Hello Mama's!
I am confident that someone out there will have just what I need. I am trying to replicate a chocolate cherry brownie recipe of my grandmothers. Noone in the family can find the recipe - so sad! I think I can do the cherry brownie part - or come close without a problem. It's the icing that I am having trouble with. It is a simple recipe but I don't know the portions and don't have time (or the money) to experiment. I believe the recipe called for just butter, sugar, chocolate chips and maybe some milk. I believe the method was melt sugar and butter (milk?), maybe bring to a boil, add chocolate chips and stir till melted. That was it. Does anyone have a recipe out there that sounds like this?? I haven't made this treat in years and decided that I really wanted to share this recipe with my kids. My oldest is taking home ec in middle school and thought it would be fun to share her great-grandma's recipe with her. I am so sad that I can't find the original. I will continue the hunt though. In the mean time I hope one of you super-mama's out there will be able to provide me a similar substitute.
My online searches were proving fruitless and as expected I've already received many responses from all of you great mama's out there. One person had a recipe that sounds very, very close to what I remember. But there are some others that I am certainly going to have to try on other cakes and treats. Of course no I am craving chocolate and need to make a run for the vending machine! thanks everyone!
hi,
try looking on www.recipeczar.com a great site with tons of recipes.. also, users give ratings on the recipies.
best of luck,
Lenci
Aha!
What you're looking for is called "Chocolate Buttercream". There are actually several different kinds. Here's one of my favorite quick answers as to the kinds. I've posted what I think you're probably looking for, plus a second from the Cake Bible below the different kinds. If you follow the link you can also get the other recipes.
http://www.pastrysampler.com/Questions_and_Answers/butter...
1. Meringue Based:
a. Italian Buttercream: A cooked meringue made with a hot sugar syrup.
b. Swiss Meringue: A meringue made from whites and sugar warmed together over a bain marie. This dissolves the sugar.
2. Yolk Based:
a. Pâte á bombe: Sometimes referred to as a French buttercream. A buttercream here is made with yolks and hot sugar syrup.
3. Butter Based:
a. Here you will find basic recipes ranging from only butter and powdered sugar to the incorporation of other ingredients such as cream cheese, melted chocolate, cream or non-fat milk powder. Sometimes shortening or an emulsified shortening is added for stability.
4. Shortening Based:
a. Sometimes referred to as Decorator's Icing or Decorator's Buttercream. While this buttercream can be used for icing a cake, it is used mainly for decoration like roses and for piping borders and edging. Shortening has a much higher melting point making it suitable for those decorations needing a firmer look or handling. Since shortening does have a higher melting point, it will not have the same mouth feel as the above buttercreams, and can be very waxy to eat. If used for icing rather than strictly for decorating, butter and/or a liquid will be added for better mouth feel and flavor.
Here are a couple of examples:
______________________
Buttercream Icing
This butter-based recipe is adapted from "Ateco Simplified Cake Decorating."
1/4 c butter
Speck of salt (if needed)
2 c sifted powdered sugar
3 T milk or light cream
1/4 t vanilla
Whip the butter until fluffy. Gradually add in 1 cup of the powdered sugar and reduce speed to low, add in the liquid, salt and flavoring. Last the rest of the powdered sugar. If firmer icing is needed, add in a bit more powdered sugar, if softer icing is needed, add in a bit more of the milk. Flavor as desired.
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And another...from the Cake Bible...that uses cocoa instead of melted chocolate
* 1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
* Pinch salt
* 3-2/3 c. sifted confectioners' sugar
* 1/3 c. sifted or strained nonalkalized (not Dutch process) unsweetened cocoa powder
* 4 to 5 Tbsp. milk
* 2 tsp. vanilla
In large bowl, combine softened butter and salt. With powerful hand-held electric mixer, beat until well-mixed. Gradually add about half of confectioners' sugar and 2 Tbsp. milk (reserve remainder). Beat at low speed to mix, then at medium speed until fluffy. Beat in cocoa. Add remaining sugar and enough milk to make a good spreading consistency, then add vanilla. Increase speed to high; beat until fluffy and well-blended.
I'll plug away at a recipe and send it on asap--- GOOD for you, N., what a great idea!! -- be sure and 'check around' with other family members- someone may have it that would really surprise you ( my 26 year old kept a cookbook that her 3rd grade class had put together- and THERE I found the real, true recipe for a dessert that My Mom used to make---)
blessings,
Old Mom
aka- J.
I dont have a clue, but I could feel your frustration (I get into situations myself where I want to do something and just cant get what I need).
I sent your message to my grandma (she is also a member of mamasource), she knows pretty much everything about baking and I am pretty sure she can help! :)
You might also try betty crocker website for information, most of the older generations lived by that recipe book. below is one that I just found online...might be what you are looking for. I hope you find it, it sounds like it would mean a great deal to you.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
Melt butter in a small saucepan.
Add cocoa and remove pan from heat.
Stir in remaining ingredients until smooth.
Spread over brownies.
I don't know how well this recipe will work on brownies, but the favorite chocolate icing in our family is what we call Mom's Stay Soft Frosting. It really does stay soft, so it doesn't work well for a layer cake or anything layered. It is so delicious and very spreadable so even the youngest won't have difficulty spreading it on their graham crackers, etc!
1/3 cup cocoa
3 tbsp. cornstarch
1 1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix cocoa, cornstarch, sugar and salt thoroughly in pan. After first ingredients are mixed, add milk, stirring constantly until it boils. Remove from heat, add butter and vanilla. Enjoy!
You won't believe how good this is and it never gets hard.
Hersheys "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.
Hi N.,
I make a chocolate cake and use the same Icing recipe it is;
1 1/2 cups sugar
6 Tbs of butter
6 Tbs of milk
6oz of chocolate chips ( I put in more about 12oz)
Put first 3 ingredients in med sauce pan boil for one min on med heat. Remove and add chocolate chips pour over warm brownies or cake and serve. I hope this works.
J.
This is the simplest I've ever made, and also the best:
put some Trader Joe's bittersweet dark chocolate in a bowl with some milk
microwave until they are soft
stir together.
If it's too runny, add more chocolate; too thick add more milk.
It gets firm but not hard, it's delicious, and it takes 3 minutes.
Good luck!
Have you done a search on line? I like to just go to yahoo or google and search for new recipes.
Hi N.,
I don't have a recipe exactly like that, but have you tried looking on allrecipes.com? People submit all kinds of recipes on there, including old family favorites.
Good luck!
Hello! Wow, sounds good! :) My sister just looked up a recipe in the reprint version of a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. The "New Cook Book". Anyway, she found a recipe for "Fudge Frosting" that sounds similar to what you are looking for, and here it is:
"2 1-ounce squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
3 cups sugar
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
Combine melted chocolate, sugar, syrup, salt, and milk. Cook over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook to soft-ball stage (232 degrees F.)
Remove from heat; add butter and cool till just warm (110 degrees F.). Add vanilla and beat till mixture is of spreading consistency. Frosts tops and sides of two 9-inch layers. Frost between layers, then frost sides, and last of all, the top. For a cake like this, press finely chopped nuts against the sides "
Hope this helps!
I use this recipe on a fudge cake I make:
In a small saucepan mix 1 cup sugar, 5 tablespoons of butter, and 1/3 cup milk. Boil, stirring constantly for one minute. Remove from heat, stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 6 oz. of chocolate chips. Beat until smooth with electric mixer. This can be spread on a hot cake if desired.
Sometimes I don't even use a mixer; I just stir it by hand.
Hope this helps.
#1..!!!!NEVER BOIL MILK!!! You can scald it, but NOT boil it. To scald milk, you put it in a pan,stand right there and watch it.DON'T LEAVE!!!! As soon as it gets little bubbles around the edge of the milk, remove it from the heat and then proceed with the recipe.
2 squares semi-sweet chocolate
1 tablespoon butter (or margarine)
3/4 cup scalded milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Melt chocolate and butter together in separate container...add cornstarch and sugar and mix well...add the scalded milk and cook (on low heat)until thick like frosting... stir in vanilla. Cool thoroughly before using. EAT!!!
Hope this is what you needed...
C. Hamlin
Cave Junction OR
