Chocolate Oreo Cookie Cake

My brother turned 25 in July and I made him this cake for his birthday.  It was really easy to put together and it looks really fancy.  It's definitely on my list of favorite cakes.  It was delicious; especially if you love Oreos like I do! 

Chocolate Oreo Cookie Cake
source: Sweet Treats and More (Click that link so you can see how awesome this cake looks)

 1 pkg chocolate cake mix
12 ounces milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup whipping cream or milk
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, soft
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups cool whip, thawed
12-14 Oreo cookies, crushed

Preheat oven to 350.

1.  Grease two 9 inch round cake pans and set aside.

2.   Prepare cake mix according to package directions and divide evenly into the two 9-inch round pans. Bake for directed time. 

3.  Cool cakes for 10 minutes before inverting onto cooling racks.

4.  Microwave chocolate chips and whipping cream in a small bowl on high for two minutes or until chocolate is melted (stir every 20 seconds).  Stir until completely melted then let cool for 5 minutes.

5.  Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Gently stir cool whip and crushed Oreos.  Reserve some of the crumbs to sprinkle on top of the cake.

6.  Place one cake layer on a cake plate, spread the cream cheese mixture then place the other cake layer on top.  Spread with the chocolate glaze.  You can cover the sides completely or just spread over the top and let the glaze kind of spill over the edges.

7.  Let stand 10 minutes and refrigerate until serving.

The BEST German Chocolate Cake

My entire family loves German Chocolate Cake.  Here's our favorite recipe for it.  I could seriously eat the entire cake by myself, it's SO good!

The BEST German Chocolate Cake

Cake:
Cooking Spray
2 cups flour
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup water
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla

Frosting:
3 egg yolks
1 cup evaporated milk, divided
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, cut into small pieces
1 1/3 cup flaked, sweetened coconut
1 cup chopped pecans

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 in baking pan with cooking spray.
2.  To prepare cake, sift flour, sugar, baking soda and salt into a large bowl. (I put it in my Kitchen aid mixer)
3.  In a small saucepan, combine butter, water and cocoa.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until butter melts and mixture comes to a simmer.
4.  Add cocoa mixture, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla to flour mixture; stir to combine. Pour into pan and bake 26-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Cook on wire rack.  Do not remove from pan.
5.  To prepare frosting, whisk egg yolks and about 1/3 cup milk in a saucepan.  Add remaining milk, vanilla and sugar.  Add butter; cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until it comes to a full boil.  Reduce heat to maintain boil and cook, stirring constantly, 7 minutes or until thick.  Remove from heat and stir in coconut and pecans.  Cool, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to spread.
6.  Spread frosting over top of cake.  Serves 16.

Kit Kat Cake

I made this cake for Tyler's birthday and he LOVED it! It's so easy to make and it looks so fun!

All it is is a chocolate two layer cake that I frosted with Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Frosting. I love that frosting, but I can't get that cake recipe to work for the life of me. I've vowed never to try it again. It is delicious and it works when my sister makes it. It irritates me...anyway...then just put Kit Kats (I used almost 3 of the fun size 8 packs) around it (in two's) and top with M&M's. Tyler wanted the peanut butter ones and I must say they were a really good combo. Tie a bow around the cake and viola! A cute and way easy cake!

Churro Cake

I found this recipe in blogland somewhere and thought it sounded good and different. It wasn't just good, it was AMAZING! I can't wait to make it again!

Churro Cake

1 yellow cake mix
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs
1 small instant vanilla pudding
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup water
3 Tbsp. flour

Mix all ingredients together until the batter is fully mixed and no longer lumpy. HEAVILY grease bundt pan. Mix 1 1/2 cup sugar with cinnamon (I don't have a measurement, just until it looks like you'd want to put it on your toast). Pour about 1/4 cup of cinnamon and sugar mixture into the bundt pan. Move it around until the pan is coated in the mixture. Pour 1/3 of the batter in the pan. Add a thick layer of the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Pour 1/3 of the batter in the pan . Add another thick layer of the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Pour the last of the cake batter into the pan. Add another thick layer of the cinnamon and sugar mixture to the top of the cake. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

90 second cake

If you like those "Warm Delights" this is the same thing for a fraction of the cost. Having a cake ready in 90 seconds is very dangerous for me!

90 second cake

2/3 cup chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup water
Hot fudge or caramel

Mix cake mix and water in large cereal type bowl till it's no longer lumpy. Add some piles of hot fudge and/or caramel on top of the mix. Microwave for 90 seconds. If it still looks wet on top, add another 15-30 seconds until it's dry. Let sit for several minutes to cool. It's pretty big so plan on sharing! Delish!

Chocolate Lover's Cake

This recipe is for the true chocolate lover! Like me! I love it!

1 chocolate cake mix (Dry--don't make it according to directions on the box)
1 small instant chocolate pudding mix
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
½ cup water
½ cup vegetable oil
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Place all ingredients except chocolate chips, in a large mixing bowl. Blend with electric mixer for 1 minute. Stir down sides. Continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Batter will be very thick. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into greased and floured bundt pan or a 9x13 pan.

Bake 45-50 minutes at 350. Cool 20 minutes. If making a bundt cake, invert onto serving platter.

This cake is delicious without the frosting, but if you're making it as a bundt cake, it makes the presentation of the cake so much prettier. So I recommend it for the bundt cake for sure!

Frosting:
8 Tbsp butter (not margarine)
4 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup evaporated milk
4 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat. Whisk in cocoa and milk. Bring mixture just to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar with electric mixer until thickened and smooth. Pour warm frosting over warm cake. This recipe makes a lot of frosting.

Frosted Zucchini Brownies

Thanks to my in-laws garden, I've had lots of zucchini lately. Usually, I just make bread and freeze most of it, but today I tried this brownie recipe. Nothing beats a good brownie and holy cow, these are soooooooo yummy! The zucchini keeps it so moist and good! I will be making this recipe again and again!

Frosted Zucchini Brownies

1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini
2 cups flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1 1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Whisk sugar, oil, vanilla and zucchini till blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spread into a greased 9x13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. When cool, frost with chocolate frosting.

Frosting:
3 Tbsp melted butter
2 Tbsp cocoa
2 cups powdered sugar
2-3 Tbsp buttermilk or milk
dash of salt
1 tsp vanilla

Stir together butter and cocoa till smooth. Beat in remaining ingredients, adding milk till it's the right consistency.

Note:
--If you're worried that you can taste the zucchini, don't be. I told my dad that there was a secret ingredient in them and he never did figure out what it was. He just knew he loved them! I didn't even peel the zucchini, but you could if you wanted to.

--There are no eggs in this recipe.

Mud Pie

I can't believe I've never posted this recipe. This is my family's very favorite dessert! Every year, my dad, brother and I request this for our birthday cake! If you are an ice cream lover, you will absolutely love this recipe!!!

1 package Oreo's
1/4 cup margarine, melted
1/2 gallon ice cream, softened (any flavor) Our favs are: Mint chocolate chip, chocolate chip, cookies and cream, etc. Be creative!
1 jar Hot Fudge topping (NOT chocolate syrup)
8 oz. Cool Whip, softened (Sometimes you can find chocolate Cool Whip!)

Crush 26 Oreo's (centers too) and mix with melted margarine. Press into 9x13 cake pan. Freeze 20 minutes. Spread softened ice cream over crust. Freeze 20 minutes. Heat hot fudge in microwave for about 30-45 seconds. Spread evenly over ice cream. Freeze 20 minutes. Next, spread softened Cool Whip over hot fudge layer. Crush a couple remaining Oreo's (without centers) and sprinkle evenly on top of Cool Whip layer. Freeze for at least a few hours before serving. Remove about 10-15 minutes before serving. ENJOY!

Jello Poke Cake

When it's 100 degrees outside, sometimes I like a dessert that isn't chocolate. Don't worry, that's only if it's 100 degrees outside! I made this cake a few days ago and it's so cool and refreshing! Yummy in the hot summer!

1 white cake mix (made according to box directions)
2 cups boiling water
1 small box of raspberry Jello (or any other flavor)
Cool Whip

After cake is cool, add Jello mix to boiling water. Stir until combined. Poke holes in cake (all the way to the bottom) with the end of a wooden spoon about 1 inch apart. Spoon Jello mixture on cake, especially in the holes. Chill for a couple hours and then frost with Cool Whip.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake

I got this recipe from my ward cookbook. I LOVE ward cookbooks! This cake is so moist and delicious! I will definitely be making this over and over again. You must try it!

1 3/4 c. boiling water
1 c. oatmeal
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. cocoa
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. chopped walnuts (I used 1/2 cup)

Add oatmeal to boiling water. Let stand for 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, except for chocolate chips and nuts, to oatmeal. Pour into greased 9x13 cake pan. Sprinkle chips and walnuts on top of unbaked cake. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Skor Cake

Okay, this is going to be my last "Sweet Treat" recipe for awhile. My hips are starting to rebel against me! We had this cake for Tyler's birthday last week. I haven't made it for a really long time and I forgot how good it is!

Skor Cake

1 chocolate cake mix (make according to package directions in a 9x13 in pan)
1/2 can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 jar of caramel ice cream topping
8 oz. Cool Whip
3 Skor bars, Butterfingers, or Heath bars (crushed--just hit it with the rolling pin a few times)

After you have baked the cake and let it cool, use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake, about an inch apart. Don't poke the hole all the way to the bottom or the cake will get soggy. Mix the sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce together in a saucepan until warm. Slowly pour sauce over the cake, trying to get most of the sauce into the holes. Sprinkle with half of the candy bars. Spread Cool Whip over the top. Refrigerate for at least a few hours before serving. Sprinkle remaining candy bars on top before serving.

This cake tastes best the next day...if you can wait that long!

Daisy Cupcakes

For Katelyn's birthday, I made daisy cupcakes. They were a cinch to make and looked really cute on a cupcake stand.

Make your cupcakes however you normally would. I used a chocolate cake mix to make it look like dirt. When completely cool, frost them. I used white frosting with green food coloring.

Now for the petals...take a large marshmallow and cut it into thirds with sharp kitchen scissors. Put the marshmallows sticky side up and sprinkle with sprinkles. Whatever kind you like. I think the Non Pareils look the best, but that's just my opinion.

Now, put a yellow DOT gumdrop candy in the center of the cupcake for the center and arrange the petals around it. You can use four or five petals. Either way looks good. Now you're done and have an easy and cute party treat!

King Cake

I made this cake for Alex's 2nd birthday, since his birthday is close to Marti Gras. My old college roommate (who's from Louisiana) made this for us one year, and I loved it! Alex's cake turned out pretty good, but I undercooked it a little. It was a little doughy. But it's fun to make. Be sure to include the baby!

King Cake

• 2 envelopes active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
• 5 large egg yolks, at room temperature
• 4 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
• 4 cups confectioner's sugar
• 1 plastic king cake baby or a pecan half
• 5 tablespoons milk, at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Purple-, green-, and gold-tinted sugar sprinkles

Combine the yeast and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the melted butter and warm milk. Beat at low speed for 1 minute. With the mixer running, add the egg yolks, then beat for 1 minute at medium-low speed. Add the flour, salt, nutmeg, and lemon zest and beat until everything is incorporated. Increase the speed to high and beat until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, forms a ball, and starts to climb up the dough hook. If the dough is uncooperative in coming together, add a bit of warm water (110 degrees), a tablespoon at a time, until it does.

Remove the dough from the bowl. Using your hands, form the dough into a smooth ball. Lightly oil a bowl with the vegetable oil. Place the dough in the bowl and turn it to oil all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Meanwhile, make the filling. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and 1 cup of the confectioner's sugar. Blend by hand or with an electric mixer on low speed. Set aside.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Using your fingers, pat it out into a rectangle about 30 inches long and 6 inches wide.

Spread the filling lengthwise over the bottom half of the dough, then flip the top half of the dough over the filling. Seal the edges, pinching the dough together. Shape the dough into a cylinder and place it on the prepared baking sheet seam side down. Shape the dough into a ring and pinch the ends together so there isn't a seam. Insert the king cake baby or pecan half into the ring from the bottom so that it is completely hidden by the dough.

Cover the ring with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm, draft-free place. Let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F.

Brush the top of the risen cake with 2 tablespoons of the milk. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Make the icing. Combine the remaining 3 tablespoons milk, the lemon juice, and the remaining 3 cups confectioner's sugar in medium-size mixing bowl. Stir to blend well. With a rubber spatula, spread the icing evenly over the top of the cake. Sprinkle with the sugar crystals, alternating colors around the cake.

The cake is traditionally cut into 2-inch-thick slices with all the guests in attendance.

Pumpkin Squares

Here you go Sis, they are yummy!

16 oz. can pumpkin

2 cups sugar

1 cup veg. oil

4 eggs, slightly beaten

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

Beat pumpkin, sugar and oil together. Add egg, mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; add to pumpkin mixture and beat until well blended. Pour into greased 15 x 10 x 1 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes. Cool.

Frosting:

5 oz. cream cheese (softened)
5 T. butter or margarine (softened)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cup or more powdered sugar
3-4 tsp. milk

Beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually add sugar and mix well. Add milk until desired consistency. Frost and sprinkle with chopped nuts, if desired.