut each hazelnut in half. You don’t have to cut them if you are making large truffles.
  • Bring the heavy cream to a boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate chips. Wait 1-2 minutes until chocolate melts.
  • Add butter and whisk until smooth. Place it in the frizzer for about 2 hours, until firm enough to roll.
  • Use a teaspoon or small cookie scoop to portion the ganache, hide one hazelnut inside each piece, roll the balls between hands, until smooth and place on a plate.
  • Roll in cacao powder.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
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Peach Melba

This is my version of a classical dessert “Peach Melba”. You just need roasted peaches, a red berry sauce and an exquisite whipped cream.

Peach Melba

Natalija
If you’re in a hurry or you don’t have fresh peaches, just use canned peaches.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 3 peaches
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar (or sugar)
  • 250 g berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries)…)
  • 200 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%) very cold
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 l vanilla ice cream
  • Some dark chocolate
  • Some sliced almonds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 390 degrees F. Line one baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Cut the peaches in half, and remove the stones. Place the peach halves on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
  • Bake in the oven about 35 minutes until the peaches are tender. Remove from the oven, let them cool down completely, then carefully peel the skin.
  • Rinse and drain fresh berries and puree them until smooth. Pass the puree through a fine sieve to remove all tiny seeds.
  • Whip the heavy cream with the sugar until fluffy. Don’t over beat.
  • In each glass, put one half of peach and one ball of vanilla ice cream.
  • Pour 2 tablespoons of berries puree.
  • Add the whipped cream and finish with chocolate crumbs and sliced almonds. Serve right away.
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Cranberry Cake

This homemade cranberry cake is perfect for the winter season. Its bright red color brings holiday spirit to your family dinner or friends party. Easy to make and delicious!

Cranberry Cake

Natalija
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
  

  • 4 eggs
  • 220 g granulated sugar
  • 115 g melted butter
  • 150 g all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 380ºF. Grease and flour a cake pan.
  • Beat eggs and sugar with mixer until slightly thickened.
  • Add melted butter and mix well.
  • Stir in the flour and baking powder.
  • Add the cranberries and stir gently.
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool. If desired, dust with confectioners sugar.
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Easy Apple Cake

Delicate and full of apples easy to make cake. Recipe is very similar to famous Russian Apple Sharlotka but with a little of olive oil and baking powder.  Must try!

 

Print

Easy Apple Cake

Take sour apples for this recipe.
Course Dessert
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings
Author Natalija

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 200 g sugar
  • 150 g sifted flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3 big apples Granny Smith
  • 1 tsp confectioner's sugar (facultatif)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 380 degrees F. Grease and flour a round cake pan or line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
  • Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar. Add flour and baking powder. Mix well, then add oil and mix last time.
  • Peel and dice apples into small pieces. Lay out the apples on the bottom of the pan.
  • Pour the batter over the apples.
  • Bake for about 45 minutes or until а knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • Let the cake cool then transfer to plate.
  • Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

Gluten-free Almond Cake

Here is the incredibly delicate and gluten-free almond cake. This is the “Amandier” recipe by renowned French Pastry chef Christophe Michalak with minor modifications. The main ingredients are almond flour and mascarpone.

If you enjoy this recipe, check out my other gluten-free desserts, such as the delicious banana muffins!

Миндальный пирог без глютена

Gluten-free almond cake

Natalija
Amandier
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients
  

  • 6 eggs
  • 180 g sugar
  • 40 g honey
  • 300 g almond flour
  • 140 g softened salted or unsalted butter
  • 100 g mascarpone cheese
  • Some orange zest
  • 1 Tbsp liquid vanilla (or 1 packet of vanilla sugar) (optional)
  • 2 Tbsp sliced almonds
  • Some powdered sugar (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 330°F (150°С). Grease baking pan with butter or line with parchment paper.
  • In a mixer bowl, put eggs, sugar, and honey.
  • Mix together.
  • Add almond flour and mix again.
  • In another bowl, mush the butter and mascarpone cheese together using a fork.
  • Add the mascarpone and butter to the egg-sugar mixture and mix again.
  • Add orange zest and vanilla to the batter. Mix well for the last time.
  • Pour the batter into baking pan.
  • Sprinkle with sliced almonds.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 45 minutes. Allow the almond cake to cool before removing it from the pan. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
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Vanilla Creme Brulee

Absolutely amazing what a little cream, a little sugar and couple of eggs can turn into….  Perfect restaurant quality dessert. A rich custard topped with a hard layer of caramel.  This Vanilla creme brulee is very easy to make if you follow all the steps correctly.

It will perfectly complete your  cafe gourmand if the crème brûlée is served in small ramekins.

Look at this short video ! 🙂

Vanilla Crème brûlée

Natalija
Use vanilla extract instead of vanilla bean, if you don’t have vanilla bean. You could add 2 Tbsp. of rum into the cream if desired. If you don’t own a blow torch, you can always use your broiler as well. You will need to move the top rack in your oven up as high as it will go.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 6 hours 11 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 8 egg yolks
  • 120 g granulated sugar
  • 1/2 vanilla bean
  • 640 ml whipping cream
  • 6 tsp granulated sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Split the vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the cream. In a medium bowl, combine together sugar, eggs yolks, vanilla and whisk.
  • Add the cream a little at a time and stir. Remove the scum with a tea spoon.
  • Strain the mixture through a fine sieve and pour it into the ramekins. Divide cream mixture among ramekins (about 6 ramekins).
  • Arrange the ramekins in a baking pan with deep sides. And carefully pour water around ramekins so that the water level must reach about 2/3 of the ramekins.
  • Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes. You will know its ready when the custard is wobbly and jiggle from side to side when nudged (it looks like jello).
  • Remove the custard from the water bath and let cool completely, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours (overnight).
  • Before serving, cover each cold creme brulee evenly with sugar (1 tsp). Caramelize using a propane torch. If you don’t have one propane torch, use the broiler: put the oven rack about 6 inches away from the broiler. Place the custards on the baking sheet and broil for about 3-5 minutes, or until sugar bubbles and turns golden brown. (Keep a close eye on them, they can burn quickly)

Notes

With remaining eggs white, you could make some Coconut cookies.

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Gluten Free Banana Muffins

These Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Muffins are moist and absolutely delicious. This is an excellent way to use your ripe bananas and make an excellent dessert that everyone will love.

I substitute all purpose flour by almond flour so they are gluten free! Brown sugar gives a beautiful amber color. A must-try dessert…

Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Muffins

Natalija
I like to use brown sugar, it gives a beautiful color and a caramelized taste but this recipe can by made with white sugar too.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 10 muffins

Ingredients
  

  • 3 eggs
  • 200 g brown sugar
  • 2 pinches salt
  • 3 very ripe bananas
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 50 g unsalted butter melted
  • 280 g almond flour
  • 120 g chocolate chips (60%)
  • 120 g chopped walnuts (or other nuts)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 370 degrees F. Grease muffin cups with butter or line with paper muffin liners.
  • Stir eggs, brown sugar and salt.
  • Mash bananas with a fork and mix them with egg mixture.
  • Stir almond flour and mix until smooth.
  • Add melted butter.
  • Then chopped nuts and chocolate chips. Mix well.
  • Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 25-30 minutes.
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French Pear pie (Tarte Bourdaloue)

The tarte Bourdaloue is a pie with pears and almonds; created by a Parisian pastry chef in the nineteenth century. This dessert is a variation of the amandine (almond tart).

French Pear pie (Tarte Bourdaloue)

Natalija
Almond cream, pears and some almonds: a dessert for real gourmets.
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 1 tart

Ingredients
  

Almond sweet short pastry

  • 120 g softened butter
  • 75 g confectioners sugar
  • 30 g almond powder
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 egg (beat a little with a fork)
  • 1 teaspoon liquid vanilla (1 packet of vanilla sugar or 1 vanilla bean)
  • 200 g sifted flour

Almond cream

  • 100 g softened butter
  • 100 g sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 100 g almond powder
  • 2 teaspoons sour cream
  • 3 pears

More

  • 15 g butter (melted)
  • 1 teaspoon sledding almonds

Instructions
 

Almond sweet short pastry

  • Sift flour and powdered sugar into a bowl or on the kitchen table. Add almond powder and the softened butter. Mix with your hands until you get a crumbly mixture.
  • Add egg and liquid vanilla.
  • Mix everything very quickly to form a ball. The dough is now ready.
  • Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour, or freeze if you won't bake it in the next few days.

Almond cream

  • Beat butter and sugar with a mixer. Add eggs, cream and almond powder.

Preparing the pie

  • Preheat the oven to 370F. Roll out the dough between 2 layers of parchment paper.
  • Transfer the dough to a pan, press it down and on the sides of the pan. Cut the excess dough. Poke holes on the entire surface with a fork.
  • Spread the almond cream evenly over the dough.
  • Peel the pears and cut them in half. Remove the seeds. Cut into regular thin slices.
  • Arrange the pear slices nicely. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with almonds.
  • Bake for about 40 minutes until golden brown. Remove pie from oven and cool. You can sprinkle lightly with icing sugar before serving.
Keyword Almond cream, almonds, mycafegourmand, pear pie, pear tart, shortcrust pastry, tarte Bourdaloue
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Ice Cream Cake Iceberg

I don’t mean to brag, but as far as homemade ice cream cake recipes go, this one is the winner. The red berry coulis topping is the perfect balance between sweet and sour. This No-Bake Ice Cream Cake Iceberg is the ideal dessert to serve at your next party on a hot summer day.

Ice Cream Cake Iceberg

Natalija
My suggestion is to pick red sour berries for rich color and a sour taste. Drain the sour cream to avoid liquid.
Prep Time 30 minutes
6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 eggs
  • 100 g granulated sugar (50 + 50)
  • 1-2 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 300 ml sour cream
  • 100 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%)
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 300 g red berries (blueberry, huckleberry, boysenberry, raspberry…) fresh or frozen
  • Some Fresh berries for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Separate egg yolks from egg whites. Whisk egg yolks with sugar (50 g).
  • When the sugar is dissolved add vanilla extract and mix well.
  • In a mixer bowl, whisk together very cold sour cream and heavy cream together until fluffy. Add sugar and continue whisking until firm (don’t over whip).
  • Using a spatula, combine egg yolks with whipped cream together.
  • In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff.
  • With a spatula, carefully combine egg whites with whipped cream.
  • You should get a nice fluffy cream.
  • Spread the cream evenly into a silicone pan or salad bowl.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.
  • Rinse and drain fresh berries and puree until smooth. If you are using a frozen berries, place them in a leak-proof container and set the container in cold water for 10-15 minutes, then puree them.
  • Pass the puree through a fine sieve to remove all tiny seeds. Coulis is ready.
  • Remove it from the silicone pan and return it back to freezer until serving. (If you used a salad bowl, place it into hot water for a couple seconds). Prepare fresh berries for garnish.
  • Right before serving, pour the coulis over the ice cream cake and garnish with fresh berries.
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