Cake Bars

In an attempt to create a cake recently I ended up with cake bars instead. I made a fudge cake which stubbornly stuck to the cake pans. I haven't had this happen since I first started baking but anything can happen if you are not paying attention.:) So to save my cake I just took out what I could from the pans and had a little fun. The following is how to make them:

Combine cooled cake with frosting or melted chocolate. I used the chocolate this time. Just microwave 12 ounces of chocolate chips with 1 Tbsp shortening. Mix after heating for 20 seconds and repeat until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. If you are using frosting, just add a cup to the cake. If mixture is too dry, add a little more. After the cake is crumbled and evenly mixed with frosting or chocolate, press into 9x13 baking sheet. Press mixture in evenly and then top with any combination you would like. For these bars, I used crushed pretzels and chocolate. Freeze until chocolate is hard. They are similar to cake pops just easier to make since you don't have to individually dip anything.

My Love Penguins

I just love these little guys. I was in bit of a rush to get them done so I'm not liking my clean up job but oh they are too cute. I love how chubby I was able to make them and yes I did want them laying down. They are supposed to be floating on ice or making snow p-angels :)  They went to a nice family in need and I'm hoping they did a good job cheering them up.

L.O.V.E.

Another Valentine's Day has come and gone. It is one of my favorite holidays. Mostly because of all of the oh so cute crafts and sweets you can make, especially with kids. Anything with pink, red or hearts and I'm sold. Teagie, my 16 month old son, helped me with frosting sugar cookies. He had such a great time eating and making a disaster out of the kitchen. Gosh, I love him so much!!! How could you not with a face like that?? ;)

This time I tried tackling mini cakes. A little bit of a challenge just because of the size but not as time consuming. I made chocolate and vanilla swirl cake by pouring a layer of the chocolate batter and then a layer of vanilla on top. Then I used a spoon to bring the chocolate batter to the top in select areas and then swirled the spoon around to get the look. Easy breezy. Once the cake was cool I cut out circle and square shaped pieces for each two tiered mini cake. Biscuit cutters and cookie cutters work well. Then just crumb coating and decorating like any other cake. Teagie helped make the cake pops which were made using the leftover cake and frosting. He again had so much fun. I can't keep him out of the kitchen which is actually a blessing for me considering how much time I like to spend baking and cooking. He did get mad at me though when I wouldn't let him chuck the cake pops across the room. Maybe next time.....

Isn't the red one just adorable? I wish it would have been my wedding cake!

Wild Thang

Round two for the banana cake. This time I watched it like a hawk. It turned out almost as good as the first but just not as level as the other one. I'm not sure if it's my perfectionist nature or if the bottom tier really is lopsided. Sometimes I think I stare too much at the cake that after awhile I just can't tell anymore.

The cake was delicious and well worth the second attempt. See the recipe page for the cake and cream cheese frosting recipes.

Not sure where I came up with the snake skin idea to go with a cute little purple bow but I think it works. For a trip down memory lane I decided to include my first cake.....remember poor lavender lumps? Can you believe how much of a difference there is. I am really glad that I can show such an improvement. Next time I will work on making a cute cake board.  They make such a difference in the overall look. The cake plate just doesn't go.

My Dog Ate My Cake... :(

I am so furious right now all I can do is blog! I spent pretty much my entire day baking what happened to be maybe my best cake EVER! I decided to try a banana cake and got this most wonderful recipe from cooklikeyourgrandmother.com. You have to check their site out and try the banana cake. I will post the recipe as well.

Anyways, I got the cake all wonderfully crumb coated, just waiting for the fondant layer. Went to help my hubby with something and went back to check on the cake only to find it GONE! Totally and completely GONE! Oh my heck I am still mad. It almost felt like having the Thanksgiving turkey destroyed. I worked so hard on the dang thing and was so excited that this cake might actually be my best one. It was perfectly level, moist, but sturdy at the same time. I made two tiers and filled each with a new cream cheese frosting recipe I found. Why oh why couldn't Bear, our very large brown lab, have picked one of my disaster cakes to devour? I secretly hope he gets just sick enough to learn his lesson. Maybe 16 oz of cream cheese will teach him not to mess with my goodies!

Moral of the story.....Do NOT leave your precious baked goods within reach of any animal, child or husband. Who knows exactly what havoc they can wreck. Ok, I feel a little better now. I am still dying to have some so I will just have to try again soon :) Thanks for reading my rant!