Disney's Frozen Cupcake Idea....

Here is a creation that I made from the inspiration of Disney's Frozen. The cupcakes are white vanilla with a snowy blue frosting and topped with a white chocolate snowflake.

 

Here is a close up of the cupcakes....

 

 

How to make the White Chocolate Snowflakes...

 

1. Create a template of the size and design of the snowflake you want to create.
2.  Place the template paper underneath a piece of wax or parchment paper, I taped the template and wax paper to a cookie sheet so it was easier to transport to the freezer after I piped them .
3. Melt white chocolate chips in a double broiler, or in the microwave until completely melted.
4. Place the melted white chocolate into a sandwich bag with a tip cut off, or use a thin Wilton piping tip to pipe the melted white chocolate on top of the wax paper. Careful, the white chocolate will be hot, so you may want to let it cool for a little bit before you pipe it so you don't burn your hands :0)
5. I sprinkled granulated sugar onto the top of the still wet, piped snowflakes to give them a frosty look.
6. Let set and cool, or place them in the fridge/freezer to harden before topping them onto your cupcakes.

***** Tip: Leave the snowflakes in the freezer until the last possible minute before you place them onto your finished cupcakes because they soften very quickly, this helps lessen the chance of your snowflakes cracking or snapping while you are assembling your cupcakes.

 

The White Chocolate Snowflake Template that I created...

 

You can click on this picture and print it out, or come up with your own!

 

 

 

Have fun Baking!

Dutch Apple Crisp

The Recipe....

Ingredients:

• 5-8 Apples, depending on size of apples or size of pan
• 1 box of Vanilla Cake Mix
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of Cinnamon, more or less depending on your taste
• About a stick of Butter

Directions:

Step 1: Core the apples, then slice into thin strips to look like a doughnut, a little thinner than a 1/4 inch.

Step 2: Then cut the apples into quarters, and place them into an oven safe pan.

Step 3: Add the cinnamon right into the pan, and stir the apples around until they are lightly covered.

 

Step 4: Place the entire cake mix right onto the top of the apples, creating a yummy topping.

Step 5: Slice butter into thin strips, covering the top completely, this allows the topping not to burn, and get nice and golden.

Step 6: Place into a 350* oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the apples are nice and soft when you insert a knife.

 

Place over some vanilla ice cream, and enjoy the delicious and simple apple delight!

 

Dutch Apple Crisp

Ingredients:

• 5-8 Apples, depending on size of apples or size of pan
• 1 box of Vanilla Cake Mix
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of Cinnamon, more or less depending on your taste
• About 1 stick of Butter

Directions:

Step 1: Core the apples, then slice into thin strips to look like a donut, a little thinner than a 1/4 inch.
 Step 2: Then cut the apples into quarters, and place them into an oven safe pan.

Step 3: Add the cinnamon right into the pan, and stir the apples around until they are lightly covered.

Step 4: Place the entire cake mix right onto the top of the apples, creating a yummy topping.

Step 5: Slice butter into thin strips, covering the top completely, this allows the topping not to burn, and get nice and golden.

Step 6: Place into a 350* oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the apples are nice and soft when you insert a knife to the center.

*Place over some vanilla ice cream, and enjoy the delicious and simple apple delight!!

Mini Pumpkin Pie Bites

 

The Inspiration.....

Mmmmmmm...... With Thanksgiving over, once those leftovers are gone, you might still be craving that last piece of pumpkin pie that someone beat you to. These little treats are so easy that you wont even feel like you are baking! I'm serious, it takes more time to unwrap the Hershey's Kisses than it does to make the actual dessert!

These Thanksgiving Treats use a special ingredient that are seasonal, so stock up when the store has them. Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kisses. They sound a little odd, but when you use them in this treat, they are more than delicious!! These come out around Halloween time.

The Recipe... 

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kisses
• 1 bag of Bite-sized Pretzel Twists
• 1 bag of Pecan Halves

Directions:

 

Step 1: Unwrap all of your Hershey's Kisses

 

 

 

Step 2: Line a cookie sheet with pretzels

 

 

 

Step 3: Place one kiss on each pretzel

 

 

Step 4: Place the cookie sheet in a 350* oven for 2-3 minutes, until the kisses look shiny and squishy. Don't leave them in there long enough that they completely melt.

 

 

 

Step 5: Immediatley after the Kisses come out, gently press a pecan half to the top of each Kiss

 

 

 

Step 6: Place in the freezer until ready to serve so the Kisses cool and harden. (Plus they taste better cold, since pumpkin pie is cold) :0)

 

 

 

Mini Pumpkin Pie Bites

 

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kisses
• 1 bag of Bite-sized Pretzel Twists
• 1 bag of Pecan Halves

Directions:

Step 1: Unwrap all of your Hershey's Kisses

Step 2: Line a cookie sheet with pretzels

 

Step 3: Place one kiss on each pretzel

 

Step 4: Place the cookie sheet in a 350* oven for 2-3 minutes, until the kisses look shiny and squishy. Don't leave them in there long enough that they completely melt.

 

Step 5: Immediatley after the Kisses come out, gently press a pecan half to the top of each Kiss

 

Step 6: Place in the freezer until ready to serve so the Kisses cool and harden. (Plus they taste better cold, since pumpkin pie is cold) :0)

Chocolate Toffee Munchies

The Inspiration...

      Fall Break is here, which means all the family vacations are on their way too :0) What is a better way to spend the long hours in the car then with a big handful of delicious munchies? :0) Well I have the munchie snack for you!!!

     This inspiration all started when my sister was given a snack calendar, and the snack she needed to bring in to here class was Chocolate Chex cereal and milk. I had never tried Chocolate Chex, and it had been a while since I tasted a Chex cereal at all. Let me just say, if you haven't tried Chocolate Chex cereal... you are missing out! This isn't like Cocoa Puffs cereal, where it is overly chocolaty and sweet. It is mixed with some regular Chex cereal so that the cereal isn't overly coated with chocolate. I love this cereal dry, like a snack rather than an actual cereal.

     Want to know a fun fact about Cupcake Carina? I like to read cereal boxes from top to bottom, and cover to cover (And usually more than once) :0). As you can imagine, I naturally read the Chocolate Chex cereal box. While deep into cereal box land, I cam across one of the 15 minute trail mix recipes that seemed to look absolutely DELICIOUS!!! I got super excited and wanted to try it out as soon as a could. Sadly, I wasn't on Fall Break when I discovered the recipe, and had to wait until my schedule gave me some free time, so in other words, I had to wait until I was on Fall Break :0)

    I tried out the recipe, and let me warn you... this is one of those recipes you keep coming back for more! It is very easy to make, but I felt that the recipe wasn't very descriptive in what they were asking, so I adjusted some of the steps of the recipe for you. Hope you enjoy it!

The Recipe...

Note: This recipe isn't one you can leave alone halfway through, it goes by fast! Like when ever working with melted chocolate, you need to pick up the pace before it hardens :0)

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of Chocolate Chex Cereal
• 2 cups of Cinnamon Chex Cereal
• 1 cup of Bite-Size Pretzel Twists
• 1 cup of Pecan Halves
• 1/2 cup of Toffee Bits (I used Heath Bar Bits)
• 1 Tbsp. Instant Coffee Granules
• 1 tsp. Hot Water
• 1 cup of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1/4 cup of Butter
• 1 cup of Powdered Sugar

Directions:

Step 1: In a large bowl, mix cereals, pretzels, and pecans.

Step 2: Sprinkle Toffee Bits on top of the cereal mixture.

Step 3: In a small microwaveable-safe bowl, stir coffee granules and water until coffee is dissolved.

 

 

Step 4: Add chocolate chips and butter to the coffee mixture. Microwave uncovered on high for a minute, and stir. Then microwave another 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth.

 

Step 5: Pour chocolate mixture over the cereal mixture, and stir until evenly coated.

Step 6: Add powdered sugar to mixture and toss with your hands until the mixture until evenly coated.

 

 

 

Step 7: Spread mixture onto wax paper, parchment paper, or a Silpat to cool. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Chocolate Toffee Munchies

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of Chocolate Chex Cereal
• 2 cups of Cinnamon Chex Cereal
• 1 cup of Bite-Size Pretzel Twists
• 1 cup of Pecan Halves
• 1/2 cup of Toffee Bits (I used Heath Bar Bits)
• 1 Tbsp. Instant Coffee Granules
• 1 tsp. Hot Water
• 1 cup of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1/4 cup of Butter
• 1 cup of Powdered Sugar

Directions:
 

Step 1: In a large bowl, mix cereals, pretzels, and pecans.

Step 2: Sprinkle Toffee Bits on top of the cereal mixture. 

Step 3: In a small microwaveable-safe bowl, stir coffee granules and water until coffee is dissolved.

Step 4: Add chocolate chips and butter to the coffee mixture. Microwave uncovered on high for a minute, and stir. Then microwave another 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth.

Step 5: Pour mixture over the cereal mixture, and stir until evenly coated.

Step 6: Add powdered sugar to mixture and toss with your hands until the mixture until evenly coated.

Step 7: Spread mixture onto wax paper, parchment paper, or a Silpat to cool. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

The BEST Cream Cheese Frosting ever!

The Inspiration...

        Cupcakes. They are my best friends :0) After all, I am Cupcake Carina! They have to taste their best at all times. Here is my rubric for Cupcakes, it is very hard to get an A+ in all areas:

Batter

• Flavor
• Moistness (And the ability to keep it over a period of days)
• Fluffy
• Clinging to the wrapper
• Coloring
• Ect.

Frosting

• Flavor (The perfect match to the Cupcake's flavor)
• Sweetness (Not like liquid sugar, but not too buttery)
• Fluffy
• Light
• Airy
• Texture
• Spreadable (not too stiff, not too liquidy)
• Ect.

       When it comes to a Red Velvet Cupcake, the perfect match for frosting is Cream Cheese frosting. Some put on Vanilla Buttercream, but in my opinion, a Red Velvet Cupcake isn't complete without a perfect Cream Cheese Frosting! This Cream Cheese Frosting recipe gets an A+ in all of the Frosting Rubric Criteria.

       It took a lot of hunting to find the perfect recipe, but this one is my favorite out of all that I have tried, and trust me, with all of the cupcakes I make, I have tried ALOT of cream cheese frosting recipes :0) I love this one because it is the perfect ratio of powdered sugar to cream cheese. This recipe is by far the greatest of all times!

    Hopefully you like it as much as I do!!

    As always, I have typed the recipe down at the bottom :0)

The Recipe...

      NOTE: The more you mix this frosting, the more warm it will get, leading to a looser, more liquidy frosting. Make sure that you mix so the ingredients are blended, but don't over mix this frosting :0)

Ingredients:

• 2~8 oz. packages of Cream Cheese (room temperature)
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of room temperature Butter
• 1 Tbsp. of Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/2 cups of Powdered Sugar

Directions:

Step 1: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. (Unsalted butter works best, that way you can control the amount of salt to your frosting)

 

I took this picture before I added the 2nd package of Cream Cheese

 

Step 2: Beat in the Vanilla Extract

 

 

Step 3: Add in powdered sugar and beat until smooth

 

 

Step 4: Frost on top of a perfect dessert and ENJOY!!

 

 

The Best Cream Cheese Frosting!

 

Ingredients:

 

2~8 oz. packages of Cream Cheese (room temperature)

1/2 cup (1 stick) of room temperature Butter

1 Tbsp. of Vanilla Extract

2 1/2 cups of Powdered Sugar

 
Directions:

Step 1: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. (Unsalted butter works best, that way you can control the amount of salt to your frosting)
Step 2: Beat in the Vanilla Extract
Step 3: Add in powdered sugar and beat until smooth
Step 4: Frost on top of a perfect dessert and ENJOY!!

Recipe courtesy of Bon Appètit Magazine

Granola Balls

 

The Inspiration...

 
        I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some cooler weather... I'm counting down the days until the first day of fall... which is in 29 days :0) Fall doesn't start that early over here, but it is nice to know that it is on its way. Anyways, back to the cutest little dessert ever, Granola Balls!! This treat is what I think of when I think of fall, well, besides Pumpkin Pie :0) The colors that you will find in one bite are found the perfect Autumn Rainbow: Golden Honey, Cranberry Red, Chocolate Brown, Walnut tan, Peanut Butter Perfection... But since these are so easy and simple to make, you can make them any time of the year!!

        If you have been reading my blog, you would have seen that this is the second Granola-type recipe on here, so it is safe for you to say that I am a fan of oat filled treats :0) This isn't like that Granola Bar recipe though, this is more of a desserty-type treat, YUMMO! I will warn you though, it is impossible to just stop at one... or two... or three :0) These are a MUST try if I do say so myself :0)

       As always, if you are looking to print this recipe, I have put all of the directions and ingredients all together toward the bottom of the post, without all of the pictures so that it is easier to print :0)

The Recipe...

       For this recipe you will need to have some extra time set aside for rolling out the balls and chilling them in the fridge. I got this recipe from my grandma, thank you Nanny :0)

       NOTE: Some of my steps say not to stir yet, I have a method to my madness :0) If you stir everything over and over again, you could result in crushing or mushing ingredients, which could result in a different textured mixture.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of smooth Peanut Butter
• 1 cup of Honey
• 3 cups of Old-Fashioned Oats
• 1/2 cup of Ground Flaxseed
• 1 cup of Chocolate Chips
• 1/2 cup of Dried Cranberries (or any other small dried fruit)
• 1/2 cup of Chopped Walnuts (or any other kind of nut)

Directions:

Step 1: Mix Peanut Butter and Honey together until smooth

 

 

Step 2: Add Old Fashioned Oats to Mixture, don't stir yet

 

 

Step 3: Add in Ground Flaxseed (I buy unground Flaxseed and just grind it in a coffee grinder) and mix the ingredients together

 

Step 4: Add in Chocolate Chips to the mixture, don't mix yet

 

Step 5: Add in the dried cranberries and walnuts

 

 

Step 6: Mix everything together until it creates a nice, even batter

 

Step 7: Roll them into tablespoon size balls

 

Step 8: Chill for at least and hour and enjoy!!

 

 

Granola Balls

 

Ingredients:

1 cup of smooth Peanut Butter

1 cup of Honey

3 cups of Old-Fashioned Oats

1/2 cup of Ground Flaxseed

1 cup of Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup of Dried Cranberries (or any other small dried fruit)

1/2 cup of Chopped Walnuts (or any other kind of nut)

Directions



Step 1: Mix Peanut Butter and Honey together until smooth

Step 2: Add Old Fashioned Oats to Mixture, don't stir yet

Step 3: Add in Ground Flaxseed (I buy unground Flaxseed and just grind it in a coffee grinder) and mix the ingredients together

Step 4: Add in Chocolate Chips to the mixture, don't mix yet

Step 5: Add in the dried cranberries and walnuts 

Step 6: Mix everything together until it creates a nice, even batter

Step 7: Roll them into tablespoon size balls

Step 8: Chill for at least and hour and enjoy!!

Baking Quote...

 

"As long as you know how to bake, Life is sure to be sweet!"