Honey Bun Cake {Our Happy Birthday Jesus Cake}

December 18, 2012 By 4 Comments

It’s Day 12 in our 12 Days of Christmas Baking series, and I *think* I saved my favorite for last. (It’s hard to tell, there are so many recipes here that I just love!)

This is one of my all-time favorites though, given to me by a friend who baked it for our family soon after we had our third baby. I’m pretty sure that I ate nothing other than Honey Bun Cake for two days straight after she brought it! It’s undoubtedly the yummiest, moistest, make-me-the-happiest breakfast cake ever. . . I promise.

We usually bake it early Christmas Eve so it’s marked off our to-do list, and you can just imagine how yummy the kitchen smells the rest of the day (heavenly!) Last year my littlest (who was then just four), made several comments asking why we get all the presents when it’s Jesus’ Birthday. :) She thought we should make Him a Ladybug Cake, but was pretty content with this one after it was all baked up. Let me know if you try it out. . .I’m almost positive this one will become a favorite in your home too!

Print
Honey Bun Cake {Our Happy Birthday Jesus Cake}

Honey Bun Cake {Our Happy Birthday Jesus Cake}

Ingredients

  • {For Cake}
  • 1 yellow cake mix Duncan Hines Cake Mix
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup oil
  • {For Filling}
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar $0.55/1 Dixie Crystals Sugar, exp. 12/31/11 (Publix Winter Savings Booklet)
  • 3 tsp. cinnamon
  • {For Icing}
  • 2 cups powdered sugar $0.55/1 Dixie Crystals Sugar, exp. 12/31/11 (Publix Winter Savings Booklet)
  • 3-4 tbsp. milk
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • {Note: my friend always doubles the icing, I usually use 3 cups powdered sugar, 5-6 tbsp. milk and 3 tsp vanilla, not quite double but a bit more than the original recipe calls for.}

Instructions

  1. Mix the cake mix, sour cream, eggs, sugar & oil.
  2. In separate bowl stir together the brown sugar & cinnamon.
  3. Pour 1/2 of the cake mixture into 9×13 pan. Then add the brown sugar cinnamon mixture.
  4. Pour remaining cake batter on top.
  5. Bake at 275 for 50 -60 minutes. (And just wait for your house to start smelling divine!)
  6. While cake is baking, mix the icing ingredients all up together and pour over cake after it's cooled slightly.
  7. Enjoy!
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://passionatepennypincher.com/2012/12/honey-bun-cake-our-happy-birthday-jesus-cake/

 

Looking for more recipe ideas?

Filed Under: 12 Days of Christmas Baking, 25 Day Series, Desserts, Recipes, Uncategorized

Muddy Buddy Chex Mix

December 17, 2012 By 3 Comments

We love traditional Chex Mix at our house, but it’s always fun to also make these Chex Mix Mudy Buddies!  Here’s how to make this yummy Chex Mix at your house . . .  

Print
Muddy Buddy Chex Mix

Muddy Buddy Chex Mix

Ingredients

  • 9 cups Corn Chex®, Rice Chex®, Wheat Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal (or combination) we used Rice Chex
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter & butter on high for one minute, stir.
  2. Microwave another 30 seconds (or more) until mixture is smooth when stirred.
  3. Add vanilla.
  4. Place cereal in large bowl.
  5. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, stirring until well coated (but be careful not to crush the cereal!)
  6. Add cereal & chocolate mixture to large plastic bag (2 gallon or larger is best)
  7. Then add powdered sugar and shake until cereal is completely covered.
  8. Enjoy!
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://passionatepennypincher.com/2012/12/muddy-buddy-chex-mix/

 

 

Looking for more recipe ideas? 

Filed Under: 12 Days of Christmas Baking, Desserts, Recipes

Best Chocolate Chip Cookes {Ever}.

December 13, 2012 By 6 Comments

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here’s just a plain-ole’ nothing fancy chocolate chip cookie recipe for our tenth day of Christmas Baking, but I must say, these are the Best Chocolate Cookies ever.  (Seriously!)  When I was pregnant with my first child (and absolutely determined to be the perfect housewife who baked cookies all the time. . . ), a friend shared this recipe that she found on the back of a Kroger bag of Chocolate Chips. Perfection.

 

 

After baking them at least once a month for the last 12 years, I’ve got the recipe down by memory and figure when I’m old and grey you’ll find me in the nursing home baking up these cookies for all the staff. (Pretty sure I’ll have forgotten everything else in the world, but these cookies are not to be forgotten. ) If you just need a simple recipe that goes a long way and makes everybody happy . . . this one’s for you. :)

 

Print
Best Chocolate Chip Cookes {Ever}.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookes {Ever}.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (I use light brown sugar)
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teapoon vanilla
  • 12 oz. chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Cream shortening and sugars together until well blended.
  3. Add eggs & vanilla, mix well. In separate bowl combine flour, baking soda & salt. Mix with spoon, then add to shortening mixture and mix until well blended.
  4. Add chocolate chips.
  5. Bake in 375 oven for 7-9 minutes (I think the original recipe called for 8-10 minutes, but I bake a little closer to 7-8 because I like moist gooey cookies, you may want to cook them a little longer if you like them crispier!)
  6. When you pull them out of the oven lightly tap the pan on your counter top to “settle” your cookies. Let cool on wire rack (if you can stand to wait . . .) and enjoy!
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://passionatepennypincher.com/2012/12/best-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Looking for more recipe ideas? 

Filed Under: 12 Days of Christmas Baking, Desserts, Recipes, Slide Deck

Gooey Butter Cake

December 12, 2012 By 3 Comments

This Gooey Butter Cake recipe is one of those tried-and-true treats that everyone should enjoy at least once (maybe twice?) each year.  My wonderful step-mom (who’s the best cook and one of the sweetest people I know!) shared the recipe with me forever ago, and every time I make it my hubby reminds me I need to bake it more often.

 

The best part is it calls for only six ingredients, which you might just have already in your kitchen. It’s also a great way to use up all those bargain cake mixes that you may have stocked up on with coupons throughout the year, so you’ll be putting those penny-pinched deals to very good use. ;) Here’s how to get started . . .

 

Print
Gooey Butter Cake

Gooey Butter Cake

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow cake mix
  • 1 egg
  • 1 stick butter, melted
  • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  1. Mix together a egg, cake mix, and butter. Press into bottom of greased 13x9" pan.
  2. In mixer, blend together cream cheese, 2 eggs, powdered sugar & vanilla.
  3. Pour cream cheese mixture over cake mix.
  4. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://passionatepennypincher.com/2012/12/gooey-butter-cake/

Looking for more recipe ideas? 

Filed Under: 12 Days of Christmas Baking, Desserts, Recipes, Slide Deck, Uncategorized

Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars

December 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It’s Day eight in our 12 Days of Christmas Baking series (thank goodness, because we’re just about sugared out around here!) I tried these Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars over the weekend and they were just perfect.   I found the recipe at All Recipes (love that place!) and while I tweaked it a bit with what we had on hand, they were simply delicious.

They keep best in the fridge, and you can choose to either use milk chocolate or semi sweet chocolate to top them with . . . either way I’m betting your family will love every last bite.  I can’t believe it’s taken me this many years to find these, but oh my heavens we’ll be making them again soon!

Print
Reese

Reese

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 1/4 cup peanut butter, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips or semi sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Combine first three ingredients in mixer on medium speed, then add in 1 cup of the peanut butter.
  2. Spread evenly over the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 pan.
  3. In small bowl, melt together chocolate and remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter in microwave fpr 30 seconds.
  4. Stir peanut butter and chocolate chips. If chips do not melt, cook in microwave an additional 10 seconds at a time until melted.
  5. Pour over the peanut butter mixture.
  6. Refrigerate at least 3 hours, or overnight.
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://passionatepennypincher.com/2012/12/reeses-peanut-butter-bars/

 

Looking for more recipe ideas? 

 

 

Filed Under: 12 Days of Christmas Baking, Desserts, Recipes, Slide Deck, Uncategorized

White Chocolate Gingerbread Bars

December 10, 2012 By 3 Comments

It’s Day six of our 12 Days of Christmas Baking series, and I’m thinking I’ve found my new favorite Christmas recipe. Yesterday, while I was looking over my Pinterest boards I found this recipe for White Chocolate Gingerbread Bars(originally adapted from Martha Stewart), and couldn’t wait to try them out. They were perfect, and such a nice different treat to add this Christmas.

 

I had everything except molasses in my pantry, so I substituted with honey and they turned out just the way I would have expected, however they might be a wee bit richer with molasses. Either way, I’m pretty sure you’ll love with the results, and am betting you’ll want to add them to your gotta-make-each-year list too. They also pack easily, so they’re perfect if you’re getting recipes ready to share this Christmas season! (By the way, with the amount of butter these babies call for I definitely would have figured they were a Paula Deen recipe rather than from Martha Stewart, but apparently butter makes things better for everyone.  I’m pretty sure I’ve never made another recipe that called for this much butter!)

 

Print
White Chocolate Gingerbread Bars

White Chocolate Gingerbread Bars

Ingredients

  • 2 3/4 cups + 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 2 1/2 sticks butter
  • 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cups + 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 1/4 tsp vanilla
  • 1/3 cup molasses (I substituted with honey)
  • 10 oz, white chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 and spray 17x12" baking pan with cooking spray.
  2. Mix together butter, brown sugar and white sugar with a mixer until fluffy.
  3. Add eggs and yolk, 1 at a time and mix well.
  4. Add in vanilla and molasses (or honey if substituting). Reduce mixing speed to low.
  5. In separate bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, salt and spices.
  6. Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating just until combined.
  7. Pour into prepared pan and bake 350 for 25-30 minutes. Cool in pan on wire racks.
  8. Enjoy!
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://passionatepennypincher.com/2012/12/white-chocolate-gingerbread-bars/

Looking for more recipe ideas? 

Filed Under: 12 Days of Christmas Baking, Desserts, Recipes, Slide Deck

Rolo Bites

December 8, 2012 By 1 Comment

After running to Walgreens yesterday to pick up some more candy bargains with that $2/2 Hershey coupon, I decided we needed to try something out with Rolos. (I love those things!)  I checked my pantry and noticed a Betty Crocker Chocolate Chunk Cookie dough mix, and knew I was in business. Oh my heavens . . . these little Rolo Bites are plain ole’ happiness in a mini-muffin-sized bite. . .yum!  

Rolo Muffins

The best part is you won’t need many ingredients at all, and I’m betting you’ll have most everything you need right in the pantry. You can also print this $0.50 off Betty Crocker Cookie Mix coupon to help you pinch those pennies while you bake this week!  Here’s what you’ll need . . .

 

Print
Rolo Cups

Rolo Cups

Ingredients

  • 24 Rolos, unwrappped
  • 1 package Betty Crocker Cookie Dough mix and ingredients to make cookies (oil, egg and water)

Instructions

  1. Mix together cookie dough ingredients according to package directions.
  2. Bake at 350, 8-10 minutes in WELL-GREASED mini muffin tin (hint: if doing this again I'd use mini-muffin cups to make removing them easier from the pan!)
  3. As soon as cookies are baked, immediately put Rolo in the center of the cookie.
  4. Cool completely in muffin tins, so that Rolos harden back to their original consistency.
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://passionatepennypincher.com/2012/12/rolo-bites/


 

 Do you have a favorite Christmas treat that you love to make? Leave a comment sharing the recipe, and feel free to link to it on your blog or another page and we might sample it here . . . I love hearing your favorites!

 

Looking for more recipe ideas? 

Filed Under: 12 Days of Christmas Baking, Desserts, Slide Deck

Peanut Butter Fudge

December 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

Need a new recipe to try out this weekend? This is one of my absolute favorites, and it’s got to be the easiest peanut butter fudge recipe out there!  I’m hoping to do quite a bit more baking this weekend for our 12 Days of Christmas Baking Series, but thought you all would enjoy this one if you haven’t tried it before.


 

Print
Peanut Butter Fudge

Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients

  • 4 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup margarine
  • 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
  • 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Grease 9×13 baking dish.
  2. Combine brown sugar, white sugar, butter & evaporated milk in saucepan over medium heat.
  3. Bring mixture to boiling while stirring constantly.
  4. Boil for seven minutes.
  5. Remove from heat, and stir in marshmallow creme until blended in and melted.
  6. Add in peanut butter and vanilla, stir until smooth.
  7. Spread in pan, and let cool.
  8. Cut into squares, and refrigerate to keep firm. YUMMMMMM!
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://passionatepennypincher.com/2012/12/peanut-butter-fudge/

 

 

Looking for more recipe ideas? 

Filed Under: 12 Days of Christmas Baking, Desserts, Recipes

Red Velvet Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

December 6, 2012 By 1 Comment

It’s day four of our 12 Days of Christmas Baking Series, and I know several folks are starting to get their baking plans together for the weekend!  If you’re like me and love red velvet cake (yum!), these Red Velvet Peppermint Crinkle Cookies are a great festive treat to add to your gotta-bake-this-year list. 

 

Thanks to my sweet niece who found this recipe via Pinterest (of course!) at Cookin’ Cowgirl and baked it up . . . yum! 

 

Print
Red Velvet Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

Red Velvet Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 box Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Betty Crocker SuperMoist Cake Mix, 15.25 to 19.25 oz box (excluding Pound Cake and Angel Food) – BOGO $1.99, use $0.60/2 Betty Crocker Supermoist Cake Mix and Betty Crocker Ready to Spread Frosting printable, $0.75 off Betty Crocker Supermoist Cake Mix AND Ready To Spread Frosting, exp. 1/7/12 (GM 11/13/11)
  • 6 tablespoons butter $0.50/2 Land O’Lakes Butter Packages, exp. 12/31/11 (SS 10/23/11)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1/2 cup crushed peppermint or candy canes
  • 1 cup powdered sugar Use $0.50/2 Domino Brown or Confectioners Sugar, exp. 12/31/11 (RP 10/16/11 R) or $0.75/2 Domino Sugar Product, exp. 1/31/12 (RP 12/04/11)
  • 1 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375. Melt butter & set aside to cool.
  2. In large bowl, stir together the cooled butter along with the cake mix, eggs, & peppermint extract.
  3. Add crushed peppermint & stir.
  4. Mix together powdered sugar and cornstarch with a fork in shallow bowl.
  5. Roll dough into a ball (will be sticky) and cover with powdered sugar (Sarah suggested using plenty of powdered sugar, see detailed pictures over HERE)
  6. Place balls on cooking sheet, leaving plenty of room between cookies to expand.
  7. Bake for 9 minutes (they’ll look a little under-cooked, but will finish cooking outside the oven on the hot pan!) After cooling one minute, cook on wire rack.
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://passionatepennypincher.com/2012/12/red-velvet-peppermint-crinkle-cookies/

 

Looking for more recipe ideas? 

Filed Under: 12 Days of Christmas Baking, Desserts, Recipes

Chocolate Pretzel Bites

December 5, 2012 By 3 Comments

For day 3 in our 12 Days of Christmas Baking Series I thought we’d try out these Chocolate Pretzel Bites . . . yum! (I’m seriously going to have to start dieting before day thirteen . . . yikes!)  This is one of those oh-so-easy-but-just-about-perfect recipes, so if you haven’t made them yet this year they’re definitely worth adding to your list. And, since CVS has that great Hershey’s deal going on this week, it’s a great time to stock up for the Holidays! 

 Here’s what they look like before going in the oven . . . yup, sheer salty-chocolate bliss . . .

And here’s what your family will look like as they wait for them to cool . . . (my hubby might kill me for including him in the picture, but aren’t those two so cute?) :

And finally the recipe so you can try it out too. ;)

 

Print
Chocolate Pretzel Bites

Chocolate Pretzel Bites

Ingredients

  • Square Pretzels
  • Hershey Kisses
  • M&Ms

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350.
  2. Fill baking sheet with pretzels.
  3. Unwrap Hershey's kisses and put one in the middle of each pretzel.
  4. Bake in oven for 1-2 minutes, until Hershey's soften.
  5. Remove from oven and carefully place one M&M in the middle of each Hershey's kiss.
  6. Cool in refrigerator until chocolate hardens.
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://passionatepennypincher.com/2012/12/chocolate-pretzel-bites/

Do you have a favorite Christmas treat that you love to make? Leave a comment sharing the recipe, and feel free to link to it on your blog or another page and we might sample it here . . . I love hearing your favorites!

 

Looking for more recipe ideas? 

Filed Under: 12 Days of Christmas Baking, Desserts, Recipes, Slide Deck
« Older Posts