3 Desserts for the Birthday Boy

I ended up making three different "dessert" recipes for Ryan's birthday.

I made my cheesecake for the Sunday before. (Amy, no clumps at all...I think the key is softening the cream cheese first.) We topped with sweetened, fresh strawberries.

I made chocolate muffins (Ryan's request) and took them to him at work. These are so delicious! I should have taken a picture. They end up looking so gourmet...like the muffins from Costco. (recipe below)

I made a family recipe, "Applesauce Oatmeal" cake, to have when people came over on his birthday night (also Ryan's request). This is my favorite recipe of all time! I could live off of this cake and never get sick of it! (recipe and pic at the bottom)

Chocolate Muffins
1 box devil's food cake mix
1 small box instant choc. pudding mic
1 1/2 C water
1/2 C oil
2 eggs
1/2 t. vanilla
1 bag semi-sweet choc. chips

Mix together. Pour into muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for time indicated on cake mix box (usually 18-20 mins, I think).

*For gourmet looking muffins, pour enough into each muffin "spot" to only make one dozen. They will turn out big and will probably need a minute or two extra cooking time.

*This recipe can be used to make chocolate bread...just use loaf pans instead of muffin tins!


Applesauce Oatmeal Cake

Combine:
1 1/2 C boiling water
1 C oatmeal
-Turn off heat and let it sit till you are done with the following...

Cream:
1/2 C applesauce
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar

-Now, add the oatmeal to the creamed mixture.

Add:
1 1/2 C flour
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. backing powder
1/2 t. salt

-Mix until well combined.

-Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

-Now, make your glaze.

Combine (in sauce pan over med-high heat):
6 T. butter (let it melt before you add the rest)
1/4 C. canned milk (regular milk is probably fine)
1/2 C. brown sugar
1 C. nuts (optional, but not really)
1 C. coconut (optional, but not really)

-When cake is done, take it out and spread glaze on top. Put back in the oven and broil for 4 minutes.

Serve on it's own or with vanilla ice cream. Eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day. :)