Cakes and Frostings

Ghost Cupcakes

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We brought in October by serving these little babies at a lunch date. My four-year-old daughter was SO EXCITED to help me with the eyes. They turned out cute and were a tasty treat for all!

Ingredients:

1 (15.25 oz) box chocolate cake mix with pudding added (I used Betty Crocker’s Devil’s Food Cake)
1 Cup Buttermilk
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
3 Eggs
1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
4.5 Cups white candy melts or coating wafers
24 Large Marshmallows
48 Mini Chocolate Chips (about 1 Tbsp)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place paper baking cups in 24 regular-sized muffin cups.
2. In a medium bowl, mix cake mix, buttermilk, oil, and eggs on low speed about 30 secs, then increase the speed to Medium for 2 minutes.
3. Stir in 1 cup mini chips. Divide batter evenly between the muffin cups
4. Bake 18 – 20 mins, until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove muffins from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack.
5. In a large microwavable bowl, microwave the white candy according to package directions until nice and smooth.
6. Place one marshmallow on each cupcake and spoon the white chocolate over to cover letting the excess drip down on the cupcake. Cool slightly. This “cooling slightly” is essential to success. If you put the eyes in too quickly, you’ll end up with LAAA-AAAZZZZY EEEYYYEEES.
7. Press two mini chocolate chips into the side for eyes.
8. Let stand, until set–about 15 minutes.

HAPPY HAUNTING!!

Note: I frosted my cupcakes (as you can see) before I put the mallows on so they would stay in place. It worked well, but the original instructions did not say to do that.

Source: Pillsbury

Sprinkles Cupcake’s Strawberry Cupcakes

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I love cupcakes. I really do. When I saw this recipe for Strawberry Cupcakes from Sprinkles Cupcakes (the original Cupcake bakery!) I had to try it. I’ve never liked Strawberry cupcakes from a box. These…. well, these are divine.

Sprinkle’s Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Icing
Servings: Makes 1 dozen

Strawberry Cupcakes

Ingredients
2/3 cup fresh or frozen whole strawberries (thawed if frozen)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour , sifted
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. coarse salt
1/4 cup whole milk , room temperature
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter , room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg , room temperature
2 large egg whites , room temperature

Directions
– Preheat oven to 350°.
– Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners; set aside.
– Place strawberries in a small food processor; process until pureed. You should have about 1/3 cup of puree. – Add a few more strawberries if necessary, or save any extra puree for frosting; set aside.
– In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
– In a small bowl, mix together milk, vanilla and strawberry puree; set aside.
– In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar and continue to beat until well combined and fluffy. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and slowly add egg and egg whites until just blended.
– With the mixer on low, slowly add half the flour mixture; mix until just blended. Add the milk mixture; mix until just blended.
– Slowly add remaining flour mixture, scraping down sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary, until just blended.
–  Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Transfer muffin tin to oven and bake until tops are just dry to the touch, 22 to 25 minutes.
– Transfer muffin tin to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool completely in tin before icing.

Strawberry Icing

Ingredients
1/2 cup whole frozen strawberries, thawed
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, firm and slightly cold
Pinch of coarse salt
3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions
– Place strawberries in the bowl of a small food processor; process until pureed.
– In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy.
– Reduce mixer speed and slowly add confectioners’ sugar; beat until well combined.
– Add vanilla and 3 tablespoons strawberry puree (save any remaining strawberry puree for another use); mix until just blended.
– Do not overmix or frosting will incorporate too much air. Frosting consistency should be dense and creamy, like ice cream.

Source for cupcakes. Source for icing.

Chocolate Chip Strawberry Shortcake

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I’ll start with the disclaimer: this isn’t really shortcake. It’s a gussied-up white cake. BUT…

…It’s MOIST. It’s easy. And it will tantalize your taste buds. Oh, yes, my friends. It will.

I usually make this cake using Devil’s Food Cake mix and chocolate pudding, but today I couldn’t decide between Strawberry Shortcake or chocolate cake. So I mixed it up a little and it turned out so fabulously I thought I’d share it with you! The chocolate chips are the perfect complements to the strawberries.

You’re Welcome. 🙂

Ingredients:
1 White (not yellow) Cake Mix (I use Betty Crocker)
1 (5.1 oz) Vanilla Instant Pudding mix
1 Cup Sour Cream
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
4 eggs
1/2 C Warm Water
1.5 C Mini-Chocolate Chips (I suppose you could use regular, but in my experience the bigger chips sink to the bottom while cooking)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl, sift together the cake and pudding mixes. Add the wet ingredients, one at a time, ending with the chocolate chips.

3. Pour into a well-greased 12 Cup bundt pan.

4. *Bake for 50 – 55 mins, or until the top is springy to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in the pan, at least an hour and a half, and invert onto a plate if desired.

5. Top with whipped cream and strawberries.

*I use a 10 Cup Sunflower-shaped Cake Pan with no fluting and it fits, but just barely. I bake this in a preheated 335 degree oven for 80 mins.

You can also bake this in a 9×13″ pan, at 350 for 25 – 30 mins.

Source: My own variations on Too Much Chocolate Cake from allrecipes.com

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes

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I’ve had a great time lately trying out some new cupcake recipes. This one did not disappoint! I love Cinnamon Toast Crunch, so when I spotted this one online – I knew I had to make it.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes
(makes 2 dozen)

Ingredients 
Cinnamon Cake:
3 eggs
1/3 cup oil
¾ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (use the real stuff!)
¾ cup sour cream
1 boxed Vanilla Cake Mix (not white cake mix)
1/2 cup crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Buttercream:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
2/3 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch powder (Crush the cereal in a bag and then sift out 2/3 cup)

Directions 
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with cupcake liners.
2. In a large bowl, gently combine eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla.
3. Mix in sour cream.
4. Add cake mix and cinnamon and mix until smooth.
5. Stir in lightly crushed cereal.
6. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until an inserted knife comes out clean.
7. Buttercream: Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add Cinnamon Toast Crunch powder. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Adjust the consistency using milk if it is too thick.
8. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and top with cinnamon sugar and Cinnamon Toast Crunch squares.

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

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These little babies will add a kick to any party this summer! They are tangy, sweet, and (let’s just face it) SUPER cute! The best part is, they really do taste like strawberry lemonade! I frosted them with a lemon mousse buttercream, but you could also change it up a bit and try a strawberry frosting.

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

4 T. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 C. buttermilk
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 egg yolks, at room temperature
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3/4 C. plus 1 T. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. Instant Pink Lemonade Mix (like Crystal Lite or Country Time)
3 or 4 large, fresh strawberries, diced to 1/4″ pieces

1-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line 10 muffin cups with baking liners and set aside.

2-Cream butter, sugar, and lemonade mix together. Add vanilla, soda, salt, and egg yolks. Mix in buttermilk. Gradually add the flour.

3-Clean berries, remove stem. With a sharp knife, slice dice the berries into 1/4″ pieces, being careful not to crush the berries. If the berries are crushed or mushy there will be too much moisture and your cupcakes will not bake properly.

4-Fill each cup with about a Tablespoon of batter. Then place 4 or 5 pieces of fresh strawberry in the middle of the batter (try to to get them on the edges, it will leave a gap in your cupcake when baked). Then add more batter per cup filling each to about 2/3 full.

5-Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

*If baking mini-cupcakes (as shown in the photo) line 24 mini-muffin cups with liners. Use only 2 or 3 strawberry pieces in the middle, and bake for about 15 minutes.

Source: Thanks to Michelle from www.bigblackdogs.net for creating this awesome cupcake!!!!

Lemon Mousse Buttercream


First, you need to make a lemon curd:

1/3 C. granulated sugar
1 egg
1/3 C. fresh lemon juice
zest of 1 lemon
2 T. plus 2 tsp. butter, melted

1-In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs until smooth. Stir in lemon juice, zest, and butter.

2- Cook for 1 minute intervals on high, stirring after each minute until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. (it usually takes about 3 minutes for me)

3- Cover the curd with cling wrap placed directly on the surface of the curd and refrigerate until set. (When I need it fast I put it in the freezer for like 15 or 20 min).

Buttercream Frosting:

1 pound bag of powdered sugar
1/2 C. milk
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 sticks butter, cut into 1/2 in. slices
1/2 C. shortening

1-using a whisk attachment on your electric mixer, mix the pwd. sugar, salt, vanilla and milk a low speed until smooth.  Add butter, one slice at a time, until incorporated.

2-Add shortening and whip at highest speed about 10 minutes or until volume increases by 50%.

When the curd is set and buttercream mixed, fold the lemon curd into the buttercream with a spatula until incorporated.

“Healthy” Chocolate Sauce

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A few weeks ago my husband came out of the kitchen sporting the evil scientist laugh.  “MWAHAHAHAHA!” What had he created now? Healthy chocolate sauce!  I realize this may not be a new concept to the world (according to Google), but do you think my husband would research recipes online? …I don’t think so.  He did this all-by-him-self.

Get this: It’s easy  
2 parts Cocoa Powder
3 parts Agave Nectar 
Mix the parts together…
keep mixing…keep mixing…that’s right, you’re getting there. 
And finally! The Agave bursts through and you have a lovely sauce.  
If this is too “dark” for your taste, just add more Agave.

How do you use it?
Chocolate Milk
Add a dash of salt a splash of vanilla for Hot Chocolate
Drizzle on pancakes, cakes, cookies, pies brownies, etc…
What will you use it for?  Please leave comments. I would LOVE to know!
If Agave Nectar is new to you. Check out some really interesting info HERE about it.  Long story short: It’s better for you than sugar in almost any form.

Banana Cake with Vanilla Icing

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Oh. My. Gosh!  This is delicious!  The icing is what makes it taste sooo good.  The cake itself tastes almost like a banana bread, but much sweeter and smoother. It would be yummy by itself, but with the icing…yum!  The icing is just addicting! I found this recipe on pinterest and changed a few things that worked better for me.  You’ve gotta try this!

Cake:
2/3 c. white granulated sugar
1/2 c. sour cream (use the good stuff!)
1 egg
2 TBSP. butter, softened (use the good stuff)
2 mashed ripe bananas
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. a/p flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Icing:
2 TBSP butter, softened
1/4 c. heavy cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1-1/4 c. confectioner’s sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. (glass pans heat to 350)
Cream together the first 4 ingredients. Add the mashed bananas and the vanilla. Add in the last 3 cake ingredients and mix slowly. No lumps from flour…banana lump is okay, but you really should mash those well before you incorporate them into the mix. Pour into a greased 8×8 pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean! Cool completely before icing this. 
To make the icing: Cream together the butter and the confectioner sugar until smooth. Slowly add the cream in…(this is what makes it so good!)  Add in the vanilla extract and mix until smooth.  Put in the fridge if your waiting for the cake to cool because this has cream in it.  But if your cake is cooled, then ice away!
No joke…this is soo good!

*I doubled this the very first time I made it! Cooked it in a 9×13 pan and it worked well.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shortcake

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This is such a delicious idea that I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.  The idea came from a dinner with our Sister Missionaries, one of which is allergic to strawberries.  I made a quick “chocolate sauce” for her pound cake and the rest of us wanted in on it.  This is the result.  You can spread the sauce over the cake, drizzle it over the top, or both.  It is a yummy twist to an already delectable dessert! 

Ingredients:
Cake – Pound Cake, Angela Food Cake or another cake of your choice cut into serving size pieces
1 Qt. Strawberries (fresh if available)
Sprinkle of sugar (optional)
2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/4 cup Powdered Sugar
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1.  Prepare Cake according to directions on package or recipe (or purchase pre-made) Let cool.
2.  Wash, Stem and slice strawberries.  Sprinkle with 1-2 TBLS sugar and stir with wooden spoon – this will cause the strawberries to “juice”
3.  Whip whipping cream until peaks start to form, add vanilla and powdered sugar, whip until stiff peaks form
(Note:  If you whip your cream too long, you will have a sweetened vanilla butter – not all “oops” are a bad thing)
4.  Heat Chocolate chips and cream in double boiler or in microwave just until melted – stirring to prevent burning let cool slightly
5.  Layer the dessert the way you like it.

Source:  A Jennie Original with a little help from my friends 🙂

Glazed Berry Medley Cake

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I found this recipe on Pinterest! (where else?!) The recipe on Pinterest called for strawberries only. I had a bag of mixed berries…so that is what I used. I liked it, but I like all sweets! My kids thought this tasted kind of like Fruit – Loops! I think that was because I used the mixed berries. So, you choose what berries you’d like to use and see how you like it. It’s a pretty cake, isn’t ? And, it is yummo!

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
zest of 1 lemon
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
8 oz plain or vanilla, greek yogurt
12 oz fresh strawberries (or frozen, or frozen medley of berries)
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10 inch bundt pan. Sift together the 2 1/2 cups flour, baking soda and salt. Mix in the lemon zest and set aside. ( I didn’t have any lemons handy that day, so I used orange zest. It was pretty good. I think I might have liked the lemon zest better)

With an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs on at a time, then stir in 1 TB. lemon juice. As always, alternate beating in the dry ingredients, flour, with the wet ingredients, yogurt, mixing just until incorporated.

Toss the berries of your choice with the remaining 1/4 cup of flour. Carefully mix them into the batter so they don’t turn to mush.

Pour the batter into the bundt pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 min., or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Allow to cool 10 minutes in the pan, then carefully turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely!!! If you can’t stand it any longer and you glaze this baby without letting it cool completely, the cake will soak up the glaze. So, let it cool completely!

Once cooled whisk together the remaining 2 TB of lemon juice and the powdered sugar, drizzle over the top of the cake, and voila!e

Sweetened Whipped Cream

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Is that a black and white photograph of food? Why, yes, it is. Because whipped cream is white, anyway.

My husband has recently had a hankering for strawberry shortcake. So at Food Lion today, I was going to buy some whipped cream in a tub from the frozen section–but then I looked at the ingredients. Cream was not one of them. In fact, the main ingredient was water. So I decided I’d whip my own cream.

Ingredients:
1 C heavy whipping cream
3 T confectioners’ sugar
1/2 t vanilla extract
1. Chill a small mixing bowl and beaters in the refrigerator ahead of time.
2. Using your chilled bowl and beaters, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form. Store in the refrigerator.
Note: Do not overwhip your cream or it will start becoming runny.