Cake Mix Review, and Cupcakes in a Jar

How can you beat a cake mix that looks that good?

  So it's about that time again.  The time to make a box mix cake, and review it so it makes me feel better about using box mix.  You know, I love a box mix, but some people don't.  I really like finding new ones so I can try something different out without the hassle of a real recipe.  So here you go, and I promise you will love it.

  I found this at the larger grocery store last week, we usually do our groceries at Walmart, but we were there for something else so I got it.  I have no control, I see it, I want it.  Now this mix cost almost $5, but it was all chocolate so it was worth the gamble.

This is the fudgy filling, I was very good and didn't lick the bowl.

  Just like the other two I have tried out, there were two pouches in this mix.  I did not read the box, like usual, and did not realize that there was no icing glaze.  The mix was cupcake mix then a fudgy middle, so you know not all bad.  I even had one tub of icing left over, so I was all good.

  So to start I wanted to make cupcakes, but wanted something a little different.  My friends at work have not had my cupcakes in a jar, I don't think.  I cannot remember, really my life is one big blur.  So I got out the canning jars I have and washed them.  Then I got to baking.

  I mixed up the first pouch, which was the fudge filling.  It was not too hard to do.  Then I mixed the cupcake mix.  It said you can bake it in a 9x13, but I ended up with about 16 cupcakes.  I wanted them a bit bigger as I was only going to put one in each jar.

See I hardly slopped any on the muffin pan.

 Firstly I filled my cupcake liners with the cake mix.  I always use liners so it is easier to get the cupcakes out, and it saves you lots of time in cleaning.   Once that was done, I went back and put a TBSP full of the filling in the middle.

The fudge didn't really sink into the cupcake.

  The box did not have directions for making cupcakes, which is fine.  I just did my own thing, but the box said to swirl the filling into the cake batter.  So I did, but it was so sticky it really didn't do much.

But it did when I tried to swirl it all together.

 They baked in a 350 oven for about 13 minutes, then I let them sit to cool in the pans for a while.  I took then out and let them finish cooling.

At this point, they look gross.  This is the real reason we use frosting, to cover the ugly cupcakes.

  I wanted this to be like chocolate over load, like sex in a jar.  If there is such a thing, and if there is, I so don't want to know.  Anyway, when I was thinking about icing, I needed enough to do a nice swirl in each jar, but I only had one tub of icing.  So I mixed it with a cup or so of Nutella and a bit of icing sugar to thicken it up.  I put a bit too much icing sugar as it was way too hard to pipe, but it turned out to be like a nice thick ganache.  Yummy!

The cupcake tops sort of pulled a bit going into the jar, but I didn't care, I had frosting.

  I also wanted to add some texture, so I used three types of chocolate covered rice crispy pearls.  I have a huge bag of milk chocolate ones and a little bag of vanilla and dark.  So I just took the wrapper off the cupcakes, pushed the cupcake into the jar. Then put a big swirl of icing.  And then covered it with chocolate pearls.  If the cake was not so rich and did not have filling I would have layered another half cupcake on top.  But as it was, this was plenty.

I managed to frost all but one before my stupid plastic pipping bag exploded.  Lesson learned, less sugar, or just use an ice cream scoop and the back of a spoon to spread it around.  Oh and sprinkles, lots of sprinkles.

 I think this mix was well worth the cost, although I would have liked the picture on the box to not have shown the cake with the chocolate glace.  Because I bet most people like me won't read it until they are home.

See, all those chocolate pearls and you cannot even tell I did a nice swirl.

  So to take them to work I just got some plastic forks, because I was out of spoons, and tied them on.  Pork Chop even got in on the action and tied one on.  And no I don't mean he "tied one on"  he tied a fork on the jar.  I may be a bad parent, but I am not that bad.

Getting ready to "Tie one on"  

  So the verdict at work was good.  The few people that I know that don't like sweet things just avoided them.  The girl who hates chocolate actually liked it, and one guy told me that "that cake in a can was good."  And there you have it people, cake in a can.

 Sigh.

All done, and no need to put it in the fridge, as they keep great and were moist for a few days after.  Well so I would think,they really didn't last that long.

Nutella Donuts

See how cute those marshmallow bits look, they look huge because the donuts are so small.

  One of the first pastries I remember eating as a kid was donuts, I could not get enough of them.  We lived near a Tim Hortons and as a treat I would get a Hawaiian donut.  Which is just a sprinkle covered donut.  They were good!

  Anyway I loved them, and I even worked in a donut shop for a year or so.  And everyone was all "you will get sick of them"  And like everything else in life, I was not going to be normal. I would have a donut every shift. I even would make special ones, you know take a chocolate and cover it in maple frosting and put as many sprinkles on it that I could.  Wonder why my uniform got snug.  Anyway, long story short, I love donuts.

I have lusted after this for a while, only I wanted a pink one.  Oh well, when I win the lottery I can be picky.

  So to make these you first need either a donut pan or a donut maker thingy.  I happen to have both, only because I scored a donut maker in the states for $11, that is with tax people.  Yeah I know, I am amazing! And yeah I know another thing I don't need, but it's donuts, I will always need them!

  So I had my donut maker, and I was all, "let's do this."  Then I remembered the last time I tried donuts and they were not so good.  So I waited until I found a good recipe on line.  And it did not take long, A Little Nosh  came to the rescue and I was in love.  How could I not be, it was three ingredients and it had a butt load of Nutella in it.  I even went all out and bought the real Nutella.  That right there is class!

This is all you need, well except for icing sugar and water.  But you don't need to see that.

  And at this point I must point out I also got a tub of tiny marshmallow bits, that the bloggers in the states have been showing off.  It is so sad that I cannot get these things here, but you know, I would probably weigh over 300 pounds if they did.  I have no control.

  So to start all you need is Nutella, eggs and whole wheat flour.  I think the whole wheat flour totally makes them healthy and cuts out any calories you get from the Nutella.  Just saying.

And here is Pork Chop giving me attitude because he wanted to taste the batter and I was all "no you will get sick!"  When really I just didn't want to miss out on any donuty goodness.

  First I got my stuff ready, and asked Pork Chop if he wanted to help.  He did until he saw the Nutella, he has never had it before.  And he was grossed out.  I may be a bad mom, because I didn't tell him to try it, he would like it.  I just thought to myself "good, now he will never know how good it is and it will be all mine!!!!"

  I don't share well with others.

I was worried that it would not work so well as the batter was almost grainy but it turned out great.

 So I measured out everything I needed, and mixed it all together.  Now I have no idea why I did it by hand, it should have occurred to me that you know, I have a mixer.  But obviously I am not smart and you know, did it the old fashioned way.  

 Nutella Donuts

From A Little Nosh

-2/3 cups Nutella

-2 eggs

-6TBSP whole wheat flour

  Mix it all together and bake in either a donut maker or a 350 oven until set. I doubled this and got about 40 or so. I forgot to count actually, I was too busy stuffing them in my face.

He was ready to eat them but I was all "Wait I need a picture! Look cute!"  And so he was saying "Awww!" at me as he was so ready to eat them. Are they not the cutest little marshmallows ever? And does Pork Chop not look so cute, you can just agree with me, no need to say those marshmallows are not cute.

 I of course used my super cute amazing donut maker.  I read the instructions and it said to heat it up and to toss out the first batch as the iron may make the first batch taste weird.  I hated to do it, but you have to do what the instructions say, or else!

  So firstly I sprayed the maker with non stick cooking spray, and  I just took a small ice cream scoop and put a blob in the middle of the donut maker. It said you could move it around to make sure the dough is not in the middle, but they started baking so fast I just shut the thing.  I had no idea how long they would take.  

See how dark that batter is?

And see how nice and light and fluffy they become?  Also the instructions said to put the donut maker on something as the heat could damage the counter, so I put it on my stove top and a towel for good measure.

  I checked after 3 minutes and they were starting to burn a little, so seriously 2 -3 minutes max!  I used a rubber spatula to sort of pop them off and onto a wire rack.  Then I closed the maker while I put the rack down.  I let it heat up for a minute or two, then sprayed it again and filled it again.  I got a little groove going.  

My set up, I was in a groove, I would have donuts baking and would have time to glaze a row of them by the time they were done.  I am that good!

  So once they were baking I figured I wanted to put a thin glaze all over them.  I was bringing them to work the next day and wanted them to be fresh as possible, I also wanted more sugar.  There was whole wheat flour people, no way those few extra sugar calories will matter.

What a bad picture, but you need to see my little donut trying to swim in a pool of glaze.

  So I just took a bowl and dumped in my icing sugar, not sure how much, maybe two cups.  Then I slowly added water until it was a nice thin consistency.  I used a whisk to get any lumps out and that was it.  Once the donuts had cooled I set up a wire rack over plastic wrap.  You can do this over a cookie sheet or whatever, but I just did this.  Because I am lazy, and no other reason.  I also just rolled the plastic wrap all up into a ball when I was done, I am lazy, but I am also smart. And just so you know this glaze will separate, you have to stir it before you start dipping.

So I just counted there are 25 in here, I think.  And I had about 8 left and I had to toss out the first 7 so that is what, 40?  Well I never said I was good in math, or spelling, or well, whatever, you get the idea.

  So I just used two forks to dunk my donuts until they were all covered.  I also forgot to mention that some of them had a very thin bit of batter in the middle blocking the donut whole, I just used my finger to push it out.  Then once they were glazed I put them on the rack to dry.  

I have no idea, but this picture sort of grosses me out.  Anyway that is Nutella, and I want to sort of have a bath in it.  Yeah I know, gross thought on a baking blog.  Sorry, I just think it then type it and then leave it.

It's sort of hard to see but the top ones have the Nutella on them, also I sort of want to sing "tiny donuts, everywhere...."  It's a song I swear.

  Now to finish these I found it easiest to box them up then decorate them.  I got these great holiday boxes on boxing day for cheap, they are the perfect height for these. I lined the box with parchment paper and set the glazed donuts on in there.  Now you can leave them like this, but I love sugar, as you may know and did more.  I put just plain Nutella in a piping bag and piped on a layer on top.  Nothing fancy.  And then sprinkled on the baby marshmallow bits.  The nice thing is the Nutella does not crust over so it's nice and soft.

I was going to leave some just glazes but then realized how dumb that sounded.

  That was it, I took them to work and no one would believe me when I told them how easy they were to make.  And that is fine, let them think I am super fancy and stuff.  I will not argue.  

  Also I nearly killed Hubby.  Not in a he did something stupid again sort of way.  It was the I left out baked goods, baked goods that he NEVER EVER eats way.  And I did not put a note to say there were nuts in them.  The only thing that saved him is he doesn't like chocolate.  

 I know right?  What kind of person doesn't like chocolate?  Well in this house a smart one, who is still alive.

  End of almost killing Hubby story. 

  On a side note, there were some left over after almost a week.  Which is funny, I think people at work are getting sick of my baking.  But they were still really soft, so the glaze was great.  Also I left a few in a bowl to let Pork Chop try the next day, and he didn't.  

 But  I was almost a widow, with a good life insurance policy.  But I would have been pissed if he took my donut, I don't share!

Only thing is the marshmallows would not stick unless I placed them all one by one.  And we all know that will not be happening in my home any time soon

Filling Cupcakes

I don't know why but these cupcake thingies make me very happy.

So I have a sister, she is a good sister.  Well now; growing up, I thought I may have to kill her.  That's totally normal right?  Well, when you share a car and live in the same house and have totally different lives, it is normal, trust me.

  Anyway, now, now I like her lots more.  She seems to get me now, or she is just playing it safe, because I have big chef knifes at home, and I know how to dig a deep, deep hole if I need to.  Who can really say right?

That is the left over ganache there, which is so yummy.

  So she went on a little trip to the states for her birthday and she got me a few little gadgets.  I may have mentioned I have a thing for kitchen gadgets.  I blame my mom, she has them for everything.  Need a pickle, she has a pickle picker.  Need a itty bitty whisk, she has almost 100 different sizes. Or need a cookie tray, she had almost every one ever invented.  And no I am not totally exaggerating.  Just a little.

And here is the cupcake as I use the tool of death.

And see, a nice big space to put yummy stuff in!

  So my sister found me some cake pop molds, and a cupcake corer thingy.  That is the technical term just in case you were wondering.

It almost looks like ice cream, so now that is what I want to do next!

 So far I have used it twice, and so far I hate it.  Well  I like it, I hate that it makes me want to eat my cupcakes even more.  So it's a love hate relationship.  My goodness, she must really have it out for me!

Oh my goodness, this stuff is good.  Like I would sell Pork Chop good, but that is not saying much, he is driving me crazy on the summer break.

  So the first time I had an extra cupcake and some left over chocolate ganache from those cream puffs.  And I know left over ganache should never happen, but I made a big batch and I am only one little person.  By the way I ate ganache and strawberries for a few days.  It's totally healthy if there is fruit in it.

I don't know why you needed to see this picture.

  So to use this mind blowingly crappy tool of the devil, you just push it into your cupcake, as far down as you want, then pull it back out. The core of the cupcake will be in the tool and you will have this huge space in your cupcake which you totally need to fill with stuff.  So I used my tiny ice cream scoop and filled it with chocolate ganache that was cooled and set up.  Then you can take the core out of the tool and push it back into your cupcake.  Or, you can just pop that core right into your mouth and run for a bowl so you can eat that cupcake before your Pork Chop sees it.

Or this one, but you know, it's in focus, I have to try and show the good pictures.

 Sorry, I have issues.

  So the second time I did these, it was because I had gotten this super awesome amazing stuff that all the cool USA baking bloggers have been using.  It is called Biscoff spread.  I choose to call it "Orgasm in a jar" Which is sort of gross, but not so gross that I won't eat it.  I have some standards. They are not high, but I have them.

It looks just like peanut butter, but totally has no nuts.  As far as I could tell from the label any way.  And I told Hubby it totally had nuts, just in case he got stupid and wanted to try it.

  So I made cupcakes again, in my super cute tea cup silicon cupcake holder things.  Oh my goodness, I have drooled over these for a while on line, and then one day, in the warehouse store, there they were.  And I picked them up, and may have screamed a little.  Then I had to explain to Pork Chop why it was okay to make that noise when you are touching baking items, and I got them.  For the love of all that is holey, I need an intervention!

See that core, you can totally just eat it. Or put it back in, either way.

  So anyway, I used the coring tool and you know, cored out my cupcake.

 Does that sound dirty to anyone else?

 Anyone?

 No?


 Fine.  Well I did that and then I used my ice cream scoop to fill the cupcake.  I then smooshed the core back into the cupcake.  You could totally trim it off if you want even cupcakes.  But I knew it would not last longer than 2 minutes so whatever.  Then I iced them with some simple butter cream.  I made two chocolate ones, and ate one right away.  Felt sick.  Then I ate the next one the next day, and felt sick.  Holy jeez were they sugary.  But oh so good.

See how sloppy the icing is?  Well I was in a rush and just wanted to eat one, so pretend they look all pretty.

  I also made two plain vanilla ones for Hubby, which I might add are still sitting on the dining room table, almost 8 days later.  What is wrong with him? They will end up in the trash I think. ( small update, they got tossed out, sigh.)

  Anyway, long story short.  My sister is awesome, except when she gets me devil tools that make me want to eat more cupcakes.

 The end.

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