Girl Scout Cupcakes

Let me preface this by telling you that I don't usually condone the use of so much processed food. However, I do highly recommend these cupcakes. This cake is one of my childhood favorites. My mom used to make it in a bundt pan and it even inspired my chocolate cupcake recipe.

Chocolate Chip Cake

 Yellow cake mix

4 eggs

¾ cup oil

¾ cup water

1 8 oz sour cream

1 5 oz pkg vanilla pudding

1 6 oz pkg mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F . Combine all ingredients.

Bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out batter-free, about 20 minutes. Transfer muffins to a rack and let cool.

Easy Caramel Buttercream 

 easy caramel


1/2 cup brown sugar


1/4 cup heavy cream


2 Tablespoons unsalted butter


1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
pinch of kosher salt

1. In a medium sauce pan, mix sugar, cream and butter.

2. Bring to a boil over medium high heat stirring with a wooden spoon.

3. Continue to boil for 3 minutes stirring constantly.

4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and sea salt. (Be careful, it will bubble!)

5. Cool to room temperature (this is important)

5. Beat with a wire whisk until smooth.

buttercream

1 cup unsalted butter softened

3 cups confectioners sugar sifted

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1. Cream butter in a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed until light and creamy.

2. With mixer on low, slowly add powdered sugar.

3. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract & salt, beat for 3 minutes.

4. With mixer on low, slowly add cooled caramel. Beat until all is incorporated.

Topping 

Unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted

Chocolate- milk or semi-sweet, melted

Honey Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are our favorite "egg free" cookies. 

1 ¼ cup flour

½ tsp baking soda

pinch Salt

¼ cup butter, softened

¼ cup sugar

½ cup honey

1 cup chocolate chips (or a mixture of pb chips, m&ms, reese’s pieces, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Mix dry stuff (flour, baking soda and salt) together in a big measuring cup or a small bowl. 

In a medium bowl, blend butter, sugar and honey together with a rubber spatula or a mixer on low speed.

Mix in dry ingredients. Add chips and mix until everything is all creamed together.

Use a couple of soup spoons or tablespoons to drop blobs of dough onto a nonstick cooking sheet.

Grandma Mary's Carrot Cake

I made these into cupcakes for Easter and they were so yummy. Really similar to the healthier version I made last spring. I did add about 3/4 cup sweetened coconut.

• 3 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup crushed pineapple
• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cuts canola oil
• 2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cups nuts

Combine dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls. Fold together carefully.

Bake for 45-60 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 ounces light cream cheese/Neufchatel
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 or 3 teaspoons milk
• 4 cups powdered sugar 

White Chip Chocolate Cookies

This was a new recipe to our family.  Avery made these! You can't really go wrong with butter, chocolate and sugar!

White Chip Chocolate Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Premier White Morsels

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by well-rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. 

Chocolate Coconut Frosted Graham Crackers

I've been looking for delicious, healthy graham crackers for awhile and my search has come to an abrupt halt. They have been located! I found them at amazon.com for just under $3 a box. And, they are actually made with real graham flour, no hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup. Most "graham" crackers are not :( The oats have kinda thrown my kids for a loop, but my husband and I think they are delish. The only thing that makes them better than a glass of milk is this yummy little concoction. Don't bother measuring, just go do it!!!

Chocolate Coconut Frosting

1 glob coconut oil (sub butter)

about 2 cups confectioner's sugar

about 1 cup cocoa powder

a couple splashes of coconut milk (sub cow's milk)

Mix it all together and spread it on thick!

(I like mine to sit for several minutes to several hours to soften the crackers just a bit.)