Red Velvet Cake

I made this cake for my friend, Ambyr, for her birthday...She called and asked for Red Velvet Cake...This is what I came up with. Hopefully she liked it:) Recipe came from the Cake Mix Dr. I did a few changes: 1st, I made it into a cake...3 layers. Gobbed lots of frosting in the middle. Put shredded chocolate on top and put those Pirutte (sp?) cookies around.

Red Velvet Cake
1 pkg. Pillsbury German Chocolate cake mix with 1 cup pudding in the mix
*if you don't buy Pillsbury with pudding in the mix add 1(3.4 oz vanilla instant pudding)
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 (1 oz. bottle red food coloring)
3 large eggs
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350. Place cake mix, sour cream, water, oil, food coloring and eggs in mixing bowl. Blend for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides and beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Fold in the choc. chips. Fill cupcake liners with 1/3 cup batter (makes 24 cupcakes). Bake at 350 for 18-20 min. Remove and let cool for 15 minutes before frosting.

Brown sugar cream cheese frosting

1 1/2 cups softened butter (3 sticks)
8 oz. cream cheese softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
4-6 cups powdered sugar
cream butter and cream cheese together. Add brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Add 2 cups powdered sugar at a time.

Come on Barbie, Let's Go Party...Take 2

The day after the Chuck E. Cheese Birthday was the Family birthday. This party had much more work involved and I had so much fun putting it together!

Here is the banner I made...got the idea off of Polkadots & Pirates.
The cake. I loved making this! Fondant isn't something I have really ever played with. I have made one cake with it, so I was a bit nervous. I think I will forever make cakes with fondant. Loved it! You can hide your mistakes so easily!
A close up of the top...yes, I used feathers and some pink glitter balls and the Barbie head was off of the invites that Whitney made.

The treat table was outside...I couldn't put the banner outside because it was so windy and the cake had to stay inside or else it would be destroyed. On the right I put cute little votive candle holders on there filled with milk and then a cookie on top...I didn't put those out till right before. For those of you who want to know what is on the table:

I made paper cones and filled them with Crunch 'n Munch,

Chocolate covered Pretzels

Pink and White Marshmallows

Circus Cookies

Strawberry Whoppers

cookies and milk

strawberry gummies

Oreo truffles (one bag of oreos and one 8oz. pkg. of cream cheese...mix together, freeze, dip in milk chocolate, freeze and then you can drizzle pink chocolate on them)

good and plenty
This is just a funny that Dr. Brown wanted me to post on my blog...we love the fake flowers in her planters;)

Thanks for letting me help with the party Dr. Brown...I hope you liked everything!

Princess Cake

First of all...sorry the pic is turned wierd...it won't let me change it:)  Caden's teacher's Birthday was on Friday and the Room Mom put me in charge of the cake...ok, so maybe I really wanted to make it.  Either way...this is what I did.  Cupcakes for the kiddos and the teacher got to take this cake home.  I love making cakes!  I haven't been able to make one for an occasion, so this gave me an opportunity to test my skills after all the cake decorating classes from my friend, Tanya.  Just don't look too close and find my mistakes:)

I {Heart} Fondant

Last night I went to a cake decorating class (thanks for teaching it Tanya!!  You are amazing!).  It was all about fondant.  Can I just tell you that I have fallen in love?  I actually dreamnt of fondant last night and all the amazing things I can do!  Now as you look at these pictures, keep in mind that it is my first cake with fondant...no laughing.  Tanya even gave recipes for Marshmallow fondant...which actually tastes pretty good.  The chocolate fondant tastes like tootsie roll.  The Wilton kind smells like chemicals...I can't bring myself to try it!  
Anywho...I will be using fondant more now.  I am no longer scared!!  I can't wait to buy all the fun cutters and stuff!  OH the possibilities:)

Sidenote...I'm not going to lie to you....my cake tasted amazing.  I had to dig into it today...cake has been a major craving!  It was a white cake with an almond kick to it, lemon curd filling 

(yum-o) and an almond buttercream frosting.  I was in heaven!!

Black Bottom Cupcakes

Lately my biggest crave has been cupcakes.  I seriously can't get enough of them.  I dream about them.  Ben, unfortunately is not a cake type of guy.  He just humors me.  I asked him if there was a kind that he may want and he asked for these.  I had been searching for a recipe for awhile and couldn't find one that I thought sounded good enough.  Then, I went to my friend, Ashley's, blog and she had just posted these.  Bless you!!  They are soooo good!  I hope you enjoy them!

Black Bottom Cupcakes

3 c. flour

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. cocoa

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

2 c. water

2/3 c. oil

2 tsp. vinegar

2 tsp. vanilla

Mix dry ingredients and pour wet into dry ingredients.  Fill each muffin tin 1/3 of the way with cake batter.  Put 1 TBS filling on top.  Then cover with more cake batter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  

Filling:

1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1 egg

1/3 c. sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

1 c. chocolate chips

Beat first 4 ingredients together, then add chocolate chips.  

Enjoy!!

 

Orange Juice Cake

I have been eyeing this cake for quite awhile. See...whenever I am stressed or bored, I bake. Can you tell I have been stressed lately? Or maybe its not stress, it could just be that I love to bake. I bake it, we have one serving of it, and the rest just sits there, even if we love it and can't get enough of it. Now, this cake is different. It is special...it is half-way eaten and I made it yesterday. It sounds interesting, but WOW! I love the orange kick! The recipe came from My Sisters Cucina. They have some really good recipes. Make sure to check them out!

Orange Juice Cake

Yellow Cake mix
Instant Vanilla Pudding, small box
1/2 c. oil
1 c. Orange Juice
4 eggs
chopped pecans, about 1/2 c., more if you like

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together. Don't over-mix. spray bundt cake pan. Sprinkle chopped pecans on the bottom of the pan. Pour cake mix evenly in bundt pan. Bake for 30-45 minutes (mine was more like 50 minutes). You know when it is done when it starts to pull away from the sides and the inside ring. While bking, make your glaze.

Glaze:
1 stick butter
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. orange juice

Combine butter, sugar and juice in small saucepan. Bring to a boil and turn off. When cake comes out of the oven, stir glaze well before spooning over hot cake so that the butter gets mixed back in. (When it sits the butter settles to the top.) The glaze will eventually sep through the cake giving it a juicey moistness all over. Let it sit for 1 hour before removing from your pan. To remove from pan, place your plate upside down over the bundt pan and flip.

Hope you enjoy!

Strawberry-Cream Angel Food Cake

I have had this recipe sitting a in pile for years! Glad I finally got to make it! It is from foodnetwork.com and is one of Emeril Lagasse's. Pretty good. I give it a ***1/2 rating. I would probably change the whipped cream on top. It wasn't as sweet as I would have liked. Also, you may want to double the whipped cream if you love the stuff, like myself! But still pretty good.

Strawberry-Cream Angel Food Cake

1 plain angel food cake, baked and cooled
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (12 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 c. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 1/2 c. sliced fresh strawberries
1 c. heavy cream
2 TBS powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. almond extract
Whole strawberries, stems removed, as garnish

Using a serrated cake or bread knife, carefully cut the top 1-inch from the cake. carefully remove and set aside. Using the tip of the knife, cut into the cake along the inner and outer edges, leaving a 1-inch border of cake intact. Using your fingers, carefully hollow out the cake between the two cuts, leaving an empty "tunnel". Tear the removed cake into bite-size pieces and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add the condensed milk and beat until thoroughly combined. Stir in lemon juice and 1/2 tsp. almond extract. Gently fold in the cake pieces and strawberries. Spoon the mixture into the tunnel in the center of the hollowed out cake (see following picture), and cover with the reserved cake top. Cover cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

When ready to serve the cake, whip the cream until it begins to form peaks. Add the powered sugar and remaining 1/2 tsp. almond extract. Whip until the cream forms stiff peaks but is not dry. Frost the cake with the whipped cream and decorate with reserved whole strawberries. Refrigerate for up to one hour, or serve immediately.

Hope you enjoy!

Cupcake Pops

Many of you know that I have an obsession with cake. I love everything about it! Especially cupcakes. Then several months ago I discovered Cake Balls. Even better...you get about 2-3 bites of deliciousness and you are good to go...they are so rich and covered in chocolate! So I went to Bakerella's blog and she took the Cake Ball to a whole 'nother level! I have been dying to make these adorable little cupcake balls. Try them, you won't be disappointed!


I really need to practice food photography! These pictures don't give these little guys any justice!
I used Chocolate Fudge cake (bake like directions say and then crumble it up). Then get a tub of frosting or make 2 c. of your own and mix the cake crumbles and frosting together. From there you can get the specifics here on Bakerella's blog. If you haven't been there before...beware, she is very talented and you will want to make everything!

Birthday Cake

Fudge Ribbon Cake

For my birthday my mom made me this yummy cake. I used to eat this all the time and had totally forgotten it! It is a recipe from my Dad's mom. She is an amazing baker/chef. So, this brought back a lot of memories! Thought I would share the recipe! Look how pretty it looks! I love the cream cheese swirl.

This is a picture of Nestle Choco Bake. I would never had known what it was without seeing it!

Fudge Ribbon Cake

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
2 TBS margarine
2 1/4 c. sugar
1 TBS corn starch
2 eggs
4 Envelopes Nestles Choco Bake
1/2 tsp. soda
2 TBS plus 1 1/3 c. milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. margarine
1 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9x13 pan.Cream 2 TBS margarine with cream cheese, 1/4 c. sugar, corn starch, add 1 egg, 2 TBS milk, 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Beat at high speed until creamy. Set aside. Combine flour with 2 c. sugar, baking powder, salt and soda in large bowl. Add 1/2 c. margarine, 1 c. milk and beat for one minute. Add 1/3 c. milk, 2 eggs, choco bake and 1 tsp. vanilla. Beat. Spread 1/2 mixture over batter and spread carefully. Top with remaining batter and spread to cover cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Cool and top with Fudge Frosting.

Fudge Frosting:

1/4 c. milk
1/4 c. margarine
6 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar

Combine margarine and milk in sauce pan. Bring to boil. Remove from heat, add remaining ingredients, stir to spreading consistency. Spread on top of cake. Put in fridge until set, then take out to room temperature.

Hope you enjoy!