Cinnamon Apple sauce

Ridiculously easy....terrifically yummy! I have been sooo busy baking for my hubs corporate events for the last 3 weeks.  They had meetings in Dallas and I was asked to bake for them! Soooo..during that time my regular cooking took a back seat but I have tried a few new recipes.  The first being this easy crock pot apple sauce.  It literally makes itself. I made 2 batches last weekend and now today I will make my apple sauce cookies with some of it! The next time I will make it with out any cinnamon.  The 2nd time I made it, I cut the cinnamon in half, we felt it was too much...I still feel it s too much with only the 1/2.  Let me know how you like it! IT is so dark because of the cinnamon, when I put it on the table the kids said it looked like tomato soup.....

~Recipe~

About 15 medium sized apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 cup apple juice

Put the apples in the slow cooker and add the juice.  Turn on high for 1 hour then turn on low for 8-10 hours.  I started this late in the evening and it cooked all night.

After the 8-10 hours add:
2 1/2 cups sugar*I added 2 cups*
4 tsp cinnamon...I will not add this again. The photo above it with 2 tsp...
1/2 tsp cloves*yuck* I did not use this
1 tsp nutmeg! YUM!
Stir all of this into the apples and the apples will break apart and be in chunks. Keep in the crock pot on low for 6-8 more hours.  If it is not as smooth as you like you can blend it.  It keeps in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
Enjoy~

Mounds brownies

Mixed reviews from mi casa on these....so I sent the WHOLE pan to school with Brenn.  Hope they get eaten at school.  :) I thought that there was WAAAAY too much coconut and I don't like chocolate so it was a no go for me.  Hubby said, as of last night, he is newly allergic to coconut...so that is a hint not to make them again.  Kiddos were split on the decision so it is a never again to be made recipe.

~Recipe~
1 pkg of brownies for 9x13 pan * I used my homemade brownie recipe*
5 1/3 pkg coconut, unsweetened
1 can condensed milk
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 can chocolate frosting

Prepare and bake and cool brownies.
Combine coconut, condensed milk and powdered sugar in the bowl of a mixer and mix WELL, spread over cooled brownies.  Warm the frosting in microwave for 15 sec intervals until you can pour and spread over the coconut.  Chill, cut and eat. Eh...
Enjoy~

Root beer Float cupcakes!

These are fantastic! I made cupcakes for my hubs corporate meeting and I had to find some fun and new recipes.  These was a huge hit! For our family I just used vanilla bean ice cream for the 'icing'.  When I took the cakes to his meeting I frosted them with root beer buttercream and put a little straw in the icing for a decoration! Fun fun fun!!

~Recipe~
**I doubled this recipe when I made it because I needed 2 dozen, doubling it makes exactly 2 dozen**

1 cup root beer soda
1 Tsp apple cider vinegar
3/4 c sugar
1/3 c canola oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp root beer extract
1 1/3 c flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 and line your cupcake pans with liners.

Combine the root beer and vinegar and let this stand for 3-4 minutes.  Add the sugar and oil and whisk well, until a little frothy.  Add the extracts and then the flour, soda, powder and salt....slowly. Please do not over mix. I use an ice cream scoop when I fill cupcake pans or muffin tins. Fill the liners 3/4 full.  Bake 18 minutes or so. Allow to cool and then frost or use ice cream.  My family preferred the ice cream to the root beer flavored icing. YUM! Enjoy~

Applesauce Cookies with Caramel Frosting

Big.  Soft.  Yum! I resisted making anything pumpkin so I made apple instead.  I have a rule...NO PUMPKIN baking until September 15.  Why? No clue, just the way I have always been. So...apples are the 2nd best Fall baking ingredient, right?  The hubby ate several and I am sure these will be gone right after the kids arrive from school.

~Recipe~
2 c sugar
1 c shortening
2 eggs
2 c applesauce
4 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cardamom

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Whisk together the flour, soda, powder, cinnamon and cardamom.  Cream shortening and sugar, add eggs and applesauce...mix! Add in the whisked ingredients until incorporated. I used an ice cream scoop to make them big....scoop onto pans lined with parchment paper and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Frosting
6 Tbsp butter
1/2 c heavy cream
1 c packed brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 c powdered sugar

Combine the butter, heavy cream and brown sugar in a saucepan and cook*Stir occasionally* until almost to a boil.  Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.  Let that cool.  When it is cooled mix in the powdered sugar. Ta da! Yummy frosting! Frost the cookies! Eat and enjoy~

Graham Muffins

Fun! These are so yummy! I had never heard of graham cracker muffins.  I was making a cheese cake crust the other day and used the pre made crumbs.  This recipe was on the side of the box. HIT! I have made these 2 times and they are gobbled up.

~Recipe~
Oven preheated to 400 degrees

2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 c sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 c milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 Tbsp honey

Mix crumbs, sugar and powder in a bowl. Stir in milk, egg and honey just til moistened. Spoon *I use a ice cream scoop* into prepared muffin tins.  Bake 15-17 min.  LEt stand 10 min.  Serve warm.  YUMMY!!! I love these! Enjoy~

Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake

WOW! Easy and decadent. The whole pot was G.O.N.E in about 15 minutes. I found the recipe on the Betty Crocker website, not Pinterest....again.  :) The kids and hubs loved this and asked me to make it again this week. Give it a try!

~Recipe~
1 box triple chocolate fudge cake mix
1 1/4 c water
1/2 c vegetable oil
3 eggs

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.  Beat the cake mix and ingredients together as directed on box, 30 sec on low and 2 min on high.  Pour the batter into the slow cooker.

1 box (4 serving) instant chocolate pudding
2 cups whole milk
1 bag of milk chocolate chips
Beat the pudding mix and milk for a whisk for 2 minutes.  Pour over batter and do NOT mix.  Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top and cover.  Cook on low for about 2 1/2 hours, until cake is set and pudding is bubbly. I put vanilla ice cream on it.  It's very chocolaty and it needs something to cut the richness, cool whip or whipped cream would be awesome, too!    Enjoy~