4th of July Baking!

This weekend I made 2 patriotic recipes for our cookout. They turned out pretty yummy and were both hits so I had to share!

Firecracker Cake

I start by using Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix. I mix it according to the directions on the box and then remove one cup of batter to which I add red food coloring and another cup of batter to which I add blue food coloring.

I first pour the red batter into a greased fluted tube pan and top it with the white batter and then the blue batter. I tried to make the blue batter more concentrated toward the center of the cake.

 Bake according to directions for a bundt pan on the cake box.

 Once it has cooled some, flip onto cooling rack.

Once the cake is completely cool, equally divide the frosting (I used buttercream frosting since I like that better but it has a slight yellow tint. The true recipe says to use white icing, take your pick) into three bowls. Microwave the white frosting for a few seconds on high until it is smooth enough to drizzle over the cake. Then mix blue frosting and red frosting and repeat. I kept some of the white to drizzle at the end incase my blue/red frosting covered up all the white. Then I added lots of sprinkles!!!

Then , one of the best parts, when you cut into the cake you see the red, white and blue colors of the cake!



Red Velvet Brownies
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons red food coloring
2/3 cups chocolate chips (optional)
Preheat oven to 350.
Butter and flour an 8 x 8 cake pan.

In a small bowl, combine cocoa powder, red food coloring, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to create a paste.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then add remaining teaspoon of vanilla. With the mixer on medium speed, add in cocoa powder mixture. Beat until batter is completely red. (If at this time your batter is NOT red, you can add a little more food coloring if desired. Color will depend on brand.) Add flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.

I scooped the batter (with a cookie dough scoop) into my mini muffin pan to make bite size brownies. I reduced the temp to 325 and cooked for 11 mins or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting. (I used cream cheese icing of course!) Top with sprinkles.

*most people complemented me on my cupcakes, muffins, treats, etc. People had a hard time realizing what they were since they were small and round and had icing on top. Oh and since they were red lol. It was fun to tell people they were red velvet cake brownies.... yumm