Pumpkin Crumble Bars

I still have canned pumpkin from the holidays...or did! I really love pumpkin...pumpkin pancakes, scones, cakes, bread pudding, and anything else pumpkin. I came across a recipe for a pumpkin crumb bar that sounded perfect! I really don't remember how I came across the website Cooking with Sugar, but I sure am glad that I found it!! Not like I need baked goods sitting around but its nice to have now and then. I also noticed that the recipe called for boxed cake mix and condensed milk...which I had! The kids helped (that's why its on a blue plate) and LOVED it!! I hope you do too!! 


*I just copied the recipe from her website so I can't take any credit...other than introducing it to you :-)

Ingredients:

For base:

• 1 (18.25 ounce) Box Betty Crocker Supermoist Yellow Cake Mix
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 1 egg

For filling:

• 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
• 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten

For topping:

• 1 cup of dry cake mix
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup chopped pecans, walnuts or both
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 pan.

Remove 1 cup of cake mix from the cake mix box and set aside in a small bowl for the topping. Then in a large bowl combine the remaining cake mix with 1 egg and a 1/2 cup melted butter. Mix well, and pat into bottom of pan. Set aside

In the same bowl used for the base, mix together the pumpkin, eggs, sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar and cinnamon. Combine well and pour over base mix in pan.

With a fork, combine your reserved cup of cake mix with the nuts and softened butter. Crumble over pumpkin mix.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes until golden brown.  Let cool for at least 20-30 minutes then cut in squares and sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Chocolate "Coke" Cake

YUM!!! I absolutley love to bake but I don't very often...partially because of the calories. I am one of the everything in moderation type of people so I think you need to indulge every now and then. I saw this recipe on Pinterest but thought that it called for too much sugar. I looked around and found a few different recipes and did my own thing. I used less than the recipe called for and it turned out fantastic.

This is a great dessert to take to a potluck, holiday dinner, or just a summer grill out!!!

1 cup butter

1/3 cup cocoa

1 cup cola soft drink

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/3 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

2 large eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk use 1/2 cup regular milk and 1.5 teaspoon white vinegar and let sit for 5 min)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Icing

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/3 cup cola soft drink

3 cups powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. In sauce pot combine butter, cocoa and coke and heat until just boiling. In mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Combine chocolate/coke mixutre into flour mixture. Mix in eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Pour into greased 13x9 baking dish and cook for 30 min (or until toothpick comes out clean)

While cake is baking, combine butter, cocoa, and coke in sauce pot. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in vanilla and powder sugar. Pour over warm cake and let sit for 15 minutes.

*Picture from www.mayflaum.com