Pecan Chocolate Cake

The moistest chocolate layer cake you’ll ever bake! Not too sweet and just the right amount of chocolate taste. So says my taste tester! What’s the secret? Sour cream and brown sugar add the amazing moisture, and the chocolate … use your very best unsweetened cocoa along with the best vanilla to achieve the just right taste.

 

This was just what I was craving. Perfect!

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Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars

Perfect coffee time accompaniment. Not too sweet and a bit of healthy. Actually, this was my breakfast. Hope you enjoy this recipe and if you’re into another berry instead, substitute.

Another of many oatmeal recipes. Try my latest here. A great way to start your day!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins

 

 

 

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Celebrating Togetherness

Whether making dessert for 25 or 50, let me make it fast and easy for you. These two cakes made 48 generous slices. They could have been sliced a bit smaller making 30 servings per 1/2 sheet cake pan, 60 total. I love gatherings but used to get exhausted trying to do it all. I found not only is organization key but recipes that look and taste delicious with the least amount of effort are best when serving a large group. I do fall into the believers … deliciousness comes from not only the palate but the visual too. For these cakes I chose attractive gold colored half cake pans. I knew I wasn’t going to remove the baked cakes to another dish. Side by side, they looked lovely on the self-serve dessert table. If you wish to perfect this further, a la Martha Stewart, use a ruler when slicing the entire cake to give the eye the beauty of exactness, and use attractive, sterling perhaps, serving utensils.

Now for the cakes … Just about any three layered cake recipe works. For the German Chocolate Cake I used the Baker’s German Chocolate recipe for the cake and frosting. These recipes are printed on the Baker’s German Chocolate inside wrapper. I’ll list the ingredients later. This cake whips up nicely with a few extra steps like melting the chocolate and beating the egg whites separately. It’s worth it if you love sweet chocolate with a pecan coconut topping. Hard to beat. For the white cake I used this delicious recipe, here. It was time to try a new (to me) white cake recipe. I liked the idea that this one uses whole eggs and doesn’t require the extra step of beating egg whites. It also uses a bit of shortening and I knew this meant the cake would hold moisture. It didn’t disappoint! For the frosting I used my simple butter cream, recipe to follow. A few things to keep in mind when preparing to bake these recipes in a 1/2 sheet cake pan: 1.) Grease and lightly flour your pan wiping off excess on the top edges of the pan. Remember you will be serving the cake in this pan and want it to look tidy. 2.) Spread the batter evenly especially in the corners of the pan. 3.) The cake will bake faster, 15-30 minutes depending on your oven. 4.) Use a toothpick in the center for doneness. Keep in mind the center is likely to take longer to bake. However, the cake will continue to cook when removed from the oven. If the cake is pulling away from the edges of the pan and the toothpick is almost clean when pierced in the center it is safe to remove from the oven and allow the heat to continue the cooking process.

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German Apple Cake

Apples I didn’t want to go to waste. What a great choice if I do say so! The ingredients list is minimal … producing this beautiful and tasty cake. Oh yeah, have it for breakfast! Heavy with apples surrounded by a slightly sweet vanilla cake. Try it today!

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Spicy Carrot Cake

A spicy recipe inspired by Fannie Farmer, and with my conversion whips up quickly. Just don’t get ahead of yourself like I did here and ice a too warm cake. I recommend two 8 inch round cake pans for this recipe instead of the two 8 inch by 4 inch loaf I used here.  Yes, I sliced each layer to increase to a four layer cake. The frosting is not exactly the traditional for this cake. I just simply combined a butter cream frosting with a cream cheese. Our family isn’t big on a strong cream cheese taste for this carrot cake.

The slices were served and no one was the wiser!

Perfectly Delicious

 

Try this recipe too!

 

 

 

 

 

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Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

These are the best! But don’t take my word for it … Bake them up today! Chewy Buttery Good … not too flat, not too thick, just right. I’m using the new Nestle Dark Chocolate Morsels. Make sure you try this recipe with your favorite chocolate chips. This way you’ll be able to taste test the best chocolate chip oatmeal cookies you ever ate. Seriously Good! Just can’t say it enough and I’m a chocolate chip cookie aficionado. If you’re into chocolate chip cookies with a touch of oatmeal and like the chewy variety these are for you!

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Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Melt in your mouth! The perfect cookie for tea or coffee. This recipe is flexible. Add your favorite nuts or lemon chips (or here) to give it a little extra if you are into it, but it really doesn’t need more than the four basic ingredients to be delicious! Drizzle a glaze over the top for a designer look or simply swirl the warm cookie in a little lemon icing. Sometimes simple is the best!

For more lemony recipes place LEMON in the search box above. Enjoy!

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Blueberry Lemon Pound Cake

with Chantilly Cream

Lemon is my flavor of choice for the last weeks. It really isn’t random. I have a houseguest who’s into lemon cakes, breads and cookies. And I love to see someone enjoy a favorite. This recipe is a revision of James Beard’s Huckleberry Cake. First, huckleberries are hard to find and I’ve substituted blueberries, a similar berry. But most importantly I’ve added a big lemon taste!

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Coconut Lemon Cake

Perfect for your Valentine who’s into lemon. Typically a double layered cake but my guy likes a loaf cake he can whittle on all day. The batter is plentiful and for certain will overflow a standard loaf pan. Just make a couple of large cup cakes in addition. All this changes bake times. We are into the one layer of icing and love the look as it melts down the sides of the warm cake. It’s a homey comfort food recipe that leaves the kitchen smelling delicious, and palates pleasantly satisfied with the taste and flavor.

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