Ice cream is a no-brainer dessert during the hot summer months, but when I want to make it really special, I pull out the stops with my homemade Ice Cream Cake.

It’s really the best way to eat cake! Guaranteed to bring you HUGE smiles and maybe a giddy squeal or two. No need to get out all the extras to serve ice cream on the side, it’s already there. Just slice and you’re good.

Homemade Ice Cream Cake

My favorite kind of ice cream to use is Blue Bunny Cookies and Cream. I’ve tried others in the past, but always ended up having to add extra cookies to the ice cream to make it taste right. With the Blue Bunny kind I get at Walmart, I never have to do that.

You can make this recipe into a round cake by doing the exact same steps, but using a round cake pan and cooking the cake for 20 minutes less. But I really like the rectangle shape because it fits so easily in the freezer.

While the cakes cool, I soften the ice cream at room temperature. Then I cut the tops off the cakes and put one in the bottom of my rectangular pan.

My daughter helps me add raspberry preserves to the cake and then the softened Blue Bunny Ice Cream on top. You can put whatever filling you like. Chocolate syrup is delicious too. On top of that goes the other piece of cake flipped upside down.

I cover it and put it in the freezer for a few hours to harden which makes it easier to put the frosting on. My favorite frosting recipe for this cake is a Vanilla Whipped Buttercream. It is totally optional and you could just top it with a little whipped cream to make it easier. I just like the look and taste the frosting adds.

Chocolate Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake

 

Print

Prep time

2 hours

Cook time

50 mins

Total time

2 hours 50 mins

 

The BEST Ice Cream smothered between moist chocolate cake

Author: True Aim

Recipe type: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 1 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter or margarine
• 1¼ cup granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1½ cups milk
• 3 cups Blue Bunny Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
• ¼ cup Raspberry Jam or Chocolate Syrup

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare bread pans with cooking spray.
2. Combine chocolate chips and butter in a microwave safe bowl and melt them together until smooth.
3. Mix sugar and chocolate with a mixer until well combined. Add vanilla and eggs 1 at a time and beat until fluffy.
4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Be careful to spoon your flour into your measuring cup and level instead of scooping it directly with the measure cup and compacting the flour.
5. Add the dry mix ½ cup at a time to the wet batter and then add in the milk and mix well.
6. Pour into prepared pans and bake 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If using round pans decrease cooking time to 35-40 minutes.
7. Cool cake completely while softening Ice cream at room temperature.
8. Cut the tops off of your cake making the surfaces level. Grease one of your pans again and return 1 layer of cake to the pan.
9. Top with jam or syrup and cover the cake with the softened Ice Cream. Top with second cake layer cut side down.
10. Freeze for a few hours or until the ice cream has hardened. Remove your cake from the pan with the help of a knife and put on a serving platter or plate.
11. Top with whipped cream or cover with your favorite frosting and freeze until the frosting hardens. Serve with sprinkles or extra cookie crumbles.

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If you’d like to try Blue Bunny Ice Cream for yourself, they are partnering with Chips Ahoy for a yummy in-store demo on the 4th of July at your local Walmart.

Check out even MORE recipes you can make with your favorite Blue Bunny Ice Cream or just follow them on Pinterest! Leave a comment below, which recipe would you like to try and with what flavor?!

The post Chocolate Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake first appeared on True Aim.

Oreos are good for dunking and bring back memories, but what else can you do with oreos? I’m sure there are lots more, but here are 610 different ways to play with OREOs!

10 Ways to Play with OREOs

​1. Fractions

Teach children fractions with their favorite OREO cookie and they will never forget the lesson!

2. Study the Moon

Doing a study on the Moon? Use an OREO to show kids what the moon looks like at all different times of the year!

3. Stacking Contest

I won an OREO stacking contest when I was young. It was a STEM activity as yummy as it was fun!

4. Dipped OREOs

This is always an easy way to make a fancy treat for parties and birthdays! Use different types of coatings like white and dark chocolate. Dip in caramel or peanut butter before coating to make them extra special.

5. Cookie Stuffed OREOs

​This is easier than it looks. You simply make cookie dough and put half on the bottom of an 8×8 square dish. Layer with OREOs and then cover with the last of the cookie dough.

6. Roll-a-Cookie Contest

How far can you roll your OREO without letting it fall over? It’s like the old hoola hoop rolling game where you hit the hoop with a stick to make it keep going. Just use a clean plastic table cloth and your finger so you can eat them afterward.

7. Two Words:

OREO Balls!

8. OREO Face

This minute-to-win-it game is simple. Put an OREO on your forehead and see if you can eat it without using your hands. First person to do it WINS!

9. OREO Art

This woman used the frosting of the OREO to make lots of different works of art. What can you make?

10. OREO Stuffed Strawberries

I tried my hand at playing with OREOs in a new way. I took the batter that you make for OREO balls and stuffed them inside strawberries.

My daughter helped me wash and scoop the middle out of the strawberries with a melon baller.

Then I filled and dip them in chocolate. Topped with whipped cream they were delicious!

I used about 1 package of the New Red Velvet OREOs now available in stores, crushed, and 5 tablespoons of cream cheese for the filling.

You’ve got to try this! They really tasted amazing!

How do you play with your OREOs? Share your ideas and you could win a Polaroid CUBE Camera or OREO prize package from the Stop & Play OREO sweepstakes.

Choose your store and enter now: Albertsons, Acme Market, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Albertsons. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post 10 Ways to Play with OREOs first appeared on True Aim.

We’re so lucky to have great neighbors. I wanted to bring some goodies over to say Merry Christmas and was looking for a special recipe. Nestle DelightFulls were a perfect solution. I have never tried them before so I didn’t really know what to make other than cookies. For something different, I went over to their Recipe Website for ideas.

I found a delicious Pound Cake recipe with mint filled DelightFulls. After looking over the recipe, I knew I wanted to change it up. First, there is a LOT of butter and sugar in it. Second, I wanted to try the Cherry filled DelightFulls and so I changed up the recipe to fit.

Chocolate Cherry Chip Pound Cake

My daughter Audrey helped me tweet the recipe. I talked to her about butter and how it called for a certain amount, but I didn’t want to use that much in the recipe. So instead I used 1/2 cup of butter and 1/2 cup of apple sauce.

The next change I made was the sugar. I reduced the sugar 1/4 of a cup and thought it could have been reduced even more because the cake came out really sweet and rich.

Finally to make it a chocolate cake instead of white, I added 3/4 cup of cocoa powder and reduced the flour by 1/2 cup.

Wow! It came out really decadent and moist! The Cherry filled DelightFulls gave it the perfect amount of cherry flavor that reminded me of those famous chocolate covered cherries. The perfect treat to deliver next door.

Here are those changes again:

• Substitute 1/2 cup butter for 1/2 cup apple sauce.
• Reduce sugar by 1/4 cup.
• Reduce flour by 1/4 cup and add 3/4 cup cocoa powder.
• Use a full bag of DelightFulls Cherry Filled Morsels.
• Add a dash of salt.

Remember to spray your mini baking pans with cooking spray so they come out easily.

To get the full recipe, Please go to the #TollHouseTime Website and get even more inspiration on using DelightFulls Filled Morsels!

The post Holiday DelightFulls recipes: Chocolate Cherry Chip Pound Cake first appeared on True Aim.

This post contains a giveaway, for more information read my full disclosure.

When you are young and broke, homemade are the only gifts you can afford. I started making gifts back when I was a teen. Usually my mom did it with me, but one year I was determined to make my uncle some peppermint patties. Yorks were his favorite, Junior Mints second.

I grabbed a recipe from an old book from my grandmothers shelf and wasn’t sure what would happen. They turned into minty animal droppings, aka Janine’s Junior Mints, but my uncle didn’t mind; they tasted great! The only problem; I just didn’t make enough.

Edible Gifts in Jars

Anything can be put in a jar, decorated with a little fabric and ribbon or with a label.

1. Cookies in a Jar

2. Cake in a Jar 

3. Hot Cocoa in a Jar

4. Waffles in a Jar

5. Bread in a Jar

6. Syrup in a Jar

7. Pie in a Jar

8. Muffins in a Jar

9. Nuts in a Jar

10. Brownies in a Jar

11. Cranberry Butter

12. Granola in a Jar

13. Caramel Sauce in a Jar

14. Hot Fudge in a Jar

15. Strawberry Jam

16. Lemon Curd in a Jar

17. Soup in a Jar

18. Spicy Jelly in a Jar

19. Rootbeer BBQ Sauce in a Jar

20. Dry Rub in a Jar

21. Ranch Mix in a Jar

22. Bread and Butter Pickles

23. Hamburger Helper in a Jar

24. Chili in a Jar

Homemade Chocolate Bark Recipes

I love Chocolate bark because it is easy to make and you can create lots of amazing flavors.

25. White Chocolate Holiday Bark with Cranberries and Pumpkin Seeds

26. Peppermint Bark Cups

27. Yogurt Bark with Strawberries and Pistachios 

28. Bite Sized Party Bark with Mini Chocolate Chips and Peanuts

29. White Chocolate Oreo Bark

30. Easy Toffee Pretzel Bark

31. Homemade Butterfinger Bark

32. Rocky Road Bark

33. Coconut Bark

34. Lemon Bark

35. S’mores Bark

36. Pumpkin Spice Latte Bark

37. Buckeye Bark

Homemade Truffle Recipes

Yummy chocolate treats packed full of flavor make the perfect edible gifts because they are so rich and look pretty too. 38. No Fuss Chocolate Truffles

39. Red Velvet Oreo Truffles

40. Samoa Truffles

41. Truffles Kids Can Make

42. S’mores Truffles

43. Blueberry Lemon Truffles 44. Lemon Cookie Truffles

45. Nutter Butter Truffles

46. Chocolate Candy Cane Truffles

47. Gluten Free Cookie Dough Truffles

  48. Thin Mint Truffles

49. Pumpkin Pie Truffles

50. Eggnog Truffles

Homemade Candy and Snacks

Delectable little goodies and snacks make great gifts for friends and hosts.

51. Seafoam Candy aka Honycomb Sponge Candy

52. Candy Citrus Peel

53. Gingerbread Christmas Tree

54. The Best English Toffee

55. Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn

56. Slice and Bake Shortbread

57. Chocolate Covered Raspberries

58. Pumpkin Seed Brittle

59. Strawberry Meringues

60. Homemade Tootsie Rolls

61. Homemade Kool-Aid Taffy

62. Homemade Butterfingers

63. Peanut Butter Confetti Marshmallow Squares

64. Eggnog Fudge

65. Maple Pumpkin Fudge

66. Rocky Road Fudge

67. Red Velvet Fudge

68. Pretzel S’mores

69. Cream Cheese Mints

70. Homemade Butter Mints

71. Honey Mustard Pretzels

72. Christmas Chex Mix

73. Slow Cooker Pumpkin Harvest Chex Mix

74. Pumpkin Spice Muddy Buddies aka Puppy Chow

75. Chocolate Churro Muddy Buddies

Those are just some ideas to get you started! For more homemade edible gift ideas, follow my Cookie Board on Pinterest! What do you like to make for an edible gift?

Follow True Aim Education’s board Cookie Cookie on Pinterest.

The post 75 Homemade Edible Gift Ideas first appeared on True Aim.

Audrey was excited when I said the word cookies, but then I got the avocado out and her smile turned into a frown, “Avocado! You don’t put that in cookies!”

Actually, I started using avocado a lot more in recipes to replace some of the butter.  I just never told anyone

I make these cookies when I want a healthy indulgence, if there is such a thing.  Gluten-free and paleo, these are great for almost any diet.

The trick to make these look smooth and round is a DIY pastry bag.  I tried it without and they look really funny, but if you are in a hurry it doesn’t taste any different without one.

Double Chocolate Avocado Cookies

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

12 mins

Total time

22 mins

 

Double Chocolate Avocado Cookies taste like fudge, but they're gluten-free and Paleo!

Author: True Aim

Recipe type: Dessert

Cuisine: Gluten-Free

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 Medium Ripe Avocado
• 3 tbs Honey, Agave, or Stevia
• 1 Egg
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• ½ cup Peanut Butter or Almond Butter
• ½ cup Cocoa Powder
• ¼ cup Chocolate Chips (Cacao chips)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 and prepare a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Cream together the avocado and sweetener until smooth. Then add the egg and mix until no lumps remain.
3. Next add the peanut butter and slowly add the Cocoa Powder 2 tbs at a time. If the mixture looks too sticky, leave 1 or 2 tbs out. You want the consistency to be smooth just like the peanut butter.
4. Stir in the Chocolate Chips by hand and put the mixture in a plastic sandwich bag. Cut a hole the size of a nickle in one corner and squeeze out 1 inch rounds onto the parchment.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the middle of the cookies look set, not shiny.
6. Makes 12-18 cookies. Store in the refrigerator.

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I could eat the whole batch by myself, but I wouldn’t be able to stand the sad little faces that peak in the cookie jar only to find crumbs.

For more easy and delicious family recipes, like me on Facebook or follow on Pinterest! 

The post Double Chocolate Avocado Cookies first appeared on True Aim.

I used to live in a military town.  Memorial Day weekend was just about as busy as Christmas.  Invited to at least 3 BBQs, I was always asked to bring either dessert or a salad.  Although simple, I’m horrible at making salads!  So I opted for something sweet.  These Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars layered with TWIX Bites are perfect to share with family and friends!

Although there were lots of fun festivities, Memorial Day was also a somber holiday in that town.  We took all the events as an opportunity to show our appreciation, and gave out cookies & other deserts to service members and their families.

It was hard to talk to my daughter about Memorial Day back then.  She was only 2.  Now, she is fully aware of the sacrifice many have made for us; people they don’t even know.

When we went to Walmart to pick up our TWIX Bites, my daughter noticed the American flag was everywhere.  She was very curious as to why and asked, “Mom is it going to be the 4th of July?  When IS the 4th of July?”  Of course when I told her when it was, she laughed and turned a little red.

I told her is was going to be Memorial Day soon.  She didn’t know what that was and so, as we made these cookies bars, we talked about the holiday and everyone we know who has served.

We have a lot of neighbors and friends who have given many years, so we’ll definitely be sharing these with them

Make sure you cook the bars until they are dark golden brown on the edges.  The pudding with help keep them moist so it is really hard to over cook them

TWIX Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars #EatMoreBites

 

Print

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

45 mins

 

A Decadent Cookie Bar with lots of gooey chocolate and caramel!

Author: True Aim

Recipe type: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 1 cup Butter at room temp
• ¾ cup Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Package Instant Vanilla Pudding
• 1¾ cup Flour
• ¾ tsp Baking Powder
• ½ tsp Salt
• ½ cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 Package TWIX Bites Refrigerated

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and generously grease a square 8x8 baking dish.
2. Cream butter and sugar together until smooth and add vanilla.
3. Beat in the eggs until incorporated and then mix in the vanilla pudding.
4. Add your flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix just until you can't see the flour, but no more. Stir the chocolate chips in by hand.
5. Spread half of the dough on the bottom of the prepared baking dish and top with the TWIX bites. Top with remaining dough and bake for 30 - 40 minutes or until very dark golden brown on the edges.
6. Cool completely on a wire rack and cut into 16 bars.

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Before you makes these awesome cookie bars remember to print off your coupon and receive $1.00 off when you buy two 2.83 oz. or larger bags OR $3.00 off when you buy two 6 oz. or larger bags of TWIX Bites.

What do you do to for Memorial Day weekend?  Do you have any family traditions or great recipes?  I would love to hear about them!

Check out these Candy Bar Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes for more baking ideas with Mars Bites!

The post TWIX Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars #EatMoreBites first appeared on True Aim.

Ever get invited to dinner and couldn’t decide what to bring?  I’ll give you some advice; don’t buy grocery store cupcakes!

We got invited to watch the BSU game and have dinner at a friends the other night.  I couldn’t find the right recipe to make so I thought it would be a fantastic idea to get some store-bought cupcakes.  You know, a special treat for a special night.  Big mistake!  After being served a fantastic meal, I was embarrassed by my sad, grossly sugary, dry dessert.

Since then, I made up this amazing cupcake recipe that gets rave reviews.  I’ll never have to bring grocery store cupcakes to game day again.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 Cup Cake Flour

3/4 Cup Chocolate Powder

1 Teas Baking Powder

1 Teas Baking Soda

A Pinch of Salt

1/2 Cup Butter at Room Temp.

1 3/4 Cup Sugar

1 Teas Vanilla

2 Extra Large Eggs (I used 3 Large)

1 1/2 Cup Shaken Buttermilk

Snickers and/or Milky Way Bites (Coupon)

Preheated 350° Oven

Makes 24-30 Cupcakes or 48-50 Mini Cupcakes

The Best Chocolate Cupcakes Ever!

Even without the Snickers and Milky Way Bites, this cupcake recipe is one of the best I’ve had.  They turn out light, moist, and not too sweet.  Beware, you’ll want to eat 3 or 4!

I enlisted my sous-chef Audrey to mix up the batter.  First she mixed the Flour, Chocolate, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, and Salt.

Then we whipped the butter and sugar.

Next, we added the eggs and vanilla.

The final step was to alternate between 1/3 of the buttermilk and 1/3 of the dry ingredients, mixing well and scrapping the sides after each addition, until everything was incorporated.

Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners and fill 1/2 – 2/3 full.  Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until a Snickers or Milky Way Bite doesn’t sink to the bottom when you put one on a cupcake.  You might have to push the candy bars down a little. Bake for 8-10 minutes more or until a toothpick poked in the cake comes out clean.

If you are making mini cupcakes, bake for 5-7 minutes, add the candy and bake for 7-9 minutes more. 

We decorated our cupcakes with fluffy Whipped Cream Frosting and a DIY Pastry Bag.

These cupcakes freeze really well too!  Just take them out an hour ahead of time and decorate.  You just can’t go wrong with this recipe!

see my full shopping experience on Google+!

What’s your favorite cupcake recipe?

For more kid friendly recipes, like me on Facebook or follow me on Pinterest.  Thanks for your support!

The post Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes first appeared on True Aim.