Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake

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This Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake combines three dessert favorites –  moist vanilla cake, fluffy cream cheese frosting, and tart strawberries – into one mouthwateringly decadent dessert.

This Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake combines three dessert favorites -  moist vanilla cake, fluffy cream cheese frosting, and tart strawberries - into one mouthwateringly decadent dessert.

Today my five-year-old looks up, as I’m in the kitchen and she’s in the playroom, and casually says, “Mama, I’m jammin’ the wifi.” (<— imagine this is said with the most country Southern accent you’ve ever heard). I’m not sure where my little aspiring hacker comes up with these things, but between her, her big brother, and her little sister, there’s literally never a dull moment. I love it.

Speaking of jamming the wifi. If there was a ever a cake that possessed the power to do just that, it’d be this Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake. This cake can jam wifi, slay dragons, settle feuds, and turn even the crappiest day good. It’s the cake equivalent of laughing baby videos.

This Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake combines three dessert favorites -  moist vanilla cake, fluffy cream cheese frosting, and tart strawberries - into one mouthwateringly decadent dessert.

At first glance, it might seem like an ordinary cake. I use, as usual, a cake mix, but I add a bunch of stuff to fancy it up. Sandwiched between each of the cake layers are gorgeous slices of fresh strawberries and a generous amount of homemade cream cheese frosting. The tender cake and the creamy frosting are uh-mazing on their own, but the addition of the tart berries rockets the whole thing into another stratosphere. Does that sound like hyperbole? Perhaps it is, but ask anyone who’s had a slice of Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake; they’ll vouch for me.

This Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake combines three dessert favorites -  moist vanilla cake, fluffy cream cheese frosting, and tart strawberries - into one mouthwateringly decadent dessert.

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Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

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Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

I hosted some family at our house several weeks ago and, as I’m sure is typical with most foodies, I spent an inordinate amount of time determining the menu. It was an early afternoon event, so I put together a small menu of appetizers and finger foods. It took some finagling to get what I considered to be the perfect balance of sweet and savory, light and heavy, but every dish was a hit, including this Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip.

Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

Fruit dips, in my opinion, tend to have a bad reputation. A lot of people think of the sickeningly sweet store-bought version. You know the kind I’m talking about: the little tub that’s nearly grainy in texture? There’s nothing wrong with choosing that option in a pinch, but it can’t begin to compare to my Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip. This stuff is rich — duh, it’s got cream cheese and heavy cream in it — but the unsweetened cocoa powder provides a hint of bitterness that is offset by the sweet fruit. This recipe is perfect for making in advance to lighten your day-of load.

Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

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Homemade Hostess Cupcakes

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No more of those dry, flavorless, prepackaged desserts. Homemade Hostess Cupcakes are moist, sweet, and perfect for any special occasion.

No more of those dry, flavorless, prepackaged desserts. Homemade Hostess Cupcakes are moist, sweet, and perfect for any special occasion.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I made Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting for G’s birthday party. When it came to bringing cupcakes to his classroom, though, I went with these Homemade Hostess Cupcakes.

Every few years I fool myself into thinking a real Hostess cupcake will taste good. In my head, I know that isn’t true; they’re dry and flavorless, and that chocolate “frosting” is just gross. But every once in a while, I find myself standing in a convenience store in the middle of a road trip, and that cupcake calls to me. And every time, I swear I won’t waste my money on one again.

The concept behind Hostess Cupcakes is solid. Chocolate cupcake: yum. Sweet filling: yes, please. Smooth and rich chocolate frosting: definitely. Even the curlicue on top is charming. Hostess just doesn’t pull it off, and that’s where this recipe comes in. These Homemade Hostess Cupcakes are everything the original should be, and more. I don’t mean to brag, but more than one of G’s classmates deemed it, “the best cupcake I’ve ever had.”

No more of those dry, flavorless, prepackaged desserts. Homemade Hostess Cupcakes are moist, sweet, and perfect for any special occasion.

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German Chocolate Cake Cookies

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A fun twist on a classic dessert, these German Chocolate Cake Cookies are everything you love about the cake in a rich, gooey, single-serving cookie.

A fun twist on a classic dessert, these German Chocolate Cake Cookies are everything you love about the cake in a rich, gooey, single-serving cookie.

German chocolate cake is my dad’s favorite dessert so, when he and my stepmom came for a visit a few weeks ago, I knew I wanted to make a recipe that was a twist on that. Since I’m all about individual servings — have you seen how many cupcake recipes I have? — I decided to transform my regular chocolate chip cookie recipe and my Granny’s German chocolate frosting recipe into German Chocolate Cake Cookies.

Needless to say, these guys were a hit. I served them at a family gathering and was asked several times for the recipe. I sent the leftovers with J to school for his coworkers, and I later received a few texts raving about them. One of my favorite things about these cookies is that the various parts can be made ahead. I made the chocolate cookies a few days before the get-together, and the frosting can sit in the fridge for a couple days, too. Then assembly is pretty much a breeze.

A fun twist on a classic dessert, these German Chocolate Cake Cookies are everything you love about the cake in a rich, gooey, single-serving cookie.

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Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting

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For an adorable treat that’s the perfect combination of salty and sweet, bake up these rich and decadent Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting.

For an adorable treat that's the perfect combination of salty and sweet, bake up these rich and decadent Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting.

We had a birthday party a few weeks ago for my oldest, G, who turned seven. This is the part where I do that trite, “They grow up so fast! Where did my baby go?! I can’t handle this!” thing. But really, y’all, every word of that is true. Like, it seems that only a few weeks ago he was sneaking into the kitchen to eat from the dog food bowl and referring to himself in the third person as “shwee -shwee.” No, we don’t know how he got that from “Griffin.”

But, alas, he’s another year older, which means another year of dinosaur obsession, another year of being the best big brother ever. I didn’t ask G what kind of cupcakes he wanted because I knew that, with the dinosaur cupcake toppers I bought, he wouldn’t care about the aesthetics of the cupcakes. Plus, I know the kid loves chocolate and salty/sweet as much as his mom does. With that in mind, I couldn’t go wrong with Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting.

For an adorable treat that's the perfect combination of salty and sweet, bake up these rich and decadent Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting.

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Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies

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Made with flaky pie crust and chunks of caramel, Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies are an adorable, mouthwatering version of the favorite holiday dessert.

Made with flaky pie crust and chunks of caramel, Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies are an adorable, mouthwatering version of the favorite holiday dessert.

Probably my favorite thing about hand pies is that they’re supposed to be rustic. You don’t get that pressure to make sure the rim of the crust is perfectly pinched, or make a fancy design with the top crust. Instead, you get the freedom to mold the pies by hand, to make imperfect seams and homemade shapes. It’s the perfect scenario for those who love to bake, but don’t care to get fancy with it.

Made with flaky pie crust and chunks of caramel, Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies are an adorable, mouthwatering version of the favorite holiday dessert.

Know what else is perfect? The filling in these Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies. The tart apples are finely diced to allow them to soften appropriately during the abbreviated cooking time. They’re tossed with traditional apple pie seasonings, and then they just sit for a while as the flavors develop. The crust itself doesn’t need to be anything special — I just use a prepackaged kind — because, in addition to the apples, the little pies are stuffed with chunks of caramel and flakes of salt. That right there would be enough, but to take them really over the top, the pies are drizzled with a rich caramel sauce that offers the perfect finished touch.

Made with flaky pie crust and chunks of caramel, Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies are an adorable, mouthwatering version of the favorite holiday dessert.

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Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes

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With a tender, flavor-packed cupcake and real cookie chunks in the frosting, Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes are the perfect decadent treat.

With a tender, flavor-packed cupcake and real cookie chunks in the frosting, Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes are the perfect decadent treat.

I got a text a few Fridays ago. It was around noon, and the text was from a friend asking if I’d make cupcakes for her son to celebrate his birthday with his baseball team the next day. It was a no-pressure type thing, and she offered to pick some up from the Walmart bakery if I didn’t have time to bake anything.

With a tender, flavor-packed cupcake and real cookie chunks in the frosting, Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes are the perfect decadent treat.

But y’all, friends don’t let friends buy Walmart cupcakes. Plus, I never turn down an opportunity to make them, especially when the friend gives me free reign over the flavors. I wanted to try flavors that would be a little bit unexpected while also pleasing the palates of a bunch of preteen boys. I made homemade oatmeal cream pies several years ago, and I remembered my friend’s husband mentioning hiding his Little Debbie snack cakes from their boys, and so the idea for Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes was born.

With a tender, flavor-packed cupcake and real cookie chunks in the frosting, Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes are the perfect decadent treat.

The actual cake part starts out standard enough; I use a box mix, as I usually do, but I added some extra goodies to take it into homemade territory. Because I’ve never made a cupcakes that wasn’t begging to be stuffed or filled with something, I cut miniature cream pie circles and tucked those down inside the batter. I used the extra cookie pieces in the frosting, because why wouldn’t I? The end result is these Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes: rich, moist, and deliciously homemade.

With a tender, flavor-packed cupcake and real cookie chunks in the frosting, Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes are the perfect decadent treat.

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Frosted Heath Cookie Bars

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Skip the bore and the time suck of rolling individual cookies and make these chewy and decadent toffee-studded Frosted Heath Cookie Bars instead.

Skip the bore and the time suck of rolling individual cookies and make these chewy and decadent toffee-studded Frosted Heath Cookie Bars instead.

Frosted cookie bars are one of my favorite easy desserts. I love that, instead of spending a ton of time in the kitchen rolling out and baby-sitting individual cookies, I can plop the dough in a pan, set the timer, and come back to a finished product. These Frosted Heath Cookie Bars are wonderful on their own; they’d be great even without the frosting. Everything is better frosted, though, and this homemade vanilla frosting takes the bars over the top.

Skip the bore and the time suck of rolling individual cookies and make these chewy and decadent toffee-studded Frosted Heath Cookie Bars instead.

I made these a while back for J to take to a party. Over the next few days I got multiple requests to share the recipe and to make them again. It isn’t tough to see why; these Frosted Heath Cookie Bars are thick and chewy, with a moistness and a richness you won’t find in regular cookies. The homemade frosting is fluffy, light, and the perfect complement to the toffee-studded bars.

Skip the bore and the time suck of rolling individual cookies and make these chewy and decadent toffee-studded Frosted Heath Cookie Bars instead.

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Brown Butter Chocolate Swirl Cookies

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Not only are these Brown Butter Chocolate Swirl Cookies a unique and delectable twist on a classic dessert, they’re also prepared on the stove in just one pan!

Not only are these Brown Butter Chocolate Swirl Cookies a unique and delectable twist on a classic dessert, they're also prepared on the stove in just one pan!

My brother-in-law began his first year of college just a few weeks ago. He’s going to school in New York so, along with mailing Unc Noah her artwork, B began asking if we could send him cookies pretty much as soon as he left. Of course I loved the idea because I’m always looking for an excuse to bake and give away treats, and also because my mom used to mail me cookies when I was in college, too.

One thing or another seemed to come up nearly every day for a couple weeks, and then my mother-in-law decided to make a last-minute trip to visit Noah. Perfect timing! Instead of sending the cookies through USPS, we sent them via Delta right in her carry-on.

Not only are these Brown Butter Chocolate Swirl Cookies a unique and delectable twist on a classic dessert, they're also prepared on the stove in just one pan!

I took the cookie-making opportunity to make these Brown Butter Chocolate Swirl Cookies. In addition to the depth of flavor the brown butter provides, this recipe is unique because the whole thing comes together on the stove in a saucepan. Yup, after browning the butter, you add the rest of the ingredients to the pan, mix it all up, and then you’r ready to shape cookies.

B and I had a great time making these cookies together and, of course, we all enjoyed eating them, too. Browning the butter and then melting in brown sugar provides a wonderful toffee flavor that takes these a step beyond traditional chocolate chip cookies. They’re further elevated with three different flavors of chocolate chips, some of which melt in the warm dough to leave sweet swirls throughout. The end result is chewy, tender cookies with plenty of chocolate and toffee flavor in every bite.

Not only are these Brown Butter Chocolate Swirl Cookies a unique and delectable twist on a classic dessert, they're also prepared on the stove in just one pan!

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Strawberry-Filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

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What happens when you combine homemade strawberry filling, moist vanilla cupcakes, and decadent cream cheese frosting? You get Strawberry-Filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.

What happens when you combine homemade strawberry filling, moist vanilla cupcakes, and decadent cream cheese frosting? You get Strawberry-Filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Look, I’m just as eager as the next person for the arrival of fall. Probably more eager, actually, because a lot of people don’t live in the sweltering humidity of summer in Mississippi. But while I’m 100 percent ready to embrace sweatshirts, football, and all things pumpkin, there are at least a few parts of summer that I’m not quite ready to let go of.

Case in point: strawberries, particularly when they’re in these Strawberry-Filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. These little beauties are a twist on a cake I’ve been making for years, which is a twist on a cake my mom has been making for years. I’ve yet to share that cake recipe because I can’t seem to keep it around long enough to get photos. Moist and delicate cake, fresh strawberries, and homemade cream cheese frosting? Yeah, you can see why the cake disappears to quickly.

What happens when you combine homemade strawberry filling, moist vanilla cupcakes, and decadent cream cheese frosting? You get Strawberry-Filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.

These cupcakes are simply the cute portable version of that family favorite. I do my usual jazzing up of a store-bought cake mix, which results in fluffy cupcakes. Instead of layering sliced berries between big cake rounds, I make a fresh homemade sauce that’s packed with berry flavor. The thickened sauce gets spooned into a little pocket in the center of each cooked cupcakes, but it seeps into the cake to create an incredibly satisfying flavor combination. Neither the cake or the filling are overly sweet because the whole shebang is topped with the lightest, most decadent cream cheese frosting.

While you’ll certainly find me baking my fair share of pumpkin cupcakes and scones, you’ll also see me clinging to the last days of strawberry season, mostly in honor of these must-make cupcakes.

What happens when you combine homemade strawberry filling, moist vanilla cupcakes, and decadent cream cheese frosting? You get Strawberry-Filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.

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