Soft and moist pumpkin cupcakes topped with my favorite cream cheese frosting and pecans.

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Soft and moist pumpkin cupcakes topped with my favorite cream cheese frosting and pecans.

Soft and moist pumpkin cupcakes topped with my favorite cream cheese frosting and pecans.

I have to admit, when I look at these cupcakes, all I can see is that cream cheese frosting.

It is just so very ???????? ???????? ????????.

Soft and moist pumpkin cupcakes topped with my favorite cream cheese frosting and pecans.

Back when I thought I wanted to own a cupcake bakery (have I told you about that short lived dream?? Have to say I’m sooooooo glad that didn’t work out!), I would cart cupcakes around to just about everywhere I went, including my full time retail/sales-y/corporate-ish job.

And I remember someone there once saying, “you know, it’s really all about the cake. Anyone can make good frosting, but the cake… you have to really know what you’re doing to make a good cake.”

7-ish years into the business of making A LOT of cakes, cupcakes, frostings, and other desserts nearly every day… I have to respectfully and adamantly disagree.

Soft and moist pumpkin cupcakes topped with my favorite cream cheese frosting and pecans.

Because here’s the thing. A doctored up cake mix makes about as good a cake as I’ve ever had. I’m a cake fiend, and I’m not ashamed to admit I prefer cake mix to from-scratch cakes a good 90% of the time.

This cake mix pumpkin cake recipe has been my go-to for years. It’s simple and easy to remember: cake mix + a can of pumpkin. You could really stop there, but I usually add a little milk, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice just to give it that “homemade” taste.

Now don’t get me wrong. From scratch cakes have their place. Like I don’t think that  good banana cake can be outdone by a cake mix. And I do actually like Red Velvet from scratch marginally better than a cake mix Red Velvet. But other than that… I hardly see a reason to deviate from my favorite mixes. And that’s the truth.

Classic, creamy, EASY Cream Cheese Frosting recipe

But frosting? I do like the store-bought stuff, and it has it’s place in my recipes for sure. But there are some from-scratch frostings that just cannot be beat by something from the store. Like my mom’s brownie frosting, Grandma’s 6-Layer Cake Frosting, and this soft sugar cookie frosting.

And maybe most especially– CREAM CHEESE FROSTING.

As much as I like store-bought frosting, I have to say that canned cream cheese frosting isn’t even in the same ball-park as homemade cream cheese frosting. It doesn’t even taste like cream cheese! WHAT?!

So when it comes to cream cheese frosting in my recipes, homemade is the only way to go. And it’s really pretty easy as far as frostings go– as long as your expectations are realistic. And what I mean by that is that you can’t treat it like a buttercream. This recipe won’t be as stiff or as sturdy as a decorating buttercream. So don’t plan to do any sharp piping work or anything with it.

But you CAN plan on falling in love with it. It spreads on nice and smooth and creamy. And the flavor is light and dreamy with just a little tang from the cream cheese and a whole lot of vanilla flavor. I love using vanilla paste or crushed vanilla in place of the extract. Can you see those little delicious flecks??

Soft and moist pumpkin cupcakes topped with my favorite cream cheese frosting and pecans.

This recipe is such a keeper, ya’ll. It’s one of those no-fail, timeless classics that’s worth hanging on to and pulling out at least once every Fall.

Enjoy!!

Soft and moist, spiced pumpkin cupcakes perfectly paired with whipped Nutella buttercream.

Pumpkin Nutella Cupcakes Recipe

Soft and moist, spiced pumpkin cupcakes perfectly paired with whipped and fluffy Nutella buttercream. 

Soft and moist, spiced pumpkin cupcakes perfectly paired with whipped Nutella buttercream.

Alright you guys– where are my pumpkin freaks???

And I use the term “freaks” ever so lovingly. Because, don’t I know it, I’m one of them. And now that September is FINALLY here, and we have officially passed the Labor Day benchmark… you know what that means! Yes, my friends. It’s time to pumpkinallthethings. As all the hashtags have been no-so-subtly reminding us for the past 6 days ????.

This year, I’m especially anxious for Fall to get underway because…. I want to move into my house already!!!! I’m like a kid doing the potty dance waiting for this house to get built. Seriously. I love ya September and October– but this year, we’ve got to get a move on!

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In the meantime, we might as well talk cupcakes in order to distract me from my toe-tapping.

And what better distraction than pumpkin cupcakes?? Pumpkin cupcakes with Nutella buttercream to boot!

Not only are these cupcakes (obviously) the culmination of a perfect flavor pairing and utterly, sinfully delicious. But they are also SUPER easy. I used my favorite 2-ingredient pumpkin + cake mix recipe for the base. It’s ridiculously easy peasy.

After that, all you have to do is whip up a simple Nutella buttercream– which is at least 10 times easier than it sounds.

Soft and moist, spiced pumpkin cupcakes perfectly paired with whipped Nutella buttercream.

Happy pumpkin season babes! If you need me, I’ll be creepin’ the construction crew at my future house. ????

Kidding. I bring them donuts. They totally know I’m not weird.

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A recipe for quick and easy sticky buns using maple syrup, brown sugar, pecans, and store bought crescent roll dough.

Maple Crescent Sticky Buns Recipe

A recipe for quick and easy sticky buns using maple syrup, brown sugar, pecans, and store bought crescent roll dough.

A recipe for quick and easy sticky buns using maple syrup, brown sugar, pecans, and store bought crescent roll dough.

Happy Friday everyone!

Who else is so in the mood for Fall baking??

Ok, so that double question mark at the end was a little deceptively enthusiastic ????. The truth is that I’m “Fall baking” like a maniac over here, prepping for our move in a couple of months. Basically, I’ve got to get all posts for September, October, and November completely made and photographed in the next couple of weeks so I can focus on packing!

So, the truth is that I’m already a teensy, tiny, little bit burnt out. Oops!

A recipe for quick and easy sticky buns using maple syrup, brown sugar, pecans, and store bought crescent roll dough.

But let’s be real here. What I’m actually sick of is DISHES. And spending alllllllllllllll day in the kitchen. Whilst keeping my 1-year old from opening the oven and grabbing the knives out of the dishwasher.

However, I am NOT sick of eating pumpkin bread, Halloween cake, snickerdoodles, and so. much. pie. The eating part I could do all day, no sweat. ????

A recipe for quick and easy sticky buns using maple syrup, brown sugar, pecans, and store bought crescent roll dough.

If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the hunt for delicious recipes with minimal clean up involved.

Da-da-da-da! Allow me to introduce you to these ridiculous sticky buns. You’ll need…

✓Crescent roll dough (easy!).

✓ONE pan, ONE bowl, and a whisk (reasonable).

✓10-15ish minutes (BAM).

That’s it! Enjoy fresh-from-the-oven, melt-in-your-mouth, maple sticky buns any morning (noon or night) that you need a break and some good eats.

It’s  my gift to you. ❤️

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Pumpkin Pudding Muffins Recipe

Pumpkin Pudding Muffins | somethingswanky.com

Yes, yes. I’ve put pudding mix in more baked goods.

I know some of you aren’t wild about pudding mix. Or you live in Australia where the stuff is totally unavailable (you guys should seriously put together some sort of national demand letter to Jell-O by the way, because not having instant pudding mix is crazy-talk!). But I looooooove adding pudding mix to my desserts. I totally throw it in anytime I can (obviously).

In case you’re a little late to the pudding mix scene, here are couple of reasons I love using it in my baked goods and one untested suggestion for a substitution if it’s not available to you…

Pumpkin Pudding Muffins | somethingswanky.com

So here’s the deal with pudding mix going into cookies, breads, muffins, and more: it makes the end result super moist… in the best possible way. “Moist” is such a risky word to use, isn’t it? But sometimes it’s the word for the job! And no way around it– moist baked goods = yummy baked goods.

The second thing I love about adding pudding mix is that it enhances the flavor of the treat. It either adds an extra layer of flavor (like chocolate pudding in a chocolate cookie = double the chocolate! Yum!), or it actually adds a NEW flavor (like cheesecake pudding in peanut butter cookies = peanut butter cheesecake!!). I love both functions.

And in regards to a substitute for pudding mix in baked goods? Well… I don’t think there’s much you can do to replace it for it’s flavor properties. But Averie once mentioned to me that she found using cornstarch worked in cookies in a way that might be similar to how pudding mix does! I haven’t tested that myself, and I’m not sure if she’s done it in more than the one cookie recipe. But it might be something worth trying if instant pudding mix is totally unavailable to you!

Pumpkin Pudding Muffins | somethingswanky.com

Thanks to pudding mix, these muffins are extra soft and fluffy, perfectly moist, and a little extra pumpkin-y. Give them a quick dunk in butter and cinnamon sugar for a perfectly cozy and sweet Fall breakfast!

Fudgy chocolate brownie bites layered in cool, creamy peanut butter mousse. You won't believe how good this is and how easy it is to make!!

Peanut Butter Brownie Trifles Recipe

Fudgy chocolate brownie bites layered in cool, creamy peanut butter mousse. You won’t believe how good this is and how easy it is to make!!

Fudgy chocolate brownie bites layered in cool, creamy peanut butter mousse. You won't believe how good this is and how easy it is to make!!

I’m all about the easy in the summer time, let me tell you.

Part of me kind of thought that summer might be a little easier than the school year. I mean, I knew it would be challenging having both kids home all day every day. But I guess I still thought that just maybe I would feel like I had more hours in the day to get stuff done.

Since I figured the days would feel longer and all.

Turns out, I was part right. And part so, so, so very wrong. I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this… the days are NEVER ENDING. Never, ever ending. And yet somehow, there don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done.

WTH? If someone figures that math out, let me know.

Fudgy chocolate brownie bites layered in cool, creamy peanut butter mousse. You won't believe how good this is and how easy it is to make!!

In the meantime, I’m doing lots of quick-and-easy around here. I average cooking a real meal about once a week. Cleaning just doesn’t get done. And I let the kids pretty much rule the roost all day.

Seriously. As I sit here and type, I can see a (LARGE) milk puddle in the carpet that I haven’t sponged up since lunch time (that’s gonna be fun), CJ is rubbing in applesauce on the rug at my feet, clothes and knick knacks and what nots litter every inch of living space as far as the eye can see, my empty fast food cup of soda is leaving a water ring on the table to my left, and there’s a sticky bottle of infant’s Ibuprofen stuck to a book on my right. I still don’t know what we’re having for dinner, Chris will be home in about 15 minutes, and then I’m leaving for a baby shower.

I’m not complaining. But at some point… the situation does become comical.

So when it comes to prepping recipes for the blog? It’s gotta be EASY. We’re talking the minimum amount of effort here.

Fudgy chocolate brownie bites layered in cool, creamy peanut butter mousse. You won't believe how good this is and how easy it is to make!!

And friends, it does NOT get any easier than this recipe for Peanut Butter Brownie Parfaits.

You’ll need pudding mix, peanut butter, Cool Whip, and milk for the mousse part. And you’ll layer that with brownie bites (home baked or store bought, box mix or from scratch, my recipe or yours, WHATEVER) and chocolate chips.

Guys, this recipe is the very definitely of minimal effort. And it’s SO GOOD. And it looks so fancy too. People will never know that you whipped this up whilst standing in a pile of smushed grapes and animal crackers in your yoga pants!

…not that I did that or anything. ????

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Scotchies

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Scotchies Recipe

Ultra-chewy simple oatmeal cookie recipe loaded with chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Quick and easy cookies!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Scotchies

Those that know me well know that I am ALL ABOUT a good chocolate chip cookie. And I’m frequently asked which is my favorite recipe.

It’s like having to choose a favorite child! I really can’t do it. There are several that I love for different reasons. The same cookie doesn’t always work for every mood, season, and occasion. Just like a good pair of shoes, you have to find a cookie that goes just right with what’s going on in your life.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Scotchies

For example… I love these Coconut Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies a lot right now, because I can make them dairy free if I use DF chocolate chips. These are probably my favorite standard, basic chocolate chip cookie recipe. But that recipe calls for shortening. If I’m in the mood for an all butter recipe, I’ll make this one.

More often than not this year, I’ve been in the mood for a good, hearty oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. This one is my favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. The 1 1/2 cups of chopped walnuts in that one make it SUPER chunky and amazing for a texture lover like me. But I don’t always have walnuts on hand, and I don’t always feel like putting in the work that recipe takes. So my go-to basic oatmeal chocolate chip recipe is this one. And it’s best made with M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces 🙂

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Scotchies

This recipe is a variation of that last one. It’s simple, straight forward, and holds up to a wide variety of mix-ins.

At first, I thought I was going to make these into Oatmeal Scotchies. I’m obsessed with butterscotch, and it feels like such a cozy, Fall flavor. But then I realized that I just couldn’t leave out the chocolate.

So in went the chocolate chips 🙂

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Scotchies

I hope you love this recipe for Oatmeal Scotchies! And if you want to change it up a little bit, here are some other fun mix-ins you could use instead of chocolate chips that would pair really well with butterscotch:

  • Reese’s Pieces or M&Ms
  • Peanut Butter Chips (mmmm, PB + Butterscotch = bliss)
  • Pretzels (or chocolate covered pretzels!)
  • Butterscotch pudding mix
  • Walnuts
  • Caramel filled chocolate candy (like Rolos or Ghirardelli squares)

Be creative! And be sure to tag me @somethingswanky on Instagram if you make these. Let me know what you added in 🙂

Snickerdoodle Gooey Cake Bars

Snickerdoodle Gooey Cake Recipe

If you love snickerdoodles, then you will love these gooey cake bars! Even better? All you’ll need is one bowl to make them.
Snickerdoodle Gooey Cake Bars

Gooey cake bars are seriously life changing. Have you made them before? It’s like a layer of cheesecake sitting on top of a dense cookie-like cake bar.

These bars combine the cinnamon sugar of a snickerdoodle with the grand yumminess that is a gooey cake bar– it’s genius! Annnnnnnnnnd it’s another dairy-filled recipe that I accidentally face planted into. I know. #nursingmomprobs

Snickerdoodle Gooey Cake Bars

I could make these bars over and over again. They taste amazing, and they are SO easy to make (even though they look super fancy and labor intensive, they’re really not). All you’ll need is your one stand mixer bowl, and you can make both the cake layer and they gooey layer in that same bowl with no need to wash in between! Yay for less dish-washing! Can I get an AMEN?!

I hate dishes. Like, hate hate dishes.

But back to the point: these bars.

So good. Make them. Love them. The end.

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Actually, not quite “the end.” What I really should have said was: make them. Love them. Buy this cookbook!

This Snickerdoodle Gooey Cake Bar recipe comes from this amazing cookbook written by my sweet friend, Jocelyn, who blogs over at Grandbaby Cakes. It is a beautiful, beautiful book written by an obviously beautiful and food-loving soul. It’s brimming with gorgeous and mouth watering cakes, like these…

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It’s also full of sweet family photos that I just couldn’t get enough of. Like this precious one…

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And my favorite page of the whole book?

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Just inside the front cover. Isn’t that the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen in a cookbook? A place to write the first generation to own this book! Jocelyn’s book is full of love and great recipes, and I loved it cover to cover.

So until you get your hands on Grandbaby Cakes, the cookbook (as you must!)– here’s a recipe to tide you over 🙂

❤️

Cran-Apple Recipe (SO EASY) from Party Popcorn cookbook

Party Popcon Saturday: Cran-Apple Cinnamon Popcorn Recipe

Party Popcorn, by Ashton Swank

I’m baaaaaaaaack!!! With more popcorn, of course.

Are you guys so super excited for the holidays? Today is the official start of our family festivities, and I could not be more excited! Now that school is over, gymnastics is over, and my husband is almost to his vacation time, it’s starting to really feel like the holidays.

You know what the holidays need? Popcorn. Obviously.

And a big, fat, awesome prize.

This caramel corn is so easy to make and is perfect for packaging and giving as a homemade gift!

Easy Caramel Corn Recipe

This caramel corn is so easy to make and is perfect for packaging and giving as a homemade gift!

You guys. I don’t even know how to begin this post. This is possibly one of the most surreal days of my life (in a good way)…

I wrote a book, and it is officially, as of today, ON SHELVES!!!!

2 years in the making, and it’s finally out there. For everyone to see. EVERYONE. Eeeeeeek!!!

So, basically, I’m dying. Coherent thoughts aren’t coming, and there’s a good chance this post will be all over the place. But stick with me. Even if I don’t make any sense, I promise I’ve got a worthwhile recipe for you at the end of all of this rambling.