Skinny Funfetti Cupcakes

Whether you are baking a cake or cupcakes, an easy "skinny" substitution is to use some sort of diet soda versus the eggs and oil.  I don't feel it takes away flavor, nor does it really dry it out.  I think it's a great way to cut back on some calories {go ahead, have a seconds!}.  These cupcakes use Diet Sprite.  If you are baking a darker cake {chocolate, devil's food}, I would suggest using Diet Coke or Diet Dr. Pepper.  This cupcake recipes not only uses a 'healthier' version for the cake part, but also the icing.  Chris thought they were really good and was surprised when I told him how the icing was made.  Hope you enjoy!!

Skinny Funfetti Cupcakes

{Source: Six Sisters' Stuff}

1 pkg Funfetti cake mix

1 can Diet Sprite

Frosting:

1 tub {8 oz} sugar-free, fat-free Cool Whip

1 small pkg sugar-free vanilla Jello Instant Pudding

Preheat oven to 350ºF.  Line muffin pan with cupcake liners.

In large mixing bowl, mix together cake mix and Diet Sprite until smooth, no lumps.  Evenly distribute in cupcake liners.  Bake for approx 20 minutes.  Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting: mix together Cool Whip and vanilla pudding, using a whisk or electric mixer.  Mix together until smooth, no lumps.  Evenly frost cupcakes {make sure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting, or else it may make the cool whip runny}.  Store in refrigerator!

Enjoy!!!

One ... Two ... Three ... Four ... Margarita!

These margaritas are a staple in our house during the summers.  Both Chris & I enjoy a good margarita - we are both pretty picky though.  I hate margaritas with the premade margarita mixes. 

These margaritas had only 4 ingredients - super simple!  Hence the name, {Easy As} 1, 2, 3, 4 Margaritas!  Also, if you have 4 of these margaritas, then you will confirm the truth behind: One margarita, two margarita, three margarita... Floor.

These would be great for Cinco de Mayo!!

If you prefer your margarita frozen, then just mix this ingredients into a blender, add some ice, and blend.

{Easy As}
1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... Margarita!

12 oz. frozen limeade concentrate

12 oz. gold tequila

12 oz. triple sec

12 oz. water

Limes {optional}

Dump the frozen limeade concentrate into a margarita pitcher.  Fill the empty limeade can with tequila and pour into pitcher.  Repeat with the triple sec and water.  Stir until the limeade concentrate has melted and all ingredients are well mixed together. 

Enjoy!!!

Circus Animal Cookie Truffles

These cookie truffles are incredibly easy to make!  They are much less time consuming than normal cake ball truffles because it doesn't require you to bake a cake!  I think it would be fun to experiment with other pre-made cookies (I have done the oreos before and those are delish!).  This recipe can be used with either cream cheese or cream cheese frosting.  I did the frosting because I read that it tastes better than the cream cheese.  To be honest, they are a little sweet - but they are tasty!  I think the cream cheese filler would help to make them less sweet.  So, if you prefer something a little less sweet, then you could try the cream cheese filling instead. 

Also, the measurement on the ingredients is flexible, too.  I bought my ingredients at Target and they were all out of the bags of the frosted animal cookies, so I bought 2 boxes of the Target brand.  I ended up mixing about 16 oz of animal cookies and 1 can of frosting.  But this can easily be reduced by half. 

Circus Animal Cookie Truffles

Approx 16 oz of Circus Animal Cookies

1 tub of cream cheese frosting

Almond Bark, or Wilton's Candy Melts (found at Hobby Lobby)

Sprinkles

Using a food processor, grind up the animal cookies to fine crumbs.  Pour all crumbs into a large bowl. 

Add 1 tub of cream cheese frosting and mix thoroughly with a spoon. 

Place truffle mixture in fridge for at least 30 minutes {optional} - making the mixture a little more firm makes it easier to roll.

Roll into equal sized balls and place on baking sheet {covered with parchment paper or foil}.  Place in fridge for 3-4 hours, or freezer 1-2 hours - until firm.

Melt almond bark, or candy. Using a spoon, dip each ball into melted chocolate - tap excess off against side of bowl.  Place on baking sheet & pour sprinkles on top.  Place in fridge for several hours, until chocolate hardens. 

Store in fridge for up to 1 week. 

Enjoy!!!

*When dipping the  balls into the chocolate, work quickly so that the chocolate doesn't harden up too much. Also, after each ball is dipped, immediately decorate with sprinkles so that the sprinkles will stick to the melted chocolate. 

**I used both white almond bark and Wilton's candy for my truffles.  I used white almond bark and dipped several balls into that - then, I added hot pink gel food dye {the gel dye works so much better} and dipped several balls into the hot pink.  Lastly, I used the Wilton's Candy Melts in the light pink color.  I buy my Wilton's Candy Melts at Hobby Lobby {or at Michael's, JoAnn's}. 

Here's a link to what the Candy Melts look like:

Wilton's Candy Melts

Here's a link to the gel dye that I use:

Wilton's Gel Food Color

Thank You, Ashley Ella Design

A big 

to Ashley, with Ashley Ella Design, for helping me create my new blog design and for putting it all together!  I appreciate all your hard work!  

Ashley & I have actually known each other since elementary school and we used to play basketball together.  {We didn't go to the same school though}.  Sometime during high school, we pretty much lost contact with each other.  I happened to stumbled upon a Facebook post of hers about creating blog designs.  I contacted her for some more information and took a look at her portfolio - I loved the other blogs that she had designed.

She was so easy to work with and very prompt about getting things done {and even replying to emails}.  I appreciate all your work!

If you are thinking about creating a new blog design, please check out her webpage and contact her.  You will be so happy you did! 

Here's the link to her webpage:

ashley ella design

You can also check out her store on Etsy {which can be navigated through her webpage}

Thank you so much, Ashley!  I love how everything turned out!