recipes Archives - Page 2 of 8

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes {from Cake Mix} with Buttercream Frosting!

The Cake Mix Doctor is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks. The author provides plenty of amazing recipes that all start with boxed, easy-to-find cake mix.

As you may notice from other recipes I’ve shared (like this Pumpkin Bread recipe made with cake mix) I like making delicious treats, but I definitely don’t mind taking a few shortcuts in the process!

I almost always find myself wanting to make cupcakes rather than big cakes, and I wanted to make a fun treat while I had a few houseguests this weekend. I flipped through my Cake Mix Doctor cookbook and decided to adapt a delicious-looking recipe into cupcakes instead of the two-layer cake it’s supposed to be.

In addition to the change from cake to cupcakes, I also made a few adaptations to the recipe to try to make it as fast as possible.

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes from Cake Mix with Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Ingredients

1 package (18.25 oz) white cake mix
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Cinnamon Buttercream Icing Ingredients

1 stick butter, softened
3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
3-4 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350.
Line 24 muffin cups with cupcake liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine all ingredients (except icing!) in a bowl and mix with a hand mixer on medium for 3 full minutes.
Fill each muffin cup 2/3 full and bake for 20-15 minutes. Test for doneness: Insert a wooden toothpick into one cupcake. If it comes out clean, it’s done. If there are bits of cake on it, it needs a few more minutes in the oven. Cool completely and frost with Cinnamon Buttercream Icing.

Cinnamon Buttercream Icing Recipe

Mix the butter in a bowl on medium for a minute, until it’s creamy and fluffy.
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix on low until all the sugar is blended. Mix on medium and beat 1-2 minutes more until smooth and fluffy.
Add a few drops milk if it’s too thick. Blend in additional confectioners’ sugar by the spoonful if it’s too thin.
Frost the snickerdoodle cupcakes with the icing.
Dust with more cinnamon, cinnamon sugar or raw sugar granules for decoration.

**Recipe adapted from The Cake Mix Doctor**

Believe me, this recipe is SO good I had to fight to save two cupcakes for my sister and her husband who were arriving later! Try it and let me know if you like it!

If you like this recipe please pin it on Pinterest and follow me to share in some great finds!

(Image Credit)

November 11, 2012 | Filed Under: recipes |

Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe with Cake Mix!

If you like this recipe please pin it on Pinterest!

Sometimes I bake something that’s so easy, so super-good that I write about it. Then, it gets buried in all the baby deals, toy deals and other stuff I’m far more likely to share with you. Then, I make that recipe later and think, I really need to share that pumpkin bread recipe with readers who may have missed it the first time around.

Why? Because it’s a sweet bread made with a cake mix, one can of pumpkin and a few other ingredients. It couldn’t get any easier, and it tastes delicious!

I don’t do it often, but I want to share for the second time what I think is a perfect fall recipe: pumpkin bread. Even better, this is an easy pumpkin bread made with cake mix!

On a side note, I usually break out my hand mixer when a recipe requires only a minute or two of speedy mixing. I’ve broken more than a few mixers in the past by expecting more from them than they could handle, but this hand mixer has been one of my favorite small kitchen appliances for a few years. It’s pricier than a lot of other brands, but I haven’t broken mine yet, which says a lot

Easy Pumpkin Bread with Cake Mix Recipe

Ingredients

1 box yellow or white cake mix
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon cinnamon (or 1.5 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice)
1-3 eggs (see cake mix directions for amount)
Vegetable oil (see cake mix directions for amount)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a loaf pan.
Consult your cake mix box to find the amount of eggs and oil as directed on the box.
Combine cake mix, eggs and oil in a bowl and mix on medium speed until smooth and well-blended.
Add pumpkin and cinnamon. Mix on low until incorporated.
Pour mixture into prepared loaf pan.
Bake at 375 for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool and serve with butter or frost with cream cheese frosting.

(photo credit)

November 7, 2012 | Filed Under: recipes |

Easy Hot Breakfast: Brown Sugar Baked Oatmeal Recipe

Baked oatmeal is one of our family’s favorite recipes. It’s a hearty breakfast, and it’s almost like a oatmeal cookie cake if you’d rather serve it as a snack!

If you like this recipe please pin it on Pinterest!

Brown Sugar Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup softened butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9″ round casserole dish or a 9×9 baking pan.
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until fully combined, but don’t over-mix it. (There will be a few lumps).
Scoop the mix into your prepared dish or pan.
Bake for 25 minutes at 350 until the edges are golden and a little crispy.
Serve warm for breakfast or cool for a snack.

(image credit)

Silly Sticks & Stones Snack Mix Recipe: A Baby-Friendly Cereal Mix!

This easy, kid-friendly snack mix is a blend of healthy cereal, nuts and dried fruit. Extra vitamins are added because it’s flavored with fruit juice!

This is a great snack for older babies and toddlers who love finger foods. Just omit the nuts and toss in more cereal and/or fruit to eliminate the ingredient that’s hardest to chew! It also makes an excellent addition to bag lunch.

I love this recipe because it’s easily adaptable to ingredients you have on hand. I think almost any unsweetened cereal would work, and you can change up the rest of the recipe to make it work for you and your family.

If you don’t have apple juice, you can try cranberry juice or lemonade. If your little one won’t eat raisins, chop up other dried fruit and toss it in instead. The cinnamon can be completely eliminated if the flavor it too strong for a toddler’s taste buds.

Silly Sticks and Stones Snack Mix Recipe

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup apple juice concentrate
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 cups cereal (I like Chex but Cheerios or other finger-friendly cereals can be used)
2 cups pretzel sticks
1.5 cups almonds or peanuts (optional, omit for babies)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 300.

Combine the cereal, pretzels and nuts in a roasting pan. (a large cookie sheet can also be used)

Put the butter, juice and sugar in a large bowl and microwave for 30 seconds to melt the butter. Stir in the cinnamon.

Pour it over the cereal mixture and toss it gently to coat all the ingredients.

Bake the mix for 30 minutes, stirring it every 10 minutes. If the mixture isn’t dry after 30 minutes, bake it for another 5 to 10 minutes until it’s dry and the optional nuts are toasted.

Let the mixture cool, then stir in the raisins and cranberries and store the mix in an airtight container.

Enjoy!

Image credit.

If you like this recipe please Pin it on Pinterest!

October 16, 2012 | Filed Under: recipes | Tagged With: cereals, recipes, snack recipes, Snacks

How to Make Bubbles :: Seven of The Best Homemade Bubble Recipes for Kids!

Babies and kids love bubbles, and I love sharing how to make easy homemade bubbles!
There are so many homemade bubble solution recipes out there. Some are super-easy with ingredients I’m almost positive you already have at home. Other recipes have ingredients you’ll likely have to go buy.

The easiest homemade bubble recipe is made from just soap and water. Others have some required ingredients you’ve never used before. Here’s a quick FAQ to answer some questions you might have about the bubble recipes below:

Where Can I buy glycerin?
Glycerin can be found in the cake decorating area of most craft stores. If you’re near a Michael’s, you can find it with the rest of the Wilton cake and candy-making supplies.

Why would there be sugar in a recipe for homemade bubbles?
Plain and simple, sugar makes the bubbles “stick” and last longer.

Why would a recipe for bubbles include corn syrup?
Corn syrup works the same way sugar does, so it helps make your bubbles last longer.

What’s the best Dishwashing Detergent to use for making homemade bubbles?
An extensive Google search revealed that almost everyone stood behind Dawn Original dish soap as the best dish soap for bubbles.

Are there any dish soaps that shouldn’t be used for making homemade bubbles?
Yes. Generic soaps that are usually found at dollar stores and the like are generally too watered down to produce quality bubbles.

Can I use these homemade bubble recipes to blow bubbles indoors?
The Basic Homemade Bubbles recipe shouldn’t cause any problems indoors. It’s just diluted soap! Take care with the bubble solutions containing sugar and corn syrup, as they may leave a slightly sticky residue on surfaces. Finally, the Beautiful Bubbles and Jello Bubbles recipes contain a small amount of food coloring and dye, so it’s probably best to save those solutions for outdoor use.

How should I store my homemade bubbles?
Store all homemade bubble solutions in an airtight, labeled container. A clean glass spaghetti sauce or jelly jar works perfectly for storing bubbles.

How long can I store my homemade bubble solution?
Many bubbles actually get better with age. If the mixture has sat for more than a few weeks, give the container a gentle swirl to combine the ingredients that may have separated. Don’t shake the container; you want to save those suds for your bubbles!

Simply Homemade Bubbles Recipe

1 Cup water
1 Tablespoon dishwashing liquid.

Pour the water and dishwashing liquid into a container. Stir gently and thoroughly to combine. Dip your bubble wand and get started!

Deluxe Bubbles Recipe

1 quart (4 cups) warm water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dishwashing liquid

Combine the sugar and the warm water. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Add the dishwashing liquid and stir again. Store in an airtight container.

Crazy Deluxe Bubbles Recipe

1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons liquid dish or laundry detergent
1 tablespoon glycerin
1 teaspoon white sugar

Gently stir all ingredients together and store in a airtight container. These bubbles have staying power! Given the right conditions you might lose sight of your bubbles before they pop!

Jello Bubbles Recipe

1 part dishwashing liquid
1 part Jello brand (or generic) powder, any flavor/color
8 to 10 parts warm water

Gently combine all three ingredients. Avoid creating suds by mixing too vigorously. Suds will affect the “bubbliness” of your bubbles.

Tear-Free Bubbles Recipe

1/4 cup tear-free baby shampoo
3/4 cup water
3 Tablespoons light corn syrup

Mix all ingredients, then wait for the bubbles to settle before using.

Beautiful Bubbles Recipe {with food coloring}

1/3 cup dishwashing liquid
1 1/4 cups water
2 teaspoons sugar
1 drop food coloring

Gently stir all ingredients together. Use outside to avoid staining any indoor fixtures, carpet or upholstery.

Non-Toxic, Natural Bubbles Recipe

1/4 cup natural, biodegradable dish detergent (Like Seventh Generation Free & Clear)
1 cup water
1 teaspoon glycerin

Mix all ingredients in a resealable container. Let stand overnight for best results.

Have you made homemade bubbles? What’s Your Favorite Bubble Recipe?

Image credit: Maricel Cruz

On to the next project: Here’s how to make homemade play dough with natural food dyes!

**This article was originally posted in July of 2011**

August 21, 2012 | Filed Under: recipes | Tagged With: bubble recipe, bubbles recipes, colored bubble recipes, diy, homemade bubble recipes, homemade bubbles, homemaking, how to, how to make homemade bubbles, nontoxic homemade bubble recipes

Amp Up Summer with an Easy Chocolate Chip Mocha Brownie Bites Recipe #Cbias #IcedDelight

Last week I shared my #IcedDelight chocolate caramel frappe recipe. I think my husband is addicted to them! He only stopped making them when we ran out of whipped cream.

Today, I wanted to share that I’m still amping up our summer by finding new and fun ways to use International Delight Iced Coffee in the kitchen. We definitely still love our iced coffee beverages in the hot Minnesota weather, but the fun thing is that International Delight Iced Coffee can be used for baking as well as beverages!

I know a lot of people don’t like to turn the oven on when it’s hot outside. Neither do I, but I love to bake so much that I can’t avoid it. To attempt to beat the heat, I try to bake early in the morning, late at night or on cloudy days. It still warms up the house, but my family thinks it’s worth it!

It didn’t take much thinking to make me think that International Delight Iced Coffee would add a nice, light mocha flavor to regular brownies! Using a brownie mix saved a lot of time and makes for an easy, great-looking dessert!

These brownie bites are just as easy as making a pan of brownies from a mix, but they look and taste so much better!

Making them in a muffin pan also makes them extra-portable, meaning we can bring them with us if we’re heading out for a summer activity or to a barbecue where I promised to bring a dessert.

I went to Walmart for my carton of Original International Delight Iced Coffee. It also comes in Mocha and Vanilla flavors. I think any one of those flavors would taste fabulous in this recipe!

Each International Delight #IcedDelight Iced Coffee comes in a half-gallon size and costs $3.98 at Walmart. They’re in the refrigerator section right alongside the chocolate milk.

I brought my Iced Coffee home, took out a brownie mix I already had in my pantry and my trusty old muffin tins.

Chocolate Chip Mocha Brownie Bites Recipe

Ingredients:

1 “family size” brownie mix (to make a 13×9 pan)
3 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup International Delight Iced Coffee
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350
Grease 2 12-cup muffin tins
mix brownie mix, eggs, oil and International Delight Iced Coffee in a bowl with a wooden spoon (about 50 stirs).
fill each muffin tin about halfway with brownie batter.
Drop a spoonful of chocolate chips on top of each muffin cup of brownie batter
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Cool and enjoy.

The chocolate chips sink into the brownie batter a little bit, but the completed brownie bites are so chocolatey they definitely don’t need any frosting. Even better, they’re a bit crispy all the way around the edges, making them extra-delicious!

These Chocolate Chip Mocha Brownie Bites are perfect for taking along if you need to bring a treat somewhere. They’re more stable than cupcakes and look nice right out of the pan!

Find out more about International Delight by liking them on Facebook or following them on Twitter. Search for the #IcedDelight hashtag on Twitter to find more homemade recipes!

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and International Delight #IcedDelight #CBias #SocialFabric