One of my favorite things to do this time of year is holiday baking. I have the fondest memories of standing in a chair beside my mother when I was little, and creating cookie masterpieces to give to friends. My mom’s cookies were the best…seriously. My daughter and I spent many December days doing the same thing. Oh how I miss those days!
I did, however, have a little baking time of my own thanks to Safeway, who sent me a fabulous basket full of goodies to get creative with! I have to admit that I didn’t even know that some of these items existed for the home baker – such as the Betty Crocker Fondant Toppers, Duncan Hines Frosting Creations (and mix-ins) and more. Oh here, let me show you!
This is the basket I received (Newman wasn’t included, but he is incredibly nosy and had to be involved):
It was fun pulling each item out – the ideas started coming to me immediately. Here is another photo, unobstructed by Newman:
Before I do a “show and tell” with you on my baking fun, I want to tell you about a really neat app from Safeway. The Safeway Chef Assistant app has holiday recipes and tips, a baking timer, and a really fun “Virtual Cupcake Decorator” which lets you and your children decorate a virtual cupcake. After the perfect cupcake has been created, you can email it or even share it on Facebook and Twitter! Make sure you follow the #SafewayChefAssistant hashtag on Twitter for more fun ideas.
I first decided to bake Red Velvet Cupcakes. I am crazy about Red Velvet, so this seemed like a good place to start. Plus I had plans to use the red fondant shapes. I was fascinated by the Red Velvet mix, as it also contained a frosting pouch (which I haven’t seen before). Everything that I needed was in the box, including a plastic pastry bag for filling and frosting the cupcakes!
After the cupcakes were done, I mixed the frosting per the directions, filled the pastry bag and poked the tip of the bag into each cupcake and gave a gentle squeeze. I then used the frosting in the bag to frost the Red Velvet Cupcakes. I may have added a bit too much water (or maybe I just need more practice), as the swirls I made didn’t quite stand up the way the should have. No problem though, I decided to use little fondant shapes on top of the cupcakes anyway.
The fondant was really neat and easy. I have always wanted to play with it, and the possibilities are endless really. I wouldn’t even begin to know how to make it from scratch, so it was a relief to find it in three little tubs with the primary colors. To use the fondant, I simply microwaved it on a plate for a few seconds, then rolled out. Also in the box were teeny cookie cutters, which I used to make the shapes. Voila!
Oh my goodness – these cupcakes were amazing! They were so moist and full of flavor. I would never have known that they weren’t from scratch, if I hadn’t baked them myself.
Next I made the Reese’s Puffs muffins. They were really easy to make and again, everything was included in the package, including the yummy crumbles that I sprinkled on top before baking. These were a big hit with my family.
Last but not least, I decided to try something completely different (out of the box, if you will!). I used the Pillsbury Moist Supreme Yellow Cake mix and made two round cakes. I then used the Duncan Hines Cinnamon Roll frosting mix-in, and blended it into the tub of Duncan Hines Frosting Creations. I just have to say what a clever idea this is – I love the idea of mixing in different flavors to put a twist on an ordinary cake. I was curious to see what other flavors are available and there are so many. Baking will never be the same! With Duncan Hines Frosting Creations mix-in flavors such as Cotton Candy, White Chocolate Raspberry, Mocha, Strawberry Shortcake and even Bubble Gum, how can a person not be creative? There are plenty of other flavors too (and recipe ideas on the Duncan Hines website)! Right now they have a few Limited Edition seasonal flavors that I am dying to try – Pumpkin Spice, Gingerbread, Peppermint Stick and Apple Pie. Oh my.
Sorry – I got sidetracked. Back to my recipe! I mixed the cake batter according to the directions, poured in two greased cake pans and baked them. While they were baking, I made my Cinnamon Roll frosting.
I frosted the cake, sprinkled lightly with a little more cinnamon (just for looks), and topped with two cinnamon sticks. This cake was incredibly good – it was super moist and the frosting was amazing. It tasted just like a cinnamon roll! I could not stop eating this cake (in fact, I ate so much of it, I didn’t want my dinner. Shame on me). I would feel proud to take this cake to any event!
My kitchen smelled delightful for three days in a row, as I baked my little heart out. Safeway has all of the above products, to help you through the holidays (and any time really). With all of these flavor combinations, my family will never be bored!
Safeway has a Pinterest page with oodles of holiday ideas and delicious, including holiday meals, baking, sides, drink pairings and of course, dessert. You will also want to follow Safeway on Facebook and @Safeway on Twitter, as there is there is a “Pin to Win” Sweeps coming up soon from Safeway!
How would you like to win all of the baking products that I received? Enter below!
THE GIVEAWAY:
One (1) winner will receive a Holiday Baking Gift Basket from Safeway (like the one shown above!)!
Open to US residents. Giveaway ends 12/17.
*I received the above gift basket from Safeway/DEI Worldwide, free of charge, to bake holiday goodies and share with my readers.
165 Responses
I would love to try the Strawberry Shortcake.
The gingerbread frosting looks like it would be interesting to try on a gingerbread cake!(or cupcakes)
Oh I loved to try the cimmanima(cinnamon) roll flavor hehehehehe
Mmm, White Chocolate Raspberry sound delicious. So many things I could make with this. Thanks!
I would most like to try the gingerbread.
Mocha
Im with you, I think cinnamon roll sounds the best!
Cinnamon for sure, it would be excellent on Carrot cake! Yummo!
Newman’s so cute!
I’d like to try Peppermint Stick.
I’d like to try White Chocolate Raspberry
Thanks!
Pumpkin Spice
White Chocolate Raspberry for me!
Definitely white chocolate raspberry 🙂
I’d love to try the gingerbread.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’d like to try the chocolate almond.
I would love to try the gingerbread
Peppermint stick!
cotton candy blue!
Pumpkin spice!
Apple Pie; it sounds interesting.
I’d love to try the Peppermint Stick mix in.
Peppermint stick
Leave a comment telling me what frosting mix-in flavor you would most like to try! peppermint stick
i’d love peppermint stick!
annae07 at aol dot com
I think the gingerbread sounds good.
It’s a toss up between Chocolate Almond, Mocha and White Chocolate Raspberry.
Definitely Mocha!
…the cinnamon roll mixin sounds like a must for the next time I make them.. Seems, no matter how I try… I just can’t get the glaze/frosting…
I would like to try the mocha.
White Chocolate Raspberry!
The pumpkin spice! Thanks!
I would like to try the Pumpkin Spice!
I would love to try their Caramel frosting mix-in flavor.
I’d love to try the cinnamon.
i would like the gingerbread stir in
Gingerbread
I want to try the Cinnamon Roll.
I think the Gingerbread sounds great
I would like to try Peppermint Stick.
Chocolate Almond mmmm!!
I would definitely want to try cinammon roll
I would like to try the Apple Pie mix in flavor
Strawberry Shortcake
gingerbread debbie jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
lots of good stuff in this giveaway
peppermint stick
Peppermint Stick
gingerbread sounds good
cinnamon roll – these are neat lol thanks gahome2mom/gmail/com
White Chocolate Raspberry
Mocha!
Apple pie!
Probably the flavor I would like to try the most is the Caramel or the Orange Cream. This is making me really want to make some cupcakes right now.
I would love to try the White Chocolate Raspberry.
Gingerbread.
Apple Pie
Thanks
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
I think the pumpkin spice sounds good.
peppermint stick
white choc raspberry, hands down!!!
Mocha.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
most want to try red velvet
Cinnamon!!!
I would like Duncan Hine’s Cherry Vanilla Frostings Creations.
Apple sounds good to me too
Pumpkin Spice! I’ve tried their Cotton Candy and Mocha! 🙂
LEMON FLAVOR
id like to try the white chocolate raspberry
I would like to mix it peppermint cimmamon roll icing on chocolate cupcakes.
would like to mocha
i would like to try the reeses muffin mix
gingerbread.
Cake Batter Sugar cookies!
http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2012/08/16/cake-batter-sugar-cookies/
peppermint stick!
Definately Cinnamon roll. 🙂
I would like to try White Chocolate Raspberry.
gingerbread
the gingerbread frosting (goes great with seasonal treats)
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
PUMPKIN SPICE
Pumpkin Spice. BIG fan of almost anything pumpkin!
Gingerbread
i would love to try the pumpkin spice!
I want to try the gingerbread
I’d like to try the Peppermint Stick!
I would like to try the gingerbread.
Cinnamon roll? My goodness that sounds amazing!
Love to try Mocha
I’d like to try the apple pie flavor.
The Peppermint Stick sounds wonderful 🙂
Thank you for this giveaway!
White Chocolate Raspberry
Definitly the cinnamon it sounds so yummy
I’d love to try gingerbread!
Gingerbread sounds good.
Thanks!
I would like to try the strawberry shortcake
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Peppermint Stick!! YUM!!~ grammypenny@frontier.com
Like to try Pumpkin Spice
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thank you
I would love to try the Strawberry Shortcake
Peppermint stick! 🙂
I’d like to try the Mocha
White Chocolate raspberry!
Pumpkin Spice
What a fun prize!! I like the frosting add-ins!
stawberry shortcake sounds best!
Cinnamon roll!
White Chocolate Raspberry sounds good
i think cinnamon bun !!!
My daughter just tried the cherry vanilla and orange one and she loves them.
The Gingerbread
i would like to try the gingerbread
the Strawberry Shortcake
gingerbread!
I would try the gingerbread frosting mix-in on a spice cupcake.
Mocha frosting mix-in flavor
cinnamon frosting on Carrot cake, delicious
sibabe64 at ptd dot net
The white chocolate raspberry sounds great!
Sweet giveaway i like the ginger bread
I would love to try to bake with the cinnamon roll flavor!!! Awesome job on the baking..they look delish!!!!
gingerbread
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Strawberry Shortcake sounds good.
I would LOVE pumpkin Spice, but I haven’t found any of these in the stores in my area. I was a bit disappointed.
I would like to try Gingerbread!
I love the Mix-Ins, I am not a big fan of canned icing and usually make my own. They mix-ins work great in my homemade icing also. The Gingerbread mix will be my next one to try, a flavor nobody expects from frosting.
chocolet
i would like to try the buble gum flavor
I would love to try the seasonal Apple Pie mix-in. Thanks
Peppermint Stick!!!
mmmm….gingerbread
white chocolate raspberry!!
I would like to try the cinnamon roll
I’d like to try the gingerbread flavor.
White Chocolate Raspberry
I would like to try the Strawberry Shortcake
i like them all i think the carrot cake would be great
I’d like to try: Pumpkin Spice- YUM!
I’d love to try apple pie.
Strawberry Shortcake.
anything chochlate!!
cotton candy
Cinammon roll sounds amazing!!!
i want to try the gingerbread.
white chocolate raspberry ….i love raspberry
I would love to try the gingerbread mixin!
White Chocolate Raspberry.
peppermint stick is what I would like to try
strawberry shortcake
I’d love to try the White Chocolate Raspberry flavor!
Strawberry Shortcake!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com
i want to try the gingerbread mix in
I’d like to try the gingerbread, too!
Pumpkin Spice!
gingerbread
apple pie
I want to try cotton candy.We had the mocha last night on my daughter’s birthday cupcakes and it was so good.
I would like to try the pumpkin spice…yum!
The carrot cake
Apple Pie!
I would like to try peppermint stick.
I would like to try the Gingerbread.
The peppermint stick sounds like it would be good on my homemade brownies
The gingerbread frosting
Peppermint stick…and Mocha. 🙂 thank you.
Gingerbread
I want to try the cinnamon roll
I’d like to try the new gingerbread flavor.
i want to try the mocha
The apple pie seems appealing