Mini Ding Dongs (To Ring In The New Year)

New Year's Idea: Mini Ding Dongs (To Ring In The New Year)
Makes about 32

Basically follow a recipe for cake pops -
1 Chocolate Cake Mix
1 Large Container of Vanilla Frosting
2 14oz pkgs. of Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers (Hobby Lobby or Michael's)

Bake cake according to directions on the box. Cool and crumble in a large bowl.
Add half of the large container of frosting, mixing thoroughly forming a cookie like dough.
Using a medium size cookie scoop, or your hands, form balls and mold with hands into
Ding Dong shape. Fill a piping bag fitted with a small circle tip, or a syringe, with icing and
poke into side of Ding Dong shape. Slowly fill and gently removing the tip as you squeeze.  Don't
over fill. Do this with each cake.  Chill for 15 min.
Melt the chocolate wafers according to package directions.
using two large spoons, dip each chilled cake into the chocolate, gently coating and removing. Place on wax paper to dry.

Frozen Pudding Pops

It has been so hot!!!  Pudding Pops are my favorite, and now my kid's favorite frozen summer treat. I've made them in vanilla and chocolate. You can even layer flavors. They are cold and creamy. Here's the recipe.

Frozen Pudding Pops (makes approx. 12)
1 Lg Box Jello Vanilla Pudding (or favorite flavor)
2 Cups of Milk
1/2 Tub of Cool Whip topping
 Popcicle Molds

1. Beat pudding mix with 2 cups of milk for 2 minutes, or until thickened.

2. Gently fold in whip topping until combined.



3. To make things easier and less messy, place mixture into a large plastic baggie, and snip off one corner. Squeeze mixture into the molds, filling almost to the top. Tap molds on the counter to remove air pockets. 

4. Insert mold sticks, and place in the freezer for approximately 4-6 hours or until firm.



5. To remove from molds, run under warm water, being careful not to let water seep into the molds. Gently wiggle the Pop out of the mold, and enjoy! So Yummy!

Let me know how you liked them by leaving a comment below.

Stars and Stripes Cookies

Celebrate America's Birthday with these deliciously, cute cookies.

Sugar Cookie Recipe

4 cups sifted flour

1/2 tsp of salt

1tsp baking powder

2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened

2 cups of sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp. of vanilla extract

    In a large bowl sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder and set aside.

In a separate bowl cream butter and sugar until fluffy with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

On low speed, slowly add flour mixture until thoroughly combined.

Sprinkle rolling surface with powdered sugar, and turn cookie dough onto surface, shaping into a ball. 

With a rolling pin, sprinkled with powdered sugar, roll the dough to a 1/4" thick rectangle.  Cut cookies into desired shapes.

Preheat oven to 325*. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, and fill with cookie cutouts.

 

Chill for 30 minutes, then bake for 10-15 minutes, or until edges start to brown. Remove from oven and cool on bakers racks. Prepare icing.

Royal Icing

4 Cups of sifted Powdered Sugar

3 Tbsp. Wilton Meringue Powder

About 6 Tbsp. warm water

2-3 drops of Glycerin (optional)

Food Coloring

Sift powdered sugar and meringue powder together.  Slowly beat in the warm water, in small amounts, until you reach desired consistency, (I like when it forms small peaks). Then add a couple of drops of Gycerin, this makes the cookies shiny. Divide into smaller bowls, and add coloring.

Put icing in parchment triangles, piping bags, or plastic baggies with the tip trimmed off.

Begin to ice cookies.

 

 

 



Enjoy!