Easy Lemon Curd Parfaits

This will make about 4-5 depending on the size of your glass jars or parfait glasses. I used 5 oz. repurposed yogurt jars that I had saved for small desserts.

Anyone from my pastry school days will remember me as a bit of a lemon head. I love love love anything lemon. I would always pick the lemon option when our instructor was passing out assignments. Recently the fine folks at www.Paradisefruitco.com sent me some complimentary candied lemon peel! and kindly asked me to come up a dessert or two and this is number 1 of a few that I’ll be posting, so come back in the near future for a couple more. Lemon lovers will love this super easy parfait that ticks all the boxes; tangy, sweet, crunchy and did I say super easy? You don’t even have to turn on the oven. If you’re not up to making lemon curd you can always purchase store bought curd.

*For this recipe you’ll need store bought lemon sandwich cookies. I purchased “thin” version lemon sandwich cookies (since they had less of a sweet filling , crushed to a coarse crumb in a food processor. (If you can’t find those you can use any other type of crisp lemon cookies, ginger snaps or any crisp type of cookie that you like.

Easy Microwave Lemon Curd

1 Cup Fresh lemon juice (not Meyer Lemon)

zest of one medium lemon

1 Cup castor sugar

1/2 Cup melted butter

2 large eggs

2 Tbsp. softened butter

In a 8 cup capacity measuring cup or bowl (such a Pyrex), place all of the ingredients (except the extra 2 tablespoons of soft butter) and heat on high in one minute increments; stopping each minute to whisk mixture. Continue heating until mixture coats the back of a heat proof spatula and registers at least 185 degrees F. (This will take about 7-10 minutes). Note: Do NOT place in a 4 cup measuring cup; the curd will expand around the 6 minute mark and you’ll end with it overflowing. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to catch any bits of egg material and also the zest (zest is just there for flavor). Whisk in the 2 tablespoons of soft butter and then place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the curd and chill until ready to assemble.

Cream Cheese “Fluff”

4 oz. Cream cheese, cold , cut into 1 inch cubes

1 Cup heavy cream, very cold

1 1/2 Tbsp. Non-fat dry milk powder

1/2 Cup Confectioners sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla bean paste or 1/2 tsp. vanilla is fine also

In a medium bowl beat the cream cheese until it is a spreadable consistency and free of lumps. Set aside.

In a stand mixer bowl or large bowl place the cold heavy cream, the non fat milk powder, confectioners sugar, and vanilla bean paste. With the whisk attachment beat until stiff peaks. Add the cream cheese and gently beat until combined; avoiding overbeating. Keep cold until ready to use.

To assemble the parfaits:

In the bottom of your dishes place a layer of crushed cookies, followed by some lemon curd, followed by some cream cheese “fluff”, followed by some bits of the chopped candied lemon peel over the fluff. Repeat once more with cookie crumbs, then curd and ending with the cream cheese fluff. For the last layer of fluff pipe a decorative swirl with a piping tip or simply a dollop, and top with a few more bits of the candied lemon. Keep cold until ready to serve.

Gingerbread ~ Cinnamon Chip Biscotti

Gingerbread Cinnamon Chip Biscotti:

(yield ~ 2 dozen) depending on size)

1 stick (1/2 Cup) unsalted butter, room temp

1/2 Cup dark brown sugar, packed

1/2 Cup granulated sugar

1/2 Cup unsulphured molasses (such as Grandmas)

2 large eggs

3 1/4 Cups all purpose flour

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1 1/8 tsp. cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. allspice

1/8 tsp. ground white pepper

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp. mini cinnamon chips (you can find them online from King Arthur or sometimes in baking shops) If you can’t find them; you can leave them out.

Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy; about 3-4 minutes. Add in the molasses and mix til combined. Add in the eggs one at a time and mix on medium low speed until combined. In a separate medium bowl combine all the dry; from flour on down the rest of the list. Add in the dry ingredients 1/3 at a time until combined; taking care not to over mix. Stir in the cinnamon chips.

Preheat the oven to 325 F degrees. Divide the dough into thirds or half depending on how big you like your biscotti.

I did mine into small-medium form size and shaped a long rectangular shape into a parchment lined baking sheet into a 2 inch wide x 10 inch long shaped strip; the dough will spread (width wise) to about double once baked. Bake your cookie “slab” at 325 degrees for about 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let sit on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Decrease the oven to 300 degrees.

Cut the slab into diagonal 3/4 inch slices. Set onto a clean parchment paper lined sheet spaced apart and bake for another 10 minutes (stopping half way to turn over each cookie) or until firm. The cookies will firm up further once cool. Repeat with your other portioned out dough to bake off the rest or shape larger if you like.

Peanut Butter ~ Salted Pretzel Balls

This is seriously the easiest treat to whip together. Plop yourself in front of the tv with a friend and commence to rolling out the balls. Take advantage of your little gremlins to help get all the balls rolled and then you can get to the dippin. I like the crunch of the Himalayan salt on top-don’t skip that part; it helps make them extra special. The salt I had was a little coarse so I bashed it (yes that’s a cooking technical term) in my mortar and pestle until it was a wee bit finer in texture. With all the other time sensitive treats you may be whipping up these don’t take much time to crank out.

Happy Holidays!

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter ~ Salted Pretzel Balls

1 stick (1/2 Cup) unsalted butter, room temp

3/4 Cup smooth peanut butter; such as Jif (not natural style)

pinch of kosher salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

3 Cups confectioners sugar, sifted

1/2 Cup salted pretzel thin sticks (cut into small pieces)

10 oz. bag Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers

pink Himalayan salt for garnish

Cream the butter, peanut butter, and salt together until smooth. Switch to the whisk attachment and blend in the sugar a cup at a time until combined. Add in the pretzel pieces and stir until combined. Using about a tablespoon roll into balls. Place the balls onto a parchment lined tray and chill until firm; about 30 minutes.

Melt the chocolate wafers in the microwave in 30 second increments; taking out to stir and keeping close watch so the chocolate does not burn. Once melted dip the balls using either a fork or a chocolate dipping loop and place onto the tray and immediately sprinkle with the pink salt. Once all the balls have been dipped place in the fridge to set up completely. Let come to room temperature to serve.