Valentine's Day Delight

Valentines' Double Layer Red Velvet & Fudge Cake with Cookie Crumbles
Valentine's Day is coming fast and this is a perfect time to bake something for someone you love! I love this holiday because not only is it all about love, flowers and candy but it gives me a reason to decorate everything PINK! I think the rustic look of this cake gives it more of a shabby chic and heartfelt appearance. This double layered cake is very simple to make but there are a few important steps you cannot overlook which will make things easier for yourself.

ingredients:
1 box red velvet cake mix
1 box fudge cake mix
2 containers cream cheese frosting
neon pink food dye
1 box macaroon cookies (or your favorite cookie)
specialty valentines day cookies

The first step is to make the batter according to the directions on the box. Carefully pour each flavor into two round 9" buttered dark pans. Because the pan is dark you will need to allow a few extra minutes for the cakes to fully cook through (about 40 min total). While the cakes are cooking you can start the crumble process of the cookies. The easiest way to crumble the cookies is to put them in a ziplock bag and smash them against the counter. This also doubles as a stress reliever (haha). For the middle layer of the cake the cookies should be more of a pebble consistency.

To prep the frosting all you need to do is scoop in our of the jars into a bowl, add as much food coloring to the shade of your choice and mix away. **The most important step is to not frost the cakes until they have completely cooled!!! Otherwise the frosting will not adhere to the cake and it will fall apart. Rather than looking 'rustic' it will look like a 5 year old made it.

After frosting the first layer you can sprinkle the first batch of cookies.

Viola!

After this is done you can carefully extract the second layer from the pan and set it on top of the bottom layer. Now its time to start frosting the entire cake!

Immediately after you frost the cake you are going to add the rest of the cookie crumbles. At this point you should make sure the crumbles are like grains of sand which will make it easier to stick to the sides of the cake. Lastly you will add the final touches which are your specialty decorated Valentines cookies. These can be purchased anywhere from a gourmet food market to your average super market. I found mine at Juliennes in San Marino.
This cake is extremely moist and delicious and a real show stopper! It can serve anywhere from 10 to 20 people depending how big you like your slices ;)
Enjoy!!

Retro Coconut Cupcakes

I like to call these retro coconut cupcakes because of the sea-foam green color. They are so easy to make and extremely delicious. These cupcakes are also very versatile to any occasion. If you dyed them blue they could be called "I've Got the Blues Coconut Cupcakes" or dyed red you could name them "Eat Your Heart Out Coconut Cupcakes." With names like these it will have people begging to try them or cause them to think your crazy. Either way these are absolutely delicious and MOIST!

Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
Neon blue food dye (about 3 drops-color will vary depending on the occasion)
cream cheese frosting (a spray can will give you the pretty texture)
toasted coconut shreds