Salted Caramel Cheesecakes

Here is the recipe for that salted caramel cheesecake that I didn't end up using for the daring bakers challenge.

So delicious, and if you don't like salted caramel you could make the cheesecakes and top it with something else........Ha. Right, as if.



Well anyway you could, just a simple raspberry puree, or mango even just a dollop of cream. The actual cheesecake is very easy to make.

I made a mini dessert table type version as well which was kind of cute, but you will need to adjust the baking times down.


The pics have a base of hazelnut pasta frolla but I recommend just leaving it our altogether.


Salted Caramel Cheesecakes makes 8 single serves

Cheesecakes
228 gram (8 ounce) cream cheese at room temp
1/2 cup caster sugar
3 large eggs at room temp
1/2 cup sour cream
8 small ramekins or glass jars (I used Ikea tea lights)

Preheat oven to 160 C (325F). Have a large deep baking tray ready (for water bath).

Mix cream cheese and sugar at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy and free of lumps approx 1 min. Add eggs one at a time ensuring each addition is mixed. Beat in sour cream. Scrap down sides throughout process and do not overmix and incorporate too much air.

Strain into a pouring jug and then fill the ramekins/jars with cheesecake mixture.

Place ramekins/jars into the baking pan and fill pan with enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the jars. Bake for 16 mins and turn off oven leaving cheecakes in the warm oven for 2 hours.


Remove from waterbath and refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 2 hours.

 Salted Caramel Topping (recipe makes a lot of caramel you will have around a cup left over to use for other delicious purposes)

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup light corn syrup (use liquid glucose if not available)

2/3 cup caster sugar (superfine)

80 grams unsalted butter (4 US tbsp)

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cups cream

Combine water, corn syrup and sugar in large heavy based saucepan. Cook over medium low heat stirring constantly, brushing down sides with water when necessary until sugar is dissolved. Turn heat to med-high and continue to cook without stirring for 5-7 mins or until syrup turns golden amber, swirling the pan if necessary to distribute the caramel. 

Remove from heat and stir in butter and salt.

Slowly pour in the cream being careful as mixture will bubble and whisk in well. Strain through sieve into heatproof bowl. Cool for at least 20 mins.

Spoon a thin layer of warm caramel onto each cheesecake and chill until cold.

Pink Glamour Girl Birthday Party - Real Party

Pink Girly Glamour

When my friend told me she was having a pink girly glamour party for her daughter's 7th birthday party, I couldn't help but offer to help.

I mean did you hear what I just said PINK..... GIRLY..... GLAMOUR....PARTY.  I was there whether she wanted me or not.


Luckily she was happy for me to help and I did what I do, that is baking and she decorated up a storm.

I was provided with some cookie cutters, a colour theme, a cake preference and was pretty much given free rein.

 Glamour girl cookie pops, sugar cookie with marshmallow fondant, royal icing and fondant decorations

I had a great time making these treats, my girls particularly liked the glamour girl cookies I made with red hair to match the birthday girl's beautiful hair. I cut the sugar cookie freehand without a cutter and the decorations were inspired by the fairy wand cookies I made for my daughter's party.

And I also made the stand to pop them in, y'all know when I do craft it's easy peasy, A styrofoam box wrapped in pink polka dot wrapping paper with some scrap material I had laying around stuck on with double sided sticky tape and then a pink ribbon also stuck on with double sided sticky tape finished with a cute flower.

I told you it was Easy Peasy.

and Jo my friend made these dazzling glam bottles up for the strawberry and chocolate milk.

 Bottle Bling it's my new favourite thing

Yup that's right it's bottle bling.

Jo found this beading bling at Stacks (local discount store) and stuck it onto recycled juice bottles. Some of the mums already have plans for using these at their next party with some more adult type drinks.

Jo also wrapped up chocolates in pink and brown polka dot paper and stuck various glamour stickers she grabbed at the local discount store. Could it get any cuter.....well it did .

Even the juice poppers got the same glamour treatment.


Oh and while she was at 'Stacks' she found these little pink and purple handbags for $2 each she used for treat bags. I think they were a great find.


The party was held at a local dance studio Stepping Out at Underwood. The mum's got to sit upstairs and relax while the hosts played games and entertained the kids until they were ready to tackle the food. Have to love that, happy kids and happy mums.

It was totally girly, totally glamorous and the kids had a wonderful time.
 

The birthday girl checking out the treat table

 

Party Menu

Cake Pops

Raspberry French Almond Macarons

Assorted glamour cookies (handbag, nailpolish and mini mirrors)

Glamour Girls with Red Hair Cookie pops

Chocolate layer cake

Strawberry and Chocolate Milk
Assorted lollies (candy and sweets)

mini chocolate tarts


mini jellies and puddings

juice pops

and glamour chocolates

Glamour wrapped chocolates and the party invitation

Party Treats made by Bubble and Sweet
Mini Jellies, puddings, chocolate tarts and decorating by Jo
Party held at Stepping Out Dance Studio Underwood
Pink Beanies and square cake stand by Sharnel Dollar Designs
Round paper lanterns Robert Gordon
Pom poms on ledge by Ah Tissue
Photos.......as though you can't tell I had to take them myself this time.

Related recipes in this blog:
Macarons
Fairy Wand Cookies
Cake Pops
Sugar Cookies

Christmasy tim tam pops the super fast no bake way

I'm a bit behind on my Christmas cooking, I have so many great ideas and just not enough time.

If your a bit like me, check out this cheat's version of a tim tam pop, there's no mixing, it's really just a tim tam on a pop.

Ok well I did make the decorations from mini cookie cutters I bought from Little Betsy Baker.
But you could even buy the decorations ready made if you want, sooo cute and the kids could help stick them on too.

and to display them I bought this pop up RUSS Christmas Card, I picked it up from my local newsagent, just stick some clean styrofoam inside and maybe a little weight.

Or if your not into the whole cookies on a stick thing, they would be cute in a little box with a ribbon as a sweet little gift for someone.

Apologies to all those countries out there who don't get white Tim Tam's, you might be able to substitute a more local cookie.

Christmas Tim Tam pops

Equipment and Ingredients
8 inch cookie pop/ lollipop sticks (make sure you do not get the thick Wilton ones)
Metal skewer
packet of white tim tams
little melted chocolate or candy melts
microwave safe dish
fondant or royal icing decorations

Using the metal skewer make a hole in the center base of each tim tam as per picture.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave on short bursts at med low until smooth.

Dip the end of each cookie stick/ lollipop stick into the melted chocolate and then carefully push into the hole you have made in the Tim Tam.

Pop onto tray and repeat with remaining Tim Tam's. If you are adding decorations pop them onto the Tim Tams using the remaining melted chocolate.

If necessary refrigerate a few mins until chocolate is firm.