German Chocolate Caramel Bars | Cake Mix | Bar Cookies Recipe

Here's one of my favorite decadent baked bar cookie recipes for parties.  These German Chocolate Caramel Bars are ooey, gooey and very rich, yet easy to make from a cake mix!

German Chocolate Caramel Turtle Bars

Cake Mix Cookie Bars

This German Chocolate Caramel Bars recipe is a family favorite, passed down from one of my co-workers who's long retired and moved on to sunny Florida.  Every time I make sweets I have fond memories of the parties and bake sales held at the office. You'll enjoy these every season of the year, for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day picnics, summer cookouts, during the winter holidays, birthday parties and even after Sunday dinner! 

These cake mix bars are so sinful! My oldest daughter has a sweet tooth (she takes after her mom), but my hubby is known to make anything chocolate disappear too, as does charming son-in-law.

Treat the kids and grandkids and watch everyone ask for more!

Especially delicious as a dessert treat for your family, dinner guests or kids' sports team celebrations. I usually made them with Duncan Hines Signature German Chocolate cake mix, if I can find it.  

Check out my other easy Cake Mix hacks for yummy bars, cookies and breads -

Banana Muffins from Cake Mix

Triple Chocolate Square Bars from Cake Mix

Sunshine Pineapple Cake from Cake Mix

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies from Cake Mix

Clean-Up is easy with my crochet handmade dish cloths at my Moomettes shop!

Check out my recipe for Fresh Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce or Cake Mix Cookie Recipes

German Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars

Equipment:
Mixing Bowl
Wooden Spoon
Saucepan
Sheet Pan
Cookie Sheet
Cooling Rack

Ingreidents:

1 pkg. Duncan Hines German Chocolate Cake Mix
1 -1/2 c. Nestle chocolate chips (1 bag)
1 bag caramels (melt in top of double boiler)
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)
1/3 c. Carnation evaporated milk
3/4 c. melted Cabot butter
1/3 c. Carnation evaporated milk

Combine caramels and 1/3 c. evaporated milk in saucepan and melt. Set aside.
Mix by hand: Cake mix, butter, 1/3 c. evaporated milk, and walnuts.
Batter will be very thick.
Spread 1/2 batter in greased 9x13 pan sheet pan .
Bake 350 for 6 minutes.
Sprinkle chocolate chips over crust, drizzle caramel over mixture.
Spread remaining batter over it (use hands if necessary).
Return to oven for 18-10 min.
Cool and refrigerate 30 min. to set caramel then cut.
Can use Swiss Chocolate cake mix.
Put cookie sheet underneath pan when baking.

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Pineapple Sunshine Cake Recipe | Cake Mix | Easy Desserts

Now here's an easy dessert that just screams summer!  Pineapple Sunshine Cake - The best thing about it is that cake made with pineapple reminds me of well, tropical warm weather, palm trees and the ocean!

We have warm weather (sometimes) and the ocean here in New England, but sadly, no palm trees.  Those are a Southern thang.  Southerners are known for their fabulous sheet cakes, but we Northerners can bake them too.  Sheet cakes are terrific for backyard BBQs, Pot Luck Suppers, Church Suppers, Housewarming, Brunch, any Easter Holiday dessert, Memorial Day, or just to snack on, or for after dinner dessert.

Check out my other Pineapple recipes as well - 
Pineapple Blueberry Cake
Copycat Pineapple Dole Whip Dessert

Sunshine Pineapple Cake Mix Dessert

My mother-in-law's favorite cake was Coconut Cake - actually it was a white cake with coconut frosting.  My kids have grown to love it and look forward to when I bring one along.  So, I've adapted and combined the two, and turned this Pineapple Cake into a Pineapple Cake with a Pineapple Coconut frosting!  You can even turn it into a Pina Colada Cake to make it taste as if you're in the islands !

I made this one for Easter by adding food coloring into the coconut for grass and texture, and decorating with Cadbury Eggs (that's why it looks somewhat greenish.)

You can decorate it however you wish, or just leave the frosting plain white, it will still be delicious!

Easy clean up with Handmade Cotton Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shops !

Purchase Set of 3 Handmade Yellow Dishcloths Here Directly: Purchase Discloths Via Paypal

 

Pineapple Cake Recipe 

Cake:
1 box yellow cake mix (I usually use Duncan Hines)
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil (I used vegetable oil)
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple with juice
Frosting:
1 (8 oz) container Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed
1 small box instant vanilla pudding (I like Royal if I can find it)
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple with juice
Unsweetened Flaked Coconut, to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking sheet pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and 1 can of crushed pineapple with the juice. Mix well.
Pour into prepared baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

In a medium sized bowl, fold together whipped topping, box of vanilla pudding, and 1 can crushed pineapple with the juice. Spread over the top of cooled cake. Top with coconut  (Coconut can be tinted for any occasion.)

Enjoy!

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Fresh Strawberry Cake Recipe | Cream Cheese Frosting

When it's strawberry picking season, and this is a delightful cake to make with fresh strawberries!  There's nothing like taking the kids or grandchildren and going out to the strawberry patch to pick your own fruit! Strawberry Cake is a great comfort food dessert to hit the spot.

Of course you can always make this delish cake with strawberries from your grocery store.

I like to make a fresh fruit strawberry rhubarb cobbler too! This recipe was shared by one of my co-workers and has quickly become a favorite!  Starting with a box cake mix, it's easy and quick to make. Bring to your next summer picnic - Top it off with homemade cream cheese icing!

Check out my other yummy recipes with Strawberries - 

Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler

Strawberry Peach Trifle

Strawberry Poke Cake

Quick clean up with Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet !

Get these pretty Pink Dish Cloths Set of 3 here directly via Paypal: https://py.pl/4DFoMLW24Bn

Easy Strawberry Cake Desserts

1 box yellow or white cake mix with pudding
1 (3oz.) box strawberry Jello gelatin 
3/4 cup salad oil
2 tbl flour
4 eggs
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 pint fresh strawberries (crushed)
1/2 cup sugar

*Cream Cheese Frosting*
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese or Mascarpone
1 tbl milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cup confectioner's xxx sugar
Add sugar beating until smooth.

Beat all ingredients together on medium speed for 3 minutes
Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes.
Cool on rack for 10 minutes.
After taking cake out of oven let sit for 15 minutes in pan, then take tube part of cake out of pan and let that set for 15 min.

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photo credit: Flickr

Strawberry Peach Trifle Recipe | Trifle Bowl Desserts | Party Food

For an easy, refreshing summer dessert using fresh fruit, try making Trifle bowl desserts with this favorite Strawberry Peach Trifle recipe! It's related to Peach Melba.

Trifle Bowl Desserts

I made this yummy Strawberry Peach Trifle once for my charming son-in-law's birthday.  Trifle Bowl Desserts are so easy to make.  He enjoys Angel Food Cake, so I always try to incorporate the sponge cake into a birthday cake recipe for him.

One of the gals in my office is always bringing in Trifle to celebrate special occasions, and I've been gathering quite a collection of trifle dessert recipes on my Pinterest Boards for pinspiration!

This fresh fruit recipe was just something I happened to throw together in a pinch yesterday, after I got finished scraping wallpaper from my upstairs bathroom, which I'm redecorating.

But now the real story begins!

I found a great elegant Trifle bowl to replace my smaller Trifle bowl that I've had for years.  The new one is quite heavy, even when empty.

Both my grandson and son-in-law have summer birthdays. Years ago we celebrated with a family birthday party for Slugger on Saturday, and a joint party to finish the leftovers on Sunday.

I put together the fruit trifle and had it in a freezer bag on my lap in the car.  As my husband backed out of the driveway, it tipped over, all about 4 pounds of it. A new Summer Olympic Sport was born!  Catch The Trifle Bowl Desserts Save - and I won a Gold Medal!

In the process, I broke and dislocated the joint in my pinky finger on my right hand, which happens to be my dominant (read - mouse) hand.  Both hubby and youngest daughter voted right then and there to eat dinner first, and worry about me going to the ER or Walk-In Clinic later, after dinner. So after a visit to the Emergency Room later that night; some x-rays, a huge long needle as a pain blocker, and a realignment of my finger from a 45 degree angle I was in a splint for 6 weeks and had an appointment with my Orthopaedist!

He's actually turning out to be my buddy since he put together my broken wrist when I fell off a scooter when on vacation in Bermuda!

 But it didn't stop me from crocheting my handmade Dish Cloths for my Moomettes Crochet shop!

Buy these pretty Handmade Cotton Dish Cloths directly Here via Paypal https://py.pl/JBWE0

Anyhow, enjoy this easy pudding Strawberry Peach Trifle Recipe and make it as simple or fancy as you please! You can serve for brunch, or bring for a party foods, Pot Luck and it will always be a crowd pleaser!  I guess I can say you can even make it out of Lady Fingers!

My other Strawberry recipes that are yummy - 

Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler

Strawberry Poke Cake

Strawberry Cake 

If  you enjoy peaches, check out my recipe for Peach Dump Cake!

Strawberry Peach Trifle Recipe

1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled
4 ripe peaches
1/3 c. confectioners sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 pkgs. Jello instant vanilla pudding
3-3/4 c. milk
1 8 oz. container Cool Whip dairy topping
Strawberry jam (optional)
1 store-bought or homemade Angel Food Cake

Wash, hull and cut up strawberries.
Wash, skin and dice peaches.
Stir and whip together milk, vanilla and Jello instant pudding mix.
Fold in one-half container of the Cool Whip dairy topping into pudding mixture, then set aside and refrigerate until ready to use.
Break up Angel Food cake into bite size pieces.

Assembly:
Alternate layers of Angel Food Cake, strawberries, peaches, pudding mixture and strawberry jam (if desired)
Frost with remaining Cool Whip mixture.
Garnish as desired.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. 

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German Chocolate Caramel Bars | Cake Mix Dessert Recipe - Caramel Turtles

New ways to indulge and enjoy Caramel! Most people crave sweets or something salty when under stress.  Sometimes we have to indulge and give into our whims. Enjoy German Chocolate Caramel Bars also known as Caramel Turtles 

This recipe for a chocolate caramel bar was given to me by a coworker. It's truly a rich, chocolate creamy caramel goodness fix. And you wouldn't believe it starts with a doctored cake mix!

Easy kitchen clean up with Reusable Cotton Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shop -

Buy these pretty Handmade Dish Cloths directly here via Paypal https://py.pl/JBWE0

German Chocolate Caramel Bars

Ingredients:

                  1     pkg. German Chocolate cake mix
                  1     -1/2 c. chocolate chips (1 bag)
                  1 bag caramels (melt in top of double boiler)
                  1     c. chopped nuts (optional)
                1/3     c. evaporated milk
                3/4     c. melted butter
                1/3     c. evaporated milk

  Preparation:

               Combine caramels and 1/3 c. evaporated milk in
               saucepan and melt.  Set aside.  Mix by hand: Cake
               mix, butter, 1/3 c. evaporated milk, and walnuts.
               Batter will be very thick.  Spread 1/2 batter in
               greased 9x13 cookie sheet pan.  Bake 350 for 6 minutes.
               Sprinkle chocolate chips over crust, drizzle caramel
               over mixture.  Spread remaining batter over it (use
               hands if necessary).  Return to oven for 18-10 min.
               Cool and refrigerate 30 min. to set caramel then cut.
               Put cookie sheet underneath pan when baking 

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Cake Mix Cookies | Pumpkin Snickerdoodles | Pumpkin Recipes

Who doesn't enjoy a delicious Snickerdoodle Cookie?  Here's a new twist to making an easy spicy cinnamon Pumpkin Snickerdoodle with a basic cake mix.  Or, you could leave the pumpkin out and make it everyone's favorite cookie. Yes, read on!

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles - Cake Mix Cookies

I've been following Anne Byrn - the Cake Mix Doctor for many years, and recently made a Birthday Cake for my granddaughter.  Anne has a way of doctoring up Box Cake Mixes so that you'd be hard pressed to guess they started out as a mix and with a substitution and addition of a few ingredients, end up tasting as if you worked hours to get a homemade from scratch taste. There's recipes for frostings, icings, bars and cakes.

I adapted the recipe in order to get the feel of a homemade from scratch dough. The dough is going to be STICKY no matter if you refrigerate it ahead of time, so I just deal with it.  These cookies are so worth it!

I couldn't find any Pumpkin Pie spice in the stores so I made my own (I just eyeball measurements - Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ground cloves, if you have it).

Next time, I might try making these with a Spice Cake mix.

 So if you're busy and want to wow them at the soccer game, birthday party, Halloween or Thanksgiving, give these cake mix cookies a try!

Easy clean up with Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shop: 

  

White Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

1 box (18.25 oz) Yellow or Golden Cake Mix (I prefer Duncan Hines)
1 egg
1/2 c. canned Pumpkin (Not Puree)
1/4 to 1/3 c. vegetable oil (I start out with 2 Tbl. and then add 1 Tbl. at a time if needed)
3 Tbl. Granulated Sugar
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. mace or ground cloves

Extra Granulated Sugar and Cinnamon for rolling

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper
Mix ingredients together with a wooden spoon - starting out with 2 Tbl. oil and add more if needed
Mixture will be sticky.
If it's still too sticky, add extra flour, 1 Tablespoon at a time.
Refrigerate dough for 1/2 hour.
Form dough into 1 inch balls
Roll each ball in the extra cinnamon and sugar mixture
Place 1 inch apart on parchment-lined cookie sheet
Bake 9-13 minutes.  (I found 13 minutes to be good for my oven, I like the cookies somewhat browned, but still chewy.  I eyeball for doneness.

Remove and place on cooling rack, let cool completely.

Can be frozen. 

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Peach Dump Cake Recipe | 3 Ingredient Dump Cake | Fruit Desserts

Here in New England we have a plethora of fresh Pick Your Own Orchards.  Here's an easy recipe for a Peach Dump Cake using only 3 ingredients !  You can also make it with canned peaches when fresh peaches are out of season.

 My daughter and I also went apple picking at Lyman Orchards, so I'll be using this recipe to make an Apple Dump Cake.  A dump cake is very similar to a cobbler recipe. You can also used canned fruits of your choice.

Easy kitchen cleaning with these crochet handmade Dishcloths from my Moomettes Crochet Shop

Buy these Handmade Dish Cloths Set of 3 directly via Paypal https://py.pl/7MMRPMwqTIc

Check out my other Peach recipes here -

Peach Pie
Peach Trifle 

Fresh Peach Cake Dump Cake Cobbler

2 c. fresh peaches, diced
1 box Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix
1 stick Cabot Butter
Cinnamon, to taste

Spray tarte pan or baking dish with Pam
Layer diced peaches
Sprinkle cake mix over peaches
Sprinkle cinnamon to taste
Bake 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes
Notes

Also can be made using canned peaches in heavy syrup

Serve with ice cream, whipped cream or hard sauce 

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Easter Traditions | Easter Bunny Cake Recipe

My youngest daughter has always enjoyed making this adorable Easter Bunny Cake to bring to set out on the dessert table after our family Easter Buffet.  It's super easy to make and starts with a Betty Crocker boxed cake mix!  It's a fun project for grandparents and grandchildren to create and use their imagination to decorate!

Every family has a holiday tradition - as I'm part Polish, we like to serve Easter Kielbasa as an appetizer before our dinner buffet.  Then it's on to the dessert after the annual family Easter Egg Hunt !

Easter Bunny Cake

Easter-Bunny-Cake-diagram

Easy kitchen clean up with my crochet handmade Dish Cloths from my Moomettes Crochet shop! These will make a nice Easter Basket gift idea too !

Easter Bunny Cake Recipe

1 box Betty Crocker Cake Mix (any flavor)

1 can Betty Crocker White Frosting

1 bag White Coconut

Decorative paper

3 jelly beans or small gumdrops

6 chocolate candy sprinkles, if desired

colored toothpicks

Heat oven to 350F for shiny metal round cake pan (or 325F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom and side of 8 or 9 inch round cake pan with baking spray with flour.

Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and egg. Pour into pan. Bake as directed for 8 or 9 inch rounds. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

Cut cake in half as shown in the bunny cake diagram. Put halves together with some of the frosting to form body. On tray, place cake upright on cut edge.

Cut out a notch about 1/3 of the way up one end of body to form head (small end) as shown in diagram. Attach cutout piece with toothpicks for tail. (If desired, freeze cake 1 hour to make frosting cake easier.)

Frost cake with remaining frosting, rounding body on sides. Sprinkle coconut over frosting. Cut ears from paper; pleat bottoms. Press ears into top of head. Use 3 jelly beans for eyes and nose. Add candy sprinkles for eyelashes. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

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Green Pistachio Pudding Cake Recipe | Cake Mix Desserts | Holiday Desserts

Lovely Shades of Green for the holidays!  Whip up this tasty Pistachio Cake for St. Patrick's Day, as a festive cake for Easter,  Christmas or anytime dessert! 

This Pistachio Pudding cake recipe has been around in my family for like, forever.  I'd make it for my co-workers when we had a potluck lunch. 

It's equally as nice on a summer day out on the deck, or evening parties on the patio.  Make it for your next party or take along when entertaining.  It can easily be made as a sheet pan cake too.

Be sure to check out my recipe for Pineapple Sunshine Cake , Jello Poke Cake and Dream Whip Pie too!

Easy clean up in the kitchen with Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shop

Pistachio Pudding Cake Recipe 

Ingredients:

Cake:
1     package yellow cake mix
1     package instant pistachio pudding
4     eggs
 3/4 cup water
1/2 cup oil
Mix Well

Frosting - Beat Until Fluffy
1 cup cold milk
1 cup whipping cream
1     package instant pistachio pudding

or

Frost with Cool Whip which can be tinted with a shade of green food coloring

Preparation:

Add to eggs, water and oil, 1 package yellow cake mix and 1 package instant pistachio pudding.  Beat
on high speed for 5 minutes. Put in greased tube or bundt pan. Bake 55 minutes at 350.  Cool. 

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Pumpkin Recipes | Gingerbread Trifle | Cake Mix Desserts

Fall is all about the Great Pumpkin!  Enjoy pumpkin picking,  leaf peeping and beautiful autumn foliage!  Enjoy this easy Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle compote - use either canned pumpkin squash or the real thing!

Pumpkin Recipes

I'd have to say Fall is my favorite season.  Perhaps because I've lived in New England all of my life, I take it for granted that people everywhere enjoy the changing seasons - the changing colors of the leaves, kids going back to school and Halloween.  When I was a kid, people used to rake and then burn their leaves that fell from the trees - but I guess now the EPA has put an end to that with environmental conservation laws and air pollution.  Yet I can still remember that smell of burning leaves in the air that meant fall was here.

We celebrate my granddaughter's birthday this October.  Instead of a traditional birthday cake, we enjoyed Butterscotch Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle.  Gingerbread isn't only for Christmas desserts!

Fall Treats

This delightful easy fall treat dessert compote was made using box cake mix, boxed Butterscotch Pudding and Pumpkin Pie filling.

For an extra treat, top with crushed Heath  Bar Crunch Bits 'O Brickle Toffee Bits and Whipped Topping!

This quick pudding dessert is a treat for any Halloween party and would be magnificent idea for Thanksgiving desserts too!

Easy kitchen cleaning with these Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shop 



Check out my Strawberry Peach Trifle Recipe too! 

I also have recipes for Pumpkin Cake Mix Cookies that are awesome and so EASY!

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle Recipe

1 can of canned pumpkin pie filling (or use your own recipe
2 boxes of Royal or Jello Brand  Butterscotch Pudding (prepared) (I prefer a cooked pudding mix)
2 boxes of Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cake mix (prepared)
whipped topping (for garnish)

Prepare all ingredients according to directions.
Alternate layers in Trifle Bowl or Compote Bowl
Refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve
Garnish with whipped topping

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© Frugal New England Kitchen