Candy Cane Cake

This recipe comes from the December issue of Country Living magazine. It has many wonderful recipes and a section on vintage toys and ornaments. I especially loved that. I hope you enjoy the Candy Cake Cake and that you take time to check out Country Living magazine.

I Do recommend that you not use substitutions in the ingredients.  For example, don't substitute regular all-purpose flour for cake flour or margarine for real butter. The same is true for using imitation vanilla flavoring instead of pure vanilla flavoring. Sometimes those substitutions don't matter but cakes just taste better when you use the real stuff.

Candy Cane Cake

3 1/2 cups cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
6 large egg whites, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, at room temperature

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Lightly grease three 8-inch round cake pans and line with parchment. Grease parchment. (I use waxed paper instead of parchment paper.)

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high until pale and fluffy. It takes about 3-4 minutes. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in flour mixture and buttermilk, alternately, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat only until just combined.

Divide batter evenly among the prepared pans.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes, then invert onto racks to cool completely.

7-Minute Frosting

4 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon corn syrup

Bring 2 inches water to a gentle simmer in the bottom of a double-boiler. Place egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, salt, water and corn syrup into the top boiler.. Place boiler over saucepan and cook, whisking on low speed with a hand mixer, until mixture registers 160 degrees on a candy thermometer. This takes 8-9 minutes.

Remove top pan and continue to whisk on medium speed until thick, glossy peaks form. This takes 2-3 minutes.

Assembling and Decorating

3 candy canes, crushed (about 1/4 cup)
Store-bought peppermint bark, roughly chopped


Place one cake layer on a cake stand or plate. Top with 1 cup frosting and sprinkle with half of the crushed candy canes. Place second cake layer on top of that and top with 1 cup frosting and the remainder of the crushed candy canes.

Cover top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Press peppermint bark into the frosting on the sides of the cake.

Deep Fried Oreos

Okay. This is the South. We love all things fried and battered. So how could anyone resist this recipe in the Taste of Home Summer 2018 issue?

Deep-Fried Oreos

18 Oreo cookies

oil for deep-fat frying

1 cup Bisquick

1 large egg

1/2 cup milk

Confectioners' Sugar

18 4-inch wood skewers

Thread one cookie on each of the wooden skewers, inserting the pointed end of the skewer into the filling. Freeze until firm. This takes about an hour.

Heat oil in an electric skillet or deep fryer until it reaches 375 degrees.

Whisk together the egg and milk. Place Bisquick in a shallow bowl. Pour the milk/egg mixture into the Bisquick and whisk until just moist.

Holding the skewer, dip frozen cookie into the mixture and coat both sides. Shake off the excess.

Fry the cookies, a few at a time, for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dust cookies with Confectioners' Sugar just before serving.

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Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Strips

I found this recipe in an old issue of Real Simple magazine. I might have skipped past it except for the sweet woman who cooks at our church. She sometimes makes these for Wednesday night dinners. They are just wonderful.

This isn't her recipe. I've never asked for it. Some treats are just that: treats. But I couldn't resist sharing this just for the fun of it.

Cinnamon-Sugar Tortilla Strips

1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
4 burrito-size flour tortillas
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Dividing evenly, brush tortillas on both sides with oil and sprinkle generously with cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Cut into 1-inch strips and arrange in a single layer on two baking sheets.

Bake, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely. 

Strips can be made, cooled, and stored in an airtight container up to four days ahead.

Tiger Butter Bark Candy

Do not try to say the name of this recipe fast. Nope. Just don't. It will twist your tongue and make others think you are loopy. Okay. I'm usually a little blonde. so nobody would know the difference. Just saying.

Anyway, this is yet another recipe using peanut butter. It's just different and easy and a wonderful variation from my usual peppermint bark. I found the recipe in the December/January issue of Country Woman magazine. I highly recommend the magazine. It has wonderful recipes and stories for everyone, whether you live in the country or not.

Tiger Butter Bark Candy

1 lb. white candy coating, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon shortening

Line a 15x10x1-inch pan with waxed paper.

Place candy coating and peanut butter in a microwave safe dish. Melt at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth. Spread mixture into the prepared pan.

In another microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and shortening. Again, melt at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until well blended. Drizzle this mixture over the top of the peanut butter mixture. Use a knife to swirl the two mixtures so that it looks marbled.

Refrigerate until firm. Break into pieces. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter-Butterscotch Pie

Sometimes the very best recipes come from the least expected places. This recipe came from one of those inserts in the newspaper and was directed at folks who cook with children. I probably wouldn't have even glanced at it except that I'm a sucker for peanut butter. It's not my fault. Growing up in an area where peanuts are plentiful and every fall smelling that wonderful smell of roasting peanuts. Well. I really didn't have a chance, did I?

Peanut Butter-Butterscotch Pie

1/4 butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups marshmallows
4 cups crisp rice cereal
1 (3.5 oz.) box of instant butterscotch pudding and pie filling
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup Cool Whip, thawed
Chocolate syrup for topping

Place butter, peanut butter and marshmallows in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Don't skip the stirring part. When you are melting things in the microwave, sometimes they don't appear to be melting when they really are. This can cause you to overcook, or burn, your food.

Stir cereal in to the peanut butter mixture, mixing thoroughly.

Coat a pie pan with cooking spray. When the cereal mixture is cool enough to handle, press it along the bottom and up the sides of the pie plate to form a crust.

In a large bowl, whisk pudding mix and milk until the mixture thickens. Fold in the Cool Whip and pour it into the crust. Refrigerate at least two hours or until the pudding filling is set.

Drizzle with chocolate syrup before serving.

Makes 8 servings.

Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls

I had pretty much given up on homemade rolls with yeast. It just takes so much time and planning to get to the finished product. They’re good but are they worth the time? You choose.

I saw this recipe in the November 2017 issue of Taste of Home magazine. It intrigued me. I really like Red Velvet Cake. I’ve never tasted Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls. I’ve never heard of them. So I had to give them a try. How about you?

Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls

1 package red velvet cake mix (regular size)

2 ½ to 3 cups all-purpose flour

1 package (1/4 oz.) active dry yeast

1 ¼ cups warm water (120 to 130 degrees)

½ cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ cup butter, melted

Combine cake mix, 1 cup flour and yeast. Add warm water to dry ingredients; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (it will be sticky). Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough gently 6-8 times. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 2 hours.

In another bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon.

Punch down the dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll dough into an 18x10-inch rectangle. Brush dough with melted butter to within ¼ inch of edges. Sprinkle with sugar mixture.

Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Pinch seam to seal. Cut crosswise into 12 slices. Place in a greased 13x9-inch baking pan. Cover; let rise until almost doubled, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until puffed and light brown, 15-20 minutes. Cool slightly.

Icing

2 cups confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 to 5 tablespoons 2% milk

Beat confectioners’ sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk to reach a drizzling consistency. Drizzle icing over warm rolls.

Makes 12 servings.

Homemade Oatmeal Pies

I spotted this recipe in the October 2017 issue of Southern Living magazine. I enjoy the magazine and would recommend it to anyone. I love the cookbooks. They are my go-to sources when I'm looking for a special recipe. They should fill every cooks kitchen shelves.

This recipe looks like it will be fun to try. I think I'll leave out the toasted pecans though. I love pecans but generally prefer my cookies pecan free.

Homemade Oatmeal Pies

1 cup salted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups uncooked regular rolled oats
1 cup chopped toasted pecans
Salted Caramel Buttercream (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat butter and sugars with a heavy-duty stand mixer on medium speed until creamy, about two minutes; add eggs and vanilla, and beat until just combined. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl; gradually add to butter mixture, beating on low speed just until combined, about 10 seconds. Stir in oats and pecans.

Using a 1 1/2-inch cook scoop, drop spoonfuls of dough 3 inches apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. (Or use your hands to shape dough into 2-inch balls.) Bake in preheated oven until golden but still soft in the center, 9-10 minutes. Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; remove cookies to wire racks, and cool completely, about 20 minutes.

Pipe or spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons Salted Caramel Buttercream on 1 flat side of half of cooled cookies; top with remaining cookies, flat side down, pressing gently.

Salted Caramel Buttercream

16 caramel candies (such as Kraft)
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar

Microwave caramel candies and 1 tablespoon heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl on HIGH until mixture is smooth and melted, about 1 minute, stirring at 3-second intervals.

Stir in additional tablespoon cream. Cool at room temperature until lukewarm, about 30 minutes.

Beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add vanilla extract and salt. Beat until combined. Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with the caramel mixture, beating on low speed until blended after each addition. Add 1 tablespoon cream, 1 teaspoon at a time, to reach desired consistency, if needed.

Refrigerate the pies before packing away to keep the filling firm.

Makes 24.