RECIPE: Perfectly Pumpkin Cake Mix Waffles

After a very long heat wave this September, we are finally getting some nice, cool fall weather, hooray! I don't know about you but I have been totally craving fall. I want my tall boots, puffy vests, pumpkin spice lattes, and trips to the local apple orchard stat. 

There is just something about getting back to all things pumpkin and apple, right! It's like comfort food to me, best served warm and with people I love.

Well, to help make your (and my!) fall baking that much easier Pillsbury® has created a yummy variety of baking mixes that pull in all those awesome fall flavors.  New Caramel Apple Cake and Cookie mixes? New Caramel Apple Frosting? I don't mind if I do! And one of our new favorites would be the new Perfectly Pumpkin Cake mix...oh! it is soooo good. The spices. Yes, the spices...so yummy.

Have you ever tried making waffles using cake mix? Goodness, it is so easy, and delicious to boot. Here is the how-to for making an easy breakfast for you and your family that won't have you in the kitchen all morning sweating it out!

Perfectly Pumpkin Cake Mix Waffles (makes 4 belgian-style waffles)

1 box Pillsbury Perfectly Pumpkin Cake mix

1 cup water

1/2 cup oil

3 eggs

Heat up waffle iron and grease if necessary. Combine cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in a large bowl. Mix until moistened. Following directions to your waffle iron as to how full wells should be, pour batter into center of wells and close waffle iron. Bake for 3-5 minutes or until waffle iron signals waffles are done. Remove waffles using a silicon-coated utensil so as not to scratch the iron's surface. Top waffles with fresh whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.

Ahh yes. Pumpkin cake...it truly is fall!

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Thanks for stopping by today, I really appreciate it!

I have been compensated by the  J.M. Smucker Company to promote its Pillsbury Fall products, but the opinions expressed are my own. ©/® The J.M. Smucker Company. Pillsbury is a trademark of The Pillsbury Company, LLC, used under license. 

XOXO,

RECIPE: Gluten Free Baked Donuts

So yesterday I took a much needed break from organizing and de-cluttering...that can get so overwhelming, you know what I mean? My sewing studio got out of control this summer and I'm not even sure how as I hardly touched my sewing machine these past three months. There were piles upon piles of craft stuff, fabric, notions, vintage linens, and on and on. I felt like I was becoming a hoarder and that ain't cool. I made a few large trips to Goodwill (yay!) but man there is still more. Maybe I just need to get sewing again...there are just so many pretty fabrics but not enough time to sew them all, sigh. 

I think I need to purge and have a studio sale. But that just seems like a lot of work too...taking pictures and uploading them, listing items, sending invoices, packaging everything to ship. Why can't y'all just live down the street, it would be so much easier if you just came over! So you see, this is why I needed a break from it all, it's a downward spiral really. One thing leads to eight and then well, the baby wakes up and you were just getting your mojo. 

That's where the donuts come in. See, it all just goes away if you bake something. Take your mind off of it. Eat till you feel sick. Right? Riiiiight. Then you save the rest for your kids to eat as their after school snack.  PS. They loved them. And if the family likey, then the recipe gets to go on the 'ol blog. Cause y'all don't want a un-tasty recipe, right? Riiiiight. 

These donuts are baked, not fried...so they are HEALTHY (er)! You will need one of those fun donut pans to make them...I made large donuts but you could also make mini ones, ooh! or even try a mini muffin pan if that's all you got. Give 'em a whirl, they are good!

Gluten Free Baked Donuts (makes 18 large sized donuts)

2 cups gluten-free flour blend--no xanthum gum needed (can also use all-purpose flour)

1 cup evaporated cane juice (or white granulated sugar)

2 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 Tbsp butter, melted

1 cup milk 

1 tsp vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.  In another bowl, mix together the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until combined. Grease a donut pan and fill each donut cup half way. Bake at 400 for 7-10 minutes or until slightly golden brown.

Old Fashioned Glaze (yields enough for 12-18 large donuts)

1 cup powdered sugar

2 Tbs honey

1-3 Tbsp water

Mix together the powdered sugar and honey. Add water one tablespoon at a time until glaze is thin enough to dip donuts. Let donuts cool before dipping into glaze. Enjoy!

Chocolate Glaze (yields enough for 12-18 large donuts)

1 cup powdered sugar

2 Tbsp cocoa powder

2 Tbsp honey

1-3 Tbsp water

Add cocoa to powdered sugar and mix well. Add in the honey and mix well. Add water one tablespoon at a time until the glaze is thin enough to dip donuts. Dip cooled donuts and enjoy!

Cast of characters....Gluten free flour, eggs, melted butter, evaporated cane juice.

Vanilla, milk, baking powder.  Not shown: salt (he was out dilly dallying and missed the photo shoot).

Mix it all together and you know you've got the best of both worlds, ahahaha! Ummm, Hannah Montana theme song anyone? *embarrassed laugh* What? You don't watch old Hannah Montana episodes on Netflix? The shame.

Okie dokie, so anywaaaayz. Mix all your ingredients together, pour your batter into a greased donut pan, bake 7ish to 10 minutes (depending on your oven!) and BOOM! You've got yourself some pretty kick a@$ gluten free donuts!

Now these donuts are good plain but let's take them up a notch with some glaze, shall we?

Chocolate glaze or Old Fashioned glaze? What's your poison?

Ummm, I'll take one of each please. Ahthankyouverymuch. 

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you enjoy these :-)

 XOXO,

RECIPE: The Best Homemade Pancake Mix Ever!

After I posted our family's favorite recipe for The Best Homemade Waffle Mix Ever, I received a whole boat load of emails asking if you could use that recipe for pancakes too.  Now, while I am sure you could, I never do.  Instead I use our family's most favorite recipe for The Best Homemade Pancake Mix Ever...haha, seeing a theme here? ;-)

This mix, like the other, is so easy to make.  And, just like the other, you can also make it Gluten-Free, wahooo! All you do is sub out the all-purpose flour for the Gluten-Free blend of your choice.  I also don't add xanthum gum as some had asked about...you totally can but I usually don't...we don't notice a whole lot of difference either way with pancakes or waffles!

The Best Homemade Pancake Mix Ever! (makes 8-10 pancakes)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose or Gluten-Free flour
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
1 1/4 cup milk (can use coconut or almond as well)
1 egg
3 Tbsp butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.  Slowly add in the milk, egg, butter, and vanilla and mix until just blended.  The batter should be runny.  Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spray or melt a pat of butter. Pour pancake batter onto griddle. Cook until bubbles form, then flip and brown the other side.

These pancakes are seriously sooooo good...light, airy, and just the right touch of sweet.  I even made a big batch for these Mini Pancake Push-Up Pops!

If you are looking for a go-to winner of a pancake mix, I highly suggest you give these a whirl!

Enjoy!!!

And thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,

Mini Pancake Push-Up Pops

Holy cats, we have less than a week before school starts, I cannot believe the last week of summer is finally here! So, like a good momma, I have been diligently trying to come up with a fun first day of school breakfast.  You might remember last year's here (and here!)

This year since Noah is heading into first grade, Penny is starting kindy, and Eloise is starting her first year of preschool, I have staggered first days. Our area schools do the whole first through the twelfth grades start one day and then the kindergarteners start the following. Then the following week the preschools start up. I have a whole lots of firsts coming up and I better be prepared!

I want to make them a breakfast that is fun and nutritious yet easy/quick to eat in case we have a late sleeper. PS. Please remind me that I really need to start getting them to bed earlier these next few days or we are sooo going to be in TROUBLE! 

I thought I'd try a spin our on last year's breakfast of mini pancakes but instead I used a small biscuit cutter to make them tiny enough in diameter to fit into those cute push-up pop containers and layered with some blueberries, chopped strawberries, and fresh whipped cream. Ta-da!...Mini Pancake Push-Up Pops!

They are almost too pretty to eat...almost! My kids loved them, hooray! So these will definitely be a contender for next week's First Day of School breakfast :-)

Have your kids started school yet? We are getting so excited over here!!

XOXO,

RECIPE: The Best Homemade Waffle Mix Ever!

There is just something about a warm, crispy waffle for breakfast, don't you think? With a side of some crispy bacon and fresh strawberries and blueberries as my toppings I think that may just be my perfect breakfast! 

Since waffles are always high on our list of fun breakfast food at our house and since I dislike buying pre-made mixes full of preservatives I decided to figure out a dry mix that would be our go-to waffle recipe. And let me tell you, this has been nothing less than a hit every time I make it!

The Best Homemade Waffle Mix Ever!

2/3 cup all purpose flour (I like to use a gluten-free variety!)

2 cups powdered sugar (organic if you have it!)

3/4 cup softened butter

3 large eggs

1 Tbsp vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add in your wet ingredients and mix together until just incorporated. Cook in a waffle maker according to the appliance directions. Enjoy!

I tend to make a double or triple batch of this mix which makes it easy to grab when waffles are on the brain. It's as easy as a store-bought mix then!

It's also great for gift-giving.
Just place in a mason jar and add a tag with the ingredients needed on the back!

I included it as a part of my Breakfast in Bed Housewarming/Hostess gift found here where you can also see all the other fun items I added to this care package as well!

Thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,

RECIPE: Gluten Free Coconut Flour Donuts

We are in the middle of doing our Valentine's Advent right now, so far so fun!  The kids are enjoying opening up an envelope every morning and I think I've done a pretty good job of picking just the right things to do/say in each one, hooray for me!  (If you want to peak at my Valentine's Advent click here!)

This past Saturday the kids had "Donut"make you happy to know you are LOVED! in the advent and these here just happen to be the donuts I made :-)

These yummy little donuts were a hit with the kids and the husband. They had all things awesome about them.

Chocolate iced....Check!

Valentine-y sprinkles....Check!

Baked not fried...Check!

Gluten-Free...Check!

Shaped like a heart...Check!

Gluten Free Coconut Flour Donuts (makes 12 mini donuts)

1/2 cup coconut flour

1/2 cup butter, softened

5 eggs

1/4 cup honey

1Tbsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

Chocolate Icing

1/2 cup dark chocolate 

1 Tbsp coconut oil

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and honey together, add in vanilla and then one egg at a time until well combined.  Slowly add in the coconut flour and baking soda and mix well.  Place batter into a large plastic bag and snip off one corner off with a pair of scissors.  Squeeze batter into the molds of a greased donut pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 15-17 minutes or until golden. 

While donuts are cooling make the icing.  Melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil in a small bowl in the microwave for about 1 minute.  Stir until chocolate is melted. Dip the tops of each donut into the chocolate.  Enjoy!

Eggs, baking soda, vanilla, honey, butter...check, check, check, check, and check!

Coconut Flour...check!   

This stuff is super dense and makes for a very dry end product if you don't load it up with some type of liquid...this is why we need 5 eggs! 

Once that batter is mixed up, pour it into a plastic bag and snip off the end to fill your greased donut pan. PS. I use coconut oil spray instead of the Pam type product...works like a charm!

Bake your donuts at 325 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Mmm...yeah these are the bomb diggity.  But wait!  They are about to get even better..time to make the icing, baby! :-)

Get some good quality dark chocolate, about 1/2 cup will do.  Add in 1 Tbsp of coconut oil and microwave for 1 minute.  Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and...Voila!  Chocolate icing on the healthy down low, booyah!

Dip those sweet little donuts into that chocolate and load them up with sprinkles if you so desire.

 How's about a plate of these to share with your sweetie?

And a cold glass of milk?  My sweetie washes his down with a cold glass of coconut milk :-)

I hope you enjoy these little donuts...you would never guess they were good for you!

Thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,

Quick Fix Sticky Buns-RECIPE

Okay, okay, don't kill me for this post today but I thought I would share one of our favorite fast fixes for when we are craving Sticky Buns but just don't have the time to make them from scratch.  Oh my, don't you just love sticky buns?  I adore them as does my family, you might even say a little too much.  

This recipe works particulary well on those Sunday mornings when we just can't seem to get everyone out the door for church on time.  Does that ever happen to you?  We always try to enjoy a nice family breakfast before we go, sometimes pancakes or french toast and always with bacon or sausage...Mmmm!...but some Sundays it seems like everything and everybody is running late so our breakfast needs to be made a bit more quickly even though we still want it to be sit-down-at-the-table good, you know.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do, oh and you can customize it too.  Add bananas, chocolate chips or replace the pecans with walnuts or even try no nuts at all!  Let's hear it for quick and delicious :-)

Quick Fix Sticky Buns

1 tube refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

2 tbsp butter, cut into 8 pieces

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

3 tbsp brown sugar

In a muffin tin, place one piece of butter into 8 compartments.  Sprinkle pecans and brown sugar over top of the butter.  Open up the tube of biscuits and place one over top of each muffin tin, pressing the biscuit down slightly.  Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Once the biscuits are golden brown take the muffin tin out of the oven.  Place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and while the sticky buns are still hot, flip them out onto the cookie sheet.  You may need to scrape some of the caramelized sugar and pecans from the bottom of each tin.  Enjoy!

I used Trader Joe's buttermilk biscuits, these are definitely large-sized biscuits kinda like Pillsbury Grands.  Large biscuits work well in this recipe but if you would like a more gooey sticky bun you may want to buy the smaller tube of buttermilk biscuits (the Pillsbury's Grand Jr variety) or up the butter and brown sugar a bit!

Grab your pecans and chop them into small pieces, I like to use raw pecans but you can use roasted and salted pecans too...

Then get your 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, light or dark, it doesn't matter!

Then take 2 tablespoons of cold butter...

And cut into 8 pieces, enough pieces to equal the number of biscuits in the can.  Place a piece of butter into the bottom of 8 muffin tin compartments.  PS...I'm using a 6 muffin tin so I'll have two biscuits leftover to use for later!

Then sprinkle the pecans and brown sugar over top.

Smoosh a biscuit over top, just like so.  The bigger biscuits will juuust fit into the tins, perfection!

Bake at 375 degrees for about 8-10 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown.

Once the sticky buns are done, flip them out onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper for easy clean up.

Mmm...how good do these look?

Dish them up and enjoy with the ones you love!

Enjoy :-)

 XOXO,