Red Velvet Cake Balls

This is another easy dessert that is very versatile. You can change all the ingredients to combine your favorite flavors. My sister and I put this combination together.

Red Velvet Cake Balls

Ingredients:

1 box moist red velvet cake mix

1 container Betty Crocker rainbow chip frosting

1 cup white chocolate

assorted sprinkles

Directions:

1. Bake cake according to box directions.

2. Once baking is complete crumble warm cake in a large bowl. Add container of frosting and mix completely.

3. Form cake into quarter-sized balls. Freeze balls for about 1 hour, or until firm.

4. Melt white chocolate in microwave for about 1 minute or until completely melted.

5. Cover frozen balls with white chocolate. Top with sprinkles before chocolate begins to harden. You will need to do this pretty quickly since the balls are frozen the chocolate hardens very fast. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Tip: We found the easiest way to coat the cake balls is to poke the bottom of the ball with a toothpick, then dip top into the white chocolate. Use a spoon to get the cake ball off the toothpick and place on a cookie sheet with wax paper.

Other yummy combinations:

*strawberry cake/cream cheese frosting/white chocolate or dark chocolate coating

*chocolate cake/chocolate frosting/dark chocolate coating

*spice or carrot cake/cream cheese frosting/white chocolate coating

*yellow cake/butter cream frosting/chocolate coating

Chocolate Drop Pretzels

I got this recipe from a friend at work. These are so easy to make (definitely kid friendly) and taste so yummy. How can you go wrong with pretzels, chocolate, and caramel?

Chocolate Drop Pretzels

Ingredients:

1 bag of Rolo candies

1 bag mini pretzels

1 cup whole pecans

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Line pretzels on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

3. Top each pretzel with a Rolo on the center.

4. Bake for 5 minutes, or until chocolate begins to melt.

5. As soon as you remove from oven top each with a pecan, smashing down the Rolo onto the pretzel.

6. Melt white chocolate chips in microwave until melted. Drizzle white chocolate over Rolo pretzels for decoration.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Trifle

Chocolate Peanut Butter Trifle

Adapted from Taste of Home Cookbook

Ingredients:

1 box family size brownie mix

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 package (10 oz) peanut butter chips

4 1/4 cups cold milk, divided

1/2 cup whipping cream

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

2 packages (5.9 oz each) instant chocolate pudding mix

1 carton (12 oz) cool whip, thawed

1/4 cup mini Reese's pieces

Directions:

1. Prepare brownie mix according to directions, add pecans or walnuts to the mix. Pour batter into a greased 13x9 baking pan.

2. Bake according to box directions. Cool on a wire rack.

3. In a heavy sauce pan, combine peanut butter chips, 1/4 cup milk, and cream. Cook and stir over low heat until chips are melted. Remove from heat, add vanilla. Cool to room temperature.

4. In a large bowl, whisk the remaining 4 cups of milk and pudding mixes for two minutes. Let stand for two minutes or until soft-set.

5. To assemble: crumble 1/2 the brownie mixture into a 4 qt. trifle bowl. Pack the brownie mix down into the bottom of the bowl. Layer 1/2 the peanut butter sauce, pudding, and cool whip; repeat layers.

6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. Sprinkle with Reese's pieces just before serving.

Cheddar Jalapeño Beer Bread

OK...so here is my first attempt at making bread from scratch and it came out really good. The dough was a little dense but that is certainly something I can work on. The taste was fantastic. I got this recipe from one of my friends at work and adapted it slightly. Thanks Meredith!

Cheddar Jalapeño Beer Bread

Ingredients:

3 cups self rising flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 12 ounce beer

2 tbsp diced jalapenos

3/4 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. In a large bowl combine flour and sugar until mixed

3. Slowly add beer to the bowl stirring slightly

4. Add in jalapenos and cheese and mix until dough forms a ball. It will be a little sticky.

5. Shape dough and place into a 5x9 loaf pan

6. Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes