Tasty Treats

I was in a baking mood last weekend so while my pot of potato soup was simmering I whipped up these tasty treats.

Gooey Butter Cupcakes

I really don't understand why gooey butter cake is only a St. Louis thing. Who doesn't love the gooey buttery goodness in these cakes? After you read this recipe you may regret that I shared it with you. So, if you don't intend to try to make these you may want to skip right over the recipe, because it is better to not even know what goes into these. ;) The recipe was originally supposed to be a 9x13 cake, but I was feeling adventurous so I made them into cupcakes instead.




1 box yellow cake mix
4 eggs, divided
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 (16oz) box powdered sugar
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine dry cake mix, 2 eggs & butter. Spread into pan and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the remaining 2 eggs, powdered sugar and cream cheese. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Pour into the pan.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes until the center of the cake is set. Let cool before cutting and serving.

For cupcakes: Line a cupcake pan with paper liners or spray with cooking spray. Divide the crust dough amongst each cupcake and press the dough flat. (Works best if you wet your fingers before handling the dough, that way it won't stick to your fingers.) Top with powdered sugar/cream cheese mixture. Bake until set. I think it made about 28 cupcakes.


Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I love Tastefully Simple's beer bread and they offer tons of recipes on their site for their products. I printed out a recipe for banana bread using the beer bread mix, but when I went to my pantry I didn't have any beer bread mix. :( A few days later I was excited when I found beer bread mix at Trader Joe's (and it was about 1/3 of the price of TS). The bread turned out good, but it was a little thick. I might try it again with the TS beer bread and see if it makes a difference. I have another recipe too that calls for sprite rather than milk, which is what I actually intended to make, but realized halfway through that I was making the wrong recipe, so that may make it a little lighter too.




1 box Beer Bread Mix
1 1/2 cups milk
3 bananas, mashed
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients until blended. Pour into a greased 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake at 375° for 50-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes and then cool completely on wire rack.


Mini Cinnamon Crescents

These mini cinnamon rolls were easy to make and they were light and fluffy and so yummy!

1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations refrigerated seamless dough sheet
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon apple juice or milk

Heat oven to 375°F.

If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate dough into 4 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut into 4 rectangles.

Spread 1 tablespoon butter evenly over each dough rectangle. In small bowl, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over rectangles. Sprinkle each with raisins. Starting with short side of each rectangle, roll up; pinch edges to seal. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 5 slices. Place slices, cut side down, in ungreased 8- or 9-inch square pan.

Bake 17 to 23 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix powdered sugar and apple juice until smooth. Drizzle over rolls. Serve warm.