Busy Brunette Bakerista

This is no written recipe for this so it's been a secret until now. It was handed down to me when my kids where in Kindergarten from another mom. I made it for my daughter’s birthday when she was little and it was such a big hit I make it every summer!   Secret Ice Cream Cake 24 ice cream sandwiches 1 container of regular Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream) chocolate syrup caramel syrup chopped up chocolate candies such as Butterfingers, Snickers, Kit Kats, or Skor or Heath toffee bars strawberry for garnish Unwrap candies and chop up into bite-size pieces and set aside.  Unwrap ice cream sandwiches as you layer…place the first layer of   ice cream sandwiches on the bottom of a large casserole or baking dish (9” x 13” size).   Cut up sandwiches to fill in narrow spaces.  Spread a layer of Cool Whip topping to cover entire layer of sandwiches.  Next, drizzle chocolate syrup in one direction over...

I've seen this type of recipe several times and finally tried it out for myself. You can make it with a cake mix too but I think a brownie mix is more moist with the ice cream cone. Very fun to make and great for parties! Brownie Cone Dessert Cups 1 box of brownie mix (18 oz.) 12 - 18 ice cream cones 1 can of prepared frosting - I used vanilla  sprinkles or cake decoration toppings Prepare brownie mix according the instructions on the back of the box using milk instead of water. For my easy brownie mix recipe click here . Set batter aside. Preheat oven to 325 or 350 degrees according to directions on brownie box. Take a 9" x 13" casserole dish, or rimmed baking dish, and lay a sheet of tin foil across the top securing at the ends. Using a small knife, cut an "X" at 12 spots across the foil. Place one ice cream cone in each "X" so it can stand up by itself. If you want to make another dish for more cones, you can do it with a smalle...

Easy holiday dessert…shakes at Ruby's Shake Shack!  The other day I made my holiday baking time even easier by visiting our favorite dessert spot in Orange County, Ruby's Shake Shack in Newport Coast's Crystal Cove . Not only can you order a great lunch with a beautiful view, you can choose from over a dozen flavor combinations of famous Ruby's shakes. My son is a shake aficionado and says these are the best!

I like cake. I like ice cream. I like trying out new recipes that make my life easier. Hello recipe from Taste of Home magazine…you just made my day.  This is an easy and delicious cake that tastes better than those you buy at the fancy ice cream stores. I can't wait to try it with different flavors of mix-ins!  You can find the entire recipe at the Taste of Home website for the June/July 2015 issue. Here is my short-cut version. 1. Line a 9-inch cake pan with plastic wrap. Scoop ice cream into the pan and spread using your hands until it is flat. Put in the freezer for two hours. 2.  Using a box cake mix, bake a cake in two 9-inch round cake pans. Cool in pans for 5 minutes and invert onto a cooling rack until cool.  3. Place one cake on a serving plate. Take ice cream layer out of the freezer and invert onto the cake. Remove the plastic wrap by carefully peeling away from the ice cream. Take second cake layer and place on top of ice cream layer....