I know January can be exciting because its the start of the new year, which means lots of resolutions, reflections, goals and planning, and that’s pretty cool, but one of my favorite things about the month is all of the leftover Christmas candy I get to slowly work my way through. One of my absolute favorite types of Christmas candy is a chocolate orange. If you’ve never had one before, it’s basically a ball of chocolate that breaks apart into slices when you whack it on the counter. What’s not to love about that?
Gingerbread Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
There are a lot of classic holiday desserts out there, but one of my favorite things to make every year is gingerbread cookies. Even though they can be fun to decorate, I’m all for a really good plain gingerbread cookie. It’s crisp around the edges, yet chewy in the middle, and it makes the whole house smell like ginger and molasses.
Maple Cinnamon Cookies
Are you more of a chewy cookie person or a crispy cookie person? I think the perfect cookie has a combination of both. I love it when cookies are crispy on the outside, but soft and chewy on the inside. These Maple Cinnamon Cookies are exactly that. They’re crisp around the edges, but soft with just the right amount of chewiness in the center.
Maple syrup, cinnamon, and ginger are brought together to make a sweet, yet spice filled dough. I recommend using good quality Grade A Dark Color syrup because it has a stronger maple flavor. Don’t worry, if you’re looking for something else to make with the syrup, I’ve got you covered with this Buttermilk Waffle Cake with Maple Buttercream and these Maple Cream Scones.
Caramel Apple Muffins
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, so I’m all for celebrating it throughout October. There’s the house decorating, the pumpkin carving, the movie watching, the costume creating, and the caramel apple making. I made these Caramel Apples last year because I think they’re a classic Halloween treat, but this year I decided to mix things up a little.
What if we took everything that makes a caramel apple, a juicy Granny Smith apple covered in delicious, chewy caramel, but made it into something you can sort of get away with eating for breakfast? Yes, these Caramel Apple Muffins now give you the excuse to eat globs of caramel first thing in the morning. You’re welcome.
Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies
Does anyone else already have a long list of things they’re planning on baking this fall? All I know is my list starts with apple pie and it currently has no end in sight. There are just so many cozy desserts that need to be baked. If you’ve got a list, these Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies would look pretty good on it, and if you don’t have one yet, let’s make one!
Yep, you heard right, Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies! They’re chewy and soft like oatmeal cookies, but have the classic fall flavor of pumpkin spice to help you celebrate all things fall. The pumpkin spice flavor is brought to you with the help of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg, and pumpkin puree adds the classic pumpkin flavor.
Strawberry Daiquiri Cake
I’m not really sure how we’re already halfway through August, but I do know that making some daiquiris and a cake to go with them is a good way to cope with that.
My favorite drink to order is almost always a strawberry daiquiri. They’re sweet, refreshing, and have the perfect balance of strawberry, rum, and just a hint of lime. Plus, they almost always come in a fun glass with a little umbrella, and what’s better than that? So, in honor of the classic strawberry daiquiri, I decided to transform my favorite fruity cocktail into a cake.
Mint Chip Milkshakes
I’m back with another milkshake recipe for you! I think we all deserve another milkshake with all of this heat, don’t you? If you love mint and chocolate as much as me, this is the milkshake for you. Delicious crème de menthe meets luscious vanilla ice cream and little bits of bittersweet chocolate for a cool and refreshing drink.
Just like with my Dark Chocolate Mint Chip Cake, I love using crème de menthe because it adds just enough of a mint flavor without being too strong. You can use mint extract instead to make it more kid friendly, but be sure to add about 1 tsp at a time until you reach the flavor you want as a little goes a long way.
Berry Pie Milkshakes
One of my favorite summer desserts is a classic berry pie. I usually go for a combination of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, and I love snacking on a warm slice topped with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream. So why not take that exact thing, but transform it into a milkshake? Yep, a milkshake!!
All it takes is one slice of berry pie or two berry hand pies, some vanilla ice cream, some milk or almond milk, and a blender. Before you know it, you’ll have a delicious drink that tastes like berry pie fresh out of the oven, but in a cold and refreshing way, perfect for those hot summer days.
Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies
Does anyone else love the combination of salty and sweet as much as me? These cookies are the perfect way to satisfy all of your salty and sweet cravings at the same time. A delicious chocolate cookie is met with a luscious salted caramel sauce and topped with a pretzel for an added salty crunch. And that’s not even mentioning that the cookie has the added bonus of chocolate chips!
Even though these cookies have several elements to them, they’re pretty simple and come together rather quickly. You’ll start out by making the salted caramel. Don’t let the words “salted caramel” dissuade you. This caramel recipe only takes four ingredients, and as long as you have your ingredients ready to go and you keep a close eye on your caramel’s color, you’ll end up with a delicious sauce! Trust me, you’ve got this. Plus, the next best thing? Any leftover caramel sauce can be stored in the fridge for all of your snacking/dipping/drenching needs.
Dark Chocolate Mint Chip Cake
Somehow May is almost already half way over, which in my family means it’s time to think up a delicious dessert involving mint and chocolate. My older brother’s birthday is this month, and as an avid fan of the two, his number one request every year almost always involves that pairing. Seeing as how my favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip, I never say no to testing out new desserts involving the two flavors! 🍫🌿
That’s where I got the inspiration to dream up this Dark Chocolate Mint Chip Cake. Layers of a rich, dark chocolate cake are paired with a creamy mint chip Swiss meringue buttercream that’s pretty much like mint chocolate chip ice cream in frosting form. Pieces of chopped bittersweet chocolate are added to the buttercream for a little bit of a crunch, and crème de menthe is used to add a subtle, yet creamy mint flavor.
Maple Cream Scones
It’s hard not to love a buttery, soft, flaky scone. You know what I’m talking about…the kind that melts in your mouth when it’s still warm out of the oven. These scones are not only lusciously tender, but the maple syrup in them takes them to a whole new level.
Imagine the perfect balance of creaminess, sweetness, and just a little bit of crunch from the sparkling sugar that’s sprinkled on top. They’re delicate and flaky, but sturdy enough to top with jam and take with you as you run out the door in the morning.
Irish Cream and Chocolate Bundt Cake with a Dark Chocolate Glaze
This cake is my new favorite Saint Patrick’s Day tradition…a rich chocolate cake with a hint of Irish Cream and a delicious chocolate glaze. Not only is it super easy to make, but it results in a decadent dessert that will easily have you wanting another slice. ☘️
While I’m all for the excuse to make this cake year round, I think that it is best when it is served on the day of all things shamrock, corned beef, and green. Plus, it’s the perfect way to add a sophisticated touch to your Saint Patrick’s Day festivities.
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Classic Chocolate Pudding
Whether you’re celebrating with your galentines, a loved one, or yourself this week, this chocolate pudding is sure to add some excitement to your festivities.
Buttermilk Waffle Cake with Maple Buttercream
Is there any meal greater than breakfast? Maybe it’s the endless number of options or the fact that it’s the first meal of the day, but breakfast food is one of my favorite kinds. So why not take a classic breakfast food, like the infamous buttermilk waffle, and transform it into a layer cake? I thought this would be a fun way to enjoy a breakfast food for dessert, and I’m sure that Leslie Knope would agree it’s the best excuse to eat cake for breakfast.
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Creamy Hot Chocolate with Peppermint Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows
Whenever it starts to get chilly this time of year, I can’t wait to make the season’s first delicious cup of rich, creamy hot chocolate. The smell of it makes me think of decorating the house with Christmas lights, wrapping presents, and watching those classic Christmas movies year after year.
I grew up with instant hot cocoa, the kind that’s complete with a splash of milk and some mini marshmallows, but trust me, once you’ve had this hot chocolate, you’ll never want to go back to the instant kind. Instead of depending on cocoa powder for the chocolate taste, melting good quality chocolate gives the drink an overall richer and creamier feel, making it that much more irresistible.
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Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing
Can you believe it’s already mid November? It seems like pumpkins were just being carved for Halloween, but we’re already seeing Christmas commercials and just the other day I saw someone putting Christmas lights up on their house! Thanksgiving is almost here so now is the time to make everything pumpkin if you haven’t already. Why not let that list include a twist on a classic breakfast food? These pumpkin cinnamon rolls will brighten up any morning (or afternoon or night for that matter) and are somehow made even better when topped with the cream cheese icing straight out of the oven. 🎃
We all know that yummy, melt in your mouth cinnamon roll taste, but these rolls take that to the next level by adding a hint of pumpkin. Not to mention, they make your kitchen smell amazing! Just the thing you need to feel excited for fall.
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Caramel Apples
Put a pot on the stove and get ready to watch it boil, it’s time to make caramel apples! Halloween is almost here, and the perfect addition to that spooky night is a delicious tart apple covered in the chewiest, creamiest caramel, and topped with all of your favorite toppings.
Caramel apples have been around since the 1950’s, as they became popular after candy apples, and this quick and simple recipe makes it easy to have a batch whipped up in no time with only a few ingredients.
Pumpkin Spice Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
As of last week, fall is officially here, and I’m so ready for all of the pumpkins, scarf wearing, and pie making that comes with it.
Not to mention, one of the best excuses for baking (as if I need another) is that it’s chilly outside and what better way to warm up than with homemade scones or some delicious cookies? Just the sound of it makes me want to curl up with a good book or a classic movie while something bakes away in the oven.
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Sleeping Beauty
A love of baking and Disney movies combined? What’s better than that? Join me as I bake my way through one Disney movie at a time! Follow along at #marisabakesdisney 🎥
Sleeping Beauty premiered on January 29, 1959. It turns 60 years old this year!
Did you know that the fairies arguing over what color Aurora’s dress should be was actually based on a real disagreement that animators had?
I was lucky enough to see some of the concept art that Eyvind Earle, who served as one of the film’s concept artists, made for the film earlier this year at The Walt Disney Family Museum.
Did you know that Eyvind Earle also made the book that is seen at the beginning and end of the movie by hand? The book is made out of hammered brass with various jewels, and has been on display in various archives throughout the years. I chose to recreate this book, but in cake!
Photo: @marisabakes
“Sweet princess, if through this wicked witch’s trick, a spindle should your finger prick… a ray of hope there still may be in this, the gift I give to thee. Not in death, but just in sleep, the fateful prophecy you’ll keep. And from this slumber you shall wake, when true love’s kiss, the spell shall break.” – Sleeping Beauty
Photo: @marisabakes