Betty Crocker a Piece of Cake Read online

  Copyright © 2018 by General Mills, Minneapolis, Minnesota. All rights reserved.

  For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016.

  hmhco.com

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

  ISBN 978-1-328-91848-2 (paperback); 978-1-328-91844-4 (ebook)

  Cover photo: (clockwise from top left) Slow-Cooker Zebra Cake; Unicorn Doughnut Cake; Spiced Pumpkin–Chocolate Chip Mug Cake; Candy Bar Ice-Cream Cake ’Wiches

  Interior background photo: © Ursa Major/Shutterstock.com

  v2.0318

  GENERAL MILLS

  Global Business Solutions Director: Heather Polen

  Global Business Solutions Manager: Maja Qamar

  Executive Editor: Cathy Swanson

  Recipe Development and Testing: Betty Crocker Kitchens

  Photography: General Mills Photography Studios and Image Library

  HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT

  Editor-in-Chief: Deb Brody

  Executive Editor: Anne Ficklen

  Editorial Assistant: Claire Safran

  Managing Editor: Marina Padakis

  Production Editor: Helen Seachrist

  Cover Design: Tai Blanche

  Interior Design and Layout: Tai Blanche

  Senior Production Coordinator: Kimberly Kiefer

  Dear Sweet Tooths,

  Let’s be honest. We all have a sweet tooth once in a while! Baking your own cake to satisfy that craving can be easy, gratifying and fun. We take the difficulty out of cake making with this new collection of easy recipes that are . . . well . . . “A Piece of Cake” to make!

  From microwavable mug cakes for one or two to slow-cooker cakes, icebox cakes and poke cakes, we’ve got incredibly delicious and easy ways to satisfy. No traditional two-layer cakes, fancy frostings or difficult decorations here. These cakes are simple to make and wow-worthy enough to tote to all your get-togethers.

  Surprise your family with Apple-Spice Bundt Cake with Butterscotch Glaze. Whip up Strawberry-Pineapple Icebox Cake when you want to keep your kitchen cool. Exhilarate your pumpkin-crazy taste buds with Pumpkin-Spiced Creamy Rum Poke Cake, or Slow-Cooker Peanut Butter Cup Swirl Cake can cook away while you play.

  Our Fabulous Cake Hacks give you all the foolproof secrets you need to bake successful cakes every time. How to Build an Ice-Cream Cake shows you how to customize ice-cream cakes for any occasion. And don’t miss the Genius Ways to Frost a Cake, which show you super-easy ways to frost a cake without any special training required.

  Let’s bake and eat cake!

  Look for recipes with these icons:

  ONE BOWL • MAKE AHEAD • FAST

  CONTENTS

  Cakes Made Easy

  1 Cakes with Fruit

  2 Pumpkin, Carrot & Zucchini Cakes

  3 Peanut Butter, Coffee, Caramel & Turtle Cakes

  4 Chocolate Cakes

  5 Potpourri-of-Flavors Cakes

  Metric Conversion Guide

  Index

  Features

  Fabulous Cake Hacks

  Secrets to Great Slow-Cooker Cakes

  How to Build an Ice-Cream Cake

  Genius Ways to Frost a Cake

  Creating Scrumptious Poke Cakes

  Cakes Made Easy

  Cake baking doesn’t have to challenging or complicated. It’s possible to indulge your sweet tooth any time when you know the insider tips and have no-fuss recipes. Whether you make one yourself or invite a friend or child to have fun in the kitchen with you, you’ll love the sweet results!

  Measure Correctly

  When it comes to baking, accuracy is important. Spoon dry ingredients into a dry measuring cup, and level off with a flat-edged utensil. Fill liquid measuring cups with liquid, and check by looking at eye level while the cup sits steady on the counter.

  Butter Love

  For the best results and flavor, use real butter in recipes calling for butter. Do not use reduced-fat butter or whipped products.

  Pan-tastic Results

  Use shiny pans that reflect the heat to bake cakes that are tender and light. Dark pans or pans with nonstick coating absorb the heat faster, causing cakes to brown too quickly and creating hard edges.

  Doneness + Time

  Don’t go just by time when baking cakes. If they are underdone, they will sink when cooling. Bake cakes for the minimum time listed in the recipe, then check for doneness using the doneness indicator in the recipe (usually the toothpick test or touching lightly with finger). Bake longer if needed.

  Perfect Peaks

  Whether using egg whites or whipped cream, knowing how to properly beat ingredients will ensure that your cakes turn out perfectly.

  Soft Peaks: Beat just until peaks form but curl over.

  Stiff Peaks: Continue beating until peaks stand upright when beaters are removed.

  SWEETENED WHIPPED CREAM

  For each cup of whipped cream: In chilled, deep bowl, beat ½ cup whipping cream, 1 tablespoon powdered or granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until mixture begins to thicken. Gradually increase speed to high, and beat just until soft peaks form. Do not overbeat, or mixture will curdle.

  FAST

  Easy Scratch Cake Mix

  This super-simple mix or its brown sugar variation is the start of several recipes in this book. Make up a batch to keep on hand to make homemade cakes anytime you’re craving something sweet.

  Prep Time: 5 Minutes

  Start to Finish: 5 Minutes

  For Making 2 Cups Cake Mix

  1⅓ cups all-purpose flour

  ¾ cup sugar

  1¼ teaspoons baking powder

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  For Making 8 Cups Cake Mix

  5⅓ cups all-purpose flour

  3 cups sugar

  5 teaspoons baking powder

  1 teaspoon salt

  1 In medium or large bowl, mix ingredients for either 2 cups cake mix or 8 cups cake mix until well blended. Use immediately for any recipe in this book calling for Easy Scratch Cake Mix. Or store in tightly covered container in cool, dark location up to 1 month, or freeze up to 3 months.

  Easy Brown Sugar Scratch Cake Mix:

  Substitute brown sugar for the sugar.

  Apple Crisp Cake

  Easy Apple-Walnut Cake

  Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

  Slow-Cooker Apple Cake

  Apple-Spice Bundt Cake with Butterscotch Glaze

  Apple-Walnut Cake with Caramel Glaze

  Applesauce-Cranberry Cake

  Warm Caramel Apple Cake

  Banana-Nut Cake

  Easy Banana Bread Coffee Cake

  Banana Split Chocolate Mug Cake

  Whole-Grain Banana-Almond Cake

  Streusel-Topped Banana-Chocolate Snack Cake

  Gooey Caramel-Banana Trifle

  Caramelized Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Glaze

  Upside-Down Poppy Seed–Pear Cake

  Easy Pear-Ginger Dump Cake

  Dried Pear–Hazelnut Loaf

  Lemon-Pear Gingerbread Trifle

  Easy Lemon Loaf

  Lemonade-Coconut Icebox Cake

  Lemon–Cream Cheese Bundt Cake with Lemon Glaze

  Blackberry-Lemon Yogurt Trifle

  Lemon–Poppy Seed Poke Cake

  Peaches and Vanilla Bean Bundt Cake

  Key Lime Magic Custard Cake

  Cranberry Trifle Squares

  Cranberry-Orange Pound Cake

  Fresh Fruit “Cake”

  Ginger-Orange Pound Cake

  Blueberry-Ora
nge Cornmeal Cake

  Individual Berry Trifles

  Mixed-Berry Coffee Cake

  Berry Angel Delight

  Easy Berry Ice-Cream Cake

  Strawberries and Cream Yogurt Cake

  Raspberry-Vanilla Magic Custard Cake

  Strawberry-Orange Dessert Shots

  Strawberry-Pineapple Icebox Cake

  Strawberry Angel Semifreddo

  Angel Food Pudding Cake with Berries

  Strawberry Shortcake Poke Bundt Cake

  Mango-Almond Coffee Cake

  Mango-Mojito Mug Cake

  Rhubarb Coffee Cake

  Raspberry-Rhubarb Coffee Cake

  Tropical Trifle

  MAKE AHEAD

  Apple Crisp Cake

  24 servings | Prep Time: 30 Minutes | Start to Finish: 2 Hours 20 Minutes

  Streusel

  ¾ cup old-fashioned oats

  ¼ cup all-purpose flour

  ¾ cup packed brown sugar

  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  ½ cup cold butter

  ½ cup chopped walnuts

  Apple Layer

  1 tablespoon butter

  2 cups coarsely chopped, peeled tart apples (2 medium)

  Cake

  1 box yellow cake mix with pudding

  ⅓ cup vegetable oil

  ½ cup water

  4 eggs

  1 cup sour cream

  1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

  Cinnamon Whipped Cream

  1 cup heavy whipping cream

  2 tablespoons powdered sugar

  ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

  ½ teaspoon vanilla

  1 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of 13 × 9-inch pan with shortening or spray with cooking spray.

  2 In medium bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in ½ cup cold butter, using fork or pastry blender, until mixture is crumbly. Stir in nuts; set aside.

  3 In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook 1 tablespoon butter and the apples over medium heat, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes or until apples are tender. Set aside.

  4 In large bowl, beat cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan; top evenly with cooked apples. Sprinkle streusel evenly over apples.

  5 Bake 44 to 48 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

  6 When ready to serve, in chilled medium bowl, beat whipping cream, powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and the vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until thickened. Gradually increase speed just until stiff peaks form. Top cake with whipped cream.

  1 Serving: Calories 260; Total Fat 16g (Saturated Fat 7g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 60mg; Sodium 180mg; Total Carbohydrate 28g (Dietary Fiber 1g); Protein 2g Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Other Carbohydrate, 3 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 2

  Sweet Secret The tart flavor of Granny Smith apples contrasts with the sweet, spiced cake, but feel free to use your favorite baking apple, such as McIntosh, Braeburn or Jonathan, instead.

  Simple Sparkle Top cake pieces with vanilla ice cream in place of whipped cream!

  Apple Crisp Cake

  One Bowl

  Easy Apple-Walnut Cake

  8 servings | Prep Time: 25 Minutes | Start to Finish: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

  ½ cup butter, softened

  1 cup sugar

  2 eggs

  ¼ teaspoon vanilla

  1¼ cups all-purpose flour

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  1½ cups shredded peeled apples (about 2 medium)

  ½ cup chopped walnuts

  1 quart vanilla or cinnamon ice cream

  1 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch round pan with shortening; lightly flour.

  2 In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed about 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir in apples and walnuts. Spread into pan.

  3 Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool 10 minutes longer. Serve warm with ice cream.

  1 Serving: Calories 490; Total Fat 25g (Saturated Fat 13g, Trans Fat 0.5g); Cholesterol 115mg; Sodium 380mg; Total Carbohydrate 60g (Dietary Fiber 2g); Protein 7g Exchanges: 1½ Starch, 2½ Other Carbohydrate, 5 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 4

  Simple Sparkle Add a drizzle of caramel or butterscotch topping on top of the ice cream for an added layer of yum!

  Easy Apple-Walnut Cake

  Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

  8 servings | Prep Time: 20 Minutes | Start to Finish: 1 Hour 5 Minutes

  Topping

  3 tablespoons butter

  ½ cup packed brown sugar

  2 tablespoons water

  2 medium apples, peeled, cut into ½-inch slices

  Cake

  1 cup all-purpose flour

  ½ teaspoon baking powder

  ½ teaspoon baking soda

  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

  ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  ⅓ cup butter, softened

  ½ cup packed brown sugar

  2 eggs

  ½ cup milk

  1 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and side of 9-inch round pan with shortening or spray with cooking spray; line bottom with cooking parchment paper.

  2 Place 3 tablespoons butter in pan. Heat in oven until melted. Stir in ½ cup brown sugar and the water. Arrange apple slices over brown sugar mixture; set aside.

  3 In small bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat ⅓ cup softened butter and ½ cup brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, about 1 minute or until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth. Reduce speed to low. Gradually beat flour mixture into sugar mixture alternately with milk on low speed, beating after each addition, just until smooth. Scrape side of bowl occasionally. Spread batter over apple slices in pan. Tap pan on counter two or three times to eliminate air bubbles from batter.

  4 Bake 32 to 38 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Run knife around side of pan to loosen cake. Cool cake in pan on cooling rack 5 minutes. Place heatproof serving platter upside down over pan; carefully turn platter and pan over. Leave over cake about 1 minute so caramel can drizzle over cake. Remove pan. Serve warm.

  1 Serving: Calories 277; Total Fat 14g (Saturated Fat 8g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 80mg; Sodium 206mg; Total Carbohydrate 36g (Dietary Fiber 1g); Protein 4g Exchanges: 1½ Starch, 1½ Other Carbohydrate, 2½ Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 3

  Simple Sparkle Serve with Sweetened Whipped Cream or vanilla ice cream and additional apple slices to put this dessert over the top.

  Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

  Slow-Cooker Apple Cake

  8 servings | Prep Time: 20 Minutes | Start to Finish: 2 Hours

  1½ cups all-purpose flour

  ⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar

  1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  ½ teaspoon baking powder

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

  ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves

  1 cup unsweetened applesauce

  ⅓ cup buttermilk

  ¼ cup butter, melted

  1 tablespoon vanilla

  1 egg

  1 cup dried apple slices, coarsely chopped

  1 Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place 2 (30-inch-long) strips of cooking parchment paper in X pattern in bottom and up side of slow cooker. Line bottom of slow cooker with cooking parchment paper. Spray paper with cooking spray.

  2 In medium bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking
soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cloves with whisk. In small bowl, mix applesauce, buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla and egg. Add applesauce mixture to flour mixture, stirring until smooth. Stir in dried apples. Pour batter into slow cooker and spread in even layer.

  3 Cover; cook on High heat setting 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes, carefully rotating slow cooker’s ceramic insert 180 degrees (leaving cover on) after every 45 minutes or until puffed and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Uncover and transfer ceramic insert from slow cooker to cooling rack. Let stand 10 minutes.

  4 Using parchment paper, carefully lift cake out of ceramic insert and transfer to cooling rack. Remove parchment paper. Serve warm.

  1 Serving: Calories 240; Total Fat 7g (Saturated Fat 4g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 40mg; Sodium 340mg; Total Carbohydrate 39g (Dietary Fiber 2g); Protein 4g Exchanges: 1 Starch, ½ Fruit, 1 Other Carbohydrate, 1½ Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 2½

  Sweet Secret If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, replace it with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar and enough milk to make ⅓ cup.

  Simple Sparkle Top servings of cake with dollops of Sweetened Whipped Cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or nutmeg.

  Slow-Cooker Apple Cake

  Apple-Spice Bundt Cake with Butterscotch Glaze

  12 servings | Prep Time: 20 Minutes | Start to Finish: 2 Hours 20 Minutes

  Cake

  1 box spice cake mix with pudding

  1 cup milk

  3 oz cream cheese (from 8-oz package), softened

  3 eggs

  1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and chopped (2 cups)

  Butterscotch Glaze

  2 tablespoons butter, softened

  1 cup powdered sugar

  3 tablespoons butterscotch topping