This will be brief. I know you’re probably just as busy as I am with Christmas a mere week away. I can hardly believe how fast time has flown by this year!
While the weather outside has been truly frightful, (check out our ice-encased trees!) my kitchen has been cozy and delightful. Here are a couple of easy Christmas treats that have warmed my home.
Edit: I nearly forgot! I’m blogging for Pixiq now! I’ll be doing future postings of food photography 101 and food styling tutorials. You can find my first article here.
The truffles are a variation of the super easy chocolate & cream cheese truffles. They are made a little more fancy with mascarpone cheese. The texture is so very smooth and it packs a big coffee punch! These would be a great gift for the coffee lover in your life.
I decided to create my own version of gingerbread pie since I could only find one or two recipes available on the web. I adapted my favorite custard pie with molasses, brown sugar, ginger and cinnamon. It has a beautiful moist texture and can be served with or without the mile-high marshmallow meringue.
Gingerbread Pie [Click for Printable]
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup molasses (not black strap)
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 1/2 tbsp flour
pinch of salt
2 tsp ground ginger (or more to taste)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 9″ ready-made pie shell
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Using a hand mixer, combine butter, brown sugar and molasses until creamy. Add flour, salt and spices; mix again until combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add buttermilk and vanilla and mix until a consistent batter forms. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake for 50-55 minutes until custard has set and is not jiggly in the middle when moved.
Marshmallow Meringue
3 egg whites
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 -7oz. jar of marshmallow creme
Beat egg whites, vanilla and salt at high speed until foamy. Gradually add sugar 1 tbsp at a time, beating until stiff peaks form.
Beat in 1/4 of the marshmallow creme. Repeat with remaining creme until meringue is well mixed and fluffy.
Heap meringue in the middle of the cooled pie and swirl with the back of a spoon or spatula. (I used a pastry comb for stripes.) Bake at 400 until browned. A kitchen torch may also be used.
*Note: Meringue should be made the same day you plan to serve it on the pie. After a couple of days it will begin to lose volume.
Coffee Mascarpone Truffles
Yield about 40-50 truffles [Click for Printable]
2-12 oz packages semisweet chocolate chips (I love using mini chips, they melt evenly)
1 – 8 oz package mascarpone cheese, softened
2-3 tbsp instant coffee granules dissolved in 1 tsp hot water
Unsweetened cocoa powder for rolling truffles
*or 1 lb chocolate bark for dipping
Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler. Add mascarpone cheese and coffee mixture; fold together with a spatula. Pour into an 8×8 pan and allow to chill until firm enough to scoop into balls. Roll into 1″ balls and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Chill for 1-2 hours. Roll in cocoa or dip in melted chocolate bark. Store in parchment lined tins.
The gingerbread pie intrigued me but the truffles totally sold me. Wow.
That pie looks so divine and devilish at the same time! ;-P And the truffles must be exquisite. Very festive and delightfully chocolatty.
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh no! Did you have to post these wonderful recipes 🙂 – just when I thought I had the holiday dessert table figured out now I have to try the gingerbread pie!!
Gingerbread Pie sounds lovely!
Gah which one to make first!? We're torn! They both sound amazing and so Christmas-perfect!
Oh your kitchen definitely is cozy and delightful! I love the way the truffles look in those sweet little baking cups. And oh my, the molasses pie looks so rich and creamy! Your icicle laden trees look so festive as long as you can view them from inside that is. Happy Holidays to you Heather! ~Lili
OH THANK YOU!!!! I wanted a fancy / flavorful dessert for Xmas Eve (I'm hosting) I think this is it for sure! What a great combo of flavors. I just know it will be a hit.
These look really good. I also think your pictures look great. You should post these over at http://www.dishfolio.com you would be a great addition.
This looks super yummy! :-))
Your pie looks to die for! Great Christmasy post, if only I had time to fit in that pie before the big day. x
Both of these sound fantastic! I'm an avid coffee lover so I know those truffles would be cherished in my house!
Oh my god. Your photography is drool worthy. I want. Now!
Sounds Delicious. Can't wait to try them.
The pie looks wonderful, I loooove the mile high meringue on top!
Hmmm the truffles is genius.
Oh this pie is calling my name, Heather! I've never had gingerbread PIE! :)Merry Christmas!
Gorgeous!! Love the truffles:)
Lady, this all looks amazing! I love all the brown and gold in your photos. Can I have a slice of that pie for breakfast?
I love mascarpone and I love gingerbread… which do I make first?
Beautiful photos, I look forward to reading your tips.
Ooo I bet both of these desserts made your kitchen smell fabulous!! You'd think that there would be recipes for gingerbread pie out there–but oh well, yours looks like a winner!
Oh my word, Gingerbread Pie?!! I'm in heaven. I LOVE all things gingerbread and have never heard of gingerbread pie. You're a genius. And the coffee mascarpone truffles look incredible.
I am so impressed with how absolutely gorgeous your photos are and how soooo delicious everything looks.
totally and completely fabulous post (as always). i love your photos. you and i need to shoot together! and your truffles are mouth watering!!
Have you ever tried coffee mascarpone? When spread on top of chocolate pound cake…Mmmmm…
wow… I'm really impressed! These desserts look insanely delicious! That pie… I want right.now. Those truffles… are insane! Great job!
Truffles! That's what I've been missing this year. Must make – they look great!
I'm definitely going to try making that pie for my boyfriend's family dinner on Christmas Eve. I was given dessert duty 🙂 Looks so good!!
I'm getting ready to mocha truffles for my friends dad and this is the recipe I was going to use, except using the cream cheese. So I guess it's really the other recipe I'm using. 😉
I'm glad to know it is *SprinkleBakes* Approved!!! 🙂 I only wish I had some mascarpone cheese in the house. I LUV mascarpone!
Merry Christmas Heather!
Just looking at these photos makes me feel guilty. Thank goodness I didn't start that New Years Resolution yet 😉
Love You Heather!
Hugs!
Heather
Amazingly delicious! Merry Christmas to you
Gingerbread pie – That's one I've never heard of before. It looks delicious. I'd almost expect with that coloring to be tasting a french silk – type pie, but then to be surprised/rewarded with molasses and brown sugar? Major win in my book!
LOVED IT, I made both. Truffles for gifts and now the pie twice. I love the mile high marshmallow meringue. THANKS, bot a big hit
Hello – I blogged these
http://indigosugarspectrum.blogspot.com/2010/12/coffee-mascarpone-truffles.html
Uh yea, these both look delicious!
Wish I could scratch and sniff my computer screen right now 🙂
LOVE the truffles and the pie. Hope you had a great holiday!
I hope you received my email! Happy New Year! 🙂 XO Sue
I'm so excited about your pixiq blog. I can't wait to hear your photography tips…your food pictures are GORGEOUS. I loved the Alice and Wonderland stuff too!
How did I miss this pie??!! Must check out your photo tutorial as I am a huge fan of your photography & would love to learn some new skills 🙂 xo
I made this for Christmas Day and it was divine! Love it and will definately make again next year. Thanks!
I made the truffles for a work party and people were taking them home in napkins they were so good! Thanks for all the wonderful recipes!
shuttersandshuttles.com
Read this and wished I could reach into my computer screen and grab the pie. It looks seriously delicious Heather!
This might have to make it on the to do list next Christmas!
Hope you had a good one, and a great New Years.
Awesome about writing for Pixiq1 I'm gonna check out your articles.
While I'm not a fan of chocolate or coffee for that matter your truffles look good and don't even get me started on the pie. I love gingerbread!
~ingrid
wow! I just "stumbled upon" your site and am amazed at your photos and great food. The truffles and pie look amazing. Great job?
homestyleworldcook.blogspot.com
I just found your blog today and can't help but to absolutely love it! So amazing and inspiring!
needlesandroses.blogspot.com
WOW!!! I've just decided to make this right now! You are so talented and I just can't get enough of your recipes and photos! Love, love, love!!! ~ do you have any recipes for creme brulee?!?!?
I made the gingerbread pie today … mine didn't turn out as dark as in the picture (I also had to use another meringue recipe as I can't get marshmallow creme) … but it was just fabulous! Really delicious! I did up the spices a bit and would add even more ginger next time (and some ground fresh ginger for more zing). It was gobbled up by young and old!
So I made the Gingerbread Pie yesterday and had some trouble with it- it didn't cook all the way through even after adding 10 minutes to the bake time. I was wondering if I didn't mix the batter enough so that "a consistent batter forms". How long are you supposed to mix the batter once you add the buttermilk and vanilla? It was still kind of thin. Was it supposed to thicken? It still tasted yummy and we LOVE the marshmallow meringue!!