Banana Bars with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

I made this cake because I needed to use overripe bananas and this was something new to try.  It was amazing!  It makes a ton so I delivered some to neighbors and friends, and every single one of those people came to me later and demanded the recipe.  Its such a light, fluffy, delicious "cake".  It was easy to make and the flavors are perfect together.

courtesy

• Banana Bars with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
• Mel's Kitchen Cafe
• 
  
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (I used three ripe bananas)
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting:
• 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup white sugar (you can use either granulated sugar or confectioners’ sugar – the confectioners’ sugar tends to dissolve better and not be as grainy but either one works fine)
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream

Directions

1. For the banana bars, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10 x 15 inch jellyroll pan or one 9X13 pan and an additional 8X8 pan. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; stir into the batter. Finally, mix in the mashed banana. Spread evenly into the prepared pan(s). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow bars to cool completely before frosting.
2. For the frosting, in a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. Set aside. In another medium bowl, beat whipped cream until stiff peaks form (it helps to use a chilled bowl and chilled beaters). Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Frost to your heart’s delight!

Vanilla Cupcakes with American Buttercream Frosting

A couple of months ago, my husband came up with this idea that sharing the gospel is a "piece of cake".  At the time we were both serving as ward missionaries, so the idea evolved to become a plan to make cupcakes for all the adult members of our ward and give them out with only a promise by the recipient that before the cupcake was eaten, the gospel would be shared in some sort of "easy" way.  Knowing that I am a cupcake connoisseur (or you could call me a cupcake snob, or just plain obsessed with cupcakes), I got the assignment to bake these 150+ cupcakes.  Really, I was actually excited for an excuse to try different cupcake recipes and frostings.  If I could come up with something even remotely resembling a Sprinkles cupcake, then I would be thrilled!  Fortunately, it didn't take long for me to find these recipes.  The cake is somewhat dense and the frosting is perfect (that is, of course, if you must do buttercream and not cream cheese frosting, which I will always prefer).  Oh my, I just wish I had another excuse to bake these again!

Vanilla Cupcakes
adapted from Pioneer Woman


1 cup Vegetable Shortening

1-3/4 cup Sugar

2-1/2 cups Cake Flour

1-1/4 teaspoon Salt

2 whole Large Eggs

1 cup Buttermilk

2-1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1-1/2 teaspoon Vinegar


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 18 muffin cups with cupcake liner papers.

Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy. Set aside.

Sift together flour and salt. Set aside.

Mix eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, baking soda, and vinegar in a separate bowl.

Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to the shortening mixture, mixing after each addition. Mix until totally combined.

Pour batter into cupcake liners. Bake for 17 to 20 minutes, or until just done.  Remove from oven, then remove cupcakes from pan and let cool completely. *I made the mistake of overcooking them almost every time because I waited until they looked brown and done before removing them from the oven.  They will still be almost white and look under-done in the middle of the cupcake.  They will finish cooking on the counter.  Trust me! 

American Buttercream Frosting

adapted from GloriousTreats.com

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (salted, or unsalted)
1/4 teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter)
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (best quality available)
2-3 tablespoons heavy cream, half and half or milk
1/2 cup good quality unsweetened cocoa (if you want chocolate instead of vanilla)

* In the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, beat butter (on medium speed) until completely smooth (30 seconds to a minute). (If you are adding cream cheese, add it now, then beat until smooth)
* Add salt (if needed).
* One cup at time, add 2 cups of powdered sugar, beating after each addition.
* Add vanilla, or other flavorings and beat to combine.
* Add about 1 tablespoon of cream, and continue beating.
* Add the remaining 2 cups powdered sugar, one at a time.
* Add an additional 1-2 tablespoons cream until desired consistency is reached.  If you want to pipe the frosting on cupcakes, the frosting should be nice and thick.  Continue to beat another minute or so.  The frosting should now be smooth and fluffy.

Troubleshooting-
* If your frosting is not smooth, it is likely because the butter was not fully smooth before adding the other ingredients.
* If your frosting will not hold up when piped on cupcakes, your frosting has too much liquid or is too warm.  Put entire bowl of frosting in the fridge for 15-20 minutes and it will stiffen up.  If it is still too thin, then add 1/4 to 1/2 cup powdered sugar, beat well.

White Texas Sheet Cake

Pic Courtesy of The Girl Who Ate Everything

I made this cake way back in July- for the 4th of July, actually. It was a kind of "Welcome to Texas" for us.:) Just kidding. Anyway, it reminded me so much of that white cake we used to eat at the school cafeteria growing up. I know- not to appetizing, but trust me- it was REALLY good. I could have eaten the whole thing myself.  And, no boxed cake mix necessary!! It came together really easily and was super moist and almond flavored (Need I say more?).

White Texas Sheet Cake

Source: AllRecipes via Life as a Lofthouse
Serves 24

                                                                                                      
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup water
2 cups all-purpose four
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup milk
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions: 
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.


In a medium saucepan bring butter and water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large bowl add flour and sugar and mix. Then add in eggs, sour cream, extract, baking soda and salt. Slowly pour in the boiling butter/water mixture. Stir with a spatula until well combined and smooth.  No need to use an electric mixer. Batter will be very thin.

Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Your cake will be flat and not very tall (it's a sheet cake). Cool for about 10 minutes. You still want your cake a little warm when you add the frosting so that it spreads well.

For the frosting: In a large saucepan, combine butter and milk. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, and then stir in the powdered sugar and extract. Stir until smooth and all combined. Spread immediately over warm cake. Decorate cake with sprinkles, if desired.

Classic Chocolate Bundt Cake

Pic courtesy The Sister's Cafe

I made this cake last night for Julie's baby shower and so many people raved and requested the recipe, so here it is! It's so moist and chocolate-y but not too rich. Julie made this for a dessert contest and won second place. And, the lady that won first place was a professional baker. So, pretty impressive.

Super Moist Chocolate Bundt Cake
submitted by Melanie of The Sister's Cafe

1 devils food cake mix (Dry–don’t make it according to directions on the box)
1 -4 serving instant chocolate pudding mix
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
½ cup warm water
½ cup vegetable oil
1 ½ cups milk or semisweet chocolate chips (I like milk)

Place all ingredients except chocolate chips, in a large mixing bowl. Blend with electric mixer 1 minute.
Stir down sides. Continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan.
Bake 45-50 minutes at 350. Cool 20 minutes. Invert onto serving platter.

Frosting:
8 Tbsp butter (not margarine)
4 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup evaporated milk (I used 2%-it worked great)
4 cups sifted powdered sugar
Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat. Whisk in cocoa and milk. Bring mixture just to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar with electric mixer until thickened and smooth. Pour warm frosting over warm cake. This recipe makes a lot of frosting.

Chocolate Mountains

Mmm....Just looking at these beauties is making me salivate. Literally, no joke, these are hands down the best cookies I've ever eaten. And...it's not just me! Everyone who tried them LOVED them! Please, do yourself a favor and whip some of these dreamies up!


Chocolate Mountains
from Yourhomebasedmom.com

1/2 C shortening
1/2 C evaporated milk
2 Tbsp water
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 C cocoa
1/2 C chopped walnuts, optional (I didn’t put them in)
24 large marshmallows, cut in half ( I didn't have any so I just used 4 mini mallows)

Beat well shortening, milk, water, egg and vanilla. Add remaining ingredients except marshmallows, blend well. Drop by teaspoonful on greased cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Quickly place marshmallow half (sticky side down) on each cookie. Let cool.

Frosting:
1/3 C soft butter
2 C powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
About 2 Tbsp milk
6 Tbsp cocoa
2 Tbsp oil
Combine frosting ingredients and beat until smooth. Frost marshmallows like a mountain. Enjoy!

Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

We can thank Martha for this one. Jake requested it for his birthday. It was good, but it's not the easiest recipe in the world. I guess a man can make a tough request for his 30th birthday!

Red Velvet Cake
Martha Stewart, submitted by Emily Hutchings

(Makes one 8-inch cake)

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted, plus more for pans
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 one-ounce bottles liquid red food coloring
3 tablespoons lukewarm water
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, and butter again. Dust with flour, and tap out the excess; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together cake flour, cocoa, and baking powder; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar, and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 15 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, salt, food coloring, and water; beat, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until well combined. Add reserved dry ingredients in additions, alternating with the buttermilk; beat on low speed until well combined. In a small bowl, stir together baking soda and vinegar; add to batter. Beat on medium speed for 10 seconds. Be sure not to over beat. Divide batter between prepared pans, and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove pans from oven, and transfer to a wire rack to cool, about 15 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack; let stand until completely cool. Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes so surfaces are level. Place a layer on a cake stand or cardboard round, and spread about 1/3 of the frosting over top. Place the second layer on top, and spread with the remaining frosting over the tops and sides of assembled cake. Transfer to refrigerator, and chill until ready to serve.

Cream Cheese Frosting

(Makes 2 cups)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 (8-ounce) cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
Place butter in bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add cream cheese, and beat until well combined and fluffy, about 2 minutes more. Add sugar and vanilla, and beat until combined, about 2 minutes. Fold in walnuts.

Red Velvet Cake Balls

These are intense! I actually didn't have any store-bought frosting on hand so I used homemade. I think the store-bought would be better. Mine was too moist and not quite rich enough.

Red Velvet Cake Balls
from Bakerella

1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)
wax paper

After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.) Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. Chill for several hours - make sure they are really firm. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.) Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra - two forks also works great if your chocolate is warm enough.) Drizzle with extra chocolate bark (I used melted semisweet chocolate to drizzle on top.)

Clone of a Cinnabon

Pic courtesy of allrecipes.com

Throw away all of your trusty cinnamon roll recipes because once you make these, you will NEVER, EVER need another cinnamon roll recipe again. The name of this recipe is only deceiving in that it's better than a Cinnabon. And, it's almost as easy as jumping in your car and driving over to the nearest mall for a creamy, doughy, cinnamon fix.

Clone of a Cinnabon
adapted from allrecipes.com

1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
4 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, softened

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start. If you don't have a bread machine, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl. Mix in the sugar, butter or margarine, salt, and eggs. Add flour and mix well. Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour. Put in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour, or until doubled in size. Then pick up with rolling out the dough. After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving.

Orange Rolls

Finally! Finally! I have conquered a roll. This has been my nemesis. I cannot bake. These were SO, SO good! I ended up using about 6 cups for flour and not orange rinds...but they were amazing! Also, I did not refrigerate mine over night but just let them rise.

Orange Rolls (Sister's Cafe Blog)

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup warm water
4 1/2 cups Better for Bread Flour - divided (note: my mom lives in UT and this works for her, I always end up adding a bit more flour here in OR, so you may need to adjust a little)
3 eggs, well beaten

2 Tbsp rapid rise yeast

Mix all ingredients together in mixer except for yeast and half of the flour. Then sprinkle yeast on mixture and add remaining flour. Mix until sticky. About 5 min. Place in lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel. Raise until double. About 2 hours.

Punch dough down and cover bowl with a damp towel. Refrigerate. (I make the dough the night before and then refrigerate it till whenever I'm ready to make it the next day)

Roll out as desired. Shape. (I divide the dough into thirds, roll each ball into about a 14" circle (about 1/4" thick) like a pizza crust and then use my pizza cutter to cut it into 12 triangles, then I roll them up into crescent shapes) Brush with melted butter. Place on baking sheets and cover lightly with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray. Let raise 2-3 hours. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min or 375 for 12 min.

Makes 3 dozen

Filling:
2 Tbsp melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp orange rind (I use more)
1/2-1 tsp orange juice

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp orange juice
1/2-1 Tbsp grated orange rind
1 Tbsp melted butter

Brush filling onto rolls before rolling them up (and before they rise) so it's on the inside, then dip tops of rolls in glaze when rolls have cooled. Makes enough for 16-20 rolls.

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

photo courtesy of My Kitchen Cafe

I saw Paula Deen make these on the Food Network and I couldn't resist trying them. I love a good pumpkin recipe and these definitely fit the bill. They are so moist and delicious- definitely a holiday splurge! Enjoy!

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Bars:
4 eggs
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil (can substitute 1/2 cup applesauce for 1/2 cup oil)
15-ounce can pumpkin
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Icing:
8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars.

To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

Buttermilk Biscuit Donuts

We did this for a book project, but they were so good and clever that I'm going to put them here too. I got this recipe from Once Upon a Cookie. They were stupidly easy and delicious!

Buttermilk Biscuit Donuts
from Paula Deen

Ingredients

Peanut oil, for frying (Canola is good too)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar

Icings:

2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
5 tablespoons milk, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa powder

Colored sprinkles
Chocolate sprinkles

2 cans buttermilk biscuits (I use the ones that come 10 to a can because they make mini donuts and mini donut holes. But you can also use the larger biscuits if you want bigger donuts.)

Directions:

Heat 2 inches of oil in a large pot or Dutch oven to 350 degrees F.

In a shallow bowl, stir together the ground cinnamon and sugar and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 cup of confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, set aside. This is the vanilla icing. In another bowl, whisk together 1 cup of confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup of cocoa powder and 3 tablespoons of milk and set aside. This is the chocolate icing.

Lay out the biscuits on a cutting board and with a 1/4 to 1/2-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter (or any small circle you can find), cut out a hole from the middle of each biscuit. Fry them in the oil until just golden and then flip with tongs to fry the other side. Be careful not to cook them to long. You can even fry the donut holes. Drain on paper towels and then toss in the cinnamon-sugar or ice and decorate with sprinkles, as desired.

Cookie Stuffed Cupcakes

I found this recipe on All Recipes. It was really good! I used my co-op cookie dough instead of making their version. It was still delicious. I'd probably just do that again or use pre-packaged cookies. I used Rachel's rich chocolate frosting that she posted about on this blog.

Cookie Stuffed Cupcakes

1 1/2 c flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 c butter, softened
1/4 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 c miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1 (18.25 oz) bow yellow cake mix
1 1/3 c water
1/3 c canola oil
3 eggs

1. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and sea salt; set aside. Beat the butter and sugars with a mixer until smooth. Add 1 egg and vanilla and beat until smooth. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips. Form the dough into tablespoon-sized balls; place on baking sheet, and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

3. Beat 3 eggs in a large bowl with a mixer. Add the cake mix, water, and oil. Spoon into the cupcake liners, filling each 2/3 full. Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake.

4. Bake in the oven until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes clean, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool entirely on a wire rack.

Rich Chocolate Frosting

I used this recipe to make cupcake frosting for Taylor's birthday and it was amazing. I never use the store-bought stuff (yuck!) so I'm always on the lookout for great frosting recipes and this one was a winner. I'll definitely be using it again.

Rich Chocolate Frosting
From allrecipes.com

1 cups butter (no substitutes), softened
4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/4 cups baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk

In large mixing bowl, cream butter. Add remaining ingredients and beat until thoroughly mixed. Add more milk, if needed, until you reach your desired consistency.