Dairy Party Recipe

Two  of the best outcomes of the Arkansas Dairy Foods Contest and the dairy recipe contest that we sponsored in our county, are  getting to taste  alot of delicious  food and taking home a new selection of recipes to share with family and friends. Congratulations to   Alexis Looper of Greenwood,Arkansas for  winning first place  in the party idea category with Vanilla cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Filling and Cream Cheese Icing.  What's not to love about a sweet treat  recipe full of dairy products!

Vanilla Cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Filling and Cream Cheese Icing
Cupcakes:
3 cups cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter,softened
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pan with baking cups. Sift together flour,baking powder, and salt;set aside. In large bowl,cream butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy.Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add flour mixture alternately with milk,beating well after each addition. Continue beating one minute. Pour into prepared baking cups. Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Turn out onto cooling rack; cool completely.

Strawberry Cream Filling:
1 package (16ounces) frozen sliced strawberries in syrup,thawed
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Combine strawberries,cream and cornstarch in medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until thickened, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and chill before filling cupcakes. Fill cupcakes with strawberry filling using decorating tip #230.

Cream Cheese Icing
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter,softened
2 packages (8ounces each) cream cheese,softened
8 cups confectioners' sugar (about 2 pounds)
1 tablespoon milk
Icing color,if desired


In large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar and milk. Beat on high until smooth (30-60 seconds). If icing seems too thin, add confectioners' sugar 1 tablespoon at a time.  If it seems too thick,add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until icing reaches desired consistency. Add icing color as desired, and mix well.
Frost cupcakes using a disposable decorating bag and a 1M decorating tip. Hold decorating tip approximately 1/4" above cupcake top, at a 90-degree angle to cupcake surface. Pipe a spiral of icing beginning at outer edge and working inward. Pipe a second spiral,smaller (not as wide) on top, and end spiral at center. Pull tip straight up and away. Add any sprinkles or decorations at this time.

Celebrate Earth Day with Dairy Recipe

Although Everyday is Earth day for dairy farmers , it's always fun to recognize a special day or occasion with a celebration that includes food.  Cream Puff Cake was one of the many delicious recipes entered in the Farm Bureau dairy recipe contest this week by Maysville 4-H member Jessica Crawley.

Cream Puff Cake

Crust:
1 cup milk
1/2 unsalted butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs,lightly beaten

Filling:
1 (8ounce) package cream cheese,softened
3 cups milk
2 (3.4 ounces) packages instant vanilla pudding

Topping:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Chocolate syrup (fudge topping)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup milk and butter until melted. Remove from heat and add flour. Stir until a small ball forms. Add eggs,one at a time,stirring until completely mixed in (batter will be slightly sticky). Spread dough in bottom and up sides of a 9" greased round cake pan* (spread as smooth as possible to avoid high bumps after baking). Bake for 25 minutes until slightly browned. Cool on wire rack.

In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Add milk and pudding mix; beat on low speed until mixture thickens. Spread over cooled crust.

Whip cream until soft peaks form. Spread over pudding layer. Drizzle chocolate syrup or fudge sauce on top. Refrigerate until serving.

Yield: 16 servings
*May use 9x13x2 inch pan. Bake crust for 30-35 minutes.

  

It does seem fitting for a dairy farmer to celebrate Earth Day with a recipe that includes delicious dairy products!