Brown Butter Churro Rice Krispies Treats. A fast and easy dessert that everyone is going to LOVE! Nutty brown butter, cinnamon and a pinch of salt really elevate this treat to another level! #FreakyFriday
It is that time of year friends! It is time for our Freaky Friday Cookie Exchange Blog Hop! Some of my blogger friends get together every few months to put together a really fun recipe swap where we all were assigned a blog to bake from and today we are ALL sharing our posts, and who we had! It’s been TOP SECRET and now I finally get to share this fantastic recipe for Brown Butter Churro Rice Krispies Treats from my friend Justine over at Fully Belly Sisters.
This recipe is pure genius honestly! Taking the time to brown the butter adds a wonderful subtle nuttiness to these. Then you add in a generous amount of cinnamon and just a pinch of salt and WOW, talk about elevating the flavor to a whole other level! They are tender, gooey and so flavorful. Wrap these in treat bags with some pretty ribbon and bring them to the swap… you are going to look like a rockstar!
1 stick unsalted butter, plus additional for greasing the pan
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
1 package (10 oz) mini marshmallows
6 cups crispy rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies
Instructions
Grease an 8 x 8 inch baking pan.
Place butter in large saucepan on medium-low heat. Let it melt, then get foamy. It will then turn a clear golden color and then, finally, the butter will start to turn brown and smell nutty. Stir it often throughout this process and watch it closely, so it doesn't burn.
Once the butter is evenly browned, turn down the heat to low and add the cinnamon and salt until fully combined. Stir in the marshmallows; cook, stirring often, until the marshmallows are fully melted.
Turn off the heat and stir in the cereal (I find a silicone spoon works well for this). Scrape into the greased pan and press down—greased hands make this easier. Let cool completely, then cut into 9 huge treats or a more modest 16.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #newforsanta #CollectiveBias
No Bake Peanut Butter Wafer Sandwiches & Peppermint Hot Cocoa. Whip up this really easy sweet treat for Santa this year! They are absolutely delicious and so fun!
We are less then one month away from Christmas, can you believe it? Confession, I have been playing Christmas music for a couple of weeks now and I am loving it! Now if you have little ones like me then you know who they have on mind this time of year…. Santa of course!!! My boys and I wanted to test out a new and fun treat for Santa this year so today I’m sharing our No Bake Peanut Butter Wafer Sandwiches & Peppermint Hot Cocoa.
Now, since these special treats are oursomething new for Santa, I wanted to make something that was really fast and super easy so the kids could pretty much do most of it on their own. I ran out to Walmart and picked up everything I needed for our No Bake Peanut Butter Wafer Sandwiches & Peppermint Hot Cocoa. We grabbed a box of NILLA Wafers, a container of Peter Pan Peanut Butter Spread, a box of Swiss Miss® hot chocolate with marshmallows as well as peppermint extract, white chocolate chips, Christmas sprinkles and whipped cream. Now we had everything we needed!
We got started as soon as we got home… there was of course plenty of taste testing to ensure that these would be the cookies we leave for Santa. The NILLA Wafers are dipped in melted chocolate and allowed to sit for the chocolate to set on the wafer. After that we added a good dollop of Peter Pan Peanut Butter Spread and sandwiched the wafers. Now thats not enough, no, we need something really festive… Christmas sprinkles of course!
Don’t forget, Santa is going to need something to go along with those No Bake Peanut Butter Wafer Sandwiches! We whipped up this incredibly delicious Peppermint Hot Cocoa and let me tell you, it is a winner! We used Swiss Miss® hot chocolate, milk, a little hint of peppermint extract, whipped cream and crushed up candy canes. Swiss Miss® is so rich and creamy and its made with REAL milk!
I have to say, while sweet treats are fun, for me this is ALL about spending time with my boys, making memories and hopefully creating traditions for us and eventually their own families. I really think its the little things that are impactful and stick around. Making the time to do things like bake, decorate for the holidays or go see a special holiday show…simply enjoy each other.
No Bake Peanut Butter Wafer Sandwiches & Peppermint Hot Cocoa
Author: Angela LeMoine
Ingredients
1 box NILLA Wafers {I used about ½ the box}
1 container Peter Pan Peanut Butter Spread
1 box Swiss Miss® hot chocolate
1 cup white chocolate chips
¼ tsp peppermint extract per hot cocoa
crushed candy canes
whipped cream
Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
In a microwave safe bowl melt the white chocolate in 10 second intervals, stirring each time until melted.
Dip half of each NILLA Wafer into the white chocolate then place onto a lined baking sheet. Once they are all dipped place the baking sheet into the freezer for 5 minutes or so to allow the chocolate to harden.
Add a dollop to half the wafers then place another wafer on top, creating a sandwich. Roll the edges in the sprinkles.
For your Peppermint Hot Cocoa, follow the instructions on the box. Add in ¼ tsp of peppermint extract per cup of hot chocolate. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane bits.
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So tell me…. What are some of your holiday traditions?
White Cake with Peppermint Buttercream. Shhhh, this is semi-homemade and no one will ever know! Pillsbury Purely Simple White Cake & Buttercream with the simple addition of peppermint extract and crushed candy cane. This one will wow everyone at Christmas!
Is this not a gorgeous cake? You’re not only going to LOVE the flavors but you are really going to love how incredibly easy this one is to make! I confess, its very semi-homemade but no one is going to know it. A perfect holiday dessert that will wow friends and family and you don’t have to spend hours baking it. A simple, light and fluffy white cake with a basic buttercream that gets a little bit of peppermint extract and crushed candy canes to make it fun and festive.
Have you had a chance to try the new Pillsbury® Purely Simple line? I LOVE it!!! The flavor is amazing, still super easy but now you are using real butter and milk to make the cake mix. It tastes just like homemade without all the measuring! The buttercream is equally as fantastic! These products really make it so easy to make an impressive looking dessert without a whole lot of effort which I am all for… especially when the days seem to just be flying by lately! * A little tip when baking… spray your pans then line the bottoms with parchment. The last thing you want is for your cake to stick and fall apart.
I really love the flavors in this cake. I am a very big fan of peppermint {which makes sense with my long love affair with thin mint cookies} so its a no brainer for me to crush up some candy canes and mix them into some luscious buttercream. There seems to be this trend lately of the “naked” cake… the idea is not to cover the entire cake with a frosting but to let the layers show and I think its lovely!! Mine might be a little messy but hey, lets call it rustic and perfect!
Several months back I was given the opportunity to give DegustaBox USA a try and I am loving it! DegustaBox is a monthly subscription box companyFor $19.99/mo, you receive 10-15 food products, many of which are new to market. The box has a value of OVER $30 of product so this is an incredible deal! If you sign up now, you can get 50% off your first box! Use code Q4P5U to get your first box for only $9.99– and thats including shipping too!
Bake the cake according to the instructions on the back using 2- 8 inch round pans. Allow to cool.
Mix the buttercream as instructed on the package with the addition of the peppermint extract. Once mixed, stir in about ½ of the crushed candy canes.
Frost a thin layer on top of the one round. Place the other round on top then frost the top of that. {NOTE: if you want to cover the entire cake then i'd recommend two packages of the buttercream}.
* Disclosure: I received products mentioned in this post in exchange for my review. This post contains #DegustaboxUSA affiliate links. All opinions given are 100% my own. AD
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SendingYourLove #CollectiveBias
Today I’m sharing with you a really Easy Chocolate Valentine’s Donut recipe {PLUS a FREE Valentine’s Menu Printable!} to help you celebrate with the ones that you love. Whether a close friend, a parter, spouse, your kids… these donuts are a perfectly sweet way to say “I Love You”.
Can you all believe its February already?!?! I am a holiday person. Any reason to celebrate, whether a birthday, 4th of July or Valentines Day… I enjoy having fun with it. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and this holiday sure has changed meanings for me over the years. I’m married to my high school sweetheart, we’ve been together for almost 19 years {its actually more then half our lives} so we’ve shared many Valentine’s Days together. Now that we have our boys the holiday is very much about out family.
What used to be all about the two of us having a quite romantic dinner out has transformed into a fun at home family night. The 3 guys in my life are my world! Now I work to make it more playful and make the extra effort to make sure that they know how much they mean to me. I headed over to Walmart the other day to grab cards and came across the Hallmark Signature Valentine’s Day cards- boy are they gorgeous!!! Keep an eye out for the designated Signature area and check the back for the
Theres a GREAT deal going on for these cards…. $2 off a 2 card purchase {min $2 purchase required, expires 2/15}. PLUS head over HERE to grab additional digital coupons and Valentine’s inspiration.
Speaking of Valentines inspiration, I have a FREE Printable Valentine’s Day Menu for you!! Its so simple, download the PDF I created then put it in any picture frame you have on hand. Use a dry erase marker on the glass part of the frame so that you can reuse the printable year after year! Its a really cute addition to the table.
Shall we chat donuts? Yes! I think so!!! I don’t think I’ve met any adult or child that would turn down a donut so I figured what a perfect sweet treat to help us celebrate Valentine’s Day! I also can’t say no to a really EASY dessert recipe so I created these Easy Chocolate Valentine’s Day Donuts using a box cake mix, a simple homemade vanilla icing and some really fun heart shaped candies. Truly the perfect ending to a delicious family meal.
I love a fun tablescape so I grabbed some decor at Walmart and the local craft store to create this adorable Valentine’s Day table. I displayed my framed menu, a Hallmark Signature Valentine’s Day card for my husband and one for my boys along with small gifts for each of them. I adore a bunting banner so thats hanging at the front of the table. Some fun pom pom balls hanging in the background and the glass drinking bottles that I made festive with a sticker! So simple but it really makes the kiddos feel special and thats what its all about!
Lets make donuts!!! Go ahead and grab yourself a non stick donut pan because once you see how easy it is to make cake donuts at home they will seriously be a staple around the house! This batch makes about 20-22 donuts {yup from ONE box of cake mix} so go ahead and share with friends too… theres plenty of these delicious chocolate donuts to go around.
Easy Chocolate Valentine's Donuts {PLUS a FREE Valentine's Menu Printable!}
Author: Angela LeMoine
Ingredients
1 box chocolate cake mix {i used Pillsbury Simply Pure}
1 stick softened unsalted butter
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1½ cups powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla
3 Tbsp water
heart candies
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Mix the cake mix per the instructions on the box {this may vary depending on the box mix you purchase}.
Spray your donut pan with non stick spray and fill each spot about ¾ of the way up. Bake for 14 minutes.
Pop them put onto a cooling rack. Repeat until all the batter is used.
While the donuts are cooling you can go ahead and make the simple vanilla glaze. In a bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla and water.
Dip one side of the cooled donut into the icing then sprinkle with the heart shaped candies. Place on a pan or piece of foil to catch any icing that slips off.
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Happy Valentine’s Day from My Family to Yours!
Theres a GREAT deal going on for these cards…. $2 off a 2 card purchase {min $2 purchase required, expires 2/15}. PLUS head over HERE to grab additional digital coupons and Valentine’s inspiration.
Mini Chocolate Pudding Tarts. Chocolate crust, chocolate pudding and fresh whipped cream! A simple and decadent dessert that is perfect for any occasion.
Its been a little while since i’ve shared a new recipe with you all and I’ve missed it! We were having computer issues so I haven’t been able to get on here to share. Im certainly making up for it with these decadent Mini Chocolate Pudding Tarts. Yes, I made these for Valentines Day but trust me these are perfect for any special occasion or just because! A simple chocolate cookie crust, chocolate pudding and finished with fresh whipped cream.
Truly, this may look like a complicated desserts with different components but I promise, each is really really easy!!! My friend Natalie gave me the idea a while back about using a chocolate wafer type cookie for a cheesecake crust and it has been a go to several times since. Just 2 ingredients… chocolate cookie crumbs and melted butter. The pudding.. yup I used boxed organic chocolate mix because why not! The fresh whipped cream to finish it off is a great contrast to the richness of the chocolate and is really so much better then store bought.
NOTE: This makes 6 mini tarts but if you don’t have the mini tart pans you can do one large one!
3.5 oz chocolate pudding {plus ingredients on packaging}
6 tbsp butter melted
16 chocolate wafer cookies
Half pint heavy cream
½ tsp vanilla
1½ tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Take the chocolate cookies {not the filled kind! plain chocolate wafer cookies} and place them in a food processor and pulse until they are a fine crumb. Mix with the melted butter.
Evenly distribute the mixture into the bottoms of the 6 pans. Press the crumbs down and up along the edge of the pan a bit. Place onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Set aside.
Prepare the pudding according to the package instructions. Carefully distribute the pudding evenly into the tart pans. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
For the whipped cream, add the heavy cream, vanilla and powdered sugar into a bowl {will go faster if the bowl is chilled} and using a hand mixer, mix until soft peaks are formed.
Spread the fresh whipped cream over the cooled tarts and sprinkle with whatever decoration works for you. You can also finish with fresh fruit.
With My OREO® Creation, OREO® is inviting YOU to submit your own ideas for the next OREO flavor! You have a chance of winning $500,00! So whats my OREO® creation you ask? Raspberry Lemonade OREO®! I’ve got summer fun on the brain and I love the idea of a contrast in flavors.
Where are my OREO® cookie lovers?! We just about always have a package or two on hand and I couldn’t be more excited to let you in on a really fun contest that OREO® has going on right now- My OREO® Creation Contest! YOU could actually develop the next OREO® creation and win $500,000!!!
While picking up a couple packs for the weekend at Walmart I started brainstorming, what would my creation be? Heres what I came up with… Raspberry Lemonade OREO®! One of my favorite refreshing drinks all summer long is a simple Raspberry Lemonade. Just hanging out by the pool with the family sipping my drink and snacking on OREOs so why not combine the two!?
Need a little inspiration for your creation? Head on over to your local Walmart because they’ve got an awesome variety of flavors available! Firework is perfect for the 4th of July, Red Velvet, Cinnamon Bun, Birthday Cake and even a fantastic candy bar! The prices at Walmart are fantastic so stock up!
For My OREO® Creation I wanted to come up with something a little out of the ordinary and inspired by hot summer days. I think the contrast in flavors sounds great! Have you all ever had a chocolate covered raspberry? They are such a great treat and I think just a little brightness from lemon zest would be perfection!
I’d love to hear from you… what in your life can inspire the next OREO® cookie flavor?? Is it a trip you took to another country? A favorite sporting events snack? Maybe just some wild combination you just think would be pretty darn awesome sandwiched between two cookies?
Head on over to the My OREO Creation Contest page now and submit your idea!! Who knows, you could be a HUGE winner!!! *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to residents of 50 US/D.C./Puerto Rico, 18 and older. Enter contest by 11:59 p.m. on 7/14/17. Void where prohibited.
Easy Peach Dumplings. Just in time for those perfect sweet summer peaches. This dessert is easy and outrageously delicious! Serve warm with a big scoop of ice cream and enjoy!
Happy Friday!!! I am so excited to share this post with you today! This is a Freaky Friday Recipe Swap that I did with some of my blogger friends. We all were assigned a blog to cook/bake from and today we are ALL sharing our posts, and who we had! It’s been TOP SECRET and now I finally get to share these AMAZING Easy Peach Dumplings from my friend over at Seduction in the Kitchen with all of you.
I love how fun these recipe swaps are and I am thankful to participate. I had a blast browsing through Seduction in the Kitchen to find a recipe to make and share here. We were all aiming for summer inspired dishes and I don’t know what says summer in NJ more then fresh peaches… ok well maybe the Jersey tomato. I am so glad I chose these dumplings because they are SO GOOD!
Deanna has some great ones to check out like her No Bake S’mores Treats, her bright and fresh Edamame Salad and the fabulous Caesar Pasta Salad with Smoked Salmon. Her recipes are easy to follow and full of flavor. As much as I wanted to try so many different recipes I did have to choose one and I went with these Easy Peach Dumplings {original recipe} because here in Jersey, its peach picking season baby! Deanna used canned peaches in her original recipe which is perfect for when peaches aren’t in season but since I can get great local ones, I went with fresh.
I halved 4 fresh peaches and each half is wrapped in cinnamon sprinkled crescent rolls. Placed into a baking dish and covered with a decadent buttery simple syrup. As the Easy Peach Dumplings bake the syrup thickens and forms the perfect glaze. The tops of the dumplings are golden and the bottoms gooey good! These are such a great summer treat! Serve warm with some ice cream and this is going to be a new favorite for sure!
¼ teaspoon of ground ginger {I'm not a huge fan of ginger in dessert so left this out}
1 tablespoon Dumante pistachio liquor {optional in original recipe- I left it out in mine}
Instructions
Preheat the oven at 350F.
In a sauce pot, dissolve the sugar in the water and add the butter and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Simmer for a few minutes until everything is well dissolved and melted. Set aside.
Spray a baking dish with non stick spray or brush with a little melted butter.
Unroll the crescent rolls. Take 2 of the triangles, pinch the the perforation together so that it forms a rectangle.
Lightly sprinkle each rectangle of dough with the cinnamon.
Place 1 peach halve on each piece of dough. Fold the dough up around the peach sealing it up as you shape the dough around it. Place the peaches flat side down into the baking dish.
Pour the sauce over the dumplings, and bake them for 30-40 minutes.
Allow them to cool slightly before removing them from the baking dish. Serve with a scoop of ice cream and some of the sauce over top everything.
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Be sure to check out all the other incredible participants in our Freaky Friday Recipe Swap!
OREO® O’s Sugar Cookies. A perfect back to school snack with the #BestCerealEver. Perfectly dunk-able homemade sugar cookie coated in crushed OREO® O’s cereal!
While on my latest trip to Shop Rite I was SO excited to find this NEW OREO® O’s Cereal from Post! I knew my boys were going to be very excited to see this one in the pantry and I thought I could definitely turn this into a fantastic after school snack for them! Win – Win all around and let me tell you, these cookies are AHHH-MAZING!!!
Its so funny, my boys are only 8 & 6 yet I feel like I live at Shop Rite to keep up with their appetites and thankfully Shop Rite is super close to me and has everything I need at GREAT prices! I feel like getting back into the routine of school is never the easiest transition and I thought to put some extra smiles on the boys faces… bake them fabulous cookies! It works every time!
I used my basic sugar cookie recipe then rolled the dough in crushed OREO® O’s Cereal. They are easy to make and that soft center is so so tasty! I’ll definitely be making another batch later in the week to share with some our friends because they are way too good not to share.
Ok so while my hubby was enjoying a couple of these OREO® O’s Sugar Cookies he was brainstorming for the next batch and heres what we’re thinking… ICE CREAM SANDWICHES! How fantastic would two of these cookies with a center of vanilla ice cream be? Oh and maybe even roll the edges of the ice cream in more of the cereal?!?! OK yes this is a must don’t ya think? I should probably stock up on the cereal next time I head back to Shop Rite!
To quote my husband “these may be the best muffins you ever made”. So yea you all have got to try these Mixed Berry Muffins! They are soft on the inside, crisp top and chock full of berries! A wonderful breakfast treat, addition to a brunch spread or an afternoon snack with your tea/coffee.
The weekend is just about here! YAY! I am so excited to share this post with you today! This is a Freaky Friday Recipe Swap that I did with some of my blogger friends. We all were assigned a blog to cook/bake from and today we are ALL sharing our posts, and who we had! It’s been TOP SECRET and now I finally get to share these Mixed Berry Muffins from my friend Candi over at The Devilish Dish!
I love how fun these recipe swaps are and I am thankful to participate. I had a blast browsing through The Devilish Dish to find a recipe to make and share here. I make muffins very often- a lot of times it involves bananas because I always seem to have a few that are “too brown” for eating but boy are they perfect for baking with! Candi has some fantastic recipes like her Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake, Individual 7 Layer Dips and Asian Chicken Chopped Salad.
When I came across her Berry Best Muffins recipe I knew I found my winner! I was intrigued not only my the pure deliciousness factor but that she uses a bit of a different technique then I typically do for muffins so was excited to give it a try! The results are GREAT! A perfectly soft, tender center that is just bursting with berries and the muffin top with a perfect crispness to it.
The only difference from Candis original recipe is that I halved it and my mixture of berries is just slightly different. I used a frozen bag of mixed strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries. Isn’t that the wonderful thing about cooking and baking? It is all about what you have available to you and maybe simply a preference/allergy. Because I found this particular mix of berries I did have to bake mine a little longer because of the moisture and well everyones ovens are different so you can use the toothpick trick to be sure to know when yours are ready.
about 2 cups fresh or frozen berries, rough chop & tossed with a few Tbsp of flour
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, and vanilla and mix until smooth and creamy.
In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the creamed mixture (beginning and ending with flour.) Mixture will be thick. Gently fold in berries.
Scoop the batter into a cupcake pan with liners, sprayed with non stick spray.
Sprinkle the tops with a bit more granulated sugar.
Bake at 425 degree for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes of baking, turn oven temperature down to 375 degrees and bake an additional 15-25 minutes until muffins are done in center and a rich, golden brown on top.
Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar before serving if you'd like too!
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BE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL THE AMAZING BLOGGERS PARTICIPATING IN THIS FUN RECIPE SWAP!
Combining two fabulous things with this one… apple season and my incredible scones! Yea, self proclaimed scone enthusiast. These Apple Cinnamon Scones are a perfect Fall treat! For breakfast, brunch or an afternoon snack these scones will totally hit the spot!
If you’ve followed along here for a while then you know I really truly LOVE to make scones! Well last week I got a text from my brother asking when I was making him some chocolate chip scones {his favorite thing ever!}. So, like the wonderful sister that I am, I made them over the weekend but also made a few other varieties including a batch of my Blueberry Scones and these Apple Cinnamon Scones.
I will be sharing the chocolate chip recipe soon too so stay tuned for that one! My family can’t get enough of that one! I wanted to share these with you first in hopes that maybe just maybe it would bring along some Fall-ish vibes because it has been unseasonably warm around here lately! One thing that just screams Fall to me is apples! Growing up every year we’d head out to the orchards and pick bushels full.
I used Granny Smith apples in these because I love that bit of tartness and they hold up really well to baking too. You can certainly switch of the variety for something sweeter if you’d like. A classic combo with apples is cinnamon so I went with it for these scones too and the flavor is just incredible!! Go ahead make a batch, pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy!
egg wash {lightly beaten egg with a splash of water}
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Add the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt to a food processor with the dough blade. {you can also use a hand mixer}.
Add in the cold butter and continue to mix until the butter becomes incorporated and the pieces are about the size of peas.
Stir in the apples and cinnamon just to coat with the dry mixture.
In a measuring cup mix together the buttermilk and egg. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon until the dry ingredients are mostly incorporated.
Pour the dough out onto a very lightly floured surface {too much flour will leave you with a heavy dense scone}. Gently press together to form into a round about 1½ inches high.
Cut into 6 even triangles. Place onto a parchment lined baking sheet and brush with some of the egg wash. Sprinkle a little extra cinnamon on top.
Bake for approx 22-24 minutes or until lightly golden.
I love apple season! We are lucky enough here in NJ to have plenty of local farms to go and pick our own. This Dutch Caramel Apple Tart is such a perfect Fall dessert. Grab a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream and dig in!
Is there anything more classic then apple pies? I had some refrigerated pie dough on hand and decided rather then a traditional apple pie I’d go with something a little more fun…a Dutch Caramel Apple Tart! Its a little rustic and I LOVE a crumble topping!
I used granny smith apples in this tart. I love how well they hold up when baking and I enjoy the tartness with the sweetness of the rest of the tart. The apples are simply tossed with flour, sugar, cinnamon, butter, diced caramels and a pinch of salt.
I par-bake the tart dough just for about 8 minutes so it doesn’t become soggy. You just unroll the dough into a greased tart pan, pressing the dough up the sides of the pan. Poke some holes in the bottom with a fork to prevent it from puffing up and par-bake. You then just pour in the apple mixture and top with a really simple crumble.
The crumble is made up of old fashioned oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and butter. This Dutch Caramel Apple Tart bakes up just beautifully! That gooey caramel with the tart apples and the crumble… Oh. My. Goodness. Just pure heaven!! Serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream on a cool Fall day and enjoy!!
Grease a tart pan wit non stick spray and line the drop out bottom piece with a parchment round. Unroll the refrigerated pie crust into the pan, pressing the dough up the edges. Poke several times with a fork. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes.
In a bowl mix together the apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, butter, caramels and salt. Toss to coat.
In another bowl mix together the oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and butter. Using your hand mix the mixture pressing the butter into the ingredients.
When the pie shell is ready, pour in the apples, spread evenly. Top with the crumble, spread evenly.
Oh yes!!! Another scone recipe!!! I just can’t help myself! I love making them, they are delicious and they freeze perfectly. These Chocolate Chip Scones are a favorite around my house… can you blame them? Warm gooey chocolate right out of the oven? Doesn’t get much better then that.
I’m telling ya, if I ever happen to hit the lottery I will be opening a lovely little scone, salad & coffee shop! My scones are hugely requested and always loved! One of my favorite things about cooking and baking is the enjoyment it brings to others. Its getting around the table with friends and a cup of coffee chatting about life and enjoying these Chocolate Chip Scones.
Maybe its the cooler weather but I have definitely been on a bit of a baking kick lately. These Chocolate Chip Scones are the same exact base recipe I use for all my scones. The only thing I change up is the variety and for these a classic good helping of milk chocolate chips. We really love these things… and they are truly perfect for any time of day. Breakfast, a special brunch, an afternoon snack or post dinner dessert.
1 cup chocolate chips {throw in extra if you'd like of course}
egg wash {lightly beaten egg with a splash of water}
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Add the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt to a food processor with the dough blade. {you can also use a hand mixer}.
Add in the cold butter and continue to mix until the butter becomes incorporated and the pieces are about the size of peas.
Stir in the chocolate chips just to coat with the dry mixture.
In a measuring cup mix together the buttermilk and egg. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon until the dry ingredients are mostly incorporated.
Pour the dough out onto a very lightly floured surface {too much flour will leave you with a heavy dense scone}. Gently press together to form into a round about 1½ inches high.
Cut into 6 even triangles. Place onto a parchment lined baking sheet and brush with some of the egg wash. Sprinkle a little extra sugar on top.
Bake for approx 22-24 minutes or until lightly golden.
In my book, December 1st means time to get ready for the holidays and get baking! One of my favorite family Christmas traditions is making cookies. Today I’m sharing a really fun one that would be a welcomed addition to any cookie tray! Chocolate Chip Cookie Dippers are easy to make, chock full of chocolate and served with a 3 ingredient Peanut Butter Dip!
Happy Friday you guys! Can you all believe its December already?!?! Seriously the months seem to fly by!! I’ve got to tell you, I am excited for todays post! Not only is this a fantastic and DELICIOUS recipe, its our latest Freaky Friday Virtual Holiday Cookie Exchange!!! For the past few years a bunch of us food bloggers have gotten together to do a really fun recipe swap and this holiday cookie exchange is definitely my favorite! We are secretly assigned another blog to choose a recipe from, bake it up then SURPRISE- we share them all today! A collection of fabulous sweet treats that will make the holidays that much more tasty and fun! I was assigned my friend Jennifer over at Take Two Tapas! She is such a talent, so be sure to check out her site. She makes fabulous smaller portioned dishes with BIG flavor. She is a momma to two boys like me too! From fabulous drinks, snacks, soups, salads and SO much more… she has you covered!
I decided to pick these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dippers because well who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie and I knew my boys would LOVE dipping these into a peanut butter dip! Jennifer had some really great ones though so it was hard to choose. Here are some of my favorites of hers that I can’t wait to try… Sriracha Honey Bourbon Chicken Wings, German Chocolate Wontons and Roasted Tomato Gazpacho Shooters!
So for these you are basically making a giant chocolate chip cookie… FYI- this recipe is perfection and shall forever be our chocolate chip cookie recipe! I used mini chocolate chips so there is plenty of chocolate goodness in every bite! The cookie comes together really easily, press the dough into a baking dish and bake until golden. Allow to completely cool then cut into these really fun dippers!
In Jennifers recipe she actually makes 3 amazing dips so definitely check hers out! I let the boys choose one for use to make and they went with her Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce! I think its a perfect combination of flavors because heck chocolate and peanut butter belong together. I will definitely be making these again for our family cookie party! I know everyone is going to LOVE these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dippers!
In a mixer or using a hand mixer, cream together the brown sugar, sugar and butter.
Add egg, vanilla. Mix until incorporated.
In a small bowl mix the dry ingredients. Add the dry into the mixer and mix until mostly combined.
By hand, stir in the chocolate chips.
Press dough into a 9x13 pan and bake 20-25 minutes.
Remove pan and let cool for about 20 minutes. If they are too warm, they will fall apart when cutting.
When completely cool I flipped the giant cookie onto a cutting board and cut into the dippers.
For the dipping sauce. Warm the milk and peanut butter in the microwave just for 10 seconds to loosen it. Add in the powered sugar and mix until smooth.
Place sticks back on cookie sheet and bake for another 10 minutes, like biscotti.
While cookies are baking make your choice of dipping sauces.
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Please be sure to stop on by all the amazing other blogs to check out the sweet treats they are sharing today!
I just love the classic Grinch from Dr. Seuss so I thought it would be really fun to make Grinch Sugar Cookies to enjoy while watching the show as a family. These are a really easy to make and absolutely adorable!!
One of my favorite cookies to bake is a simple sugar cookie. I’ve made many variations of it but these Grinch Sugar Cookies just might be one of my favorites yet. The cookie recipe is super easy to make and they really come together in no time at all. We watch The Grinch every year and c’mon who could resist that guy when his hearts grows and grows?!
My basic sugar cookie recipe is not super sweet which I love. There is the perfect soft inside with just a bit of crunch on the outside. I rolled the dough into balls using a small cookie scoop then rolled in green sugar crystals. What would a Grinch cookie be without a lot of green right!? These bake really nicely too- they hold their shape well and don’t flatten out.
I admit… I totally cheated and used store bought red decorating frosting that I simply added to a piping bag with a small tip to draw on those hearts. These are such a playful and delicious cookie. Kiddo or adult- these are going to be a hit! Baking is such a fun tradition that I loved from childhood and I am so happy to pass it down to my boys. Sure you make a mess, maybe time is tight but this time of year and always should be about creating special moments.
In a small bowl mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.
In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add in the sugar and mix until well combined. Next add in the egg, vanilla and water and mix until light and fluffy.
Add in half the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients. Be sure not to over mix. You want the dough just combined, use a wooden spoon to incorporate any flour that didn’t get in there.
Using a small scoop form the dough into balls then roll in the green sugar until coated. Place onto a lined baking sheet and press lightly to form the cookie.
Bake for for about 12 minutes. Allow the cookie to cool completely before decorating.
One of my favorite things to bake, aside from my scone obsession, is biscotti. They are an Italian twice baked drier cookie meant to be dunked into your coffee or espresso. These Orange Pecan Biscotti have such a wonderful flavor, are easy to make and perfect to add to your holiday cookie platters!
I’ve always got homemade biscotti filling my cookie jar- they last a LONG time! I’ve got a basic recipe that I start with and throw in my variations from and they come out just perfect every time! I absolutely love these Orange Pecan Biscotti for the holidays {they make a great homemade gift too!}. The orange zest adds so much fantastic flavor that just pairs so nicely with the crunch of the pecans.
So biscotti aren’t your typical “cookie”. Biscotti are baked twice, allowing the cookie to dry out making it perfect for a long shelf life and to hold up to a dunk in your coffee or espresso. The dough all comes together so easily in a bowl. The biscotti are baked first in an almost rectangular shape for about 25 minutes. You then remove them from the oven, drop the temperature and allow them to cool a bit. Once cool enough to handle you slice them on an angle and place them back on the cookie sheet.
When the biscotti go in for their second baking you place them on one of the cut sides and halfway through the second bake you will flip them to the other cut side. They will get dried out and just lightly golden. The texture is just perfect in these Orange Pecan Biscotti! Oh ya know what I just thought of.. how fun would a gift basket filled with some of these biscotti, coffee, tea, mugs, etc… be for a friend?!
Some other varieties I’ve made these year are a dried cranberry & chocolate and a chocolate hazelnut. Its really fun to play around with different combinations so feel free to switch the nut type if you’d prefer here or skip the nut and do a chocolate chip and orange.. thats the great thing about these biscotti- easily customizable!
In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, pecans and orange zest.
In a small bowl whisk together the eggs, butter {not too hot or you'll scramble the eggs} and orange extract.
Add the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until mostly combined.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times until the dough all comes together.
Cut the dough in half and on a lined baking sheet form the two halves into a flattened rectangular log about 1" in thickness, 4" wide & 8" long. {see photo above for a better of the shape & size}.
Bake for about 25-27 minutes. Remove the pan, allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Lower oven temp to 300 degrees.
Once cool enough to handle slice the dough on an angle about 1" thick. Place the biscotti on the baking sheet with one of the cut sides down.
Bake for 15 minutes, remove the pan, flip the biscotti onto the other cut side and bake another 15 mines or so.
I’m telling you, I have a real addiction to baking scones! The possibility of varieties is endless and I love trying new ones all the time. Today I’m sharing with you my Raisin Scones recipe. Its easy and they are so delicious!!! A great one to have on hand for a quick breakfast, an addition to a beautiful brunch or with an afternoon cup of coffee.
I’ve shared MANY different scone recipes here on the blog and all start with the exact same base. Some of my favorites… Chocolate Chip, Apple Cinnamon, Oreo and these savory Pecorino, Garlic and Herb Scones. I happen to love raisins and so do my boys. A couple weeks ago I cleaned out my pantry and realized that the little boxes of raisins had gotten a little hard so I figured lets give them new life in a scone!
These scones are wonderfully tender, the sweetness from the plump raisins is perfect and they are just the right amount of sweetness. I’ll definitely be making a batch of these Raisin Scones again very soon, they were a huge hit!!! Another thing I LOVE about these… I always make several batches- sometimes different varieties and freeze a bunch. They warm up so perfectly when you just pop them in the oven for a bit- just like fresh baked! Great to grab when you’ve got a friend stopping by!
egg wash {lightly beaten egg with a splash of water}
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Add the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt to a food processor with the dough blade. {you can also use a hand mixer}.
Add in the cold butter and continue to mix until the butter becomes incorporated and the pieces are about the size of peas.
Stir in the raisins just to coat with the dry mixture.
In a measuring cup mix together the buttermilk and egg. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon until the dry ingredients are mostly incorporated.
Pour the dough out onto a very lightly floured surface {too much flour will leave you with a heavy dense scone}. Gently press together to form into a round about 1½ inches high.
Cut into 6 even triangles. Place onto a parchment lined baking sheet and brush with some of the egg wash. Sprinkle a little extra sugar on top.
Bake for approx 22-24 minutes or until lightly golden.
From breakfast scones to easy sides, main dishes and dessert these 10 Favorite Fall Inspired Recipes have got you covered for the season!
The flavors of Fall to me mean warm and comforting. It makes me think of apple picking as a family, warm sweaters, crisp nights and Fall foliage. Today I’m sharing with you a roundup of 10 Favorite Fall Inspired Recipes like my Apple Cinnamon Scones, Wild Rice Salad with Sweet Potato, Spinach & Apple, Pork Tenderloin with an Apple-Onion Gravy and Caramel Apple Cheesecake and much more!! Come dive into Fall with me through the kitchen with these great recipes!
Lets start with this delicious Wild Rice Salad with Sweet Potato, Spinach and Apple. I feel like its a great transition dish from Summer to Fall. Its on the lighter side but has a ton of Fall flavors going on with the butternut squash and apples.
Next up… these Apple Cinnamon Scones! Whether you are enjoying them for breakfast or with a cup of coffee or tea in the afternoon, these scones are a perfect treat!! Easy to make and a great use of fresh picked apples.
Soup! I can eat it all year long but especially a go to as the weather cools off and this Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Soup is easily one of my very favorites!! Its smooth, creamy and so flavorful! It makes a great one for Thanksgiving too!
Heres a great pasta dish for ya! Tortellini with Butternut Squash, Spinach and Pancetta. Its such an easy meal to make which is great especially for those busy weeknights. Vegetarian? Simply leave out the pancetta for a meatless meal. A nice homemade meal really can be this easy and this good.
How about a fun way to jazz up breakfast with great Fall flavors? This Apple Pie Pancake Toppingis such a fun way to add big flavor to a stack of pancakes. We especially love this for a weekend treat with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert!
Speaking of dessert, this Caramel Apple Cheesecakeis drool worthy delicious and pretty! Creamy New York style cheesecake topped with apples cooked slightly in a simple caramel sauce. For a little crunch I added chopped toasted hazelnuts. This one is, WOW!
A classic pairing- pork and apples… I made this Pork Tenderloin with an Apple-Onion Gravy with that classic combo in mind. Its easy to make and that gravy is really so full of flavor! Serve over a big scoop of mashed potatoes and some green beans and dinner is set!
A go to side dish for me come Fall and Winter…. this Roasted Butternut Squash with Spiced Pecans is so easy to make and bursting with flavor. Great any night of the week and even lovely enough for the holidays!
Lets get one more dessert in shall we? This one is pretty spectacular! Dutch Caramel Apple Tart! The tart overall is amazing but I have to say- the crumble topping is my favorite part! Go ahead and pick some apples because you are going to want to try this one!
This is another family favorite. My Apple Chestnut Stuffing. I hear “stuffing” and immediately think Thanksgiving BUT this make a great side to a rotisserie chicken and can be stuffed into a pork chop or chicken breast. The flavors are amazing!
The deliciousness doesn’t stop there!!! I’ve got some amazing Fall inspired recipes from some of my favorite bloggers so please be sure to check them out too!
Scones are one of my very favorite baked goods to make. They are so easy, quick and the variety possibilities are endless! Today Im sharing with you my latest…. Double Chocolate Scones! I know, drool worthy right? Chocolate base plus lots of chocolate chunks in there as well. Breakfast, afternoon snack or dessert these scones are perfect!
*Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I have shared a LOT of scones recipes over the years from raisin, blueberry, citrus, strawberry and more… but never have I done a chocolate base until now! These Double Chocolate Scones are absolutely delicious and will surely please all the chocolate lovers in your life! These are wonderfully tender, a perfect amount of sweetness and all that chocolatey goodness. I am really glad I made a double batch so I can have some readily available in my freezer.
This is one of my favorite weeks of the year, because #Choctoberfest is finally here! From now until the end of the week, I am joining forces with over 100 other bloggers from around the world to post delicious chocolate recipes. Every day, #Choctoberfest bloggers will be celebrating all things chocolate – milk, dark, white, bittersweet, semi-sweet, and cocoa!
We are starting with a #Choctoberfest prize pack from our generous sponsors. Scroll down to learn how you can enter to win. One lucky winner will receive the following:
A 100-Piece Cake Decorating Kit from our blog sponsors The PinterTest Kitchen. This set includes a cake turntable, piping bags, piping tips, flower nozzles, scapers, and more.
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3n Instant Pot and a 40-Pound Case of Granulated Sugar from our gold sponsor Imperial Sugar. Imperial Sugar provides high-quality sugar and sweetener products and over 100 years of time-tested recipes. Sweet things happen when people come together in the kitchen, and that’s why Imperial Sugar has been at the heart of family traditions and celebrations for generations.
Coconut Oil and Chocolate Silk Greens from our silver sponsor Barlean’s, your trusted source for chocolatey goodness superfood nutrition. Barlean’s has a commitment to staying ahead of the innovation curve in providing the absolute highest quality product.
A Chocolate Gift Pack from our silver sponsor Forte Chocolates. You’ll receive 12 of their most popular chocolate bars. With Forte Chocolates, you can celebrate life through chocolate. They also have a line of chocolate developed specifically to use in savory recipes.
A Chocolate Gift Pack from our silver sponsor Divine Chocolate. You’ll receive one of each of their baking bars, a white chocolate bar, and their top 5 everyday bars. Divine Chocolate is the only Fairtrade chocolate company in the world that is owned by cocoa farmers. Their baking bars are also a delicious vegan option.
A Selection of Sprinkles from our silver sponsor Sprinkle Pop. Sprinkle Pop’s bespoke sprinkle creations are one of a kind, just like you! At Sprinkle Pop, you can also order a custom sprinkle mix; there isn’t a sprinkle mix that you can dream up that they can’t create.
That’s a prize pack worth over $400! Open worldwide, except where prohibited. Must be 18+ to enter (21+ in some locations). See terms and conditions for more details.
To enter, simply follow our sponsors using the widget below. You can gain additional entries by following me and the other participating bloggers. A winner will be drawn on October 21, 2018 and contacted via email. Good luck!
Don’t forget to come back to my blog for more chocolatey goodness between now and October 20.
I was thrilled when my package from Divine Chocolate arrived! Included was two of their Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate bars and their Unsweetened Baking bars. Divine Chocolate is a fair-trade company and their baking bars are vegan! Their chocolate has no artificial flavors, made with 100% pure cocoa butter and no palm or soy oil used.
I couldn’t wait to bake up something fantastic these bars. I decided for these Double Chocolate Scones that the semi sweet bars would be perfect and boy was a right. Great rich chocolate flavor shines through.
Have you made scones before? They’re really easy! The dry ingredients are mixed in a food processor then butter is added and pulsed until its incorporated into pea sized pieces. Pour the mix into a bowl and stir in the chopped chocolate baking bars. Next goes in buttermilk, an egg and a shot of espresso! Stir it all together, onto a lightly floured surface and cut into any shape you’d like.
So why the espresso? Coffee or in this case a shot of espresso, really brings out the chocolate flavor in such a lovely way. Can I tell you, as many times as I’ve made scones, I can not for the life of me cut even pieces as you can see from above. Let me tell ya, it doesn’t even matter, they are equally delicious!
egg wash: 1 egg lightly beaten with a couple splashes of water
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Add the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt to a food processor with the dough blade. {you can also use a hand mixer}.
Add in the cold butter and continue to mix until the butter becomes incorporated and the pieces are about the size of peas.
Stir in the chocolate just to coat with the dry mixture.
In a measuring cup mix together the buttermilk, espresso, egg. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon until the dry ingredients are mostly incorporated.
Pour the dough out onto a very lightly floured surface {too much flour will leave you with a heavy dense scone}. Gently press together to form into a round about 1½ inches high.
Cut into 6 even{ish} triangles or squares. Place onto a parchment lined baking sheet and brush with some of the egg wash.
Sprinkle a little extra sugar on top.
Bake for approx 22-24 minutes. Once cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar.
I am really enjoying all this baking for #Choctoberfest 2018! Today I’m sharing an absolutely delicious recipe for Easy Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Buns!! Thanks to our Gold Host, Imperial Sugar, this sweet treat is easy and so tasty! Crescent dough, brown sugar, cinnamon & chocolate finished with a cream cheese frosting- how perfect!
*Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
My kiddos were the inspiration for this easy dessert. They absolutely love cinnamon buns and I thought how fun would it be to add in mini chocolate chips?! I don’t know about all of you but we are a busy family so when I can through together an amazing dessert this quickly, I call that a big winner!! Our Gold Host, Imperial Sugar provided up with an incredibly generous amount of brown sugar and powdered sugar so I had to give both a try of course! I use the brown sugar for the bun filling and the powdered sugar to sweeten the cream cheese frosting.
Imperial Sugar is celebrating their 175th anniversary this year! They started in 1843 in Texas and is one of the states longest continuously operating companies. What an incredible accomplishment isn’t it? I am absolutely honored to share about this company and their products! The Imperial Sugar family of products includes granulated sugar, light and dark brown sugar, free-flowing sugar, powdered sugar, sugar shakers and Steviacane® (Stevia + sugar blend). Their products are 100% pure cane sugar and non-GMO making it so easy to get great results!
Be sure to head over to their site and check out a fantastic collection on Halloween recipes!!
You’ll be amazed at how simple it is to make these Easy Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Buns! Roll out a couple crescent dough sheets and sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and Imperial Light Brown Sugar. Add some mini chocolate chips and roll it up. Slice into your desired bun size and place on a lined baking sheet or in a buttered baking dish. Bake until golden and ooey gooey.
These soft and perfectly sweet Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Buns are surely going to quickly be a favorite! In my opinion, the perfect way to finish these off was with a lightly sweetened vanilla cream cheese frosting and some more mini chocolate chips! The frosting is to easy too! Stir together Imperial Powdered Sugar, cream cheese, vanilla and a little heavy cream. Smear all over the fresh out of the oven buns and done!
How cute are these Mini Halloween Chocolate Cakes?! Topped with cream cheese frosting and the most adorable sprinkles from one of our Sponsors, Sprinkle Pop!! Don’t forget to scroll down to enter our GIVEAWAY!!!
*Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Halloween is just around the corner and I love baking up special treats for the holidays! This one is super easy to make, really delicious and so cool thanks to these Halloween sprinkles from Sprinkle Pop!! Great vibrant colors, fun shapes and so tasty! These sprinkles add the perfect “spooky” touch to these Mini Halloween Chocolate Cakes! A little trick- I use a donut pan to make these individual sized cakes! You simply fill the batter to the top of each form and they bake up into perfect mini cakes!
I never heard of Sprinkle Pop before #Choctoberfest but wow am I glad I know now! They have such an incredible varieties of sprinkle mixes. From the Halloween, Fall leaves and the red hearts I sampled… there is a great monster mash mix, gorgeous metallic mixes, holiday mixes or you can get a custom mix made up! How awesome! When my package arrived my boys saw the Halloween mix and said “ohhhhh what are you making?”. Let me tell ya, these mini cakes were a big hit!
So I used a boxed chocolate cake mix but to give it a really great homemade feel I substitute butter for the oil and milk for the water. These mini cakes are moist and delicious. I absolutely love cream cheese frosting because the flavor is not only great but its so easy to make too! Simply whip up cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar and heavy cream until smooth. What better way to finish off these Halloween treats then with this great All Hallows mix from Sprinkle Pop!
I use an ice cream scoop to quickly and evenly add the frosting onto each mini cake. This recipe makes about 18-20 mini cakes. We shared this batch with friends that all gave it a big thumbs up and I can’t wait to make them again for school parties! I know the kids are going to love this Halloween treat!
In a bowl mix together the cake mix, butter, milk and eggs until smooth. Butter a donut pan and pour the batter most of the way up. Bake for about 16 minutes.
Allow to cool a bit before popping them out and then allow them to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Repeat until all the batter is used.
In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar and heavy cream. Mix with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
Once all the donuts are cooled completely, frost and sprinkle.