Hummingbird (Cup)Cakes

Hummingbird (Cup)Cakes

 

My friend Sarah shared her Hummingbird Cake recipe with me so I decided to try it for Easter.

Instead of a cake, though, I made cupcakes.

 

They were delicious and really moist.

 

Along with a gorgeous carrot cake and a cheese cake, we had great Easter desserts.

 

Mix together oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.  Then add in baking soda, cinnamon, flour and salt.

 

Finally, stir in diced bananas, crushed pineapple with its juice, coconut, and chopped pecans.

 

 

Combine well.  This recipe makes either 3 cake layers or 36 cupcakes.

The layers should cook for 25 minutes at 350*.  I cooked the cupcakes for about 18 minutes.

We made cream cheese frosting by beating cream cheese and butter together, then adding powdered sugar and vanilla.

 

Brennan frosted the cupcakes for me which was a big help.

 

So yummy!

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Enjoy!

 

Peeps Cake

Peeps Cake from Cake Central

I saw this Easter cake on Pinterest and decided to make it for Easter!

The cake comes from Kayleesgrammy on Cake Central.

I made a Duncan Hines Orange Supreme cake and frosted it with Classic White frosting.

Decorated with Bunny Peeps, and topped with Easter M-n-M's.

I made the mistake of frosting and covering my cake the night before I decorated. 

Then the Bunnies wouldn't adhere. 

I recommend decorating with the Bunnies immediately after frosting. 

I ended up purchasing another tub of frosting to stick the Bunnies on.

It worked fine!

Waaaay too sweet for me, but the kids at our Easter dinner liked it!

I had never tried the Orange Supreme cake mix before - it was good. 

I think it would be good with crushed pineapple.

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Happy Easter!



Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake

Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake

I'm not a big cake person, or a baker really, but I was so excited to make this cake.

I have had it a few times and really liked it.

It's so moist and rich, and is truly Southern.

I pinned this recipe (on Pinterest) a few weeks ago, originally from May Flaum at her blog.

I modified it slightly.

David asked me early last week if I would make a dessert for a board Christmas party he was attending.

Perfect time to try this out!

You start by mixing dry ingredients in a bowl and then cooking the butter, cocoa powder, Coke, and milk over medium-high heat.

Then you mix the two together and add eggs and vanilla.

Bake in a greased 9x13 pan at 350* for 30 minutes.

While the cake is baking, you bake a glaze on medium heat - butter, cocoa, and more Coke.

You remove it from the stove top and add confectioner's sugar until it's dissolved.

Then pour it right onto the piping hot cake!



You can serve the cake hot, at room temperature, or chilled.

It's all fantastic!

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Enjoy!



Christmas Cake

Mama's Christmas Cake

This is a cake that my mom has made many times over the years.

I was pleased to learn that it wasn't that hard to assemble, and it makes quite an impression.

I made it for my international cooking club a couple of years ago and they were thrilled to learn to make something so unique for the holidays!

I served it at our Wine Club dinner Sunday night, and I got several "oohs" and "it's lovely!".

Start by laying a piece of wax paper on a 15x10 pan and then spraying Pam on the wax paper.

Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.

In the mixer beat eggs until thick, then add sugar and beat on high for 5 minutes until thick and creamy.  Add orange juice and combine, then add in flour mixture.

Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly.  Bake at 375 for 12 minutes.

Lay a clean dish towel on the countertop and sprinkle it with confectioner's sugar.

Remove the pan from the oven and invert it onto the towel.

Remove the wax paper and cut off 1/4 inch around all sides of the cake.

Feed the "cake strips" to your hungry helper.

Roll up the cake and towel and allow to cool completely.

Drain the cherries well.

Combine heavy cream and confectioner's sugar in a mixer and beat on high until thick and creamy.  Stir in vanilla.

Unroll the cake and spread half the whipped cream onto the cake and all but 3 of the cherries.

Twice I've forgotten to hold back 3 cherries and kicked myself.

 Note: You'll notice I didn't spread half the whipped cream on the cake because I was afraid I wouldn't have enough leftover to frost the cake. Fear not! You'll have plenty, so use 1/2!

Then roll the cake back up and place, seam down, on your serving platter.

Then frost with remaining whipped cream and garnish with the remaining 3 cherries and holly leaves from your front yard :)

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Happy Holidays!



Pecan Tarts

Pride & Prejudice Party

Pecan Tarts

This is my third recipe to share from my Pride and Prejudice book club get together.

I chose recipes that were typical of Austen's time.

I've already shared my Cucumber Tea Sandwiches and Cranberry Orange Scones.

Next up - Pecan Tarts.

Tarts are mentioned in Austen's novels and I had never made them from scratch.

I found this highly reviewed recipe on allrecipes.com and decided to attempt it.

It was easy and the tarts were delicious.

The tart crust is made by combining cream cheese, butter, flour and salt.

It's chilled and then the crust is pressed into mini-muffin cups.

This recipe makes 21 tarts.

Then the filling is made by combining a beaten egg with dark brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract and pecans.

The tarts are filled and baked at 325* for 25-30 minutes.

After taking my photos I topped them with half maraschino cherries to serve.

They were really yummy.

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Thank you Jane!



Super Easy Glazed Rum Cake

Easy Glazed Rum Cake

Last night we had two get-togethers and I volunteered at the school all day.

I wasn't sure when I was going to make a dish to take to each, so I chose two easy "recipes" that were delicious, but didn't add any stress to my day.

To the first wine and appetizers get-together I was asked to bring something sweet.

So I picked up a rum cake at the grocery store and made my own glaze.

The glaze is easy - you boil sugar, water, and butter for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in rum.

I drizzled it over the cake in the package and let it sit about an hour.

Then I sliced it so it would be easy for people at the party to pick up.

Plus, I wanted to give a couple of slices to the boys before we left (sans glaze, of course).

I make a real Rum Cake at the holidays and it's delicious.

But this one was perfect for an evening with friends on a day when I couldn't bake.

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Enjoy!



Coconut Cake

Mamaw's Coconut Cake

My grandmother is famous for her coconut cake.
She makes them at holidays, for church functions, and for many, many families.
I was really happy when she shared her recipe with me.

Thomas and Mamaw a couple of years ago

You bake a yellow cake mix according to the package directions.
While that's baking you mix sour cream (I use light) and sugar and dab a little on the cake plate to anchor the cake.

Once the cake has cooled, slice the layers in half, making 4 layers.

Layer the cake on the cake plate. 

In between each of the layers spread a thin layer of the sour cream/sugar mixture and sprinkle with coconut.

Whip the whipping cream until thick and add to remaining sour cream mixture and coconut.

Frost the cake.

What a mess at first!

Once the cake is frosted, refrigerate it for an hour.

Then remove and touch up the frosting and clean up your plate.

While not part of the original recipe, I topped mine with strawberries and served with extra sliced strawberries.  A huge hit!

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Enjoy!