Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Easy Peasy 4 Ingredient Brown Sugar Cookies

So easy to make and SO GOOD!!!

Ingredients:
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 cups flour

Direction:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix brown sugar and cinnamon into melted butter.  Mix in flour until incorporated.

Roll into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Place about 1/2 inch apart.  Cookies do not spread much at all.

Bake for about 10 minutes until done.  Let cool and store in airtight container.  Enjoy!

Summertime Peach Cobbler Bars for the UVA Tailgate

Crust:

1 package Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix

1 stick melted Butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

Fruit Spread:

5 medium peaches peeled and sliced

1 Tbsp. corn starch

1 tsp. vanilla

Cobbler Topping:

1 stick butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare a 13 by 18 inch jelly roll pan by spraying with non-stick cooking spray.

In medium bowl mix together sugar cookie mix and 1 tsp. cinnamon.  Add 1 stick melted butter and stir until combined.  Press evenly into prepared jelly roll pan to cover.

Mix together peaches, vanilla and corn starch in medium bowl.  Spread evenly over crust.

Place butter, flour, brown sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon into medium bowl.  Blend together until mixture is small crumbles with a pastry cutter.  Evenly spoon over peach layer.

Bake for 25 minutes or until done.  Best served warm, but also can be served later.  Refrigerate any leftovers.  Great on their own or with fresh whipped cream, ice cream and a sprig of fresh mint.  Enjoy!

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Quick and Easy Summer Chocolate Malbec Spice Cupcakes

These cupcakes are the perfect combination of chocolate and wine, two of my favorite things.  These cupcakes are very moist and are delicious with or without frosting.  Bonus!  This means less work for you, enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 package Chocolate Cake Mix (any type including German Chocolate)
3/4 cup red wine (Malbec adds some spice, but any red wine will work)
1 stick butter
5.25 ounces (about 3/4 cup) Chocolate (milk, dark or semi-sweet to your preference)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
3 eggs beaten
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In small saucepan melt chocolate and butter together over medium heat until both are just melted.

Pour cake mix until medium mixing bowl, add melted chocolate mixture, wine, cinnamon, ginger, eggs and vanilla.  Stir until combined.

Pour until prepared cupcake cups.  I use cupcake liners.  Bake for 12-16 minutes or until cooked through.  Serve warm or let cool. If topping with desired frosting, make sure the cupcakes are cool first.  Makes 24 cupcakes.

Cinnamon Sugar Mini Pretzels for a Hot and Humid Vacation to the Deep South

This is a delicious and super easy recipe for a fun snack.  Great for movie-watching, car trips or picnics.  I brought it on our most recent vacation to Hilton head Island and it was gone almost immediately.  You may want to make two batches ;) Enjoy!

Ingredients:

16 oz. package mini pretzels

2/3 cup sugar

1 stick butter melted

2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Mix melted butter, sugar and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl until blended.  Add pretzels and stir with a spatula until pretzels are well coated and there isn't a bunch of buttery goodness left on the bottom of the bowl.  Place an oven safe silicone non-stick sheet or parchment paper on the bottom of a jelly roll pan (cookie sheet sized).  Evenly spread the pretzels in the pan, making sure to get all the buttery mixture onto the pretzels.  Bake for 10 minutes, then mix the pretzels around and bake for 5 more minutes.  Let cool.  Store in an air-tight container.  Do not cover and store until fully cooled (or moisture from the heat will cause your pretzels to get soggy)!