Vanilla Bourbon Milkshakes With Spicy Chocolate Pretzel Rods Recipes

VANILLA CARAMEL BOURBON MILKSHAKE

Steps:

• Combine the milk and 1/3 cup of the Vanilla Bourbon Caramel Sauce in a blender and blend until combined. Add the ice cream and blend until smooth.
• Drizzle some of the remaining caramel sauce into a glass in a decorative pattern. Pour in the milkshake, top with a dollop of whipped cream, and drizzle with more caramel sauce.
• Put the cream in a small saucepan, add the vanilla pod and seeds and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat, cover and let steep while you make the caramel.
• Combine the sugar and 1/4 cup cold water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; stir to combine. Cook, without stirring, until the sugar has turned a deep amber hue, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove the vanilla pod from the cream and slowly whisk the warm cream and the bourbon into the caramel. Continue simmering the mixture until smooth, another 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and salt, whisking until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.

VANILLA-BOURBON MILKSHAKES WITH SPICY CHOCOLATE-DIPPED PRETZEL RODS

Steps:

• For the pretzel rods: Place four 10-ounce glasses in the freezer and line a baking sheet with wax paper. In a short, very narrow glass or tumbler, stir together the chocolate and vegetable oil. Dip the pretzel rods in the chocolate, tilting the glass and twirling the rods to coat. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with cayenne. Place in the refrigerator until set, at least 20 minutes.
• For the caramel sauce: Melt the brown sugar and butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, whisking until the sugar melts. Add the half-and-half and vanilla and bring to a boil; cool until thickened, 3 minutes. Season with some salt and let cool.
• For the milkshakes: In the bowl of a blender, combine the ice cream, bourbon, vanilla and a sprinkle of Maldon salt. Blend until smooth and frothy, adding milk if necessary to thin. Pour into the chilled glasses.
• Drizzle each milkshake with the caramel sauce, sprinkle with some Maldon, and garnish with a pretzel rod. Serve immediately.

SPICY CHOCOLATE BOURBON CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 18 cups of two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, cayenne, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the granulated sugar and butter until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla.
• Combine the milk and bourbon in a small bowl. Add the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk-bourbon mixture in 2 additions. Beat the batter until smooth. Using an ice cream scoop, fill each muffin cup two-thirds full with batter.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• For the buttercream frosting: Combine the confectioners' sugar, butter and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until mostly incorporated. Add the vanilla, increase the speed to medium high and mix until smooth. Adjust the consistency with milk as desired. Add a drop or two of blue food coloring to the frosting and mix until the desired color is achieved, adding more drops if needed.
• For decorating: Roll the yellow gum paste very thin (about 1/8 inch thick or thinner). Using a 1 1/2-inch round cutter, cut 12 rounds from the gum paste.
• Elevate a wooden dowel or thin-handled wooden spoon on 2 cans or paper cups with notches cut to hold in place. Drape the gum paste rounds over the dowel to dry and form taco shells, about 30 minutes.
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a leaf tip (no. 113) with the blue buttercream frosting. Starting in the center of each of 12 cupcakes, while spinning the cupcake, pipe the frosting on a flat angle to the top of the cupcake, moving the bag slightly up and down to form a ruffle. Cover the top of each cupcake completely with frosting.
• Add the coconut to a small bowl with a few drops of green food coloring. Stir with a fork to distribute the food coloring, adding additional coloring until the desired lettuce color is reached. Snip the red gummy candy into small pieces using kitchen shears to form the tomato salsa. Crumble one of the remaining cupcakes to fine crumbs to form the taco meat.
• Assemble the tacos by layering each taco shell with some cupcake crumbs, green coconut and red gummy tomatoes. Finish by grating white chocolate over the top of each for a cheese effect. Place one taco on top of each frosted cupcake.

SPICY CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKES

Steps:

• Place the milkshake glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes.
• In a 6-cup capacity blender, combine the chocolate ice cream, milk and cayenne pepper.
• Blend for 15 to 20 seconds until smooth.
• To serve, divide the milkshake mixture between the frosted glasses. Cut a slit into each of the strawberries and place on the rim of each glass.
• *Cook's Note: Start with 1/4 teaspoon of the cayenne pepper and increase by 1/4 teaspoon increments until the desired spiciness is reached.