The weather is starting to warm up (finally!), and that means party season is right around the corner. Graduations, weddings and summer holidays mean lots of gatherings with family and friends. Sharing the company of our loved ones always makes for special times, and making sure everyone has a great and memorable time is what makes the party a success. But let's be honest here. As much as we all love spending time together, we all know that parties are all about the food! Every host wants to have an appealing set up of food everyone will love, then make a splash with their desserts as the grand finale! I do love to make all of my own desserts, but sometimes I am rushed and want to whip up something that still looks spectacular when I am running short on time. When I heard about Simply Sweet's first cookbook, Colorcakes, I knew it was a book I had to have!
Colorcakes is a 256 page cookbook with 125 easy to follow dessert recipes that anyone can make. Not only are the recipes easy to follow and prepare, they will wow your crowd and have them asking, "How did you do that?!" Most of the recipes are created to look fabulous without putting a lot of time or effort into them, with some only taking 15 minutes to toss together!
Colorcakes is full of desserts that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Cake Pops, cookies, cupcakes and popsicles are just a few of the recipe options. Each recipe is accompanied by beautiful, colorful photos of the finished creations.
Flipping through the book, I had a difficult time deciding what to make first. Everything looked wonderful. Since I already had the ingredients on hand, I decided to whip up some of the Banana Split Cupcakes.
Ingredients:
Miniature paper baking cups
1 (18.25-oz.) package of yellow cake mix
1 cup mashed, very ripe bananas (2 medium)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 (16-oz.) container of ready to spread chocolate frosting
1 (16-oz.) container of ready to spread vanilla frosting
1 (16-oz.) container of ready to spread strawberry frosting
Large disposable decorating bag
48 maraschino cherries with stems
1/4 cup rainbow colored candy sprinkles
Directions:
Preheat to 350 degrees. Place a mini paper baking cup in each of 24 muffin cups. In large bowl, beat cake mix, bananas, vegetable oil, 1/4 cup water, and eggs at low speed with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Spoon batter into cups, filling 2/3 full. Cover and refrigerate remaining batter until ready to bake.
Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire racks for 5 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely (30 minutes). Repeat with remaining batter to make 24 more cupcakes.
In small, microwave safe bowl, reserve 1/4 cup of the chocolate frosting. Insert a large star tip into a large decorating bag; fill with remaining chocolate frosting. Pipe frosting onto 16 cupcakes. Repeat with white and strawberry frosting. Microwave reserved chocolate frosting on HIGH 20 to 25 seconds, or until smooth. Cool 1 minute; drizzle over frosting on each cupcake. Pipe a dab of white frosting on each; top each with sprinkles and a cherry.
The mini cupcakes were a huge hit with my girls, and we will be making them again at our first summer gathering. This is one of 125 recipes the book has to offer!
More about Simply Sweet Colorcakes: Wow-Worthy Desserts Anyone Can Make:
Paperback
ISBN Number-0-8487-4304-0
Pages- 256 printed on smooth glossy
paper
MSRP $19.95 US
Distributed by Oxmoor House
Simply Sweet ColorCakes: Wow-Worthy Desserts Anyone Can Make was released on 4/18/2014, and is now available for purchase on Amazon.
I've never had a cake pop yet
ReplyDeleteParties are all about the food? So they're not about me when I turn old come June 14? Really? How depressing. Now I need a colorcakeand two banana split cupcakes. I know, I'm on a diet.
ReplyDeleteBanana Split Cupcakes? Well you had me at cupcake, but the banana split part is totally an added bonus!
ReplyDeletesounds like true cake heaven!
ReplyDeleteLook quite colorful indeed
ReplyDeleteEverything does look good. I bet banana split cupcakes are preeeeeeeeeeeeeetty tasty!
ReplyDeleteWow pretty pretty like a rainbow.
ReplyDeleteThey look very good
ReplyDeleteYes. They all look fabulous, but I'm sure I could figure out a way to mess them up in my kitchen.
ReplyDeletehttp://joycelansky.blogspot.com
I don't think I've ever seen a prettier cookbook. I'm sure it all tastes divine too.
ReplyDeletexoRobyn
I love cupcakes and they are far superior to cake! I actually had to bake some for my sisters b-day two days ago. I realized why I prefer to make cupcakes instead of cake. You can't sneak a piece of birthday cake when it's all done, sitting there, taunting you, but with a cupcake, you can easily have a taste test or three. And that is a true story of why cupcakes are better!
ReplyDeleteI like the 2nd image. How cute the cupcakes are!
ReplyDeleteThese are all so pretty. I have a sensitivity to food coloring, so some of the more colorful ones make me queasy!
ReplyDeleteAll of these desserts look so festive and tasty. I'll have to check out all the recipes.
ReplyDeletethis looks like such a great book- I am going to have to check it out
ReplyDeleteWell, how cute are those!!! I'm all about baking and making cute desserts. If I can do it in less time and with less energy, I'm interested!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun cookbook! I love to try different desserts.
ReplyDeleteThis looks great. I must have this.
ReplyDeleteThis cookbook looks so fun! I love how cute everything is as well as totally tasty!
ReplyDeleteBanana split cupcakes.....is that even legal? LOL Soooooo adorable and yum.
ReplyDeleteThose banana split cupcakes are adorable! Such a cute idea. I would totally make this for a playdate or after school treat for my little one.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun ideas! I want to make the banana split cupcakes.
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I love the banana split cupcakes!
ReplyDeleteI would eat each and every one of those desserts. Cupcakes are my favorite!
ReplyDeleteThose cupcakes are too cute! all of those treats looks so tasty!
ReplyDeleteI need to stop trolling food posts this late at night! Now I NEED a cupcake!
ReplyDeleteThese really are wow worthy desserts. YUMMY
ReplyDeleteThe banana split cupcakes look amazing. What an awesome idea for a party!
ReplyDeleteThey all sound great! my Mom would love a banana split cupcake!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so colorful! Yummy and brings a splash of color to the table! - Jenn @ The Rebel Chick
ReplyDeleteSo pretty. I love posts like this that just make me want to go make some cupcakes.
ReplyDeletethese are beautiful desserts. I need to remember to check otu that book!
ReplyDeleteYES, pretty and easy! And you get to eat them too. I love this book already
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! I love all the festive colors!
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely cupcakes! This book looks amazing. I'll have one of each of the pictured cupcakes, please :)
ReplyDeleteI am a terrible baker! I need to buy Colorcake so my poor kiddos aren't deprived of sweet treats. Looks like an awesome cookbook.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful everything is! They look so inviting and appetizing with the vibrant colors.
ReplyDeleteThose are fantastic. I love the colors, my son would die to eat one of those!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun desserts. I always love food that is just as fun to look at as it is to eat.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are just amazing! Colorcakes does sound a very promising book name, yummy. And your cupcakes are so yummylicious!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! You're giving me some ideas for my daughters birthday coming up in July!
ReplyDelete