Cakes on display at the Pa. Farm Show
Michael Zaffuto, the Sykesville Ag and Youth Fair finalist, won the Hershey?s Cocoa Classic Cookie, Brownie or Bar Contest Jan. 7 at the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. Zaffuto?s Strawberry Shortcake Brownies recipe topped 79 entries and won him a $250 prize.
Bottom Layer
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2/3 cup Hershey?s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
Top Layer
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Bottom Layer
Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Melt Hershey?s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips in microwave or double boiler. Add to previous mixture. Combine the flour and salt; add to creamed mixture until blended. Spread into a greased 9 by 13 inch baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. (Do not over bake). Cool in pan or on a wire rack.
Top Layer
Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour and salt; add to creamed mixture until blended. Spread into a greased 9 by 13 inch baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. (Do not over bake). Cool in pan or on a wire rack. Using two different size round cutters, cut pieces of both brownies.
Cream Cheese Frosting
In mixer, cream the cream cheese, add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Using 1 cup Hershey?s Milk Chocolate Chips; melt in double boiler or microwave. Dip fresh strawberries and set on wax paper to harden.
To assemble brownies
Spread a layer of frosting on the bottom layer, add a layer of thinly sliced strawberries top with top layer. Drizzle some of the melted chocolate on top of this layer, garnish with a chocolate covered strawberry.