Spooky Ube Pancakes for Halloween

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or substitute with oat flour or cake flour)
  • 2 tablespoons ube powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup milk or coconut milk (warm, to help dissolve ube powder)
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter or neutral oil
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon ube extract (for strong ube flavor and deep purple hue)

Instructions

  1. Bloom the ube powder:
    In a small bowl, whisk ube powder with 2-3 tablespoons of warm milk until it forms a smooth, deep-purple paste. This step intensifies flavor and color.
  2. Mix dry ingredients:
    In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
  3. Combine wet ingredients:
    In another bowl, whisk egg, remaining milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and the ube paste.
    Add ube extract here as well.
  4. Combine and rest:
    Slowly add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring just until no dry flour remains. The batter should be slightly thick. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes for fluffier pancakes.
  5. Cook:
    Heat a nonstick pan over medium-low heat and lightly grease it. Pour about 1 cup batter per pancake. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until bubbles form and edges set before flipping.

ingredients

  • 8 oz (about 230 g) white chocolate bars, not baking chips
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) heavy whipping cream, divided

Instructions

  1. Melt the chocolate:
    Chop white chocolate into small pieces and place it in a heatproof bowl.
  2. Heat the cream:
    In a small saucepan or microwave, heat ½ cup of the cream until just below boiling (tiny bubbles forming at the edges).
  3. Make a ganache:
    Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Let it sit for 2 minutes, then stir slowly from the center outward until smooth and glossy. If any clumps remain, pour through a strainer to remove.
  4. Cool completely:
    Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (touching the surface) and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, until well chilled.
  5. Whip the remaining cream:
    Once the ganache is cold, place it in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining 1 cup of chilled heavy cream.
  6. Whip to soft peaks:
    Using a whisk or electric mixer, whip on low speed and gradually increase to medium-high until soft-stiff peaks form. The mixture will lighten to a creamy ivory shade.
  7. Use or chill:
    Use immediately for frosting or piping. For best stability, chill the finished cream 15-30
    minutes before using. It stays stable up to 5 days in the fridge. foodmeanderings +1

Chocolate-dipped Blueberry Coconut Macaroons

It’s heart-shaped, purple, and chocolate-dipped …great for Valentine’s Day!

The blueberries gave this dessert its deep purple color, no artificial dye was needed.

Minimal ingredients are required and no baking is required.

If you are a fan of coconut, like me, try this recipe.