Oreo Ice Cream Cake

I got this recipe off http://www.utahshoppingsecrets.com/.  It just looks so delish and maybe a great way to end out this summer?!  ;)  Here's the original text from the post:
Who doesn't like a delicious ice cream cake in the summertime? If you purchase ice cream cakes from stores and restaurants they are expensive. Try making your own for a fraction of the cost!

For my husband's birthday a few weeks ago I wanted to make him an ice cream cake. But I wanted an ice cream cake that didn't have cake in it (make sense)? I found this superb recipe from Kraft Foods. Just take a look at it!

Oh it was divine! And super easy to make too. It looks like you slaved over a difficult cake when really it only tool minutes to prepare. Here is the original recipe with my changes marked in red.

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

24 OREO Cookies, divided
2 cups Strawberry ice cream, softened (I used vanilla instead, and abt 3 cups)
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided
2 cups Chocolate ice cream, softened (3 cups also)
2 Tbsp. Hot fudge ice cream topping (I used crushed oreos instead)

LINE 9-inch round pan (I used a 10 in springform pan. Didn't have to use the plastic wrap) with plastic wrap, with ends extending over side of pan. Stand 14 cookies around edge of pan. Crush remaining cookies. Reserve 1/2 cup crumbs for later use; sprinkle remaining crumbs onto bottom of pan. Spread strawberry ice cream over crumbs; top with 1 cup COOL WHIP and reserved crumbs. Cover with chocolate ice cream.
FREEZE 4 hours.
REMOVE dessert from freezer 10 min. before serving. Use plastic wrap handles to lift dessert from pan. Carefully peel off plastic wrap; place dessert on serving plate. Let stand at room temperature to soften slightly. Top with remaining COOL WHIP; drizzle with fudge topping.

.:S'mores Cupcakes:.

I have seen many variations of this floating around on the internet, so I decided to throw my own in the pot! My good friend just had a baby this week, so I figured I would try them out to take to her and her family. (They got rave reviews in case you are interested!) Kind of a fun take on a summer classic!

INGREDIENTS
- brownie mix
- large marshmallows
- vegetable oil
- eggs
- cupcake liners (optional, I hate cleaning out a muffin tin though!)
- marshmallow cream
- graham crackers
- butter
- sugar
- 1 large Hershey bar (optional, I used it for a garnish)

Crush up your graham crackers. I double bagged mine in Ziplocks, and just crushed them with my hands. It didn't take long, but a meat tenderizer would work well, too! I used one whole sleeve of crackers.

Put them in a bowl and add butter. I just eye balled this one - you'll know when it's enough. Microwave and add until all of the graham cracker crumbs are evenly coated.

Sprinkle sugar into graham mix.

Mix brownie mix as directed on the box.

Line your muffin tin with cupcake liners. Put about a tablespoon of graham crumb mix in each liner.
Real bakers probably use a shot glass to smoosh it down in there. I improvised and used the lid to one of Reece's bottle!

Add one large marshmallow to each cupcake liner.

Pour brownie mix over the top.

Bake for 15-16 minutes at 350.

Let cupcakes cool before frosting. I put my marshmallow cream in a Ziplock and cut off the tip to frost. It actually didn't end up mattering and looking pretty because my house was too warm and the pretty swirl just melted into a blob.

Sprinkle graham crumb mix on top.

Garnish with one piece of Hershey bar.

Eat and enjoy!

I also saw online one recipe where, after frosting with the marshmallow cream, the cupcakes were put in the oven on broil to brown the marshmallow frosting - just like a real S'mores! Probably pretty tasty!

.:Picnic Cake:.

My friend made this a couple of weeks ago when I was over at her house. It was delicious, especially warm, right out of the oven!

Picnic Cake

1 3/4 c. boiling water
1 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. butter
3/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 3/4 c. flour
2 T. cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 bag chocolate chips
1/2 c. brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350.
Pour boiling water over butter and oatmeal and let sit for 10 min.
Then add sugars and mix by hand.
Add eggs.
Add baking soda, cinnamon, flour, cocoa, salt, vanilla and 1/2 bag of choco chips.
Pour into greased 9 x 13 inch pan.
Sprinkle with remaing choco chips and 1/2 cup brown sugar.
Bake for 30 min.

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake!

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

.:Jello Cupcakes:.

We have a family party today. Josh requested my grasshopper cupcakes, which I happily made. But I also thought that I wanted to try something new out, too. I had come across these jello shot cupcakes on a blog I follow, and decided to try it out. Well, minus the rum. Us Mormons prefer our jello plain! :) I thought they might be kind of fun for all the kiddos running around, and also for those that aren't in the mood for heavy chocolate.

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS
- 1 box white cake mix
- oil and eggs as directed on cake mix
- 1 small box of jello (I used strawberry)
- 1 c boiling water

Prepare your cake mix as directed.

Put cupcake liners in your muffin tin (or not, I just hate cleaning out muffin tins!) Fill them 1/2-2/3 full with cake batter.

Bake as directed. When they come out, poke holes in them with a fork.

Combine your jello mix with 1 c boiling water. Stir for two minutes.

Spoon it on top of your cupcakes. I did 3-4 spoonfuls per cupcake. Let them cool before frosting them.


FROSTING INGERDIENTS
- 2 sticks of butter
- 5 c powdered sugar
- 1 T vanilla
- 3-5 T milk
- strawberry extract to taste (optional)
Mix the ingredients together.

I added red food coloring since I was using strawberry extract. Plus it looks more fun than plain white frosting.

I don't have any fancy frosting tips or anything. I use a trusty Ziplock bag. Put your frosting in the bag, cut off the tip, and frost away.
BROKEN GLASS JELLO GARNISH INGREDIENTS
- 4 small boxes of jello (four different flavors)
- boiling water
- cold water
- 1 can (14 oz.) condensed milk
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin

Prepare the four boxes of jello as directed on the box. You'll need four pans. Let them cool for 3-4 hours, or overnight. (I actually did this part before anything else!) When the jello has set, cut the jello into cubes. (Mine don't look very nice. I know.) Carefully mix the jello cubes together in a 9x13 pan. In a separate bowl, add the 2 envelopes of gelatin to 1/2 c cold water. Then add 1 1/2 c boiling water. Stir until the gelatin blooms. (That means thickens, I never knew!)

Add the can of condensed milk and stir.

Pour over jello cubes. Let sit overnight.

Once the jello has set, cut it into pieces and garnish the tops of your frosted cupcakes.


Enjoy! (To see a better picture of the broken glass jello, look here. It is so much more beautiful than mine!)

.:Grasshopper Cupcakes:.

I got this idea from this blog. I decided to see what I could whip up using things that I already had at home. Mint and chocolate is always a safe, tasty combination, so I decided to use Grasshopper cookies instead of Oreos.



I lined my muffin tin (almost - I was short one, dang!) and placed one grasshopper cookie in the bottom of each.

Then I mixed up my boxed brownie mix. (I don't usually do stuff from scratch - maybe one day!)

Spoon your brownie mix into the muffin tins.

Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes.

I only had rainbow chip vanilla frosting in my pantry, so that's what I used! I added a little bit of peppermint extract to the frosting to give some more mint flavor.

Frost the cupcakes and enjoy!

I'm not sure when I'll get time to try this out, but I love the idea and hope to try it soon! How fun!

.:Lime Cake:.

LIME CAKE

1 boxed cake mix (lemon)
4 eggs
1 c. plain yogurt
1 c. oil
1/2 c. lime juice
1 can condensed milk
1 small box lime jello
1 t. baking powder

Mix together and bake. When I made it, it took about 40 minutes baking as directed on the box.

Frosting:
1/2 c. lime juice
1 can condensed milk
1 c. lime yogurt