Desserts Archives - Page 6 of 8 - The Sparrow's Home

Miss Cay’s Red Velvet Cake

November 29, 2016 by Susan 6 Comments

Classic, Southern Red Velvet Cake is so much more than just a fad. Slathered with rich, cream cheese icing…it is a moist, decadent treat!

Several years ago, red velvet cake went from being a not-so-well-known Southern classic to a fad that you saw everywhere. Unfortunately, once that happened, I don’t think I ever found one good one. Most of them just tasted like a white cake batter with red food coloring added. No thank you.

And say what you will about “variations”, I am a stickler that to be a true red velvet cake, it must be slathered in cream cheese icing.

My introduction to the real, classic, red velvet cake came while I was living in Atlanta. I was student teaching under a wonderful mentor, Miss Cay. More than a terrific model of teaching, she took me under her mothering wing. She took care of me when I had my wisdom teeth pulled and pampered me when I was pregnant.

She also bought me my first piece of red velvet cake.

Melt in Your Mouth Frosted Shortbread Squares

November 15, 2016 by Susan 5 Comments

Buttery brown sugar shortbread cookies topped with mounds of creamy icing. These little gems melt in your mouth, and are so easy to make!

These little shortbread squares disappear quickly in my house. I would say it’s because they are so adorable, but the three guys I live with would probably disagree.

The cookies are tender and buttery. And with a little mound of creamy, smooth frosting on top…perfection!

Freezer Apple Pie Filling

October 11, 2016 by Susan 52 Comments

This apple pie filling for the freezer is beyond easy! Freezing apple pie filling is an easy way to preserve apples for a warm & gooey apple pie all winter long.

Apple pie filling can be used in far more than apple pie, you know. Crisps, turnovers, with pancakes, oatmeal…loads of things! That’s why I love to keep a couple of bags in my freezer -ready to go– during the winter months when a warm, gooey apple dessert tastes best.

It’s so simple, you can put up several bags in no time!

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

October 4, 2016 by Susan 14 Comments

I’m so old I remember when pumpkin was something you carved, not something you put in your coffee. I do like a pumpkin spice latte, though, so there will be no complaining from me! I wanted to put together a collection of pumpkin recipes for you to try this fall…er, should I say, pumpkin spice season.

I looked for recipes that I plan to try, or have already made. I’ll be sure to let you know which ones I’ve already road tested for you.

Chewy Cookie Bars: Your New Most Used Recipe

September 27, 2016 by Susan 6 Comments

One basic recipe…endless variations. These cookie bars are easy and delicious! And they’re made with ingredients you have in your pantry right now.

I bake quite a bit. We have study groups at our house once a week during the school year, and part of hosting means providing a snack for the group. It’s amazing how much more kids engage when there are cookies or muffins on the table! I also like to offer a treat when we have guests over, and sometimes I bake just to be a nice mom.

I have one recipe card in my cabinet that I don’t even put in my recipe box, because I use it so much. It’s really more a list of ingredients than a recipe. It’s faded and has dried crusty bits on it. Have you got a recipe like that?

Brownies! The Only Brownie Recipe You Need: A Perfect Blank Canvas

September 13, 2016 by Susan 4 Comments

These fudgy brownies are the perfect canvas for add ins and customization. Nuts, chips, candies, frosting..the list is endless. And they’re SO easy!

I’ve made a million different kinds of brownies over the years. OK, not really a million…but at least 15. And I can honestly say that I don’t recall a brownie I didn’t like. I mean…chocolate.

For the last few years, though, this brownie recipe has been my one and only. It’s kind of a conglomeration of a few recipes I’ve made. It’s quick and easy, chewy and fudgy. All things I look for in a brownie.

And it is the perfect blank canvas.