Carrot Cake

Happy Birthday to my Hubby!  I don't think I every actually tried a Carrot Cake until my husband and I started dating.  Crazy I wasted 15 years of life not knowing the glory of a good Carrot Cake.  This cake is super moist (worst word EVER) full of flavor and the cream cheese frosting is PERFECTION.  You must make this.

 

Ingredients for Cake:

• 2 cups Flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups oil
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup crushed pineapple, lightly drained (reserve juice)

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 c butter (softened)

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

1/4 cup reserved pineapple juice

1 tsp vanilla

1 lb powdered sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup coconut

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease two 9 inch cake pans.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
3. Slowly stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and mix well.
4. Mix in drained pineapple, carrots, coconut and walnuts.
5. Pour even amounts into each cake pan and bake for 35-40 minutes.
6. Cool cakes completely before removing from pan.
7. In a large mixing bowl whisk the butter and cream cheese until nice and creamy.
8. Add in vanilla, pineapple juice, cinnamon and coconut.
9. Slowly stir in sifted sugar until smooth.
10. Invert first cake onto a plate or cake stand.
11. Apply a generous amount of cream cheese frosting to the top of the cake.
12. Gently place the second cake on top of the cream cheese and frost the top and sides with remaining frosting.
13. Top with more walnuts or coconut, optional.

 

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate chips make everything better!  I always seem to have extra ripe bananas screaming, "banana bread" in my house lately.  I opted for an easy go to recipe and added some chocolate chips, PERFECTION! 

 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 -3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup of sugar ( I did 3/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup honey)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Add bananas, egg, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar into a mixing bowl and mix until smooth.
3. Slowly mix in flour, soda and salt.
4. Gently fold in chocolate chips.
5. Pour into lightly buttered bread pan.
6. Bake for 45 minutes.
7. Cool and serve.

 

 

 

 

 

  

Mason Jar Lid Pies

These are seriously the cutest most adorable pies I have ever seen.  Do you see that mini pie piece? When the boys golf, the girls bake and bake we did.  Adorable and Scrumptious!

Ingredients for filling: If you have filling left over you can freeze for later!

• 4 cups blackberries, thawed
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup flower
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Around 12 wide mouth mason jar lids

Ingredients for Crust:

• 3 cups sifted flour
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons Crisco
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons water

Ingredients for crust topping/Dusting:

• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 cup white sugar

Directions:

1. In a large bowl stir together all ingredients and form into two equal balls. 
2. Chill dough in refrigerator for an hour
3. After dough is chilled preheat oven to 425 degrees.
4. Place dough on a flat surface that is dusted with flour
5. Roll dough into two equal pie crusts
6. Place rolled dough over as many mason jars it will fit.  Mine was about 5
7. Repeat with second crust and lids.
8. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut around the lids leaving just enough dough to hang over a tiny bit.
9. Press dough into each lid and pinch sides against the lids like you would do in a pie pan.
10. Roll the remaining pie scraps into another crust and set aside.
11.  In a large bowl add 3 cups of the berries with the flour, sugar and vanilla.
12. Stir together while kind of lightly mashing the berries.
13. Add enough pie filling to almost fill the crust.
14. Using the remaining crust cut out little shapes or make individual lattice patterns and place over berry mixture.
15. Brush the crust lightly with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
16. Place individual pies on a cookie sheet.
17. Bake in oven for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.  Reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake for an additional 20 minutes.  Check on pies every so often.  If crust is golden brown before the suggested baking time you can remove early.
18. Remove from oven and let cool.

Walnut Crusted Banana Bread

I have made so many loafs of banana bread throughout the years and I have no idea why I haven't thought of this sooner.  The banana bread is perfectly moist and the walnut crust is divine.  This is definitely my new "go to" banana bread recipe.

Ingredients for Bread:

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

 

Ingredients for Pecan Crust:

• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• dash of cinnamon

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large mixer beat bananas, butter, egg and sugars until smooth.
3. Mix all remaining dry ingredients into a large bowl and stir.
4. Slowly beat in dry mixture until smooth.
5. Pour mixture into a greased 4x8 loaf pan.
6. Add all crust ingredients into a bowl and mix together with a fork until crumbly.
7. Sprinkle the banana bread batter with the crust mixture evenly.
8. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cinnamon Roll Muffins

Adapted from Chef-In-Trainings Creme Brulee Muffins

I kind of feel like I am living in the movie, Julie and Julia right now.  I have been trying so many recipes from Chef-In-Training and obviously blogging about them!  This recipe was fantastic.  I am definitely going to try the original recipe one day but, I just had to try this one first.  I was absolutely addicted to the Cinnamon Roll Bread I made a few weeks back and this seemed like a perfect recipe to try.  The crumb topping is divine and the muffin is packed with flavor!

Ingredients:

• 5 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup cinnamon roll coffee creamer, You can add 1/4 tablespoon cinnamon to regular vanilla creamer.
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons  baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cinnamon Filling:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

Crumb Topping

• 1/4 cup cold butter
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup flour

Cream Cheese Glaze

• 2 tablespoon cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar.

 

 

 

Directions:

1. Make crumb topping by combining all ingredients into a medium sized bowl.  Cut together with a fork until its nice and crumbly.
2. In a small bowl mix all filling ingredients.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
4. Cream together butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
5. Beat in egg,sour cream and creamer until well mixed.
6. In a separate small bowl mix together flour, powder, soda and salt.
7. Slowly mix in dry ingredients with wet, until well combined.  Batter will be thick.
8. Pour enough batter into greased muffin tins to cover the bottom. (I got 8 muffins)
9. Top each with a generous amount of filling and pour remaining batter on top of each.
10. Sprinkle with crumb topping and bake for 25-30 minutes.
11. When muffins have cooled mix all Cream Cheese Glaze ingredients together until smooth.
12. Add glaze into a Ziploc bag.  Move all the glaze to one side of the bag making a piping bag.  Cut the tip and drizzle muffins.

 

Lemon Pudding Poke Cake

I have seen this recipe many times on several different blogs so, when I came across it in a family cookbook I had to try it.  Pudding and cake is a win win in my book.  The lemon pudding has just the right amount of tang to it and the coolness is perfect.  This would be perfect for any summer BBQ and you can mix and match all kinds of cake and pudding.

 

Ingredients for cake:

• 1 box white cake mix
• 3 egg whites
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

 

Ingredients for Pudding Frosting:

• 2 boxes pudding mix
• 4 cups cold milk

 

Directions:

Bake cake according to package instructions.

 

Using a straw or wooden spoon handle poke lines of holes into the cake.

 

When cake is cooled whisk together all pudding ingredients for 2 minutes. 

 

Pour about 1/4 of pudding over cake, making sure to fill all holes.

 

Let pudding set for about5 minutes and spread remaining pudding over cake.

 

Let set in refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Adapted from Bake or Break Cinnamon Roll Cake

 

Words can not even describe how decadent this cake!  It melts in your mouth while the cinnamon sugar filling makes your taste buds dance with joy.  I really could go on and on about the beauty of this cake but, you really need to march into your kitchen and get baking!  This is for sure a new staple in my life and it is a perfect cake to WOW with.  I found this recipe on Bake or Break and only made a few changes because I didn't have certain things on hand.

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 3oz box french vanilla instant pudding mix
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon

For the Filling:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon

For the Glaze:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream, half and half, or 2% milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a large mixing bowl add flour, sugar, cinnamon baking powder, salt and pudding mix, and give a quick toss. 

Add in butter, oil, eggs, vanilla and sour cream until creamy.  Grease 2 bread pans and add 1/4 of mixture to each. 

In a small bowl whisk together filling ingredients and top the batter in each pan with an equal amount of mixture.

 Pour remaining batter over each filling mixture and bake for 50 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. 

Cool in pan on a wire rack.

Whisk all glaze ingredients until smooth and pour even amounts over each cooked cake.

 

Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake

Adapted from Paula Deens Sour Cream Pound Cake

 

 My first ever Pound Cake was DELICIOUS.  It is so dense, flavorful and soft.  I always had the notion that this would be so time consuming and difficult however, it was quite the opposite.  My husband seriously devoured it.  A perfect cake for any gathering!

 

Ingredients for Cake:

 

1/2 cup Crisco

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

juice and zest from one small lemon

 

Ingredients for Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons 2% milk
• juice and zest from 1/2 lemon

 

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl cream together Crisco and sugar.  Mix in eggs, sour cream, vanilla  and lemon juice/zest.  Slowly mix in the soda and flour until smooth.  Pour batter into a greased or parchment paper lined bread pan and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.  When Cake has cooled whisk together all glaze ingredients and drizzle over the top.



Almond Joy Dessert Cups

This started out as," Almond Joy Bark" however, the coconut filling never set.  The filling was way to amazing to throw out so, I scooped the filling into individual cups and topped with broken up pieces of chocolate.  Originally, I added the filling into a 9x9 baking dish lined with wax paper and topped with melted chocolate chips and slivered almonds.  To make it easier I would just add the filling to individual cups/mason jars and top with chocolate. 

 

Ingredients for Coconut Filling:

• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Ingredients for Chocolate Almond Topping:

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds

Directions:  In a large bowl mix all coconut filling ingredients until well blended and creamy.   Add filling into individual cups/jars of your choice and set aside.  Add chocolate chips into a microwaveable bowl and nuke for 1 minute at 1/2 heat, one minute at a time until creamy.  Pour chocolate over filling in each cup and sprinkle with almonds.  Refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.

Healthified Orange Julius

My whole family has been trying to fight a cold and all I seem to want is orange anything!!  I had the biggest craving for an Orange Julius so, I started looking up recipes and wasn't to surprised when all of them were loaded with sugar.  This drink is so divine and full of flavor.  This is a MUST make and is perfect for SUMMER!

 

Ingredients:

• 3 navel oranges, peeled
• 1 banana
• 1 cup almond milk
• 2 tablespoon Raw Agave
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 16 or so ice cubes, add more if you want a thicker drink

 

Directions:  Add all ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth!!

Berry Smoothie

It's no secret that I LOVE smoothies!!!  Absolutely love them.  This specific one hands down, is my FAVORITE!  It is so sweet, filling and most importantly, it's good for me!  A perfect snack on a beautiful day!  I enjoyed mine while reading my book next to my beautiful waterfall!!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
• 1 banana
• 1/3 cup oatmeal, raw
• 1 individual strawberry Greek yogurt

Directions:  Blend well until smooth!!

Apple Dessert Pizza

This is not what I was initially going for however, I am so GLAD I got lazy.  I was planning on individual apple pie crisps but it all seemed like to much work on this amazing Washington day!  Have you ever just randomly stopped by Round Table Pizza for an personal pan dessert pizza?  I have!!  Although the one near my house doesn't have them but now I can make them myself!!

Ingredients for Dough:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cold and diced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 4 tablespoons ice water

 
Ingredients for Toppings:

• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon butter, soft
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 granny smith apple, sliced

Ingredients for Glaze:

• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon milk
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla

Directions for Dough:  Add flour, salt and sugar into a food processor and grind together for around a minute.  Add in diced butter and blend until the butter pieces are the size of peas.  Add vanilla, water by the tablespoon and grind until it starts to form together.  Remove and roll into a ball and cover with plastic wrap.  Place in refrigerator for at least one hour and let come to room temperature before rolling.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Roll dough into crust leaving it about 1/4 inch thick and place in a lightly greased pie pan.  Melt 3 tablespoons butter in the microwave and stir in 3 tablespoons brown sugar until dissolved.  Pour onto dough and coat evenly.  In a small bowl mix together 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon.  Place apples into the pie and sprinkle with 2/3 of cinnamon sugar mixture.  In another bowl add 1 tablespoon soft butter, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon white sugar and flour.  With a fork mix together until nice and crumbly. Sprinkle over apples and top with the remaining cinnamon sugar.

Bake for 30 minutes or until sides are golden brown.  Meanwhile whisk together all topping ingredients and drizzle over dessert pizza while still warm.  If you can not serve this right away heat it up right before serving!!

Lemon Tomorrow Cake

 

Tomorrow Cake, Because there wont be any tomorrow. This cake is absolutely DIVINE!  Melt in your mouth AMAZINGNESS!  As you can tell with my all caps and punctuation, I love this cake.  Seriously, this is better than confetti cake with rainbow chip frosting.  If you know me, you know, this is a huge statement.  Below is a photo of the original recipe from one of my Grandmas cookbooks.  For some reason when I was reading this recipe "lemon" kept popping in my head.  Maybe I am watching too much Hart of Dixie!!! 

Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 box lemon pudding
• 4 eggs
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 lb powdered sugar
• 1 8oz package cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together cake mix, pudding, oil, butter and two eggs.  Spread into a greased 9x13 cake pan.  Mix together powdered sugar, remaining eggs and cream cheese until smooth.  Pour over cake batter and bake for 45 minutes.

Cookers Note:  You can always change the flavor of pudding for different varieties.

Apple Cinnamon Roll Muffins

My husband was in need of more treats for a work potluck and I wasn't in the mood for anything extravagant.  I had the cinnamon rolls on hand but I thought they needed to be spruced up a bit.  I immediately thought of apples and decided apple pie filling on top would be delicious!   These were delicious and you could easily skip the step of cutting them up and just top the regular rolls.  However, I needed more than 16 and they look pretty!

 

 Ingredients:

• 2 package refrigerated cinnamon rolls, 8 per pack
• 1 granny smith apple, Diced
• 6 tablespoon butter
• 6 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Open cinnamon rolls and place frosting aside.  Cut each roll into 4 pieces and roll into small balls.  Place three pieces into a lightly greased muffing tin.  In a small sauce pan melt 2 tablespoons butter and add diced apples.  Saute for about 3 minutes, or until soft.  Remove from heat and sprinkle with cinnamon and 2 tablespoons brown sugar.  Stir apples until sugar is completely dissolved and top each muffin with mixture.  In the same sauce pan melt remaining butter and stir in remaining sugar until dissolved.  Top each muffin with a little more sauce and bake for 20 minutes.  Let cool for around 5 minutes and drizzle with frosting while still a little warm. 

Smore's Bark

A while  back I finally realized the reason I do not like Smore's, I hate burnt marshmallows!!  I know, it's crazy, who doesn't like Smore's?  After finding half a bag of mini marshmallows and half a bag of broken graham crackers,  I whipped this up.  This is absolutely wonderful.  Its sweet, fluffy and crunchy!   

Ingredients:

• 1 12 oz bag chocolate chips
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 5 graham crackers, broken leaving crumbs for topping

Directions:  Melt chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl on 1/2 heat, 1 minute at a time.  When melted add 3/4 cup marshmallows and graham crackers pieces and stir together.  Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and flatten.  Top with remaining marshmallows and crumbs.  Cool in the refrigerator for at least two hours and break apart.

Cinnamon and Chocolate Chip Cookie Crisps

My husband has been talking non stop about these amazing cookies he found at the store.  I have been looking all over our local store and I finally found them.  They really are AMAZING.  I immediately went online looking for cookie chip recipes and came across this one by Martha Stewart's daughter.  They did not taste like the bagged cookies I found however, they were extremely delicious.  A perfect mix of crunchy and chewy!  Cinnamon chips and Crisco were my only changes.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Crisco
• 3 cups packed light-brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt                                      
• 2 teaspoons baking soda                                     
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup cinnamon chips

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together Crisco and sugars until smooth.  Beat in eggs and vanilla. Slowly mix in dry ingredients and gently fold in chips.  Drop by the spoonful onto a greased cookie sheet or a sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 11-12 minutes.  Sides will be golden brown!

 

Layered JELL-O

My mom would make this for us every summer growing up and it is my favorite childhood dessert!  I love EVERYTHING about it.  It's gorgeous, fun and delicious.   You can have so much fun with all the colors and make this for any occasion. 

Ingredients:

• 4 3oz boxes any flavor JELL-O
• 4 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Directions: 
Spray a 9x13 pan with non stick spray.  In a large bowl mix 1 can condensed milk with one cup boiling water and set aside. 

Add one box Jell-o and 1/2 package of gelatin with 1 1/2 cup boiling water and dissolve completely.  Pour into the bottom of the greased 9x13 pan and refrigerate until hardened, about 30 minutes.
In small bowl add 2 envelopes gelatin with 1/2 cup cold water and let sit for a minute or two.  Add 1/2 cup boiling water and stir until completely dissolved.  Mix gelatin with condensed milk, stir to combine and bring to room temperature.

When the first layer of Jell-o is set  pour about 1 cup of gelatin/milk mixture over the top of Jell-o and refrigerate for around 15 minutes.

Repeat layers and cut into cubes when completely cooled.

* If milk/gelatin mixture starts to harden microwave for around 20-30 seconds and stir until smooth.

Powdered Sugar Maraschino Cherry Cookies

This recipe comes from my Great Grandmother Caroline, who I just so happen to be named after!  Even though I was never lucky enough to meet her, I know she must of been an amazing woman, mother, and friend.  This recipe is quite delicious.  The texture reminds me of the frosted soft and chewy cookies at the grocery stores but, tastes like the amazingness of Maraschino Cherries!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Crisco
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 small jar Maraschino Cherries, chopped
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:  Cream together Crisco and sugar.  Add in vanilla and beaten egg.  Mix in flour, tartar and soda.  Gently fold in Maraschino Cherries.  Make into a loaf and cool in fridge overnight.  Slice and bake at 300 degrees for 12-14 minutes.  Cookies will be lightly brown at the edges. 

Peanut Butter Cookies

I never realized how easy peanut butter cookies are to make.  Why have I only made the pre-made dough ones?  I loved these and will be making them many more times to come.  I will need to learn how to make the scissor lines a little cleaner though!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 cups flour, sifted

Directions:  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Cream shortening and stir in sugars.  Beat in peanut butter, egg, soda, powder and gradually stir in flour.  Form batter into balls between the palm of your hands.  Place on greased cookie sheet and press with the back of a fork, making scissor lines.  Bake for 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Chocolate Butterscotch Turtles

Another great treat from my families recipe box!  As soon as I read the recipe list I was sold.  Butterscotch and Ruffles, how could it go wrong?  These are spectacular.  They are soft, chewy and crunchy.  Just the right amount of salt and sweet to make your mouth water!

Ingredients:

• 1 bag chocolate chips
• 1 bag butterscotch chips
• 1 1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts
• 2 cups ruffles, crushed

Directions:  Melt chips in a microwaveable bowl on 1/2 heat, one minute at a time.  Stir in peanuts and ruffles and drop by the spoonful into muffin tins.  Let harden and enjoy!