Desserts…

Super Simple Cappuccino Pie
Cheerio Bars
Whole Wheat and Walnut Crumb Cake
A Really Great Birthday Cake
Italian Cream Cake

Super Simple Cappuccino Pie

I found this recipe recently and, of course, had to mess with it a bit. The result was amazing - the first super-simple pie that doesn't taste this easy!

you will need:

1 box instant vanilla pudding mix
moo (whatever it says on the pudding box)
4 heaping Tbsp of instant cappuccino
1-2 Tbsp coffee liquor
chocolate crumb pie crust
whipped topping

Make the pudding according to the directions for pie filling. Add the cappuccino mix and booze. Pour into the pie crust and chill until set. Top with the whipped topping. To make pretty: dust with chocolate or cinnamon, or place chocolate curls on top.

Cheerio Bars

My mom made these for me a lot when I was a kid. I still love them, and, each time I bring them to a party, everyone remembers them from when THEY were a kid!

you will need:

1 box chocolate pudding mix (NOT the instant kind)
½ c. light corn syrup
1/3 c. peanut butter
4 c. Cheerios

Butter a square pan really well. Blend pudding mix and corn syrup in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add peanut butter, and stir well. Add cereal and stir until everything’s coated well. Dump into pan and spread evenly. Cool until firm.

Whole Wheat and Walnut Crumb Cake

This is a variation of a crumb cake I discovered recently and was quite surprised at how good it tastes! It's not dry like you'd expect from whole wheat! And it's super easy to make!

You will need…

1/3 c. brown sugar
1 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. moo
3 tsp. baking powder
1 c. sugar
1/3 c. butter (softened)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour a 9x13 pan.

Mix nuts, brown sugar, and nutmeg in a small bowl and set aside.

Mix everything else on low until wet, then on medium until well-blended.

Pour half the batter in the pan, sprinkle about 1/3 of the nut mixture over this, add the rest of the batter, then sprinkle the rest of the nut mixture over it all.

Bake for 20-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Note: This cake doesn't rise too high, so if it looks flat to you when done, don't worry.

A Really Great Birthday Cake

A very easy cake that works great with a mixed crew because it has enough chocolate for chocoholics, little enough chocolate for chocolate-haters, and WALNUTS!!! When you slice this cake, you'll see a ribbon of chocolate running through each layer.

You will need…

White cake batter (mix is fine)
Chopped walnuts
Grated bittersweet chocolate
Chocolate frosting

Preheat oven, grease 8 or 9" pans, etc. like you were making a regular cake.

Before you pour the batter in the pans, cover the bottom of each pan with walnuts.

Pour 1/4 of the batter into each pan.

Sprinkle the chocolate into the pans so that it coats the batter well.

Carefully pour the rest of the batter in the pans (if you do this too fast, you'll move the chocolate all around, and you really don't want to do that!).

Cook, cool, cover with frosting, eat.

Cheating tips: In a pinch, you can chop up chocolate chips (really small) instead of grating chocolate. Or use really good-quality sweetened cocoa, dusted generously.

Italian Cream Cake

This is an impressive cake that tastes wonderful - even to non-cakelovers.

You will need…

For the Cake:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup oil
5 eggs, separated
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups flour
1 cup canned coconut
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream sugar, butter and oil. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition.

Stir soda into buttermilk. Add buttermilk alternately with flour to batter. Fold in coconut.

Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into mixture. Add vanilla.

Pour into three greased and floured (9-inch) pans. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 25 minutes. Cool cake layers before icing.

For the Frosting:
12 ozs. cream cheese
3/4 cup butter
1 lb. confectioners' sugar
5 cups chopped almonds
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream together cream cheese and butter. Add sifted confectioners' sugar gradually.

Add almonds and vanilla.

Cheating tips: If you can't find canned coconut, just make sure you use a fresh bag. The coconut should be really moist!