NatalieKMudd: Valentine's Day Treats

I have been busy in the kitchen making Valentine's Day treats already. Even though Valentine's Day is next week I like to get a head start and make my treats early so I can bring them to different events and to have on hand when I host. My kids absolutely love when its baking time and I love that they are right near me when Im making all my treats. I'm really hoping that they will continue enjoying it as they get older. For Valentine's Day last year we decided to do a special candle light dinner and dance with out kids at home. We usually go out and celebrate just me and my husband, but we decided it would be fun to include the kids. It was a blast! We all got dressed up and had the best night! It was such a fun memory for our family. I have been trying to think up a fun way to celebrate Valentine's Day again this year. I'm thinking that we would do something fun as a couple on a different date and then spend the evening with our kids.

Hope you all have a Happy Valentine's Day!! Enjoy my treats!

Recipe: French Vanilla Cupcakes

Summary: Deep vanilla flavor in a moist, perfect cupcake

INGREDIENTS

▪ 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

▪ 2 cups of vanilla sugar

▪ 2 large eggs, room temperature

▪ 2 egg yolks, room temperature

▪ 3 cups all-purpose flour

▪ 1 teaspoon baking powder

▪ 1 teaspoon of baking soda

▪ Pinch of salt

▪ 1 cup of buttermilk, room temp

▪ 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

▪ 1 1-inch piece of vanilla bean

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Heat the buttermilk until it just simmers.

3. Remove from heat and add the vanilla pod.

4. Set aside.

5. Beat butter and sugar on high until light and fluffy.

6. Add eggs and egg yolks one at a time, beat thoroughly after each addition.

7. Blend flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda, in a bowl.

8. Cut open vanilla pod and scrape out seeds into the buttermilk. (You can dry the pod and use it to make vanilla sugar)

9. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat on low until mixed.

10. Add ½ the buttermilk.

11. Continue to alternate the flour and buttermilk, ending with the flour.

12. Scoop into cupcake papers about 3/4 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Cool and frost with desired buttercream.

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

1 bag of pink candy melts

Candy sprinkles

I melt the candy melts into a bowl then place the chocolate into a decorating bottle and make hearts on wax paper. I allow them to dry then decorate dessert with them.

Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Truffles

Ingredients:

1 box of Fudge Cake mix (Bake according to the box)

1 can of Fudge icing

3 pkgs of Semi sweet Bakers Chocolate

After cake is baked and cooled, crumble cake and add 3/4 of a can of frosting. Mix well. Roll into balls place on a cookie sheet with wax paper. Place in freezer for 20 minutes. Melt chocolate and dip and dry.

Vanilla Cake Pops

Step #1 Ingredients needed

Step #2 Bake and cool cake

Step #3 Crumble cake & add frosting

Step #4 Roll into balls

Step #5 Melt Chocolate then dip tips of sticks then place into balls

Step #6 Dip and Decorate and dry

Rice Crispy Heart Pops

Ingredients:

1 large box of Rice Crispy's

2 bag of marshmallows

1/2 stick of butter

Candy melts

Melt in a large bowl in microwave, place in a Jelly roll pan.

Strawberry Shortcake

Ingredients:

Bake 1 box of yellow cake. Make vanilla pudding, chop up strawberries, layer and serve. Simple and so good!

Chocolate covered Pretzels Rounds and Rods

I always keeps pretzels on hand because I always have extra melted chocolate left from making my other desserts so I just use it to dip pretzels or whatever else I can find in my cabinet. I had wafers in my cabinet the other day so I dipped those so I didn't waste chocolate.