Halloween Cake Pops: Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting #Halloween #Cake

I have always wanted to make Cake Pops. For as long as I have been baking and making candy, I oddly have not attempted cake pops. I say attempted because these were a bit harder to do than I had expected! A big round of applause from me for the bakers that have perfected these. 

I started out with the idea of making some ghost cake pops for my family and coworkers. (My photo above, we call him the Forkey Cake Pop) My coworkers have been my taste testers for years and always give me good honest feedback. I thought mine turned out too moist, but they all agreed that the cake pops were delicious and better a moist cake than the cake pops being dry. 

I started with a basic box cake mix. I selected Betty Crocker Spice Cake Mix; I bought the super moist one that had pudding in the mix. Now I think it might be why the consistency was off. Next time I will buy a different one for cake pops. It was a delicious cake and the house smelled amazing like pumpkin pie. Follow directions on your cake mix. Mine required eggs, oil and water to be added to the box cake mix. Allow the cake to cool for 30 min to an hour after baking.

When cake is cooled you can begin the process of crumbling the cake. I started with a small container and quickly realized I needed a bigger container. (I yelled "We're gonna need a bigger boat!" my husband rolled his eyes at my ever-present movie references to all life situations LOL) Let me know if you know the movie.

After crumbling the cake into tiny pieces, I added 3 heaping dollops of cream cheese frosting to the cake crumbles. Stir in the frosting to make an even mixture of cake and frosting with a wet sand like consistency. Roll cake into 1 inch size balls. Set in fridge for 4 hours or freezer for 30 minutes. 

I opted to freeze mine for 30 min to get the Cake Pops set for dipping. I prefer to use melting wafers when dipping items for treats since it is easier to use than other chocolates. I purchased a cake pop kit from Amazon for the sticks, bags and twist ties. I also bought Candy eyeballs and Halloween sprinkles at Walmart.

I did say I like to use melting wafers since it is easier BUT that is not to say you still can't ruin them! HA! I accidently burnt the chocolate in the bowl on the right and wanted to share how it can be burned in the difference of a few seconds in the microwave. Follow the instructions for melting on the bag you purchase. Mine did not look melted but if I had stirred them while in wafer form after the set time for melting, I would have realized they were ready. Trial and error are expected when learning to make something new.

I poured out my toppings of eyeballs and Halloween sprinkles onto a plate to be ready to place on the cake pops once dipped in chocolate.

Dip the tip of your cake pop stick into your melted chocolate and insert it about halfway into the cake ball. Dip the cake ball into the chocolate. Remove and gently tap on the side of the bowl to allow excess coating to drip off. I did have some cake balls fall off into the chocolate, but I spooned them out and put them back on the stick.

So, I am going to definitely point out that I forgot a crucial item in my Cake Pop adventure. A cake pop stand to allow the chocolate coating to dry! I improvised with an oatmeal box that I poked holes in with a pencil. If using this method, I suggest removing the oatmeal packets from the box before poking holes with a pencil. How I know this, well again trial and error. HA!!

My first handsome Halloween Cake Pop made with Spice Cake and Cream Cheese frosting. Delicious!

None of my cake pops look the same but I think it made them each more special.

Monster Hands for Halloween Day Art Project #Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! To keep your little ones busy today as they wait for trick or treating and attending Halloween festivals here is a last minute craft idea. Our Monster Hand Craft you can do in minutes!

All you need is washable paint, paint brushes, paper, googly eyes, a permanent marker and little hands :)

Share Halloween Treats With Your Dog and Make Fun Doggie Trick-Or-Treat Bags #ad #throwback #Halloween

#Throwback #Halloween Post from 2014 This post was originally compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TrickOrTreatEm #CollectiveBias

Halloween is such a fun time around our house. My grandchildren love dressing up, and this year they asked if our dog could have his very own dog costume. How could I possibly say no, so off we went shopping, and our Chewie ended up with a taco costume.

We know the kids get all the treats on Halloween, but why shouldn't our doggie friends get their own fun treats?

While we were shopping at our local Fred Meyer for Chewie's costume, the kids and I thought it would be fun to make up some Halloween doggie treat bags to give to trick-or-treaters that would like to take home a treat for their own dogs.

Big Heart Brand Pet Treats come in several varieties, and Chewie really loves Pup-Peroni, Milkbone, and Milo's Kitchen. These are the treats we are using to make up our doggie treat bags, and these are really going to be some lucky dogs!!

You can have some doggie Halloween fun yourself on the Trick Or Treat Em website. Just answer a few questions and find out your pets Halloween personality, upload a picture of your pet in their Halloween costume to a fun Halloween picture frame, and get coupons to save on dog treats.

To make the treat bags, I just bought regular candy bags and filled them up with a Pup-Peroni stick, a Milo's Kitchen treat, and a few Milkbone flavor snacks.

I also made the orange tags that say 'doggie treats', and tied them on to the bags so that they wouldn't accidently be confused with regular bags of treats.

We live on a street with lots of dogs, and dog-loving owners, so I know these are going to be a big hit in our neighborhood.

I have to confess that I've never been a big dog lover, but getting Chewie changed all that. And I'm having so much fun with him, that buying him his own Halloween costume, and making his buddies treat bags is great.

I found Milo's Kitchen, Milkbone, and Pup-Peroni dog treats all at my local Fred Meyer store, located in the dog food aisle. I like the ease and convenience of picking them up here, and not having to go to a pet store, where prices are always higher.

My family and I can't wait for Halloween this year, and we're planning on taking Chewie the
Taco with us when we go trick-or-treating.

Be sure and give your own dogs a treat this year on Halloween, for all the love, affection and laughter they provide us all-year round.

How about you, do you have a Halloween costume for your dog, and do you take them trick-or-treating?

Celebrating Fall Hot Apple Cider And Candy Apples Recipes #HarvestFun #ad #throwback

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #ad #HarvestFun

This is a #throwback from 2013 of one of our favorite #shops we have done with #CollectiveBias

My favorite season is fall, and here, the leaves are already beginning to turn gold.

 I'm very excited about the fall baking that I will be doing, and making favorite fall recipes and discovering new ones, too.

I love making fall treats for family and friends. I'm a grandmother to four little ones, and they love it when I make or bake something delicious just for them.

This weekend I could feel fall in the air, so I decided to make candy apples with Candy Corn flavored M&M's, and some delicious Mott's hot apple cider.

I went shopping at Walmart to buy the new fall packaged M&M's. They come in four flavors, including Peanut, Peanut Butter, Milk Chocolate, and the flavor I bought, Candy Corn.

I have made candy apples with M&M's before, and they are always a hit. They are great for fall activities where a treat is needed, and the perfect cute spin on giving an apple to your child's teacher.

Candy apples are easy to make, and it's fun to find different ingredients to make the outside coating taste delicious.

Candy corn is something we always have on hand in the fall, so I knew the Candy Corn flavored M&M's would be great to roll the caramel apples in. I just used my mini Magic Bullet to chop the M&M's, dipped the apples in the melted caramel, and then rolled them in the candy.

I really love giving candy apples as an unexpected little gift, or a thank you. I almost feel guilty for how little effort it took to make them, when the receiver is so happy to get them.

These were a huge hit this weekend with my kids and grandkids, so I'll try the other flavors of the fall M&M's too, especially the peanut kind.

I also made some hot apple cider this weekend, and we sat outside on the deck with it in the evening. This could be the last time we will be doing that, as the evenings are getting quite chilly.

I like making my apple cider with a bit of a citrus twist, by adding orange juice and lemon juice to the Mott's apple juice. This recipe can be doubled or tripled for a larger group, and not only do the adults love it, but the kids do to.

And your kitchen will smell deliciously like cinnamon and spices.

I've been buying the Mott's brand of apple juice for years, and gave it to my children, and now to my grandchildren.

It's the base of this great tasting apple cider with a twist. I like heating a cup of this cider in the microwave for myself in the afternoon or evening.

For me, nothing says fall like apple cider. It's so easy to make your own, and it tastes so much better than the bottled kind.

I love how cute these apples came out, and my daughter thought they would make sweet gifts for the teachers on Back To School Night.


Recipe for Candy Corn Flavored M&M Candy Apples

Ingredients:

5 apples, washed and dried
5 popsicle sticks
1 11 ounce package Kraft Caramel Bits
2 bags Candy Corn flavored M&M's

Directions:

Insert popsicle sticks about half way into apples.

In batches, chop up M&M's in a Magic Bullet or blender. Heat caramel bits according to package directions.

Dip apples in caramel and twist by stick to  remove excess. Roll in crushed M&M's, then place on waxed paper. Place in fridge to set and cool.


Recipe for Mott's Hot Apple Cider With a Citrus Twist

Ingredients:

1 quart Mott's Apple Juice
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 table spoons cloves or cider spice mix
Additional cinnamon sticks for serving with cider

Directions:

In a large saucepan, combine the first 8 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat: simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
Strain, discarding cinnamon stick and cloves. Serve warm, garnish with additional cinnamon sticks.

Makes 5 cups.

For more great ideas visit the Fall Baking and Entertaining Pinterest Board.

Share Halloween Treats With Your Dog and Make Fun Doggie Trick-Or-Treat Bags

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TrickOrTreatEm #CollectiveBias

Halloween is such a fun time around our house. My grandchildren love dressing up, and this year they asked if our dog could have his very own dog costume. How could I possibly say no, so off we went shopping, and our Chewie ended up with a taco costume.

We know the kids get all the treats on Halloween, but why shouldn't our doggie friends get their own fun treats?

While we were shopping at our local Fred Meyer for Chewie's costume, the kids and I thought it would be fun to make up some Halloween doggie treat bags to give to trick-or-treaters that would like to take home a treat for their own dogs.

Big Heart Brand Pet Treats come in several varieties, and Chewie really loves Pup-Peroni, Milkbone, and Milo's Kitchen. These are the treats we are using to make up our doggie treat bags, and these are really going to be some lucky dogs!!

You can have some doggie Halloween fun yourself on the Trick Or Treat Em website. Just answer a few questions and find out your pets Halloween personality, upload a picture of your pet in their Halloween costume to a fun Halloween picture frame, and get coupons to save on dog treats.

To make the treat bags, I just bought regular candy bags and filled them up with a Pup-Peroni stick, a Milo's Kitchen treat, and a few Milkbone flavor snacks.

I also made the orange tags that say 'doggie treats', and tied them on to the bags so that they wouldn't accidently be confused with regular bags of treats.

We live on a street with lots of dogs, and dog-loving owners, so I know these are going to be a big hit in our neighborhood.

I have to confess that I've never been a big dog lover, but getting Chewie changed all that. And I'm having so much fun with him, that buying him his own Halloween costume, and making his buddies treat bags is great.

I found Milo's Kitchen, Milkbone, and Pup-Peroni dog treats all at my local Fred Meyer store, located in the dog food aisle. I like the ease and convenience of picking them up here, and not having to go to a pet store, where prices are always higher.

My family and I can't wait for Halloween this year, and we're planning on taking Chewie the
Taco with us when we go trick-or-treating.

Be sure and give your own dogs a treat this year on Halloween, for all the love, affection and laughter they provide us all-year round.

How about you, do you have a Halloween costume for your dog, and do you take them trick-or-treating?

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!

Minutes to spare MONSTER HANDS!

Halloween is this week, it always seems to sneak up on us but there is still time to get in those last minute craft ideas with your little ones. Here is a quick and easy Monster Hand Craft you can do in minutes!

All you need is washable paint, paint brushes, paper, googly eyes, a permanent marker and little hands :)

Our trip to the Great Wolf Lodge Review #sponsored

 

 

Western Chief Rain Gear for Halloween Fun and Giveaway #sponsored

My son has been talking non stop about Superman for the last few months. When he saw the Western Chief Superman Boots and Raincoat at Nordstrom he said he NEEDS it. It is funny and sad to see him be into super heroes. He no longer wants Thomas the Train stuff like he did last year, he says he is a kid not a baby. So my kid wants super hero everything, it is cute just makes me realize he is growing up and getting his own opinion on what he wears lol.

Bite Sized Candy Apples

Candy apples are a Halloween staple but to me they are always too hard to eat. I usually will turn one down because of how messy they can be, how hard it is to bite the apple without it becoming a total disaster and not to mention how sweet an entire candy apple can be. There is a solution, Bite Size Candy Apples! They are small enough to eat in one bite the mess factor is almost nothing. These would be great at home or for a party, I plan to make more and bring them to one of our October Fest Gatherings!

Ingredients:

6 green apples
1 package of caramel to melt
20 cake pop sticks (you can keep them tall or cut them in half)
A melon baller or anything that makes small scoops

Great Wolf Lodge Halloween Family Events

 

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, everything from the decorations to all of the fun events centered around the month of October. The build up around here is getting higher every year as the boys get older, not only for them but for my husband and I as well. As they get older we get to do more and more family activities we all enjoy and we are really excited to take them to the Great Wolf Lodge this week to kick of the Halloween season! This week they are starting their Halloween activities, check out their October spooktacular family events:


October 10 - 31
This October, grab your costumes and join us for spooktacular family events throughout your stay.

Costume Parade
Starting at 8:30 p.m. in the Grand Lobby
Each night, children of all ages are welcome to attend our Costume Parade. Everyone will have the opportunity to show off their costume to the crowd, allowing parents a chance to snap photos to remember the events. Each participant will also receive a prize.

Trick-or-Treat Trail
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Bring your costume and grab your goodie bag – it’s time for Trick-or-Treating at Great Wolf Lodge. The whole family will enjoy meeting our characters as they collect their ghostly goodies along the trail. Parents may attend the Trail with their children, however ghostly goodies are provided to children only.

Spooktacular Story Time
Don’t be late to the Great Clock Tower Show each night at 8:00 p.m., followed by Spooktacular Story Time. Enjoy stories that are just a boo-bit scary with a visit from a character of the Great Wolf Kids Pack.

Monster Bash Dance Party

October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, 31

Join us after Story Time at 9:00 p.m. in the Grand Lobby for our Howl-o-ween Dance Party. Bring your entire family and show off your dance moves with our Great Wolf Kids Team!"

 

 

* I was not paid for this post, we will be guest of The Great Wolf Lodge, all opinions are my own.

Homemade Chocolate Donuts with Orange Glaze

Two things are for sure, we love the Fall and we love donuts. Put them together and we are in heaven. Here is a recipe for Chocolate Donuts with Orange Glaze, they are seriously mouth watering.