Sushi Cupcakes and A RETURN TO BLOGGING!

Wow have I ever missed blogging. Who knew? Being a mom and working and blogging is hard or something. And apparently lots of people do that. I’m impressed. I, on the other hand, needed 3 months to catch my breath and finally get to those recipes that I’ve been wanting to share with you for so long. I’ve been baking and experimenting (and eating...), so there is LOTS to share.

Thanks for sticking around. It will have been worth the wait.

While I had eaten candy sushi (i.e. Rice Krispies rolled into Fruit Roll-ups), I had never had sushi cupcakes. So when I saw these, I knew that I would have to try them.

Clodhopper Brownies

Well, the inevitable has happened. I have returned to work. Like real work where I wake up and leave my house and come home at the end of the day and make dinner and wonder where the day went and want to crawl into bed at 8:30.

I might have done that this week instead of publishing this recipe.

But this is perfect for those of us who feel (and frankly, are) too busy to bake. Boxed brownies are my go-to. Anyone can stir a brownie mix, egg, oil, and water with a fork and bake for half an hour. Really. It takes 5 minutes to prepare.

In fact. Stop reading. Go do that right now.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and Mini Cakes

When they told me I could make cake out of just pumpkin puree and cake mix, I was skeptical. I thought the texture would be mushy and wet and that it just wouldn't work.

I should have known better. Especially after making cupcakes out of just cake mix and a can of coke.

But, as many kitchen experiments go, this one wasn't quite as planned.

S'mores Trifle

I was inspired this week by mistakes in the kitchen. They happen to all of us. Particularly those of us who are accident prone. Particularly those of us who are novice bakers. Particularly those of us who have such atrocious kitchen skills that they do not deserve to have blogs about things that happen anywhere near a kitchen. 

Did I mention that I cannot crack an egg? 

I actually can't do it. I spend a lot of my baking time picking eggshell out of egg goop. I would provide regular photographic evidence, but I'm petrified of getting egg on my camera. 

So if you are a poor egg-cracker like I am, then trifle is probably right up your alley. It's the place where all broken cakes get reincarnated into something beautiful and delicious. 

And if you have a chocolate broken cake, you can make a s'mores trifle.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Bites

I know, I know. I said I don’t really love chocolate and peanut butter. And now I’m forced to eat my words. But it’s ok, because I’m chasing them with these Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Brownies.

There is something about Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups that I can’t help but gobble up. Maybe it’s the sweet chocolate. Maybe it’s that special peanut butter texture that only Reese’s has. Maybe it’s the perfect chocolate-to-peanut butter ratio. Maybe it doesn’t matter and I’ll eat anything with sugar in it.

Coke Float Cupcakes

This is what Pinterest is for. For amazingly easy ideas that inspire you to actually go and do something. I think we are all a little guilty of pinning things that we want to do, but never actually think we will.

For further information, please see my organization tips board.

Cake Batter Rice Krispie Cupcakes

Oh yes. Cake batter. Rice Krispies. Cupcakes. All in one.

Rice Krispie treats can be hit or miss. I want my sugary square to be gooey and sweet, but still hold its shape. Nothing is more disappointing than a hard, crunchy, brittle Rice Krispie square.

There will be none of that, here.

Peanut Butter Cookie Cupcakes

I have a confession: I don’t love peanut butter. I like it, but I don’t love it. I feel like peanut butter is at its peak paired with strawberry jam between two slices of bread. When it comes to desserts, peanut butter is usually just “meh”. Give me white chocolate or caramel and I’m totally satisfied.

But this cupcake violated my peanut butter rules.

Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites

Cookie dough can be one of those guilty pleasures. You know you shouldn't eat it, but there's nothing quite like the chewy sweetness of chocolate chip cookie dough.

So when I can whip some up without worrying about raw egg, I don't have to hide the half-eaten dough - I can actually dress it up a little.

And this cookie dough is dressed for a party.

Cookie Cup-Brownies: Brookies

When I make a dessert there are basically three qualifications:

1. Can I make it in 3 bowls or fewer?
2. Can I make it with ingredients I already have?
3. Will it look cute?

If the answer isn't yes to all 3 questions, I move on.

Anyways, these brownie-cookie "brookie" cups totally aced the 3 baking rules. And boy were they cute.

Soulmate Cupcakes

I had a wedding-related event to attend this weekend, so what better dessert to bring than one that shows a little love.

I would have preferred to make these in classic red and white using red velvet cake and white cream cheese frosting, but I had a couple pints of blueberries in the fridge and I just can't say no to blueberries.