I love to BAKE!

[ClaudiafromKraftKitchens]

Hello,
My name is Claudia and I'm form Kraft Kitchens. I absolultely love baking. To me there is nothing like the smell of an apple pie baking in the oven. Or eating chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven when they're still warm and gooey. I would love to help anyone with any baking questions. I have lots of experience and would love to make your next holiday a lilttle less stressful. Desserts can often be made ahead and frozen, then baked when needed. Let me help you!!

Claudia

[Liketobake]

Hi Claudea.

I posted a few threads way back on swiss rolls, and jelly rolls. Also on poppy seed strudel, poppy seed slice, and poppy seed stolen (spelling). I have never made any of these before, but if you have any great recipes, and especially tips for these please post them. These are my lifetime goals to make these well.
Thanks
:D

Also tips on cake decorating please.

My baking tends to focus on cookies, muffins, breads, pies, scones, and cakes. I would like to get into the decorating aspect though. Most of my family does not care for iced goodies, however I have long aspired to ice things well (I have tried a few times with little success at making things beautiful, they might look acceptibale but not lovely).

Thanks
:)

[ClaudiafromKraftKitchens]

This is a really delicious recipe for a pumpkin roll cake. It would be great for Thanksgiving. The trick here is rolling the cake when it is still warm and then wrapping it in the towel. Let me know what you think. I will look for a poppy one as well.
Happy Baking!
Claudia



Pumpkin Spice Roll


Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 1 hr 35 min
Makes: 10 servings


3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar, divided
3/4 cup flour
1-1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. CALUMET Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup chopped PLANTERS Walnuts
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP or COOL WHIP French Vanilla Whipped Topping, thawed (1/2 of 8-oz. tub)



PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Grease 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Line with wax paper; grease and flour wax paper. Sprinkle clean towel with 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar.
MIX flour, spice, baking powder and salt; set aside. Beat eggs and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until thickened. Add pumpkin; mix well. Add flour mixture; beat just until blended. Spread evenly into prepared pan; sprinkle with walnuts.
BAKE 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately invert cake onto towel; remove pan. Carefully peel off paper. Starting at one of the short sides, roll up cake and towel together. Cool completely on wire rack.
BEAT cream cheese and 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add whipped topping; mix well. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar just before serving.



Make Ahead
One 15-oz. can pumpkin contains enough pumpkin for 2 Pumpkin Spice Rolls. Eat one now and enjoy the second one later. To store cake, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil. Store in freezer up to 1 month. Place in refrigerator to thaw overnight.

[ClaudiafromKraftKitchens]

What sort of decorating tips are you looking for? Would you like to know the best way to ice a layer cake, or decorate christmas cookies? Let me know and mybe I can offer you some tips.

Claudia

[Liketobake]

All kinds please. In particular, decorating cupcakes, and layer cakes would be good too.

Thanks
:)

[ClaudiafromKraftKitchens]

The best way to ice a cake is to put in on a plate with 4 pieces of wax paper under it (4 rectangles that will be removed later). Place your bottom layer flat side down on the wax paper. Place about 1 cup frosting on layer, smoothing with a straight spatula. It's a good idea to have some hot water to dip your spatula in, then wipe off. Place your second layer on top with the flat side up. Frost the sides first, then the top. It's nice to make some large swirly motions with the spatula for a nice look. Remove the wax paper. If you're really ambitious, you can lift the cake and with your hands press some chopped nuts, candy canes, coconut etc around the base of the cake. It looks really nice. I hope this helps.

For cupcakes, it's nice to pipe a swirl on top. Do you have a pastry bag? If you do, use a large tip with cuts in it to make a nice design. Then sprinkle with colored sugar, sprinkles or nuts.
Or, another nice look is to dip the cupcakes in a chocolate glaze, then sprinkle with nuts. Here's a simple chocolate glaze:

1 tub (8 oz.) frozen COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
6 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate



MICROWAVE frozen whipped topping and chocolate in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. Stir. Microwave an additional 30 sec. to 1 min. or until chocolate is melted and mixture is shiny and smooth

Happy decorating




Claudia