Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There’s no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.
I bake almost every day in the winter. It’s a fun activity to do with my kids, keeps the kitchen warm and the house smelling great, and I always have something to offer guests when they come over for a visit, which is so often during the holiday season. Usually it’s something sweet along with a cup of coffee… over a great conversation!
What desserts do I bake? It honestly varies from day to day, depending on what I’m in the mood for, or what I find on sale at the grocery store. In the past week, for example, I’ve made peanut butter chocolate squares and rainbow cupcakes, but I usually make banana bread at least once a week, and something with apples or pumpkin.
Inspired by a big jar of peanut butter that my husband brought home, the peanut butter chocolate squares were a big hit! I took some over to a neighbor, passed them out to the kids at the bus stop, and gave the rest to some friends that came over. Everyone agreed that they tasted just like the famous peanut butter cups we all know and love. I’m thinking I might make some more to give as holiday gifts.
The technicolor rainbow cupcakes? That was totally my daughter’s idea, but I have to admit I love how they turned out! Made using Duncan Hines classic white cake mix, biting into one of these will inevitably bring a smile to your face.
It’s important to use white cake mix – whether it be from a box or from scratch – to get the purest colors from the food coloring. In this case, I used neon colors, but I’m sure red, white, and green cupcake would go over well at a holiday party!
Preparing them doesn’t take that much more work. I just had to split the batter up into different bowls for each of the 5 colors. I let my daughter add a few drops of each color to the batters, mixing it up to see if it was bright enough. The tricky part is getting the layers just right in the cupcake pan. One by one, I’d spoon a little of each color into the cupcake liners, trying to get an even amount of each…
The end result was “totally awesome,” according to Maya, my 7-year-old, who I surprised with these when she got home from school. They were gobbled right up by her and her friends, but she wants to make them again for Santa next Friday!
Remember to check out Duncan Hines’ website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.
YOUR TURN: What desserts do you like to make and share with friends?
Mmmm…both of those look very yummy! I like making and sharing praline graham crackers. No one in my family can resist them!