Cinnamon Roll Cake

Some of you may have seen this floating around Pinterest. Well, let me tell you, it is Amazing. We have done this a couple of times for Sunday Brunch and everyone loves it. I altered the original recipe because it had a little too much butter and sugar, and I don't how the original is, but with the lower amounts it was still amazing and I don't think it was lacking in the least.


Cake:
3 c. flour
1/4 tsp.salt
3/4 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. butter, melted

Topping:
1/2 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Mix everything together except for the butter. Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9x13 pan. For the topping, mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.

Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla


While warm drizzle the glaze over the cake.

Alicia's Rice Pudding

I made this last night....lots of leftover rice. It was so yummy. Thanks, Alicia!

3 cups cooked rice
3 cups milk
2/3 cup sugar

2 T butter

1 tsp vanilla

cinnamon to sprinkle on top

Combine everything (except cinnamon) in saucepan. Cook on medium for about 25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

Tres Leche Cake

First of all, Love, Love, Love the look of this blog, nice work Rachel.

Disclaimer: I know this is not following the theme, but Rachel said I could post it.
Since yesterday was Cinco de Mayo, I decided to make a Tres Leche cake. I have never had it, nor has Tyler but he has been asking me to make one for quite some time. I found this recipe here, which does provide good step by step directions if you want.

But here is the recipe:

• 1 cup All-purpose Flour
• 1-½ teaspoon Baking Powder
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• 5 whole Eggs
• 1 cup Sugar, Divided
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• ⅓ cups Milk
• 1 can Evaporated Milk
• 1 can Sweetened, Condensed Milk
• ¼ cups Heavy Cream
• _____
• FOR THE ICING:
• 1 pint Heavy Cream, For Whipping
• 3 Tablespoons Sugar

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan liberally until coated.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Separate eggs.

Beat egg yolks with 3/4 cup sugar on high speed until yolks are pale yellow. Stir in milk and vanilla. Pour egg yolk mixture over the flour mixture and stir very gently until combined.

Beat egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form. With the mixer on, pour in remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until egg whites are stiff but not dry.

Fold egg white mixture into the batter very gently until just combined. Pour into prepared pan and spread to even out the surface.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Turn cake out onto a rimmed platter and allow to cool.

Combine condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream in a small pitcher. When cake is cool, pierce the surface with a fork several times. Slowly drizzle all but about 1 cup of the milk mixture—try to get as much around the edges of the cake as you can.

Allow the cake to absorb the milk mixture for 30 minutes. To ice the cake, whip 1 pint heavy cream with 3 tablespoons of sugar until thick and spreadable.
Spread over the surface of the cake. Decorate cake with whole or chopped maraschino cherries. Cut into squares and serve.

Sister Traveller's Banana Cookies

{Side note: I'm going to rename this "Rachel's Recipe Corner" because lately, I've been the only one contributing. I know I am not the only one cooking and I know I'm not even the best cook in the family, so get on it! Please. Side note ended.}

I found this on the blog of a girl I went to high school with. Apparently Sister Traveller made these for all the teenage gatherings at her house, which apparently kept all of Jodi's friends on the right path. I don't know if all that's true but I do know they were good. I had a little taste of one (didn't eat a whole cookie because of the no-sweets thing) and I thought it was good. Matt liked them. Hailey LOVED them (especially the frosting) and all the kids/parents at Music and Movement liked them. So, try them out.

Ingredients:
2.5 cups flour
1.5 tsp. bk.pwd.
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp. bk.soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
Mix and set aside

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup mashed banana (aprox. 2.5 bananas)
1 pkg. choc. chips

Mix butter and sugar 'til fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well. Alternate dry ingredients and mashed banana. Stir in choc. chips. 350, 10 mins. (I had to bake mine longer.)

Frosting:
2 tb. butter
1/4 cup mashed banana (aprox. 1/2 banana)
2 cups pwd. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Whip until smooth. Frost cooled cookies.

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Bread Pudding

I have never made this but I saw it on a blog and it sounds AMAZING. Thought I would post it here.


Preheat oven to 350 F.

Ingredients:
- 2 dozen Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts, torn into little chunks. (You can also use 2 dozen glazed crullers if you want a heavier texture.)
- 3 eggs, beaten.
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk.
- Vanilla flavoring to taste. About 1 tsp.
- 1/2 stick melted butter.
- Cinnamon to taste. Takes more than you think. Just add until you think it tastes right.
- Can of fruit cocktail OR milk

Instructions:
Combine the eggs, condensed milk, vanilla, melted butter, and cinnamon.

Pour over doughnut chunks and stir. You can also use a KitchenAid

At this point it's going to look really dry so you can either add a can of fruit cocktail (it really cuts the sweetness) or,add milk while stirring until you have a lumpy cake batter consistency.

You don't need milk if you add the fruit cocktail--it's the perfect amount of liquid.

Now you can add 1 cup of chopped pecans if you'd like. Or not. Depends on your preference. It's great both ways. The pecans again cut down on the sweetness.

Now you can add 1 tsp of nutmeg if you want to.

Pour this into a 13 x 9 glass pan and cook for 30 minutes. Test with a toothpick to see if it's done. If not, give it a couple more minutes.

Take it out and let it cool. You can eat it this way or you can add a glaze.

Two different types of glazes.
SIMPLE SUGAR GLAZE

Ingredients:
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 3 to 4 tablespoons milk or water

Instructions:
Mix together and beat until it becomes smooth and pourable. Pour over bread pudding. You can make more if you need to.

BUTTERMILK GLAZE

Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp soda
- 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup margarine
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions:
Combine first five ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Add the vanilla. Pour over pudding.

TDF Chocolate Chip Cookies

TDF = To Die For - and seriously they are!!!

1 c shortening
3/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 T water
1 tsp vanilla

Beat until fluffy.

2 c. flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1 c. oatmeal
2 c. chocolate chips

Gently add dry ingredients to egg and shortening mixture. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Tuxedo Brownies

Ok, I thought I would contribute. My friend posted this on her blog and they look delicious. I'll admit, I haven't made them yet, but I will. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 (21 oz.) package fudge brownie mix (plus ingredients to make cake like brownies)
6oz. white chocolate chips
2 T. milk
1 (8oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1 (8oz.) container cool whip
sliced strawberries

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325. Prepare brownie mix according to directions. Follow high altitude directions if applicable. Spray mini muffin pan with non-stick spray; fill each cup 2/3 full. Bake approximately 15 minutes (or until the edges are set). Remove and immediately press tops of brownies (I use Pampered Chef's mini tart shaper, but any other tool that can make indentations will do). The recipe says to allow cups to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then gently remove, but I have better luck removing them almost immediately - you decide what works best for you.

Melt white chocolate with milk on stove; cool slightly. Transfer mixture to bowl; add powdered sugar and cream cheese; mix with electric hand mixer until sooth; fold in cool whip. Fill cups with white chocolate mixture - you can use a cake decorater kit or just spoon in dollups, which is much easier! Slice strawberries and place one slice in each brownie cup.

As a finishing touch, sprinkle powdered sugar or cocoa over the cups. Makes about 55.

Mud Dessert

30 Oreos
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 gallon Mint Choco Chip Ice Cream
Hot Fudge Sauce (recipe to follow)
Whipped Topping

Crush Oreos in Food Processor add melted butter and press into 9x13 inch pan
Top with slightly softened ice cream
Allow to freeze then add fudge topping and final layer of cool whip, freeze until ready to serve. Sprinkle with crushed Oreos

Fudge Sauce:
3 Tbs cocoa
1 cup sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
Boil on low for 7-10 minutes until thick, allow to cool before layering on dessert

Mom's Chocolate Birthday Cake

2- 8 inch round Chocolate cakes
Stabilized whipping cream
1 pkg. Knox gelatin dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water, allow to coll to room temp
2 cups whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla or scrape out 1 vanilla bean
1/4 + of sugar
Beat cream until soft peaks, then add sugar and vanilla, continue beating and pour in gelatin, mix until stiff peaks

Ganache
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream
Melt together in a heavy saucepan on low

To assemble, cut cake into four layers, fill with cream, then top entire cake with ganache and let ir drip down the sides. Refrigerate. You can decorate the sides wit mini chips

Biscotti

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup fine yellow cornmeal
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 3/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powderPreheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar in another large bowl until pale yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the orange and lemon zests to the dry ingredients. Add the flour mixture to the eggs and sugar and beat just until blended (the dough will be soft and sticky). Let stand for 5 minutes.

Using a rubber spatula, transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet, forming two mounds spaced evenly apart. Moisten your hands with water and shape the dough into two 11 by 4-inch logs. Bake until lightly brown, about 35 minutes. Cool the logs for 5 minutes. Using a serrated knife, cut the logs crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick diagonal slices. Arrange the biscotti cut side down on the same baking sheet. Bake until the biscotti are pale and golden, about 25 minutes. Cool the biscotti on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer the biscotti to a rack and cool completely.

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds, about 1 1/2 minutes total. Dip 1 cut side of each biscotti into the melted chocolate. Gently shake off the excess chocolate. Place the biscotti, chocolate side up, on the baking sheet. Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm, about 35 minutes. Dip a pastry brush in the cocoa, then lightly brush the cocoa over the chocolate on each biscotti.

The biscotti can be made ahead. Store them in an airtight container up to 4 days, or wrap them in foil and freeze in resealable plastic bags up to 3 weeks.

Alicia's Note: I added chopped dried cranberries and did not add the lemon zest, so yummy!!!

Yummy Twist on Lemon Poppyseed

Ok, so I needed to make a dessert last night at the last minute. We had been invited to some friends for dinner. I wanted to make a Lemon Poppyseed cake, but I did not have lemon pudding. So I tried white chocolate pudding and I added almond and orange extract to the glaze for flavor. It was yumm-o. I am so excited that I was able to experiment and have it turn out so great. Try it, its yummy.

1 pkg yellow cake mix (golden butter recipe from Duncan Hines)
1 pkg instant white chocolate pudding
1 cup water
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs
4 Tbsp. poppyseed

Glaze:
milk
powder sugar
almond extract
orange extract

German Chocolate Cheesecake

Jacque had this on her mission and requested it for her birthday. I found this recipe online and I have to say, it was delightful. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

***Cheesecake***
24 ounces cream cheese, softened and cut into chunks
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

***Chocolate Cake*** (ended up using a German chocolate cake mix)
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour

***Chocolate Glaze***
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons whipping cream

***German Chocolate Topping*** (I used the canned icing)
2 egg yolks
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

For Cheesecake: In bowl of electric mixer or in food processor fitted with metal blade, blend cream cheese, sugar, eggs, sour cream and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside.

For Chocolate Cake: In large microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate and butter. Microwave on HIGH (100%) power for 2 to 3 minutes, or until just melted. Cool slightly. With fork, beat in sugar, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth. Add flour and mix until blended. Spoon into well-greased 9 1/2-inch springform pan, spreading evenly. Carefully, spread cheese mixture evenly over top of chocolate batter.

Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking 55 to 60 minutes. Turn oven off, open oven door and let cake cool completely to room temperature in oven. Refrigerate until well chilled.

Remove sides from springform. Invert cake onto serving plate, so cheesecake is on bottom and chocolate cake is on top. Spread sides with Chocolate Glaze. Spread top evenly with German Chocolate Topping. Refrigerate until serving time. Garnish with whipped cream if desired.

For Chocolate Glaze: In small microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate chips with whipping cream. Microwave on HIGH power for 45 to 60 seconds. Beat until smooth. Spread on sides of cheesecake.

For German Chocolate Topping: In small microwave-safe bowl, beat egg yolks. Stir in sugar, butter and whipping cream. Microwave on HIGH power 4 minutes, stirring every minute. Remove from microwave and stir in vanilla extract. Stir in coconut and pecans until well blended. Refrigerate until mixture is of spreading consistency. Spread on top of the cheesecake.

Lemon Chiffon Pie

We learned how to make this at an Enrichment activity last week. So good and I'm not really a lemon fan. Worth the try.

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup + 1 T cornstarch
1 T grated lemon peel
1 cup lemon juice
3 C boiling water
8 eggs, separated
1/4 cup margarine or butter
egg whites, whipped
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar

In heavy saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; add lemon juice and lemon peel. In a small bowl, beat egg yolks. Add to lemon mixture. Gradually add boiling water, stirring constantly. Over medium heat, cook and stir until mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat. Add margarine and stir until melted.
Whip egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar while mixing. Whipe until stiff peaks form. Carefully mix one large scoop of whites into lemon mixture. Then reverse and fold remaining lemon mixtures into whites. Just fold. Do not overbeat or egg whites will break down. Gently spoon mixture into two cooked 9# pie crusts. Refrigerate until set, 6-8 hours. Makes 2 pies.

Outrageous Brownies

1 pound unsalted butter
1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, divided
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
6 extra-large eggs
2 tablespoons real vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided (1 cup for batter and 1/4 cup in the chips and nuts)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups diced walnut pieces
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 13 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.
Melt together the butter, 1 pound chocolate chips, and unsweetened chocolate on top of a double boiler. Cool slightly. Stir together the eggs, vanilla and sugar. Stir in the warm chocolate mixture and cool to room temperature.


Stir together 1 cup of the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and 12 ounces of chocolate chips with 1/4 cup flour to coat. Then add to the chocolate batter. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for about 30 minutes, or until tester just comes out clean. Halfway through the baking, rap the pan against the oven shelf to allow air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Do not over-bake! Cool thoroughly, refrigerate well and cut into squares.

These are do good ,but not the healthiest thing, but I just wanted to share this one. They are Tyler's favorite.