Chocolate Chip Banana Cake Bars

Pin It Another awesome use for over ripe bananas!  These bars are a cross between banana bread and chocolate chip cookies.  It definitely has a more cake-like consistency than banana bread or muffins.  It makes a great breakfast or fast snack with a glass of milk.  I made a pan of these for work and they were gobbled up quite quickly.

Chocolate Chip Banana Cake
Original Recipe from Onesie Twosie
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 medium sized bananas, mashed
1 large egg
1 1/2 - 2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a jelly roll pan (or 9x13 pan for thicker bars).
2. Beat butter and both sugars until creamy.  Add bananas, vanilla and egg.  Mis until smooth.
3. Slowly add flour, baking powder and salt.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Spread mixture into pan. Optional: Sprinkle top with brown sugar
6. bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Pin It Yes, that decadent piece of cake contains vegetables and yes, it is just as delicious as it looks. The zucchini dissolves into the cake when it bakes and makes it nice and moist.   I got a giant zucchini from my grandma and needed to do something with it before it went bad.  I made this cake a while ago and got rave reviews so I found the recipe and made it again.  It was just as good the second time around.  I like the added bonus of getting some veggies for dessert.  I was even able to trick Albert into eating some.   You could definitely get kids to eat this without them knowing there was a vegetable hiding in it.  Enjoy!

Recipe shared at Strut Your Stuff Saturday and Weekend Potluck.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Original recipe from King Arthur Flour

1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 3/4 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1/2 cup sour cream, buttermilk, or yogurt

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour **or omit and use 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons instant coffee granules **optional

3 cups shredded zucchini (about one 10" zucchini)  * I used the shredder blade on my food processor

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Icing
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, oil, sugar, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until smooth.

3. Beat in the eggs.

4.Stir in the sour cream, buttermilk, or yogurt alternately with the flour.

5..Add the cocoa and espresso powder, mixing until smooth.

6. Fold in the zucchini and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Spoon the batter into greased 9x13 pan.

7. Bake the cake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top springs back when touched.

8. To ice the cake: Slide the cake out of the oven, sprinkle it evenly with the 1 cup chocolate chips, and return it to the oven for 5 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

9. Remove the cake from the oven, and use a cake spatula or rubber spatula to spread the chocolate chips into a smooth glaze. Cool on a rack.

Oreo Poke Cake (Dirt Cake)

Pin It My husband LOVES dirt cups.  He really is a little kid at heart.  However, I was in charge of dessert for my family and didn't have the time or supplies to make real dirt cups.  This has all of the components of dirt cups, but in a prettier, more grown-up presentation.  Because this cake is served cold it is great for these super hot summer days!

Oreo Poke Cake
inspired by The Country Cook
1 chocolate cake mix (and ingredients to make cake)
1 box Oreo pudding
2 cups milk
1 cup chocolate syrup (like Hershey's)
1 container Cool Whip
1 cup crushed Oreo cookies

1. Bake cake according to box directions.
2. When cake has about 5 minutes left, mix pudding and milk in a bowl.  Allow to sit so it starts to thicken.
3. When cake comes out of the oven, take the handle of a wooden spoon and poke holes about 1 inch apart over the whole cake.
4. Pour chocolate syrup over the cake, pushing it down into the holes.  Pour pudding on next and spread over the top, pushing into the holes.
5. Cover cake and place in the fridge to cool for at least an hour.
6. Take cake out and cover with Cool Whip.  Sprinkle with crushed Oreos just before serving.  If you put the Oreos on too soon they will get soggy.

Crock Pot Lava Cake

Pin It I made this for a family dessert and it was divine.  Everyone raved about the fudge sauce on the bottom.  It was amazing with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.  It only takes about 5 minutes to prep and then you turn on your crock pot and forget it.  It's an impressive dessert that looks complicated, but it is super simple.  Who wouldn't love moist chocolate cake with a thick fudge sauce?

Crock Pot Lava Cake
1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups water

1. Stir together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cocoa.  Add milk, vanilla and oil.  Stir to combine.
2. Pour batter into a lined and greased crock pot.  I  used my round 3 quart slow cooker.  If you don't have liners grease your pot very well. 
3. Place sugar, cocoa and water in a microwave safe dish.  Microwave for 2 minutes or until just boiling.
4. Pour liquid on top of batter.  Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high or until a toothpick comes out clean. (It took exactly 3 hours for me).
5. Scoop out making sure to get all of the fudge from the bottom.  Serve with ice cream.

Coca Cola Cake

Pin It We have family dinners every Sunday.  I am in charge of dessert.  I like to get creative and make new tasty creations to share with everyone.  Sundays are also my excuse to try out all of the recipes that I find on Pinterest because I have lots of hungry mouths ot share with.  (This also prevents me from having to eat the entire cake myself.) 
I stumbled upon this recipe on Pinterest and it's definitely a winner.  It's moist, gooey and chocolately without being overly rich or sweet.  Delicious when served with fresh strawberries or whipped cream.

Coca Cola Cake
2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup butter

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 cup cola

1/2 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup milk with 1 tsp vinegar)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Glaze
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup cola
1/4 cup cocoa powder
4 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Add flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon to a mixing bowl.

3. In a saucepan melt butter.  Add cocoa, cola and buttermilk and bring to a boil.  Watch closely because it bubbles up quite quickly once it starts to boil.

4. Mix butter mixture with dry ingredients.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix until well combined.

5. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

6. Just before cake is done baking make the glaze.  Melt butter in a saucepan.  Add cocoa and cola and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar until there are no lumps.

7. Pour glaze over hot cake.  It will look like the cake is floating, but it really isn't too much glaze.  Don't worry.

8.  Allow cake to cool slightly and glaze to set before serving.  Delicious served warm or room temperature.  Leftovers are amazing.

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pin It I have a bad habit of buying a big bunch of bananas and then not eating them before they get brown and mushy.  Because of this I have to use them for baking.  Not a big problem, but I get tired of the same old banana bread and banana muffins so that is how this recipe was born.  I was inspired by a similar recipe that I found on Pinterest.  This cake is moist and dense and would make a great breakfast or brunch item.

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

4 Tbsp butter, softened

2 Tbsp oil

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 egg white

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 ripe bananas, mashed

1/4 cup milk (I used vanilla almond milk, but any variety will do)

1. Preheat oven to 375.  Spray an 8x8 inch pan with cooking spray.

2. Beat butter, oil and sugar until creamed. 

3. Beat in eggs and egg white one at a time.  Stir in vanilla.

4. In a separate bowl, mash bananas with milk and set aside.

5. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, alternating with the banana mixture until all is combined.

6. Pour into pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup chopped toasted nuts, optional (I used pecans, feel free to use your favorite)

Cream the cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar until well blended and smooth.

To toast the nuts, place on an ungreased baking sheet.  Put in a 375 degree oven for 5-8 minutes or until the nuts become fragrant.  DO NOT OVERBAKE.

Classic Cheesecake

Pin It I love a good piece of decadent cheesecake.  This is my favorite cheesecake recipe.  It turns ou perfect everytime.  Believe me, after many failed attempts at making cheesecake, this recipe wins hands down.

Classic Cheesecake
12 chocolate graham cracker, finely crushed (can use regular graham crackers if you want)
1/2 stick butter, melted
4 pkg cream cheese, softened
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 T vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. Mix crushed grahams and butter.  Press mixture into the bottom of a 10-inch sprig form pan.
3. Cream sugar and cream cheese until smooth.
4.Add eggs on at a time until well blended.
5. Pour mxture over crust.
6. Bake for 60-65 minutes or until center is almost set.
7. Run a knife along the endge to loosen.  Cool completely in pan before serving.