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.

      Nut Butter Granola Bars

      Nut Butter Granola Bars
      Print Recipe
        Servings Prep Time
        16 bars 30 minutes
        Cook Time Passive Time
        30-35 minutes 5 minutes
        Servings Prep Time
        16 bars 30 minutes
        Cook Time Passive Time
        30-35 minutes 5 minutes
        Nut Butter Granola Bars
        Print Recipe
          Servings Prep Time
          16 bars 30 minutes
          Cook Time Passive Time
          30-35 minutes 5 minutes
          Servings Prep Time
          16 bars 30 minutes
          Cook Time Passive Time
          30-35 minutes 5 minutes
          Ingredients
          Servings: bars
          Instructions
          1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange nuts and pumpkin seeds on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for 10-12 minutes until golden, stirring once. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
          2. Meanwhile, reduce the oven to 300°F. Spray a 13x9" pan with non-stick spray and line with parchment paper, overhanging the long sides.
          3. Using a food processor, pulse cooled nuts and 1 cup of oats until a sandy consistency and no large pieces of oats remain. Transfer to a large bowl, along with the remaining cup of whole oats. To the same bowl stir in dried fruit and oil (chop any dried fruit bigger than a raisin).
          4. In a medium saucepan whisk together honey, salt and vanilla over medium heat until at a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 3 minutes until bubbling vigorously and smells like caramel.
          5. Add peanut butter to oat mixture along with the hot honey and stir to fully combine. By adding together, the hot honey will help melt the peanut butter. Whisk egg white in a small bowl and stir into oat mixture until fully incorporated.
          6. Scoop into prepared pan and pack down firmly and evenly. Using the bottom of a measuring cup helps to compact the mixture and get it flat.
          7. Bake until golden and no longer sticky 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before scoring into 16 pieces (2x8). Let cool completely in the pan before lifting out using the parchment overhang. Cut along score marks into bars.
          Recipe Notes

          -don't skimp on the amount of listed salt.

          -I used a combination of almonds, pecans and cashews.

          -cut bars can be wrapped and frozen, kept in a sealed container for up to 1 month.

          -cut bars will last for about 5 days stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

          -other nut butter such as almond butter work well too.

          Baked Berry and Coconut Oatmeal

          A square of Baked Berry and Coconut Oatmeal topped with fresh berries and yogurt.
          Baked Berry and Coconut Oatmeal
          Print Recipe
            Servings Prep Time
            12 servings 20-25 minutes
            Cook Time Passive Time
            28-30 minutes 20 minutes
            Servings Prep Time
            12 servings 20-25 minutes
            Cook Time Passive Time
            28-30 minutes 20 minutes
            A square of Baked Berry and Coconut Oatmeal topped with fresh berries and yogurt.
            Baked Berry and Coconut Oatmeal
            Print Recipe
              Servings Prep Time
              12 servings 20-25 minutes
              Cook Time Passive Time
              28-30 minutes 20 minutes
              Servings Prep Time
              12 servings 20-25 minutes
              Cook Time Passive Time
              28-30 minutes 20 minutes
              Ingredients
              Servings: servings
              Instructions
              1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
              2. In a large bowl whisk together milk and eggs. Whisk in remaining ingredients except for the berries until fully combined. Stir in berries.
              3. Spray a 12 square non-stick brownie pan or a 9"x 9" non-stick pan with non-stick spray.
              4. Divide batter evenly between squares or pour into prepared 9" x 9" pan.
              5. Bake on the center rack for 28-30 minutes if using the individual brownie pan and about 40 minutes if using the 9"x 9" pan.
              6. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 20 minutes. They will continue to firm up while cooling and you only need it pleasantly warm to serve. They will be difficult to remove from the individual brownie pan if too warm. Remove from pan and serve with yogurt, fresh berries and a drizzle of maple syrup if desired. If baking for meal prep and saving for later feel free to allow it to cool longer before removing from either pan.
              Recipe Notes

              -Use almond milk or other milk substitutes in place of the 2% milk if desired.

              -Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder if you want more protein.

              -The individual brownie pan is perfect for meal prep baked oatmeal squares.

              -Allow the squares to cool completely before wrapping and freezing.  Will keep well wrapped for up to one month in the freezer.

              -Allow frozen squares to thaw before warming gently in the microwave.

               

              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.

                  Graveyard Brownie Bites

                  Graveyard Brownie Bites resting on crumbled cookie dirt scattered with sculls and bones.
                  Graveyard Brownie Bites
                  Print Recipe
                    Servings Prep Time
                    36 mini brownies 60-80 minutes
                    Cook Time Passive Time
                    12 minutes 60 minutes
                    Servings Prep Time
                    36 mini brownies 60-80 minutes
                    Cook Time Passive Time
                    12 minutes 60 minutes
                    Graveyard Brownie Bites resting on crumbled cookie dirt scattered with sculls and bones.
                    Graveyard Brownie Bites
                    Print Recipe
                      Servings Prep Time
                      36 mini brownies 60-80 minutes
                      Cook Time Passive Time
                      12 minutes 60 minutes
                      Servings Prep Time
                      36 mini brownies 60-80 minutes
                      Cook Time Passive Time
                      12 minutes 60 minutes
                      Ingredients
                      Servings: mini brownies
                      Instructions
                      1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
                      2. Prep 36 non-stick mini muffin tin cups by either spraying generously with non-stick spray or greasing and flouring. See note.
                      3. Chop the semi-sweet chocolate and measure out 4 ounces. In a large bowl combine the 4 ounces of chocolate with the butter and microwave at 30-second intervals until melted, stirring often.
                      4. Whisk in the sugar, eggs, and vanilla until fully combined.
                      5. Sift in the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt directly into the bowl. Whisk to combine just until the dry ingredients are incorporated.
                      6. Scoop the batter into prepared mini muffin cups using a level 2 tbsp scoop.
                      7. Bake on the centre rack for 12 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely in the pan.
                      8. Meanwhile, prepare the tombstones but slicing each cookie wafer into thirds, tapering the bottom slightly inward toward the center piece to create a tombstone shape. Reserve the side pieces that have been cut off.
                      9. Crush reserved cookie wafers that have been cut off the sides to a fine crumb that resembles dirt and set aside.
                      10. Dust each tombstone piece with a small amount of powdered sugar by rubbing the sugar lightly onto the cookie wafer.
                      11. Melt the remaining 3 ounces of chopped chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave using 30 second intervals and stirring often until melted.
                      12. Remove brownie bites from the pan and spread the tops with a small teaspoon of melted chocolate. Immediately sprinkle with crumbled cookie wafers and press lightly to adhere.
                      13. Push a tombstone wafer into each brownie bite, cutting a small slit in the brownie if needed to push in far enough to hold in place.
                      14. Decorate with candy bones, spiders, or worms as desired. Drizzle with red decorating gel to mimic blood. Serve and enjoy!
                      Recipe Notes

                      - I have used both pan preparation methods with similar results.  The key is to allow the brownie bites to cool completely in the pan before trying to remove them.  Loosen the tops from the pan with a sharp knife if necessary. Twist the brownie lightly to loosen and the brownie should pop out.