GFCF Chunky Monkey Birthday Cake/ I Heart Betty Crocker

First of all I want to thank Betty Crocker, aka. General Mills Inc. for providing us the consumer with a wonderful Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix that gives us gluten free deliciousness as well as convenience. Second of all I want to say Happy Birthday to my sweetheart little girl who is the muse of this entire blog, I love you baby eternally and I'm proud to be your mommy. So now that we've got that taken care of lets get to the goods....

GFCF Chunky Monkey Birthday Cake (Frosting recipes follow..

This recipe makes 24 cupcakes ;-)

1 Box Gluten Free Betty Crocker Chocolate Cake Mix

1/2 cup almond flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp xanthan gum

4 Tb Flax meal

1 3/4 cup almond milk (or other milk alternative)

1/2 tsp baking powder

2/3 cup oil

1 Banana, mashed

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup applesauce

In medium bowl combine first 6 ingredients with a whisk and set aside. Next add following 4 ingredients in bowl of a stand mixer and let stand for 1 minute. Then add the last 3 ingredients and blend until combined. Slowly feed in flour mixture and beat on medium for 2 minutes, follow as directed on the cake mix box. If filled the muffin tins are filled 3/4 then this should make 24 cupcakes. Bake at 350 for approx 20-22 minutes, check doneness with a toothpick. Let cool and then place in the refrigerator for at least an hour so they are nice and firm, good for icing.

GFCF Vanilla "Buttercream" frosting

(yields approx 1 1/4 cups of frosting)

1/3 cup vegetable shortening (I like Spectrum)

2 Tb Earth Balance spread (or other butter alternative)

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 Tb almond milk (or other milk alternative)

In a medium bowl cream together shortening, butter, & vanilla with a hand or stand mixer. Slowly add the powdered sugar and milk, alternately. Blend until smooth and creamy. I think it works well to put frosting in the fridge for say 15 min or so to help it firm up a little.

GFCF Chocolate "Buttercream" frosting

(yields approx 1 1/2 cups of frosting)

1/4 cup of Enjoy Life or other dairy free chocolate chips

1/3 cup vegetable shortening

1 Tb. Earth Balance spread

3 Tb. milk

1 Tb. cocoa

Melt together chocolate and butter on very low heat, stir continuously. Pull off heat and let cool, stirring occasionally. In a medium bowl cream together shortening & cocoa, add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. Same as stated above, I think it works well to put this in the fridge for approximately 15 minutes or so to help it firm up and make it easier for decorating.