Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Honey Frosting

I was in a serious baking craze yesterday. I only have two days off this week and want to make them count. I figured that I would challenge myself with some intense cake decorating. I had never attempted anything like this, but I didn't fail completely for a first try. I actually really enjoyed the decorating portion of this cake and am excited to try another design on whatever I make next.

As for the taste of the cake and frosting.... As usual, it is to die for. The cake has a more subtle banana flavor with a punch of semi-sweet chocolate chips. The frosting is the star of the cake in my opinion. (and I don't even like frosting!) It is very sweet, but still light and fluffy.

For the Cake:

1 yellow cake mix

3/4 cup water

1/3 cup oil

3 eggs

1/8 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 cup bananas, ripe and smashed

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

To make the Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine cake mix, water, oil and eggs. Beat on low for one minute. Add baking soda and cinnamon, then continue mixing on medium speed for two minutes. Fold in smashed bananas and chocolate chips.

Use non-stick spray to coat two 9-inch round pans. Bake cakes according to instructions on box. Once done baking, let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and let them finish cooling.

For the Frosting:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup peanut butter

4 tbsp water, divided

3 tbsp honey

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

4 cup powdered sugar

To make the Frosting:

Cream the butter and peanut butter. Add 2 tbsp water, vanilla and salt. Cream again. Add the powdered sugar in parts. Once all of the sugar has been mixed in, beat in the remaining 2 tbsp water. Beat the honey in until creamy. 

***You could always just do a simple coating of the cake, but this recipe make a ton of frosting so there would probably be leftover***

I went ahead and just did a simple crumb coat of the cake to start the frosting process. Then I pulled out my tips and decided on attempting the basket weave pattern. It was actually fairly simple once you get the hang of it. I used the star tip to do a way pattern on the top rim of the cake.

The website where I found this recipe and how to do the basket weave technique is http://insidebrucrewlife.blogspot.jp/2012/04/chocolate-chip-banana-cake-with-honey.html

I topped the center of the cake with some chocolate chips and viola! It tasted even better than it looked. I took this bad boy to work and it was non-existent by the end of the day!

Stovetop Pizza

This has to be the easiest and most delicious pizza recipe I have ever made. Pizza is my ultimate comfort food and I have just been having one of those weeks where I don't care what I eat. Usually I am a clean eater (with the exception of my awesome baking), but I just needed something delicious for dinner! 

Found the recipe at http://www.fussfreecooking.com/meatless-recipes/stovetop-pizza/

For the Pizza:

1 cup self-rising flour

2 tbsp olive oil

2/3 cup water

1/4 cup pizza (or marinara) sauce

3.5 oz mozzarella cheese

To make the Pizza:

In an 8-inch non-stick frying pan, mix the self-rising flour, oil and water together. You can add a pinch of salt if you like! Once it is mixed, spread the dough evenly around the pan. Cover dough with sauce of your choice. I added some freshly chopped basil and garlic to my pizza as well. Top sauce with mozzarella cheese.

Turn stovetop to medium heat and cook for 10 minutes. Slide pizza out of pan and onto cutting board. Let rest for 2 minutes. Slice and then, enjoy!!

Brown Sugar Pie

WARNING: This pie is a sugar overload!

I could not sleep today and figured making some sort of dessert would be the best plan of action to make myself tired again. I found this recipe and luckily had all of the ingredients in my pantry. The prep for this pie took maybe 10 minutes, but turned out delicious. I think I may have needed to let it cook a little longer though, because it was still pretty liquid when I cut into it. I think this pie was so awesome because it reminded me of home.

For the Pie:

1 pie crust (home-made or store bought)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 eggs

2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup flour

To make the Pie:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the pie crust into your pie pan.

In a bowl, mix all ingredients together with the exception of the flour.  Add the flour in parts.  Pour the mixture into the pie crust. Bake for at least 45 minutes. (I cooked mine for 50 minutes and it was still not firm enough.) The pie top should look dry, but still tremble towards the middle. Let cool on rack for at least 45 minutes. You can serve as is, or add some whipped cream for even more deliciousness! 

This pie is super sweet and basically resembles a Pecan Pie minus the pecans! It would be a great addition to any dinner party. It especially reminded me of the fall in a Southern home. Hopefully you enjoy and continue checking out my blog!

Peep Sunflower Cake

Easter is coming and what is a better way to celebrate than with baking? 

Peeps scream Easter. I felt that I needed to make some sort of Easter dessert to take to my work meeting the other day and was  I saw this cake in magazine cut-out and thought it was so adorable that I had to make it. It was an incredibly easy recipe and there were no leftovers, which clearly shows that it tasted as good as it looked.

For the cake:

1 package cake mix (whatever flavor you like!)

2 cans (16 ounces) chocolate frosting

18 yellow chick Peeps 

1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

To make the cake:

Prepare the cake according to the directions. Grease two 9-inch round pans. Bake as long as the directions on the cake box state. Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes before removing them from the pans. Move the cakes to cooling racks to cool completely. 

Level the tops of the cakes. Spread frosting between the layers of cakes and on the sides and top.

Press Peeps around the edge of the cake so that the tails slightly hang over. They will be the sunflower petals. In the center of the Peeps, make a circular pattern with the chocolate chips. They are the sunflower seeds! 

This cake makes about 12 slices. They will all be gone because everyone loves Peeps for Easter!