Cake Batter Blondies

Ingredients:
Box of cake batter (Funfetti)

1 egg
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 of white chocolate chips
1/4 cup of oil
Strawberry icing (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)

Mix the cake batter with egg, oil and add the milk slowly. Batter should be dense. Then add the chocolate chips. Use a greased 8x10 pan. Bake 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Blondies should be slightly uncooked. Let cool for 20-30 minutes.

For that extra something special-I add strawberry icing. It makes them more fun and pretty and delicious.

S'mores on a Stick

Simple and easy. Spear your marshmallow with a toothpick or small kabob stick. Dip in melted chocolate and roll in crushed graham crackers. Room temp or chilled, makes a great summertime snack.

July 4th Cupcakes

Cupcakes

1

box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix

3/4

cup water

1

cup sour cream

1/3

cup vegetable oil

1/2

teaspoon almond extract

3

eggs

1

jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries (about 38 cherries), drained, finely chopped and patted dry

Glaze

3

cups powdered sugar

3

tablespoons water

2

tablespoons light corn syrup

1/2

teaspoon almond extract

Decoration

24

blue candy stars

Betty Crocker® red decorating icing (from 4.25-oz tube)

• 1Heat oven to 375°F (350°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• 2In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, sour cream, oil, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and the eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in cherries. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
• 3Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• 4Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat powdered sugar, water, corn syrup and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spoon over cupcakes, using back of spoon to spread. Let stand 10 minutes.
• 5Place 1 candy star on each cupcake as shown. Using writing tip, pipe icing in wavy stripes on each cupcake to look like flag. Store loosely covered.

Berry Parfait

INGREDIENTS 3 cups blueberries		12 ounces heavy whipping cream
2 cups raspberries		3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup strawberries, halved and sliced		Crisp cookies (your choice)
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioners’sugar 1 Place blueberries in one bowl, and raspberries and strawberries in another bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar to each bowl and toss gently. This will help release the fruits' juices and sweeten the berries. Set aside for 15 to 20 minutes. 2 While fruit is macerating, add whipping cream, vanilla extract and the remaining sugar into a medium-size mixing bowl (preferably chilled). Whip until stiff peaks form. 3 Spoon alternating layers of blueberries, whipped cream, then raspberry-strawberry combination into glassware of your choice. Serve with crispy cookies

Berries for Summer

Summertime means fresh and ripe berries. It also means a perfect time to get creative with your desserts. Berries make any dessert look great. For more berry delicious desserts, stay tuned.

Homemade Ice Cream-Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup half and half
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup salt (The bigger the granules, the better. Kosher or rock salt works best, but table salt is fine.)

Instructions

1. Combine the sugar, half and half, and vanilla extract in the pint-size bag and seal it tightly.
2. Place the salt and ice in the gallon-size bag, then place the sealed smaller bag inside as well. Seal the larger bag. Now shake the bags until the mixture hardens (about 5 minutes). Feel the small bag to determine when it's done.
3. Take the smaller bag out of the larger one, add mix-ins, and eat the ice cream right out of the bag. Easy cleanup too! Serves 1.

• Ice cubes (enough to fill each gallon-size bag about half full)
• 1 pint-size ziplock bag
• 1 gallon-size ziplock bag

Homemade Ice Cream

Who needs all those extra ingredients that you cant even pronounce? Make your own homemade ice cream with all natural ingredients.

Easy Lemon Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
•  
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 lemons, juiced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F 
2. In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
4. Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool. Sprinkle a little confection sugar on top. 
5. Enjoy

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.
3.

Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.

S'more Fun for Summer

S'mores are always a great summertime treat. Who wouldn't love sitting around a campfire toasting up some delicious marshmallows and chocolate,sandwiched between 2 graham crackers. It wouldn't be complete without a scary ghost story.

Summer Sweets

It's getting hot out there. As summertime comes, we like to hit the beach or pool or parks. Portable and cooling snacks are just the ticket. Let me know what types of summertime sweets you like.

Mini Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes

Ingredients:
Cheesecake:
8oz of cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp of sour cream or greek yogurt
1/3 cup of sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1 cup of chocolate chips (I prefer mini chips)

1 package of Keebler® Ready Crust® Mini Graham Cracker Pie Crust


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F
Cream together cream cheese, sour cream and sugar until smooth
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract
Place 1 tbsp chocolate chips into each of the pie crusts
Evenly divide cheesecake batter between pies covering the first layer of chocolate chips
Place another tbsp of chocolate chips on top of the cheesecake batter in each of pies
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cheesecakes are set.
Allow to cool for 10 minutes
Cool completely before refrigerating

Individual Mini Cheesecakes

I have made many mini chocolate chip cheesecakes several times and they are always a hit. The main reason people love them, besides them being so delicious, is that they get their own little cheesecake. Not having to share, makes them special. Individual cheesecakes are simple to make and only require a few ingredients. Recipe for mini chocolate chip cheesecakes will be forthcoming. Remember to create a special experience for those people that taste your treats.

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup half-and-half cream
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together cookie crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar, and melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
2. In a saucepan, combine raspberries, 2 tablespoons sugar, cornstarch, and water. Bring to boil, and continue boiling 5 minutes, or until sauce is thick. Strain sauce through a mesh strainer to remove seeds.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt white chocolate chips with half-and-half, stirring occasionally until smooth.
4. In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Blend in vanilla and melted white chocolate. Pour half of batter over crust. Spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over batter. Pour remaining cheesecake batter into pan, and again spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over the top. Swirl batter with the tip of a knife to create a marbled effect.
5. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until filling is set. Cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 8 hours before removing from pan. Serve with remaining raspberry sauce.

Rice Krispy Treats

Most people have memories of making rice krispy treats with their moms...stirring...stirring and stirring until your arms hurt. Melt the marshmallows in the microwave and make quick work of making rice krispy treats. Enjoy them quicker and clean up is a snap.

Today's Recipe-Easy Chocolate Cupcakes

  Ingredients

• 10 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk

             Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two muffin pans with paper baking cups.
2. In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, almond extract and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; stir into the batter, alternating with the milk, just until blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly.
3. Bake until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter. Frost and enjoy.                 

Types Of Cookies That You Can Bake:

Many More Types Of Cookies

• Sugar Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Snickerdoodle Cookies
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• And Many More......
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Baking is great because you get to share the finish products, and let everyone enjoy what you spent time baking.  Seeing someone enjoy something that you prepare, can give you such a wonderful feeling.

Do you enjoy home baked goods, check back everyday for new daily recipes and ideas that will help you create the best foods.

Baking is great for all types of things, helping with stress. Lowers your blood pressure.  Find delicious recipes that you can try out everyday.