Boozy Jumbo Ice Cream Cone Cake Balls

These are not only huge cake balls, but the cones are filled with booze!

 So we are still on vacation, and so far it has been really nice.  Except for the fact that our bank account was invaded and over $200 was taken.  We are not getting it back for at least a week which stinks because that was our spending money.  So yeah, it has to get better right?  Anyway I made these a few weeks ago, and I sure could go for one now.  Anyway don't forget to enter my little give away from earlier in the week, and hope we have a good weekend without losing anymore money.

 Okay so this is going to be a super amazing post!  Why?  Well there is a tonne of booze in these and they look cute, and they were perfect.  Until the next day when I went to share them and half of them had exploded.  Then I almost cried and wanted to just drink them all myself.  Not sure how that makes this amazing, but it does, so just go with it.

This is how it all started!

  I had this idea late at night while I was falling asleep. And don't you tell me that is not normal, all women dream of chocolate and booze as they are drifting off after a long day.  I swear, it's in a book some where, I wouldn't lie about stuff like this.

  Anyway I had the idea that I wanted a big cake ball, but with some sort of shot of Irish cream.  I know in the past I have seen at some events that they had chocolate shot glasses and people would pick out what booze they wanted.  You would not believe some of the things people did for events where I worked, and what they were willing to pay for it.  Seriously that could be it's own post.

Just fill the cone and roll it around to get it all coated.

Then pour out the extra.

And this is how they looked before I chilled them.

 So I wanted to make jumbo ice cream cone cake balls, like my mini ones here. Because in that post I had the idea that bigger is always better. ( That's what she said!) 

 I know, my humor is getting old, but I may have had one or two of these while I was typing this.  You cannot prove a thing, so just keep reading.

 So firstly the problem was how to get the booze in there and not make a mess.  And I had it all perfectly figured out, until 24 hours later  when it all failed.  But if you do these and serve them right away, or keep them in the fridge on their sides you should be good to go.  I do think I have to make them again, just to test that out.  Not because I want more booze or anything.

And this is how they looked after they chilled, no idea why it's all streaky but what ever it still tastes good.

And this is with the booze, what a good shot.  Get it, shot?!  Never mind!

 So I was going to coat my ice cream cones in white chocolate, but I went with milk because I hate the thought of trying to get a nice consistency of white. Although if you can do it, go for it, the different flavor would probably be nice.  So I melted the chocolate candy melts and put my cones in the freezer for a few minutes.  I don't think that really helped at all, so you can skip the freezer if you want.  Then just fill up your cones and roll them around until they are all coated, let sit for a few seconds, then tip them back into the bowl to get the extra out.  I then put them all in a cake pan and into the fridge to make sure the chocolate was hardened.

  Before I did all this I had mixed up my cake ball mix, just regular chocolate cake and some chocolate frosting, but you do the flavors you like.  Then I used my large ice cream scoop to make a ball, that I rolled and put in the freezer to set.

So I forgot to get a picture of the cake ball when I had just dipped the bottom and put that in the cone.  Oh well, just imagine.

 So once the cones were set I got out my Irish cream, and realized I did not have enough, so I also added some Kahlua.  I wanted to put an ounce of booze in each cup, but I went with just under 2 TBSP's, and that was plenty, I just measured out the booze and put it into the cups.  Then I was ready for the cake ball part.

  I took a cake ball out of the freezer and dipped the bottom half into chocolate, I got no pictures as these are huge cake balls, about the size of a fist and you make a mess as it is.  Once it is half dipped you put it into the cone, making sure that the chocolate seals all the way around, or else the booze will leak out.

And since I figured you have seen enough here are my finished cones.  No one will ever know you are planning to get drunk, just let them think it's chocolate and nothing else.

  I did them all then let them harden up.  Then I got ready to dip the top of the cone.  I took each one and tipped it upside down to see if any booze leaked out, if it did, and a few did, I just dabbed on some chocolate where it leaked and then dipped the whole thing.  The nice thing about these is drips actually make it look real, so no worries about being perfect.

  So once that was done I wanted to decorate them.  For some reason Irish cream makes me think of green, so that is what I went with.  I drizzled some on top and tried to shake it to settle, but it was really thick chocolate for some reason, so what ever.  I then used larger sprinkles and instead of a red candy I used a chocolate mint M&M, those suckers are good!

  Once they were fully dry I put them in cookie bags so they would be easy to share.  And then into a box and down to the basement to wait for me to take them to work.

  And the next day, well I got them and half of them had leaked out of the cones.  Not sure if it was the heavy cake ball that caused the cone to crack or the chocolate inside so the booze leaked out, but whatever it was I was sad.  My friends at work?  Not so much, they loved them.  Or they are just a bunch of drunks, I cannot honestly tell you.  

And I just put them in bags, which was a good thing since they leaked.  

  So these were a big deal to me, a dream come true.  And yes I know that is stupid and whatever, but at least I can say I made one of my dreams come true. Right?

I'm Linking up HERE

Home Made Marshmallows, Three Ways.

My only pick, because I suck, but there is a lot of info here, I promise.

 Before we get started I want to remind you all to enter my give away that I have going on.  

So this will be the second time I have made marshmallows, and then covered them in chocolate.  It also makes it the second time I have used my candy thermometer, you know, the one I got over 10 years ago ( or something) and never used?  So I really wanted to go big, and I figured as long as I was going to have everything out to make them, I might as well experiment and try different flavours.  I didn't do any progress pictures because my last post had them, so you can check them out here. 

  I  spent a Friday evening with Pork Chop making these. I made these a few weeks ago, but you know, being on time with my posts is not something I do. Also I have to admit doing things in advance really works for me as I am as of today way behind so having back up posts helps a lot! Anyway  he was all set to help, then decided X Box was more interesting.  I was okay with that, because I was working with boiling sugar and it made me nervous to have him in the kitchen.  So it all worked out.  And he again asked to try one, and again spit it out. But I am not surprised, I made him try a small one, saving the big ones for me.

So my plan of action was this, I was going to make vanilla bean, coffee and Irish cream flavored marshmallows then dip them in chocolate.  I was also going to try and make them all a normal size.  Just keep in mind I said try, because some of them were still monsters.  But they tasted really good!

So to start off, I used the same Martha Stewart recipe I used last time and just sort of tweaked it.  Also I used my kitchen aid and the last time I thought I was burning the motor out as it slowed down near the end.  Turns out that the marshmallow was just so sticky that was slowing it down, the motor was fine.  So just in case you worry, it's all good.

  So I used this basic recipe then did my own thing, sort of.  The Irish cream ones were tricky and I will totally use the concentrated flavor next time.  But I will tell you what I did and whatnot as I go.

Marshmallows

Adapted from Martha Stewart

-2 1/2 TBSPs unflavoured gelatin ( this worked out to be 3 envelopes for me)

-1 cup water, split

-1 1/2 cup white sugar

-1 cup light corn syrup

-1/4 TSP salt

-1 TBSP Flavor of choice

-icing sugar for dusting

So I did exactly what I did in this last post for my vanilla bean marshmallows, I just upped the vanilla bean paste to 1 1/2 TBPS, so you got a bit more of it.  I think if you use fake vanilla you should use less, but the paste is perfect this way.  

When making the marshmallows, I would follow the directions as I put them before, melt the gelatin in 1/2 cup water. Then melt the sugar, corn syrup, salt and water until the sugar is dissolved,  then heat  until they reach the right temperature.  Then whisk them all together until they are about triple in volume.  Then add the flavor you are using.  I found that the motor speeds up with the flavor then slows again as it thickens again.

For the coffee marshmallows I just added 1/2 TBSP of this  flavoring oil.  I did not want the flavor to over power the marshmallow, so you may want more or less.

Then the big mistake was the Irish cream ones.  I had about 1/4 cup of the real stuff left over from all the other Irish cream things I had made.  So I thought that and 1 splash of vanilla would be perfect.  But once I added it to the marshmallows the mix was so liquid like and I panicked, so I sprinkled in another  pocket of gelatin powder, and that didn't thicken it up at all.  But I figure it would take time to thicken so I went with  it.  I found it very fluid and it was like a syrup going into the pan. 

I left all three pans out over night, the coffee and vanilla bean were perfect.  The Irish cream was thinner and I think I lost a lot of the air.  Also it really stuck to the pan as I guess the liquidity of it pushed the powdered sugar around and it stuck to the pan.  So I had to pull it out and it was still tasty.  It had a spongy texture, not as light as the rest.  So it was a fail in that sense, but it tasted boozy, so you can sort of forgive it right? I know booze makes everything right, so that is what I say.  Next time I would replace the water I dissolved the gelatin in with the booze, or at least half and half water and booze.

Anyway, I also found an easier way to cut and dust the marshmallows.  I used my pizza cutter again then with an extra cake pan filled with a cup of icing sugar I pulled them apart and tossed them in there.  Then just shook them off.  It was much easier than the way I did it last time.  I took each piece and rolled it one at a time, so you know I learned something.

I then just dipped them in melted candy melts, and for the coffee ones drizzled with white candy melts, and the Irish cream got green candy drizzle of coarse.  I left the vanilla bean ones with just plain chocolate. I had so many I brought lots to both works, I gave some to my son's tutor and some to my friend who is pregnant and needs sugar. I also sent some to work with my hubby, you for the very first time tried something I made, and liked it! I know the world may stop turning.

So I think this opens up a lot of options for me, I may even tint my marshmallows next time, you know, just because I can.  Again sorry for the lack of pictures, I think I was so excited with them all I just forgot to get more.

Irish Cream Glazed Donuts

Well hello there, my drunken donut friends.

  So if the words Irish Cream drew you in, then you are not alone.  I have to admit, that Irish Cream is one of those things I could drink for ever.  And I am not even really allowed to drink, so you know I have to get a little bit in some how. Let me share the most amazing story ever!

One day I was in Micheal's, and I had a coupon, nothing was speaking to me.  I was looking and had to use it, it feels wrong to go in there and not use your coupon  So I settled on a donut pan. I was all excited, thinking donuts are going to be awesome and how I could not wait.  Then I forgot about it for about 6 months.  The end.

  I know right?  Classic me, I seriously need to think about the things I buy and how to justify them.  Or at least use them, because nothing beats the 10 year old candy thermometer I had, still in the package.

  So I looked around for some donut recipes and just didn't really find anything amazing. Well I found lots of great stuff, but I wanted something super easy, because it was Friday night and I just wanted a donut, I gave up and just used the recipe on the back of the pan.  I mean it is by Wilton, so you know it could not be that bad.

  The only problem was that the recipe was for a regular donut, and Pork Chop only eats Chocolate.  So I made a judgment call, and added some coco powder.  I think it worked okay.  But I think next time I will use melted chocolate or something.  I didn't get the strong chocolate flavour I wanted, but it wasn't bad.

So here you go.

Irish Cream Glazed Donuts:
Adapted from Wilton

-2 cups cake flour sifted
-3/4 cups sugar
-2 TSP baking soda
-1 TSP salt
-1/4 TSP nutmeg
-1/4 cup cocoa
-2 eggs
-2 TBPS melted butter
-3/4 cups buttermilk*


Glaze
-icing sugar **
-Irish cream***

*I made my own butter milk, just put 3/4 TBSPs of white vinegar in a measuring cup, add milk up to the 3/4 cup line, mix and let sit for 5 minutes

** & *** I did not measure, I just wanted enough to cover my donuts, so I just dumped stuff into a bowl and mixed, it worked.

Set oven to 400

Sift all your dry ingredients together.  Stir your eggs, milk and butter and mix into the dry ingredients.  Mix until combined, but do not over mix,

Then put the mixture into your pan.  Now I thought I was smart and put my stuff in a measuring cup and was going to pour it in.  No way, it was so thick I had to use a disposable piping bag.  Not the end of the world, but it meant I had one more thing to wash. GRRRR.

So I pipped my filling into the pan, after spraying it with cooking spray and put it in the oven.  I think I under filled some and over filled others, but it's all good.  Maybe not everyone likes big donuts, who they are I have no idea, but it could happen.

Please ignore the fact that it looks like poop in a pan.  I was really turned off at this point, almost tossed it out.

Okay this is a bit better!

 I baked them for 8 minutes, maybe a minute too long really then let them sit for a minute before I took them out and put them on a cooling rack.  I then filled my pan again and repeated the whole thing.  I got 12 donuts, some bigger than others, but all tasty.

 When I was ready to glaze them I took a bowl and put some icing sugar in then slowly added the booze until I got a nice thick glaze. I did have to add a bit more sugar because I got a little too eager with the booze.  You can't really blame me.

I don't know why but this picture makes me want to sing "Shot's, shot's , shot's everybody!"  And then I remember I am supposed to be a gown up, and just write it on my blog instead.

Now pay attention, this is scientific!  Just dump some sugar in the bowl, and add some booze.

Then mix it up.  I know, I should teach or something!

So once the glaze was smooth I took a donut and dipped the top into the glaze, sort of twisted it and lifted it up. I rolled the donut around a bit to make the glaze cover the top, then put it on a cooling rack.  I sprinkled on some sprinkles, and then figured out what I forgot to do.

  So if you are going to do this please put a cookie sheet or the very least some wax paper to catch the drips and the sprinkles.  Because the sprinkles just fell off.  So my donuts looks really sad, but they tasted good.

Sad donuts, you can totally see when I gave up and just plopped the glaze on.

And for Pork Chop I asked him if he wanted to decorate some, he said yes, then when I had everything ready for him he changed his mind.  I swear I may kill him one day.  Anyway, I just drizzled melted chocolate on his because he is so young, and I didn't want to share my boozy donuts with him.

Just for Pork Chop, who by the way didn't even eat one, not even a bite.

But at least they look pretty!