Dump Cake

I raided my Mom's pantry last weekend for dessert. This is what I came up with. It's similar to a cobbler. It's super easy and a quick dessert. Just missing the vanilla ice cream!!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cans Cherry Pie Filling
• 1 Pkg. Yellow cake mix
• 1 stick butter, melted
• chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS: Dump the cherry pie filling into a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle an even layer of the cake mix. Drizzle on the melted butter. Top with pecans. Bake @325* for around 30 minutes.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!

Boys 5th Birthday cake

Just a Birthday cake idea.
My twins are into Knights and Dragons at the moment. This year for their 5th Birthday my son requested a Knight cake with Oreo's on it. I went down to Toy's R us and got a cool pack of Dragons and Playmobil Knight pack. Took out what I needed and wrapped the rest for presents. BTW- I went to Walmart & Target and they didn't have Dragons. Toys R Us was awesome and I found just what I needed.

The tower was made from a plastic sand castle toy.... I took from our backyard (shhhh). I did wash it though. :) Inside the tower was filled with a stack of "gold coins". I told the boys that the dragon stole the knights gold coins and they needed to "slay" the dragon to find them. They loved it and the fun cake!

Inside is a box of yellow cake mix. I took 2 small bowls of the batter to dye red and orange. Poured half yellow cake on bottom. Drizzled the colors in the middle and plopped the remaining yellow batter on top. Then just cut with a butter knife in a swivel motion up and down the cake. Bake and you'll have some "fire dragon flames".

Best. Carrot Cake. Ever.

This cake is amazing! So mouthwatering. :) I don't make it often, but this cake is pretty much my favorite cake. Ever. I got the recipe here, but tweaked it a bit to my liking. It's so moist and flavorful. It's one of my favorites for Easter time..... or anytime really. :)

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 Eggs
• 3/4 c. Oil
• 1/2 c. Applesauce
• 1 c. Sugar
• 1 c. Brown Sugar
• 3 t. Vanilla
• 2 c. Flour
• 2 t. Baking Soda
• 2 t. Baking Powder
• 1/2 t. Salt
• 3 t. Cinnamon
• 1/2 c. Coconut
• 3 c. Grated carrots
• 1 c. chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:

1. Beat eggs, oil, applesauce and sugar. Stir in Vanilla.
2. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir into cream mixture.
3. Stir in carrots and coconut. Fold in pecans.
4. Bake in 9x13 dish at 350 for 40-50 minutes.
5. Cool completely before frosting.

FROSTING

• 1/2 c. Butter, softened
• 5 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
• 4 c. Powder Sugar
• 1 t. Vanilla
• Pecans
• Coconut

DIRECTIONS: Beat in blender; butter, cream cheese, pwd. sugar and vanilla. Spread onto cake and sprinkle frosting with coconut and chopped pecans.
*The recipe calls for the whole 8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese, but I'm not a huge fan. So I cut back on the cream cheese, but you may add the whole pkg. if you prefer. Also, I add 1 1/2 c. Cool whip because I like it in my frosting. :)

Special Buttercream Frosting

The twins 4th birthday cake! The shark is made of rice crispy treat and the teeth is candy corn!

I love a whip cream frosting. It's light and not as sweet as the regular frosting.


INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 c. Shortening
• 1/4 c. Butter
• 4 c. Powder Sugar
• 1/4 t. Salt
• 1 t. Vanilla
• 3 oz. Heavy Cream
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cream shortening, butter and powder sugar.
   
2. Stir in the salt and vanilla.
3. Blend in the heavy cream until moist and whip on high until fluffy.

Perfect!! I add close to a whole cup of heavy cream instead of the 3 oz. We like it extra fluffy and light.

Cake Pop!

I got this tasty little treat from a church activity... over a year ago. I had never had one before, so I looked it up and found the recipe at
Bakerella.
So many cute ideas on her site. I actually made these ice cream cake pops for my little girl's 1st birthday. Except I used an Oreo truffle recipe (my favorite... I mean seriously, who doesn't LOVE oreos?!!) and a flat bottom waffer cone, so they stood on their own. Way cute and everyone at the party loved them! I have a picture somewhere....

but just look at this cake pop. Oh yumminess.

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