Banana Cake & Praline Frosting

This is not a very good picture, but this cake is SO good!  The frosting is definitely what makes this cake--it's a must try!

Banana Cake & Praline Frosting


2 3/4 C. sifted flour

3 1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 C. butter, softened

1 tsp. salt (I used 1/2 tsp.)

1 1/2 C. sugar

3 eggs (I used egg beaters)

1 tsp. vanilla

2 C. mashed bananas (4-5 bananas)


Sift flour, baking powder, & salt.  Cream butter until soft.  Gradually add sugar, beating until light & fluffy.  Beat in eggs & vanilla.  Add dry ingredients & bananas alternately, blending thoroughly, but don't overmix.  Pour into greased 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Make sure not to overbake!




Praline Frosting


1/2 C. butter

1 C. packed brown sugar

1/4 C. milk (I used skim)

2 C. sifted powdered sugar (I was lazy & didn't sift mine)

1/2 C. chopped pecans or walnuts (optional--I didn't use, but it is really good with nuts)



Melt butter in saucepan.  Stir in brown sugar & cook for 2 minutes (continually stirring).  Add milk & bring to a boil.  Take off of heat & pour into a bowl.  Cool to lukewarm (I let mine cool for about 45 minutes) & beat in powdered sugar.  Add half of the nuts & mix well.  Spread onto cake & sprinkle remaining nuts on the frosted cake.




recipe from Mom

Wilton Buttercream Icing

This is such a yummy frosting. I got the recipe from when I was taking cake decorating classes from Michaels. I like it best with this cake or a yellow cake mix.

Wilton Buttercream Icing


1 C. white vegetable shortening (I use 3/4 C. shortening and 1/4 C. butter)

1 tsp. flavor (vanilla or almond--I use almond & I usually add extra)

2 Tbsp. water or milk (I use water)

1 lb. (4 C.) powdered sugar

1 Tbsp. meringue powder (optional--I don't use this)

pinch of salt (optional--I use it)




Using a mixer, cream together shortening, flavoring, & water. Add dry ingredients & mix on medium speed until all ingredients have been thoroughly mixed together. Blend an additional minute or so until creamy. Add more liquid if needed.




*This recipe is for a 9x13 cake.





recipe from Wilton

Sugar Cookies & Frosting

I absolutely LOVE these sugar cookies--they're so good! I love to use red hots when I make them for Christmas or Valentine's Day...

..and candy corns when I make them for Halloween!

Sugar Cookies

2/3 C. butter, softened

3/4 C. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

4 tsp. milk

2 C. sifted flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt




Thoroughly cream butter, sugar, & vanilla. Add egg & beat until light & fluffy. Stir in milk. Sift together dry ingredients & blend into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half & wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for 1 hour. On lightly floured surface, roll to about 1/8 inch thickness (or however thick you desire). Cut in shapes with cutters. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 5 to 8 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE! Cool slightly & remove from pan. Makes 2 dozen cookies. Frost the cookies after they are completely cooled.




*I always double the recipe so that I have some to share :)




Frosting 

1 C. softened butter

4 C. powdered sugar (this is just an estimate--I always just dump some in & add more if needed)

1 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbsp. milk (again, I just dump some in until it's the right consistency)



Beat until it's well mixed and smooth.






recipe from my Mom

German Chocolate Cake & Coconut-Pecan Frosting

This cake is soooooo good & it's Danny's favorite!

German Chocolate Cake

I use the Wacky Cake recipe found here, but any chocolate cake recipe would be good I'm sure. I like to make it using round pans instead of a 9x13.


*I do the 1 1/2 batch.  It makes two 9-inch round pans.


Coconut-Pecan Frosting

1 C. evaporated milk

1 C. sugar

3 slightly beaten egg yolks

1/2 C. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/3 C. coconut

1 C. chopped pecans (or walnuts)



Combine milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter, and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Cook & stir over medium heat until thickened--about 12 minutes. Remove from heat & stir in coconut & nuts. Cool until thickened enough to spread (about 30-60 minutes), stirring occasionally.


Makes 2 1/2 cups


*I double the frosting recipe because we like a generous amount of frosting for the cake.



recipe from mom

Marshmallow Brownies & Chocolate Frosting

These are one of my favorite treats! They are soooooo good!

Marshmallow Brownies & Chocolate Frosting


1 C. butter, softened

1/2 C. cocoa

2 C. sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 C. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 C. nuts (optional)

mini marshmallows




Cream together butter, sugar & cocoa. Add eggs & vanilla. Sift flour & salt & mix all together. Spread in a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes (make sure you don't overbake them). Take out & sprinkle with mini marshmallows (enough to cover the top). Return to oven for 3 minutes (marshmallows will puff & flow together). Cool for 1 hour & then frost.




Chocolate Frosting

1/2 C. butter, softened

1 2/3 C. powdered sugar

1/3 C. cocoa

1/3 C. evaporated milk




Mix together with hand mixer. Add more powdered sugar if needed (I usually don't need to add more).






*You can also do these in a jelly roll pan, but I like mine a little thicker :)







recipe from Barb

Homemade Oreos & Cream Cheese Frosting

Homemade Oreos


2 packages Devils Food cake mix

4 eggs

1 1/4 C. Crisco (melted)



Mix all of the ingredients together & make into balls (I like to flatten them just a little before placing them on the pan to bake). Place on an ungreased baking sheet & bake at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes (make sure you don't overbake--you want them to be soft). Place cookies onto a rack until they are completely cooled. Put cream cheese frosting on the flat side of one cookie & then put another cookie (flat side) on top of the frosting. Store cookies in refrigerator.



*Makes approximately 30 sandwich cookies




Cream Cheese Frosting


3 2/3 C. powdered sugar

8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. butter, softened (optional)

1 tsp. vanilla



Mix all of the ingredients together with a mixer until smooth. Add more powdered sugar if needed.




*I don't use any butter & I think it still tastes great!



Recipe from Jenni

Wacky Cake & Rocky Road Frosting

This is a really good, moist chocolate cake! You don't need eggs to make it, so it's a good recipe to have on hand!

Wacky Cake


2 1/4 C. sifted flour

1 1/2 C. sugar

4 Tbsp. cocoa

1 1/2 tsp. soda

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 C. melted butter or margarine

1 1/2 Tbsp. vinegar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 C. cold water


Sift the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Add the liquids and mix thoroughly, but do not over-mix (batter will be slightly lumpy). Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake!


*I usually 1 & 1/2 this recipe to make a thicker cake. I still use a 9x13 pan, but there's a little too much batter, so I bake the rest in a small bread loaf pan.  Or, the 1 1/2 batch works perfectly for my 2 round cake pans.


Wacky Cake (1 1/2 Batch)

3 1/4 C. sifted flour

2 1/4 C. sugar

6 Tbsp. cocoa

2 1/4 tsp. soda

1 tsp. salt

3/4 C. melted butter

2 Tbsp. 1 tsp. vinegar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/4 C. cold water


Rocky Road Frosting


2 1-oz. squares unsweetened chocolate (or 2 Tbsp. melted butter/margarine & 6 Tbsp. cocoa)

2 C. miniature marshmallows

1/4 C. water

1/4 C. butter or margarine

2 C. sifted powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 C. chopped walnuts (optional)



In small saucepan, combine chocolate, 1 C. marshmallows, water, & butter. Cook & stir over low heat until the chocolate & marshmallows are melted. Cool slightly. Add powdered sugar & vanilla and mix. Add more powdered sugar if needed until you reach your desired consistency. Stir in 1 C. marshmallows and nuts.



*I like to 1 & 1/2 this recipe so that there's plenty of frosting for the cake. Also, I usually need more powdered sugar than the recipe calls for.





Recipes from my mom