Chocolate Autumn Cupcakes

Recipe from: Keeping Up with the Joneses

Ingredients:
Devil's Food Cake Mix
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1/2 cup butterscotch morsels
milk chocolate frosting

Directions:
1. Make cupcakes according to ingredients on the box.
2. While cupcakes are baking, melt chocolate and butterscotch morsels.
3. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and draw an 8 inch square (just so you know how much area you need to cover).
4. Alternate spoonfuls of each over the square.
5. Then use the back of the spoon to swirl it together.
6. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until it's like firm bark. Set it out for about 10 minutes so it will soften some.
7. Use small cookie cutters to carefully press out cute little shapes!
8. Ice cupcakes.
9. Place the cut out chocolate/butterscotch pieces on top of the cupcake.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Triffle

Recipe from: Simply Made...with Love

Serves: 10-12
Ingredients:
1 box of chocolate cake mix
1 pkg. (12 oz) Reese's peanut butter chips
1 bag (12 oz) Reese's Peanut Butter cups
4 cups of cold milk
2 pkgs. of instant vanilla pudding mix
2 tbsp. creamy peanut butter
1 container (8 oz) Cool Whip

Directions:
1. Prepare chocolate cake mix according to box directions. Add peanut butter chips to the cake batter. Bake according to directions on box. Cool and cut into 1 inch cubes.
2. Prepare pudding mix as directed on box in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes, then mix in 2 tbsp. peanut butter. Mix until peanut butter is blended into pudding. Then, take 1/2 of the cool whip (4 oz) and fold into pudding mixture. Set in fridge to cool.
3. Cut peanut butter cups into quarters. Set aside.
4. In a trifle bowl place 1/2 of the chocolate cake pieces into the bottom of the trifle bowl. Sprinkle 1/3 of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups on top of the cake layer. Then, pour 1/2 of the pudding mixture on top of the cake/candy. Layer the remaining cake pieces onto the pudding mixture, followed by 1/3 of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Pour the remaining pudding mixture onto the top of the 2nd cake layer. Spread the second 1/2 of the Cool Whip on top of the pudding mixture. Top with remaining pieces of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Serve and ENJOY!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake

Ingredients:

Cake
1 box white cake mix
1 box (4-serving size) strawberry-flavored gelatin
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs

Dipped Strawberries
1 pint (2 cups) medium-large strawberries (18 to 20 strawberries)
1/2 cup white vanilla baking chips
1 teaspoon shortening or vegetable oil

Filling and Frosting
1 cup seedless strawberry jam
1 container milk chocolate frosting

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans with shortening and lightly flour, or spray with baking spray with flour. In large bowl, mix cake mix and gelatin. Beat in water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally (batter will be lumpy). Pour into pans.
2. Bake as directed on box for 9-inch round cake pans. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
3. Meanwhile, gently rinse strawberries and dry on paper towels (must be completely dry). Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. In 1-quart saucepan, melt vanilla baking chips and shortening over low heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
4. Dip lower half of each strawberry into vanilla chip mixture; allow excess to drip back into saucepan. Place on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate until coating is firm, about 30 minutes, or until serving time.
5. Split each cake horizontally into 2 layers. On serving plate, place top of 1 layer, cut side up; spread with 1/3 cup of the jam. Add bottom half of layer, cut side down; spread with 1/3 cup jam. Add top of second layer, cut side up; spread with remaining 1/3 cup jam. Add bottom of remaining layer. Frost side and top of cake with frosting. Arrange dipped strawberries around top of cake. Store in refrigerator.

Recipe can be found here.

Puppy Chow

Ingredients:
9 cups Corn Chex®, Rice Chex®, Wheat Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal (or combination)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
2. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, stir together chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter.

3. Microwave uncovered on High 1 minute; stir.

4. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth.

5. Stir in vanilla.

6. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.

7. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
8. Add powdered sugar.

9. Seal bag; shake until well coated.

10. Spread on waxed paper to cool.

11. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Aunt Teen's Creamy Chocolate Fudge

Recipe from: allrecipes.com

Ingredients:
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Line an 8x8 inch pan with aluminum foil. Set aside.
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine marshmallow cream, sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt. Bring to a full boil, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Remove from heat and pour in semisweet chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in nuts and vanilla.
4. Pour into prepared pan.
5. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours, or until firm.

Serendipity 3's Frozen Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

4 oz of your favorite chocolate (4oz =about 1 cup)

2 teaspoons store-bought hot chocolate powder

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

3 cups ice cubes

lightly sweetened whipped cream

chocolate shavings (optional)

Directions:

1. Chop chocolate into small pieces and melt in microwave on low heat.

2. Once melted, add hot chocolate mix and sugar, stirring constantly until thoroughly blended.

3. Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup milk, stirring until smooth.

4. Cool to room temperature.

5. In blender, place the remaining 1 cup milk, room-temperature chocolate mixture and ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri.