Microwave Cakes

Of all the challenges we've faced learning to cook in the semi, probably the most frustrating to me was the apparent inability to bake desserts. Baking has always been one of my favorite forms of relaxation and stress release, and of course we enjoy eating the desserts, but I went nearly a year without being able to bake in the truck. We had a small toaster oven for awhile that was unreliable, and my pressure cooker/crockpot doesn't handle baking cake like some do. However, I finally found the solution: microwave cakes!

Chocolate cakes with chocolate frosting!

It's the same concept as mug cakes, but I usually make them in a disposable bowl made of heavy-duty paper. Styrofoam bowls or the regular ceramic kind would work just as well.  And, of course, the cake and frosting flavors are totally up to you! I buy a few flavors of cake mix and put each in a gallon sized plastic zipper baggie, so I can use them whenever I feel like making one. The topping variations are practically infinite! At the bottom of the post, I've included directions for a fantastically delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup dry cake mix
1 tsp oil
1/3 cup water

Mix all ingredients together in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 90 seconds and check. If still wet-looking, microwave another 10-15 seconds. Let cool and top with frosting and/or fruit. Enjoy!

Strawberry cake, cream cheese frosting, banana, and peaches!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

1 chocolate cake, made according to above directions

2-3 Tbsp creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup chocolate frosting 

2 Reeses cups, crumbled

Bake the chocolate cake according to the directions above. Microwave the peanut butter about 20 seconds or until melted into a smooth, thick liquid. Pour evenly over the cake and let sit 10 minutes. Microwave the frosting 20-30 seconds until also a thick liquid and pour evenly over the cake. Immediately top with crumbled candy pieces and let sit 1-2 hours to cool. Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes

My hubby's birthday is coming up and we were having lunch with his parents, so I made these little beauties for dessert. They take some work, but they're actually easier than they look once you get the hang of it. I even got fancy and used a baggie to pipe the frosting on. They were a big success!

Chocolate strawberry cupcakes! 

Ingredients:
1 chocolate cake mix, plus additional ingredients as directed on the box
1 can of strawberry pie filling
1 can chocolate frosting

Prepare the chocolate cake mix according to the box directions and bake as cupcakes. It should make 20-24 cupcakes. Let cupcakes cool completely.

With a butter knife, cut a small circle on top of a cupcake, about an inch deep, and lift it out. Pull off about half of what is attached and set it aside. Open the can of strawberry pie filling, scoop out of spoonful, and carefully pour it into the hole in the cupcake. Replace the top and repeat for the remainder of the cupcakes, trying to make sure every cupcake gets at least one strawberry. See picture below for a visual step by step of the process.

Once all the cupcakes have been filled, scoop about 3/4 of the can of frosting into a small mixing bowl. Add the gel from the leftover strawberry filling, and whip thoroughly with an electric mixer. If you have a frosting pipe, use it to pipe frosting onto cupcakes; if not, scoop the frosting into a plastic zipper baggie, cut off the tip, and squeeze out the frosting in swirls on the cupcakes. Serve and enjoy!

Filling the cupcakes

Oreo Pie

Oreo pie. Oh yes. Oh myyyyyyy yes. So good!

And so easy! If you know me, you'll know that I prefer recipes with 5 ingredients or less, and as short of a preparation time as possible. And this definitely fits the bill!

It started when my dearest and I were grocery shopping and we happened to wander down the baking aisle. He happened to look at pie crusts, and next thing you know, we're discussing the makings of an amazing dessert!

It goes something like this:

1 chocolate graham cracker pie crust
1 package cookies and cream pudding
1 2/3 cup milk
About 10 oreos

Basically you make the pudding with a little less milk than usual so it sets firmer. If you want a very full crust, you can use 2 packages of pudding mix and about 2 1/2 cups milk. Crumble about 4 oreos into the pie shell before pouring in the pudding, then crumble about 6 oreos on top before refrigerating.

Let me tell you, this is amazing!!! :)

Chocolate!

OK, my cupcake recipe is pretty simple - usually goes along the lines of: 1 box cake mix, mixed to directions and baked till just done but still moist, and frosted with a can of frosting! Pretty simple, yes? Still, it's easy to add your own touches!

For instance, a dash of vanilla and a tiny pinch of salt add more vibrant flavor to the cupcakes! And chocolate chips (or perhaps even white chocolate chips) added to the cupcakes and sprinkled on the frosting, well, that's just decadence.

That being said, a cake mix can also become brownies. How, you ask? Well I'm glad you asked!

Brownies are basically just richer, fudgier cake, right? So a simple chocolate cake mix (or devils food cake mix, or dark chocolate cake mix - you get the idea) can easily become brownies.

Ingredients:
1 box chocolate cake mix
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
Extra chocolate

So basically mix together, bake about 20 minutes at about 350 degrees. I say about, because of course that changes based on the size of your pan, the added chocolate, etc.

I added chocolate chips AND white chocolate chips, and ended up with triple-chocolate brownies that were to die for. Not even kidding.