Jan Hagel Cookies

A box of crisp and buttery Jan Hagel Cookies wrapped with a navy blue ribbon.
Jan Hagel Cookies
Print Recipe
    Servings Prep Time
    1 10"x15" tray 20 minutes
    Cook Time
    20-22 minutes
    Servings Prep Time
    1 10"x15" tray 20 minutes
    Cook Time
    20-22 minutes
    A box of crisp and buttery Jan Hagel Cookies wrapped with a navy blue ribbon.
    Jan Hagel Cookies
    Print Recipe
      Servings Prep Time
      1 10"x15" tray 20 minutes
      Cook Time
      20-22 minutes
      Servings Prep Time
      1 10"x15" tray 20 minutes
      Cook Time
      20-22 minutes
      Ingredients
      Servings: 10"x15" tray
      Instructions
      1. Preheat oven to 350°F and set oven rack to the middle position. Lightly butter a 10"x15" baking tray, set aside.
      2. Cream together butter and granulated sugar. Divide the egg and add the egg yolk, cinnamon, salt and almond extract. Beat to fully combine. Add flour and mix only until dough starts to come together.
      3. Press or roll dough evenly into prepared pan. Whisk egg white with 1 tbsp water. Brush evenly onto prepared dough. Sprinkle evenly with almonds and then sprinkle with coarse sugar. Just enough to create a nice sparkle.
      4. Bake for 20-22 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for 3-5 minutes and then cut into squares or diamonds while the cookie is warm and soft. Once cut, allow to cool completely before removing from the pan. The cookies will firm up as they cool.
      Recipe Notes

      -coarse sugar is a larger crystal sugar that doesn't melt when baked so it keeps a sparkle on the goods it's sprinkled on. It may also be called pearl sugar, decorators sugar, sparkling sugar.

      -I get about 45 - 2" diamond shaped cookies, plus the best and crispiest half diamonds around the edges.

      -I've tried sliced almonds with and without the skin and both are good to use and is a matter of preference.

      -I find it just as easy to cut the squares instead of just scoring them while they are warm, but if you're having difficulty just score them and cut when cool.

      -cookies are best if eaten while fresh, however they will last in a sealed container at room temperature for several days. If freezing, allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container away from strong odours.

      Super Moist Carrot Cake

      A piece of Super Moist Carrot Cake on a small white plate resting on an orange napkin.
      Super Moist Carrot Cake
      Print Recipe
        Servings Prep Time
        9x13 pan 30 minutes
        Cook Time
        45-50 minutes
        Servings Prep Time
        9x13 pan 30 minutes
        Cook Time
        45-50 minutes
        A piece of Super Moist Carrot Cake on a small white plate resting on an orange napkin.
        Super Moist Carrot Cake
        Print Recipe
          Servings Prep Time
          9x13 pan 30 minutes
          Cook Time
          45-50 minutes
          Servings Prep Time
          9x13 pan 30 minutes
          Cook Time
          45-50 minutes
          Instructions
          Cake
          1. Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9"x13" pan with non-stick spray.
          2. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
          3. In a large bowl whisk together oil and sugar. Add eggs one at a time whisking well to fully combine after each. Stir in orange juice and vanilla.
          4. Whisk in half of the dry ingredients followed by half the milk. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients and milk, whisking only until just combined. Stir in carrots, pineapple and coconut. Pour into prepared pan and bake on the middle rack for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
          5. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, spread evenly with cream cheese icing. Cut into 20-24 pieces and serve.
          Cream Cheese Icing
          1. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add butter and beat until fully combined and fluffy. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and beat until just combined and smooth. Spread onto cooled cake.
          Recipe Notes

          -Cake freezes well without icing for up to a month if well wrapped.

          -Cake freezes well if iced and cut into squares, stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

          -Recipe makes for a thick layer of icing.  Icing freezes well on its own in an airtight container for up to a month.

          Creamy Lemon Pops

          Creamy Lemon Pops stacked on a metal serving tray garnished with fresh strawberries and a bowl of lemons in the background.
          Creamy Lemon Pops
          Print Recipe
            Servings Prep Time
            8 popsicles 20-25 minutes
            Cook Time
            4-5 minutes
            Servings Prep Time
            8 popsicles 20-25 minutes
            Cook Time
            4-5 minutes
            Creamy Lemon Pops stacked on a metal serving tray garnished with fresh strawberries and a bowl of lemons in the background.
            Creamy Lemon Pops
            Print Recipe
              Servings Prep Time
              8 popsicles 20-25 minutes
              Cook Time
              4-5 minutes
              Servings Prep Time
              8 popsicles 20-25 minutes
              Cook Time
              4-5 minutes
              Ingredients
              Servings: popsicles
              Instructions
              1. In a small bowl whisk together egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and salt. Place the bowl over a double boiler, making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl. Heat over medium, whisking constantly until mixture registers 170°F, about 4 minutes.
              2. Remove from heat and place in the fridge while proceeding.
              3. Whip heavy cream until firm peaks hold. Place in the fridge until ready to use.
              4. Using the same beaters, whip the warm egg yolk mixture until creamy, lite, and cool/room temperature to the touch, about 4 minutes. Stir in Greek yogurt until combined.
              5. Fold whipped cream into egg mixture until combined. Divide evenly into 8-80ml popsicle molds. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight. Run warm water over the popsicle molds to loosen slightly before pulling the popsicles out. Popsicles will last for a week if kept covered and in the mold.
              Recipe Notes

              -If preferred, remove all popsicles at once and store them in an airtight container for up to one week.

              Lemon Cream Mini Pavlovas

              Lemon Cream Mini Pavlovas
              Print Recipe
                Servings Prep Time
                8 people 30-40 minutes
                Cook Time Passive Time
                80 minutes 1+ hours
                Servings Prep Time
                8 people 30-40 minutes
                Cook Time Passive Time
                80 minutes 1+ hours
                Lemon Cream Mini Pavlovas
                Print Recipe
                  Servings Prep Time
                  8 people 30-40 minutes
                  Cook Time Passive Time
                  80 minutes 1+ hours
                  Servings Prep Time
                  8 people 30-40 minutes
                  Cook Time Passive Time
                  80 minutes 1+ hours
                  Ingredients
                  Mini Pavlovas
                  Lemon Cream
                  Servings: people
                  Instructions
                  Mini Pavlovas
                  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking tray with parchment and mark out 8-3" circles. Flip parchment over.
                  2. Combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Whip until soft peaks are starting to form. Gradually add sugar, about a tablespoon at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl and continue to whip on high speed until stiff and glossy, about 6-7 minutes using a stand mixer.
                  3. Add vanilla and whip to combine.
                  4. Sift cornstarch over the meringue and fold to combine.
                  5. Fit a large piping bag with your desired tip, I used a Wilton 1M.
                  6. Fill the piping bag with meringue and squeeze a dab of meringue onto the corners of the parchment to stick it to the baking tray. This will help keep the parchment from moving while you pipe. Place the baking tray on a slightly damp kitchen towel to prevent the tray from moving. Fill in the traced circle, creating a base. Continue to pipe along the edge of the base for two turns, creating a basket.
                  7. Place the tray in the oven on the middle rack and immediately turn oven temperature to 225°F. Bake for 80 minutes, turn off the oven and allow meringues to remain undisturbed in the oven until completely cool. Meringues will be firm and hollow sounding with a slight bit of tackiness and chew in the bottom layer.
                  Lemon Cream
                  1. Combine all ingredients except butter in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens, about 7-8 minutes. Whisk in butter until smooth.
                  2. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before covering with plastic wrap directly on the surface. Allow to cool completely and chill until ready to use.
                  3. When ready to assemble pavlovas, which should be no more than 2 hours in advance, whip heavy cream until stiff. Fold whipped cream into lemon curd and fill meringues generously. Top with fresh blueberries and serve.
                  Recipe Notes

                  -Using egg whites at room temperature will result in more volume.

                  -If unable to use castor or superfine sugar, simply grind regular granulated sugar in a mini coffee grinder for about 10 seconds.  Even this is not true castor sugar, it breaks down the sugar enough for better absorption into the meringue.

                  Chocolate Pots de Créme

                  Chocolate Pots de Créme
                  Print Recipe
                    Servings Prep Time
                    6 people 30 minutes
                    Cook Time Passive Time
                    40 minutes 3+ hours
                    Servings Prep Time
                    6 people 30 minutes
                    Cook Time Passive Time
                    40 minutes 3+ hours
                    Chocolate Pots de Créme
                    Print Recipe
                      Servings Prep Time
                      6 people 30 minutes
                      Cook Time Passive Time
                      40 minutes 3+ hours
                      Servings Prep Time
                      6 people 30 minutes
                      Cook Time Passive Time
                      40 minutes 3+ hours
                      Ingredients
                      Servings: people
                      Instructions
                      1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
                      2. Combine cream and milk in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate. Allow chocolate to sit for a few minutes and then stir until chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.
                      3. In a medium bowl whisk together egg yolks and sugar. Whisk in an approximate 1/4 cup of the chocolate mixture until combined, repeat with another 1/4 cup and then slowly whisk in the remaining hot mixture. Whisk in espresso powder and salt.
                      4. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and allow to sit for 10 minutes, then skim off any foam on the surface.
                      5. Pour evenly among six 3/4 cup ramekins. Arrange ramekins in a 9"x13" baking pan and add enough boiling water to come up the ramekins halfway. Cover entire pan with foil and bake on centre rack for approximately 40 minutes until the edges are set but centers still jiggle when shaken.
                      6. Remove from oven and remove custards from pan. Allow to rest for 10-20 minutes and then chill until cold, about 3 hours.
                      7. Serve with fresh raspberries and lightly sweetened whipped cream.
                      Recipe Notes

                      -If you do not use boiling water to start with the cooking time will be longer.

                      -You can also use good quality semi-sweet chocolate, however bittersweet results in a richer custard.

                      -Do not skip the straining as it ensures a smooth custard.

                      -Can be made up to 2 days in advance, covered and chilled.