Here are three iconic brands with iconic recipes who've finally divulged their secrets for the curious home cook. Still waiting on the full Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch recipe but in the meantime, we've uncovered the goods from IKEA's Swedish Meatballs to those stupid good Hilton Doubletree cookies.

1. IKEA Meatballs

Sweden is known for a couple of things, like strikingly good-looking people, sauna (well that's Finland) and of course IKEA. Chances are you've owned a piece of IKEA something in your lifetime and maybe you've had the meatballs. They are actually pretty darn good but now you can make meatballs at home and not risk getting lured into purchasing the entire patio furniture set on an idle Saturday.

Swedish meatball ingredients

  • 500 grams (about 1 pound) of ground beef
  • 250 grams (about 0.5 pounds) of ground pork
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic, crushed or minced
  • 100 grams (1/2 cup) of bread crumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 5 tablespoons of whole milk
  • generous amounts of salt and pepper

Cream sauce ingredients

  • Dash of olive oil
  • 40 grams (3 tablespoons) of butter
  • 40 grams (3 tablespoons) of plain flour
  • 150 millilitres (2/3 cup) of vegetable stock
  • 150 millilitres (2/3 cup) of beef stock
  • 150 millilitres (2/3 cup) of thick double cream
  • 2 teaspoons of soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

Directions

Meatballs

  1. Combine ground beef and ground pork in a bowl and break it up with your fingers to get rid of lumps.
  2. Add chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg and mix together.
  3. Add milk and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Roll mixture into small meatballs. Place on a clean plate, cover and refrigerate for two hours.
  5. Heat oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Add meatballs and brown on all sides.
  6. Heat oven to 180 C (350 F). Add browned meatballs to an ovenproof dish, cover and cook in the oven for 30 minutes.

Cream sauce

  1. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a pan.
  2. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of flour and stir for two minutes.
  3. Add 2/3 cup of vegetable stock and 2/3 cup of beef stock, stirring continuously.
  4. Add 2/3 cup of double cream, 2 teaspoons of soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard.
  5. Simmer until sauce thickens.
  6. Drizzle over meatballs and enjoy.

“Bon appétit or, smaklig måltid, as we say in Sweden!”

Ikea’s meatball recipe is shown in this instructional diagram.

2. Double Tree Cookies

Did you know you can walk into any Double Tree and ask for a cookie and the kind front desk staff will hand you a perfectly warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie? We did. We've done it. You don't even have to stay at the hotel! Now you don't even have to go to the hotel just bake your own, just make sure to eat these puppies straight out of the oven for the full effect.

DoubleTree Signature Cookie Recipe

Makes 26 cookies

Ingredients

  • ½ pound butter, softened (2 sticks)
  • ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 ¼ cups flour
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Pinch cinnamon
  • 2 2/3 cups Nestle Tollhouse semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 3/4 cups chopped walnuts 

Directions

  1. Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes. 
  2. Add eggs, vanilla and lemon juice, blending with mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then medium speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl. 
  3. With mixer on low speed, add flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, blending for about 45 seconds. Don’t overmix. 
  4. Remove bowl from mixer and stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
  5. Portion dough with a scoop (about 3 tablespoons) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper about 2 inches apart. 
  6. Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and center is still soft. 
  7. Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for about 1 hour.
  8. Cook’s note: You can freeze the unbaked cookies, and there’s no need to thaw. Preheat oven to 300°F and place frozen cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.

3. Disney Churro Bites

No need to s̶t̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶s̶o̶u̶l̶-̶c̶r̶u̶s̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶l̶i̶n̶e̶s̶ ̶visit Disney parks to snack on those delicious, hot, sugary churros! You can make them at home, throw on an old Disney flick on and enjoy yourself! Are they the greatest churro recipe on the planet? Probably not but they are THE Disney Churro. 

Bowl lined with parchment paper filled with churro bites. Served with a side of hot chocolate sauce and caramel.

 @shugarysweets 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 8 tbsp. butter
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ¾ tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 1½ cups vegetable or canola oil
  • ½ cup sugar

Directions

  1. Combine water, butter, salt, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon in 1½-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring pot to rolling boil.

  2. Reduce heat to low.

  3. Add flour and stir vigorously until mix forms a ball. Remove from heat and let rest for 5–7 min.

  4. Add eggs, one at a time, and stir until combined. Set aside.

  5. Heat oil in medium skillet or 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat or until temperature reaches 350˚F.

  6. Spoon dough into piping bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe 1-inch strip of dough over saucepan, cut with knife, and drop into hot oil. Repeat until churro bites fill saucepan with room to fry.

  7. Fry churro bites until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon or mesh spider strainer.

  8. Drain churro bites on paper towel.

  9. Mix sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in medium bowl. Toss in churro bites until coated. Place on serving plate and serve with favorite dipping sauce

Thanks for reading! :) If you enjoyed it, share this page. It would mean a lot because it helps other people discover the makers. 

Follow Mantry: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Snapchat | Youtube

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR HIM

Give him the gift he really wants - including 6 full-size artisan food products and a custom handmade wooden crate.

give him a gift

GET YOUR MANTRY

We'll deliver the best foods from across the country to your door every two months.

subscribe today
Share