How to Make Butterbeer, Universal Style!

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butterbeer, butterscotch, cream, cream soda, easy, experiment, frozen, Harry Potter, Orlando, recipes, Universal Islands of Adventure

Since December, I have tried four different kinds of butterbeer: boozy, hot, frozen, and non-frozen.  Two were at Alamo Drafthouse (the most awesome movie theater ever…truth) in San Antonio and the other two were at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure in Florida.  (I blogged about the latter!)  One of them came the closest to what J.K. Rowling conjured up in my imagination, and that was the hot version at the Drafthouse.  However, the two kinds at Universal were supposedly sampled and approved by the author herself.  Even though they weren’t what I had imagined, I really enjoyed them.  (Friends and the surroundings definitely helped!)

I’ve been wanting to try to create my own interpretation of butterbeer for quite some time, but since that’s hot and it’s summer, I thought I’d attempt the frozen Universal creation for now.  Besides, with Part 2 of Deathly Hallows coming out this weekend (eeeeeeee!), it’s the perfect time, right? 

Spicy Brownies

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baking, brownies, chipotle, chocolate, cinnamon, experiment, Moosewood, recipes, white chocolate

Oh, my.  I’ve been experimenting again.  Once you start, there seems to be no turning back!

This didn’t start off as an experimental idea, though.  I found this recipe in a Moosewood cookbook, and it’s almost identical to Mark Bittman’s brownies, which I’ve mentioned before.  The only difference is that Moosewood calls for brown sugar instead of white, but they both claim to be originally from an old recipe somewhere else.

Initially, I was going to add peanut butter chips to half and white chocolate chips to the other half.  Then I thought of cinnamon chips, which is when my mind started going into an over creative mode.  You see, I had an orchestra audition on Monday, and when I have to practice a lot, I start thinking about things I would rather bake instead.  Not feeling very confident with the possible outcome, I was planning to bake these after I got back from the audition as a comforting activity and treat.

Flourless Salted Cashew Butter and Caramel Cookies

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baking, caramel, cashew butter, chewy cookies, cookies, dairy-free, easy, experiment, gluten-free, recipes, sea salt

You know when you have this really great idea in your head that you just have to try?   You’re so convinced that it’s going to work out a certain way and think that it’ll be the most amazing thing ever…right?

Enter these cookies.

I’m so wired to think “peanut butter cookies” that all of the other nut butters have just never stood a chance.   Then a few weeks ago, my brain woke up. Cashew butter…I could just swap it for the peanut butter, right? Brilliant!  Oh, and what do I associate with cashews?   Caramel, of course!   (Ben & Jerry might be responsible.)  Nuts…caramel…SALT!  Eureeeeeka.

Joy the Baker (I know, I just mentioned her in my last post!) posted a recipe for flourless peanut butter cookies that is awesome because it only involves four ingredients.  I made them several months ago, and they were a hit among gluten-free and gluten-full friends and colleagues.   A few even asked for the recipe!  I thought about just subbing cashew butter for the peanut butter, but then was curious about what cashew butter recipes might be lurking around the internets.  One of the first recipes I found was very similar, but used an extra egg and a bit more baking soda.   Sure, why not!

Black Forest Frankencake

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baking, booze, cake, cherries, chocolate, experiment, fancy, Germany, pastry cream, whipped cream

My dad got me into baking when I was a kid.  He’s not a professional baker, but is good at following directions to a T, which seems to be a good trait in baking. Together we made things like oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, frozen chocolate custard, triple chocolate cheesecake, and Black Forest cake.  Hmm…looking back, I’m definitely noticing a trend!

I’ve always baked desserts for holidays, but this past year started baking things for family birthdays rather than giving gifts.  It’s much more fun to give something that you’ve made yourself!