Desserts – Page 7

Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookies with Chestnut Spread

October 10, 2013 by Danielle 13 Comments

A few weeks back I received a fun delivery at my doorstep. Pretzel Crisps were delivered in just about every flavor and I couldn’t wait to dig in. And boy did we dig in! SO much so that I needed to run out and grab more Pretzel Crisps, stat. Luckily our Costco sells the huge bag of them so we were saved.

But then I realized I was stuck with a HUGE bag of pretzels and no parties coming up. So I decided to bake with them. I was already trying to figure out what to do with the chestnut spread I had in my Try The World box so I figured why not add pretzels AND chestnut spread into a cookie.

Of course chocolate was added to round everything out. But I didn’t just go with your standard semi-sweet chocolate chips. I added some chunks of TCHO dark chocolate. Boy was this flavor combo deliciously good! At first I thought it was a tad too salty but my friends confirmed that they were perfect.

Now if they are more salty than sweet for your taste I have the perfect solution! Grab a scoop of vanilla ice cream and nestle it in between two cookies. Ice cream sandwiches! Yum. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: chocolate chip cookies, Cookies, Dessert, Pretzel Crisps, pretzels

Pumpkin Banana Muffins Fit for a Monkey

September 30, 2013 by Danielle 23 Comments

In celebration of the premier of Julius Jr on Nick Jr (you can see my post over at Someday I’ll Learn if you didn’t hear about the show) the kids and I got in the kitchen and started baking up some muffins with the bananas that were browning on the counter. And since there was an open can of pumpkin puree in the fridge we decided to give it a go and make these pumpkin banana muffins.

Everyone knows that when you’re watching the premier of a children’s show starring a monkey, you have to eat banana-themed food!

These muffins were absolutely delicious! Moist, fluffy, and very kid friendly. I think both of my kids ate at least two each! We might even be adding some mini chocolate chips next time I make them for an added kick. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Breakfast, Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Banana, bread, muffins, Pumpkin

Simple Low-Fat Pumpkin Spice Cake with Apple Cider Glaze

September 17, 2013 by Danielle 19 Comments

Ah… Fall is in the air! Today I walked outside and felt the cool breeze on my face and immediately knew that it was finally time. Finally time for pumpkin! Now sure I’ve already had my #PSL from Starbucks and have been sipping on pumpkin spice coffee from my Keurig, but it’s finally cool enough to actually enjoy the slightest hint that Fall is here.

This simple and easy to make low-fat pumpkin spice cake is moist, delicious, and a crowd pleaser. Topped with a yummy apple cider glaze it’s sweetness hits my craving for dessert without making me feel as if I’ve gone overboard. Paired with a nice cup of coffee it could easily be a breakfast treat or great for a brunch. Or you can save it as the perfect Fall dessert to serve to guests.

Just like any boxed cake recipe, I’m sure that this would taste delicious with other cake flavors as well. I’m thinking Devils Food for the next one! Maybe with mini chocolate chips sprinkled in the mix? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Desserts, Halloween, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cake, cake mix, Dessert, desserts, Pumpkin

The Perfect Party Pleaser – Marble Bundt Cake

September 10, 2013 by Danielle 12 Comments

There’s nothing better than a moist, delicious cake to celebrate the birthday of a loved one! And this cake is my husband’s favorite. His birthday has already come and gone and this recipe has been sitting here waiting to be shared since April. Yeah, I know.. I’m a bit behind.

But I figured now was a good time to share this delicious recipe and maybe make a few alterations as we head into Fall. I’m thinking a little swirl of pumpkin instead of the chocolate would be a nice addition. And maybe a maple cream cheese icing? Mmmm…

If you’re looking for the perfect marble bundt cake for a party or just want to enjoy some delicious dessert, try this recipe. You won’t be disappointed! But don’t go easy in greasing your pan or else you might have to turn this cake into a trifle. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Baking, Birthday, bundt cake, Cake, chocolate, chocolate cake

10 Amazingly Delicious Cherry Recipes

September 7, 2013 by Danielle 11 Comments

I know Fall is coming and pumpkins will soon take over the world but my mind is still on cherries. Sweet, red, delicious cherries. And what better than to use cherries in the kitchen.

Here are some amazingly delicious cherry recipes perfect for celebrating the last few hot days of summer we have. You’d be surprised to find that you can achieve the same results with canned cherries instead of fresh. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: baked goods, black forest cake, Cake, cherries, cherry, Cookies, Cupcake, cupcakes, milkshakes, shakes

Easy Black Forest Cake

August 18, 2013 by Danielle 17 Comments

Last night I invited my friends over for a My Favorite Things party. It’s an awesome excuse to get together and hang out but it’s also an awesome time to try out new recipes and share! So I decided to try my hands at a new-to-me combination… boxed cake mix and pie filling! This easy black forest cake needed 3 things… boxed Devil’s Food cake mix prepared as directed on the box, a can of cherry pie filling, and some whipped cream to top it.

Not only was this recipe easy, it was delicious too! And I’m pretty sure I’ll be trying out a few more combinations of cake and pie filling very, very soon. Spiced cake and apple pie filling anyone?

If you are heading to a get together or need a quick dessert to make that’ll have everyone asking how you did it, try this one out! And come back to let me know what everyone thought. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: black forest cake, Cake, cake mix, cherries

Orange and Plum Turnovers with Filo Dough

August 9, 2013 by Danielle 8 Comments

I’m always up for a challenge. So when my good friend Amanda of The Frugal Greenish Mama asked if I had any plum recipes to share – and I didn’t – I thought I’d better get on the ball! I had never baked with plums before and honestly never thought of it. Plums in our house were for eating, not baking. And they never seemed to last long enough to need an alternative.

Everywhere I read seemed to suggest cooking the plums with some sort of combination of spices and sugar first and then stuffing it in whatever you choose to make. Since I like easy I decided to use the filo dough I purchased the week before in an attempt to use two ingredients I’d never tackled in the kitchen. Yup… that’s right. I’ve never used filo dough either!

The results? Super tasty! I’m so glad I had leftover filling I could jar up and use again because this was delicious. Flaky, with a hint of sweetness, and the perfect combination of orange and plum flavor. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Breakfast, Desserts, In the Kitchen, Uncategorized Tagged With: Baking, Breakfast, Dessert, filo dough, orange, plum, turnovers

Chocolate Avocado Pudding Recipe

June 27, 2013 by Danielle 17 Comments

In an effort to get a bit creative with our desserts we decided to try a new way of making chocolate pudding… we added avocados! Since avocados are in season right now we made this chocolate avocado pudding for dessert and couldn’t be happier.

The taste was smooth and silky and the chocolate flavor was enhanced by the avocado. Plus? It was SO easy to make. It took no time at all and it didn’t need to chill.

Now I know exactly what I’ll do with avocados when I don’t want to make guacamole or put it on my sandwich and the kids are asking for dessert… it’ll be pudding time!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: avocado, chocolate, Chocolate Pudding, Dessert, desserts, pudding

Delicious Pumpkin Bars with Cool Whip Frosting

October 17, 2012 by Danielle 12 Comments

Oh Fall! I’m so happy you’re here again. We could definitely use the cooler weather (if that ever happened) and I’m very excited about the upcoming holidays. But a more important reason why I’m here… is because with Fall comes pumpkins! And canned pumpkin is on the shelves in full force.

That means I get to try a whole new batch of recipes out on my friends, family, and playgroup and this year is no different. I decided to go with a pumpkin bar. But the special ingredient isn’t the pumpkin, it’s the Cool Whip Frosting on top. If you want the perfect pumpkin treat this season you need to try this recipe.

Pumpkin Bars with Cool Whip Frosting

3 eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
15 oz pumpkin puree
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie seasoning
1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8×8 pan with butter or cooking spray.

2. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat together sugar, pumpkin, oil, and eggs on medium until light and fluffy.

3. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.

4. With a spatula, add flour mixture to liquid mixture until just combined. Make sure not to over-mix.

5. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

6. Once the pumpkin bars are cooked, transfer to a cooling rack.

7. When completely cooled, cut off top to make an even, flat surface.

8. Cut into squares.

9. Grab the Cool Whip Frosting and start spreading it on.

10. Top each bar with a pecan and serve.

This recipe makes 16 servings.

Note:
You can easily bake in a 9×13 pan instead for thinner bars to feed a larger crowd. Simply reduce cooking time to 20-25 minutes. Feel free to frost then cut if you feel that frosting each individual bar will take too long. I just hate dealing with crumbs in my frosting.

What do you love to make with pumpkin?

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Collective Bias, Cool Whip, Cool Whip Frosting, Fall, Pumpkin, Recipe, Social Fabric

How to Make a Chocolate Lava Volcano Cake

February 29, 2012 by Danielle 1 Comment

This easy tutorial on how to make a chocolate lava volcano cake will help you create the perfect dino-themed cake.

As you know, my son is OBSESSED with Dinosaur Train. It’s pretty much the best TV show ever according to him. So when we were planning his Dinosaur Train party, we knew we had to have a volcano cake.

Not only does this incorporate some of his favorite things (chocolate and volcanoes), it was the perfect centerpiece for our dessert table! Plus it was so easy to make. Just use our delicious devil’s food cake and bake up in a bundt pan then follow the instructions below.

You’re a few steps away from your own chocolate lava volcano cake!

Chocolate Lava Volcano Cake

Devil’s Food Cake

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, at room temperature

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Butter and sprinkle the pan with cocoa powder (make sure you get every nook and cranny).

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In another large bowl, using an electric mixer beat the butter on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the brown sugar and continue beating until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk and beginning and ending with the flour, beating after each addition.

Divide the batter between the prepared liners. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Transfer the cake and let cool for 15 minutes. Turn the cake out onto a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting and decorating.

Chocolate Glaze

1/4 cup chocolate pieces, semisweet
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons milk

In a small saucepan, melt chocolate with butter. Remove from heat and beat in powdered sugar adding milk gradually until mixture is a pourable consistency. Immediately pour onto cake once it’s done.

To Assemble the Cake

1 cup large marshmallows
1 bag red chocolate candy melts
1 bag orange chocolate candy melts
red and/or orange glitter sprinkles
3 round lollipop sticks
piping bags or plastic bag

Move the bundt cake onto a cake plate and fill the center with marshmallows. Top the marshmallows with chocolate glaze and allow glaze to drizzle over the sides of the cake.

Melt 1/2 of the red chocolates and pour over the chocolate glaze to create the lava. Allow to drizzle over the sides of the cake and make sure to coat the middle where the marshmallows are. Let set.

While the chocolate is setting melt remaining red chocolates. Line your counter with wax paper and tape it down. Set the three lollipop sticks down spaced apart. These will be the flames of your cake. You can either free-hand the flames or print out a template and put the template under your wax paper.

When the chocolate is melted pour or scoop it into a piping bag and cut off the tip. Draw your flames around the lollipop sticks and make sure to coat the stick well. Leave about an inch at the end to stick into your cake. Top chocolate with some sprinkles to make them pop while the chocolate is still melted. Repeat with the orange candy melts until you get the desired look you want for your flames.

Once the chocolate has set (I waited about 1/2 an hour) you can stick the flames into the middle of your cake. Ta-Da! A chocolate lava volcano cake worthy of any prehistoric party.