Espresso Crunch, Cookies, Cupcakes

Mayan Chocolate Ginger Espresso Crunch


Makes 1 serving

– 1/4 cup crumbled ginger snap cookies
– 1/2 cup HAGEN-DAZS Mayan Chocolate ice cream
– 2 tbsp whipped cream
– 1 tbsp toasted slivered almonds
– 1/2 tsp ground espresso coffee

Method:
Arrange crumbled ginger snaps in bottom of large martini or wine glass. Top with ice cream, then whipped cream. Sprinkle with almonds and ground espresso.

Nutrients per serving: about 525 calories, 8 g protein, 32 g fat, 51 g carbohydrate, 125 mg calcium (10% Daily Value for calcium).

Spring Cupcakes:

Nothing says springtime like these colourful cupcakes and they couldn’t be any simpler with Betty Crocker mixes and frostings in the cupboard!

– (510 g) Betty Crocker SuperMoist White Cake Mix
– 1 1/2 cups (300 mL) water or milk
– 3 eggs
– 1 tub (450 g) Betty Crocker Creamy Deluxe or Whipped Frosting (any vanilla or white variety) food colouring

Method:

1. Heat oven to 350F (180C). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs on low speed for 30 seconds, then on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally (batter will be lumpy). Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack before decorating.
4. Frost with Spring-Coloured Frosting and decorate as desired. Store loosely covered.
Makes 24 springtime creations!

Tip: Use any flavour Betty Crocker cake mix, but be sure to check the amount of water, oil and eggs to add and follow mixing times printed on the package.

If you only have one 12-cup muffin pan, cover and refrigerate the rest of the batter while baking the first batch. Then bake the rest of the batter in the cooled muffin pan, adding 1 or 2 minutes to the bake time.

Spring-Coloured Frosting:

Gradually stir drops of yellow, pink (red) or purple food colouring into any white or vanilla Betty Crocker Creamy Deluxe or Whipped Frosting. Now you have lovely pastel-coloured frosting for Easter or Spring decorating!

Each tub contains about 1 cups (375 mL) frosting, so you could divide it into 3 small bowls with cup (125 mL) frosting in each, and make 3 different colours for decorating.

Springtime Flower Cookies:

For “flower-shaped” sparkle cookies, flatten dough using a drinking glass with a pretty design on the bottom.

The extra bit of flour stirred into the dough makes it less sticky and easier to handle (especially if you have any ‘little helpers’ in the kitchen).

– 1 pkg (496 g) Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix
– 1/4 cup (50 mL) flour
– 1/2 cup (125 mL) butter or margarine, melted egg
– 1 egg
– coloured decorating sugar or Spring-Coloured Frosting (recipe below)

Method:

1. Heat oven to 375F (190C).
2. Stir cookie mix, flour, melted butter, and egg in medium bowl until soft dough forms.
3. Shape dough into 1 to 1-inch (2.5 to 3.75 cm) balls. Roll balls in coloured decorating sugar and place 2-inches (5 cm) apart on ungreased baking sheet. Flatten each cookie with bottom of glass.
4. Bake 6 to 9 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute before removing from baking sheet. Cool completely on wire rack.
Makes approximately 24 to 30 cookies (depending on size).

Tip: If desired, instead of rolling in coloured sugar, place Spring-Coloured Frosting in piping bag and decorate as desired.

Spring-Coloured Frosting: Gradually stir drops of yellow, pink (red) or purple food colouring into any white or vanilla Betty Crocker* Creamy Deluxe* or Whipped Frosting. Now you have lovely pastel-coloured frosting for Easter or Spring decorating!

Tip: Each tub contains about 1 cups (375 mL) frosting, so you could divide it into 3 small bowls with cup (125 mL) frosting in each, and make 3 different colours for decorating.

How to make a piping bag for your frosting: Spoon frosting into a small plastic food storage bag (placing the bag inside a short wide-mouthed glass & folding over the edge makes this easier & less messy!). Seal bag and cut a tiny hole in one corner of the bag and you’re ready to start designing!