Fruity Candy Cane Spritzer Holiday Cocktail Recipe #SimplyHolidaysAtSams
11:50 AMThis is my favorite recipe for homemade carrot cake! This cake is so easy to make, perfectly moist, and topped with an easy homemade cream cheese frosting.
I feel like carrot cake is a dessert most people tend to only make around Easter. But honestly, carrot cake is such an incredible dessert and I think it should be enjoyed all year long. Especially when it comes to this carrot cake recipe.
I know it can be a bold statement to call a recipe the best, but I truly mean it with this one. Not only is this carrot cake easy to make, but it’s so incredibly moist and full of flavor that it’s almost impossible to stop at one piece.
Who knew you could make delicious homemade lasagna in the crock pot.
Ingredients
For the carrot cake:
- 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (180ml canola) or vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 cups (300 grams) light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (125 grams) unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups (300 grams) grated carrots, lightly packed
For the cream cheese frosting:
- 1 (8-ounce) package brick style cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups (240 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
To make the carrot cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray two 9-inch round cake pans well with non stick cooking spray (you can also line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper for easier removal) and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, applesauce, and vanilla extract until fully combined. Add the grated carrots into the wet ingredients and mix until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a whisk or rubber spatula until just combined, making sure not to over mix the batter.
- Pour the cake batter evenly between both prepared cake pans. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes or until the tops of the cakes are set and a toothpick inserted into the center of each one comes out clean. Remove from the oven, transfer to a wire rack, and allow to cool in the pans for about 20-25 minutes. Once the cakes have cooled, remove from the pans and return the cakes to the wire rack to finish cooling.
This post is sponsored by SheSpeaks, Inc and the Simply Orange Juice Company.
The holidays are upon us, and that means that there are endless opportunities for parties and entertaining with friends and family. I love to have small parties during the holiday season, and my favorite part of those parties is creating fun and festive cocktail recipes for my guests to enjoy. A good cocktail recipe not only tastes delicious, but creates a beautiful centerpiece for your beverage and snack table. This Fruity Candy Cane Spritzer cocktail made with Simply Beverages® is both tasty, as well as bright and festive!
When I have a party planned, my first stop is always my local Sam's Club. Our membership has paid for itself time and again with the savings that we get from shopping here, especially when buying the weekly snacks and lunch items for the boys. It is also the perfect place to stop when you are entertaining friends or family, as it has everything you need all in one place, from snacks to wine, they've got you covered.
To make this delicious holiday spritzer, I picked up some of the Simply Orange® and Simply Lemonade® bottles from the refrigerator section at Sam's Club. Not only are they affordable, but they are 100% juices and juice drinks, making them a great alternative to sodas. I also picked up the other ingredients needed like some fresh oranges, cranberries and a bottle of sparkling wine! I didn't forget the snacks either, like my favorite container of Deluxe Roasted Mixed Nuts from Maker's Mark. If you haven't tried these, you must. They are a fantastic deal, and more than enough for a large party.
Fruity Candy Cane Spritzer
Ingredients:
5 c. Simply Orange® juice
2 c. Simply Lemonade®
1 Jar of maraschino cherries
1 c. Vodka
1 Bottle of sparkling wine 750 ml.
2 Oranges
1 Lemon
Cranberries for garnish
Lemon flavored candy canes for garnish
Instructions:
1. In a large punch bowl or container, combine 5 cups of Simply Orange® juice and 2 cups of Simply Lemonade®. Mix well.
2. Add a jar of maraschino cherries, 1 cup of vodka and a bottle of sparkling wine to the juice in the punch bowl or other container, and mix thoroughly.
3. Slice up some fresh oranges and a lemon, and add those to the punch bowl or container. Sprinkle some cranberries on the top of the punch bowl for garnish.
4. Stir the cocktail well and ladle into individual cups.
5. Garnish each cup with a slice of orange and a lemon flavored candy cane.
Note: You can easily make this cocktail a mocktail for kids or non-drinkers by simply omitting the alcohol and adding a few cups of Sprite® or club soda instead.
Want to score great deals on Simply Beverages® to create your own fruit candy cane spritzer? Be sure to head to your local Sam's Club and look for them in the refrigerator section along with snacks like Maker's Mark Nuts, and all of your other party planning essentials.
Have a favorite holiday cocktail of your own? Share it in the comments below!
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