Crunchy heart shaped almond biscotti sandwiches
There’s nothing more special than baking a little something for your partner on this special occasion. But if you’re bored of the chocolate cakes, cup cakes and cookies and are looking for a little bit of variety. Here are two innovative, fun and flavourful recipes of almond biscotti sandwiches and pink velvet cake pops that you can try out this Valentine ’s Day.
Almond Biscotti Sandwiches
50 ml cream
250 gms flour
125 gms unsalted butter
50 gms custard powder
125 gms castor sugar
200 gms toasted flaked almonds
Chocolate Ganache:
200 gms Belgian chocolate, chopped
100 gms cream
20 gms butter
Method:
1. Mix together the flour, sugar, almonds and custard powder. Lightly blend the butter and cream together in the flour mixture.
2. Combine the dough together, making sure not to knead too much. Roll into seven mm thickness and use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut hearts. Re-use the trimmings.
3. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees celcius. Line a baking tray with butter paper.
4. Bake the cookies for approximately eight minutes depending on the size.
5. Remove and let it cool.
6. Boil cream, whisking gently. Add it to the chopped chocolate and whisk well, until combined. Whisk in butter and let it cool.
7. Turn over half the hearts (the flat underside should be facing the top). Smear on some chocolate, and top with another cookie, sandwiching the chocolate. Set in the fridge for an hour.
8. Drizzle with chocolate and serve.
Red velvet pops dipped in chocolate sauce
Pink Velvet Cake Pops:
Ingredients:
For the brownie:
280 gms flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
240 gms white chocolate
A few drops pink gel food colouring
90 ml (3/4 cup) milk
150 gms (3/4 cup) butter at room temperature
40 gms (5 tbsp) castor sugar
400 gms (1 tin) condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Method:
1. Grease and line a 10” square tin with baking parchment or greaseproof paper.
2. In a bowl mix all the dry ingredients, the flour, baking powder and baking soda and sieve once to make it uniform.
3. Melt the white chocolate. Warm the milk, and add the pink colour. Add the chocolate and mix well.
4. Set your oven to heat at 180 degree celcius.
5. In a large bowl put in the butter and the sugar and beat well with a wire whisk, hand blender or stand mixer for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
6. Put in the condensed milk and the vanilla extract and beat again for 3 to 4 minutes.
7. Stir in the melted chocolate and mix well.
8. Fold in the flour.
9. Pour the batter into the tin, tap the tin once or twice to make the batter uniform. Bake for 40 minutes until uniform.
For the cake pops:
100 gms cream cheese, whipped
250 gms melted dark or white chocolate
Method:
1. Cool the brownie. Crumble it and add the cream cheese. Mix both together.
2. Make hearts of 40gm each and smoothen them. Stick a lollipop stick into them and refrigerate them for a few hours.
3. Remove, dip in chocolate, shake of excess and top with a red cookie heart.
More On >> Valentine’s Day
