Apple Pie Cheddar Dip

This dip is so delicious!!!! I had all of the ingredients in my refrigerator and threw it together for an impromptu girls night. We all inhaled it!

Ingredients:

2 apples, finely chopped
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 8oz block of light cream cheese
2 cups cheddar cheese
1/2 cup light sour cream

Directions:
Toss apples, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl.

Combine cheese in a bowl then spread into a greased pie pan. Top with apples.

Bake for about 20 minutes (until bubbly) on 375.

Serve with crackers or toasted bread.

recipe adapted from Gooseberry

Streusel Coffee Cake

I will definitely be making this recipe lot of times this fall/winter.  It was super easy and incredibly tasty.  My only disclaimer is that my cake did not turn out as pretty as the one in the picture shown.  My topping looked a little uneven even though I swore it was even when I sprinkled it on, lol.  This recipe took less than 30 minutes to make and I had all items on hand for it so I considered it a pretty easy baking project.  This would be a great dessert to take to someone's house over the holidays!  We served ours warm with vanilla bean ice cream.  yummm...    

Ingredients:

• TOPPING:
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
• 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon sugar
  
  CAKE:
• 1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup melted butter (we used I Can't Believe It's Not Butter)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375.

In small mixing bowl, combine topping ingredients. Blend with fork until crumbly. This takes a few minutes longer than you may think.  Keep going until it gets to the right consistency.  Set aside.

Sift 1 1/2 cups sifted flour with baking powder and salt into a bowl.

In a medium bowl, stir together beaten egg and 3/4 cup sugar and 1/3 cup melted butter. Add milk and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture and mix well.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 8-inch square or 9-inch layer-cake pan. Sprinkle topping crumb mixture evenly over batter.  Bake 24 to 28 minutes, or until cake is done.   Be careful not to overcook.   Allow to partially cool.  Then cut coffee cake into squares while still warm.   Serves great with vanilla ice cream or a cup of coffee.  Enjoy!


*recipe adapted from here
*picture courtesy of here

Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe kept popping up on Pinterest and I could not deny it any longer! It was a perfect early fall day to bake while the rest of the weird world watches football.  ;)
I am amazed at the taste.....  absolutely mind blowing.  This recipe is the "lighter" version of the original that came from a recipe magazine. 
I've already had two....  consider yourself forewarned because I am not a big dessert type of person.  They are just that good! 

Ingredients

Cupcakes:
1/4 Cup Butter, Softened (we used I Can't Believe It's Not Butter sticks)
3/4 Cup CINNAMON apple sauce
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed Firmly (we used dark brown sugar)
2 Large Eggs (we used egg whites)
3/4 Cup 1% Milk
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 (15 Ounce) Can Pumpkin Puree
2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
3/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

FROSTING:
1 (8 Ounce) Package Reduced Fat Cream Cheese (Not Fat Free!)
1/4 Cup Butter, Softened
4 Cups Confectioners Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, add in butter, applesauce, sugars, and eggs and beat over medium speed until combined. Add in pumpkin and continuing beating until thoroughly mixed in.  In a liquid measuring cup, combine milk and lemon juice and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine remaining dry ingredients. Slowly, over medium speed, add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture, alternating with the milk mixture, beating well after each addition. Line cupcakes trays with paper liners and then spray lightly with a non-stick cooking spray.

Fill cupcake liners 3/4 of the way full and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
 
To make frosting, combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and beat over low speed until ingredients begin to combine, slowly increase speed and continue beating until a frosting is formed. It takes a few minutes and several times I was worried that I did something wrong.  But in the end, it ended up perfect.

Frost the cooled cupcakes and enjoy!