Yesterday brought my children home and an Irish Cream Cheesecake from Sweet Pearlz
in Manassas. It was my birthday. Sweet Pearlz has the smoothest, lightest cheesecakes belying the weight of calories under amazing rich flavor. We highly recommend giving her a visit. Her flavor combinations are surprising and spot on.
My choice of cakes has changed over the years as has my choice of how to spend time celebrating. Yesterday, while not a perfect day, held all the goodness of what's important in life - family.
Frankly I do not know the secret ingredients used to make those cheesecakes amazing, in fact I am more than happy to let Sweet Pearlz reign in the land of cheesecakes. I do have a go to recipe combining creamy pudding, a coating of chocolate, and puff. One of the cakes that my family loves is the Eclair cake.
Whether enjoying a bite of amazing decadence or simply sitting sharing time, I wish you a weekend spent with family surrounded in a sense of being together. That is my final birthday wish for this year of 2020.
Eclair Cake
Ingredients
Crust
1 cup water
1 stick of butter
1 cup flour
4 eggs room temperature
Filling
1 - 8oz package cream cheese softened
1 large box vanilla instant pudding
3 cups of milk
Topping
1 container coolwhip
1/2 chocolate chips
1 Tbls butter
1 Tbls confectioners sugar or to taste
milk just a bit for desired consistency
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 and lightly grease 9x13 pan
In a saucepan, boil water and butter till butter is melted.
Stir in flour all at once and remove from heat.
Stir in one egg at a time being sure to stir completely and quickly. The egg should be completely mixed in before adding the next one.
Spread in the prepared pan evenly.
Bake for 30-40 minutes. It's important to check at this stage.
Remove from oven when there is a nice golden puff. Let cool completely and don't poke the puff.
In bowl mix together cream cheese, pudding packet and milk with a mixer. Spoon onto the cooled puff. Spread Coolwhip over the top of the pudding. Prepare the chocolate glaze and pour over the top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.