Flashback Friday - Ice Cream Desserts to help you stay cool

WELCOME TO FLASHBACK FRIDAY!! 

Hope these easy desserts help keep you cool...

I've been making this dessert for decades...my kids still request it. 

Cake mix base mixed with canned frosting...simple and

simply delicious! 

Ice Cream Pies - A Family Favorite

Vanilla ice cream, crunchy peanut butter crust with hot fudge swirled through...MMMM! 

Ice Cream Dessert with Peanut Butter Crust

This is teamwork fun for kids and adults alike.

A few simple ingredients in a ziploc bag - toss it back and forth until 

ice cream freezes.  It's great cooling fun! 

Kid-Friendly Ice Cream in a Bag

Tasty make-ahead dessert with crunchy brown sugar cereal...

Try it, you're sure to love it! 

Crispy Ice Cream Squares (AKA "UNfried Ice Cream)

Orange Creamsicle Cake Bites

A fun and simple treat.  Simply bake the cake mix according to package directions...cool...crumble...mix with some frosting....roll into balls..chill...dip. 

They are so tasty - these will remind you of a creamsicle ice cream bar

with that orange/vanilla combo going on. 

A quick and delicious treat any time of year, but especially great for the

holidays.  Like Halloween and Thanksgiving...

AND CHRISTMAS!

Enjoy soon! 

Tickled to see this recipe at Miss Candiquik. 

ORANGE CREAMSICLE CAKE BITES

1 (16 ozs) box orange supreme cake mix, plus ingredients for cake

1/2 c. cream cheese (or buttercream) frosting

2 pkgs. (16 ozs each) vanilla almond bark

sprinkles & orange food coloring, optional 

Mix and bake cake in a 9" X 13" baking pan, according to box directions; cool. 

Crumble cake into a large bowl (large pieces are fine, it all breaks down when it's stirred). 

Add frosting and mix until moistened. (You may want to add another Tablespoon of frosting, but if you keep stirring, it will all come together, even though you'll be sure it's just going to be too dry). 

Roll mixture into 1" balls. Chill for 1 - 2 hours in the refrigerator. Melt the almond bark according to package directions. If desired, add orange food coloring. (I personally like the white contrast with the orange cake part). 

Dip balls into melted almond bark and set on waxed paper to chill. Top with sprinkles if desired. 

Yield: 35 - 40 cake balls

Linked to Weekend Potluck

You may enjoy these recipes using a cake mix...

Gooey Bars

How to Make a Cake Mix taste like a Bakery Cake

Orange Dreamsicle Cake

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1 - 2 - 3 Fudge! Seriously!

I've been making this fast and easy fudge for years.  You can change it up by using different frosting flavors, or chips, adding extracts, etc.  
Can't beat it for E-Z!! 

THREE simple ingredients - 4 if you want to add nuts or craisins....

Ready...set....GO! 

Made in the microwave so it's pretty quick!! 

This version is a softer set fudge. 

1-2-3 FUDGE 

1 - 16 ozs. tub milk chocolate ready-to-use frosting

1 - 12 ozs. bag milk chocolate baking chips
(or equal amount of almond bark) 

1 Tb. butter (eliminate if using bark)

1/2 - 1 c. nuts or craisins, optional 

Grease a 9" X 9" pan.  Place frosting, chips and butter in a glass bowl.  Heat in the microwave for about 1 minute; stir to melt and blend everything together.  Stir in nuts or craisins.  Pour into prepared pan.  Allow to cool. Cut into squares.

Yield: 36 pieces 

Linked to Weekend Potluck
              Candy Plan Monday
       Valentine Treats - GBP
Meal Plan Monday

Turkey Cookie Treats (Kid-Friendly)

I like to have a simple 'craft' project for my younger grandkids when we get together for T'giving.  This turned out to be a very fun project and easy enough for little hands to help. 

(hover over photo to pin) 

I had the cookies already baked and just set out the frosting and decorations and it went very smoothly. FUN!!

Instead of using frosting for the beak, we just added another candy corn!

Use what you have and it will work! 

And for goodness sake, let's bypass the idea of perfection...little ones enjoy 

doing 'their own thing'...just remember it's more about having

fun and making memories together! 

I do hope you'll try it this year. 

A few of my grandchildren...Chloe, Claira, Caden and Sam!

(And for fun....my daughter Deb =) 

TURKEY COOKIE TREATS 

1 pouch (1 # 1.5 ozs) sugar cookie mix

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 egg

1 (12 ozs) tub whipped chocolate frosting

candy corn

1 tube orange (or yellow) decorating frosting

M & M's mini chocolate candies

1 tube orange (or black) decorating gel 

Preheat oven to 375. In medium bowl, combine cookie mix, butter and egg; stir until dough is smooth. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet by rounded Tablespoonsful 2" apart. Bake 10 - 12 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool on sheet 1 minute before removing to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. 

Frost and decorate 1 cookie at a time. (Or have your group do 1 at a time together).  Spread chocolate frosting over the cookie, adding candy corn for feathers (before frosting dries). Pipe yellow icing to make a feet and a beak. 

(We used a candy corn instead).  Add M & M's for the eyes; pipe a little black (or orange) gel for the center of each eye.

Take lots of pictures and stand back and admire your new flock! 

• You might also enjoy...

Mini Brownie Treats

Strawberry Yogurt Bites (2 Ingredients!)

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German Chocolate Brownie Bites

I was thrilled to see this recipe for German Chocolate Brownie Bites at Eat at Home. Tiffany shares simplified recipes that anyone can make.  Since I had made a Similar recipe in bar form, I thought it would be fun to make them mini size. 

They did NOT disappoint!! 

Making single servings takes a little more time, but I think the mini version of anything adds fun....and maybe helps with self control??  Makes for fun party food too. 

All this recipe takes is a brownie mix, the ingredients on package, and a 
can of coconut-pecan frosting!!

HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THAT??? 

(hover over photo to pin)

GERMAN CHOCOLATE BROWNIE BITES

  brownie mix for 9x13 inch pan 

ingredients to make brownies (water, oil & eggs, )

1 can coconut-pecan frosting

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix brownie batter according to package directions.

Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Spoon small amount of brownie batter into muffin pan, enough to fill 1/3 to 1/2 full.

Spoon about a teaspoon of frosting onto each cup of brownie batter.

Top with more brownie batter, filling a little more than 3/4 full.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Yield: about 36 brownie bites.

Linked to Easter Roundup
                Full Plate Thursday
            Weekend Potluck
              Meal Plan Monday



Nutella Toffee Crescent Bars

Mini Brownie Treats

Divine Praline Brownies

Pumpkin Spice Truffles (5 basic ingredients!)

This simple-to-make treat has become a new fall favorite.  

We are SO in love with pumpkin spice muffins...they sold BIG time at my farmer's market stand this past summer.  

I have seen other recipes using gingerbread and graham cracker crumbs, but decided I would bake the same recipe for Lowfat Pumpkin Spice Muffins, crumble it and mix with some cream cheese frosting and roll into balls.

Voila!! 

These are an awesome treat.  I first took them to a ladies meeting at church and got some great comments about them. 

E-Z P-Z recipe for starters....it takes a little time to chill the batter/balls. Dip in melted white (or milk or semi-sweet) chocolate, then top with sprinkles. 

These bite-sized treats would be perfect for Thanksgiving!! 

They are 'perfectly' spiced!!! 

PUMPKIN SPICE TRUFFLES 

 1 (16 ozs) spice cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines)

1 (15 ozs) can pumpkin puree

1/2 c. water

1 pkg. cinnamon chips, optional

about 1/2 c. cream cheese frosting

(I love the ease of using a tub of prepared frosting..I used less than half)

Melted white chocolate

Sprinkles (or crushed graham crackers)

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9" X 13" baking dish with non stick cooking spray. 

In large bowl, combine cake mix, pumpkin and water. (I rinse the can out with water and 'guesstimate' the amount...about 1/2 cup) Stir in cinnamon chips if using. (I stir by hand...no mixer needed!=)  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake about 20 - 22 minutes until it tests done. (Stick toothpick in middle...it should come out clean). 

Allow to cool to room temperature.  Crumble the cake into a large bowl. Stir in a small amount of frosting, mix until blended, adding more as needed.  You don't want the batter to be too wet. It's better for it to be drier, but must stick together. 

If need be, for easier rollling, chill for about 15 minutes, then line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Roll into 1" balls, place on prepared cookie sheet; chill for 
10 - 20 minutes. 

With a fork, or your fingers, drop a ball into the melted white chocolate. Working quickly, gently spoon chocolate over the ball to coat. Using 2 forks, lift the coated truffle ball out of the chocolate on one fork, shake off any excess and chocolate, and transfer to the prepared baking sheet or tray by pushing it onto the cookie sheet with the second fork. 

Linked to Weekend Potluck

Monster Cookie Protein Balls

Easy No Bake Cornflake Treats

No Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

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4 Of My Most Favorite Desserts {Blast from the Past}

And Happy Birthday to me.  *-*

Since it's my birthday, I decided to share what I love most.

Even though I need to watch my sugar intake, I have always been a sweets/carbs lover!! 

It's tough, tough, tough to pick only 3, so I had to share 4. 

Using a cherry chip cake mix, and a can of frosting along with some cream cheese...you'll end up with a FABULOUS dish you'll want to share with everyone you know! Special for the holidays too. Very rich so it goes a long ways...

I won $100 at an online high end kitchen store for this recipe!

Cherry Chip Cheesecake Bars

It's only right I share this one...I've made it for more family birthdays than I'll ever count. A fudgy cake mix base, topped with ice cream.  Keeps in the freezer up to a month, but trust me, it will never last that long!  Makes 2 so it's great for a crowd. 

Ice Cream Pies

A brown sugar-y, toffee tasting cookie bar that is out of this world wonderful! 

Browned Butter Blondies

Adding 4 ingredients to a german chocolate cake mix makes this a simple and simply divine treat.  I'm wild about moist and this one takes the cake! =) 

German Chocolate Bars

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3 Simply-Simple Chocolate Desserts {Blast From The Past}

Only a few ingredients - whip it up quickly and be enjoying it tonight! 

Cherry Chocolate Cake

You will want to make this one again...soon.
Only FIVE ingredients and you can't believe how yummy these are! 
Using a cake mix and a frosting mix!  LOVE it!

German Chocolate Bars





This is another quick dessert to make - it has a sugar free option! 
AND...only FIVE ingredients 

Quick n Easy Peanut Butter Chocolate Candy Pie

Ice Cream Pies - A Family Favorite

Today is National Ice Cream Pie Day!

I've had this easy and special treat in my files for some time, and figured today is the day to finally reveal this wonderful recipe.

It's a 'secret' NO more! *_*

I found this simple recipe - only FIVE ingredients - on a cake mix box in the late 70's and it's been a family favorite ever since.

My kids have often asked for it for their birthdays...a simple combo of cake (brownie like) and ice cream - all in one.

The recipe makes TWO pies - one to enjoy now..one for later, when unexpected company drops by.  PERFECT! 

There's canned frosting in the base of the pie, and then the leftovers are warmed and drizzled over the top - sooo easy! 

Trust me...this is a dish that's sure to have you score 'points' with your family.

Never fear - the cake part WILL fall after it's baked - it's suppose to. 

I remember having overnight guests, and when she saw my cake she said "Awww - it fell".

I proudly told her it was suppose to! (You fill it in with the ice cream!)

(hover over photo to pin) 

Choose a favorite ice cream - make ahead and you'll be ready to party (for whatever reason) and there will be no last minute rush.

The base of this dessert is like a fudgy brownie - OOOOO SOOOO GOOOD!

ICE CREAM PIES

1 - 18 ozs. devil's food or chocolate fudge cake mix

3/4 c. water

1-1/4 c. prepared chocolate frosting, divided

1/4 c. vegetable oil

1/2 gal. favorite ice cream, softened

chopped peanuts or candies, optional

Preheat oven to 350. Generously grease and flour bottom, sides and rim of 2 - 9" pie or round cake pans. (I always use the cake pans).

In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, 3/4 c. frosting and oil on high speed for 2 minutes.  Spread 1/2 batter in bottom of each pan (don't spread up sides).

Bake 25 - 30 minutes - don't overbake. (middle will be soft when done). Cool completely; cakes will collapse.

Spread 1/2 of ice cream in each shell.  Heat remaining frosting and drizzle over ice cream. Sprinkle with peanuts or chopped candies if desired. 

Wrap tightly and freeze atleast 2 hours or up to 2 - 3 weeks. Allow to stand at room temp for 10 minutes before serving.

(I like to stand a few toothpicks up at an angle...in the pies before wrapping in foil...so the foil stays off the frosting part. (Just be sure to let pie thaw a tad before trying to remove the toothpicks...or they may break off. 

(Please don't ask me how I know that!!=) 

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Linked to A Country Potluck

          Ingredient Spotlight - Cake Mix

       GBP Roundup - Frozen Treats

Meal Plan Monday

Cherry Chip Cheesecake Bars - A Contest-Winning Recipe (5 Ingredients)

PSALM 34:8 - O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!

I'm so honored and thrilled to be able to share with you my prize winnings from a recent dessert contest online at The Book Club Network!

I will share the winning recipe at the bottom of this post.  One of my all-time faves!!

Cherry Chip Cheesecake Bars.

I won a $100 gift card to a high-end kitchen store online - Chef's Resource - where they advertise 'tools for the serious home chef', and I also received two autographed books.... 

"Always the Baker and Never the Bride" is a humorous book written by Sandie Bicker. The other is a mystery - "Deadly Ties" - by Vicki Hinze.  I've been privileged to get emails from both these gals too.

I'm looking forward to reading both of these special gifts.

I decided I should get a 9" X 13" dish to bake the winning recipe in, so this is what I settled on...it is seriously gorgeous too!

It has glazed enamel on the inside and outside. I love that it has a gasket around the top so it fits tightly onto the bottom.  You can write on it with permanent marker and it washes off!  What a great feature!  It's also microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe. 

You can't beat that combination!

I'm loving it! in my red, white & blue kitchen!

I also chose this set of star shaped ramekins by Le Creuset suitable for baking. Oh what fun it will be to use them all year long, but especially for patriotic celebrations!

Adorable aren't they???? I'm soo tickled for them.

Now for the winning recipe! It has only 5 simple ingredients! And it's easy to make too.

(I made them in the new dish the day after it arrived....what fun!)

WARNING:  This is not a low sugar recipe. =)

CHERRY CHIP CHEESECAKE BARS

1-18 oz. pkg. cherry chip cake mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 - 8 ozs. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 - 16 oz. tub cherry ready-to-spread frosting
3 eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat cake mix (dry) and butter in large bowl on low speed until crumbly; reserve 1 cup. Press remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9" X 13" X 2" baking pan. Beat cream cheese and frosting in bowl together on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs and blend well. Pour over crust - sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Bake about 45 minutes or until set; cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Cut into bars (or small squares as they are rich)  - refrigerate any leftovers.

(My daughter-in-love, Kym, has made this recipe using cream cheese frosting and it was wonderful too!)


I won $100 from the national publication - American Profile - a few years ago - for an awesome butternut squash casserole. I've been told it tastes like dessert.  *-*

AP has published 6 of my recipes in their Hometown for the Holidays cookbook also.

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Linked to A Themed Bakers Sunday
         Ingredient Spotlight
                Gooseberry Patch Roundup
    Recipe of the Week
   Mop it up Monday
       Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Memorial Day
Weekend Potluck
Full Plate Thursday
Meal Plan Monday