Red Velvet Cupcakes

If I had to think of a perfect Valentine dessert, anything red velvet comes to mind. It's everywhere nowadays. From cake to oreos to brownies, there's just no getting away.

I happen to like red velvet cake, it's not my absolute favorite, but I do enjoy it. I actually have a co-worker who loves anything red velvet. I wanted to surprise her with these cupcakes on Monday. In fact I treated all of the pre-k staff. That's probably one of my favorite things about working outside the home again. I actually have co-workers to feed! Not that my daycare families minded before I'm sure!

These cupcakes are some of my very best I'd have to say. From when I had more time for filling cake orders, these were always a hit. Simple, yet elegant. And they are actually very easy to make. One bowl and I even mixed this batch by hand using a whisk. It doesn't get much easier than that.


Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups canola oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 oz. bottle red food coloring
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp white vinegar
2-1/2 cups cake flour
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp salt

For the cream cheese frosting:
1 stick unsalted butter,  softened
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 lb. bag powdered sugar
milk, for thinning

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two muffin pans with liners and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine all wet ingredients together. Gradually add in dry ingredients and mix well. Using a large cookie scoop, divide batter between the prepared cupcake liners. Bake in oven for 18 minutes, cupcakes should spring back when touched and a toothpick inserted in middle should come out clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing from pans.

To make frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla extract. Gradually add in powdered sugar, continuing to mix on low. Add a little bit of milk, 1 tsp at a time to thin until you've reached desired consistency.  At this point I like to whip frosting on a medium speed until light and fluffy.

To assemble cupcakes: Fill pastry bag with a large star tip such as Wilton 1M and the frosting. Frost each cupcake with a simple rosette or however you wish. Add a few sprinkles if desired. Makes 24 cupcakes

Chocolate Play Dough

It's hard to believe Valentine's day is next week already. While the hubby and I don't usually do anything special to celebrate, it's fun to prepare special treats, or in this case, activities for the kids. Today I'm taking a break from food and sharing with you an easy and fun way to celebrate Valentine's.

Play dough is always a hit with children. Whether it's in the classroom or for my own kids, it's one activity choice that's available.  We like to make homemade versions for our preschool room at work, it's really quite cost effective to do so. I usually have a different "flavor" or scent if you will, available each month. One to coordinate with our current themes.

Of course chocolate for February only makes sense. When you enter the room and we've had play dough out, you immediately think of brownies.  It smells heavenly! Okay, well for play dough. If you're looking for a fun way to engage the kiddos, try making this play dough with them. It will provide them with hours of entertainment. And after being cooped up this winter, I think we all can use a little new inspiration.

Chocolate Play Dough

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1-1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup salt
1/2 tbsp cream of tarter
1-1/2 tbsp canola oil

Directions:
Place water in a microwave safe bowl and cook for about 2 minutes, water should be boiling. Add all other ingredients into the bowl and mix well with a spoon until mixture comes together. Turn over onto a counter or hard surface and continue to knead dough a few times. Let play dough cool before storing in an airtight container or large baggie.

*If making for a classroom or for several children, you might want to double the batch.

Strawberry-Banana Brownie Pizza

I love holidays. I love doing little things here and there for the kids to make their day extra special. My husband and I don't usually do anything special for Valentine's Day, I don't expect him to go out and spend a ridiculous amount of money on flowers and I don't usually get him anything either. The girls always love when I make all of their food into heart shapes, anything from sandwiches to these cinnamon rolls.

I have a Wilton heart-shaped pan that we received as a wedding gift several years ago. I love to make muffins, cupcakes and even cinnamon rolls in there. I normally make homemade cinnamon rolls but we decided to use the standard Pillsbury rolls for these. We baked them in the heart-shaped pan, iced them and added some cute valentine sprinkles to make them extra festive. It's the little things like that, that make their day and I hope they remember the most.

On to this yummy dessert, we have dinner with my family every Sunday night. I love bringing dessert over to share with everyone. Last night I brought this along for everyone to enjoy. If you're still searching for something easy to make for Valentine's this is definitely your treat. I picked up some really good strawberries at our grocery store over the weekend, they helped make this the perfect fruity chocolate combo! I used a boxed brownie mix as my base but you can certainly substitute your favorite brownie recipe. Either way this is a great, inexpensive way to make Valentine's Day a little more special for your family.

Strawberry-Banana Brownie Pizza

Ingredients:
1 boxed brownie mix (large 9x13 size)
1/3 c boiling water
1/4 vegetable or canola oil
1 egg
Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
Topping:
2 bananas,sliced
8-10 strawberries, sliced
Melted chocolate chips for drizzling

Directions:
In a medium bowl combine brownie mix, boiling water, oil and egg. Mix well and pour into a well greased 12-inch pizza pan. Batter will be thick. Bake at 325 for 20 mins.

While that's baking, combine cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and egg. Pour over brownie and bake for 10-12 mins longer or until filling is set. *Be careful not to over bake brownie! Remove brownie from oven and let cool.

Once brownie has cooled, add sliced strawberries and bananas on top. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and drizzle over fruit. Serve right away.