Special Easter Cake

Easter is here, and this year I decided to make a cute Easter-themed cake for the occasion.

I found the idea for this cake on Pinterest and adapted it a little to make it my own.  There is nothing difficult about the actual cake recipe,  but the fun is in the decorating!

Ingredients:

Store-bought cake mix to make a 2-layer cake (I chose to make a Funfetti cake)
1 container of white frosting
Green food coloring
1 cup of shredded coconut
6-8 "Robin's Egg" malted milk balls (alternately, you could use large colored jelly beans)
Small-medium sized chocolate bunny

Instructions:

Bake the cake according the to recipe and instructions included on the packaging, if using a store-bought cake mix.  Be sure to divide the cake batter into two, and use circular baking pans so that you will end up with the "cakes" to be layered.

When the cake is baked and then fully cooked, you are going to mix a few drops of the green food coloring into the white frosting and stir until fully mixed. Now, frost the cake as usual, stacking the two layers.

In a small bowl, add the shredded coconut and a few more drops of the food coloring.  When the coconut absorbs the green color, gently press the coconut pieces around the whole cake and on top of it.  Now for the final touches - place the chocolate bunny on top of the cake, in the center, and around the bunny, place the "Robin's eggs" or jelly beans on top of the cake.

This cute cake will impress your guests - enjoy!

Extra Creamy Mac and Cheese

I love all types of Mac and cheese, but this recipe really tops them all in my opinion.  This extra creamy, extra cheesy Mac and cheese will leave you wanting second and third helpings (at least, I did when I tried it!)

Ingredients:
1/2 stick of butter
2 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
1/2 block of Velveeta cheese
2 lb. Box of macaroni
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Splash of olive oil

Instructions:
Add a splash of olive oil to a saucepan, and then melt the butter in the pan. When melted, add the flour slowly, whisking continuously. When it has all dissolved, add the milk and continue whisking. Now, cube the Velveeta, add the cubes, and allow it to melt.

Separately, boil the macaroni. Now, once the cheese mixture is fully melted, add the shredded cheddar and stir. Strain the macaroni and then pour the cheese mixture into it. Give it a stir, and serve!

This recipe makes for some great leftovers, too, so you can keep enjoying it until it's gone.  Enjoy!

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

With the warmer weather approaching, I've been looking at spring and summer time recipes.  It is never too early to try a new recipe!

My Mom and I recently got the ice cream maker attachment for our KitchenAid mixer. We decided to try peanut butter cup ice cream today, and more flavors to come!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup chopped mini peanut butter cups

Instructions:

In a regular KitchenAid mixer, mix the peanut butter and sugar.  Cream it together on a medium speed for a few minutes until it is smooth and well mixed.  Now, turn off the mixer  add in the whole milk.  Mix on low for about 2 more minutes.  When it is all stirred together, add the heavy cream.  Now, mix on low for about 30 seconds. 

Now, set up your ice cream attachment onto the KitchenAid, or use an ice cream machine if that's what you are using.  Pour all of the liquid mixture into the ice cream bowl and let it churn for about 25 minutes on low.

When it is done churning, fold in the chopped peanut butter cups. Put all of the ice cream into a container, to be put into the freezer for about 20 minutes. 

You can use this recipe and adapt it for any flavor or topping that you want to try.

Enjoy!

Mini Blueberry Cakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I experimented with a recipe today to see how I could incorporate homemade jam that I made this past summer, and these mini cakes were the result!

The base for these mini cakes is actually the same dough that I use to make cinnamon rolls, and then I used blueberry jam as the filling. You can substitute any type of fruit preserves or jam in this recipe.

Here's how I made these:

Ingredients:

For the cakes:
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
4 tbsp. Butter
Dash of vanilla
3/4 tsp. Salt
2/3 cup milk
4 tsp. Baking powder

For the filling:
1/2 cup of fruit jam/preserves
1 tbsp. Butter, melted

For the frosting:
3 oz. Cream cheese, room temp
2 tbsp. Butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla

Instructions:

In a mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients for the cakes. Cut the butter into pats and add them. Now, start mixing it on a low setting and while it is mixing, add the milk and the vanilla. Mix this until it forms a stiff batter.

Now, sprinkle flour onto the counter or a cutting board, and roll out the dough until it is evenly flat and about a half inch thick. 

For the filling, melt the butter and brush it onto the dough. Now, spread around the fruit jam, covering the dough.

Roll this away from you in jelly roll fashion, and when it completely rolled, cut the roll into twelve pieces, each about an inch wide.

In a muffin tin, spray nonstick cooking spray, and then place the pieces of the roll into the tin (swirl side up.) 

Bake for 18 minutes at 350 degrees. 
Let them cool for a few minutes when they come out of the oven.

Now, in your mixer you are going to add the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and softened butter. Mix on a high setting for a few minutes so that it really creams the ingredients together. When it is thoroughly mixed, and the mini cakes are cooled, spread a bit of the frosting onto each one.

Enjoy!

Chocolate and Walnut Fudge

Here is a simple recipe for homemade fudge. With all of these snowy winter days inside, what better to do than make dessert treats?

Ingredients:
4 cups confectionary sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
6 tbsp. Cold butter
1/4 cup milk
1 tbsp. Vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. Salt

Instructions:
Stir all ingredients together in a heat resistant bowl. Now, in a medium saucepan bring water to a boil. When boiling, place the bowl with the ingredients on top of the saucepan to create a double boiler effect. 

Keep stirring the mixture until creamy. Then remove from heat and stir a few more times. In a square pan, spray nonstick cooking spray and then line with parchment paper. Pour the mixture in evenly and then sprinkle on walnuts or another topping, like mini marshmallows, if you wish. When this completely hardens, cut into squares. Enjoy! 

Cheesecake

This was my first time making a homemade cheesecake, and I must say it turned out perfect!

I decided to use my Mom's recipe, and make this special Valentine's Day treat.

Ingredients:

For the crust:
1 cup  crushed graham crackers (about 7 whole crackers)
3 tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp. melted butter

For the cake:
Four 8 oz. packages of cream cheese
1 cup sugar
3 tbsp. flour
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tbsp. vanilla extract

Instructions:

Before you even make the cheesecake, take the cream cheese packages out of the fridge and leave them on the counter for at least 3 hours or more, so that they get to room temperature.

Now, you will mix together the crushed graham crackers, melted butter, and sugar to form the crust.  Press this mixture firmly down into the bottom of a spring form pan. Bake this at 325 degrees for ten minutes, then remove from the oven.

To make the cheesecake, you will now add the cream cheese, sugar, and flour into a mixer.  Blend until smooth.  Now, add the eggs one at a time while the mixer is going, so that everything is combined. Finally, blend in the sour cream and vanilla extract.  Make sure this is completely smooth without any lumps, and then pour mixture into the spring form pan.

Bake this at 450 degrees for ten minutes, then reduce the heat to 250 degrees and bake for one hour. The center may look a little "wobbly" but as long as the cake feels firm to the touch, it is done.

When the cake is done, let it cool for about an hour, and then either transfer the cake out of the pan and set in the fridge for about 6-8 hours, or just put the entire pan into the fridge for that same amount of cooling time.

Once cooled, serve with a fruit toppings of your choice!

Enjoy!

Cinnamon Rolls

Today is a snow day from work, which means I'm at home baking!

I made these really delicious cinnamon rolls for the first time. What an easy recipe!

Here it is...

Ingredients:

For the roll:
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
4 tbsp. Butter
4 tsp. Baking powder
2/3 cup milk
Splash of vanilla extract
3/4 tsp. Salt

For the "topping":
4 tbsp. Butter, melted
Brown sugar
Cinnamon

Instructions:

For the roll:
Add the dry ingredients together in a bowl or mixer. Now, cut the butter into pats and add those. If you're using an electric mixer, start it on a slow setting and then while it's mixing slowly pour in the milk. Add the splash of vanilla. Mix until it forms a batter.

For the topping:
Now, roll this dough out onto a floured surface. Melt the butter that is to be used for the topping. Brush this melted butter over the top of your rolled out dough. Save a little bit of the melted butter aside. Now, sprinkle brown sugar over the top and then do the same with cinnamon. I didn't include measurements for these toppings, because it's up to you how much you'd like to use. Generally, you just want the whole surface of the dough to be covered with the mixture.

Now, roll this up tightly, rolling the dough away from you so that the cinnamon and sugar topping is enclosed in the dough. When it is rolled together, cut the roll into slices, each about an inch thick.

In muffin tin, use the rest of the melted butter to coat the inside of the tin. Now place the rolls in the tin sideways, making sure the swirl of the cinnamon is visible.

Bake at 350 for about 18 minutes.

I like these as they are  but you could easily make a glaze out of confectionary sugar and water to drizzle on the top.

Enjoy!

*yields about a dozen rolls*