Spring Sunflower Cake That Everyone Will Love

This is a fun dessert that brings a smile and perfect for Easter. My family surprised me with this cake for my birthday a few years ago and it had such special meaning to me. My Mom had just passed away before my March birthday. Her favorite flowers were sunflowers and my family knew how much I love marshmallow Peeps . My Mom always bought them for me and now my Dad does at Easter time. To be surprised with this cake with both sunflower and Peeps warmed my heart and I appreciate the thought and effort that went into it.

Here is the how to for this special cake to bake for someone you love. We have family members on a gluten free diet so I use a yellow gluten free cake mix and it tastes delicious.

You need one yellow cake mix, 2 cans chocolate frosting, 20 yellow chick Peeps, 1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

1. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions using 2 round baking pans, greased and lined with parchment paper. Cool for 10 minutes after baking 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

2.  Spread chocolate frosting between the layers and over the top and sides.

3.  Arrange Peep chicks around edge of the cake facing outward taking care not to have separation  between Peeps.

4.  Place the chocolate chips in the center of the cake as your sunflower seeds.

Serve and enjoy the smiles💗

The Baking of a Tradition

Our Family Christmas Morning
Cinnamon  Coffee Cake

Spray your baking pan well with non stick cooking spray before pouring in the batter

A sprinkling of powdered sugar right before serving gives the look of snow on the trees

Years ago when I married my husband and we began to celebrate both our families holiday traditions, my mother in law served a cinnamon breakfast cake before we would open our gifts. Years later my husband and I began hosting Christmas morning in our home and the traditional Christmas morning cake is still being baked every year. Over the years, I have transitioned into baking it in a Christmas tree pan I bought from Wilton. It can also be baked in a 13" x 9" pan and cut and served in squares. I remember the year this cake didn't come out of the pan as easily as I had hoped.  My solution was to cut into small pieces and serve in small glasses sprinkled with powdered sugar. Tasted great and I pretended I had it planned that way all along! I have modified it the past several years and now use a gluten free yellow cake mix as my base so it can be enjoyed by family members on a gluten free diet.  No one else in the family is onto this because it tastes as delicious as ever. This recipe is filled with cinnamon, sugar, sour cream and baked with a lot of love. I can feel the love of my wonderful mother in law each time I bake her recipe and know she is smiling! I love that I have my original hand written recipe that is kept in my spiral bound holiday recipe book . It makes me happy when I bring the book out in mid November to begin making my shopping list for ingredients so I can plan baking day with my girls. This cake is great all year long with hot chocolate or coffee. My recipe is shown above and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.  

May you and your family and friends have a safe and Blessed holiday as we gather together.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY NEW YEAR

Simple 4th of July Dessert

The 4th of July is all about picnics and easy entertaining.  You don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but rather enjoying your friends and family time.  Here's an easy way to decorate a simple sheet cake that will look festive on your table.  Simply bake your favorite yellow or white cake mix in a 13 x 9 pan, let it cool, and frost with white frosting.  Using star shaped cookie cutters, place them on top of your frosted cake, and sprinkle blue and red sprinkles into the cookie cutters.  Carefully remove and you have a cake that holiday ready.  My pan, frosting, cookie cutters and sprinkles were all purchased at Wilton's, my favorite store for cake decorating supplies.  

I will be enjoying the holiday with my family but will return Tuesday, July 10th.  Have a safe and wonderful holiday.