Dessert

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

~ Marlee And Christie ~ Leave a comment

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Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies are the perfect cookie to make for the Jolly Old Man who makes his way down your chimney every year. Wow, that’s super creepy when you say it out loud.

Either way, these cookies are super easy to make and are fun for the whole family to make! And these are the perfect cookie to decorate with family and friends. If you plan on decorating with frosting, you can leave off the optional glaze at the end.

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup butter, softened
  • 1 Cup granulated white sugar
  • 2 Teaspoons vanilla paste or extract
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Teaspoons baking powder
  • 3 Cups AP flour
  • 1Teaspoon Salt

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 350.

Step 2:

In a mixer (or bowl with a hand mixer) cream softened butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy.

Step 3:

Crack egg into measuring cup and lightly beat, add vanilla into the egg, then add both to the mixer.

Step 4:

In a medium bowl, add flour, baking  and a dash of salt. Mix together and add a scoop at a time until it’s all incorporated.

Step 5:

Divide dough into four, then begin to roll it out. Roll out to desired thickness.

Thinner and the cookies will be crispier; thicker and they’ll be chewier.  We settled on 1/4 of an inch.

Another tip, if you let the dough sit for thirty minutes before rolling the cookies will be a crispier as well, and if you roll immediately they will be softer and more chewy. We’ve made these a couple of times, and the results have varied, but the taste is always delicious!

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Step 6:

Bake for about 7 minutes.

Step 7: 

Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Optional Glaze: 

Combine the juice of half a lemon, about a cup of powdered sugar (sifted), a tablespoon of vanilla bean paste (or extract), and a splash of half and half.

Mix the ingredients together till it forms a delicious glaze. Adjust to your liking and desired to consistency. It’s really about what you like, like lemon? Add more lemon. Don’t like vanilla (craaazy!) take out some vanilla.

You get the idea! Mix and match, and if it’s too thick, had more half and half or lemon juice!

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

~ Marlee And Christie

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

It’s Friday! The best way to celebrate Friday? With ice cream. Salted Caramel Ice Cream. We can’t think of a better way to kick off the weekend. This ice cream is smooth, creamy, salty, sweet and incredibly delicious. Another thing we love about this recipe? You can name every. Single. Ingredient. Simple ingredients equal BIG FLAVOR.

Everyone asks us about making ice cream, and trust us. IT’S NOT THAT HARD. All you need is an ice cream maker. You might be asking yourselves, an ice cream maker? That’s gotta be expensive. It’s really not, they have makers as cheap as $40 on amazon. So maybe this year, ask Santa and Chanukah Harry for an ice cream maker this holiday season so you too can follow along with these seductive recipes!

You will see in the picture that when we photographed our ice cream with a maple bacon praline, for this recipe was used in our epic Pork-tastic dinner.

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Salted Caramel Ice Cream 

Ingredients

Step 1: 

In a medium bowl, whisk together chilled cream, whole milk, vanilla and half of the salted caramel.

Step 2: 

Put in the fridge and chill until cold.

Step 3: 

Once the mixture is good a cool, pull out and give it a good stir. Pour the base into your ice cream maker and make according to your manufactures instructions.

Step 4: 

Just about when the ice cream is frozen add the remaining salted caramel (room temperature) to the mixture to create ribbons throughout the ice cream. If you don’t want ribbons you can save the remaining caramel on top of the ice cream.

Step 5: 

Transfer to a freezer safe container and chill until fully frozen.

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

~ Marlee And Christie ~ Leave a comment

Sweet Potato Squares

It’s finally fall in Los Angeles, and you know what that means? It’s below 80 (just barely) degrees and everyone is bringing out the scarves, boots, and puffy coats. We like to call it wishful coating, and if we wear coats and cold weather clothes it will magically become cooler. We girls can dream, right?

And you know what fall also means? Pumpkins. Tons and tons of pumpkins, but here at TYL, we like to mix things up and go off the beaten path. We dare everyone to swap out pumpkins for sweet potatoes. Sweet Potato is one of our favorites, and once we opened the door to Sweet Potato land, we were changed ladies.

Before we get to the recipe, we also want to thank everyone for sticking with us during these past few weeks. We finally moved to our own apartment, and it’s perfect! Big things are happening here and we can’t wait to share them with you. But for now, lets get to today’s  recipe! Browned Butter Potato Pie Squares! These are a take on a recipe from Paula Deen, but we fall-ifed it!

Please let us know what you think, and if you make it and post it tag us with #twoyoungladies.

Happy Fall Everyone!

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares 

Ingredients

  • 1 Package Cake Mix (Yellow or Spice Cake)
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1 Stick Butter (Melted)
  • 1 8oz Package Cream Cheese (Softened)
  • Sweet Potatoes (One pound, peeled and chopped)
  • Orange Juice
  • Water
  • 1 Stick Butter (Melted)
  • 1 Teaspoon Maple
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
  • 3 Eggs
  • 8oz of Powdered Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Step 1: 

Preheat your oven to 350°F.  Grease a 13×9 pan with cooking spray.

Step 2: 

In a medium saute pan, brown your first stick of butter.

If you’re unfamiliar with browning butter, click here.

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Step 3:

In a medium sauce pan, place your cut and peeled sweet potatoes and covers with a mixture of orange juice and water. Cook until sweet potatoes are fork tender.

Drain and mash until smooth, set aside to cool.

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Step 4: 

In a medium bowl, mix together, your cake mix, one egg, and your browned butter. Mix well.

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Step 5: 

Pat the dough into your greased 13×9 pan, using your hands until it forms an even layer on the bottom of the pan and set aside.

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Step 6: 

In a large bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and mashed sweet potatoes until smooth.

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Step 7: 

Brown the next stick of butter.

Step 8: 

Next add the eggs, vanilla, maple, and the browned butter and then beat together.

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

(The first time we made this, we didn’t brown the second stick of butter. The second time, we did.)

Step 9: 

Finally, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of slat and mix well.

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Step 10: 

Scrapping down the sides of the bowl, spread the pumpkin mixture evenly over the cake batter crust. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

Step 11: 

Allow to cool completely and then cut into squares and serve with fresh whipped cream or powdered sugar.

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Browned Butter Sweet Potato Pie Squares

Recipe adapted from Food and The Butter Queen, Paula Deen.

S’mores Ice Cream

~ Marlee And Christie ~ Leave a comment

S'mores Ice Cream

While all the other cities are cooling down for fall, LA is heating up for our normal fall heatwave (we call it second summer, if you didn’t melt already…here you go). And because it’s still so hot, we’re giving you more ice cream!

It feels hot enough to roast a marshmallow in the outside air, so we thought we’d make S’mores ice cream. S’mores remind of us summer and camping. Two things we aren’t terribly found of, but we do like chocolate, graham crackers and a gloriously toasted marshmallow.

We know it seems intimidating, but making ice cream is totally worth it. Machines aren’t that expensive, especially on Amazon, and once you find a recipe that works (like all of ours) you will be Ice Cream-Making Wizards!

If you really want to be fancy, you can lightly toast the marshmallows before you add them in Step 6. 

S'mores Ice Cream

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 Cups Half and Half
  • 1/2 Cup Bakers Sugar
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 Cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 Jar Marshmallow Fluff (7 oz)
  • 1 Sleeve Graham Crackers (Crushed in to pieces)
  • Mini Marshmallows (Half a bag)
  • 1 Cup Chocolate Chips

Step 1: 

In a large sauce pan, combine the half and half and sugar over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, remove from heat and set aside.

Step 2: 

Beat the eggs until light and fluffy, about three minutes.

Step 3: 

Very slowly, pour about half of the heated half and half mixture into the eggs whisking constantly. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and place on the stove over medium-low heat.

Step 4: 

Next, add the heavy cream and marshmallow fluff and stir until smooth. When the mixture has thickened and coasts the back of a spoon remove from the heat and transfer to glass jar.

Step 5: 

Allow to cool to room temperature then transfer to the fridge for at least 12 hours.

Step 6: 

When cool, make according to your ice cream makers manufactures instructions. During the last five minutes of churning, slowly add the crushed graham pieces, marshmallows and chocolate until combined. Transfer to a freezer safe container and let firm up for at least three hours, then enjoy!

S'mores Ice Cream

Salted Crack Ice Cream

~ Marlee And Christie ~ Leave a comment

Salted Crack Ice Cream

Remember when we we made Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack? Well, we liked it so much, that we decided to make a ice cream with it. And let us tell you, the results were absolutely fabulous!

This ice cream is definitely addictive and will please just about everyone!  Seriously though, once you make your own ice cream, it’s really hard to go back to store bought. Sure it’s a little more difficult, but knowing what you’re putting into your body is so important these days.

Salted Crack Ice Cream

Salted Crack Ice Cream

Ingredients

Step 1: 

In a large sauce pan, combine the half and half and sugar over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, remove from heat and set aside.

Step 2: 

Beat the eggs until light and fluffy, about three minutes.

Step 3: 

Very slowly, pour about half of the heated half and half mixture into the eggs whisking constantly. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and place on the stove over medium-low heat.

Step 4: 

Next, add the heavy cream and stir until smooth. When the mixture has thickened and coasts the back of a spoon remove from the heat and transfer to glass jar.

Step 5: 

Allow to cool to room temperature then transfer to the fridge for at least 12 hours.

Step 6: 

When cool, make according to your ice cream makers manufactures instructions. During the last five minutes of churning, add the broken up Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack and continue to thoroughly mixed. Transfer to a freezer safe container and allow to set up for at least 4 hours.

Salted Crack Ice Cream

Salted Crack Ice Cream

Salted Crack Ice Cream

Salted Crack Ice Cream

Salted Caramel

~ Marlee And Christie ~ 2 Comments

Salted Caramel

It’s still too hot here in LA to be in the kitchen, so for today’s recipe we have a almost foolproof Salted Caramel. We’ve come across so many caramel recipes and they never turn out right, but this one, this one is AMAZING.

We’ve made this caramel multiple times and every time it’s perfect! We think it has to do with the warmed cream that you pour over the sugar and water. We promise you this recipe is nearly foolproof and everyone can make it!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 1 Cup Heavy Cream (Hot)
  • 2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
  • Fleur De Sel Salt

Step 1:

In a medium sauce pan over high heat, dissolve the granulated sugar and water. Stirring constantly.

During that time, if the sides of the pans have sugar that start to crystallize, use a pastry brush dipped in water to remove the crystallized sugar.

Step 2:

Continue cooking until the sugar starts to turn a deep amber color. As soon as it starts to turn, remove from the heat, immediately.

Step 3:

Very carefully and slowly, pour the hot cream into the sugar mixture whisking/stirring constantly. Don’t be alarmed when this mixture starts to bubble, just keep stirring.

Step 4:

Next, add the butter and a pinch or two of the fleur de sel salt. Stir until smooth. If desired, add 1/2 teaspoon or so of vanilla extract.

Step 5:

Move to an air tight container, and allow to cool before placing in the fridge.

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

~ Marlee And Christie ~ 1 Comment

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Here in LA we are experiencing some major summer heat. The past couple of days have been brutal. So brutal that we haven’t even been in the kitchen because it’s just too hot (this is what it’s like living with no Air Conditioning).

So instead of cooking over a hot stove, cool down with this tangy and tart summer treat. Key Lime Pie Ice Cream is perfect for those who love ice cream but aren’t fans of the overly sweet stuff.

Now, you may be thrown off by seeing vodka in the recipe, but don’t be! Vodka can’t freeze, so adding it to your base will help make it smooth and creamy.

Enjoy and stay cool!

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream 

Ingredients 

  • 1 (14 oz) Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 1 Cup Key Lime Juice
  • 1 Cup Half and Half
  • 1 Cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 Tablespoon Key Lime Zest (Heaping)
  • 6 Graham Crackers (Broken into pieces)
  • 1 Shot Vodka (to keep it smooth)

Step 1: 

In a medium bowl, mix together the milk, half and half, vodka, and cream together.

Step 2: 

Add the key lime juice and zest and stir until thick, smooth and creamy. Pour into a jar and allow to chill for at least 30 minutes.

Step 3: 

Next, pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and churn to your manufactures settings. In the last five minutes of churning add the graham cracker pieces and let mix in. Transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze for at least three hours to firm up.

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Mini Apple Pie Crumbles

~ Marlee And Christie ~ Leave a comment

Mini Apple Pie Crumbles

How cute are these mini apple pie crumbles? They are the perfect way to kick off your weekend and are almost guilt free. They are adapted from a weight watcher recipe and are totally delicious.

If you’re really serious about cutting out sweets and sugar, you can totally leave off the crumble part of this recipe, but just know, you’re apples will be very sad and cold without their warm crumble blanket.

You can also leave out the flour, but this recipe can get very soupy without something to help thicken and soak up that water. So you can either use flour, corn starch or quick cook tapioca.

Mini Apple Pie Crumbles

Ingredients:

Filling: 

  • 4 Small Gala Apples (Medium Dice)
  • 3 Teaspoons Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoons Cinnamon
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Cloves
  • 1/2 Tablespoon A.P Flour

Topping:

  • 1/2 Cup Quick Cooking Oats
  • 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 Cup Butter (Softened)

For the Topping: 

In a small or medium bowl, using a fork combine the oats, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and butter until it comes together. Stick in the fridge until you’re ready to use.

Mini Apple Pie Crumbles

Mini Apple Pie Crumbles

For the Filling: 

Mix the apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves until combined. Divide the mixture between four to six ramekins (depending on size).

Mini Apple Pie Crumbles

For the Crumble: 

First, heat the oven to 350°F. Next, cover the apples with the delicious topping. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the apples are tender.

Mini Apple Pie Crumbles

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

~ Marlee And Christie ~ 3 Comments

It’s hump day and we have the perfect recipe to get you through your hump day blues.

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack.

What is salted chocolate caramel crack, you might ask? It is the most delicious blend of saltines, caramel and chocolate. It’s the perfect sweet and salty snack. One thing we love here is eating salty crackers with chocolate, ever had Goldfish with Raisinettes..if not, get on that.

Once you start eating this “crack” you literally can’t stop. It’s addictive. It’s honestly kind of dangerous.

There are hundreds of recipes for this, but this is our take after we were inspired by watching the Cooking Channel’s Unique Sweets.

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
  • 2 Sticks of Salted Butter
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Sleeve Saltines
  • 2 Cups Dark Chocolate Chips
  • Sprinkle of Fleur De Sel
  • Baking Spray

Step 1: 

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Step 2: 

Combine the two sticks of butter and the brown sugar in a medium sauce pan. Melt over medium-low heat. Once the mixture is melted, cook for five minutes. The mixture should be thick and bubbly.

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Step 3: 

While the mixture is melting/cooking, line a sheet pan with aluminum foil and spray with baking spray. Lay the saltines down on the foil.

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Step 4: 

When the butter and brown sugar has bubbled and melded together take off the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the mixture over the saltines and carefully spread over the crackers.

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Step 5: 

Stick the saltines in the oven and cook for 5 minutes. The mixture will be very bubbly and look amazing.

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Step 6: 

When the buzzer goes off, remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate over the caramel. Stick in the oven for 30 seconds to help melt the chocolate. Carefully spread the chocolate and allow to cool.

You can sprinkle a little Fleur De Sel on the melted chocolate for that extra salty bite!

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Step 7: 

Break up the “crack” and and enjoy!

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Salted Chocolate Caramel Crack

Red, White, and Blue Mess

~ Marlee And Christie ~ Leave a comment

In a pinch and need a quick, simple dessert for your 4th of July BBQ? Try our take on a tradition Eton Mess and make it all ‘Murican!

Fresh cream and fruit with the crunch of the meringues make this dish a real winner. No need to suffer in a hot kitchen, this dessert is no bake and made for last minute preparation.

Red, White, and Blue Mess

Red, White, and Blue Mess 

Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract (or zest)
  • 2 cups meringues (crushed)**
  • 1 cup strawberries (sliced)
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup raspberries

**No need to make your own meringues, just buy them from Trader Joe’s (or whatever store you have near you!)

Step 1: 

In a medium bowl, begin to whip your heavy cream. As it starts to thicken add, the sugar and both extracts. If you’re using a stabilizer, add that before you add the sugars and extract.

* If you’re not going to serve right away, place the cream in the fridge until you’re ready to use.

Step 2: 

Right before you’re ready to serve, mix in the berries and crushed meringues. Stir until combined and enjoy.

Red, White, and Blue Mess