German Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats

I found these really amazing German chocolate cake flavored marshmallows at the grocery store recently. They inspired me to create this recipe for German Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats. These are unbelievably good and they couldn't be more simple to make. Here's how you do it:


Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons butter
10 oz. or 1 1/4 bags of Jet Puffed German Chocolate Cake flavored marshmallows
5 cups chocolate flavored puffed rice cereal (example: Cocoa Krispies)
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 oz. Baker's German chocolate, melted 

Directions:
Grease a 9x13 baking dish and set aside. In a large pot, over medium heat, melt butter. Once butter is completely melted, add in the marshmallows and allow them to completely melt together with the butter. Add in the cereal, coconut and pecans. Stir until all ingredients are fully combined. Pour cereal mixture into prepared 9x13 pan. Carefully press mixture until it forms an even layer in the pan. Drizzle melted chocolate over the top. Allow to cool completely. Enjoy!

Cake Pops - A step by step how to

Cake pops are amazing. They are little bundles of cake bits mashed in frosting, then dipped in candy. I mean what's not to love. Seriously. If you think these little treats are too complicated for you to make, you're wrong. They are super easy, anyone can do it and I'm going to walk you through it today. 

What you need:
*Cake (flavor of your choice, made from scratch or from a mix)
*Frosting (flavor of your choice, made from scratch or canned)
*Melting candy for coating (almond bark, candy melts, chocolate, etc.)
*Lollipop sticks
*Large Styrofoam block or cake pop stand
*Parchment paper

Step 1: Bake a cake. This cake can be your favorite recipe from scratch or made from a cake mix. It really just depends on your personal preference and what kind of time you have on your hands. It can be any flavor you want, the possibilities are endless. You can't go wrong here, trust me. You will need enough cake for a 9"x13" pan or two 8" round pans. For these particular pops, I used a yellow cake mix. Baked the cake according to the box instructions and let cool completely before handling. 
             

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, crumble half of the cooled cake using your hands, a fork, or a food processor until there are no large pieces remaining. If you made a 9"x13" pan, just cut cake in half down the middle. If you made round cakes only use one layer. Cake freezes really well so just stick the remaining half in the freezer and you'll have cake already made for the next time you want to make cake pops! 

Step 3: Add in frosting of choice. Approximately 1 cup, this will differ depending on the type of cake you made and the type of frosting. It may take a little more or a little less than 1 cup. Add frosting 1/2 cup at time. Mix cake crumbles and frosting together until completely combined. The mixture should be very thick, kind of like play dough consistency.  

Step 4: Form cake mixture into balls. They should be able to hold their shape once formed. If they don't, the mixture consistency is too thin. I like to use a small cookie scoop to help me, but if you don't have one just use your hands. Place formed balls onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let cake balls sit in the fridge to firm up, at least 30 minutes. 

Step 5: Take the chilled cake balls out of the fridge. Melt a small amount of almond bark, candy melts, chocolate, etc. in bowl. Dip the lollipop sticks in melted candy and stick into cake balls just half way. Once all the cake pops have a stick, place back into the fridge until candy is set and has hardened around the lollipop stick. 

Step 6: Melt remaining dipping candy, according to package instructions, in a bowl that will be deep enough to completely submerge the cake pop. Dip each cake pop into melted candy coating, gently tap off any excess coating.

Step 7: Let cake pops "dry". I have a cake pop stand for this step or you can use a large Styrofoam block. Once the cake pops are about half way dry, you can add sprinkles, sugars, etc. Or, let pops dry all the way and drizzle more melted chocolate/candy over the tops, or pipe icing in a decorative design. Decorate as your heart desires. Once the candy coating is completely set, they are ready to eat. Enjoy!

*These particular pops were made for a March Madness party. I love watching the games. Go Louisville!!

Strawberry Pocket Pies with Vanilla Glaze

These little pies give me a good excuse to eat pie for breakfast. They are so, so good.

Ingredients:
for the pastry dough:
1 1/2 - 2 cups all purpose flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. plain Greek yogurt
1/4 c. unsalted butter, chilled
3 Tbsp milk

for the strawberry filling
3/4c. fresh strawberries, chopped (any kind of berries will work)
1/4c. sugar (white or brown)
1/4c. cream cheese

for the glaze
1 1/2c. powdered sugar
4 Tbsp milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheet or line with parchment paper. 

for the pastry dough:
In a mixing bowl sift together 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar and salt. Using a mixer, slowly add in the milk and the yogurt. Beat in the butter until dough comes together. Add more flour if dough is too sticky. Store dough covered in the fridge until ready to use. 

for the filling:
Mix strawberries, cream cheese and sugar in a small bowl and set aside. 

for the glaze: 
Mix all ingredients together until smooth and has a fairly thin consistency. 

To assemble the pies, remove pastry dough out of fridge. Roll dough out on floured surface in to a thin crust. Cut dough using a 2" cookie cutter. You will get approximately 24 pieces. Onto a greased baking sheet lay out 12 pastry pieces. On to each one, place 1 heaping tablespoon of the strawberry mixture. Once each pastry has filling on top, place remaining 12 pastry pieces on top of each pie. Make sure you seal the edges of each pie by pressing tips of fork all the way around the outer edge of each pie or, you can just use your fingers. Bake the pies at 350 degrees for approximately 15 minutes or until the pies are golden brown in color. Drizzle desired amount of glaze onto each pie. Once cool they're ready to eat. Enjoy!