Chocnut Cheesecake with Caramel and Bananas

Filipino Style Recipe: This recipe is made from two of my favorite desserts, choc-nut and cheesecake. It is a fusion of an international recipe with a Filipino twist using our childhood favorite choc-nut. Talk about a delicious throwback!

Ingredients:
banana slices for toppings

For the crust:
24 pieces choc-nut
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup crushed grahams

For the cheesecake:
3 packs cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoons vanilla
1/4 cup milk
3 eggs

For the caramel sauce:
1/2 cup muscovado sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a mixing bowl, combine crust ingredients then mix until well blended.
2. Press the mixture into false-bottom pie pan. If using regular pan, put a parchment paper at the bottom so you can easily pull later on.
3. Bake in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
2. Mix the sour cream, vanilla and milk then gradually add the eggs. Mix until well blended.
3. Pour cream cheese mixture into prepared crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.
5. Once the oven stops, open the oven slightly and let the cheesecake stand for about 30 minutes.

Part 3
1. In a pot, heat the brown sugar in medium heat until it melts.
2. Lower the heat then add the muscovado sugar until it also melts.
3. Add the butter and milk, stir and remove from heat and let it cool.
4. Pour into the cheesecake then chill for at least 4 hours. Add sliced bananas for garnishing then serve.

Pandan Suman

Filipino Style Recipe: Pandan Suman is another variety of Filipino delicacy from glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaves together with sugar, salt, coconut cream and pandan extract. This delicacy is cook in a boiling water for 2 hours then serve with your favorite dip.

Estimated time of preparation: 40 minutes(plus soaking time)
Estimated time of cooking: 2-2.5 hours

Ingredients:
4 cups glutinous rice(malagkit)
2 cups white sugar
a dash of salt
1 teaspoon Pandan extract
2 tablespoon coconut cream
banana leaves, cleaned and cut into bigger sized
cotton strings or any food-safe string

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, place glutinous rice and water then soak for at least 3 hours.
2. Singe the banana leaves into flames for a few seconds but do not burn. Let it cool then wipe with clean cloth.

Part 2
1. Wash and rinse the glutinous rice then drain excess water.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine glutinous rice, sugar, salt, pandan flavoring and coconut cream then mix until well combined.
3. Arrange 2 pieces banana leaf on a flat surface then scoop 3-4 tablespoons of rice mixture, fold the leaf to wrap the rice mixture.
4. Grab 2 pieces of wrapped rice mixture then tie with folded sides together using cotton string.

Part 3
1. In a big pot, arrange the pieces then pour enough water to cover the wrapped rice mixture.
2. Bring to boil in a low heat for at least 2 hours or until done.
3. Unwrap then transfer to serving plate. Serve with your favorite dip.

Banana-Choco Crepes

Filipino Style Recipe: Banana-Choco Crepes is a popular dessert made of very thin pancakes originated from France. It is consists of flour, eggs, milk, vanilla and salt whisk together then cooked and swirl in hot pan with butter until almost set. Crepes can be serve with different variety of fillings.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 5 minutes
Good for 6 crepes

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract(optional)
1 ripe plantain, sliced
chocolate ice cream
chocolate syrup
confectioner’s sugar

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour and eggs. Whisk well.
2. Add milk, vanilla extract, butter and salt. Mix until well combine.

Part 2
1. In a non-stick pan, melt butter then scoop and pour 1/4 cup of batter.
2. Swirl the batter then cook for 20 seconds or until almost set. Flip and cook the other side.
3. Transfer to serving plate then place the banana slices and a scoop of chocolate ice cream in the center.
4. Fold both side to form a triangle then pour chocolate syrup on top. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar then serve.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Frosting

Filipino Style Recipe: Red velvet cupcakes with Frosting is one of the most popular type of cupcake nowadays. This recipe has a nice dark red color and soft moist cupcakes topped with frosting.

Estimated time of preparation: 30 minutes
Estimated time of baking: 15 minutes
Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
4 tablespoon red food color
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting:
200 grams cream cheese, softened
60 grams butter, softened
2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
A dash of salt

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour, unsweetened cocoa, baking soda and salt then mix well. Set aside.

Part 2
1. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (around 5 minutes).
2. Beat in eggs one at a time then mix in the sour cream, food color, and vanilla.
3. Add flour mixture gradually until just blended. (Do not overbeat as this will make the cupcake dry and hard.)

Part 3
1. In a muffin pan, line muffin cups then fill-in batter up to 2/3 of the muffin cup.
2. Bake in preheated oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until done. (Cupcakes is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.). Let it cool.

Part 4
1. In a electric mixer, whip butter on medium speed for 5 minutes or until becomes creamy.
2. Add cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla and salt then keep mixing for another 5 minutes or until becomes light and fluffy.
3. Add sugar then beat until smooth.
4. Scoop and spread the frosting on top of cupcakes. Refrigerate before serving.

Red Velvet Cupcake

Filipino Style Recipe: Red velvet cupcake is one of the most popular type of cupcake nowadays. This recipe has a nice dark red color and soft moist cupcakes.

Estimated time of preparation: 20 minutes
Estimated time of baking: 15 minutes
Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
4 tablespoon red food color
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour, unsweetened cocoa, baking soda and salt then mix well. Set aside.

Part 2
1. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (around 5 minutes).
2. Beat in eggs one at a time then mix in the sour cream, food color, and vanilla.
3. Add flour mixture gradually until just blended. (Do not overbeat as this will make the cupcake dry and hard.)

Part 3
1. In a muffin pan, line muffin cups then fill-in batter up to 2/3 of the muffin cup.
2. Bake in preheated oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until done. (Cupcakes is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.)
3. Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutty Brownie Torte

Filipino Style Recipe: This recipe is called Nutty Brownie Torte because of the rich chocolate taste with the nuttiness of the peanuts. The top is a generous layer of chocolate and the center is a chewy and gooey brownie. The peanuts add an interesting contrast to the consistency of the torte. This is a perfect treat for your kids and guests.

Ingredients:
1 cup dark chocolate, chopped (I used Beryl’s Gourmet – Dark Compound)
1 cup chopped peanuts
1 cup flour
1/2  cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup sugar syrup (dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1/4 cup water)
1/4 cup water
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting:
1/2 cup chopped Beryl’s Gourmet – Dark Compound chocolate bar
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp sugar syrup
1 tsp vanilla
choco sprinkles (optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a 9×6 inch baking pan, brush with butter then sprinkle with flour. (This will prevent the brownie from sticking in the baking pan.)
2. In a separate pan, melt 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup sugar syrup over low heat then stir in 1 cup chocolate. Remove from heat.
3. Add sugar and eggs then stir. Add vanilla, flour and nuts and mix until just blended.
4. Pour the mixture into baking pan and bake in a preheated oven over 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until center springs back when touched. (Overbaking will make the brownies dry.)
5. Remove from oven and let it cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan.

Part 2
1. To make the frosting, combine butter, sugar syrup, and chocolates over low heat until melted.Remove from heat then stir in vanilla.
2. Frost top and sides of the brownie then add sprinkles. Chill until set. Slice, serve and enjoy!

Cashew Polvoron

Filipino Style Recipe: Cashew Polvoron is another variety of polvoron made up of toasted flour, powdered milk, sugar, butter and ground cashew. This is a simple sweet delicacy and easy to prepared.

Estimated time of preparation: 20-25 minutes(plus wrapping time)
Estimated time of cooking: 15 minutes
Good for 30-35 pieces

Ingredients:
4 cups all purpose flour
2 cups powdered full cream milk
1 1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/8 cup butter, melted
1 cup ground cashew

japanese paper or or cellophane
polvoron moulder

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pan over medium heat, toast flour for about 15 minutes or until color turns to light brown. Stir constantly.
2. Transfer to a bowl and let it cool. Set aside.

Part 2
1. Add powdered milk and sugar then mix until well combined.
2. Sift then pour melted butter. Mix well until smooth.
3. Add ground cashew then stir well.

Part 3
1. In a polvoron mold, scoop and press the mixture until compact.
2. Wrap the molded polvoron with cellophane wrapper then secure by twisting both ends.
3. Repeat until all the mixture are consumed. Done!

Yema Cake

Filipino Style Recipe: Yema cake is a creamy and delicious custard cake originate in southern part of Luzon. This dessert is made from 2 layer chiffon cake coated with yema frosting. The custard is almost similar to brazo de mercedez and dulce de leche that consists of egg yolks, condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla extract.

Ingredients:
Chiffon Cake:
Flour Mixture:
1 1/4 cups cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup white sugar

Egg Yolks Mixture:
4 egg yolks from large-sized eggs
1/3 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Egg White Mixture:
4 egg whites
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Yema Frosting:
6 egg yolks
1 can condensed milk
1 big can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a mixing bowl, mix flour mixture until well blended then sift.
3. In a separate bowl, combine egg yolks mixture then whisk slowly until smooth.
4. Combine flour and egg yolks mixture while continue mixing until smooth and well blended.

Part 2
1. In another bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy.
2. Gradually add white sugar while continue mixing until stiff peaks are formed.
3. Gently add egg white mixture into flour and egg yolks mixture then whisk until well blended.
4. Add vegetable oil then fold.

Part 3
1. In a cake pan lined bottom with parchment paper then pour batter mixture then bake for 40-45 minutes.
2. Remove from the oven then let it cool. Remove cake from the pan then refrigerate before frosting.

Part 4
1. In a sauce pan, combine yema frosting mixture then cook while continuously stirring over low heat until becomes thick.

Part 5
1. Slice chiffon cake horizontally into two equal parts.
2. In a cake board, place the top slice upside down then spread a thin layer of yema frosting at the top.
3. Place the other slice on top, bottom side up then spread and cover the whole cake with yema frosting.
4. Sprinkle with grated cheese on top then refrigerate before serving.

Mini Calamansi Cheesecake

Filipino Style Recipe: Mini Calamansi Cheesecake is another thick and soft sweetened dessert made of cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, sugar and calamansi for flavoring. This dessert has a hard biscuit crust made from finely crushed cookies or graham crackers and then baked until firm. This can be served as meryenda or mid-afternoon snack.

Estimated time of preparation: 20 minutes
Estimated time of baking: 25 minutes(plus chilling time)
Good for 6 cupcakes

Ingredients:
Crust:
1/3 cup crushed graham crackers
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:
1 pack(8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoon calamansi juice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Grease 6-cup muffin pan and line with muffin cups.
2. For the crust, mix together the crushed grahams, sugar and butter in a bowl until well combined. Scoop a mixture and press into the the bottom of each muffin cup.
3. Bake in preheated oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven but keep the oven on.

Part 2
1. For the filling, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, calamansi juice, and vanilla until well blended. Do not over beat. Add egg then mix.
2.Pour the filling into the muffin cups. Bake for 25 minutes without opening the oven. Let it cool completely before removing from pan. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

No Bake Egg Pie

Filipino Style Recipe: No bake egg pie is another delicious pastry similar to Filipino custard pie. This dish has a simple procedure and doesn’t required to use oven. The pie crust was made of crushed graham and butter while the filling was mixed with gelatin to firm. The top layer was made of caramelize sugar then spread evenly to the top of our custard pie.

Estimated time of preparation: 10-15 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 30-40 minutes

Ingredients:
Crust:
1 pack crushed graham
a block of butter, cut into small pieces

Filling:
1 big can condensed milk
1 cup fresh cream milk or evaporated milk
4 raw eggs, beaten
1 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla essence(optional)
1 teaspoon jelly powder

Sugar Glaze:
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup water

Procedures:
Part 1(Crust)
1. In a mixing bowl, combine crushed graham and butter then mix well until moist and clay-like consistency. Add more butter necessary.
2. In a molding plate, spread and press down the crust mixture up to 1/2 inch thick then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Part 2(Filling)
1. In a large bowl, combine filling ingredients except gelatin powder then mix until well blended.
2. In a pan, pour filling mixture then add gelatin powder.
3. Simmer in a low heat while keep stirring until becomes really thick.
4. Pour and spread evenly the filling into the crust.

Part 3(Topping)
1. In a pan, dissolved sugar in water then simmer in a low heat until caramelize.
2. Pour and spread evenly the sugar mixture on top of filling. Refrigerate before serving.

Notes:
1. You may also add toppings to our egg pie like crushed graham or crushed Oreo cookies.