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.
Sharon Schoepe
I would love to try the Strawberry Shortcake.
ellen beck
The gingerbread frosting looks like it would be interesting to try on a gingerbread cake!(or cupcakes)
Peggy Bolling
Oh I loved to try the cimmanima(cinnamon) roll flavor hehehehehe
Rochelle
Mmm, White Chocolate Raspberry sound delicious. So many things I could make with this. Thanks!
D Schmidt
I would most like to try the gingerbread.
Lisa
Mocha
andrea
Im with you, I think cinnamon roll sounds the best!
Miranda Sherman
Cinnamon for sure, it would be excellent on Carrot cake! Yummo!
Kristen
Newman’s so cute!
I’d like to try Peppermint Stick.
Jackie
I’d like to try White Chocolate Raspberry
Thanks!
Serena Powell
Pumpkin Spice
Aisha Belisario
White Chocolate Raspberry for me!
Samantha Simpson
Definitely white chocolate raspberry 🙂
Marj M.
I’d love to try the gingerbread.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com
Meg Tucker
I’d like to try the chocolate almond.
Joyce Harrell
I would love to try the gingerbread
Beth
Peppermint stick!
Jennifer
cotton candy blue!
Heather Wone
Pumpkin spice!
Rachel
Apple Pie; it sounds interesting.
Ani
I’d love to try the Peppermint Stick mix in.
Maureen
Peppermint stick
Dena S.
Leave a comment telling me what frosting mix-in flavor you would most like to try! peppermint stick
amy v
i’d love peppermint stick!
annae07 at aol dot com
Audra Weathers
I think the gingerbread sounds good.
Sherri G. - @WinneratLife
It’s a toss up between Chocolate Almond, Mocha and White Chocolate Raspberry.
Andrea Williams
Definitely Mocha!
TawndaM
…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…
Diana Stanhope
I would like to try the mocha.
Amanda J.
White Chocolate Raspberry!
Sonya Morris
The pumpkin spice! Thanks!
Jingle
I would like to try the Pumpkin Spice!
Colleen Maurina
I would love to try their Caramel frosting mix-in flavor.
stacey
I’d love to try the cinnamon.
gloria johnson
i would like the gingerbread stir in
Danette
Gingerbread
Jennifer Rote
I want to try the Cinnamon Roll.
Fawn H
I think the Gingerbread sounds great
Candice D.
I would like to try Peppermint Stick.
Shantel Davis
Chocolate Almond mmmm!!
Tamar
I would definitely want to try cinammon roll
Connie Lee
I would like to try the Apple Pie mix in flavor
Denise S
Strawberry Shortcake
debbie jackson
gingerbread debbie jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
dan williams
lots of good stuff in this giveaway
latanya
peppermint stick
Dorothy Deakyne
Peppermint Stick
Daniel M
gingerbread sounds good
Janet
cinnamon roll – these are neat lol thanks gahome2mom/gmail/com
Steven Epstein
White Chocolate Raspberry
mrsshukra
Mocha!
C.j.
Apple pie!
June M.
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.
Kristi C
I would love to try the White Chocolate Raspberry.
Carly
Gingerbread.
Terra Heck
Apple Pie
Thanks
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
debbie
I think the pumpkin spice sounds good.
Tabitha P.
peppermint stick
Debra S
white choc raspberry, hands down!!!
Monique Rizzo
Mocha.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
kelly thompson
most want to try red velvet
Misty Hurtado
Cinnamon!!!
Ann Fantom
I would like Duncan Hine’s Cherry Vanilla Frostings Creations.
BETH HENK
Apple sounds good to me too
Brittany
Pumpkin Spice! I’ve tried their Cotton Candy and Mocha! 🙂
EMMA L HORTON
LEMON FLAVOR
natalie rose machowski
id like to try the white chocolate raspberry
Laura C
I would like to mix it peppermint cimmamon roll icing on chocolate cupcakes.
Sharon Kaminski
would like to mocha
jodie olson
i would like to try the reeses muffin mix
tracy davis
gingerbread.
Calli
Cake Batter Sugar cookies!
http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2012/08/16/cake-batter-sugar-cookies/
Calli
peppermint stick!
ELIZABETH C.
Definately Cinnamon roll. 🙂
Debbie E
I would like to try White Chocolate Raspberry.
Linda Anderson
gingerbread
Louis
the gingerbread frosting (goes great with seasonal treats)
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
Maria Gagliano
PUMPKIN SPICE
Bonnie
Pumpkin Spice. BIG fan of almost anything pumpkin!
Nichelle Clemons
Gingerbread
Jennifer Mae Hiles
i would love to try the pumpkin spice!
deb c
I want to try the gingerbread
Selinda
I’d like to try the Peppermint Stick!
Tari Lawson
I would like to try the gingerbread.
Heather H
Cinnamon roll? My goodness that sounds amazing!
Michelle
Love to try Mocha
Crystal
I’d like to try the apple pie flavor.
Kayla @ TheEclecticElement
The Peppermint Stick sounds wonderful 🙂
Thank you for this giveaway!
Deb K
White Chocolate Raspberry
sheryl cullum
Definitly the cinnamon it sounds so yummy
Ruby @ The Ruby Red Apron
I’d love to try gingerbread!
Lori S
Gingerbread sounds good.
Thanks!
Linda Kish
I would like to try the strawberry shortcake
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Penny Snyder
Peppermint Stick!! YUM!!~ grammypenny@frontier.com
Patti Hess
Like to try Pumpkin Spice
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thank you
pu ye
I would love to try the Strawberry Shortcake
Becca
Peppermint stick! 🙂
Jeanine
I’d like to try the Mocha
Evelyn Goettner
White Chocolate raspberry!
Megan Parsons
Pumpkin Spice
Christina Viera
What a fun prize!! I like the frosting add-ins!
jacqueline
stawberry shortcake sounds best!
Crystal Sell
Cinnamon roll!
kyl neusch
White Chocolate Raspberry sounds good
amanda rice
i think cinnamon bun !!!
MaryR
My daughter just tried the cherry vanilla and orange one and she loves them.
Carolyn G
The Gingerbread
sandra davis
i would like to try the gingerbread
Anthony
the Strawberry Shortcake
Jennifer Young
gingerbread!
Elizabeth
I would try the gingerbread frosting mix-in on a spice cupcake.
FRANK S
Mocha frosting mix-in flavor
Lisa R
cinnamon frosting on Carrot cake, delicious
sibabe64 at ptd dot net
Pauline M
The white chocolate raspberry sounds great!
Denise Welch
Sweet giveaway i like the ginger bread
Carol Phillips
I would love to try to bake with the cinnamon roll flavor!!! Awesome job on the baking..they look delish!!!!
Valerie Taylor Mabrey
gingerbread
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Erica C.
Strawberry Shortcake sounds good.
Kimberly Hilbert
I would LOVE pumpkin Spice, but I haven’t found any of these in the stores in my area. I was a bit disappointed.
Aimee Fontenot
I would like to try Gingerbread!
Gretchen Gerth
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.
linda stockwell
chocolet
laurie
i would like to try the buble gum flavor
Karen M
I would love to try the seasonal Apple Pie mix-in. Thanks
jennifer lane
Peppermint Stick!!!
Starletta Schipp
mmmm….gingerbread
Miz Vickik
white chocolate raspberry!!
Jessica
I would like to try the cinnamon roll
melissa k
I’d like to try the gingerbread flavor.
Christine
White Chocolate Raspberry
Tammy Hastings
I would like to try the Strawberry Shortcake
Cassandra McCann
i like them all i think the carrot cake would be great
Jessica M.
I’d like to try: Pumpkin Spice- YUM!
Lindsay @ Laughing Lindsay
I’d love to try apple pie.
Gianna
Strawberry Shortcake.
Georgie Chaplin
anything chochlate!!
john mains
cotton candy
Stacey V
Cinammon roll sounds amazing!!!
israel y
i want to try the gingerbread.
KATHY DALTON
white chocolate raspberry ….i love raspberry
lena
I would love to try the gingerbread mixin!
Teresa Thompson
White Chocolate Raspberry.
Jeni Lutz
peppermint stick is what I would like to try
kelly g
strawberry shortcake
Annmarie W.
I’d love to try the White Chocolate Raspberry flavor!
Paula Tavernie
Strawberry Shortcake!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com
sandra
i want to try the gingerbread mix in
Tara A.
I’d like to try the gingerbread, too!
Stacy
Pumpkin Spice!
Sara Wood
gingerbread
Giveaway Gal
apple pie
Leslie L. Stanziani
I want to try cotton candy.We had the mocha last night on my daughter’s birthday cupcakes and it was so good.
Vikki Billings
I would like to try the pumpkin spice…yum!
nichol tone
The carrot cake
Stephanie O'Day
Apple Pie!
Deb E.
I would like to try peppermint stick.
Samantha Bunch
I would like to try the Gingerbread.
meme
The peppermint stick sounds like it would be good on my homemade brownies
Susan Smith
The gingerbread frosting
Jaque R.
Peppermint stick…and Mocha. 🙂 thank you.
Breanne
Gingerbread
Victoria
I want to try the cinnamon roll
Jennifer C
I’d like to try the new gingerbread flavor.
kelley roach
i want to try the mocha
Peggy Rydzewski
The apple pie seems appealing