Cinnamon Rolls (Guest Post)

I’m happy to introduce Arianna from The After School Chef, a fellow high school baker and blogger! Along with our love of baking, Arianna and I share many things like being vegetarian, loving exercise, and many other traits. Please visit her amazing blog for more recipes and beautiful pictures!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Happy birthday, Paula Deen!! In honor of my most trusted and beloved recipe source, I made my favorite of her recipes–red velvet cupcakes. Surprisingly, out of all her buttery cakes and gooey chocolate bars, these cupcakes are her best dessert yet! (And as a very discriminating red velvet critic myself, that praise means a lot!) But although I am picky in finding the perfect red velvet cupcake, when the recipe is right, the flavor is fantastic because it gives you a touch of chocolate without the overly rich heaviness, and Paula’s deliciously moist cupcake recipe definitely passes the test!

German Chocolate Cake

Obsessive-ness runs in my family; my dad has a strict punctuality requirement, my mom swears by post-its and agendas, and my sister combines all of the above. Thanks to them, I have a lot in common with Guy Pearce, who claims that his “problem is [that he’s] an addictive personality“, for I too “can’t have one cup of coffee… or just one piece of chocolate cake.” Being slightly compulsive certainly has its benefits and its drawbacks, but because I’m an all-or-nothing person, at least I can fully commit myself to any undertaking. And, since I’m also a Taurus, I’m even more resolute; there’s no stopping me once I’ve set my mind on something! Thus, here’s the dessert of the week: a fantastic German Chocolate Cake!

Candy Corn Cupcakes

Holiday quotation: “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.” –Shakespeare

For me, Halloween is not complete without decorative desserts like cute spider web cookies and oreo mud pie! Although definitely not a baker, my mom would always make rice crispy treats, wrapped in orange cellophane and packaged in a giant witch’s cauldron, to donate to my elementary school’s “Halloween Haunt” bake sale. I loved the treats so much, that half of them would “vanish” even before they arrived at school! I’ve recently discovered (or re-discovered!) how much I love the presentation/decoration side of baking, so enjoy the chills and thrills of this year’s Halloween with these amazing candy corn cupcakes! Of course, the cupcake is light, moist, and delicious, and the frosting is too sweet to resist! I loved experimenting with the design; if you look closely at the pictures, you can see the 4 different cupcake liners I used in the process! Have fun with sprinkles, candy corn, M&M‘s and colored frosting in your design undertaking! I “witch” all of you a Happy Halloween! Enjoy!!

Recipe: Candy Corn Cupcakes

Oreo Chocolate Layer Cake

I’ve discovered heaven… in cake form. Words cannot describe this perfect masterpiece of rich chocolate, timelessly fantastic oreos, and all things of sweet goodness! (And please note: I am a  very discriminating critic.) The chocolate cake is light and fluffy, the cookies and cream whipped filling is sweet beyond perfection, and the frosting is the perfect flavor and consistency; what more could one ask for?!? When I made this cake for family dinner last night (the recipe had been sitting on my baking shelf forever!), not to my surprise, the cake was an unbelievable hit! This cake should be on everyone’s baking “bucket list”– it’s a must bake (or a must eat!) for all!!!

Recipe: Chocolate Oreo Cake

***NOTE: I tripled the amount of the whipped cream filling between the two cake layers. Also, in order to frost the cake easier, I used an extra 1/4 cup (a little less than) of powdered sugar in the frosting for a thicker, more spreadable consistency.

Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake

It’s Sunday again, which means dessert time! As a combination of Fathers’ Day and birthday celebrations, a light carrot cake is this week’s featured dessert! (per my parents’ requests) This gorgeous carrot layer cake is filled and topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting; the cake itself has a tropical hint of pineapple and coconut, making the cake super moist and extra delicious! Whip up this surprisingly simple recipe for a fantastic dessert and to wish your dad a “Happy Fathers’ Day”!!! Enjoy!

Recipe: Carrot Cake

**NOTE: I did not add the cinnamon to the frosting; I wanted an old-fashioned, vanilla cream cheese taste instead.

Birthday Cake Cupcakes

These vanilla cupcakes with fluffy chocolate buttercream frosting are mini birthday cakes in just a few bites! Dressed up with festive rainbow sprinkles, these yummy cupcakes are mouthwatering and delicious! Although most frostings can be overly sweet or waxy, this chocolate buttercream is light and simply the best!

Recipe: 1) Cupcake: Vanilla Cupcake  2) Frosting: Chocolate Buttercream 

**NOTE: There’s a special surprise in every bite; I scooped out some of the cake, so the cupcake is filled with extra chocolate buttercream frosting. Enjoy!

BEST EVER Chocolate Layer Cake

Sorry, this post is way overdue! (I forced myself not to procrasti-blog during AP week!)   Anyways, it’s tradition that my best friend and I celebrate Easter together. I always go over to her house for the usual easter egg hunt and decorating, but instead I usually find myself cooking with her mom in the kitchen! In honor of her, I made this DELICIOUS chocolate layer cake– ultra rich and super moist, as requested! Although she usually never finishes her plate of food, there was no cake left–I guess it was good!

**Note: I’m not necessarily the biggest chocolate cake fan, but this might be one of the best desserts I have ever made. This recipe is a MUST-BAKE! (and definitely worth breaking your diet for)

Recipe: Suzanne’s Chocolate Cake Recipe