Rocky Road Cupcakes

Ashlan recently asked if we could bake more this summer.

How could I ever say no to that?!

She's a child after my own heart...

So the other night I handed her my Pinterest account and told her to pick any sweet treat that I had pinned.  From multiple cakes, to pies, to cookies, to bars, to donuts, etc...

She picked these Rocky Road Cupcakes.

photo and recipe courtesy of SugarandSoul

Ingredients

Cupcakes:
1 Box Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
3.9 oz. Package Jell-O Instant Chocolate Fudge Pudding Mix
4 Eggs
1 cup Sour Cream
3/4 cup Vegetable Oil
1/2 cup Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1 cup Chopped Walnuts

Frosting:
2 cups Heavy Cream
1/2 cup Confectioners' Sugar
1/3 cup Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix

Filling:
1 1/2 cups Marshmallow Fluff
Topping:
Chopping Walnuts
Mini Marshmallows
Sprinkles

Instructions

Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Line cupcake pan.
Combine cupcake ingredients in mixing bowl and beat until well combined, making sure to scrape down the sides as needed.
Add about 2 tbsp of batter to liners so they're about 3/4 full.
Reduce oven to 350 F.
Bake cupcakes for about 18-20 minutes until toothpick comes clean.
Let set in pan for a couple of minutes before transferring to oven rack to finish cooling.
Core cupcakes and pipe in fluff until each is full.

Frosting:
Combine heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and pudding mix in mixing bowl and beat until stiff peaks form.
Pipe frosting onto cupcakes and sprinkle with sprinkles, chopped walnuts, and mini marshmallows.

I'm glad she picked this recipe.  

They were fun to make and of course I LOVE Rocky Road!

I may leave the baking up to Ashlan this summer.  Can't wait to see what she picks out next!

Death by Oreo Cupcakes

I was asked to bake some cupcakes for Ashlan's dance studio meeting.  There would be kids there, so I opted to make both chocolate and vanilla cupcakes.

For the chocolate cupcake, I picked this Oreo recipe.  

What kid doesn't like an oreo? (I sure haven't met one yet)

Of course I had to eat one as soon as they were complete.  

My favorite part of the cupcake? The oreo at the bottom of the cupcake!

photo and recipe courtesy of RecipeSnobs

Ingredients

1 package Oreo Cookies, regular size
1 package Mini Oreo Cookies, for decoration (optional)
1 package chocolate cake mix (mix according to directions on box)
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), room temperature
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
cupcake liners

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix packaged cake mix according to directions (do not bake).
Line cupcake tins with liner, place a regular size Oreo cookie in the bottom of each liner.
Take 1/2 of remaining cookies and chop coarsely and add to cake mix.
Fill the cupcake tins.
Bake for 15 minutes (or according to box directions)

While cupcakes are baking make the frosting.
Cream together butter and cream cheese.
Add vanilla, then add powdered sugar slowly until blended well.
Chop remaining regular-sized Oreos very fine
 Add to frosting.
After cupcakes have cooled frost and decorate with Mini Oreos.

No-Bake Key Lime Cream Cakes

No-Bake Key Lime Cream Cakes

Make these today!  They are that good!

Kate saw these on Pinterest and wanted to make them.  So glad she did.

This recipe made 12 and they were gone in two days!

(photo courtesy of Pinterest)

Crust

• 3/4 cup(s) graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup(s) (finely chopped) pecans (we omitted these)
• 3 tablespoon(s) (unsalted) butter, melted

Filling

• 8 ounce(s) (reduced-fat) cream cheese, softened
• 1 can(s) (14-oz.) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup(s) (bottled) key lime juice (regular lime juice works if you can't find key lime juice)
• 1 container(s) (8-oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed
• lime slices and/or lime zest, for garnish, optional

---

Directions

1. Line 12 cupcake cups with foil liners. Stir graham cracker crumbs, pecans and melted butter together in a bowl to combine. Spoon 2 Tbsp. of the mixture into each liner, pressing it down to make the crust.
2. With an electric mixer on low speed, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until creamy, about 30 seconds. Add the condensed milk and key lime juice, and blend on medium speed until just combined, 20 to 30 seconds. Add 1 cup of the whipped topping and blend on low speed for 15 seconds longer.
3. Spoon mixture evenly into liners. Cover pan with plastic and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving; peel off liners and dollop 1 Tbsp. remaining whipped topping on each cake. Garnish with lime slices, if you like.

A cold, refreshing treat for sure! Double thumbs up!

Shark Week Cupcakes

It's Shark Week, people!

We love Shark Week in this house…well, everyone except for Ashlan.

She can't stand to see the shark attacks on humans.  Seriously, she goes into her room and shuts the door so she can't even HEAR the commentary.  

Anyways, we love Shark Week and we love to bake so what does that mean?

Shark Week Cupcakes!!!!

Here is what the girls and I did.

First of all, we bought a box of white cupcake mix and made 24 cupcakes.

We also bought 2 containers of classic white frosting.

For the Shark Week letter cupcakes, we frosted 9 cupcakes with white frosting.

Then we used red writing gel (found in grocery store) to write letters on regular size vanilla wafer cookies.  *the letters are written on the flat side of the wafer

For the shark fin cupcakes, we mixed blue food coloring in some of the white frosting.

We used the candy AirHeads for the shark fins because it's thick, yet easy to shape.

Use either blue or white AirHeads

*white is best but we couldn't find the white, so we used blue

Using scissors, cut out your fin and shape it like you want.

We used a tube of black frosting (in grocery store) to smear on the fin to give it a rough look.

*you can also skip the candy and make a fin using gray or blue card stock…just glue a toothpick on the back to hold the paper fin upright on the cupcake*

Kate was determined to make a surfboard with a shark bit on it, so she used the orange AirHead candy to cut and shape into a surfboard.  Then she used some red gel to give the effect of blood.

Stick half a toothpick through a Swedish Fish and place in middle of cupcake

 (Fish in bags on the candy aisle of store)

Want to add a lifesaver?

Buy a bag of white mints.

Cut small strips of red fruit roll-ups to make the stripes on the lifesaver.

Again, Kate added some red gel for blood.

And for the quiet beach cupcake...

Top the cupcake with white frosting then dip it in graham cracker crust

And you'll want to add that little cocktail umbrella 

"Mommy, take a picture of me acting like I see a shark coming!!!"

Love having fun in the kitchen with these girls!

Salted Caramel Frappuccino Cupcakes

Ashlan's favorite frappuccinos at Starbucks are Vanilla Bean and Salted Caramel.  I got the baking bug a few weeks ago, specifically a cupcake baking bug, and I came across a Salted Caramel Cupcake recipe.  I immediately thought of Ashlan's obsession with that particular drink and knew I had to try it.

This would be a perfect treat for her to come home from school and find on the kitchen table!

(Don't you just love my green Starbucks straws in the cupcake.  I grabbed 12 straws from them, came home and cut them in half for the cupcakes)

(

Ingredients
Cupcakes:
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. dark brown sugar
1 T. canola oil
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. buttermilk

Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting:
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 lb. confectioners' sugar
4 T. milk, divided
15 caramel candies, unwrapped (I used Kraft caramels)

Additional sliced caramels (for garnish)
Sea salt


Directions
For the Cupcakes:
1.  Line 24 muffin cups with paper cupcake liners.

2.  Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, cream cheese, sugar, brown sugar, and oil until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Add vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix until well combined.

3.  Beginning and ending with flour, add flour alternately with buttermilk, mixing between each addition.

4.  Distribute batter evenly between the muffin cups.  Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

5.  Cool completely on a wire rack.  Frost with Salted Caramel Buttercream, garnish with a slice of caramel candy, and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt.


For the Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting:
6.  Using an electric mixer, beat together the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.  Add confectioners' sugar and 3 tablespoons of the milk; beat until well combined and smooth, about 2 minutes.  Cover and refrigerate.

7.  Meanwhile, melt the caramel candies along with the remaining 1 tablespoon of milk in the microwave at 30 second intervals until caramels are completely melted.  Set aside to cool until the caramel is cooled but still soft and pliable.*

8.  Once the caramel is cooled, mix into the frosting until well combined.


*Setting the caramel aside to cool is important!  I discovered the hard way that mixing hot melted caramel into butter-based frosting does NOT turn out well.  Also, I had to use the electric mixer to thoroughly mix in the caramel - simply folding or stirring didn't work.  You may want to refrigerate the frosting for 30 minutes or so prior to frosting the cupcakes to let it set up a bit after mixing in the caramel.

Enjoy!  

Baking, Boots, Pumpkins and Costumes!

I just love Fall.  I love everything about it.  

Cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, wearing boots and scarves, baking, carving pumpkins, trick or treating....I could go on and on.

I wanted to throw in this blog post just to show you some highlights from our October.

What a fun month!

Halloween baking fun with friends

Ashlan and I LOVE wearing boots!

Painting pumpkins 

(much easier and cleaner than carving)

Heading to Fall Festivals

Silliness at School Fall Festivals

My wildcat ready to trick or treat

Ready to trick or treat

Halloween fun with her sweet friend

October/Halloween 2013 was a success!

I love this time of year!

Minion Cupcakes

Most of you, with children, are probably familiar with the movie Despicable Me.

If you've seen Despicable Me, then you are more than familiar with those little yellow minions!

Yep, here is a close up of them....

 If you've been on Pinterest at all, then most likely you have seen the Minion Cupcakes.

I showed the idea to my girls and asked if they were interested in making them.

And of course they were!!

They are so easy to make!

Just grab a box of cake mix and follow the instructions for making cupcakes.

Once your cupcakes are out of the oven and cooled, frost them with whatever frosting/color you want.  I thought blue looked good, plus the minions usually have on blue overalls, so that's what I used.

To make the minion, this is what you will need:

For the body, you will need twinkies or whatever generic brand is out there.

For the minion hair, get a small package of black licorice.  Do not get the string kind.

This kind, as shown in the picture, is tougher and stands straight up on the minion.

Near the sprinkles on the baking aisle, you will find different tubes of icing.

Buy the black decorating icing tube which you will use to hold the eyes on.

(sorry for the blurry image below)

Also, buy the small tube of black writing gel to draw on the minion goggles.

 Several tutorials on Pinterest said they used the candy Smarties as the eyes. 

My store was completely out of Smarties, so I found white salt water taffy.

I just pulled however much taffy I wanted to use and formed into balls for the eyes.

To make your minion:

*Lay the twinkie down flat to make your little minion

*Cut off the bottom of the twinkle so you have a flat end to stand up on the cupcake

*Grab whatever you are using to make the eye, and put a generous glob of your black decorating icing on the back.  

*Push the eye down firmly on the twinkie so you can see the black icing around the edges of the eye.  *Do the same with the second eye.

*Then use your black writing gel to draw the lines down the side of the twinkie to look like google straps.

*Then draw on your mouth with the gel as well.

*Using scissors, cut your black licorice into little hairs.

I cut one side at an angle so it would have a sharp edge to stick into the twinkie.

*Wait for the icing/gel to set before standing up your minion and placing him on top of the cupcake 

(if you complete your minion and stand him up on the cupcake immediately without letting the frosting/gel set for 15-20min, the eyes will start to slip down with the frosting.

You may even want to stick them in the fridge for 3-5 min to help the icing set before standing them up.

And of course, we were actually watching Despicable Me while we were making our minions!

 These little yellow guys were so fun to make!

Hope you enjoy making them as much as we did!

Back to School Treats

Today was Ashlan's first day back to school, and this year as a third grader!  

A fun tradition we started in Kindergarten is that each year, on the first day of school, Ashlan comes home to a special treat made especially for her.  In second grade I made these.  I have no idea what I did or where my post is from her first grade year.  In kinder, I made these.   

This year I had cupcakes in mind again, but wanted to do a variety.  It would involve lots of candy, cookies and sprinkles!

My first attempt was the book and apple.  I found the idea online to use a fig newton and use black gel to make it look like a book.  I made History, English, Science and Math books.  Then a sour cherry ball with some green taffy to resemble an apple.

 When I was at the store browsing, I found a box of SpongeBob gummy burgers and another box of gummy drinks.  That's when I had a lightbulb moment "Hey, some of the cupcakes could have lunch trays on them"  So I grabbed those gummy's, then grabbed a flat cookie to resemble a tray.

And of course, the traditional apple using a tootsie roll stem and taffy leaf!

I was curious as to which one Ashlan would eat first......and as I thought, she ate the lunch tray first!

A successful first day of third grade and a successful day of baking in the kitchen!

Shark Week Cupcakes!

Do you watch Shark Week each year?  We look forward to it, and when it's on (24hrs/7days/2weeks) we are watching it.  From the shark research to the shark attacks, it never gets boring.  Although, any time shark attack stories come on, Ashlan darts out of the room screaming "I don't want to have nightmares!"

Yesterday I was checking one of my favorite baking blog sites and came across Shark Week cupcakes! Cupcakes with shark fins and some with fish..  If you know me well enough, you know I LOVE to bake when there is a theme in mind!  These cupcakes looked relatively easy, so I got all my ingredients and began!

Here is what I was going for...

I even did the raspberry preserves in mine, too, so it seemed like you took a nasty bloody bite! Genius!

And here are mine.  I made 24 total (12 with fins, 12 with fish)  The kids loved this treat!

Thank you, Confessions of a Cookbook Queen, for such a great idea.  If you want the detailed description on how to make these, click here

Thin Mint Ice Cream Cups

Got an extra box of these lying around?


If so, then you MUST make these!!! They are amazing!!!


Grab a box or two of Thin Mints
Foil cupcake liners (because they won't get soggy)
a muffin pan or two
chocolate mint ice cream (a full blue bell made 24 cupcakes)

Place your liners in the muffin pan, then place one thin mint into each one. Soften your ice cream (I put several scoops into a bowl and microwaved for 15 seconds) Place a scoop of softened ice cream over the thin mint. Then sprinkle crumbled thin mint on top. Place back in freezer to harden. Seriously - these are amazing!!!!



To see where I got the idea, click here.
These would also be super cute for St. Patricks Day!

Valentine Cupcake

Looking for a cute Valentine treat, but VERY easy to make?

Go buy a box of Red Velvet Cake Mix and some white icing

Follow the directions on the box to make cupcakes

Once baked and cooled, use your white icing to make an X and an O

I wish this picture showed their true red color!

Such an easy, QUICK treat!

Package in a cute Valentine box and there ya go!!