snickerdoodles

SNICKERDOODLES

{so i have searched high and low for the perfect snickerdoodle recipe. i wanted the crispy outside with a chewy inside. well folks, thanks to my cookie-genius-neighbor, i've found it!}

1 C butter
2 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
4 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar

preheat oven to 375. cream butter and sugar. add vanilla and eggs. mix in dry ingredients. bake for 9-12 min.

bunny cupcakes

our easter treat is all ready for our egg hunt tomorrow! can't wait!

i just used a box cake mix,

butter cream frosting that goes something like this:
1/3 C softened butter
3 C powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
milk to desired consistency

i cut {with scissors} the big marshmallows on the diagonal and then dipped them in the pink decorating sugar {b/c it was all nice and sticky}

i used pink jelly beans for the nose
blue jelly beans for the eyes
little marshmallows for the cheeks

Chocolate Cream Angel Food Cake

{one of my friends introduced me to this site...yummy treats! this cake was soooo yummy! i loved the chocolate whipped cream frosting!}

Chocolate Cream Angel Food Cake

1 Angel Food cake, baked and cooled completely

3 cups heavy whipping cream
2/3 cup powdered sugar
½ cup cocoa

1/2 cup toasted, slivered almonds

In a large glass bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream until it begins to thicken. Carefully add the powdered sugar and cocoa gradually and continue whipping. I find the best way to do this is to place the bowl in the kitchen sink and whip with a hand mixer so that when it splatters, it doesn't get the entire kitchen messy. The cocoa will look like it is separating and lumpy but continue to beat until stiff peaks form and by then, the cocoa should be evenly combined. (If you are worried about lumps you can sift in the cocoa and powdered sugar with a fine mesh sieve.) The frosting should be thick and spreadable - but not overly whipped or it will look a bit curdly. Just beat to stiff peaks.

When the angel food cake has been baked and cooled completely, cut the cake in half to form two round circles. Lay the top half to the side and gently remove pieces of the angel food cake to form a ditch in the bottom portion of the cake (taking care not to dig all the way to the bottom of the cake, you want a layer of cake on the bottom underneath the ditch). Spoon frosting into the ditch you made and lay the top circle of cake back on top. Frost the sides, top and middle of the cake. Top with toasted almonds. Refrigerate until time to serve. A serrated knife works best to cut the cake into slices.

Recipe Source: My Kitchen Cafe (melskitchencafe.com)

red velvet cake {frosting}

so, i always just use good 'ole
DUNCAN HINES RED VELVET CAKE MIX
for the cake part.
{why reinvent the wheel, right}
when i try to make this cake from scratch it always tastes bitter
b/c of all the red coloring you have to put in it.

just follow directions on the box and let cool before frosting

then i add this frosting:
{my grandma salmon makes it every valentine's day}

over med. heat, mix together
1 Cup milk
1/2 Cup flour
stir constantly until it forms a pudding-like texture
let cool to room temp

beat in separate bowl cream together:
1/2 C up softened butter
1 Cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

slowly add pudding mixture
and whip until all combined
{i sometimes add more powdered sugar to thicken it up}


{the frosting isn't my fav by itself...but oh so yummy on this cake!}

French Banana Cake

I love this cake. And, it's a great alternative to banana bread when you need to get rid of those brown bananas! It is VERY moist and is even better the day after you make it!

This is the first time I have put Walnuts on top and it was pretty, and yummy too!

2/3 cup water

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon making soda

1 package white cake mix

2 eggs

1 1/4 cups very ripe bananas

2/3 cup walnuts, optional

Mix water, vinegar, and soda. Combine with cake mix and eggs. Stir until moistened. Scrape bowl with spatula. Add mashed bananas. Beat with electric mixer 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour into greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 350º for 35 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean). Frost, when cool with creamy butter frosting.

I generally used Anne's butter frosting recipe and it is yummy!

*recipe from Ivory Favorites cookbook

home made oreos

{These are the EASIEST! I made these for a cub scout pack meeting the other night
and I remembered how addicted to them I am! The boys LOVED them too!}

1 box chocolate cake mix {just the powder}
1/2 C. oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all together. Spoon cookie dough onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake @ 375 for 7-10 min. After completely cool, frost with:

Vanilla Butter Frosting:
3 C Powdered Sugar
1/3 C softened butter
1 & 1/2 t vanilla
2 T Milk

Mix pwd sugar and butter. Stir in vanilla and milk. Beat until smooth.

varieties:
*use mint extract instead of vanilla and add green food coloring for mint oreos
*use cream cheese instead of butter for cream cheese frosting
*use a tub of vanilla frosting from the store if you must {i'm such a frosting snob! i only like homemade!}
*use spice mix cake and frost with cream cheese frosting

Monkey Bread

This bread is super yummy and is also great because it feeds a large crowd. I think it is a lot easier than making a bunch of homemade rolls.

2 c. warm water
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 tbs. yeast
2 eggs (beaten)
5 1/2-6 c. flour
4 tbs. vegetable oil
1 cube butter

Combine warm water, sugar, salt and yeast. Let stand for a few minutes. Add beaten eggs and 3 cups flour. Stir, do not beat. Add oil and rest of flour, dough will be sticky. Cover and let rise until double in size. Knead and roll on a flour surface. Cut out circles with the mouth of a cup. Melt butter, put half in bundt pan. Line up circles around bundt pan until all dough is used. Pour rest of butter over top. Let rise again about 20 minutes. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Turn bundt pan upside down on plate. Bread will just pull apart for you to enjoy.

Turtle Pumpkin Pie

This is YUMMY, and easy! No baking required!

I got the recipe from Real Simple magazine (one of my fav's, in case you can't tell).



1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. caramel ice cream topping, divided
1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. chopped PLANTERS Pecans, divided
2 pkg. (3.4 oz. each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1 cup cold milk
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

POUR: 1/4 cup caramel topping into crust; sprinkle with 1/2 cup nuts.

BEAT: dry pudding mixes, milk, pumpkin and spices with whisk until well blended. Stir in 1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP; spoon into crust.

REFRIGERATE: 1 hour. Top with remaining COOL WHIP, caramel topping and nuts just before serving.

Pumpkin Cupcakes

I haven't baked these yet, but I had them at Bunco last night and they were GOOD! My friend Courtney made mini cupcakes instead of regular size, and they were the perfect little bite size treat. I will probably do Anne's Cream cheese frosting instead of the one listed here because I like her's better

Ingredients

• 1 18.5-ounce box yellow cake mix (plus the ingredients called for in the package directions)
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
• 2 8-ounce bars cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 24 pieces candy corn

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners. Prepare the cake mix as directed but with the following change: Add the pumpkin pie spice and substitute the can of pumpkin puree for the water called for in the package directions.
2. Divide the batter among the prepared muffin tins and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes. Let cool.
3. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Spread on the cupcakes and top each with a piece of candy corn.

Recipe came from RealSimple.com and you can check it out here.