Summer Dessert

I love to bake. Even if I don't need to. There's something about making desserts that I really enjoy. I'm going to try to do a few posts with some recipes for "summer" desserts. Here's the first:




Dreamsicle Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 small box orange Jell-o
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp. orange extract

Mix all ingredients together. Beat 3 minutes on medium speed. Pour into 2 round greased and floured pans. Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Allow cakes to cool.

Filling and Frosting:
8 oz Cool Whip
8 oz Sour Cream
Sugar (about 1 1/2 cups)
Vanilla (about 1 1/2 tsp)

Mix Sour Cream and Cool Whip together. Add sugar and vanilla to taste.

Spread Frosting on the top of one cake, layer and then frost entire outside.
Garnish with oranges if desired.

French Toast Casserole

Here is the recipe for the casserole that I made yesterday for Sunday School:

white or wheat bread
cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
cinnamon
12 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup maple syrup

Grease the bottom and sides of a 9x13 pan with butter. Tear bread into small pieces and layer across the bottom of the pan. Break the cream cheese into small chunks and place on top of the bread. Place another layer of bread pieces on top of the cream cheese layer. Pour sugar on top of this layer, then sprinkle with cinnamon. Mix eggs, milk and syrup in a bowl and beat with a whisk. When well mixed, pour over the top of casserole. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, place on the counter for 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 20 minutes uncovered. Then cover and bake for 25 minutes. When you remove from the oven, place butter on top of hot casserole, then sprinkle with powdered sugar.

It can be topped with fruit if desired. I don't know the exact amount of bread or cream cheese because I don't use what the recipe calls for. It's less than a loaf of bread and I usually use less than half of the 8 oz. cream cheese. It's also really easy to half for an 8x8 casserole dish!