Scratch recipes are not everyone's cup of tea. And sometimes, it's just nice to use the oven-ready cookie dough or the boxed cake mix. But just because you take those shortcuts, doesn't mean you can't be creative and make them your own. This week, I wanted to make a nice dessert treat for Valentine's Day, but didn't have a lot of free time. The boxed cake mix was a great option, but I still found ways to really dress it up and leave my mark.
This is a quick and easy dessert to throw together when you're crunched for time. But, that doesn't mean it can't still look (and taste) like a scratch recipe, right? We still have a couple of days until Valentine's Day, but just in case it's getting down to the wire, read on...
This is a quick and easy dessert to throw together when you're crunched for time. But, that doesn't mean it can't still look (and taste) like a scratch recipe, right? We still have a couple of days until Valentine's Day, but just in case it's getting down to the wire, read on...
My boyfriend loves red velvet cake. So that's where I started. And if I'm trying to make cute little Valentine's Day treats, then cupcakes would be better than cake. And to one-up the cupcakes, I wanted to make mini cupcakes. Those cute, bite-sized desserts would not only be the perfect gift for him, but they will be better than any candy grams when I share them at work!
So, I followed the box instructions for the cake batter and then baked it in the mini cupcake pans. And just like with any red velvet cake, I topped it with cream cheese icing. Now, if I was going to make these treats in a rush, I would glob a bunch of icing on top and call it a day. But, I wanted to make these look nice, even if it is a quick and convenient recipe. Besides, no one has to know it's a box recipe except for me!
So, I used a pastry bag with a fun icing tip. That simple step is really important to keep your desserts picture-perfect. If you've never experimented with decorating tips, I strongly recommend it. Those few extra minutes can mean the difference between "delicious mess" and Cake Boss.
Then, the big finale was just some heart-shaped sprinkles on top.
If you're still not convinced this is the perfect gift for him this Valentine's Day, don't forget the way to a man's heart :)
So, I followed the box instructions for the cake batter and then baked it in the mini cupcake pans. And just like with any red velvet cake, I topped it with cream cheese icing. Now, if I was going to make these treats in a rush, I would glob a bunch of icing on top and call it a day. But, I wanted to make these look nice, even if it is a quick and convenient recipe. Besides, no one has to know it's a box recipe except for me!
So, I used a pastry bag with a fun icing tip. That simple step is really important to keep your desserts picture-perfect. If you've never experimented with decorating tips, I strongly recommend it. Those few extra minutes can mean the difference between "delicious mess" and Cake Boss.
Then, the big finale was just some heart-shaped sprinkles on top.
If you're still not convinced this is the perfect gift for him this Valentine's Day, don't forget the way to a man's heart :)
Not sure dessert is the right addition to your meal? Try my simple, gourmet hors d'oeuvres: Bruschetta.
