It was one of those days when, once again nothing but something chocolate sounded good to me! As i went through the cabinet looking for cream of chicken soup to use in a casserole later that day, a can of Betty Crocker German Chocolate frosting stared back at me from the shelf below the soups! I had bought it for this very purpose a couple months ago but since i was addicted these past few months to sugar cookies and White Texas sheet cake, I had not been making a lot of chocolate cakes! The only time I use bought canned frosting is for something like this because I always make my own frostings to put on cakes. Homemade frostings can always make the most simplest of cakes….well, heavenly! But on to the recipe! Pulling out a Duncan Hines Devils Food cake mix, I added the 4 eggs , 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup oil and the small package of cheesecake flavored instant pudding! Mixed this together and sprayed the little bundt pans with Pam! Using an ice cream scoop, I put about 1/2 full scoop of batter in bottom of bundt pan! Got a regular teaspoon and put teaspoons of the frosting around on top of the batter! Being careful to not allow the frosting to touch the sides of the pan! I also sprinkled semi sweet chocolate chips over the frosting before covering the frosting with more batter (used just a small handful of chips! Of course never use more than will overflow the cake pan! adjust accordingly to what you need to the size of the pan you are using. i just use small bundt pans so i can share them instead of just cutting slices off of a normal size bundt cake! also the small sizes are so easy to keep in freezer to pull out when you need! Bake until top of cake still looks a little wrinkled! sounds weird but this assures you it won’t be dry as it cools! Had some ganache left over in fridge, so nuked it for about 15 seconds and poured it over the top! it was delicious! I should’ve taken a picture of it before I gave a lot of it away and before we ate most of it but the frosting in the middle just made it so moist and so flavorful and kind of gooey that we loved it. Of course you can use any flavor of the instant puddings. sometimes I use cheesecake flavored, sometimes I use vanilla, sometimes I use white chocolate and sometimes I use chocolate I just like the combination of either the white chocolate or cheesecake flavors in chocolate cake mixes !
Made this cake for a friend this week and it was such a hit. Several friends have ask for the recipe when they saw the picture on FB so here it is. It is easy and so yummy. Also, a friend of mine told me the other day that she didn’t understand how my cupcakes were always so soft and moist. The secret is, keep them in the refrigerator (covered) until about an hour before serving them.
1 Duncan Hines chocolate fudge cake mix
One of the things I have missed most about curbside grocery pick up is just the great time of strolling the baking aisle and seeing any new products on the shelf. Monday when I braved the “social distancing while wearing a mask” time of going inside the store, I had a ball. When I saw this box, I knew it was mine.
Today, another rainy beginning to this new normal of everyone working from home and kids being home schooled as well as parents trying to teach, and learn right along with them, while still trying to do what is necessary to bring in a pay check. These are difficult days, and challenging times when we all have to step up and change what we have been doing. What do we do to still serve when so many are confined to their homes? This week, when we began to hear about seniors being ask to self quarantine, I began to think of ways that I could help serve them. What should be my part in stepping out of my comfort zone to share God’s love by meeting the needs of those who are seniors? As I was sharing these thoughts with Randy the other night, he watched me and listened to what I had to say. Then without a moments hesitation, the minute I ask him what he thought I should do, he smiled at me and said, “uh do you realize that in a couple of months you will be 70 and you are suppose to be one of those who are to self quarantine for awhile?” WHAT……but, wait a minute. That thought never crossed my mind that I am considered old. When did that happen? Quickly I responded to him, that because I eat garlic almost everyday and enough chocolate to ward off most bacterias, I should be able to hang a garlic bulb around my neck and get out there among the true old folks. Why I’m still young because I still wear cute little blingy sandals and capris (even though these cute little capris might have elastic waistbands) and wear loop earrings that could easily be mistaken for “tapers”. And….I teach other people how to use their phones. So truly, I can’t be considered someone who needs to stay at home…? But because so many stores and restaurants are closed down, I haven been forced to spend more time at home than normal. It is allowing me time to work on another book, which will be called Tis So Sweet and is full of dessert recipes and stories of women who are willing to share how God has been faithful in difficult circumstances in their lives. Also, I have been baking a little more than normal, which means that instead of making a dessert each day, I’m now making two or three. It is fun to share food with others. Last night I made up a recipe that actually turned out really good. Was so easy and simple and I had everything on hand so no trip to the store was necessary. It was a baked chocolate fudge pie that we ate watching a really good movie on Netflix. That is Randy’s job each night. To find us a good movie that is fun to watch and family friendly so that we can recommend to others without fear of it being full of foul language or sexual content. So far, he is batting a thousand. Two for two. Tues night we watched Faith, Hope and Love and last night we enjoyed a little french film called French Toast. Darling movie. Here is the easy peasy recipe for a great chocolate fudge pie for you to up your immune system…at least that is what I tell myself when I am cutting a big piece and topping it with whipped cream.
Chocolate Castles 