Holiday Desserts With Friends (or, What can I do with all this cake mix?)

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! http://www.duncanhines.com/.

Those of you who know me know that I am a couponer. The most basic premise of couponing is to only buy products when they are at their lowest price, and then buy a whole heckofa lot of it. So when cake mix went on sale a few weeks ago and I just happend to have coupons for cake mix, well, you know I stocked up. We're talking boxes and boxes of cake mix.

There's something about buying a product for just a few pennies that throws moderation out the window.

So as we enter the holiday season, I enter it with a pantry full of boxed cake mix. And that's not a bad thing, really, when you think about all the holiday parties and Christmas gifts that will consume my days very shortly. Because I don't know about you, but when I think of holiday parties and Christmas gifts, I think desserts.

But if you see me approaching you this season with a pretty little gift bag, don't expect a cake. And if you find the two of us at a holiday party together, don't scan the dessert table for a sheet cake. Nope that's not how I roll. Here are 3 more creative ways I like to use my mixes:

Cake Batter Dip

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Y'all. If cake batter dip were the only thing I shared today, it'd be enough. It's that good. When I was a kid (ok, ok even today), my favorite part of making a cake was swiping my finger around the bowl and licking the batter off. And if I was ever offered the spoon? Forget about it. So you know I'm going to be all about something called cake batter dip. I made it for the baby's first birthday party, and it did not disappoint. Just a box of cake mix, some plain yogurt, and Cool Whip. That's it. I used vanilla mix and added sprinkles for a confetti dip, but I really want to try out a chocolate dip. Serve it with graham crackers or animal crackers and be a rock star.

Cake Truffles

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A fellow teacher introduced me to cake truffles a few years ago when his wife made some to sell. She is a professional baker, and a small box of those truffles cost over $20, so I just figured I'd be in way over my head if I ever tried to make them. I couldn't have been more wrong. All you do is bake a cake, crumble it up and mix it with a tub of frosting. Form into balls and dip into chocolate. Seriously, that simple. But soooooo good. I love the chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, white chocolate coating truffle, but red velvet with cream cheese icing and white chocolate coating is also fabulous. The varieties are limitless, and they make the perfect Christmas gifts.

Cake Mix Cookies

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I don't know of an easier way to make cookies than with a box of cake mix, some eggs, and oil. I mean, seriously? No excuse to not make cookies after learning about these little gems. The possibilities are endless: ice cream sandwiches, whoopie pies, or plain old decorated Christmas cookies. And who doesn't love a plate of homemade cookies at Christmas? I heard Santa loves 'em.

Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website Duncan Hines to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.