Friends…I wanted to take the time to talk about company and a few desserts I’ve made the last couple weeks.
You all know about sheet cakes and I absolutely love how quickly they can come together and look good and taste good.
The Captain and I have had visitors/family and friends the last few weeks and I have taken advantage of sheet pan cakes and desserts.
Of course there were multiple occasions for desserts such as Valentine’s Day, The Super Bowl game and President’s Day…and Mardi Gras.
So I took advantage of my recipe files to make various desserts.
The first dessert I made was a modified oatmeal/brown sugar and M&M candies which my visiting little ones really liked…as well as the adults.
My Bible study ladies liked this dessert too.
And the heart shaped sugar cookies were met with enthusiasm when the Disney cruise ended and that part of the family headed back to the frozen tundra of Kansas.
My Grandma made these cookies on almost a daily basis. She used a drinking glass to cut out the shapes.
My memories of her are of food and especially these plain cookies.
The only difference is I put a simple frosting made with powdered sugar/milk/food coloring and vanilla on my cookies.
I’ve also made Millionaire shortbread bars and Pineapple Bundt Cake.
As I said earlier, the ladies of our Bible study get to sample these desserts each Friday afternoon.
I also decided to make a white sheet cake decorated with red and white sprinkles and red hearts.
I posted this sheet cake recipe back in 2015, you can see it here.… so I thought it was time to revive it from the archives.
I particularly like this white sheet cake as the flavoring is almond extract which I really like.
The recipes are below and are so good no matter the special occasion.
However, I think a dessert makes any ordinary day feel special.
Blessings Always.
Proverbs 24:13
Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
White Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs slightly beaten
- 1 tsp almond extract
Frosting
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup butter
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter, adding the water and bring to a boil.
- Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl...combine the flour, baking soda, sugar, eggs, sour cream and almond extract
- Add the butter and water to the mixing bowl of ingredients and blend until smooth
- Pour into a greased and floured sheet pan 17X11.
- Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Check on the done-ness after about 15 minutes...do not over-bake
Frosting
- 5 minutes before the cake is baked....make the frosting by melting the butter and adding the milk
- Then bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.(I use the same saucepan as I did for the cake)
- Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar, beating until thoroughly combined and the spreading consistency desired.
- (I like the frosting to "flow" over the cake, yet remain a bit thick)
M&M Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 whole/beaten eggs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 2 cups peanut butter
- 5 tbsp butter
- 2 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 5 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup M&M's
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, butter a large sheet pan (18 X 13 X 1 inch)
- Using an electric mixer, mix sugars and eggs until well combined
- Add in salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter until smooth
- Add in baking soda and oats mixing well
- Stir in M&M's and chocolate chips
- Spread the very stiff batter into pan using your hands to pat evenly
- Bake for 15-20 minutes making sure the center is set
- Let cool before cutting into bars
Grandma Alice's Plain Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 well beaten eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2-2 cups flour
- 1 tsp cream of tarter
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Cream the butter and the sugar
- Add the well beaten eggs and mix well
- Sift the flour, and add the salt, baking soda, and cream of tarter.
- Mix thoroughly, and add vanilla.
- Roll dough in thin sheet 1/8th of an inch thick and Cut with a floured cookie cutter and place on a slightly greased baking sheet
- Bake in hot oven (400 degrees) for about 10 minutes
- If you bake the cookies longer than 10 minutes..they will be crisper. I like a soft cookie so I bake mine like Grandma did....about 10 minutes so the cookies are light colored but have a slightly brown edge.
Pineapple Bundt Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box Yellow Cake Mix
- 4 whole eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple (drained)
Glaze
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple (drained)
- 2 cups powdered sugar (more if needed)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare bundt pan by liberally coating with butter followed by a dusting of flour being sure to get in all crevices.
- In large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil and pineapple mixing well.
- Pour batter into prepared bundt pan and bake for 40-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
- Let cake cool for about 10 minutes before turning out onto serving plate
Make Glaze
- Stir butter and pineapple together. Add powdered sugar in small amounts until the right consistency for glaze
- Drizzle over the cake allowing it to pool in the center and down the sides of the cake.
- You may want more pineapple or less in your glaze. Adjust accordingly.
Millionaire Shortbread Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 whole egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp salt
Caramel
- 1 14 0z sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white corn syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
Chocolate Ganache
- 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt to sprinkle on top (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven too 350 degrees and prepare 9X9 pan with parchment paper to aid removal when finished
- Cream butter and sugar and add egg, vanilla and salt and beat until light and fluffy
- Slowly add flour and mix well
- Press batter into pan and bake for about 20 minutes
- While base is baking, make the caramel by combining the butter, brown sugar, vanilla, sweetened condensed milk and white syrup in a sauce pan.
- Over medium heat, whisk until thoroughly while bringing to a boil. Coontinue whisking until candy thermometer reaches 225 degrees. (about 5 minutes)
- Pour caramel over the shortbread base, leveling with spatula. Put in the fridge for at least 10 minutes or longer to set the caramel.
Chocolate Ganache
- Melt chocolate chips and cream in microwave or double boiler.
- If using a microwave, use bursts of 20 second intervals (2 or 3) and blend together until glossy and pour over the caramel.
- Sprinkle with salt if desired, chill and cut into bars before serving.
Oh my gosh, Kari! You’ve been busy, and successful, I might add! Those ALL look fabulous. We are big dessert eaters in this house, even if just small bowls of mints, jelly beans or chocolates. But baked goods are everything!
Kari, Your cakes and cookies look so good. I know your family enjoyed them. You have been very energetic!
Yum! Yum! They look fantastic. I’m partial to the one with M and M’s, and chocolate. Ron would like the pineapple cake. lol I know you had a wonderful time having family around. Today, it’s supposed to get to 71 degrees here. Hopefully, we are warming up.
The super bowl was great, and the parade was good until the shooting. That was so bad and sad.
Sandy, I was so sad and praying for the victims of the shooting but it appears they are arresting those responsible. Now, lets hope they follow through and convict rather than let them back on the streets again to do more crime. I am so proud of the Chiefs, they fought hard and it paid off in the end. I say, let’s go for a third straight Super Bowl. LOL. Little Jesse James even has a doggie Chiefs shirt…so we are all about the Chiefs and of course the Royals and the Jayhawks. Hang in there my friend and hugs to you and Ron.
Thank you, Kari. I’m hoping they will convict them. I’m not sure they have everyone yet. It was a 23-year-old guy who actually killed the radio DJ, but they’re saying he tripped on something, and the gun went off. Who knows what’s going to happen. I bet Jesse James is cute in his Chiefs shirt.
Hugs to you and The Captain.
Wow Kari, you’ve been baking up a storm! All these sound wonderful, I know your friends and family loved them!
Jenna
Thanks Jenna…and this coming from you, the “queen of recipes”. I’m still filing many of your wonderful recipes. I love that one has the ingredients on hand for your recipes and it is just a matter of putting them together. Blessings my friend.
Okay you went and did it! I am hungry for all of these! How wonderful that you have made all these desserts for friends and family in such a short time. I may come to your Bible Study in the near future! 😉
Thank you for all the recipes!
Nancy, you are welcome to come to Bible study any Friday…we have such a good time of fellowship, Bible study and sometimes a few tears but always good laughs….and there are desserts, of course. I am always amazed that you have all the tools necessary to make goodies at both your homes in Pennsylvania and Arizona. Today is a very cool day in Florida….49 degrees but supposed to get up in the 70’s this afternoon.😊 Thanks for stopping by my friend.
All of these desserts look delicious. Thank you for sharing.
thank you Lynda for your kind comments and for stopping by. I do love to bake. Have a great and glorious week.
Kari, your wonderful desserts are making me hungry. You have been busy being a lovely hostess to family and friends. Fresh baked cookies and sheet cakes are always welcomed treats. I know your ladies Bible study group love your desserts! Thanks so much for sharing the recipes. Sheet cakes are easier and less time consuming than layer cakes!
Wishing you a joy-filled week, my friend!
Pam, I think that is why I gravitate towards sheet cakes…that and the fact that they feed so many.
I also made casseroles and was pleased when my grandson who is a fireman asked for my Enchilada Casserole recipe to make at the firehouse! Score one for grandma! LOL thanks for popping by and stay warm. Hugs