Mini Red Velvet Birthday Cakes

I made Mini Red Velvet Cakes for my mom's birthday this year. She loves red velvet cake. I am not a huge fan of it...maybe its because I am so frustrated by the time I finish (which always seems to be around 2 or 3 in the morning) that I don't even want to eat it. However, this red velvet recipe always gets rave reviews. I got the idea to create mini cakes from the blog Sprinkle Bakes. Her cakes turned out beautiful...mine were just okay. I always have good intentions and high expectations when baking this recipe, but I always fall a little short on presentation. Oh well, at least they taste great.

Red Velvet Recipe:

1 cup butter, softened
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 tbsp red food colouring
3 tbsp cocoa powder
3 cups flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp white vinegar

Adapted from: All Recipes

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease mini cake pans.

2. Cream together butter and sugar. Add in one egg at a time.

3. Mix together red food colouring and cocoa powder. Add to creamed mixture.

4. Add flour, buttermilk, vanilla, and salt.

5. Combine baking soda and vinegar in a separate bowl until fizzy. Add to the mixture.

6. Blend everything smooth and add to the greased mini cake pans. Be sure not to fill to the top. They overflow easily.

7. Bake in the over for 18-20 minutes. Cool before icing.

Cream Cheese Icing Recipe:

2 - 8 ounce cream cheese packages, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups icing sugar
2 tsp vanilla

Adapted from: All Recipes

Toppings:

Red, Green, and White Sprinkles
Square of Lindt chocolate

Merry Christmas: Chocolate Marshmallow Pops

A quick and very tasty treat. Chocolate Marshmallow Pops are great for a Christmas table centrepiece or an easy gift. I am not a huge fan of marshmallows (except for in S'mores), but the milk chocolate adds a great crunch along with the sprinkles.

Recipe:

- Milk Chocolate

- Sprinkles

- Marshmallows

- Lollipop Sticks

- Glass (Optional)

- Bow (Optional)

1. Place marshmallows onto sticks.

2. Melt chocolates in a microwave-safe bowl for 2 minutes or until smooth.

3. Dip marshmallow sticks into chocolate allowing excess to drip off.

4. Pour sprinkles onto chocolate. Do not dip into sprinkles...it makes a big mess.

5. Place in a cup to dry. You can also place them in the freezer for 2-3 minutes.

Adapted from:  Glorious Treats

Merry Christmas!

Enjoy :)

Mag

DIY: Christmas Centrepiece Arrangement

After working at a greenhouse this past year, I learned how to make centrepieces with different types of greens - and yes, they are real greens. They are super easy, but take a lot of supplies and a little practice. Add whatever bulbs, sparkly sticks, bows, and anything else you want to use to spice it up. They are great to add a natural Christmas-look to your home and will be the centre of attention at your holiday party.

Dessert: Christmas Jersey Milk Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Love making Christmas Cookies! These cookies can really be made anytime during the year, but in my family they are Christmas cookies. These cookies are amazing. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Recipe:

2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
4 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups oatmeal
3 bars of Neilson's Jersey Milk




The Oatmeal Cookie recipe has seen better days. The torn page had to be pasted into a book

Directions:

1. Mix wet and dry ingredients separately.

2. Combine ingredients and mix thoroughly.

3. Roll into balls onto a greased cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.

5. While the cookies are still hot and on the cookie sheet, press the the Jersey Milk chocolate squares firmly into the cookies.

 

Great for freezing and storing away until Christmas :)

North Pole Christmas Cupcakes!

Christmas is coming and there are a lot of holiday parties and holiday desserts that need to made and tasted! My dad needed cupcakes for his volunteer party at Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I saw this idea on Pinterest, but I just didn't like the photos I was seeing. Then my Crossfit friend posted a similar design online and I decided to give it a try. They turned out amazing. I appreciate the inspiration and check out her site, 3 Girls and A Cupcake for the most beautiful cupcakes!

Simple White Cake

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 tsps vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 tsps baking powder
1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and fill cupcake tins with baking liners.

2. Cream together butter and sugar.

3. Beat in one egg at a time. Add vanilla.

4. Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Mix into cream mixture.

5. Finally, beat in milk until smooth.

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Cupcake Papers

Once the cupcakes were cooled, I inserted a cream cheese filling into the centre of the cupcake. I then topped the cupcakes with my vanilla buttercream icing and sprinkles.

Cream Cheese Filling

Icing and Sprinkles

The North Pole toppers are easy to construct.

You will need:

- candy canes
- gumballs
- icing
- paper
- pen

Break the top off a cherry or peppermint candy cane and remove the plastic. Stick the candy canes into the cupcakes. Take the gumballs and add a dab of icing. Attach the gumball to the top of the candy cane (royal icing would work better for this if you have it available). For the sign, I actually purchased Wilton's Food Writers and flat mini white chocolate wafers. However, the Writers didn't show up dark enough on the white chocolate (which was very upsetting). So I had to improvise at 1 am. I simply used scrapbook paper and a pen to write North Pole. I then attached it to the candy cane with icing. This sign wasn't ideal since the icing left a stain, but sometimes your choices are limited. They still turned out beautiful and more importantly, they were delicious.

Filling

Very sad to say that my little helper, Buddy passed away a couple weeks ago. So this guy, Onyx has been staying up late with me to help clean up spills and trying to look cute for an extra cupcake :)

Minty Christmas Cupcakes

I also made these cupcakes for the Open House at my work. These are vanilla, marble, and chocolate cupcakes and they are served with a vanilla buttercream frosting. Finally, they are topped with sprinkles and mint candies. Simple, delicious, and one lady even referred to them as decadent :)

More Christmas and Holiday Treats are Coming...

 

 

 

 

Winterberry Christmas Cupcakes

My work had an Open House this weekend and my boss wanted cupcakes for the event. They are a mix of vanilla, marble, and chocolate cupcakes. They are topped with vanilla icing and fresh mixed berries. The berries are coated with a sugar mixture. They were simple and fresh :)

Dessert: Toblerone Caramel Cheesecake

Yum Yum Yum! I love Toblerone! There is something festive about them. I know they are sold year-round, but I seem to indulge in them during the Christmas season. I made this cheesecake for my grandma's birthday. She isn't big on cake so this was the perfect alternative. Its super easy to make, but you definitely need to be organized ahead of time for prep, cook time, cooling, and topping.




Toblerone Caramel Cheesecake

Recipe:

1 1/4 cup Oreo Baking Crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 pkgs cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
3 eggs
1/3 cup caramel topping
1 bar Toblerone, coarsely chopped

Recipe adapted from: Kraft Foods - What's Cooking 2010

Springform Pan

 

Kraft Foods - What's Cooking 2010

When the cheesecake cracks, it is ready.

 

Directions:

1. Mix together Oreo Baking Crumbs and melted butter. Press firmly into a springform pan.

2. Beat together softened cream cheese, brown sugar, and vanilla. Slowly beat in one egg at a time until completely smooth.

3. Pour cream cheese mixture over Oreo crust and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

4. Refrigerate for at least four hours.

5. Top with caramel topping and crushed Toblerone. Serve and Enjoy!