Chocolate Sour Cream Pound Cake

Ingredients
8 ounces (2 sticks) butter, softened
8 ounces sour cream
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup cocoa


Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.


Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, sour cream, and sugar. Add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla.


In another bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and cocoa. Add 1/2 the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, beat well, add the remaining 1/2 flour mixture, and continue to beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Continue to bake for an additional 15 minutes if necessary, but do not open the oven to check the cake for at least 1 hour.


SOURCE

Paula's Volcano Cake

Ingredients
Cream mixture:
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 stick butter, room temperature
2 cups 4X or 10X sugar
Cake:
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1 cup pecans
1 (18.25-ounce) box German chocolate cake mix, prepare by following directions on box
10 bite-sized almond and chocolate covered candy or candy of choice
Glaze:
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract


Directions
For the cream mixture:


Beat ingredients together with an electric mixer. Set aside until ready to use.


Cake:


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 by 9 by 2-inch cake pan.


Line bottom of greased pan with coconut flakes. Sprinkle pecans on top of coconut. Set aside.


Follow directions on back of box to prepare cake. Beat for approximately 2 minutes, using an electric mixer. Fold in bite-sized candy. Pour into cake pan. Evenly space dollops of cream mixture on top of the cake. When the cake cooks, the cream will sink down to the bottom. This will be your "volcano" of flavor. Place in oven for 40 to 45 minutes. While cake is still hot spread the glaze evenly over the cake.


For the glaze:


In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in cocoa powder and add milk until you get a thin consistency. If glaze is too thick, add more milk. While bringing the butter and milk mixture to a boil, whisk in confectioners' sugar and almond extract. Glaze should be thin. Remove from the heat and allow to cool before using.


SOURCE

Sweet Black Cherry Crisp

Ingredients
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup, plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 cups pitted frozen cherries, thawed
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sliced almonds


Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13 by 9-inch baking pan.


In a large bowl, combine the sugar and 3 tablespoons flour. Add the cherries, tossing gently to coat. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan.


In a medium bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, and remaining 1/4 cup flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in the almonds. Sprinkle evenly over the cherry mixture. Bake until hot and bubbly and the topping is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.


SOURCE


Cherry

Sweet Potato Doughnuts with Maple Icing

Ingredients
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cooked mashed sweet potato (about 1 medium potato)
Vegetable oil, for frying


Directions
Maple Icing, recipe follows


1 cup finely chopped pecans


In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a large bowl, combine eggs, sour cream, and sweet potato. Gradually add flour mixture, stirring to combine. Turn dough out onto a heavily floured surface. Knead in flour with hands as needed (dough will be sticky). Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out dough with a 2 1/4-inch round cutter. Cut out center of doughnuts with a 3/4-inch round cutter. Re-roll dough as needed.


In a Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over medium heat to 360 degrees F. Cook doughnuts, in batches, in hot oil, 2 minutes per side, or until lightly browned. Drain on paper towels. Ice top of doughnuts with Maple Icing, and sprinkle with chopped pecans.


Maple Icing:
2 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar


3 to 4 tablespoons milk


1/4 teaspoon maple extract


In a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and 3 tablespoons milk; stir well. Add additional milk to reach desired consistency. Stir in maple extract.


Yield: 1 cup icing


SOURCE


Doughnuts

Cheesecake Parfaits

Ingredients
2 (3-ounce) boxes cheesecake instant pudding mix
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup milk
2 cups sour cream
Vanilla Wafers
Fresh Raspberries
Whipped Cream, if desired


Directions
In medium bowl, combine pudding mix, cream, milk, and sour cream. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Cover and chill 2 to 3 hours.


In individual serving dishes, layer pudding mixture, vanilla wafers, and raspberries. Repeat layers, ending with raspberries, serve immediately. Top with whipped cream, if desired.


SOURCE


Raspberry Parfait

Tropical Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package frozen strawberries, mangoes, and peaches
1 (8-ounce) can guava nectar
Fresh strawberries, for garnish


Directions
In the container of a blender, combine the frozen fruit and guava nectar; process until smooth. Garnish each serving with a fresh strawberry.

SOURCE

Strawberry Smoothies

Mama's Pound Cake

Ingredients
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, plus more for pan
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.


With a mixer, cream butter and shortening together. Add sugar, a little at a time. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir dry ingredients together in a bowl and add to mixer alternately with milk, starting with the flour and ending with the flour. Mix in vanilla. Pour into a greased and floured tube pan and bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.


SOURCE



Buttermilk Pound Cake

Uncle Bob's Fresh Apple Cake

Ingredients
Honey Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons milk
Apple Cake:
3 cups diced Granny Smith apples, about 2 apples
1 cup lightly toasted chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
3 eggs


Directions
Glaze: Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and stir until smooth. Set the bowl aside.


Cake: 
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a Bundt pan or tube pan.
2. In a bowl, mix together the apples, walnuts, vanilla, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Using an electric mixer beat the sugar, oil, and eggs in a large bowl. Add in the dry ingredients and beat until completely combined. Fold in the apple mixture.
4. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a tester inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
5. Allow the cake to fully cool in the pan, about 1 hour, and then turn it out onto a plate.
6. Drizzle the apple cake with some of the honey glaze, serve and enjoy!


Cook's Note:
The cake can be wrapped tightly and stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.


SOURCE


Apples

Gooey Toffee Butter Cake

Ingredients
Cake:
1 (18.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 large egg
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 (16-ounce) box confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup almond toffee bits or chocolate toffee bits


Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13 by 9 by-2-inch baking pan.


For the cake: In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well. Pat into the bottom of prepared pan and set aside.


For the filling: Still using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Dump in confectioners' sugar and beat well. Reduce the speed and slowly pour in butter. Mix well. Fold in toffee bits.


Pour filling onto cake mixture and spread evenly. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Don't be afraid to make a judgment call on the cooking time, because oven temperatures can vary. You want the center to be a little gooey, so don't bake it past that point!


Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares. Just remember that these wonderful cakes are very, very rich, and a little will go a long way.


SOURCE


Perfect Chocolate Cake

Waffle Cones

Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 stick butter, melted
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch salt
Nonstick cooking spray
Special Equipment:
Pizzelle iron
Cone-shaped mold


Directions
1. In a large bowl, add sugar, vanilla extract and eggs and beat until creamy with a hand held electric beater. Add butter and mix well.
2. In a medium bowl, add flour cinnamon and salt. Slowly blend into wet ingredients.
3. Spray pizzelle iron with nonstick cooking spray and allow to warm up. Pour 3/4 tablespoon of batter onto the iron and cook until baked and brown.
4. While still hot, quickly roll the waffle around a cone-shaped mold, sealing the point. (The cones will harden as they cool; remove from the mold when cool.) Repeat with remaining batter.


SOURCE

Waffle Cone