Death by Chocolate {My Way}

Instead of birthday cake for Mason’s party I made Death by Chocolate. I figured it would be fitting for a pirate party – death and chocolate in one? Just what every pirate wants to hear!

You will L-O-V-E this if you are a chocoholic!

You Need:

• Chocolate or Devil’s Food Cake Mix
• Oil
• Eggs
• Water
• (2) Instant Chocolate Pudding Mixes
• Milk
• Cool Whip – thawed
• Caramel Sauce

First - make the cake according to the directions on the box in a 9x13 pan. After it is done allow to cool.

Make the pudding and only use 1/2 of the milk it says to use on the box. Place in refrigerator until the cake has cooled.

In the bowl or dish of your choice layer 1/2 the cake. I break it up into chunks using my hands. Next layer 1/2 the pudding and then half the cool whip. After that drizzle caramel sauce over it. Then repeat the layers again 1/2 cake, 1/2 pudding, 1/2 cool whip, caramel drizzle! Refrigerate until ready to eat!

This is an amazing dessert! Unfortunately only half of this dessert disappeared at the party and now I’ve been tempted to eat the rest! Please excuse the ten pounds I will probably pack on by the end of the week!

Linking up here-

Cake Cookies on a Stick!

Today is my birthday so I wanted to share one of my favorite ways to eat cake! I love these cake cookies and eating them off a stick makes them that much more fun.

I can remember the first time I ever had these. I was about 10 or 12 and I was up at my grandmas lake house in Lake Mills, WI. I fondly remember we used a few different juice glasses to press the cookies and achieve different designs on the cookie.

Did I mention that this was before the recipe for cake cookies was printed on the side of the Pillsbury box? Luckily for me I am now able to recreate this sweet treat and a childhood memory.

To make cake cookies on a stick you will need-

• Pillsbury Funfetti cake
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup oil
• Popsicle/craft sticks
• Frosting (optional)
• Flour
• Drinking glass

In a bowl combine the cake mix, eggs, and oil. Then stagger your popsicle sticks out on a greased cookie sheet.

Roll one inch circles of dough in your hands and place on the end of each popsicle stick.

Stick a glass in flour.

Then use to press your ball of dough out into a flat circle. Glasses with designs on the bottom work well too as grandma taught me.

When they are all flattened place them in a 375 degree oven for 6-8 minutes. These are like sugar cookies – they go from done to burned in .2 seconds so keep an eye on them!

When they are done pull them out and let them cool on the pan for one minute. If you don’t let them cool than there is a possibility the stick will poke through the cookie and your cake cookie on a stick will be a cake cookie with a hole in the middle (and no stick!).

After they cool for a minute remove them and do it all over again!

Now you can let them cool completely and then apply frosting or eat them just how they are. I did frost mine for Mason’s birthday party …. pictures to come!

P.S. – I said it was my birthday so I am offering 50% off in my party printable shop this entire weekend to celebrate! Head over to Snowcone and Lollipop Designs and use the code ‘BIRTHDAY’ for your discount!!

Enjoy,

Race Track Cake {Hammer & Thread}

Over at Hammer and Thread two momma’s, Ruth and Haley, shared their tutorial on how to make a race track cake. I personally have two boys and a bazillion Hot Wheels so I know this cake would be a huge hit in our house! They lay it all out and explain each and every step. Look at the detail!

Paving the streets - in frosting! These ladies sure have talent! I would have had frosting in my hair, on my shirt, and everywhere but the cake!

How to spice up a boxed cake mix for a quick and easy dessert

The 15-minute party planners among us like to prep for parties without breaking a sweat. To make a simple boxed cake mix a little fancier, try these easy suggestions:

• Add a box of dry instant pudding mix to your cake batter. Try adding pistachio pudding mix to chocolate cake batter or instant lemon pudding to a white cake mix.
• Chop up candy bars or add chocolate chips for a more interesting cake.
• Blend fresh fruit like strawberries or applesauce into your cake batter in place of one of the liquid elements.
  
• Squeeze caramel or chocolate ice cream syrup into batter or frosting for an interesting twist.
  
• When pouring chocolate cake batter into a pan, use half the batter to cover the bottom of the pan, then add a layer of Peppermint Patties or Andes Mints. Cover the mints with the remaining cake batter.
• Add a dollop of peanut butter to a chocolate or vanilla cake mix for a nutty taste.
• Consider baking two small cakes. When you're ready to frost the cakes, spread a layer of jam or marmalade on top of the first cake, put the second cake on top and then frost both cakes as one.
  
• Top a frosted cake with sprinkles, chopped nuts, or M&Ms for easy decorating.
• Dust frosting with cocoa powder or confectioners sugar.
• Top a frosted cake with sliced fruit for a fresher take on boxed cake.
  
• Cupcakes are instantly-cute desserts and don't require much more time than making one large cake. Buy cute liners and add from-a-box cake batter to make instantly-adorable desserts.