Make Your Family's Christmas Merry & Bright!

From Cupcake Essentials...

Santa Baking Cups.  No muffin tin needed!

Red Sixlets add a wonderful splash of color!

What could be more traditional than "Frosty the Snowman"?

And, what lights up the holiday more than Christmas lights?

All these products and more are available at www.cupcakeessentials.com.

Christmas is getting close!  Don't miss out.

Christmas Chocolate Truffles

From our friends at Eagle Brand...

Ingredients
Crisco® Butter Flavor No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons Folgers® Classic Instant Coffee Crystals
1/4 cup finely chopped pistachios
1/4 cup toasted coconut
1/4 cup chocolate decorator sprinkles


Instructions
COAT plate with no-stick cooking spray. Whisk together sweetened condensed milk, cocoa and coffee crystals in 2-quart saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture pulls away from bottom of pan. Spread on prepared plate. Chill 30 minutes.

PLACE pistachios, coconut and sprinkles on 3 different plates. Coat hands with no-stick cooking spray. Using a 1 teaspoon measuring spoon, form caramel mixture into 36 small balls. Roll 12 each in the pistachios, the coconut and the sprinkles. Put in mini paper liners, if desired. Chill 30 minutes.

To toast coconut: Spread coconut on microwave-safe plate. Microwave on HIGH 1 to 2 minutes, tossing coconut with fork after each minute. To avoid over-browning, remove from pan immediately

Chocolate Pumpkin Cakes

From our friends at Southern Living!

Ingredients

CUPCAKES
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder


FROSTING
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar


TOPPING
About 1 1/2 cups sweetened whipped cream
22 chocolate pastilles*


Preparation
1. Make cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°. In a medium bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat sugar, buttermilk, oil, eggs, pumpkin, salt, and vanilla until well blended.

2. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Gradually add to wet mixture, beating on medium speed until smooth.

3. Line muffin pans with muffin cups and fill each cup with 3 tbsp. batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 25 minutes. Cool completely.

4. Make frosting: In a medium bowl, beat mascarpone, pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin, vanilla, and salt with a mixer until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar. Chill until firm, 1 hour. Spread on cupcakes and top each with whipped cream and a pastille. Chill until frosting is firm, about 30 minutes.

*Find chocolate pastilles in the baking aisle at well-stocked grocery stores.

Amaryllis Cupcake Liner

New from Cupcake Essentials!  Just in time for Christmas and imported from Europe. Create something special out of something ordinary with these baking cups adorned with beautiful amaryllis will add a touch of formality to all your events; dinner parties, birthdays, wedding showers and baby showers. These would also be beautifully paired with other plain baking cups on our site.


These are for the household baker or pastry professional who recognizes the value of having quality paper baking products in their kitchens, These are high quality disposable paper products for baking and cooking. Our aim is to inspire and to bring out the artistic, fanciful and creative side of you. These are packaged in an elegant gift box and make the perfect extraordinary gift. The baking cups are produced from the highest quality of Swedish greaseproof paper. All the baking cups are produced with solid and thicker paper than generally uses for baking cups. The paper is 100 % cellulose and biodegradable.

Package of 20 cupcake liners - $6.95


Baking Cup Dimensions: 1.25" tall with 2" base.

Check them out at www.cupcakeessentials.com

Thanksgiving is Around the Corner - Time for Pumpkin Pie!

Best Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:


1 15 oz can pumpkin – about 2 cups (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 14 oz can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (not evaporated milk)
2 Large eggs
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt
1 9 inch unbaked pie crust

Directions:

Heat oven to 425°F. Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Pour into crust.

Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted 1-inch from crust comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired.

Halloween Baking Goodies... Now 1/2 Off at Cupcake Essentials

Make sure and check out all the 1/2 priced Halloween Items at Cupcake Essentials!

http://www.cupcakeessentials.com/

Easy Halloween Treats

From our friends at Eagle Brand, here's some really easy and fun treats to make -

Here's the recipe!

Ingredients


3 cups (18 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

TOPPINGS
Flaked coconut, sprinkles, assorted candies

Instructions

MELT chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk in heavy saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
CHILL for 2 hours or until firm.
ROLL into balls or Halloween shapes; decorate as desired. Chill 1 hour or until firm.
This recipe is good at any holiday, just decorate fudge with festive toppings. The fudge can also be cut or formed into fun shapes.

DECORATION IDEAS FOR HALLOWEEN TREATS

PUMPKIN: ROLL fudge in orange sprinkles; carve out pumpkin face designs. Use pieces of green jelly candy for leaves on top.
COOL CAT: CUT taffy into triangles for ears; use red hot candies for eyes and nose and sprinkles for mouth shape. Finish with cut licorice pieces for whiskers.
SCARY GHOST: ROLL fudge in flaked white coconut. Add candy eyes.
SPIDER: ROLL fudge into large pieces for body and smaller pieces for head. Add red hot candies for eyes and mouth. Use cut licorice pieces for legs. Top with colored sprinkles on head and body.

Spice Up Your Party with Zebra Striped Baking Cups

Nothing spices up a party quite like bold animal prints.  Create, bake and decorate your cupcakes and tables with these beautiful baking papers. Great colors add to your party decor and make every table look festive. Also great for serving fun snacks such as popcorn, nuts, candies, mini crackers or dried fruit.  A perfect companion with the white leopard print cups!  Check out:  http://www.cupcakeessentials.com/.


Design: Black, White & Pink Zebra Print
Size: 2" base with 1.25" sides.
Greaseproof and oven safe to 450 degrees
32 Baking Cups - $3.95

Snowman Baking Cups & Snow Pics - Ready for Christmas Baking!

Nothing says love like something from the oven! 32 Swedish Greaseproof Baking cups. Create, bake and decorate your cupcakes and tables with these fun baking papers. These festive snowman themed baking cups will add to your party decor and make every table look festive. Add a snowman pick, edible glitter or swedish pearl sugar (sold separately at Cupcake Essentials) and your cupcakes will be an instant success. Also great for serving fun snacks such as popcorn, nuts, candies, mini crackers or dried fruit. Bake with or without a muffin pan. These are superior quality heavy duty baking cups; they meet FDA and European safety standards. They are all natural and eco-friendly. 32 premium greaseproof cups - $3.95.  Available at www.cupcakeessentials.com.

Pink Peacock Baking Cups - Simply Beautiful!

Create something special out of something ordinary with these beautiful pink baking cups adorned with peacock feathers. Add a touch of formality to all your events; dinner parties, birthdays, wedding showers and even baby showers.  These standard sized baking cups are imported from Europe and are probably one of the most beautiful baking cups I've ever seen. As lovely as they are alone, when paired with wafer paper peacock feathers from "Sugar Robot" on ETSY, they're a stunning combination.




For the household baker or pastry professional who recognizes the value of having quality paper baking products in their kitchens, These are high quality disposable paper products for baking and cooking. Our aim is to inspire and to bring out the artistic, fanciful and creative side of you. These are packaged in an elegant gift box and make the perfect extraordinary gift. The baking cups are produced from the highest quality of Swedish greaseproof paper. All the baking cups are produced with solid and thicker paper than generally uses for baking cups. The paper is 100 % cellulose and biodegradable.  20 premium baking cups for $6.95.

These baking cups are available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/80739836/pink-peacock-feather-baking-cups

The feather adornment is available from Sugar Robot at http://www.etsy.com/listing/62674464/edible-peacock-eye-feathers-1-dozen-cake

Snickers Cheesecake

Here's the latest from Southern Living -- Snickers cheesecake!

Ingredients



Crust:


24 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreos)


4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted


Filling:


3 8-oz. packages cream cheese, at room temperature


3/4 cup sugar


3 large eggs, at room temperature


2 teaspoons vanilla extract


1 teaspoon lemon juice


1 tablespoon cornstarch


3 regular-size Snickers bars, cut into 1/4-inch slices


1/4 cup caramel sauce, optional


1/4 cup chopped roasted and salted peanuts, optional






Preparation


1. Make crust: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Mist a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Wrap bottom and sides with 2 large foil pieces. Pulse cookies in a food processor until crushed. Pulse in butter. Press into an even layer in pan. Bake until firm, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool.


2. Make filling: Place a roasting pan filled with 1 inch hot water on oven's center rack. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar; beat for 1 minute. Beat in eggs. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl. Beat in vanilla, lemon juice and cornstarch.


3. Sprinkle Snickers over crust. Pour batter into pan; place in water bath. Bake until cake is set around edges but still jiggles in center, about 55 minutes.

4. Remove cake from roasting pan; remove foil. Place cake on a rack to cool. Cover and chill until firm, 4 hours or up to 1 day. When ready to serve, drizzle top with caramel sauce and top with chopped peanuts, if desired.

Candy Clay Roses

Candy Clay Roses add a spectacular touch to your cakes and cupcakes.  Below is the recipe for making the clay and a link for step by step instructions.

Recipe



1 package (14 oz.) candy melts( Wilton or other brand), White, chocolate or colored


1/3 cup light corn syrup

Melt Candy Melts following package directions. Add corn syrup and stir to blend. Turn out mixture onto waxed paper and let set at room temperature to dry. Wrap well and store at room temperature until needed. Candy Clay handles best if hardened overnight.

To Tint: Candy Clay made with white candy melts may be tinted further using Wilton Candy Colors or Icing Colors. Knead in color until well blended.

To Store: Prepared Candy Clay will last for several weeks at room temperature in a well-sealed container.

For step by step instructions, visit Wilton's site at:  http://www.wilton.com/technique/Candy-Clay-Rose-1

Blueberries & Cream Mall Muffins

Nothing says family breakfast quite like fresh blueberry muffins.  I've used this recipe for some time and it never disappoints at home or the office.  These are particularly elegant when baked in "tulip cups".

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
• 5 cups all purpose flour (approximately)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups semi-frozen blueberries
• sugar, for dusting tops

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425; position oven rack to middle position.
2. Spray a 12 cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray or line them with paper muffin liners.
3. In a mixer bowl, blend sugar with oil and butter.
4. Briskly add eggs, vanilla and other extracts.
5. Fold in 4 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
6. Blend somewhat before next blending in buttermilk and sour cream.
7. Batter should be quite thick; if not, add a touch more flour.
8. Gently fold in berries with a spatula, trying not to break them apart.
9. Using a large ice cream scoop (I find a #16 works the best), scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.
10. Dust tops of muffin with granulated sugar.
11. Bake 15 minutes at 425; then decrease oven temperature to 350 and bake until muffins are golden brown and spring back when gently pressed with fingertips; approximately 12 to 16 additional minutes.
12. Let cool 5 minutes; remove from pan and dig in!
    
    
    
    

Before You Start - Top 10 Baking Tips

1. Read through the recipe and gather the ingredients.  Make sure your pans and equipment are clean and dry.  For safety's sake... wash your hands before beginning!
2. Pre-measure the flour and other ingredients.  Always use the best and freshest ingredients you can find.
3. Use appropriately sized baking pans and property prepare them.
4. Adjust your oven shelves and preheat the oven.
5. Carefully follow each mixing step in the recipe.  Don't over or under mix.  Each step has a purpose.  Use a kitchen timer to help keep track of how long to mix, etc.
6. Don't crowd the oven and avoid opening the oven door during baking.  With certain recipes, it may be necessary to rotate your pans half way through the baking time.
7. Pay special attention to baking times.  Use a timer but your eyes and nose can sometimes be the best indicator.
8. Cool baked goods thoroughly before serving or storing.
9. Add your finishing touches!
10. Store your baked goods properly.

Remember:  Cooking is an art... Baking is a Science!  And you thought you didn't learn anything in chemistry class!  

Most of all... have fun with your baking! 

Welcome Home Brand Disposable Bundt Pan - Perfect for Holiday Giving!

For the home baker or pastry professional who truly appreciates fine quality paper baking products, step up to Welcome Home Brands – Replacing metal bakeware with Style! It comes in a variety of shapes and designs so that you can bake and serve – or bake and give – in the same pan, eliminating the need for metal bakeware!

Decorative, disposable paper bakeware. Treat these as though they were metal bakeware when determining how much batter to pour into the pan. This paper bakeware is free standing, which means that it does not need a metal baking pan or muffin tin. When you are using smaller paper pans or baking cups, we recommend placing them on a cookie sheet for stability and easy removal from the oven.

No pre-greasing or messy clean up! This paper bakeware does not require pre-greasing. If you wish to grease the pan or cup, you may do so as it will not harm the baking process. In addition, for baked products that tend to be sticky, some additional grease may give the baked product a better release from the paper baking pan or cup.

Place the pans directly into the oven or on a cookie sheet. It’s oven-safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which will accommodate most cake, cupcake, muffin and cookie recipes. Cooking times may vary slightly from items cooked in traditional metal or aluminum pans or muffin tins. Test for doneness according to recipe.

Paper bakeware may be used for food items other than desserts. It can also be frozen making food preparation for that big party, event or holiday even easier.

Each package contains 3 premium baking pans
Dimensions: 6.0" base x 4.0" tall
$9.99 per package.

 

Available at http://www.cupcakeessentials.com/

 

Banana Split Cake

I was in my kitchen over the weekend and saw some bananas that were quickly ripening.  I just wasn't in the mood to waste them, so I got out one of my trusty Southern Living cookbooks and started looking to see what I might be able to do with them.  I found the "Banana Split Cake".

This cake was so different but really good!  It not only has banana, but also includes pineapple, cherries, pecans and coconut.  However, after having made it, there are a couple of things that I would do differently.  I would probably use chocolate melts for the chocolate drizzle and I would add a little vanilla to the cream cheese frosting. 

I also believe this recipe would make wonderful cupcakes.  Bake as you would any cupcake but use decorator cream cheese frosting drizzled with melted chocolate candy melts and then add chopped pecans or top with a stemmed cherry... or both! 

Ingredients

·                                 3 cups all-purpose flour

·                                 2 cups sugar

·                                 1 teaspoon baking soda

·                                 1/4 teaspoon salt

·                                 3 large eggs

·                                 1 cup vegetable oil

·                                 1/2 cup buttermilk

·                                 2 cups mashed ripe banana (5 medium)

·                                 1 cup chopped pecans

·                                 1 cup flaked coconut

·                                 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

·                                 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained

·                                 1 (16-ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained

·                                 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

·                                 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

·                                 Garnishes: toasted flaked coconut, long-stemmed maraschino cherries, grated milk chocolate, chopped     pecans, hot fudge sauce

  

Preparation

·                                 Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir together eggs, oil, and buttermilk. Add oil mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in banana and next 3 ingredients.

·                                 Drain pineapple, reserving 2 tablespoons liquid. Gently press pineapple and maraschino cherries between layers of paper towels. Chop cherries. Stir pineapple and cherries into banana mixture. Spoon into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan.

·                                 Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan, and cool on wire rack.

·                                 Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended. Stir in reserved pineapple juice. Pour over cake; garnish, if desired.

F

 For Cupcakes:  Bake at 350 for 17 to 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes

Nothing says fall like great "apple" recipes.  Try these delicious cupcakes made with apples and amaretto.  They could be just the right dessert for your "Octoberfest" parties!

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 6 3/4 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons amaretto (almond-flavored liqueur)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup finely chopped Gala apple
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• Streusel:
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter, chilled
• 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
• Glaze:
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 4 teaspoons milk

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°.
• 2. Place muffin cup liners in 12 muffin cups; coat with cooking spray.
• 3. Spoon about 1 1/2 cups flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine granulated sugar, cream cheese, and 1/4 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until well blended. Add amaretto, vanilla, and egg to sugar mixture; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Combine sour cream and 1/4 cup milk in a small bowl; stir with a whisk until well blended. Combine apple and 1 tablespoon flour in a small bowl; toss well.
• 4. Add flour mixture and sour cream mixture alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat just until blended. Fold in apple mixture. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
• 5. To prepare the streusel, combine 2 tablespoons flour, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in 2 tablespoons butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal; stir in almonds. Sprinkle streusel evenly over cupcakes. Bake at 350° for 27 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 15 minutes on a wire rack, and remove the cupcakes from pan.
• 6. To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar and 4 teaspoons milk in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle glaze over cupcakes.

Note: If you don't want to use the amaretto, replace it with 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.

Hummingbird Cake

For a real family treat, if you never made a Hummingbird Cake, you should.  The best recipe that I've ever found for this cake comes from Southern Living.  First printed in 1978, the Hummingbird Cake remains the most-requested Southern Living recipe of all time. The origin of the name is unknown, but its signature ingredients—mashed banana, pineapple, coconut and pecans—assure its continued popularity. Eight layers and a spoon-licking white chocolate-cream cheese frosting make this updated version more spectacular than the original. But it's easy as can be because of convenience products such as cake mix, instant pudding mix, and canned pineapple.

Ingredients

• 1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple in juice
• 2 (18.25-oz.) packages white cake mix (we tested with Duncan Hines)
• 2 (3.4-oz) packages vanilla instant pudding mix
• 6 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups milk, divided
• 2 cups canola oil
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 (4-oz.) white chocolate baking bar, finely chopped (we tested with Ghirardelli)
• 1 cup flaked sweetened coconut
• 2 cups chopped pecans, toasted
• 2 cups chopped banana (about 3 medium)
• White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
• Garnish: toasted pecans

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°.
• 2. Drain pineapple, reserving juice for another use. Squeeze pineapple well using several thicknesses of paper towels to remove excess moisture.
• 3. Combine cake mix and next 7 ingredients in an 8-qt. mixing bowl. Beat at low speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes; beat at medium speed 3 minutes. Fold in pineapple, white chocolate, and next 3 ingredients. Pour batter into 4 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
• 4. Bake at 350° for 34 to 36 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely. Wrap and chill cake layers at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
• 5. Using a serrated knife, slice cake layers in half horizontally to make 8 layers. Place 1 layer, cut side up, on cake plate. Spread with 1/2 cup White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting. Repeat procedure 6 times. Place final cake layer on top of cake, cut side down. Spread remaining frosting on top and sides of cake. Cover; chill in refrigerator overnight. Garnish, if desired. Store in refrigerator.
• Note: Cover cake in an airtight container and freeze up to 1 month in advance. Thaw in refrigerator overnight before serving.

Note: To prepare a 4-layer White Chocolate Hummingbird Cake instead, use half of all ingredients in both cake and frosting recipes. Follow cake recipe as directed in Steps 1 through 4, except use only 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. In Step 5, slice the 2 cake layers in half horizontally to make 4 layers. Follow White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting recipe as directed except microwave white chocolate morsels in Step 1 for only 1 1/2 minutes. Assemble cake as directed. Both the 8- and 4-layer versions of this delicious cake slice best after they have chilled overnight.

Candy Flavored Buttercream!

Candy flavored butter cream icing??!!  Can it be?  You can take a look on Candied Cakes site at:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/79785952/candied-buttercream-frosting-1-8-oz-jar.  They have flavors to choose from like:

WATERMELON

LEMON MERINGUE

SWEET ORANGE

LIME

CHERRY

COOKIES and CREAM

STRAWBERRY

TROPICAL FRUIT

Sounds too Delish to be true! 

Halloween Cupcake Fun!

For more Halloween fun, make some cupcakes!

These orange swirled cupcake liners are great for your Halloween and fall cupcakes.  They are Swedish greaseproof paper so the colors will remain vibrant. 

For the perfect finishing touch.... Sugar Spiders!

These are available at http://www.cupcakeessentials.com/.  Visit us soon!

Cupcake Wrappers - Tropical Flower Cupcake Wrappers

I found these cupcake wrappers on ETSY and think they are the cutest thing!  I know that it's fall but I'm always trying to think ahead when it comes to cake and cupcake decorations.  These wrappers would be spectacular for the spring and summer months.  Give her shop a look!  You won't be disappointed.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77939702/12-bright-tropical-plumeria-flower

Halloween Chex Mix

INGREDIENTS

8 oz white chocolate baking bars, coarsely chopped

4 cups Corn Chex® or Rice Chex® cereal

2 cups bite-size pretzel twists

½  cup raisins

1 cup candy corn

¼  cup orange and black candy decors

DIRECTIONS

1 In large microwavable bowl, microwave chopped baking bars uncovered on

High 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds,

 until melted and smooth. 2 Gently stir in cereal, pretzels and raisins until

 evenly coated. Stir in candy corn and decors. 3 Spread on waxed paper

or foil until cool and chocolate is set, about 30 minutes. Break into chunks.

Store loosely covered.

For Halloween party treats, fill small cellophane bags with this

 fun mix and tie with orange and black ribbons.

Brownie Cupcake Recipe

Who doesn't love brownies... and then to put them in cupcake form?  YUM!

8 oz. chocolate chips
2 cups butter
3 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups pecans pieces
2 cups flour
8 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt chocolate chips and butter; stir in nuts until coated.  Combine sugar, flour, eggs and vanilla.  Mix only until well blended.  Do not over beat.  Add chocolate mixture; fold in carefully.  If using a muffin pan, fill cups 2/3 full with batter.  Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.  Makes 18-20 cupcakes.

Halloween "Peeps" Cupcakes

Halloween Orange Créme-Filled Peeps Cupcakes from our Friends at Peeps Ingredients                                          1 package PEEPS® Marshmallow Pumpkins or Ghosts 1 vanilla or chocolate cake mix   - check package for egg and oil quantities 1 16-ounce tub chocolate frosting 1 8-ounce package cream cheese,softened 1 egg 1/3 cup sugar 5 drops red food coloring 10 drops yellow food coloring

Directions                                          Preheat oven to 350 degrees(F) Mix cake mix according to manufacturer’s instructions. Set aside. In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and egg. Blend on medium speed for about three minutes until smooth and creamy. Add one drop of red food coloring and two drops of yellow and blend until cream cheese mixture is an even, light orange color. Continue adding food coloring (one red, two yellow) and blending completely after each addition, until all the food coloring is added. Line two cupcake trays with cupcake papers (24 cupcakes). Spoon vanilla cake mix into cupcake liner until 1/3 full. Using the tip of a spoon, create a small well in the center of the vanilla cake mix in the cupcake liner. Place a teaspoon of cream cheese mixture into center of the well. Being careful not to disturb cream cheese mixture, gently spoon vanilla cake mix over the orange cream cheese mixture until cupcake liners are 1/2 to 3/4 full. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in vanilla cake comes out clean. Let cool thoroughly. Frost each cupcake with chocolate frosting. Top with Marshmallow PEEPS® Pumpkin