HowToDoThings.com Recent Desserts & Pastries Articles

How To Make a White Cake Using Box Mix

rachel R Johnson — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:22:09 -0500

How To Make Your Own Popsicles

teacher — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:50:51 -0500

Now that summer is here, you need something to cool yourself off when facing scorching temperatures. The best way that I know of is to make yourself some old-fashioned popsicles. Popsicles are inexpensive, easy and relatively quick, so why not refresh yourself with a cold, tasty treat? How can you make those old-fashioned popsicles? Simply follow these instructions and you will soon find your way to ultimate refreshment!

Ingredients and materials:

Juice (concentrated or freshly squeezed are healthier choices)
Popsicle trays (4+)
A large measuring cup (2 cups)
Freezer

Instructions:

How To Make Frozen Fruit Bars

teacher — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:27:01 -0500

It is the hot season and while refreshing yourself may be good, the extra calories and the lack of nutrition are often part of the deal. Also, if you are lactose intolerant like me, ice cream can be a delicious but painful option. If you have allergies, it is even worse. How can you control the calories, the content of your frozen treat as well as its nutritious value? Simple! Make your own frozen fruit bars! They are nutritious and refreshing as well. Within a few hours, you can enjoy some refreshing, healthy treats. How can you make them? Let's find out.

Ingredients:

Fruit(s) of your choice (a cup's worth)
Juice or yogurt (fat free is a healthier choice)

Materials:

How To Make Oatmeal Cookies

Deirdre — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:41:26 -0500

Warm oatmeal cookies are a healthy treat for almost any occasion. The nutrition of these treats makes them a favorite of many families. With a little effort and a few wholesome ingredients, you can make oatmeal cookies that your family will love.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup oats
¾ cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp almond extract
1 cup butter (softened)
2 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
½ cup raisins (optional)

Tools:
Large mixing bowl
Baking sheet
2 spoons

How To Make Tembleque

meloukhia — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:40:03 -0500

How To Bake an Apple Pie

mcdesign — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:55:37 -0500

Traditionally, autumn has been the season for drinking lots of fresh apple cider combined with warm sugar donuts, making applesauce, and baking fresh, homemade apple pies.

Ripe apples, freshly picked out of the orchard, can be stored in a cool, dark location, usually through the end of the year. This will give you and your family plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sweet, cinnamon-laced apple scent that will drift through the house as your apple pie bakes away in the oven. After the first of each year, your selection at the grocery store should still provide enough of a variety for making homemade apple pies year-round.

When choosing apples, look for a softer, tarter apple such as MacIntosh, Granny Smith, Jonathan, or Fuji, as opposed to Red or Golden Delicious. The softer, tarter apple will offer more moisture and flavor as the "meat" breaks down during the baking process.

How To Make a Bunny Rabbit Cake

Cassandra — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:18:45 -0500

For a little fun in the springtime, consider adding a Bunny Rabbit Cake to your dessert plans. This simple-to-follow plan will be fun for you and the kids. You'll be sure to have a great time making and dining on this special dessert.

Materials:
Cake mix for 2 9" round cake layers
1 tub of whipped topping
1 package of baker's coconut (approximately 2 cups)
1 small package of licorice whips (black or red)
1 handful of jelly beans or gumdrops

Tools:
2 9" cake pans
Knife to spread the icing

How To Make a Traditional Pound Cake

Van — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:05:11 -0500

How To Make Best Evers

mcdesign — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:07:32 -0500

How To Make Doughnuts

ralexander — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:09:44 -0500

How To Make Rhubarb Cobbler

mcdesign — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:39:42 -0500

With the arrival of spring, many gardens show signs of unfurling leaves with stalks of rhubarb reaching toward the warming sun. Rhubarb grows so fast, one healthy plant can produce enough for 2-3 scrumptious cobblers – maybe more!

Although rhubarb is considered a vegetable, most recipes treat it as a fruit-like dessert.

You will need:

Medium-sized pot for cooking syrup and rhubarb.
Medium-sized casserole dish for baking cobbler. A round casserole dish works nicely for this recipe.

Crust Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/3 cup shortening
½ t salt
Water

In one cup of water, add a couple of ice cubes and salt. Stir and let stand.

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How To Make Great Scones

Mr. Mom — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:35:59 -0500

If you're anything like me, you love a good scone in the morning with a hot cup of tea or some strong coffee. The notion of what a "good" scone is can be up for debate, but for it me it means a few different things.

How To Make Peppermint Bark

bronwyn — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:21:20 -0600

Peppermint bark is the ultimate Christmas candy, and can cost quite a bit, too! By making your own peppermint bark, you can save money and treat your friends. Peppermint bark makes an excellent Christmas or New Year's gift - or you can make it at any time during the year. Save those candy canes - you'll need them!

How To Make Figgy Pudding

bronwyn — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:44:56 -0600

For most of us in modern times, the only thing we know about figgy pudding is that it is in the Christmas carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Why not try making figgy pudding this year? After all, if the pudding (actually more like a cake) has been around for this long, it must be good! Figgy pudding was traditionally steamed, but baking is much easier and usually comes out looking better. Although there are many recipes for figgy pudding, here is one way to make it.

How To Make a Very Delicious Last Minute Christmas Gift

theramblinghousewife — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:35:57 -0600

Still looking for a gift for your child's teacher? Perhaps you would like to give your neighbor a little something too? What about your preacher at church? Is there anyone else you have forgotten?

Here is a very simple, yet delectable gift idea for those people that can be a little tricky to buy for. Follow these steps to make Beautiful, Buttery, Graham Cracker Toffee Bars -- a deliciously simple holiday treat!

How To Make Traditional Baklava

mcdesign — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:11:13 -0600

Baklava is a pastry that can be traced as far back as the 8th Century B.C. Early Baklava was made with a thin bread dough, chopped nuts and honey, and was baked in wood-burning stoves. Hundreds of years later, with the Turkish Sultans believing pistachios and honey were an aphrodisiac if eaten on a regular basis, they demanded these ingredients be used.

The modern-day Baklava is made with Phyllo dough, "leaf" in Greek. Phyllo dough provides a flaky, buttery crust.

This can be a very complex recipe but after making Baklava for many years and perfecting the sequence, the following is an easy-to-follow, detailed version of a pastry that will soon become your trademark treat for the holidays... and highly requested. Just don't let on how easy it soon becomes to make.

You will need:

How To Make Chocolate Butter Cake

halfvind — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:41:15 -0600

Every body loves chocolates and cakes. You can give a surprise to your loved ones with a perfect blend of chocolate and cake.

Ingredients

For Chocolate Butter Cream

Icing Sugar 100 gm
Melted Chocolates 150 gm
Unsalted Butter 50 gm
Margarine 50 gm
Vanilla Essence 1 Drop

For Chocolate Sponge

Super refined flour 200 gm
Sugar 200 gm
Egg 6 nos.
Cocoa Powder 30 gm
Salt To taste

Directions

How To Make an Authentic Key Lime Pie

Magpie — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:14:25 -0600

Key lime pie is one of my favorite desserts, year 'round. This recipe is quick and easy to prepare and turns out perfectly every time!

Ingredients:

1 (9”) store-bought graham cracker pie crust
3 egg yolks (discard the whites)
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (I use Eagle Brand)
½ cup bottled key lime juice (such as Nellie & Joe’s or Florribbean)

Steps:

How To Make Apple Crumb Pie

Magpie — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:14:07 -0600

Ingredients:

Crumb Topping:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted (do not substitute margarine)

Pie:

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Dash of salt
5-6 large apples (if available, Jonathans give a great result; also good are Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, Mcintosh)
1 9-inch unbaked pie shell (homemade preferred, but I have also used Pillsbury refrigerated crusts with good results)

Steps:

How To Make the Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Magpie — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:25:16 -0600

Ingredients:

2 large eggs
1 can (16 oz.) solid pack pumpkin
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 can evaporated milk
1 (9-inch) unbaked piecrust with high fluted edge*

Steps:

How To Make Homemade Holiday Candy

KiwiB — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:24:17 -0600

'Tis the season of family, friends and lots of holiday parties. No matter what you’re celebrating this time of year, a tin of homemade candy is usually quite welcome. The trouble is most candy recipes call for extra time, special equipment and lots of candy-making experience. Here are some “traditional “holiday candy recipes that have been simplified to save time without losing the integrity of the flavor or texture. These are simple enough to whip up at almost the last moment, if the ingredients are at hand. Doubling the batches for gift giving is simple, and I can finish all my holiday candies in an afternoon. Finished candy will keep, tightly wrapped, for a month. Recipes include: Deluxe Chocolate Fudge, Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge, Peanut Brittle, English Toffee, Glazed Walnuts.

Deluxe Chocolate Fudge
Yield: 24 servings (depending who slices)

Equipment

How To Make Special Cookies for Santa

KiwiB — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:37:43 -0600

Nothing puts people in the holiday spirit more than Christmas cookies. Cheerful, festive and delicious, these cookies rarely make it to the New Year. Since the dough is made a day ahead, this leaves only one mess to deal with at a time, which I am sure you will agree, is especially important if you are planning to decorate with the kids. A frosting recipe is also included, but canned frosting can also be used if time is a factor. Whatever you do, have fun and have a beautiful holiday season!

Equipment:

Large Mixing Bowl
Spoons for mixing
Medium Mixing Bowl
Spatula
Cookie sheets
Plastic wrap or wax paper
Cookie Cutters
Rolling Pins

Ingredients:

How To Make an Awesome Chocolate Cake

KiwiB — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:53:01 -0500

As a Pastry Chef, there is no recipe that I give out more, or offer more advice on than baking the perfect chocolate cake. No matter what your baking skill level, this is one of those things you want in your portfolio. This recipe is infallible if you follow the instructions, and even a child (properly supervised) can create a dessert to be proud of. Since this cake is so awesome, it doesn’t require frosting, but could be paired with a creamy frosting for a decadent dessert. My husband prefers it plain, but I like a little dusting of powdered sugar. See what new combinations you can come up with!

Ingredients:

How To Make Creme Brulee

Uninvited Writer — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:28:36 -0500

Creme Brulee (burnt cream) is a custard dessert topped with browned sugar and usually baked in a ramekin. It is a very light and refreshing dish. It first appeared in a French cookbook in 1691.

I remember the first time I made this, it was so incredibly easy to make and had a very light taste. It really hits the spot when you want a dessert that isn't too filling. This recipe is for a basic creme brulee and will serve 4.

Tools and ingredients:

How To Roast Marshmallows

ralexander — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:18:20 -0500

Roasting marshmallow is an excellent way to bring families and friends together on a chilly outdoor evening. Children and adults alike enjoy sitting around the campfire and toasting their own marshmallows. Whether it be for making s'mores or eating them alone, make sure you know these basic tips so you can safely and effectively roast a marshmallow.

How To Make a Perfect Pie Crust

wendysm — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:17:20 -0500

Making a delicious, flaky homemade pie crust is becoming a lost art. Many people think it is too difficult and just buy the crust from the store; this is a shame because nothing beats homemade, and the crust really is simple to make. If you have butter (or Crisco), flour and salt, you have everything you need to make a great crust.

Ingredients:

Two cups of flour (This makes two nine-inch crusts.)

2/3 cup firm butter or Crisco (I prefer butter because it has better flavor.)

1 teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoons cold water

Steps

How To Make Professional-Looking Chocolates at Home

DivaChoc — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:52:41 -0500

Children as well as adults love chocolate. Why? Because it's an indulgent treat, a delicacy to be shared. You can go to a chocolate shop and spend $15 for a box of candy or...you can make great-looking chocolates for a fraction of the cost. I'm going to show you how to have a ball making delicious candy that everyone will enjoy!

You will need the chocolate-flavored candy coating known as candy melts. They look like Hershey kisses but they are chocolate wafers. The flavored wafers' ingredients include sugar, vegetable oils, color and flavorings. It is easier than using real chocolate and if you're a beginner, your results are more likely to be successful. Chocolate candy melts are available in milk, white, dark, mint, butterscotch and all colors of the rainbow.

There are several ways to melt chocolate candy melts: Microwave oven, double boiler, slow cooker (crock pot) and warming tray:

How To Buy Christmas Cookie Cutters

Tonya249 — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 18:38:00 -0500

Making Christmas cookies is a time-honored tradition in many households. Cut-out cookies are a particular favorite, especially among children. If you'd like to start your own tradition, there are a few things to know about cookie cutters before you start shopping.

How To Organize a Cookie Swap

Danielle16 — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 15:33:00 -0600

During the holiday season, cookie-giving is most common. Some people end up replacing store-bought gifts with these homemade goodies; you may even find yourself getting so many cookies that you can't eat them before they get stale. So why not hold a cookie swap in advance to share recipes, enjoy a chat or two, and savor fresh cookies in moderate amounts? It's simple, and absolutely delightful.

How To Host a Kid's Ice Cream Party

Danielle16 — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 14:37:00 -0600

Most kids and adults love ice cream. It's cold, delicately surprising, and absolutely delicious. So why not host an ice cream party in honor of this tasty dessert?