Strawberry Lemonade Cake

I mentioned on my Facebook that I had some strawberry lemonade cupcakes to make for our small group and I had a few people interested in the recipe. So instead of messaging each person the recipe, I figured I would just share it here. Who knows, you may try this and love it too! We sure do! It is our second favorite cake around here (a close runner up behind my scratch made red velvet cake). Now I have to say, when I am baking for my sweet kiddos, I keep it healthy.... not so much for me and the hubster though. So, if you are looking for a healthy recipe... I am sorry, but this is not it. I hope you still give it a try though because it is super yummy!

Ingredients For Cake

• 1 strawberry cake mix ( I take the help from the store on this one)
• 1 packet of kool-aid lemonade
  
• 1 can of lemon pie filling (you won't be using the entire can)

Ingredients For Icing (I got this from a friend)

• 1 cup of Crisco (plain or butter flavor)
• 1 cup of butter (2 sticks)
• 1 bag of powdered sugar (not an exact measurement because you will add a little at a time but it is usually about half of a 2 pound bag... so about a pound of it.)
  
• Vanilla extract (to taste... usually not much at all)
• 1 packet of strawberry lemonade kool-aid (you only need to use a little less than half of it)
  

Instructions For Icing

• Let butter set out and get to room temperature.
• Cream together the butter and Crisco
• Slowly add in the powdered sugar a little at a time
• After adding a little bit of sugar add in half, or a little less than half, of the strawberry lemonade kool-aid packet
• Add more sugar until it gets to a firm consistency.
• Store in the fridge
  

*If you are not into making it yourself you can just get 2 containers of butter cream icing and add the strawberry lemonade kool-aid to that (still only use half the packet, or a little less)


Instructions For Cake

• Read the back of your cake mix box. Pre-heat the oven and prep your pans as directed.
  
• Mix the cake batter as directed. Add the packet of lemonade kool-aid to the batter.
  
• Pour batter into your pans and bake as directed. I usually under bake from what the package suggests by 2 minutes and test each cake to see if they are done. No one likes an over cooked, dry cake.
• Let cakes cool completely before assembling and icing your cake.
  
• Once cool, spread a layer of pie filling on one of the cakes. Now stack the other cake on top of that one.
  
• Ice your cake.
  
• Cut yourself a slice and enjoy!

It is super easy to make these into cupcakes as well. I like this recipe both ways! Enjoy!

Not-So-Chocolate Muffins

I am a chocolate lover. It really is an addiction. I can eat ANYTHING chocolate. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.... but it is not a very healthy thing to love. I don't want my kids to grow up loving junk food the way I did. I want to give them yummy treats that are healthy at the same time. Tough to find my friends. Tough. I mean, there are plenty of healthy treats... but, I'm sorry, they are far from tasty. Not too long ago I picked up some Carob chips at a Mennonite store in a town close by. They look like chocolate chips. They taste almost like chocolate chips. They bake just like chocolate chips! So I decided to experiment with some muffins. Here is what I got....

Not-So-Chocolate Muffins



2 cups of flour (I used 1 cup of all purpose and 1 cup of whole wheat)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
3 Tbsp. flax seed meal
1 cup water
1/2 cup applesauce
2 Tbsp. oil
2 Tbsp. honey
3/4 cup carob chips

• Pre heat oven to 350 degrees
  
• Combine dry ingredients in one bowl, and the wet ingredients in another.
  
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well.
  
• Grease a muffin tin (will make 12 muffins!)
• Scoop into tin (about 3/4 way full)
• Cook for 18 to 20 minuets. Check them with a tooth pick or a knife to see if they are done.
  
• Cool and enjoy!
  

They are very tasty! They don't taste exactly like chocolate chip muffin (it is hard to explain!) but they are so good! Lula Mae loves them :-) and so do I! So healthy and very filling! You can play around with the recipe too. If you don't want to add sugar, don't. Try adding a little more honey instead! I actually adapted the recipe I use for Apple Raisin Cinnamon Muffins. It is a recipe from my friend Sarah at Clay In His Hands. They are fantastic too! So, if you are looking for a sweet treat with better health benefits than chocolate, you should try these muffins!