White Chocolate and Vanilla Bean Cake with Bailey's Chocolate Frosting

I just made this up for a neighborhood progressive dinner party. Nice moist consistency, with a nice blend of subtle flavors -- no one ingredient really over-powers.

1 package (18.25 ounces) white cake mix
1 package (3.4 ounces) vanilla instant pudding mix
1 1/4 cups milk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1Tbsp vanilla paste
1 cups white chocolate chips, chopped into *very* small pieces (think almost flakes) in food processor

Frosting
2 12oz containers whipped chocolate frosting
4-5 Tbsp Bailey's liquor

Preheat oven to 350.Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans.
Blend cake ingredients (except white chocolate flakes) with electric mixer for about two minutes. Fold in flakes.
Pour into pan, bake ~28min, or until toothpick comes out almost clean.
Let cool completely.

Prepare frosting by whipping Bailey's and frosting in a large bowl for 2 minutes.
Slice each layer into two halves; spread 1/4 of frosting on first layer; top with second layer, frost again, etc, skipping sides.

Sugar Donut Muffins

This is a classic recipe that I was just reminded of thanks to Baking Bites. I've tweaked it some to be more like what my mom made at home. Can't go wrong with the basic recipe though!

Sugar Donut Muffins
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking power
1/2 tsp salt
1/4-1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup milk (low fat is fine)
2 tsp vanilla extract/vanilla paste

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar, for rolling (or cinnamon sugar)

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a muffin tin with cooking spray or vegetable oil. (I used a mini muffin tin)
In a large bowl, beat together sugar and egg until light in color.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Pour into egg mixture and stir to combine. Pour in vegetable oil, milk and vanilla extract.
Divide batter evenly into 10 muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
Bake for 15-18 minutes (7-9 min for minis), until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

While muffins are baking, melt butter and pour remaining sugar into a small bowl.
When muffins are done, dunk tops of each into melted butter and roll in sugar. Cool on a wire rack.

Makes 10 muffins or about 30 mini-muffins.

Bailey's Triple Chocolate Cake

I threw this together for a small dinner party and wasn't sure how it would turn out but I ended up being quite happy with it. It is really easy and quick to make, starting with a boxed cake mix and even ready-made icing.

Bailey's Triple Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Cake
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 4-serving box instant devils food chocolate pudding
4 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup Bailey's liquor
1/4 cup Kahlua
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate mini morsels, extra for garnish

Frosting
2 jars whipped chocolate frosting
2 Tbsp Bailey's liquor

Preheat oven to 350.Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans.
Blend cake ingredients (except chocolate morsels) with electric mixer for about two minutes. Fold in 1 cup morsels.
Pour into pan, bake ~28min, or until toothpick comes out almost clean.
Let cool completely.

Prepare frosting by whipping Bailey's and frosting in a large bowl for 2 minutes.
Spread half of frosing on first layer; top with second layer, frost with rest of icing. Sprinkle extra mini-morsels on top for decoration.