Baked Mini Cake Donut (Holes) w/ Maple Glaze

Baked Mini Cake Doughnuts

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup milk plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice, mixed and set aside)

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 1/2 Tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 425*F.  Spray mini doughnut pan or mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, sift together (or stir with a whisk), flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Add buttermilk, egg, and butter and stir until just combined.

Fill each doughnut cup or muffin cup approximately 1/3- 1/2 full.  The batter will rise quite a bit during baking.

Bake 4-6 minutes or until the top of the doughnuts spring back when touched.

 Cool in pan 1-2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Maple Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon pure maple extract

In a small bowl, stir together sugar, milk and extract until sugar is completely dissolved.  Use immediately to glaze doughnuts.  Dip each doughnut in glaze.  If there's extra glaze, you can dribble it over the top.



These were pretty good when I had them fresh, but the next morning they were better.  I suppose sitting in a closed up container with frosting on them probably moistened them up a little bit.

Have a wonderful day!

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

 

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Sweet Dough

3 1/2 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1 egg, at room temperature

Apple Filling

2 cups apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter

 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Caramel Topping

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons corn starch
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup half -and-half or evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter, cubed

 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten

Attach dough hook to stand mixer and in the mixer bowl combine 2 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Heat milk in the microwave until lukewarm.  Add the warm milk, 1/4 cup butter, and egg to the flour mixture and mix at low speed until ingredients are combined, scraping sides of bowl frequently. Continue to add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time until the dough begins to leave the sides of the bowl. Turn dough out onto lightly floured board and knead until it is smooth and elastic.  Spray bowl with cooking spray and place dough in bowl, turning once to bring greased side of dough up.  Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size (about 1 hour).  Punch down dough, pull edges into center, and turn over in the bowl; let rise again until almost double in size (about 20 - 30 minutes).  While dough is rising, in a large saucepan combine filling ingredients and cook on medium heat for 15 - 20 minutes or until apples are tender; set aside and allow to cool.  Roll dough into 9" x 15" rectangle; spread filling over dough. Roll up tightly beginning at wide side and seal well by pinching edges of roll together.12. Spray 9" x 13" pan with cooking spray; cut rolls into 1" slices using a knife and place rolls in pan a little apart from each other.  Cover pan and let rise until double in bulk (about 20 - 30 minutes).  Bake at 375°F for 25 - 30 minutes or until golden brown and completely baked through.  To make caramel sauce, combine brown sugar and corn starch in a saucepan; add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Stirring continually cook until thickened, about 3 minutes.  Drizzle warm caramel sauce over warm rolls and serve.

 

They were delicious, but definitely best fresh and warm!  So have same family and friends over to enjoy some fresh caramel apple cinnamon rolls with you!

Have a wonderful day!

A New Lil' Brother: Tanner Richard

I'm excited I have a new little brother!!

Tanner Richard

Born on Sunday, February 3rd

5 lbs 12 oz

19 inches

A blessing sent from heaven!

Can't wait until he gets home:)

Have a wonderful day!

Cranberry Bliss Cookies Recipe

Cranberry Bliss Cookies

For the Cookies:

3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries

 

For the Frosting:
1 (8 oz.) bar cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup white chocolate chips, melted in the microwave
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar

 

For the Topping:
1 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
1/4 cup white chocolate chips, melted in the microwave

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt until well-blended. Set aside.

Using an an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add in the eggs one at a time, beating in between to incorporate. Then reduce the speed to low, and slowly add in the dry ingredients. Increase the speed to medium, and continue beating until well-combined. Fold in the white chocolate chips and cranberries, and mix until just-combined. (Do not overmix.)

Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour. Then place dough by rounded tablespoon-fulls onto a baking sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden around the edge.  Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack until cool.  Wait until cookies reach room temperature before adding frosting and toppings.

Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the cream cheese and melted white chocolate until combined.  Add in the vanilla and mix until combined. Then reduce speed to low and add the powdered sugar. Mix until incorporated and smooth.  Spread the frosting on the cooled cookies. Then immediately sprinkle the frosted cookies with the chopped dried cranberries and use a fork to drizzle on the topping, swishing it back and forth over the cookies. Store in the fridge.

These cookies were very delicious and a different kind of alternative of the Cranberry Bliss Bars.  Next I want to try to make the actual bars, as I've never made them before.

Have a wonderful day!!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars


Ingredients
 
For the crust 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup flour

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

For the cheesecake

1/4 cup sugar

8 oz reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature

1 large egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For the apple filling

2 granny smith apples, cored and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 1/2 tbsp sugar

3/8 tsp cinnamon

For the streusel topping 

6 tbsp butter, room temperature

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup quick oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

For the caramel sauce  

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 

1/4 cup butter, cubed 

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

1. For the crust, cut the butter into the flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon until combined and crumbly. Press the mixture into the bottom of an 8x8-inch pan that has been lined with aluminum foil.  Bake at 350 until lightly golden brown, 8-12 minutes.  Set aside and let cool.
2. For the cheesecake, beat the sugar into the cream cheese until smooth.  Beat in the egg and vanilla.  Pour the mixture into the baking dish over the crust.
3. For the apple filling, mix the apples, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a large bowl.  Sprinkle on top of the cheesecake in an even layer.
4. For the streusel topping, cut the butter into the flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon until combined and crumbly.  Sprinkle evenly over the apples.  Bake at 350 until the cheesecake is set, about 25-35 minutes. Let cool.  Refrigerate.
5. For the caramel sauce, in a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted. Gradually add cream. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat.  Let cool and serve over the apple cheesecake bars.

 

These are delicious!!  They're more like a dessert than a bar; we all ate them with forks, with all that caramel sauce on the top:)  Next time I plan on trying to make them gluten free; I think it'll probably work out fine!

Have a wonderful day!

A Christmas/Winter Ruffle Table Runner

My project I told you about that I'm finally sharing with you!!  I had it finished and took pictures, but then when I tried editing them before they wouldn't save; it worked now though so it's all good:)

 

 

I used a fun mitten print fabric; then I incorporated in the green and red to make it a little more Christmas-y.  I think we'll be able to use it all winter though!

 

Did you know it's kind of hard to gather fabric when you have 3 layers??  It is; I have experience now!!!  That's why it took longer than I thought it would to make it:)

 

I think it's cute though:)  It's sitting on the dining room table with some fun little candles in the center of it that we got from a bazaar!  I wish I would've made the table runner shorter, but it works good enough!

Hope you all had a wonderful day!  And have been having fun crafting & baking; getting ready for Christmas!  I need to get BUSY!!  :)

Baker's Review Wednesday: Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin Cookies

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon melted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt; set aside.

In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup of butter and white sugar.  Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla to butter mixture and beat until creamy.  Mix in dry ingredients.  Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls; flatten slightly.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven.  Once cookies are off pan, drizzle glaze on with fork.

To make glaze: Combine powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.  Add milk as needed to achieve drizzling consistency.

*******

The first time I made these delicious cookies was earlier this year in school.  I absolutely LOVED them, so I had to come home and make some, too!  They're soft, delicious yummy-ness!!  Super addicting!  Make them.  They're easy and delicious.  Two things I like when baking!!

Have a wonderful day, everyone!  I should be back soon with some projects I've been working on (Okay . . . well, the one I'm thinking about I started today, but I think I'll finish it tomorrow . . . so I should be back with it soon!!)