Name: Raspberry Filled Cookies
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 51 min
Yield: 15
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter; ½ cup packed brown sugar; ½ cup granulated sugar, divided; 1 large egg; 1 ½ tablespoons milk; 1 teaspoon coconut extract; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups all purpose flour; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon table salt; ½ cup shredded sweetened coconut; ⅔ cup seedless raspberry jam

Caramel Mocha Chip Banana Muffins

These Caramel Mocha Chip Banana Muffins are a delicious breakfast or after school snack. Perfect treat for grabbing on the go.

(photos updated April 2015)

I have a love/hate relationship with bananas. I love to eat them when they are green. I hate that they ripen so quickly on my counter.

It's a good thing I use a lot in smoothies and baked goods because once they turn yellow I won't touch them with a ten foot pole. Plain that is...I don't mind them mixed up with other things.

Like decadent yummy delicious over the top muffins!!!

[Read more...]

Raspberry Filled Cookies

Dear Pencil Manufacturers,

I am just wondering why all number 2 pencils come unsharpened? I would gladly pay a little extra to have them come fully sharpened. As a mom of three school-age children, you can imagine the stress my poor hand endures as I sharpen 36+ pencils at this time of year.

Now I know you are wondering why my children don't take over and do their own supplies. Well, I am kind of a last-minute girl, so sharpening takes place after they are tucked in bed, and I am frantically trying to get all those bags and bags of school supplies organized and labeled for the next morning.

We do own an electric sharpener. Now, I know this may sound like it would be even easier for the kids to do their own, but... believe me, it's not. They never seem to realize that pushing it harder into the machine doesn't make it sharpen faster. Also, there is only so much storage space for shavings in those little machines. The pencil sharpener takes a beating after they sharpened just one or two pencils. It would be torture to listen to them do 36.

Colored pencils come fully sharpened, and all I have to do is put initials on the box, and they are good to go. I am thinking that you would save a lot of moms some pre-school grief if you would stock our local Walmarts with boxes of #2 pencils with sharpened points.

Just a small suggestion from a stressed-out school mom.

Now that the supplies are organized and labeled, I think it is time for a cookie. You would like a cookie, right? Of course you would. Cookies make everything better. These ones are even better because they have a hidden jelly surprise. Surprise cookies are the best kind, aren't they?

These would make great after-school snacks for your kids over the next few weeks as they get started on their homework. Go ahead and bake a batch and surprise them as they get off the school bus.

They will surely award you the "Best Mom of the Day" award. And that is really what we moms want, right? To be the best Mom each and every day!

Recipe

Raspberry Filled Cookies

Yield: 15 cookies

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 11 minutes

Total Time: 51 minutes

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar, divided
1 large egg
1 ½ tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon table salt
½ cup shredded sweetened coconut
⅔ cup seedless raspberry jam

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a sheet pan with a Silpat or parchment paper.
Beat butter, brown sugar, and ¼ cup granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Add the egg, milk, and extracts and beat again.
Slowly add the baking soda, salt, cornstarch, and flour until a soft dough forms. Mix in the coconut gently.
Use a 1-tablespoon scoop to make 30 dough balls. Press 15 balls flat and divide the Nutella into the center. (It will be a little more than a ½ tablespoon for each)
Press the remaining 15 dough balls flat, then cover them with the dough. Pinch the edges to seal them shut, then roll each ball into a ball again. Roll each ball in the remaining granulated sugar.
Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 9 minutes. Let cool on the hot pan for 2-3 minutes, then place on a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 346Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 239mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 2gSugar: 23gProtein: 6g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Banana Butter Cream

Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Banana Butter cream are a fun dessert to serve at any party. The hidden Reese's peanut butter cup in each one will make everyone smile.

Want to know a common misconception about me?
Most people thing I am an awesome cook...but you guys know better, right?
I mean do you ever see "real" food on here? Nope! Just loads and loads of sugar!

(I should probably do something about the sugar overload!)

Now honestly I can cook...I just don't LIKE to do it.
When dinner time comes around, my mind hits a brick wall, and I seriously can't think of a single thing to make. Well, other than chocolate chip cookies and brownies 🙂 Thinking of desserts is the easy part!

[Read more...]

Peanut Butter Oreo Truffle Cookie Cups

Oreo Truffles inside Peanut Butter Cookies are the best way to enjoy two snacks in one. Peanut Butter Oreo Truffle Cookie Cups will be your new best friend!

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

Last week two of our children were having fun with their friends.
That left our youngest munchkin all alone!
We had to do something, so he could have some fun too. [Read more...]

Coconut Macaroon Brownie Bites

These Coconut Macaroon Brownie Bites taste delicious and are easy to make. Three ingredients and you can have them too.

A Coconut Macaroon Brownie Bite cut in half to reveal the chocolate and coconut layers.

We spent all weekend painting in our church auditorium. And I will be happy to never see another paint roller again.

But that isn't the case since we still have one more color to roll on.

We must press onward and get it finished. It's going to look super hot when we get it all done.

Speaking of hot...this weekend was a scorcher!

Super hot, super humid, and super sunny... it actually made me glad to be inside in the cool air with the paint roller in hand.

[Read more...]

Chocolate Chip Nutella Cheesecake Cupcakes

Looking for an over the top cupcake for your next party? These Chocolate Chip Nutella Cheesecake Cupcakes are the perfect way to go.

Do you know that automatic car washes are a stressful thing for me?
I had gone 19 years without venturing into one and I would
have been perfectly content to go another 19 years.
But my hubby wanted the van washed and he had to go to work,
so, he sent me on the mission.

Believe me I tried to get out of it...
because the thought of driving up to one and not getting my wheel
in the track was totally freaking me out!!!
I had visions of me totally missing it and then becoming so frustrated
and embarrassed that someone else would have to fix my problem.
And of course then I would never be able to go there again, because
I am sure they take pictures of "crazy" drivers and keep them posted
in their break room just so they can laugh it up during lunchtime!

My husband told me to suck it up and use the giant mirror that
is right above the track. He also said if I couldn't do this simple
thing...he was going to revoke my driver's license!
(I'm not 100% sure he was joking!!!)
Anyway, the threat of me being stuck at home forever
was enough to get me moving to the car wash!!!
I mean hello, I need a car to get me to the grocery store
every time I have a crazy need to bake something.
And let's face it...that happens way more than I want to admit:-)

So the kids and I headed out and honest to goodness
I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest,
but I am so happy to report that no pictures of this crazy
driver will be gracing their break room walls!!!!
I did it!
I actually used the mirror and got my tires
in the track on the first try!
Not sure if I could do it again...
and I have no intention of trying again anytime soon!

I am also pretty sure the threat of no vehicle
and no grocery store shopping
for yummy cupcake ingredients helped me steer so well...
that and a whole lot of prayer before, during, and after.

It would be tragic if I couldn't get things like
cake mixes, chocolate chips, and nutella.
Because then you wouldn't get to look at crazy things like these:-)

And you like it when I bake right???
Just humor me and say Yes!!!

Recipe

Chocolate Chip Nutella Cheesecake Cupcake

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Vanilla chocolate chip cupcakes filled with a Nutella cheesecake center and frosted with vanilla butter cream

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

1 vanilla cake mix
½ cup sour cream
1 cup miniature chocolate chips
1 Tablespoon flour

For the Nutella Cheesecake

12 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup Nutella
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
4 Tablespoons flour

For the Vanilla Butter Cream

½ cup butter
½ cup shortening
⅛ teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons milk
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fill muffin pan with 24 cupcake liners and set aside.
Prepare cake mix according to the box. Add the sour cream in with the water and oil.
Toss the chocolate chips with 1 Tablespoon flour. Gently stir the chips into the cake batter.
Fill liners ¾ full and bake for 20-22 minutes. Cool completely, then cut out a small section from the middle of the cupcake. Set aside.
Beat the cream cheese. Add the Nutella and beat until creamy.
Slowly stir in the rest of the ingredients until smooth. Fill the centers of the cupcakes.
Beat the butter and shortening until creamy. Add the salt, milk, and vanilla and cream again.
Slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with extra mini chocolate chips if desired. Keep refrigerated.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 380Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 296mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 1gSugar: 37gProtein: 3g

Cupcake Milkshakes

These easy Cupcake Milkshakes are a great way to use up extra cupcakes!

My family and I spent all last week
living it up on Table Rock Lake
near Branson, MO.

It was really a boat kind of a week.
We saw a few shows and walked around
one shopping plaza.
But mostly we chilled on the boat,
swam in the lake,
and did some tubing.
(I'll have some funny tube pics for you tomorrow:-)

I did get in the water...
but I have a confession for ya.
I am just as terrified of the lake water
as my 3 and 6 year old nieces!
I just don't vocalize it as much as they did:-)

Come on people...
I have seen Lake Placid!!!!
Who knows WHAT is underneath me
just waiting for the right moment to chomp!

Something about being in a lake that is
over 100 ft. deep in parts
where I couldn't see my feet when in the water...
just freaks me out a bit!!!

I may have missed an entire week of working out,
(LOL! I didn't "miss" it at all:-)
but I worked out my abs each time I got in...
because I basically did a variation of a V sit
with my life vest.
No way was I letting my feet dangle down
for some fish to nibble on!

At one point I actually got in WITHOUT the vest...
I CLUNG to my little floaty raft...
of course then I had to fight off the family members
who knew how freaked out I was by the water.
Not exactly relaxing that day!!!

My idea of being surrounded by liquid...
is to relax with a glass full of this milkshake!

I had a some leftover strawberry cupcakes that had been
sitting on the counter for a couple days.
For some odd reason I didn't cover them,
and they were a wee bit stale.
(no these didn't sit for the entire week we were gone...
they would be past stale then:-)
No one was going to eat them,
but I had some ice cream in the freezer
and thought,
"What the Heck!"
the kids just might like this idea.

Ok, fine,
I might like this idea.

I plopped in a few scoops of ice cream,
poured in some milk,
and threw the whole cupcake in on top.

I don't have any exact measurements for you today.
Just eyeball it.
You really can't mess up milkshakes, can you?

My oldest loved these so much
that he even came up with the idea for calling them
LIQUID CUPCAKES!
You really can taste the cupcake and frosting in these.

Just so you know...
these taste even better when served in a canning jar
with a swirl of Hershey's chocolate!
Don't know why, but I think everything
nowadays is better in a jar!

So the next time you have some cupcakes
that are just past the eating stage.
Hold off on throwing them away...
you will want to try these cupcake milkshakes.

Vanilla Whoopie Pies

These Vanilla Whoopie Pies start from a cake mix and are filled with canned fudge frosting. You can't get much easier than that.

So every summer, we ask the kids what they want to do over summer break.

Can you believe that this year all they said was swim, swim, swim??? So I took the liberty of creating a summer 2011 bucket list:

*pool (check)

*amusement park (check)

*cruising in the Saab (check)

*baseball game

*camping

*camp fires

*smores

*catch lightening bugs

*sprinkler

*boating/tubing/wakeboard

*vbs (check)

*library

*geocaching

*dunes

*slushies (check)

*water balloon fight

*bike rides

*berry picking

*state fair

*zoo

*bake whoopie pies

Do you have a summer fun list for your family? I am just curious what are some of your top things to do? Yes, it's possible, I want to add to my list.

I was trying to get 26 summer things...one for each letter of the alphabet! It's a random project in my head that probably will stay there for a year or two.

Is it just me? Or are whoopie pies one of the funnest (yes, it's a word) summer treats? I mean, you get two cookies plus filling...what's not to love?

And because Fourth of July is coming up so fast, I decided to add some red and blue fudge-filled cups...ya know, for some fun patriotic color and all!

Recipe

Vanilla Fudge Whoopies

Yield: 36 cookies/18 whoopie pies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 28 minutes

Easy cake mix cookies made with colored fudge stars or M&M's and filled with fudge frosting.

Ingredients

1 vanilla cake mix
1 cup rice krispie cereal
½ cup melted butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package red and blue fudge filled stars (from the Dollar Tree) or 1 cup red and blue M&M’s
1 can fudge frosting

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine all the first 5 ingredients until mixed in. The dough will be slightly crumbly. Carefully stir in the fudge cups (or M&M’s).
Roll into 36 - 1 inch balls and place on an un-greased cookie sheet. Make sure they are at least 2 inches apart to allow some spreading while baking.
Bake for 8-9 minutes or until set. Cool for 1-2 minutes on the pan, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
After the cookies have cooled completely, place frosting on half the cookies and top with the other half. Makes 36 cookies or 18 whoopie pies.

Notes

If you can't find the fudge stars, use red and blue M&M's instead.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 304Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 293mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 1gSugar: 29gProtein: 3g

Banana Bread in a Can

Baking banana bread in a can is an easy and fun twist on a classic recipe. It tastes just as delicious as a traditional loaf and makes the cutest little gifts for any occasion.

A stack of banana bread slices that were baked in a can.

The recipe for banana bread in a can was first published in June 2011. The photos and post were redone and republished in May 2025.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Can Bread

Years ago, I joined a monthly swap for hostess gifts and decided to create something sweet. I knew sour cream banana bread would be perfect because I had ripe bananas on the counter.

Although baking a plain loaf seemed too simple. I wanted to make something special that would catch people's attention!

A quick search led me to the cutest idea of baking banana bread in a can. This unique approach was quirky and totally unexpected. I immediately washed out a few green bean cans (after making dinner with them) and got to work.

Four cans on a tray with baked banana bread in them.

Why I Love This Recipe

I love how fun and surprising it is. People are always delighted to see homemade banana bread baked in a can.
It's a sweet twist on classic banana bread and makes people smile. Each one is the perfect size for individual servings.
I love upcycling old cans to give them a second life. Turning them into mini baking tins adds a cozy, vintage touch and makes each loaf feel extra special.
The cans are easy to decorate. I love adding a ribbon and tag for cute, ready-to-give gifts.

[Read more...]

Mocha Whoopie Pies

Give these Mocha Whoopie Pies an exciting twist with coffee and coconut frosting. The mocha coconut sandwich cookies are a fun and delicious handheld treat.

Three chocolate whoopie pies filled with coconut frosting and rolled in toasted coconut.

A few random things that I "learned" this week...

*I can't unplug my iphone while it is doing an update. It won't work, and I had to restore it to factory mode and then do a recovery because I freaked when nothing was on it.

*The Blueberry Pomegranate Chocolate Chunk ice cream that I found at our local Kroger was AMAZING!!! and it was light too!!!

[Read more...]

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Can Bread

Why I Love This Recipe