Cinnamon Roll Cake

My family loves cinnamon rolls but I don't always have the time to make the dough and let rise. This Cinnamon Roll Cake is the perfect substitute. This is definitely a treat and is great to make for special occasions such as Easter, Christmas, any Holiday, or on an occasional Sunday morning, like today.There's not much else I can say about this other than it is really yummy and pretty easy to make. It's great right out of the oven or at room temperature (I personally prefer room temp). Coffee or milk is a must with this.

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Cinnamon Roll Cake:

CAKE:
3 cups Flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Sugar
4 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 1/2 cups Milk
2 Eggs
2 teaspoons Vanilla
4 T Butter, melted

TOPPING:
1 cup ( 2 sticks) Butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Flour
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

GLAZE:
2 cups Powdered Sugar
5 Tablespoons Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 glass baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

In an electric or stand mixer add the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Once combined well , slowly stir in the melted butter. Pour into the prepared 9×13 baking pan.

FOR TOPPING, In a large bowl mix the 2 sticks of butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon together until well combined and creamy. Drop evenly over the batter by the tablespoonfuls and use a knife to marble/swirl through the cake. (I found it hard to swirl so just left it be and it came out perfect).

Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes or when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out nearly clean.

FOR GLAZE: In a medium bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla together with a whisk. Drizzle evenly over the warm cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Enjoy!!

Easter Sock Cupcakes

rolled making sure to keep the bottom flat (so that the cupcake stands upright). - See more at: http://www.733blog.com/2011/01/sock-cupcake-tutorial.html#sthash.axg7iXPy.dpuf

Looking for a guilt free sweet treat for your kids Easter basket? How about an adorable Easter Sock Cupcake. These are adorable treats are great for little ones, teens, and even grown ups. Easter Sock Cupcakes have a only a few ingredients and are easy to make. 

Easter Sock Cupcakes ...

Ingredients:

• Socks (1 pair of fuzzy socks, or 2-3 ankle socks)
• Rubber band
• Decorative Paper
• Tape or Hot Glue
• Clear Treat Bag (optional)

Directions: 

There's a great DIY step by step tutorial over on Seven Thirty Three's blog or you may follow my steps below (sorry no pictures).

For my cupcakes I used 3 pair of no-show ankle socks. You can use 1 pair of fuzzy socks or any socks of your choice.

making sure to keep the bottom flat (so that the cupcake stands upright). - See more at: http://www.733blog.com/2011/01/sock-cupcake-tutorial.html#sthash.axg7iXPy.dpuf

1. Cut your decorative paper into a 12 x 12.5 inch strip. See steps at bottom of this post.
2. Starting at the toe, roll the pair(s) of socks up making sure that each layer that forms is just slightly below the layer above it. This makes the 'cupcake frosting'.
3. Once you are done rolling the socks, secure the rolled socks by placing a rubber band (or hair tie) around the bottom half of the rolled socks.
4. Get your 12 x 2.5 inch decorative paper that you cut out. Wrap it around the bottom half of rolled socks and secure with tape a dab of hot glue. The socks should be sticking up out of the top so that they look like frosting.
5. Place a wrapped chocolate Easter candy on top, or insert a lollipop through the center of the rolled socks (this will be your cherry on top so use whatever wrapped candy you would like)
6. Now place the Sock Cupcake in a clear plastic treat bag and tie with coordinating ribbon and gift card. On the gift card write "This cupcake is not eat. It was 'baked' with love to warm your feet!"

These Sock Cupcakes are great gifts for children, teachers, moms, sisters, brothers for Easter, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Mother's Day, etc. Have fun and be creative with your cuppies!

Decorative Paper Strips for Cupcake Liners / Holders:

The decorative paper, printables and gift cards used here are from Anders Ruff's Easter Has Sprung design collection. You can purchase them here. 

Print the pink, green and/or blue gingham paper from the Easter Has Sprung collection (or purchase decorative paper from your favorite craft store). Cut each printed paper into 12 x 2.5 inch strips with or scissors. Using a paper punch cutter, punch a decorative border on one side - this will be the top of your cupcake holder.

Easter Snickerdoodles Cookies

 

Happy Easter everyone! Traditionally on Good Friday, we color Easter Eggs but this year we have some other plans and will doing eggs tomorrow. But I felt the need to make something Easter-y this morning. I decided on making cookies. I didn't want anything with chocolate since I'm sure baskets will be filled with delicious chocolates on Sunday and wanted something cheerful and colorful and yummy. So I went with Snickerdoodles. I used spring colored sugar in place of white sugar mixed with the cinnamon. Oh Sooo Yummmy ... especially when they are still warm.

 

Easter Snickerdoodles ...

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 3/4 cups flour
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt

• For pink cookies:  2 Tbls pink sugar mixed with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 
• For yellow cookies:  2 Tbls yellow sugar mixed with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• For blue cookies:  2 Tbls blue sugar mixed with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter, add eggs and mix well.
4. Blend dry ingredients into to butter mixture.
5. Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
6. Roll each ball  in the sugar-cinnamon mixture.
7. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. (I like to use parchment paper to avoid the sugar from sticking to the pan or browning too much)
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Happy Easter!