Sundae Marshmallow Pops

We had Evelyn's second birthday party this weekend, so I've been very busy working on birthday things. We had her party at a jump house place, which should have made it an easy party...Not when I'm involved. I feel that I'm in competition with myself for every party I throw. I kept getting different ideas for the goodie bags and the cupcakes and thier outfits- are you exhausted thinking about it all? I certainly was.

Anyway, I made these simple, but delicious marshmallow pops for her goodie bags. These would be perfect for your Valentine!

Peppermint Mocha Cake Balls

Bakerella is my hero. She is the author of the first blog I ever read and followed. I am unsure if she invented cake balls, but she certainly made them popular and shared them with the world- and we owe a debt of gratitude to her for sharing this amazing addition to the truffle community.

This recipe is one of the many cake balls I made for Christmas. It blends my two favorite flavors: chocolate and peppermint. This technique can be made into any combination of cake balls you'd like. One of my favorite cake ball combos is butter pecan cake with Duncan Hines Rainbow Chip frosting...yum! See Bakerella's website for a million other fabulous combinations. Once you make them a few times, you'll learn what works best for you.

Grandma's Red Velvet Cake

Every year, my in-law's neighborhood has a bake auction the weekend before Christmas to fund their block party that occurs in June. Since college, I have been making cakes for them to take to the auction. Its my personal goal to out-do the last year's cake because it's usually one of the best sellers.  This year, I made a red velvet cake with shortening icing.

This was always my favorite cake growing up. The frosting is what makes the cake for me, but the red velvet cake is delicious. As a kid, I always loved having red velvet for my birthday because it was unique.- no boring vanilla, chocolate or fun-fetti for this girl!

My mom always complained that it was a difficult cake to make, so even as an adult, I've always shied away from making it. Now that I've been making cakes and frosting from scratch for a few years, I've come to realize that sometimes people describe a recipe as difficult if it takes a little more time. This cake is a little time consuming, but aren't all great things in life?

If you've never had red velvet cake, I challenge you to make it with the shortening icing for your next event. You won't be sorry!

Sweet & Salty Oreo Brownies

Happy New Year!

This is a post that will be sure to blow your new year's resolutions out of the water.

This dessert was the clear winner at my husband's family's holiday dinners this year. I was inspired by this recipe by the Picky Palate. It was a little too sweet for me, so I altered it a little and produced this gooey- salty Oreo perfection.

Bring this to your next family gathering and you'll be the most popular person there... Here is the recipe.

Grandma's Shortening Frosting

I grew up on my grandma's red velvet cake with shortening frosting. This was the cake we begged for at our birthdays. I love the cake, but the frosting is what did it for me. This frosting is the fluffiest, most unique tasting frosting you'll ever taste. We always had it on red velvet cake, but I think it would be great on any cake. It's a little labor intensive- your mixer will get quite a work out, but it is completely worth it.

Christmas Cookie 2012- Andees Mint Cookie

Do you get giddy when your co-workers bring in their daughter's girl scout cookie form every year and then spend a small fortune on the best mint cookie in the world? Wait no longer... this cookie will give you your Thin Mint fix.  This cookie is not only amazing, but also extremely easy. Four ingredients to make this decadent cookie from Six Sister's Stuff. I changed it slightly, but anyway you go, this is a great cookie.

Christmas Cookie 2012- M&M Chocolate Chip & Peanut Butter Cookies

It's December 2nd and I've officially started my Christmas cookie baking. A few years back, a received come good advice regarding Christmas cookies. Clinton's friend's mom always gives out the most amazing cookie trays every year. There are at least 30 different cookies on the tray. I asked her how she has time to make so many. She told me that she starts mid-November and freezes them in her deep freezer. I tried this last year and it worked! You'd never know the cookies weren't fresh. So, that's my strategy again this year. I'll make a few different cookies a week and have a great collection by Christmas.

Now, to have the time to give out the cookies I make...

For these two cookies, I doubled my normal chocolate chip cookie dough and divided it once everything was mixed minus the chips.

Almost Homeade Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

I came across this cupcake recipe on Pinterest a few months ago and it has quickly become my new go-to cupcake recipe. I like to bake from scratch, however when I find a cake mix recipe that cuts time and tastes like it's from scratch, I use it. Also, it makes 36 cupcakes, so if you need more than 24, but not 48, this is a great recipe to use. I used my buttercream frosting recipe with it for my sister's shower. The cupcakes were amazing!

*One quick note- these cupcakes are very moist. I have found that the Wilton ruffled white baking cups are the best liners to use otherwise, the liners come off of the cupcakes. It does help to cool the cupcakes on a cooling rack rather than in a pan, but they will still separate slightly from the cupcake if they're not this liner. You can get them at any store that has Wilton brand baking supplies.

Here is the recipe:

Mini No-bake Cheesecakes

So, todays post was a star at my sister's bridal shower. My focus for the foods were finger-foods and mini desserts. These no-bake cheese cakes were awesome. As you can see from the recipe, I'm not sharing an actual recipe but more of an idea and a guide. Jello No-Bake Cheesecake mix is amazing. It is light, fluffy and a perfect addition to a sweet table that takes minimal effort to make. I've made these a few times and I always forget how many servings I get from the box. One box makes twelve of the perfect sized cheesecakes.

Rollo Cupcakes

What could be better than a chocolate cupcake stuffed with caramel and topped with a delicious buttercream frosting with caramel drizzled on top? Nothing I can think of!

This is a great recipe and an easy way to dress up a cake mix cupcake. Inspired by one of my favorite candies- Rollos, this recipe combines chocolate and caramel that you can taste in every bite.

Best Buttercream Frosting

Over the years, I've come to perfect my buttercream frosting. I've taken elements from many different recipes and love the result. This is great as a stiff decorators frosting on cupcakes or cakes. I recommend doubling the recipe if you're decorating or like to pipe a good amount of frosting on your cupcakes.

White Chocolate Chip Pistachio Cookie Bars

 For a recipe I put together on a whim, this is a really great one. This cookie bar recipe came as a request from my husband. He loves white chocolate chips and pistachios, so when I asked his opinion about what kind cookies I should make today, he asked for this. I've never baked with pistachios, in fact, up until very recently, I've never eaten one. But they complemented the white chocolate chips very nicely. And the fact that this is made with a cake mix, makes it a very easy recipe.

Homeade Poptarts

I love Pop Tarts...I rarely buy them because they're not diet friendly, but the couple times a year I do buy them, I cherish every bite. When I came across this recipe, I knew it had to be on the menu for Evelyn's breakfast birthday party. And the were a hit. I used my William Sonoma sandwich maker and it worked perfectly as a little pie maker...plus it made them adorable!

Oreo Cream Filled Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Superbowl goodie number 3...These cupcakes are fantastic! A variation on what I did for Evelyn's birthday party, but I made the filling a little thicker. I loved it, Clinton not so much- but I think it was because he prefers vanilla pudding over Oreo.  The little footballs on top of the cupcakes were made out of chocolate that I piped onto wax paper. I used melting chocolate for the football and cookie icing for the laces- because that is what i had. It worked perfectly, except for the fact that I wish the icing was white for the laces, but I figured its my omage to the Bears who I wish were in the Superbowl tonight.

Valentine Brownies

These heart shaped brownies are a quick and easy gift to do for Valentines Day.  You just need a brownie mix and a tub of frosting, but it looks like something you slaved away on. I won't tell if you won't!

Auntie Jeannie's Famous Butter Cookies

My Auntie Jeannie is amazing.  Growing up, my siblings and I would get excited to go to holiday dinners because we knew that Auntie Jeannie's cookies would be there. She made the most beautiful cookies that tasted as good as they looked. Each one is a little work of art that I knew took forever for her to create. Three years ago, she invited my sisters, mom and I over to learn how to make them. Mine are not even close to the caliber of Auntie Jeannie's but I keep in mind that it takes years of practice to achieve her level of perfection and my kiddos are glad to be the guinea pigs!

Don't be tempted to skip the butter cookie recipe and use refrigerated dough.  It might still be pretty, but DOES NOT taste the same. This recipe is the perfect combination with the sweet royal frosting. I always double the recipe because these cookies are so labor intensive that I want to give them to as many people as possible each time I make them.

Toffee Cake Trifle

This recipe is an adaptation of my husband's favorite cake- Heath Cake (a.k.a Better than Sex Cake- I'm probably going to get a lot of inappropriate google searches on this one). It is the most decadent cake you will ever eat. I was having my husband's family over for dinner and decided to make something a little different. Making this cake into a trifle cuts the sweetness down, which I preferred.  This cake does have to sit overnight, so be sure to plan ahead when making it.

Saltine Toffee

This was another hit this Christmas. It has a perfect combination of Salty and Sweet. You may have to adjust your ingredients to fit your pan.

A Few Easy Cookies...

So here are the last few of my Christmas cookie tray cookies. I've gotten so many compliments, that I wanted to post all of the cookies I made so that I can remember what to make next year. I think this was my favorite cookie tray yet... and I'm not happy about still having a freezer full of cookies! Tomorrow Clinton's staff will be getting a very big New Year's tray of cookies so they aren't tempting me!

I don't shortcut many cookies because I love to bake from scratch. These are the exception. Betty Crocker has an awesome peanut butter cookie mix and I believe it turns out the same as if they were made from scratch... I have even purchased the already made Pillsbury dough tubes. I think when you're doing 15 different cookies, its ok to cheap once in a while.

Peanut Butter Blossom Cups

Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix plus the ingredients
1 bag of Hershey's Kisses
mini muffin liners

Prepare cookie dough. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350. Line your mini muffin pan with mini cup liners. Take a small cookie scoop and place a scoop of dough in each liner. You don't need to press it into the liner, it will form to it as it bakes. Be careful not to overfill the cups. Bake for 9-11 minutes.

Remove from oven. Place a Hershey's Kiss in the center of each cup and transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

So Easy, but one of my favorites!

2 sleeves of Ritz crackers
Peanut Butter
1 Pkg chocolate flavored almond bark
Few Tbsp shortening
Sprinkles

Spread peanut butter between two crackers to make sandwiches. Melt chocolate according to the package directions. Add shortening until the chocolate is a good coating consistency. I usually use about 2 tbsp for the entire package of chocolate. Dip sandwiches in chocolate and place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Add sprinkles if desired. Place cookies in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Peppermint Chocolate Covered Oreos

1 Pkg Double Stuff Oreos
2 Pkgs Wilton peppermint melting chocolate disks
shortening
sprinkles

Melt Chocolate according to package directions. Add shortening to thin out chocolate. (The Wilton chocolate needs a little more shortening than almond bark because it's a denser chocolate). Dip Oreos in melted chocolate. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with decorations, if desired. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Chocolate Crackled Cookies