The Sugar Faerie Spring Garden Cupcake Cake (Hummingbird Cake)

I made one of my favorite cakes into a Cupcake Birthday Cake for a friend's birthday celebration.  I drew inspiration from a photo I saw on Facebook.  I made all the flowers from gum paste and let them cure for 36 hours.  I folded parchment paper in accordian style to mimic a cupcake liner, held it in place with a ribbon and then placed a sparkly Faerie on top.  Once the topper was in place I began to transfer all the flowers around it, added some sprinkles and a frosted edible "pearl" here and there, and finally the banner, giving the cake personalization.

I am not teaching gum paste flowers here as I'm an amateur myself.  You can buy the kits at JoAnns or Michaels as I did and teach yourself.  It isn't that difficult.  I'm sharing with you my recipe for Hummingbird Cake.  I love this moist, luscious cake so much, I even had it as my wedding cake.

Ingredients:

3 c all-purpose flour
2 c sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 eggs, beaten
1-1/2 c vegetable oil
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 c chopped toasted pecans
2 c mashed bananas
Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl; add eggs and salad oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Do not eat. Stir in vanilla, pineapple,  pecans, and bananas.

Spoon batter into 3 well-greased and floured 8 or 9-inch cake pans. Bake at 350* for 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove and cool competely.

Spread frosting between layers and on top of cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
2 8 oz. pkgs cream cheese, softened
1 c butter or margarine, softened
2 16-oz. pkgs. powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

Combine cream cheese and butter; cream until smooth. Add powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.

Note:  If you are going to do a cupcake cake, do not frost the sides.  Add extra frosting to the layers and mound or use a piping bag to make a dome of frosting on the top to simulate a cupcake.

Happy Birthday JJ!

Heavenly Fruitful Delight

This is a very refreshing delight that can be served as dessert or an alternative to fruit salad.  I love all the flavors mingling together, and is this is one of those things that I cannot get enough of.  Just love this as a nice change from the rich, decadent desserts I gravitate to.  Tip:  The longer you chill it, the more the flavors will marry for a better result.  I would suggest a minimum of 2 hours, although you could certainly serve it earlier if temptation gets the best of you!

Ingredients:

1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained, yes UNdrained

1 20 oz. can chunk pineapple, drained
1 11 oz. can Mandarin oranges
8 oz. fresh blueberries
1 3.5 oz. pkg. vanilla INSTANT pudding, dry
8 oz. container of non-dairy frozen topping, thawed
1/2 c chopped pecans (I prefer to toast them first)

In a large bowl combine cream cheese with undrained crushed pineapple until well blended.  Add in chunk pineapple, oranges and dry pudding.  Stir until combined.  Fold in non-dairy topping and pecans.  Chill until ready to serve!

Note: Feel free to add other types of fruit.  You can omit the blueberries, but the pineapple & oranges are necessary to obtain the best flavor.

Adapted from my Aunt Nancy's recipe.





Have a delightful day!

Banana Split Delight

Dedicated to my Mother.  This one was her favorite ...

Banana Split Pie

Fill a 9" pie dish with a graham cracker crust.  Mix all  the ingredients below together and press evenly into the dish.  This makes a thinner crust.  If you like thicker, kick it up a notch or two!

1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
5 Tbsp butter at room temperature

For the creme layer, beat the following ingredients together for 10 minutes with a mixer (hope you have a stand mixer for this step!), scraping down the bowl  occasionally.  Yes, the eggs are raw.  I've made this recipe and many have eaten it, for ummm, at least 30 years and I haven't  lost one yet! ;).  So, once the ingredients have turned into a pale creme, pour into the prepared crust.

1 stick butter at room temperature
2 large eggs
2 cups confectioner's sugar

Top this layer with sliced bananas, crushed pineapple that's been well drained, sliced strawberries and/or fresh blueberries.  You can mix and match the fruit as you please.  Albeit, you'll have to change the name of the recipe if you omit the bananas! :)  Top it all  off with one 9 oz. container of thawed Cool Whip or larger, if you happen to be a CW junkie like my mom was.

Note:  If you like toasted coconut, sprinkle some on top for added texture and flavor.

Enjoy,