For many home bakers, creating a flavorful, tender pie or tart crust is a fearful and challenging process filled with questions. How is it that some home bakers consistently produce flaky, crispy, and tender crusts or shells while others consistently find this task so daunting? As pie and tart dough […]
Makes one 9-inch pie or tart pan This master crumb crust recipe can be made with a variety of cookies, including oatmeal, gingersnap, chocolate, and sugar cookies. Be sure to select crispy, dry cookies and avoid soft or filled ones. A crust prepared with them will not hold together and […]
Parents, this post is for you. Remember a couple of weeks ago when life was simpler? When your “only” responsibilities were holding down a job and caring for your children, without also running your very own home school? Through our Sunday Family Fundays here at The CIA at Copia in downtown Napa (currently on pause […]
Makes 2 discs Ingredients 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon kosher salt 8 ounces cream cheese, cold, cut into 3/4-inch cubes 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold, cut into 3/4-inch cubes 1 tablespoons ice-cold water 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice Directions In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted […]
Since you are a DISH member, we know that you likely have dessert ambitions beyond the classic cookies and coffee. And why shouldn’t you? The world of pastry is exciting and decadent! If you are home channeling your inner pastry chef, designing a composed, or plated, dessert for your next […]
Makes 5 servings We can all thank legendary CIA pastry chef instructor, Dieter Schorner, for reinvigorating the United States’ collective love of crème brûlée as pastry chef of New York City’s famed Le Cirque in the 1980s. Enjoy our classic version, but don’t be afraid to add spices or other […]
Makes 6 servings Crème caramel is a dessert that produces its own sauce, as long as you are patient with it. After the custard bakes, it needs to cool long enough for two things to happen: the custard must become firm enough to unmold, and the caramel underneath the custard […]
Makes 10 servings Ingredients 10 tablespoons sugar 1 1/2 cups (24 tbsp/3 sticks) butter, cubed 1 tbsp orange zest 3/4 cup fresh orange juice 30 Crêpes 3/4 cup Grand Marnier 3/4 cup brandy or cognac 1 orange, sliced into segments or supremes Whipped Cream, as needed Directions Sprinkle the sugar […]
Makes 60 truffles Hints for truffle-making success: • To guarantee the most flavorful truffles, use top-quality chocolate. • Make sure the ganache has enough time to firm in the refrigerator. An hour is a good guideline, but it is okay to leave it in longer, even overnight if desired. • […]
Decorating cookies is fun any time of the year, but ‘tis the season for extra special treats to share with your friends and family! Whether you bring them as a gift to your teachers or to grandma’s house, there are so many easy ways to dress up your favorite cookies […]
This is the perfect chocolate cake, if we do say so ourselves. Full of rich chocolate flavor with the perfect moist-texture, this cake makes for the ultimate celebration cake when paired with Devil’s Fudge Icing or Italian Buttercream. Ingredients All-purpose flour, for dusting 2 1/2 cups cake flour 1 3/4 […]
Makes about 5 cups, or enough to fill and ice an 8- or 9-inch cake Ingredients 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup hot water 2 1/4 […]