On The Menu: Easy Italian Cream Cake

This recipe may be cheating a little because it involves a boxed cake mix but I promise after you bake this cake that will not matter. This is easily my favorite cake I have ever made (and I have baked some great ones like this Chocolate Fudge Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate Ganache). I have baked this Easy Italian Cream Cake so many times including several times to give away as gifts.

Try this cake soon and let me know what you think.

Ingredients:
1 (16.25-ounce) package white cake mix
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup coconut flakes
2/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 (16 oz.) package powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Directions:
1. Mix the white cake mix, eggs, buttermilk, and vegetable oil together with an electric mixer at medium speed until well mixed. Stir in coconut and pecans. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
2. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
3. Make the frosting by beating the cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla and pecans.
4. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Chill 2 hours before slicing.

On The Menu: Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe for Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting is the perfect holiday recipe. These bars are easy to make and they smell and taste delicious. The warm spices make this gingerbread the perfect companion to a huge mug of hot chocolate. When I removed the pan from the oven I was worried my bars would be too hard but they had the perfect texture. I made mid-week and they had totally vanished within a couple days.

Ingredients:
½ cup butter, melted
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
⅓ cup molasses
1 egg
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese
¼ cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a 9×13″ baking pan and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and molasses.
4. Add egg and stir until completely incorporated.
5. Add baking soda, flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and salt and mix until well combined. Press dough evenly into the bottom of greased pan.
6. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes and let cool. Do not over cook.

Directions for Cream Cheese Frosting:
1. Cream butter and cream cheese together in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth and cream.
3. Frost the tops of cooled Gingerbread Cookie Bars.
4. Cut into squares and serve.
5. Garnish with a little nutmeg.

Recipe obtained from here.

Red Velvet Cake

After making red velvet whoopie pies. We decided to give a red velvet cake a try. This cake had a beautiful red color and a delicious taste.

Ingredients: 1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 ounces red food coloring
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon white vinegar

Directions:
1. Grease two 9 inch round pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine the buttermilk, salt, vanilla, and red food coloring. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, cream together the vegetable oil and sugar. 4. Beat in the eggs one at a time. 5. Stir in the cocoa. 6. Mix in the flour until just incorporated. 7. Add in the buttermilk mixture. 8. Stire together baking soda and vinegar, then gently fold into the cake batter.
9. Pour batter into prepared pans. 10. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the ceter of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Frosting Ingredients: 2 8oz. cream cheeses (at room temperature)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 cups confectioner's sugar

Directions for Frosting:
1. Cream the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar together. Beat in the the vanilla and heavy whipping cream.
2. Frost the cake.

Happy baking,
Sunny & Star