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I’m MARRIED!!! (plus a great recipe for fondant…)

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Ruthanne

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My last post here was two years ago yesterday. I was beginning to feel like creating content for this site was work instead of joy, and a hobby should always bring joy! I’ve just started to feel like I miss creating and sharing recipes though, so I am back, checking in with you all, and hoping to share new things here again- maybe a little less frequently than my usual one time per week though!

So… a lot has happened in these two years! Just after I posted my last recipe here, I began walking every morning with a friend I’d known for about 8 years named Nick. We walked all that fall, winter and spring and became really close friends. Last summer he asked if I’d be interested in dating (which I was!), in December he proposed, and we were married 5 months ago! It is such a wonderful thing to have someone to walk life with. He is an incredible man, and I’m so thankful that God brought us together!

Plus he loves desserts as much (maybe more!) than I do!

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So obviously our wedding cake was a really important element of our wedding! My dear friends Megan and Wendy Davis from Happily Ever After Cakes did our cake and it was incredible on several levels.

First: They live almost 10 hours away. They made the cakes, drove them cross-country and assembled them here.

Second: Our wedding theme was confetti, and they matched our colors perfectly in fondant.

Third: It was a 5 layer cake- and each layer was a different flavor with a different filling. And all of the flavors were epic. I tried them all (of course!)

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Wendy and Megan make delicious cake (top secret recipe) and amazing fillings, but what puts their cakes over the top is their made-from-scratch fondant. I usually want to peel fondant off to get rid of it- but not this. It’s soft, and sweet, and absolutely delicious.

Megan shared their recipe with me on a visit several years ago, and I posted about it here. I thought it was worth a second share though- just in case you missed it the 1st time, so here you go: (printer-friendly recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 cups mini marshmallows (half of a 16 oz. bag)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar- plus a little for dusting.
  • 2 tsp water
  • 1/2 teaspoon of clear vanilla
  • gel colors to color fondant as desired

DIRECTIONS:

  • Place your mini marshmallows and water into a large mixing bowl and microwave on high for about one minute- until they are puffy and melted.
  • Stir them together with a rubber spatula until they are completely smooth (if not melted completely, put them back in the microwave on high for 5-10 seconds).
  • Add clear vanilla and mix well.
  • Add about 1/4 of the powdered sugar, stir until smooth, add another 1/4 and stir.  It will become difficult to stir and very sticky.
  • Pour the rest of the powdered sugar onto a clean counter or cutting board.
  • Scrape the sticky fondant mixture out of the bowl and onto the powdered sugar and begin to knead it together with clean (powder sugar coated!) hands.  It will gradually become like a smooth clay consistency.  Use a metal scraper to keep it from sticking to the counter/ board.
  • This can now be colored with gel, rolled out and cut, or stored (tightly wrapped) in the fridge for about one week.  
  • Have your cupcakes or cake all made and cooled.
  • Make enough fondant to cover your item(s).  Here is a great chart by Wilton to help you determine how much you’ll need for various projects.
  • Make up some  thick buttercream icing (recipe here) and you are ready to go!

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My thoughts: YAY! It is fun to be at a place where I can jump back into sharing my ideas here again. I’ve missed you all! Until the next recipe….

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Enjoy!

 

 

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Dark Chocolate Almond Bites

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Ruthanne

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These little clusters of almond, coconut and dark chocolate will satisfy your sweet tooth without wrecking your diet!

I’ve been trying to eat healthier this year, and so far I’m doing really well (even with a baking blog!). My friend Laura and I walk each day and when we do we talk a lot about things we crave that could be made healthier. She was telling me that she craves chocolate so much that she takes a few dark chocolate chips and adds some almonds for a snack each night. I was in the process of making some coconut cut-out cookies and I had extra toasted coconut. We started brainstorming ways to make a cookie with relatively low calories and carbs. This is the result 🙂 They are delicious (!!) and as far as I can tell, they are about 85 calories each and 6 carbs. Which is perfect. Just perfect.

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They aren’t very pretty- but who needs pretty when you can have yummy and relatively healthy? 🙂

Here’s how we made them: (printable recipe here)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup of toasted coconut (buy it toasted, or toast your own…)
  • 1 cup of lightly salted, roasted almonds
  • 2 plain rice cakes
  • 1 cup of dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

  • Place toasted coconut and almonds in a food chopper and chop to small pieces. Place in a mixing bowl.
  • Crumble up the 2 rice cakes into very small pieces and add to bowl.
  • Melt chocolate chips, and pour them over the top of mixture. 
  • Stir until well-blended and then use a medium cookie scoop to spoon out evenly-sized cookies onto a parchment paper- covered cookie sheet. (My batch made 22, and calories and carbs were calculated accordingly.)
  • Place cookie sheet in refrigerator until cookies harden up. Enjoy! 

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My thoughts: These are really, really good. I bagged mine up in individual cello bags and tied them shut with a twist tie. That way, I wasn’t tempted to eat more than one at a time! These are a perfect “gotta have some chocolate” treat. Lots of protein from the nuts, healthy oils from the coconut, and a little bit of crunch from the rice cakes. Enjoy! ~r

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Other yummy (slightly less healthy!) cookie recipes here at Easybaked (click on a photo to see the recipe):

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Seashell Oreo Pops!

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Ruthanne

Turn your Oreos into a celebration at the beach! Sand Dollars, Sea Scallops and cute little fish. So much delicious fun!

 

There’s just something about the beach that makes my heart happy! Have you ever been to Sanibel Island in Florida? It’s right by Fort Meyers. Growing up, our family spent nearly every Thanksgiving at a little condo on the beach there. They have some of the best seashell hunting in North America. As a little girl, I had a shell identification book and a big pail, and I spent hours and hours combing the beach for shells. Sand dollars were one of my favorites!

This past spring, I used chocolate covered sunflower seeds in several projects, and thought about how much they remind me of the little centers of sand dollars. So I had to try! I also made some sea scallops using…wait for it… Wheat Thin crackers to make those little shell points (and they are a super yummy salty-sweet combo!) 🙂

 

Here is how we made these little Oreo pops:

Fish Oreo Pops are from an earlier recipe here on Easybaked. You can find them by clicking here.

These were featured in our cookbook for kids, Life Is Sweet: 12 Baking Devotions for Kids.

Sand Dollars:

Ingredients: (makes about 24 pops)

  • One package of Double Stuff Oreos
  • 2 (12 oz.) bags of Wiltons Candy Melts in white
  • Chocolate covered sunflower seeds (I used blue)
  • 24 Lollipop sticks
  • Small pearl decorating sprinkles
  • Small treat bags and ribbon, if you want to package them up to give away.

Directions: (Need a little visual help?  Click here.)

  • Carefully twist apart all Oreo cookies.  Do this slowly and gently- and expect that some will break. 
  • Melt about 1/4 cup white candy melts using a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until completely melted and smooth.
  • Use a lollipop stick to make an indentation in the white filling of an Oreo.
  • Dip the end of the stick into the candy melts, spread a little on top of the white filling and then press the stick into the indentation.
  • Place the top of the Oreo back on and allow the candy melts to harden and cement the cookie back together with the stick inside. I like to stick these in the freezer to get nice and hard.
  • While you wait, melt your remaining white candy melts in the same manner as previously.
  • Once the cookies are firmly hardened back together, pick one up (using the stick) and dip it into the bowl of white candy melts. 
  • Spoon candy melts over the top and sides.
  • Gently lift the Oreo out of the candy melts, and tap the stick on the side of the bowl to allow the excess melts to drip off.
  • Slide the bottom of the Oreo against the edge of the bowl to remove excess candy melts.
  • Gently set the coated Oreo on clean parchment or wax paper.
  • Immediately, set the sunflower seeds as shown at the center of the cookie.
  • Place pearl sprinkles as shown, between sunflower seeds.
  • Serve as-is, or package up for giving away by sliding each cookie into a little treat bag and tying with a ribbon.

Scallops: 

Ingredients: (makes about 24 pops)

  • One package of Double Stuff Oreos
  • 3-4 (12 oz.) bags of Wiltons Candy Melts in various colors
  • A few wheat thin crackers
  • 24 Lollipop sticks
  • A toothpick to pull through colors and make design.
  • Small treat bags and ribbon, if you want to package them up to give away.

Directions: (Need a little visual help?  Click here.)

  • Carefully twist apart all Oreo cookies.  Do this slowly and gently- and expect that some will break. 
  • Melt about 1/4 cup candy melts (any color) using a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until completely melted and smooth.
  • Use a lollipop stick to make an indentation in the white filling of an Oreo.
  • Dip the end of the stick into the candy melts, spread a little on top of the white filling and then press the stick into the indentation.
  • Set 1/2 of a Wheat thin cracker on top of candy melts at the top (so just the points poke out when the top is back on).

  

  • Place the top of the Oreo back on and allow the candy melts to harden and cement the cookie back together with the stick inside. I like to stick these in the freezer to get nice and hard.
  • While you wait, pick your “main color” and melt those candy melts in the same manner as previously.
  • Also melt smaller amounts of two to three other colors. Spoon these into zip top bags and seal them up. Wrap them in a warm towel to keep them melted and smooth.
  • Once the cookies are firmly hardened back together (about 10 minutes in a freezer), pick one up (using the stick) and dip it into the bowl of candy melts. 
  • Spoon candy melts over the top and sides.
  • Gently lift the Oreo out of the candy melts, and tap the stick on the side of the bowl to allow the excess melts to drip off.
  • Slide the bottom of the Oreo against the edge of the bowl to remove excess candy melts.
  • Gently set the coated Oreo on clean parchment or wax paper.
  • Immediately, clip a corner off a bag of colored candy melts and pipe a couple curved lines on top of Oreo. 
  • Repeat these lines with other colors and then place bags back inside warm towel. 
  • Use a toothpick to pull lines up from the bottom through these colors (see photos)

  

  • Sprinkle with a little gold sugar and add a candy pearl if you want.
  • Repeat this process with remaining Oreos. You may need to repeat the melting process for the  small bags of colors. If you need to do this, try making one of these colors your “main” color and decorating with the others!
  • Serve as-is, or package up for giving away by sliding each cookie into a little treat bag and tying with a ribbon.
  • ENJOY!

My thoughts: I experimented a little with the sand dollars. I had some butterscotch candy melts that I used with brown sunflower seeds- they are cute too- but I love the white ones best! I was really happy with how these turned out, and they really aren’t too difficult to put together- especially if you have made Oreo pops before. I hope you get a chance to try these for your next beach party! Happy summer to you!!!!  ~r

Other fun beach- themed ideas here at Easybaked (click on a photo to see a recipe):

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White Chocolate Lemonade Cups

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Ruthanne

Creamy, whipped, lemonade filling spooned into cute little white chocolate cups! A fun, fancy and delicious summer dessert!

Did you know that there are silicone molds for little shot glasses?!? You would think I’d have seen these somewhere along my road of dessert blogging, but I hadn’t. I stumbled on a clearance rack full of them and lightbulbs started going on in my head with ideas for fun ways to use this mold! SUCH a fun idea!

Aren’t they cute?!? I made my cups out of white chocolate and then filled these with a creamy lemonade filling that I use quite a bit here for various desserts. You can eat it straight (I may have sampled a bit as I was filling cups…), pipe it on cupcakes, layer it in cake, ooooorrrr serve it in tasty little chocolate cups! Fun….!!!!!

Here is how we made them (makes 8- 10 filled cups): (printable recipe here)

First of all, you need a Wilton’s shot glass mold (and if you get it from my link on Amazon I will get a small percentage of what you pay, making it possible for me to buy brownie ingredients, which is the next fun project I have in mind for these shot glass molds!)

INGREDIENTS: 

  • 2 bags of Wilton’s Candy Melts in bright white.
  • 1/2 package (4 oz) of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temperature)
  • 1/2 packet of Kool Aid drink mix (any flavor~ if you use a lemonade, add it to taste, as it will be more tart than the other flavors)
  • 1 (7 oz) jar of Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
  • 1 tub (8 oz) of Cool Whip (thawed in refrigerator, divided)
  • Fun sprinkles

DIRECTIONS:

  • Melt Candy Melts in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until melted and smooth.
  • If desired, drop a few sprinkles into each cavity of the mold (that is how I got the colors at the rim of the “glass”).
  • Carefully spoon melted white chocolate into molds (I placed the melts in a zip-top bag, zipped it shut tight, clipped a corner and piped it into the molds to make sure I got it all the way to the bottom without bubbles). 
  • Tap on countertop and set (level!) in freezer for 10-15 minutes until hard.
  • Pop cups out of molds and set aside. 
  • While cups are hardening, make filling by creaming together lemonade/other unsweetened drink mix flavor with cream cheese.
  • Fold in marshmallow and then fold in 1/2 of Cool Whip until smooth.
  • You could spoon this into the little cups, but I piped the filling in (again- to make it easy to get all the way to the bottom of each cup). 

  • Spoon remainder of Cool Whip into a zip-top bag that has been fitted with a large decorating tip. Zip it tightly shut and pipe swirls on top of each cup. 
  • Add sprinkles (and I added a little bit of a straw to each one too, because….soooo cute! 🙂
  • Enjoy!

My thoughts: These are such a fun idea for showers and other celebrations that call for something unique and yet yummy! You’ll want to keep these refrigerated (cream cheese and Cool Whip) until you serve them, but pull them out and let them soften up before serving (the chocolate is really yummy to break apart and eat with the cream!!!) Enjoy! ~r

Other mini- desserts that are party-perfect! (click on a photo to see the recipe)

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Lemony Ginger Snap Cups

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Ruthanne

Creamy lemon pie inside of a chewy gingersnap cookie cup! A perfect summer treat!

I am usually several week to months ahead in this blog. In January I am thinking about Easter, at Halloween I am baking Christmas cookies. But today- I am behind! Goodness, I’ve had such a busy spring and summer. I was 2 months ahead and now I’ve got nothing planned for the coming weeks. All that to say- I needed something SO easy and quick this week. These are a perfect recipe for easy and quick! 🙂

They don’t LOOK easy and quick- but 30 minutes, including baking time, is all you’ll need! Love it!

Here’s how we made them: (printable recipe here)

INGREDIENTS: 

  • One tube of refrigerated sugar cookie dough
  • About 3 cups of gingersnaps cookies (you’ll need 2 cups of them crushed)
  • One can of lemon pie filling
  • One container of Cool Whip (or make your own whipped cream if you prefer)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.
  • In a large mixing bowl, use clean hand to knead together 1 and 1/2 cups of cookie crumbs with the refrigerated cookie dough. 
  • Divide evenly into 12 muffin tins and press into bottom. 
  • Bake for 16- 20 minutes.
  • Use a tart shaper or a wooden spoon to press the centers in, forming a cookie cup (photo below is from an earlier cookie cup recipe, but shows how you should shape the cups. It is easier if you shape them in the tin and allow them to cool, which is not what the photo shows- sorry!).
  • Allow cup to cool completely and use a small knife to pop each cookie cup out of the tin.
  • Spoon or pipe lemon pie filling into each cookie cup.

  

  • Top with cool whip (I used a zip-top bag, fitted with a piping tip, to pipe mine on in swirls). 
  • Sprinkle remaining crumbs on tops. 
  • Keep  covered and refrigerated until serving. 
  • Enjoy!

My thoughts: Easy and delicious! The ginger snap crust is a perfect combination with that lemon filling! Delicious summer flavor combination. I hope you get a chance to try these!!  Enjoy! ~r

Other fun summer recipes on Easybaked (click on a photo to see the recipe):

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Honeycomb Oreo Pops- with Bees!

Posted on July 2, 2017 by Ruthanne

Adorable Honeybee Oreo Pops are sure to make your summer picnics more fun!!!

There is something so fun about using bees and honeycomb as a dessert decoration. I originally wanted to use a chocolate transfer with a honeycomb design on these- but I couldn’t find the transfers available in the states (except for in bulk- which I definitely did NOT need!). I decided to experiment with bubble wrap instead and they turned out SO cute. Goodness- I love these. When I gave them away to friends they all asked how I made the honeycomb. I thought it would be obvious that I’d used bubble wrap, but all they could see was the honeycomb until I explained.

These are maybe one of the easiest Oreo pops I’ve done. You really need to try them!

Here’s how we made them: (printable recipe here)

(If you have never made Oreo Pops before, check out our tutorial here.)

INGREDIENTS: (makes about 24 pops)

  • One package of Double Stuff Oreos
  • 2 bags of Wilton’s candy melts in yellow
  • 1/4 cup of Wilton’s candy melts in white
  • Candy bees (I got mine here)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Gently twist apart all Oreos.
  • Melt white candy melts in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until melted and smooth.
  • Dip end of a lollipop stick into the white chocolate, spread a little on the top of the white Oreo filling and then press the stick flat into the center of the filling.
  • Place top of Oreo on, and set on a cookie sheet. When all Oreos have sticks inserted, pop these in the freezer for 15-20 minutes (until they are nice and firmly set).
  • While these chill, cut bubble wrap (try to find a small bubble variety- I used 1/8″ bubbles) into squares just big enough to cover the top of an Oreo.
  • Melt yellow candy melts in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until melted and smooth.
  • Spoon yellow melts over the top of each chilled Oreo pop, making sure all sides are completely covered. Tap stick against side of bowl to remove excess candy melts and slide bottom against edge of bowl to take excess off.
  • Set coated pop on a sheet of parchment paper and gently press bubble wrap on top.

  • Repeat this with all Oreo pops and allow candy melts to harden completely (refrigerate to speed process up)
  • Gently peel bubble wrap off top of Oreo (I thought it might pop and leave plastic behind, but it came off perfectly!)
  • Use remaining candy melts to “glue” a bee on top. Simply use a toothpick or small knife to wipe a bit of melted yellow candy on the back of a candy bee, and set it on top. Allow this to harden. 

  • Place each Oreo into a little cello bag, and tie with ribbon for a cute summer treat that will keep for weeks in a cool place! ENJOY!!!!

My thoughts: SO FUN!!!!  Oreo pops are always fun- no matter what they are decorated with- but these Oreo pops are just especially cute! Goodness. I love them! Perfect for the end of a picnic or for a honeybee themed party! I hope you get a chance to try these out! Enjoy! ~r

Like cute bugs? We have a few recipes here for your summer insect enjoyment 🙂 (click on a photo to see the recipe)

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Fireworks Tart!

Posted on June 24, 2017 by Ruthanne

A dense chocolate brownie topped with creamy mint filling and a layer of rich fudge- these are the perfect finish to your July 4th cookout!

I’ve been sharing recipes on this blog for several years now, and there are just some recipes that I want everyone to try. These mint brownies are a recipe from my mom and I keep re-making them into different forms because they are just SO GOOD! I’ve filled them with mint, caramel, cookie dough, coconut, praline, candy cane, irish cream, and peanut butter. Just last Halloween I made the recipe into a spiderweb striped tart that was SO fun, and I decided it needed to be remade in patriotic colors for July this year!

Fun- right? And honestly- soooo yummy!

Here is how we made it: (printable recipe is here)

INGREDIENTS:

Brownie:

  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 tablespoons of dark cocoa powder (try to use dark- it makes it easier to color the brownie black)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2/3 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • Food coloring gel in black

Mint filling: (this makes a little more than you need- but makes certain you have enough of each color)

  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 8 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoons mint extract
  • Food coloring gel in red, white and blue

Chocolate glaze/fireworks:

  • 1 cup of dark chocolate chips (again, use dark so it is easier to color black)
  • 6 tablespoon of butter
  • Food coloring gel in black
  • About 1/8 cup of Wilton’s candy melts in each color: red, white, and blue

DIRECTIONS:

NOTE: Throughout this recipe, be careful when moving the tart pan, as holding it from the bottom will cause the edges to slide off. I usually keep tarts on a cookie sheet when I bake and decorate them- I took this one off (very carefully!) so I could photograph the process for you.

Brownie:

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Cream butter and sugar together. 
  • Beat in eggs, cocoa, vanilla and salt.
  • Add flour and milk (alternating them and mixing well in between)
  • Add black food coloring gel until batter is a dark almost-black color.
  • Spread evenly in 9 inch tart pan that has been set on a cookie sheet.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Cool completely.

Mint filling:

  • Melt butter and add to powdered sugar. 
  • Add extract.
  • Mix well, using water to bring it to a thick but spreadable consistency.
  • Divide filling into three bowls and mix in gel food coloring until you get a desired shade of blue and red. I also added a bit of white coloring to brighten up the natural color of the filling- but you wouldn’t have to do this.
  • As soon as color is mixed in, spoon each filling color into a small and sturdy (use freezer, not sandwich) zip-top bag. Push all the air out and seal tightly. As this filling is exposed to air it begins to harden up- so sealing these up right away prevents this. If you are slow, you can always add a little more water to get it back to the right consistency.
  • Set aside until brownie has cooled.
  • Cut a corner off each bag, and squeeze filling out into a circle at the center. Alternating colors, add rings around this until the entire top of the brownie is covered with filling. 
  • Once the top is covered, set a piece of parchment paper or wax paper on top and gently press the filling down so that it goes all the way to the edges. Try to make it nice and flat. The glaze will cover all the ridges, but you want to be sure that the edges are pushed down enough that the glaze has room to get to the edge of the pan without overflowing.

Chocolate glaze:

  • Melt butter and chocolate together in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until completely melted and smooth.
  • Add black gel food coloring until glaze is a dark almost-black (I added quite a bit and never got it completely black- but close!)
  • BEFORE pouring glaze onto tart: melt each color of candy melts and place each in individual zip-top bags (so they are ready as soon as glaze is poured)
  • Pour glaze over top of mint filling, using a spoon or knife to push out to all the edges.
  • Before glaze hardens, cut a small corner on each bag of melted Wilton’s candy melts and pipe circles (like a target shape) in alternating colors on top of the melted glaze.
  • Use a toothpick or skewer to draw lines through the glaze, starting at the center and drawing lines outward- like fireworks!

  • Chill until top layer of glaze is hardened. Do not remove outer ring of tart pan until this has completely hardened. Then, push up on the bottom firmly, until the edges slide out of pan. This takes a little patience- I refrigerated my tart overnight and then let it sit out for about 30 minutes before I was able to push the bottom up and remove that outer ring. If you have a hard time, push up in different spots along the edge, loosening all the edges 1st, before pushing the whole thing out.
  • Enjoy!

My thoughts: I love this dessert for so many reasons. It is a little time-consuming, but it’s SO cute!!!  If you want to save time, skip the colors in the mint layer- just make it white- and decorate the top. Or swirl the colors and make these in a sheet cake pan to have a bunch of them (refer to my candy cane brownie recipe here for directions and just add some blue instead of pink!) However you make them, ENJOY!!!  Happy summer to you! ~r

Other patriotic desserts for your 4th of July celebrations: (click on a photo to see the recipe)

 

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Smoke Bomb Oreo Pops!

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Ruthanne

These adorable smoke bomb Oreos will be the hit of your July 4th parties!

It’s hard to believe that July is just around the corner– but it is! I love summer, and making fun patriotic treats always reminds me of pool parties and days at the beach on Lake Michigan 🙂 I made smoke-bomb brownies last year, and they were such a hit that I decided to turn them into Oreo pops this year!

Cute, yummy and SO easy to make ahead and have ready for all your summer celebrations!

Here’s how we made them: (printable recipe here)

INGREDIENTS: (makes about 30 pops)

  • One package of Double Stuff Oreos
  • 2 bags of Wilton’s candy melts in red
  • 1/4 cup of Wilton’s candy melts in white
  • Twizzlers Pull-n-Peel licorice in red/white/blue (or licorice strings of another variety)
  • Large star sprinkles
  • Tiny star spinkles

DIRECTIONS:

  • Gently twist apart all Oreos.
  • Melt white candy melts in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until melted and smooth.
  • Dip end of a lollipop stick into the white chocolate, spread a little on the top of the white Oreo filling and then press the stick flat into the center of the filling.
  • Place top of Oreo on, and set on a cookie sheet. When all Oreos have sticks inserted, pop these in the freezer for 15-20 minutes (until they are nice and firmly set).
  • While these chill, cut licorice strings into about 30 (1 inch) segments.
  • Melt red candy melts in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until melted and smooth.
  • Dip the end of a licorice string into the red melts and then set flat against a large star sprinkle and allow this to harden- this will basically “glue” the star onto the end of the licorice. 
  • Gently dip chilled Oreo in red candy melts, using a spoon to cover all sides. Tap stick against side of bowl to drain excess. Set on parchment paper.
  • While candy melts are still soft, set end of licorice into the top of the Oreo and sprinkle with tiny stars.
  • Allow everything to harden up, and then slide each pop into a small cello bag and tie with ribbon (alternatively, store in an airtight container with parchment paper as layers between).
  • Enjoy!

My thoughts: These are easy little treats to make- and they have OREOS inside- so they are delicious too! (If you have never made Oreo Pops before, check out our tutorial here.) ENJOY!

Other fun and very patriotic desserts for your July: (click on photo to see recipe)

 

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Baseball Brownie Cups!

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Ruthanne

Dense chocolate brownie cups topped with fudge and a dome of creamy peppermint topping! These baseball brownies are a perfect idea for Father’s Day!

Our day to celebrate dad is almost here! I happen to have a pretty incredible dad. By the time this posts he will be in Canada fishing with my uncles and cousins (does Father’s Day get better than that??) I’ve celebrated all of his various hobbies over the years…fishing, golfing, football (watching), setting off epic firework shows… but I hadn’t made anything baseball. Until now. Let me introduce to you, the YUMMIEST baseballs you will ever meet!

Seriously- they are almost too cute to eat!!

Now, these look difficult to make. Let me assure you that they are not- until you pipe those little laces on top. Then, if you have shaky hands like me, these are AGONY. Just being honest. 🙂 If you have a steady hand (or have a friend to help) you will zip through that piping like nothing though! Promise.

Here is how we made these (printable recipe here):

Ingredients: (makes 24 baseball brownies)

Baseballs: (make these 1st)- you will need a little chocolate bomb mold to make these:

  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) melted butter
  • 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
  • Food color in white
  • One bag of Wilton’s Candy melts in white
  • About 1/2 cup of Wilton’s Candy melts in red.

Brownies: 

  • 1cup butter
  • 2 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk

Chocolate Glaze:

  • 6oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 6 tablespoons butter (do not substitute margarine here!)
  • Green jimmies for grass!

DIRECTIONS:

Mint Baseballs:

  • Melt white candy melts in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until smooth.
  • Use a pastry brush to brush melts into a chocolate bomb mold and freeze for a couple minutes until hard.
  • Make mint filling  by adding melted butter to sugar and extract.
  • Mix well, using water to bring it to a thick but spreadable consistency.
  • Add white food coloring to make it pure white (the butter gives it a slightly yellow color)
  • Place filling into a large zip-top bag and seal tightly.
  • Cut a corner off bag and pipe mint filling into each white shell- filling them about 3/4 full.
  • Use a knife to spread mint filling to edges. It will dip in at the center just a bit- and you want this. If it is full all the way across it doesn’t settle on the curved top of the brownie well (see the gap along the bottom in the below photo).
  • Refreeze these for a few minutes before gently popping them out and setting them on a plate. 
  • Repeat this process until you have 24 mint bombs ready.

  

  

Brownies:

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Cream butter and sugar together. 
  • Beat in eggs, cocoa, vanilla and salt.
  • Add flour and milk (alternating them and mixing well in between)
  • Spoon evenly into 24 cupcake liners in a cupcake tin.
  • Bake at 350F degrees for 15-18 minutes (don’t over bake- they will start to pull away from the liner)
  • Cool.  
Chocolate Glaze:
  • Melt butter and chocolate together in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until completely melted and smooth.
  • Set aside until bombs ready to assemble.
  • Assemble the brownies by spooning a little chocolate glaze on top of a brownie and spreading to all edges.
  • Place a “baseball” in the center and sprinkle jimmies around edge.
  • Allow this all to harden up (refrigerate to speed process up).
  • Melt red candy melts in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until smooth.
  • Place melted candy melts into a bag or squeeze bottle fitted with a tiny writing tip (I used a Wilton’s 1.5 size).
  • Carefully pipe laces on top of baseballs (use photo as a guide) and allow these to harden.
  • Store in a lightly sealed container for 3-4 days.
  • Enjoy!

See how the center of each baseball needs to accommodate the dome-shaped top of the brownie? Here is what happens if you fill them too flat:

See along the edge how it doesn’t connect well? Yeah. Don’t do that. 🙂

My thoughts: Yes, these take some work. But they are SO CUTE!! I’ve spent way more effort on recipes that didn’t score this high in the fun/cute category. If you are going to waste time making something- waste it making these! Plus they are the BEST brownies… I promise. Delicious. 🙂 

My dad doesn’t play much baseball anymore- but he used to, and I have fond memories of playing hours of catch in the backyard with him. Just for fun, here’s a throwback to his baseball days:

That’s me in the 70’s bib 🙂 And here we are now:

Happy Father’s Day dad! Love you!!!!!!

I know you will probably stop right here on this idea, but just in case you are making TWO desserts for dad, here’s a few other ideas. Click on a photo to see the recipe:

 

 

 

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Elderflower Lemonade Cupcakes

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Ruthanne

Elderflower syrup and fresh mint leaves make these cupcakes unique. The lemonade frosting on top makes them unforgettably delicious!

Just a few weeks ago I made Elderflower Lemonade that was amazing. Seriously- you need to try it! After making many batches of it for friends and family, it occurred to me that these flavors would make such good cupcakes! I experimented a bit with the cupcakes, and topped them with my famous lemonade frosting and YUM! I really liked them. A lot!

Plus they are so fun and springtime-y! The only special ingredient you’ll need is Elderflower syrup. I got mine on Amazon and you won’t want to skip this ingredient because it is the secret deliciousness behind this recipe. Plus, once you have it you can make the lemonade- and you will not regret it!!

Here is how we made these (printable recipe here):

INGREDIENTS: 

  • One boxed white cake mix (plus eggs and oil to make according to package)
  •  Elderflower syrup (about 1-2 cups depending on boxed mix)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped mint leaves
  • 2- 8oz. packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temp.)
  • 1 packet (0.23oz.) of Kool-Aid Lemonade
  • 1- 7oz. container Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
  • 1/3 c. powdered sugar
  • 8 oz. Cool Whip Topping (refrigerator temp)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350F degrees
  • Make cake mix according to package, but replace 1/2 of the required water with elderflower syrup (so if the mix calls for one cup of water, use 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of Elderflower syrup)
  • Bake according to package, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
  • Cool on countertop.
  • Cream together cream cheese, lemonade and yellow food coloring until smooth.
  • Beat marshmallow creme and powdered sugar in and then fold in Cool Whip until completely smooth.  
  • Place frosting in a large zip-top bag, fitted with a decorating tip, and keep in fridge until ready to frost.
  • Before frosting, use a toothpick to poke holes into the top of each cupcake (6-8). Use a pastry brush to generously brush the top of each cupcake with elderflower syrup, allowing it to soak into the holes. 
  • Pipe lemonade frosting on the top of each cupcake and decorate as desired.
  • Keep in a loosely sealed container, refrigerated, for 2-3 days.
  • Enjoy!

My thoughts: These really are such a deliciously different flavor of cupcake. The mint with the lemon- and that yummy syrup… I love them! They are on my permanent list of spring cupcake options! I hope you get a chance to try them! 🙂 ~r

This lemonade frosting has been one of the biggest hits on this blog. It was originally created in 2011 for a Strawberry Lemonade Layer Cake, which is my most popular recipe- ever. This is a little sad to me since my photography in 2011 needed LOTS of improvement, and the photos are awful 🙂

I remade it (making the frosting a bit thicker) in 2012, and used it on cupcakes in 2013.

It is a go-to frosting recipe for sure. It actually tastes like lemonade, and as my friend Laura (the frosting-hater) says: “I love it- it tastes more like a creamy filling than a frosting.”

Spring recipes are SO FUN! Here’s a few more to try (click on photo to see recipe).

 

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