Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Pumpkin Dump Cake

For the love of Fall!

The first time I had this delicious dessert was at my neighbor's house during a fun, fall, neighborhood get-together. It was amazing!

This quick and easy dump cake has all the warm and fuzzy fall flavors we crave during that time of year. In fact, you may just want to skip the Pumpkin Pie at your Thanksgiving feast and serve this delicious dump cake. I'm thinking that's a plan this year. 

Ingredients:
15 oz. can pumpkin puree
12 oz. evaporated milk
3 large eggs
3/4 cup light brown sugar (lightly packed)
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. salt
15.25 box yellow cake mix (dry)
1 cup pecans (coarsely chopped)
1 cup unsalted butter (melted)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350'F. Prepare the inside of a 9x13" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk together the pumpkin, milk, eggs, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt to a large bowl. Pour into prepared pan.

Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly across the top, then sprinkle on the chopped pecans.

Drizzle the melted butter on the top, being careful not to leave dry patches of cake mix.

Bake at 350'F. for 45-60 minutes or until set in the center and golden brown on top. (If it's starting to get too brown before fully baked, cover the top with a foil tent.)

Let sit for about 15 minutes before serving. You can cut into squares or use a large spoon and scoop it out. 

Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. 

A Tip from Grammy:
-Be sure to use pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling.
-Spice cake mix can be substituted for the yellow cake mix.
-The pecans can be substituted with walnuts, if desired. Don't like nuts? Just leave them out entirely.
-Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days in a tightly covered container
-Prepare, bake, cool and chill covered cake in the refrigerator a day in advance. 

Friday, September 15, 2023

Pineapple Filled Cookies

One of Mom's best!


I just found my mom's Pineapple Filled Cookie recipe in her old wooden recipe box! I don't know how I missed this for all these years, but I couldn't be happier right now! 

These are one of the holiday cookies that we enjoyed along with so many others that my mom and aunts would bake and share amongst family and friends every year.  So many precious memories go hand-in-hand with holiday cookie baking, and it makes me realize how blessed I was with a childhood that was filled with family and so much love!

Ingredients:

Dough:
Cream together:
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup brown sugar

Beat in with the above mixture:
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbsp. milk

Sift together, then add to above mixture:
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Make a soft dough and chill 3-4 hours or until firm enough to roll.

Filling:
1 1/2 cup crushed pineapple (drained)
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
1 Tbsp. butter

Combine ingredients, place over low heat. Stir until thickened, about 15 minutes.
Cool completely.

Roll chilled dough into oblong, cut into 2 1/2" squares.

Place 1 heaping teaspoon of filling on each square, bring opposite corners together, pinch to seal.

Bake at 400'F. for 10 minutes.

Cool on racks. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

Be encouraged!
Rejoice always! - 1 Thessalonians 5:16