Southern Pecan Praline Cake

It’s Potluck time again in the office and this time I’m taking a Honey Spiral Ham, Collard Greens, and a Southern Pecan Praline Cake! Can’t say I do anything special to the ham except throw it in an oven bag add some butter and cinnamon and then add the glaze it comes with after heating it up. Collards aren’t hard; just prep them and then cook them in chicken broth, onions, garlic, red pepper flakes and neck bones with a little salt, pepper, vinegar and Tony Chachere’s seasoning. The Southern Pecan Praline Cake isn’t hard either and boy is it delish! It could be for breakfast, dessert, parties orrr Potlucks! Let me know if you try it what you think.

INGREDIENTS

CAKE:

  • 1 box Betty Crocker butter pecan cake mix
  • 16 oz. can Betty Crocker Coconut Pecan Frosting
  • 4 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup canola or coconut oil
  • 1 cup half-and-half for increased flavor instead of water
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans

BUTTER PECAN GLAZE:

  • 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 tbsp. butter
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans

INSTRUCTIONS

CAKE:

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Grease or spray a 9×13” baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine all the cake ingredients except for the chopped pecans.
  • Mix well.
  • Add chopped pecans and stir to combine.
  • Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
  • Bake for about 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

BUTTER PECAN GLAZE:

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.
  • Add condensed milk and stir.
  • Heat thoroughly, then add chopped pecans.
  • Stir again to combine and remove from heat.
  • Spread over entire top of cake.
  • Eat up!

Chocolate Eclair- A No-Bake Winner!

Hey y’all! I’m sitting here watching t.v. and wanting something sweet, but trying to be good at the same time (ok I may have already had popcorn and 2 “two-bite” mini brownie bites) sooo I figured instead of baking or junkin- I’d share a favorite sweet treat of mine! Plus it’s super easy to make- a NO BAKE Chocolate Eclair. It’s one of my Grannie and cousin Austen’s favorite items I make, or at least they say they love it when I make it…This is a no-bake pudding dessert that’s so quick and easy to make–everyone loves it. I try to always keep the ingredients on hand in case I need a quick dessert. It’s best if it sits overnight before serving.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 individual packages graham crackers
  • 2 (3 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 1 (16 ounce) package prepared chocolate frosting

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Line the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan with graham crackers. Keep a few crackers off to the side for later.
  2. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and milk; stir well. Mix whipped topping into pudding mixture.
  3. Spread half of mixture over graham cracker layer. Top with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining pudding.
  4. Frost with chocolate frosting. I usually try and melt the frosting and pour over the pudding for an easier spread.
  5. Crumbled the graham crackers you pulled to the side all over.
  6. Refrigerate at least two hours before serving to allow the graham crackers to soften. Eat up!

Air Frying a cake, Say what?!

Yep, that’s right, I baked a cake today in my air fryer!

This morning we were under a Tornado Watch with confirmed siting- oh yea 2020- Covid-19 isn’t enough we’re going to throw a tornado at ya -thaaanks- We were ok, but bless those who weren’t- It did cause some damage though, messed up our garage door opener, stove, a tv and R oku. Nothing that can’t be fixed or replaced, so thank you Lord. However, do you know what day it is? April 13th, and what is April 13th- My Hubby’s Birthday!! Happy Birthday Jason!!! Now how in the world am I suppose to bake a cake without an oven??? I don’t have a conventional oven/microwave, I don’t have a toaster oven, we’re supposed to be social distancing so I really don’t want to go buy a cake… So what do I do? Look up “How to cook a cake in the instant pot or air fryer”- I’ve seen them in the past but never tried it all the posts I found showed using spring form pans and I didn’t have that either, but I was determined to make this man a cake so I just went for it! It actually turned out great! Maybe even better than some of my past cakes! Y’all… even Jax ate some and you know he’s picky when it comes to sweets-

Here’s what I did:

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 18.25 oz box of cake mix any flavor- Jason’s favorite is Funfetti
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/4 cup of water

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Mix ingredients together.
  2. Using non-stick cooking spray, spray an air fryer safe pan 
  3. Then set the air fryer safe pan with the cake mix inside of it into the air fryer. (I split the batter up to make 2 layers) Set the time for 20 minutes at 320 degrees F.
  4. After cake is done pull the cake out and let rest of the counter, for frosting/decoration.
  5. Top with your favorite frosting! Jason’s was Rainbow Chip

Cake Box Cookies

My goobers LOVE making these! Not only do they taste amazing, they are super simple to make and only require 3 ingredients! Jax even bakes them by himself (I help with the oven of course). Brayklee and Jason like to add frosting to them, but they are just as tasty without. Let me know how you like them!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 18.25 oz box of cake mix any flavor
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil- I use coconut oil when I have it
  • frosting, sprinkles, powdered sugar optional

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Heat oven to 375.
  2. Mix cookie ingredients together.
  3. Roll cookies into golf-ball sized balls and place them onto cookie sheet.
  4. Cook for 7-9 minutes or until the edges start to brown.