If you’re looking for any of your favourite recipes that used to be on our labels, you’ll find them on our website in the recipe section.

Regular Eagle Brand:

• Caramel Cheesecake
• Cherry Cheese Pie
• Super Chocolate Fudge
• Magic Cookie Bar
• Pumpkin Pie
• Snowy Coconut Macaroons
• Sugar Pie
• White Chocolate Truffles

Low Fat Eagle Brand:

• Lemony Crumb Bars
• Perfect Pecan Pie
• Truffle Cheesecake

We like to make desserts that can be prepared in advance and frozen. Especially around the holidays when it is a very busy time around my house. Here are some freezing tips for your desserts.

• Use wraps that are moisture proof such as freezer bags or air tight containers.
• We do not recommend freezing anything with a cream/custard filling, icing or frosting, fresh fruit or chocolate glaze. It is best to make these types of desserts the same day or a day ahead and enjoy them immediately.
• For best results, freeze only fully baked cakes, cheesecakes, pies and tarts. Decorate with frosting, cream, fruit or chocolate, after thawing.
• Confections such as our truffles and fudge are freezer-friendly. Place them in a freezer bag or airtight container and pop into the freezer.
• It is best to eat all your frozen goodies within 6-8 weeks after freezing.

Absolutely! Changes in colour and texture occur naturally in sweetened condensed milk over time, and have no effect on its performance in recipes. Simply stirring the Eagle Brand^® sweetened condensed milk vigorously with a spoon will help make it easier to pour. Eagle Brand^® sweetened condensed milk keeps, unopened and at room temperature for 24 months.

Made with partly skimmed milk, Low Fat Eagle Brand^® sweetened condensed milk has only half the fat of the regular version but you get the same smooth, creamy taste... and the good news is you can substitute "luscious" Low Fat Eagle Brand^® sweetened condensed milk in most recipes! It will perform as well as Regular in cheesecakes, pies and tarts, bars, beverages and even ice cream. We do recommend however that you use Regular Eagle Brand^® sweetened condensed milk for any confection recipe like fudge, Sunny Chocolate Easter Eggs, most candies and macaroons, recipes where keeping a shape is important. The best and easiest way to be sure, is to use what's recommended in the Eagle Brand^® recipe. We'll give you a choice where there is one, and list only Regular Eagle Brand^® sweetened condensed milk when that's what's recommended.

The answer is a delicious bit of science... Eagle Brand^® sweetened condensed milk thickens "magically" when its precooked blend of milk and sugar is combined with an acid such as fruit juice (lemon and orange work best) or chocolate. The acids in these ingredients react with the Eagle Brand^® sweetened condensed milk to create creamy fillings without cooking.

Another way no-bake fillings are thickened is by adding gelatin to Eagle Brand^® sweetened condensed milk.

To soften cream cheese quickly, unwrap 8 ounces (250 g) of cream cheese and place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on 50% power (MEDIUM) 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until cream cheese is soft.

Just a few tips ought to help you top your pies off with a heavenly meringue!

• Weather affects meringues. When the humidity is high, the sugar in the meringue absorbs moisture from the air, making the meringue gooey and limp. Meringues should be made on sunny dry days.
• Carefully separate egg whites from yolks (they separate best when cold).
• Mixing bowls and beaters should be completely grease free. Egg whites should come to room temperature before beating. This increases the volume.
• Sugar should be added gradually. Continue beating until sugar is completely dissolved.
• Cool meringue slowly, away from draft to prevent shrinking and weeping.

Here's the recipe for a Meringue:

• 3 egg whites
• 1/4 tsp. (1 mL) cream of tartar
• 6 Tbsp. (90 mL) sugar

Instructions:

1. In small bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar to soft peaks before adding sugar.
2. Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff but not dry. Mixture should be glossy.
3. Spread meringue, sealing carefully to edge of pastry shell.
4. Bake in preheated oven 350°F (180°C) for 12 to 15 min. or until golden brown. Cool. Chill thoroughly.

For an 8 or 9-inch (20 or 23 cm) pie.

Here are two delectably easy recipes you'll use again and again:

Chocolate Glaze:
This is a perfectly elegant way to top your favourite Eagle Brand^® Cheesecake: In a double boiler heat 1/2 cup (125 mL) whipping cream. Add 4 oz (114 g) of bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate until melted. Spoon over cooled dessert.

Apple Cinnamon Glaze:
This is delicious on fruit-topped cheesecakes or fruit tarts and flans: In small saucepan, combine 1/3 cup (75 mL) frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed, 1 tsp (5 mL) cornstarch and 1/4 tsp (1mL) ground cinnamon; mix well. Cook and stir over low heat until thickened and bubbly. Pour gently over cooled dessert.

These tips will help you get great results from your favourite pastry recipe:

• The way you prepare the fat ingredients is crucial:
  
  • shortening should be room temperature
  • butter should be firm, cold and cut into 1/2-inch dice, no smaller
• Use a pastry cutter or a food processor to "cut" either butter or margarine into the flour until it becomes pea-sized. That way fat particles stay solid in the oven just long enough to produce lots of flaky layers. The fat will melt away too fast if the particles are too small, resulting in fewer flaky layers.
• As soon as your mixture forms a dough, stop mixing. If you over mix you'll end up with tough pastry.
• Always chill your dough for up to an hour before you roll it out. And before you bake it, put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes to prevent the crust from shrinking and to help fancy edges hold their shape in the oven.
• Be sure to roll the dough to the exact thickness called for in the recipe. Use a ruler if you're not sure.
• Use kitchen shears or a sharp knife to trim dough 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) beyond pie plate edge. Fold under extra dough to form rim. Flute edge as desired.

Here's a basic recipe for a 9-inch crust:

• 1 cup (250 mL) unsifted flour
• 1/2 tsp (5 mL) salt
• 1/3 cup (75 mL) shortening or butter
• 3-4 tbsp (45-60 mL) cold water

Combine flour and salt; cut in shortening or butter until mixture resembles coarse corn meal. Sprinkle with water, 1 tbsp at a time, mixing until dough is just moist enough to hold together. Form dough into ball; place on well-floured surface. Press down into a flat circle about 1/8" (.5cm) thick with smooth edges measuring about 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) larger than inverted pie plate. Trim 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) beyond pie plate edge. Fold under; flute edge as desired.

To bake without filling: Prick bottom and sides of pastry shell with a fork. Line with (aluminum foil) parchment paper; fill with dry beans to keep from shrinking. Bake 5 minutes in preheated 450°F (230°C) oven. Remove paper and bake 5 to 7 minutes longer or until golden.

To bake with filling : *Do not prick pastry shell. Fill and bake as directed in recipe.

Absolutely! And here it is:

Crumb Crust

• 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) graham cracker, chocolate wafer crumbs or crushed shortbread cookies
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) white or brown sugar
• 6 tbsp (90 mL) butter or margarine, melted

Combine ingredients; mix well. Press firmly on the bottom and up the sides of an 8- or 9-inch plate. To use, bake in preheated 350°F (180°C) for 5-7 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Eagle Brand^® sweetened condensed milk transforms into a very decadent, rich caramel-flavoured milk after a process called "caramelizing". Try one of the methods listed below for perfect results, and remember... never heat in the can. Or you can easily add caramel flavour to your favourite recipes with our Eagle Brand Dulce de Leche Caramel Flavoured Sauce.

• Shortcut method: Eagle Brand Dulce de Leche Caramel Flavoured Sauce
  For the perfect shortcut to your classic caramel desserts, try Eagle Brand Dulce de Leche Caramel Flavoured Sauce. It is the same consistency as sweetened condensed milk with the added taste of caramel. You can use it the same way you normally would use Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk to make your favourite baking treats.
• Oven method:
  Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Pour Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk into 8 or 9-inch (20 or 23 cm) pie plate. Cover with foil; place in larger shallow pan. Fill outer pan with hot water. Bake 1-1 1/2 hours* or until thick and light caramel-coloured. Remove foil. Cool and chill. Refrigerate leftovers.
  *Check water level in pan during baking time and refill if necessary.
• Stovetop method:
  Pour Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk into top of double boiler; cover. Place over boiling water. Over low heat, simmer 1-1 1/2 hours or until thick and light caramel-coloured. Beat until smooth, if desired. Cool and chill. Refrigerate leftovers.
• Microwave method:
  Pour Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk into 8 cup (2 L) glass measure. Cook, uncovered, at Medium (50%) 4 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Reduce power to Medium Low (30%) and cook, uncovered, 12 to 16 minutes or until thick and light caramel-coloured; stir briskly every 2 minutes until smooth. Cool and chill. Refrigerate leftovers.

First, always be sure to read the recipe and use what it suggests. Frozen fruit has a much softer texture than fresh fruit and its colour tends to bleed into other ingredients in a recipe. With this in mind, frozen fruit is perfect for purees and sauces and works well in cheesecakes and frozen desserts. On the other hand, fresh fruit should be used for Eagle Brand^® fruit tarts and for garnish.

Toasted nuts and coconut give foods a pleasant crunchiness, and enhances the food's nutty flavour. To toast, spread the chopped nuts or coconut in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Bake 5 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. The key is to stir them up frequently to prevent burning.

The best cookies to use to make your own crumbs, are dry ones. For example chocolate or vanilla wafers (with no cream filling), graham crackers or any kind of biscotti. Here's a quick and easy way to make cracker or cookie crumbs; place crackers in a large resealable plastic food storage bag, press out air and seal. Roll a rolling pin over the cracker to crush.

This is a common problem and fortunately, it's easily solved! Your cheesecake simply got over-baked. Next time, be sure to check your cheesecake 5 to 10 minutes before the end of the recommended baking time. Open the oven door and give the pan a jiggle - if the centre looks just firm, then it's ready.

The cheesecake will set as it cools. Because every oven is different and everyone likes their cheesecake with a different consistency (the longer it cooks, the firmer it gets), you might have to experiment a few times to get it just the way you like it.

Here's a delicious streusel (or "crumble") topping recipe that's quick and easy:

1. Combine 1/2 cup (125 mL) packed light brown sugar and 1/2 cup (125 mL) unsifted flour.
2. Cut in 1/4 cup (50 mL) butter until crumbly.
3. Stir in 1/4 (50 mL) chopped nuts if desired.
4. Spread evenly over pie, cake or bar 10 minutes before the end of the specified cooking time.
5. Continue to bake the cake, pie or bar for the remaining 10 minutes.

This is one of my favourite garnish ideas because it's so easy but looks so professional, not to mention festive!

Chocolate Star Garnish:
Place a 1 oz square of semi-sweet or white baking chocolate in a small double boiler. Heat over low heat until melted, stirring occasionally. Spoon mixture into a pastry bag with a narrow tip. Working quickly, pipe the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in star shapes. Let stand until dry. Carefully peel cooled stars from the paper and use to garnish (see photo).

Be sure your oven temperature is accurate (an oven thermometer is a great help) and always start checking on your baking a few minutes before they are due to come out of the oven. As well, cookies baked on brown (generally non-stick) cookie sheets and/or cookies sheets with sides, are more likely to burn. The key to a good cookie sheet is "flat and shiny". Also, if the sheet is half or less full of cookies it may absorb too much heat, get too hot and burn your cookies. You can solve this by putting an inverted baking pan (or your old cookie sheet) on the empty half.

Candied orange and lemon slices make a colourful garnish for pies, cheesecakes or fruit-flavoured ice cream. Here's my favourite recipe:

Create a simple syrup by combining one cup of water with one cup of granulated sugar in a heavy saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil. Add a single layer of 1/4-inch (7 mm) orange or lemon slices (each piece of fruit must be submerged). Reduce heat and simmer covered for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and allow the fruit to cool in the syrup. Remove the fruit and place on a wire rack until excess syrup has dripped off and the fruit is dry to the touch. Use immediately as a garnish or store in an airtight container between sheets of waxed paper.

I've got a great tip that will make getting any cake onto the plate a snap. Simply sprinkle your cake plate with a little granulated sugar before you place your cake on it. Then, when you cut it, the slices won't stick.

Chocolate is sold in many different forms (chips, squares, blocks) and it can be tricky determining what the correct substitution is for each. The only completely accurate way to do it is to use a kitchen scale as many professional bakers do. But if you don't have access to a scale here are some chocolate conversions that are commonly used:

• 175g pkg. of chocolate chips = approximately 1 cup/250 mL
• 350g pkg. of chocolate chips = approximately 2 cups/500 mL
• 1 square of chocolate = approximately 1 oz/28.4g
• 1 cup/250 mL of chocolate chips = approximately 6 squares or 6 oz/170 g

It is best not to substitute lemon juice with lemon extract. The flavour and uses for both of these ingredients is different. Generally, lemon juice is used in a multitude of dishes from sweet to savoury, as well as a flavouring in beverages. Some dishes also rely on the acidity of lemon juice to make them set or firm, such as jam. Lemon extract on the other hand is more commonly used in baking. Its purpose is to add a subtle flavour of lemon without the acidic properties of lemon juice.Since lemon extract is very concentrated, only a few drops are required in recipe preparations.

Nuts are best stored in the freezer as they become rancid quickly. There is no need to thaw; use directly from the freezer. To ensure freshness, make sure to taste the nuts before adding them to your recipe.

Baking powder (and cream of tartar) will keep indefinitely. Baking soda, on the other hand, does lose its leavening ability over time as moisture reacts with it. Buy only as much baking soda as you think you will use in eight to 12 months. You can test your baking soda by putting a pinch into a pot of boiling water -- if you see a lot of bubbles forming it's still fine to use.

Most of our recipes call for butter which gives your baked goods the best possible flavour and texture. Besides taste, the main difference between butter, margarine and shortening is their water content. Shortening has no water in it, butter has very little, while margarine can contain quite a bit. If you use margarine, be sure it contains at least 80 per cent vegetable oil or fat. Any product with less than that contains additional water and milk solids that can make your baking turn out either soggy or rock hard. For best results, don't substitute one type of fat for another.

Here are some popular tricks to do with chocolate which make it so easy to impress!

• Chocolate leaves
  Coat undersides of real leaves lightly with vegetable oil. Melt semi sweet chocolate and coat undersides of leaves thickly with chocolate using small spoon. Chill or freeze until firm, then peel away leaf.
• Chocolate curls
  With a vegetable peeler or thin, sharp knife, slice across block of sweet milk chocolate or large-size milk chocolate candy bar with long, thin strokes. Chocolate should be at room temperature.
• Marbling
  To get that great marbling effect in two-tone cheesecakes, drop the second mixture in spoonfuls onto the base mixture. Let settle, then gently swirl a narrow spatula through light and dark mixtures.

Plan to take frozen cakes or pies out of the freezer 10 minutes before serving. This will "take the chill off" so your knife will easily glide right through the dessert. To really say summer, garnish with fresh berries and mint leaves.

Yes. Baking is all about chemical reactions so you have to be especially careful to use the correct measuring tools if you want to be sure of your results. Liquid ingredients should be measured in a clear glass or plastic liquid measuring cup and amounts should always be checked at eye level. Be sure to get out all the liquid by using a rubber spatula. To make sticky liquids like molasses or honey easier to get out, grease the cup first. For dry ingredients, use standard dry measuring spoons and cups. Spoon dry ingredients into the cup or spoon until just overflowing. Level off with a knife or metal spatula. For brown sugar, pack it firmly into the dry measuring cup and level off. It should hold its shape when turned out of the cup.

These tips will help you keep your cookies tasting fresh! Cool cookies completely on a rack (remove them from the baking sheet as soon as possible to prevent over baking). Then, in an airtight container, arrange unfrosted cookies or bars in single layers separated by a layer of waxed paper. Store treats with frosting or toppings in a single layer. Don't store soft and crisp treats together - the soft ones will get hard and the crisp ones will go soggy. Properly stored cookies and bars will stay fresh at room temperature for up to three days. If you want to keep them longer, package them in freezer bags or airtight containers and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the container for about 15 minutes before serving.

As they say, "presentation is everything." So whether you're baking for friends and family or for a bake sale, creative pretty packaging makes your creations even more special and tempting. Here are a few of my favourite ways to package up Eagle Brand^® treats:

• Using pinking shears or other decorative-edged scissors, cut the rim off of a colourful, heavy-duty paper plate. Place cookies or bars on the plate and into colourful cello bags (available at bake and bulk food shops). Finish with a co-ordinating ribbon and tag describing the treat (include an ingredients list).
• Visit a local specialty paper store in your area - interesting gift containers like tubes, envelopes and boxes make great packages for your treats. Just be sure to line them with wax paper before you put in your treats and finish them off with colourful bows and tags.
• Also be sure to look in your local dollar store for inspiration. A colourful mug filled with truffles might be the perfect way to cheer up a friend. A toy dump truck (washed first) filled with fudge and wrapped in cello would make a great gift for a favourite grandson or nephew.

Here are a few ways I use my microwave to make baking a bit quicker and easier:

• To soften brown sugar, place in microwave safe container in microwave. Also place 1 cup of water beside it in the microwave. Cook on high for 1 minute.
• To melt butter or margarine, place in a microwave safe container in the microwave. Cook on high for increments of ten seconds, checking each time. Remove from the microwave when most of the butter or margarine is liquefied and stir until the remaining bits are melted.
• To soften cream cheese, remove from packaging and place in a microwave safe container. Cook on Medium Low (30 per cent) power for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes for 3oz. (85 g) brick or 3 to 4 minutes for a 8oz. (225 g) brick.
• To make juicing a lemon or orange easier, microwave it on high for 15 seconds.
• See also "How to Caramelize Eagle Brand^®"

Since ancient times, wheat and bread have been precious items and bakers were subject to severe penalties for cheating their customers. When British parliament passed a law in 1266 that strictly regulated bread weight, bakers were understandably nervous. Since it was difficult at that time to make loaves a uniform weight, bakers thought it better to be safe than sorry and began adding a thirteenth loaf to each shipment of 12 they sent to shopkeepers - and a "baker's dozen" was born. This freebie assured there would be no shortchanging and, more importantly, no jail time!

Baking pans come in a wide range of sizes that hold different amounts of batter. This must be taken into account when substituting one pan size for another in a recipe. If you use a larger pan than asked for in a recipe the depth of the batter becomes shallower and therefore the batter will bake much more quickly. Likewise, if you use a smaller pan than asked for in a recipe the depth of the batter becomes deeper and will take longer to bake.

To determine the pan's dimensions always measure inside edge to inside edge of the pan so that you do not include the thickness of the pan in your measurement. To measure the depth, place your ruler straight up from the bottom of the pan.

To determine the pan's volume (how much batter it will hold), pour pre-measured water by the cupful until the pan is filled to the brim.

The only time you should substitute one pan for another is when the batter depth remains the same as in the original recipe. For example, you could substitute a 8 x 8 x 1 1/2 inch square pan (6 cups) for a 8 x 2 inch round pan (6 cups) without changing the baking time or oven temperature stated in the original recipe.