Desserts - A Pumpkin And A Princess

White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

April 8, 2013 12 Comments

Happy Monday, my friends! Do you know what’s the best way to start a Monday? With a BIG giveaway! Today I’m sharing a White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars recipe as part of a progressive dinner party and giveaway. Its no secret that I love cheesecake. I’ve made Mini Snicker’s Cheesecakes, Caramel Apple Cheesecakes, Butterfinger Cheesecakes, and now strawberry cheesecake bars.

White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

For the filling:

(2) 8 oz packages of cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup white chocolate chips, melted and cooled
1 cup strawberry jam

For the crust:
1 cup graham crackers
3-4 tsp butter
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Step one

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, lightly spray with cooking spray.

Step two

Crush one cup of graham crackers in a food processor. Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and cinnamon together. Mix with melted butter and press mixture onto pan. Bake for 5 minutes and allow crust to cool.

Step three

Spread strawberry jam evenly onto crust.

Step four

For the filling mix together cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream. Add in melted white chocolate. Slowly add eggs and vanilla until mixture is well combined. Pour into pan and bake for 40-50 minutes. Allow cheesecake to cool completely (I like to store mine in the refrigerator overnight).

Now lets talk about this progressive dinner, shall we? Some bloggy friends and I have put together a spring time progressive dinner that involves everything from a tablescape to appetizers, side dishes, the main course, drinks and dessert. Be sure to hop around the links below to check out my friends amazing dishes.

Progressive Dinner Party

A big thank you to our giveaway sponsors who are generously offering one BIG giveaway package to a lucky reader.

Progressive Dinner Giveaway

Le Creuset Giveaway (MSRP $349)

-5 piece cast iron set

Land O Lakes Giveaway (MRSP $150)

-One half stick butter dish (perfect for their Land O Lakes® Butter Half Sticks)

-One serving bowl

-One set measuring spoons

-Four dinner plates

-One product coupon

Dreamfarm Giveaway (MSRP $148.65)

- Scizza

-Teafu

-Supoon

-Smood

-Gargect

-9″ clongs

-Chopula

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reese’s Ice Cream Cupcakes

March 19, 2013 65 Comments

Reese’s Ice Cream Cupcakes – Is there anything better than peanut butter and chocolate mixed together into a delicious ice cream cupcake? The chocolate and peanut butter combo make this ice cream cupcake recipe a keeper! If you love Reese’s peanut butter cups you’ll love this recipe.

Ice Cream Cupcake Recipes

Since announcing my 12 months of ice cream cupcakes series I’ve been thinking of recipes to make for the entire series. The mint chocolate chip ice cream cupcakes were a big hit in our family and in that post I mentioned trying a peanut butter and chocolate ice cream cupcake, so I knew I had to start the series with these Reese’s Ice Cream Cupcakes.

The cake layer is filled with Reese’s peanut butter chips, giving you a sweet peanut buttery flavor in every bite. The ice cream layer is Dreyer’s Peanut Butter Cup ice cream. Here’s the twist on the topping..its the new Cool Whip Frosting topped with a mini Reese’s cup. The Cool Whip frosting is a smooth frosting that compliments the ice cream nicely.

Ice Cream Cupcakes

If you haven’t tried ice cream cupcakes, run to the store and makes these bad boys. They’re perfect for a special events, birthday parties, or a fun dessert to make with the kids. My kiddos loved filling the ice cream layer and of course topping them with the mini peanut butter cup. It was a messy process since I like to let the ice cream melt a little but it was worth the messy fun!

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cupcakes

Ice Cream Cupcakes

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

Reese’s Ice Cream Cupcakes

Ingredients

Dreyer's Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
Favorite chocolate cake mix (I used Betty Crocker Triple Chocolate)
1/2 cup Reese's peanut butter chips
Cool Whip chocolate frosting
Mini Reese's peanut butter cups

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
Prepare cake mix and stir in Reese's peanut butter chips.
Pour 1 tablespoon of cake mix batter into each muffin cup.
Bake for 10-12 minutes; allow cupcakes to cool.
Top cupcakes with slightly melted ice cream.
Freeze for at least 2-3 hours, preferably overnight.
Top with Cool Whip frosting and mini Reese's peanut butter cup.

http://apumpkinandaprincess.com/2013/03/reeses-ice-cream-cupcakes-recipe.html

Next week I have another ice cream dessert recipe to share with you. They’re not ice cream cupcakes but its one of my favorite desserts to make!

Enjoy!

Linking up here, Home Stories A toZ

Filed Under: Desserts, Featured, Parties, Recipes Tagged With: ice cream cupcakes, peanut butter cups, Reese's Candy, Reese's Ice Cream

Cream Cheese Banana Nut Muffins

March 14, 2013 8 Comments

One of my favorite uses for overripe bananas is to make banana nut muffins. Fact: sometimes I purposely let our bananas get overripe just so that I can make muffins with them. This week I tried the best banana nut muffin recipe EVER! Its a moist banana nut muffin with a cream cheese filling and oh did I mentioned they’re delicious?

Banana Nut Muffins recipe

I slightly adapted this recipe from the May 2012 issue of Food Network magazine who adapted the recipe from a restaurant, Gary Danko, in San Francisco. I will say that the recipe is a little time consuming because you have to wash out your mixer a few times. Unless of course you have multiple kitchen aid mixers and in that case I’m totally jealous of you. :) But I promise all the work will be worth it in the end!

Banana nut muffins with cream cheese mousse recipe

For the muffins:

1 1/2 cups plus 3 tbsp cake flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 stick plus 2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup plus 6 tbsp sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 large eggs, room temperature

3 ripe banana, mashed

2/3 cup walnuts, chopped

For the cream cheese mouse filling:

8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large egg whites, at room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degree; line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2. Begin by making the filling: beat the cream cheese and vanilla extract with the paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth; transfer to a bowl. Clean out the mixer then beat the egg whites with the whisk attachment for about a minute. Gradually add the sugar, then increase the mixer speed to high for about 3 minutes. Add half of the cream cheese mixture and beat until combined. Add the remaining half of your cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Put filling in a pastry bag with a large round tip. If you don’t have a tip available snipping 1 inch off the bottom of a disposable pastry bag works fine. Clean out the mixer.

3. For the muffins: Sift flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla with the paddle attachment on medium speed for about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add in mashed bananas until well combined. Slowly add half of the flour mixture and beat on low speed. Add renaming flour mixture until combined. Stir in walnuts.

4. Fill muffin pan about 1/2 way full. Insert the pastry tip (or bag) halfway into the batter and pipe about 1 teaspoon of filling in each muffin. Bake for about 20-30 minutes minutes, until the a toothpick inserted in the muffin (not filling) comes out clean. Transfer to a rack to cool for 15 minutes. Makes 24 muffins.

Enjoy!

Linking up here

Filed Under: Desserts, Recipes Tagged With: Banana Nut Muffins, Breakfast Muffins, Cream Cheese Mousse

Easter Baking {Carrot Cupcakes & Lemon Bars)

February 20, 2013 15 Comments

With Easter quickly approaching I’m ready to dive into Easter crafts and recipes. Holidays are always fun for our family and there are sweet memories being made with each year that passes. My contribution to every holiday meal is dessert, its pretty much expected at this point. That being said I’m always looking for new Easter baking ideas and sometimes I get inspiration from baking supplies I find.

Last week I headed to World Market for a few Easter baking supplies and was thrilled with what I found. If you haven’t visited a World Market you are missing out! I love everything they carry and always have to watch my wallet when I walk into the store. Its that awesome!

Easy Carrot Cupcakes Recipe

When you think of World Market cute trendy furniture and home decor accessories probably come to mind first, but did you know they offer baking supplies as well? Check out what I found for our Easter celebration….

Easter Baking Ideas

I’m in LOVE with the cute measuring spoons and matching measuring cups I found in pretty Spring colors. I’m equally in love with my new slate cheese board..perfect for displaying party food on! They even had cute gift wrapping supplies for baked goods like those polka dot blue bread carriers and floral treat boxes. Then of course I had to get the kids some Easter baking candy for cupcakes. On top of all that I found baking mixes to make dessert quick and easy if you’re in a rush. I picked up a box of carrot cupcake mix and a lemon bar mix.

Carrot Cupcakes Recipe

For the cupcakes I used the mix then made my own cream cheese frosting and the kit included orange sprinkles to decorate the cupcakes with.

Carrot Cupcakes:

1 box of carrot cupcake mix found at World Market

3 tbsp butter, softened

1/4 cup water

1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2. Combine cupcake mix, butter, water, and egg.

3. Pour batter into lined muffin cups. Bake 16-18 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups confectioners sugar

1. Mix cream cheese and butter for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy.

2. Add in vanilla extra until fully combined.

3. Slowly incorporate confectioners sugar into mix. Spread or pipe frosting on cupcakes.

Easy Lemon Bars recipe

Lemon Bars:

1 box of Lemon Bar mix found at World Market

2 eggs

1/4 cup water

6 tbsp cold butter

1. Combine lemon bar mix, eggs, and water for 2 minutes; set aside.

For the crust:

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease an 8×8 inch pan.

2. Combine butter and crust mix until small crumbs form.

3. Press crust into pan and bake for 8 minutes or until golden brown.

4. Add lemon bar filling onto crust. Bake for 22-24 minutes.

5. Allow lemon bars to cool then cut and top with powdered sugar.

Easy Lemon Bars recipe

Connect with World Market on:

Facebook >> Twitter >> Instagram

Also be sure to check out the Great and Powerful Sweepstakes presented by World Market

>>>Win wondrous prizes and celebrate a world of adventure.

Enter to win the grand prize package:

>* Private movie screening for you and 50 friends of OZ The Great and Powerful

>* Free IMAX Movie Tickets for a Year

>* $1,000 World Market gift card

Plus, 3 first prizes: $500 World Market gift card
Enter online at worldmarketsweepstakes.com

* Disney’s OZ The Great and Powerful in Theaters March 8, 2013. Experience it in IMAX 3D Movie Trailer

What are some of your favorite Easter recipes?

Thanks for stopping by!

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and World Market, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #WorldMarket. Disclosure

Filed Under: Desserts, Recipes

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Push Up Pops

February 19, 2013 47 Comments

Now that Valentine’s Day has passed its time to start focusing on St. Patrick’s Day crafts and recipes. Last year right before St. Patrick’s Day I shared mint chocolate chip ice cream cupcakes and this year I put a new spin on them by creating mint brownie ice cream push up pops! I love mint brownie ice cream and this recipe is perfect for a St. Patrick’s Day party.

Ice Cream Push Up Pops

Speaking of ice cream cupcakes, with the help of a few good friends I have a fun new series starting this month where I will share a new ice cream cupcake recipe once a month for the next year, so that it will end on the anniversary of when my first recipe was published.You’re probably thinking “umm how many times can you switch out the ice cream?” but rest assure there will be some fun new creative ways to make ice cream cupcakes for every holiday/season/celebration imaginable! A few of my favorite bloggers have given me some ideas for this series that I think you’re going to like! Ice cream cupcakes are perfect for parties and they’re so easy to make that I hope you enjoy this series as much I’m looking forward to it, especially for what I have in store for you at the end of it. :)

Ice Cream Cupcakes

Now back to the St. Patrick’s Day Push-Up Pops…

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Push Up Pops

Push-up pops have been all the rage for a couple of years now so I’ve been wanting to make them for awhile. A few weeks ago I came across a Wilton pack of push up pop containers at Michaels and I knew it was time to finally make some. They also had a Wilton pan that creates mini cakes shaped small enough for the push up pop containers but I didn’t pick that up. So here’s what I did..I baked a sheet layer of brownies then used the container to cut out circles that were a perfect fit!

Brownie push up pop tutorial

My baking pan collection is getting out of hand but I may just have to add the push up pop one soon for a post I’m working on for next month. More deets on that soon. ;)

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Push Up Pops

Ingredients

Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
Mint Brownie Ice Cream
Whipped Cream (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix water, oil, and egg together; add brownie mix. Stir until well blended.
Bake brownies for 26-28 minutes.
Allow brownies to cool completely.
>>>To assemble ice cream brownie push up pops:
Cut brownie bites small enough to fit into the container (tip: use the top of the container to cut perfectly sized brownie bites).
Add one brownie bite then spoon in ice cream layer. Repeat with another layer of brownie bite and ice cream.
Top with whipped cream and sprinkles if desired.
Enjoy!

http://apumpkinandaprincess.com/2013/02/mint-brownie-ice-cream-push-up-pops.html

Ice Cream Push Up Pops

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up here

Filed Under: Desserts, Holidays, Kids, Recipes, Spring Tagged With: ice cream push up pops, mint brownie ice cream, push-up pops, St. Patrick's Day

Triple Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache Frosting

February 5, 2013 33 Comments

Triple Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes are a decadent treat for chocolate lovers like myself. A chocolate cake recipe made into cupcakes topped with chocolate ganache and mini chocolate chips were the perfect dessert for our Super Bowl party last weekend.

Chocolate cupcakes with ganache frosting

Did your favorite team win the Super Bowl? Were you rooting for the Ravens all along? I may not be a big football fan but I sure do love Super Bowl food! My mother in-law did a great job hosting a super bowl party for our family and my contribution to the party were these triple chocolate ganache cupcakes

Triple Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache frosting recipe

So random fact: I shopped at Safeway in the town that 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick grew up. We live a few hours away from San Francisco and this particular town is where Kaepernick grew up since he was four. Most stores display their Super Bowl party foods, but Safeway did an impressive job with theirs this year. They even had a giant banner with Colin Kaepernick’s picture on it hanging above one of the displays (you can see more pictures on Google+).

super bowl party ideas

While there we picked up a few party essentials like chips, dips, and chocolate for the cupcakes. My mother in law put on an impressive food display for the big game. I love her white and blue dishes!

Super Bowl Party Food Display

I may or may not have fallen asleep from the end of the second quarter until two minutes left in the fourth. Apparently I missed a great game but the last two minutes were pretty intense wouldn’t you say? I also may or may not have made a comment about how similar the Ravens coach and 49ers coach looked alike. Everyone laughed because apparently John and Jim are brothers…who knew, right? HA!

Triple Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache Frosting

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
mini chocolate chips for topping
For the ganache
2 cups semi-sweet or dark chocolate
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and fill cupcake pan with liners.
In a large bowl stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla and mix for 2 minutes. Slowly stir in boiling water.
Pour into cupcake pan 2/3 full with batter.
Bake for 22-24 minutes; cool completely.
For the ganache:
Heat heavy whipping cream until boiling.
Pour heavy cream over a bowl of chocolate and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.
Once the chocolate is melted whisk the heavy cream and chocolate together until you get a smooth consistency.
Dip or spoon ganache onto the cupcakes and top with mini chocolate chips. I like to place my cupcakes in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to allow the ganache to set.

http://apumpkinandaprincess.com/2013/02/triple-chocolate-cupcakes-with-ganache-frosting.html

For this recipe I used the Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” cake recipe and made my own chocolate ganache frosting then topped the cupcakes with mini chocolate chips. They were a big hit at our Super Bowl party!

Triple Chocolate Cupcakes with ganache frosting recipe

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up here

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® #CBias #SocialFabric

Filed Under: Desserts, Recipes

Chocolate Peanut Candy Clusters

December 11, 2012 6 Comments

Now that we’re counting down the days until Christmas I’m getting recipe ideas ready to give special treats to neighbors next week. On Sunday the kids and I are going to bake the day away making a large assortment of cookies, fudge, and triple chocolate peppermint brownies. The salted caramel turtles candy were also a big hit with my family that I plan to make a large batch of those as well. Yesterday we tried a new recipe and to be honest I don’t know why I’ve never tried it before. We made the easiest chocolate peanut candy clusters ever!

Peanut Clusters

Are you ready for this…it has TWO ingredients. Yep, just two. I guess you could technically cover anything in chocolate and call it a special treat but I have a feeling this candy cluster recipe is going to be a new family fave.

Easy Peanut Clusters Recipe

To make them all I did was melt ~~my absolute favorite chocolate~~ Semi-Sweet Ghirardelli chocolate chips then stirred in peanuts. I then used a teaspoon to place the clusters onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. I’m impatient so I put them in the refrigerator and ten minutes later…ta da!

Candy Clusters

What are you baking this holiday season? Do you enjoy giving treats as gifts?

Thanks for stopping by, I’ll be back later with a new giveaway! One a special guy in your life might enjoy or for you to keep for yourself. :)

Linking up here, TCB

Filed Under: Christmas, Desserts, Recipes Tagged With: Candy Clusters, Chocolate Candy Clusters, Ghirardelli Chocolate, Peanut Clusters

Triple Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

November 30, 2012 31 Comments

Triple Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

My favorite holiday treat is without a doubt Ghirardelli peppermint bark. Have you tried it? It is amazing! My oldest (who loves anything and everything mint) and I were eating a piece of peppermint bark the other day when he suggested that we use it to bake with. It inspired me to create a Triple Chocolate Peppermint Brownies recipe.

Triple Chocolate Peppermint Brownies Recipe

These are way too addicting, I had to stop myself from eating the entire pan. Chocolate and peppermint are one of the best holiday flavors! We love to use candy canes to stir our hot cocoa and now we have a new treat to make on those cold winter days.

Easy Peppermint Brownies Recipe

Triple Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

Ingredients

1 package Ghirardelli Brownie Mix
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 cup white chocolate chips; melted (optional)
1/2 Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare baking pan by lightly greasing or lining with parchment paper.
Combine water, oil, and egg in a mixing bowl. Add brownie mix and peppermint extract; stir until fully combined. Spread into pan.
Bake for 45-50 minutes.
Once brownies have cooled drizzle with white chocolate and sprinkle peppermint crunch baking chips on top.

http://apumpkinandaprincess.com/2012/11/triple-chocolate-peppermint-brownies.html

For this recipe I used the Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix found at Costco. I love, love, love this brownie mix! By the way I actually tried two versions of this recipe and decided this was the best one. In my first attempt at peppermint brownies I sprinkled chopped Hershey’s candy cane kisses on top. They melted right on top of the brownies creating a sweet coating. I found that they were a little too decadent and overpowered the brownies. So my next best option was to drizzle the melted white chocolate chips on top with a piping bag then add the peppermint crunch. I really like the peppermint crunch because it doesn’t melt easily like the kisses did but its also not hard like candy canes.

Peppermint Brownies Recipe