Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

I am going to go out on a limb here and say that I think I like this better than pumpkin pie!  The crust has so much more flavor then anything store bought and it is so good.

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes

Crust

1 pkg yellow cake mix

1 egg

1 stick salted butter, melted

Filling

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 stick unsalted butter, melted

16 oz powdered sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F

In a medium bowl blend cake mix, egg, and butter with an electric mixer

Press mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x13 baking dish

For the filling in a large bowl beat together cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth

Add and mix together eggs, vanilla, and butter

Lastly add powdered sugar and cinnamon and beat until combined

Spread pumpkin mixture over crust

Bake for 40-50 minutes until center is still slightly gooey

Serve with whipped cream

Key Lime Pie

Absolutely one of my favorite desserts!  I love the sweet and tart combination.

Key Lime Pie

2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, room temperature
2 eggs, beaten
2 (14 oz) cans sweetened condensed milk
1 Tbl lime zest
2/3 cup key lime juice

Crust
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 Tbl butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F
In a medium bowl mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and salt together.
Pour into a greased spring form pan
Shake to cover bottom of pan evenly
Using a glass, press graham mixture down and up the sides of the pan
Bake the crust for about 5-6 minutes and allow to cool completely

In a stand mixer beat cream cheese on medium speed until fluffy
Gradually beat in eggs and milk
Add lime zest and juice and combine completely
Spread over crust
Bake 30-40 minutes until center is almost set
Carefully run a knife around the rim of the pan to loosen
Allow to cool to room temperature and then refrigerate

Heath Brownies

I love that by using a few short cuts these brownies are easy to make but amazingly decadent.

Heath Brownies

1 box fudge brownie mix

eggs and oil according to package directions

3 giant heath symphony candy bars

1 cup heath pieces

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F

Grease a 9x13 pan

In a large bowl combine ingredients for brownies according to package directions

Pour half of the brownie batter in the 9x13 pan and spread to cover

Place candy bars on top of batter

Sprinkle with health pieces

Spread remaining batter over candy

Bake for 35-45 minutes until brownies are set

Allow to cool completely

Marble Fudge

This is my favorite treat to make and give this time of year.  I always send some to work with my husband.  It is THE most smooth and delicious fudge I have ever made.  The secret is the cream cheese!

Marble Fudge

6 cups sugar
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
1 cup butter
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
2 (7 oz) jars marshmallow creme
1 Tbl vanilla
1 cup (1 pkg) white chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Tbl baking cocoa powder

Directions
Line a 9x13 baking dish with aluminum foil
Pour bag of white chocolate chips in a medium size bowl and set aside
Heat sugar, milk, butter and cream cheese to boiling in a large pot over medium-high heat
Stir constantly until mixture reaches 225º on a candy thermometer (approximately 15 minutes)
Quickly stir in marshmallow creme and vanilla
Remove from heat
Pour 4 cups hot marshmallow mixture over white baking chips and stir to mix
In the large pot with remaining marshmallow mixture stir milk chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips and cocoa
Pour half of the white mixture into the bottom of the 9x13 pan, spreading evenly
Quickly pour half of the chocolate mixture over top, spreading evenly then repeat
Swirl a knife through mixtures for marbled design and smooth the top
Cool until set
Turn pan upside down on cutting board to remove fudge
Peel off foil and cut into desired size pieces

*I like to trim the sides to make the pieces square

Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

It is my favorite time of year...PUMPKIN SEASON!  This is an awesome cake my mom use to make for us when I was little.  Funny enough she made it for me recently and when I took a bite it was so amazing how familiar it was even though it had been such a long time since I had tasted it.  It is so good!

Pumpkin Bundt Cake

2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 (15 oz.) can pure pumpkin

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F
In a large bowl blend sugar and eggs
Pour in oil and mix on medium speed until incorporated
Add in flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt
Stir in pumpkin until well blended
Pour batter into a well greased bundt pan and bake for 1 hour
Let cake cool completely before frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8 oz.) block of cream cheese, room temperature
1 stick butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
1 (16 oz) box powdered sugar

Directions
In a large bowl blend cream cheese and butter until combined
Add vanilla and sugar and blend until smooth

Easter Nests

These were a delicious tradition at my house growing up at Easter time.  I have now continued that tradition with my kids.  They love helping me make these every year, and they are tasty too!

Easter Nests

2 Tbl butter
1 (7 oz) marshmallow creme
1/4 cup peanut butter
3 cups chow mien noodles
pastel peanut m&ms

Directions
Place a large pot on medium-high heat
Melt butter
Add peanut butter and marshmallow creme and mix until combined
Remove from heat and stir in chow mien noodles until coated
Drop in small spoon fulls on wax paper
Place m&ms on each nest

Almond Bark Candy

A quick and inexpensive treat!  These are always a favorite...and you can customize the wrappers for any holiday.

Almond Bark Candy

20 oz almond bark or white chocolate
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups rice krispies
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup dry roasted peanuts

Directions
In a large bowl microwave almond bark and peanut butter for one minute
Remove and stir, if not melted microwave for additional 30 seconds
Stir until smooth
Fold in rice krispies, marshmallows, and peanuts
Use a cookie scoop to measure each serving and drop on wax paper
Let cool completely to set up
Tip:  I like to scoop mine into mini cupcake wrappers in my mini muffin tin

Kentucky Blackbottom Pie

I have a few family members who don't like Pumpkin Pie...hard to believe, I know!  So this year for Thanksgiving I decided to make one of my sister's favorites for those who would like something other than Pumpkin.  It was so delightful!  Of course the big scoop of vanilla ice cream helped too.  I hope you and your loved ones have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Kentucky Blackbottom Pie

1/3 c. flour
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick butter, softened
6-7 oz milk chocolate chips (I recommend Ghirardelli)
1 c. chopped pecans
1 frozen deep pie shell

Directions
Mix flour, sugar, eggs, salt, vanilla, and butter.
Fold in chocolate chips and pecans.
Pour into pie shell.
Bake 50-60 minutes at 325 degrees

Pumpkin Roll Cake

Can't get enough pumpkin this time of year!

Pumpkin Roll Cake

Prep
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Cake
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup pure pumpkin puree

Filling
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature
6 Tbl butter
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract

powdered sugar & melted white chocolate chips for garnish

Cake
Preheat oven to 375°F
Grease 15x10" cookie sheet
Line with wax paper
Grease and sprinkle with powdered sugar
Lay out and sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with powdered sugar
In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt
In a large bowl beat eggs and sugar until thick
Beat in pumpkin puree
Bake for 10-15 minutes or until top of cake springs back
Immediately loosen sides and turn cake onto towel
Carefully peel off wax paper
Roll up cake and towel together, starting at the narrow end
Cool on wire rack

Filling
Beat cream cheese
In a small bowl melt butter and chips until smooth
Mix with cream cheese until incorporated
Blend in powdered sugar and vanilla extract
Carefully unroll cake
Spread filling over cake
Roll cake again without the towel this time
Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour
Before serving sprinkle with powdered sugar and drizzle with melted white chocolate

Red Velvet Cake Cookies

I am all for short cuts!  Don't get me wrong.  Sometimes it's great to make a mess in the kitchen and bake from scratch.  But having four little ones means that 9 times out of 10, I don't have the time.  This is one of those easy ones, and as a bonus, you can change up the combinations and make all sorts of yummy flavors.  I typically makes these every year for Valentine's Day to give our friends and neighbors.

Red Velvet Cake Cookies

1 pkg red velvet cake mix
1 stick butter, melted
2 eggs
1 Tbl vanilla
2 cups white chocolate chips

Directions
Combine cake mix, melted butter, eggs and vanilla until well blended.
Stir in chips
Drop onto cookie sheet with cookie scoop
Bake at 350 degrees for 9 to 10 minutes