Love is in the air and so is the sweet aroma of Valentine yumminess. Our Texas weather is record-breakingly frigid this holiday weekend, so we're putting the oven to good use - warming up the kitchen and producing delightful treats. We can't wait to share this Valentine goodness with you!
When Kelsey told us that she and some friends were planning a Girl Gang Galentine party for all of their girlies, we knew that our Strawberry Naked Cake would make an ideal (and scrumptious!) centerpiece!
Strawberry Cake
Ingredients:
1 box strawberry cake mix
½ cup self-rising flour
1 3.0 oz box strawberry gelatin
1 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
Frosting:
2 – 8 oz blocks cream cheese, softened
1 cup salted butter, softened
½ cup mashed strawberries, drained
1 tsp. vanilla extract
6 cups powdered sugar
Few drops of pink food coloring
Strawberries for garnishing
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9-inch round cake pans with baking spray. Set aside.
In large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together, cake mix, flour, gelatin mix, buttermilk, oil and eggs. Beat on medium speed until fully combined.
Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans 15 minutes then remove and cool completely on a cooling rack.
To make frosting: In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, whip together cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy.
Lower the speed of the mixer and gradually add the powdered sugar. Stop and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Add strawberries and food coloring. Whip until fully combined. Add more powdered sugar if needed.
Frost between cake layers first, then top and sides. Garnish with fresh strawberries. Chill for 4 to 6 hours to allow icing to set.
We topped off our Pizza My Heart Valentine's party with a fun and festive cookie Pizza.
Chocolate Chip M & M Cookie Pizza
Ingredients: 2 cups all- purpose flour ½ tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened ¾ cup light brown sugar ¼ cup sugar 1 large egg 2 tsp. vanilla 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 ½ cups M&Ms Jar of vanilla buttercream and sprinkles Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 12-inch pizza pan with non-stick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda until combined. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together butter, brown sugar and sugar until smooth.
Beat egg and vanilla into butter mixture.
Add dry ingredients into the wet mixture until well combined. This will be a crumbly mixture.
Stir in all of the chocolate chips and 1 cup of the M&Ms.
Press cookie dough into the pizza pan evenly (right up to the edge of the pan).
Press the remaining M&Ms into the top of the cookie.
Bake for 20 to 22 minutes (less time for a softer cookie).
Remove from oven and let cool completely.
Pipe the outer edge with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles.
Use a pizza cutter to slice cookie pizza.
These Strawberry Cream Cheese Danishes are a sweet Valentine's dream come true!
Strawberry Cream Cheese Danish
Ingredients:
1 sheet puff pastry
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 ½ Tbsp. strawberry jam
1 drop red food coloring
2/3 cup diced strawberries
1 egg whisked with 1 Tbsp. water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Thaw puff pastry according to directions.
In small bowl, mix together cream cheese, strawberry jam and food coloring.
Cut pastry into heart shapes using a cookie cutter.
Transfer hearts to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing about 1 ½ inches a part.
Using a sharp knife, lightly score a heart inside of each cut-out heart coming about 1/3 inch from the edge, without cutting entirely through bottom of the dough.
Add 1 tsp. of the cream cheese mixture to center of each heart then spread outward without covering the 1/3 inch edge.
Add strawberries over cream cheese layer, again without covering the edge. Brush the edges with the egg/water mixture.
Bake in preheated oven 13 to 15 minutes until edges are golden brown. Let cool on wire rack then dust with powdered sugar.
We hope that your Valentine's is filled with sweet memories and all kinds of deliciousness!
