Monday, October 18, 2010

Pop-Tarts Halloween Sour Cream Coffee Cake & A Giveaway

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts.



Pop-TartsHalloween1-1

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. When I was a kid, the excitement started with dreaming up a costume. It is the one time of year when you can turn into anything you want to be. The sweetest girl can dress up as an ugly, cackling witch or her favorite Disney princess. Little boys can turn into their sports heroes. Anything goes. And then comes the treats...oh, the treats! While I coveted the little candy bars that filled my plastic pumpkin, what I really looked forward to were homemade popcorn balls and caramel apples.

When the box of Pop-Tarts Limited Edition flavor, Choc-o-Lantern arrived on my doorstep, I started to think about what new Halloween treat I could make with them. My boys and I brainstormed some ideas, and finally came up with a Pop-Tarts coffee cake. My kids simply cannot let any good piece of cake go to waste. They enjoy everything about them - the moist texture, the icing, and the surprise layer of flavor inside. We decided to make a Bundt cake, drizzled with an orange glaze, in the hopes of making it look like the top of a pumpkin. The Pop-Tarts became the surprise filling and provided a welcome hit of chocolate amidst the tender coffee cake.

Pop-TartsHalloween1-2

What the kids think? Well, I got two big thumb-ups and they requested that we make the cake every year at Halloween.

Pop-Tarts Halloween Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Basic coffee cake recipe adapted from Cooking Light

3 Choc-o-Lantern (Frosted Chocolate Fudge) Pop-Tarts

Cake:
2 cups granulated sugar
10 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (4 oz.) block-style cream cheese
2 large egg white
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Orange gel icing color or food coloring

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray.

Cake:
Roughly chop the Pop-Tarts and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer), beat granulated sugar, softened butter, and cream cheese at medium until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg whites and whole egg, one a time, mixing after each addition.

In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer set to low, spoon in the flour mixture and sour cream, alternating, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix in pure vanilla extract.

Spoon half of the batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Sprinkle the chopped Pop-Tarts evenly over the batter. Spoon the remaining batter over the Pop-Tarts and spread evenly to cover the Pop-Tarts.

Bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven and let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, sitting on a wire rack. Invert the pan onto the wire rack and cool cake completely.

Glaze:
In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Add orange food coloring or gel icing color.

Place cake on serving platter and evenly pour the glaze over the cake. Lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve.

Serves 16.

Printable recipe

Pop-TartsHalloween1-3

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card from BlogHer, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"What treats do you and your kids like to make for Halloween?"

Please, no duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.

This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com exclusive offers page for 9 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

This giveaway will run from 10/18 - 10/31/2010.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

Click here for more information on Pop-Tarts.
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84 comments:

Anonymous said...

WE LOVE TO MAKE DECORATED BUTTER COOKIES, SCARY CUPCAKES, AND BROWNIE BARS.

annc999(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mami2jcn said...

We like to make sugar cookies that look like little ghosts.

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

mmburdette22 said...

My family enjoys making Rice Krispies treats and using food coloring to dye the marshmallow cream black and then dusting orange sprinkles on top. Always a hit with the kids!

sunnymum said...

We make little english muffin pizzas with string cheese draped across to look like a mummy.
cbeargie at yahoo dot com

Tammigirl said...

We must be bffs, because my favorites are sill homemade popcorn balls and homemade caramel apples.

Anonymous said...

We like to make cupcakes with decorated differently not necessarily scary looking.

MCantu1019@aol.com

April said...

Mmmm Caramel apples and pumpkin seeds from the pumpkins we carved!

Carly said...

My favorite Halloween treat is Oreo Dirt Pudding with the pudding, oreos, and gummi worms. Disgustingly delicious!

cheer_doll@hotmail.com

sodahoney said...

Kids are grown but even while they were growing up they ran if I approached the white thing(stove)in the kitchen. I don't make I eat.
'

sodahoney said...

http://twitter.com/sodahoney/status/27796115196

Amber said...

ghosts in the graveyard brownies and caramel apples! yum!

Emily Ballantyne said...

Pumpkin spice squares with cream cheese frosting are my favorite! Toasting the pumpkin seeds in the oven after we carve them too!

pattythequilter said...

May we never forget the witch's brew made with apple cider and dry ice!

Jerrie Flanders said...

we love to make cupcakes baked in cake ice cream cups; we decorate them with chocolate frosting, Oreo cookie crumbs and gummy worms & bugs. We also decorate with red frosting, gummy eyes and other body parts. The kids love them!!

Fantastic Mr. R said...

We always make maple glazed donuts and cider. Love that pretty cake. Your photos are just beyond, beyond lovely.

Anonymous said...

Our new thing is Oreo pops, with sprinkles of course. They're a little time-consuming, but they're so cute, and tasty to boot!

skinimini@gmail.com

Ellie said...

I buy this box of sugar cookie mix, which is kind of homemade because you still have to add the butter and eggs. Then we cover them with orange frosting and sprinkles.

Mamawj's Moment Away said...

we love making popcorn balls with mollasses and coloring them orange with food coloring, and your bunt cake idea looks so unique thanks
sewitupjulie at gmail dot com

Mamawj's Moment Away said...

my one time tweet thanks
http://twitter.com/itsallnew2me/status/27869026946
sewitupjulie at gmail dot com

Mamawj's Moment Away said...

my blog post to this blogher kelloggs giveaway thanks
http://mamawjsmomentaway.blogspot.com/2010/10/win-blogher-sponsered-kelloggs.html
sewitupjulie at gmail dot com

sy said...

oh wow the cake looks so delicious *_* we usually just buy candy and rice crackers from the store. it would be nice if i could make some pumpkin cupcakes this year.
songyueyu at gmail

sy said...

i tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/syytta/status/27882266304

Tabathia B said...

We make caramel apples with nuts
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/27896231736
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Karate Mom said...

I love to make caramel apples, although I'm really the only one who loves to eat them!
lisakaymahoney(at)yahoo(dot)om

Wander said...

Cool recipe! Caramel apples, pumpkin roll and pumpkin bread are our favorites!

Lindsey said...

We love to make sugar cookies... my kids love to decorate them.

Kerry said...

We make fresh roasted pumpkin seeds after we carve our pumpkins.
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

Kerry said...

tweeted: http://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/27969357181
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

JC said...

We like to make caramel apples and pears together.

JC said...

tweet.http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/27999976225

JC said...

blogged.http://tcarolinep.blogspot.com/2010/10/giveaway-points-of-review.html

fostertam said...

Ghost cookies--nutterbutters dipped in white chocolate and then make some faces by painting with dark chocolate.

fostertam said...

http://twitter.com/#!/fostertam/status/28059543174

Quadmama said...

We like to make caramel apples.
momofquads@gmail.com

Kelly Massman said...

My favorite Halloween Treat to make with kids is caramel apples! :-) Thanks!
kmassman gmail

Anonymous said...

rice krispie treats! scg00387 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

http://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/28358343278 scg00387 at yahoo dot com

ms-texas said...

I don't usually make them but we like to buy decorated halloween cookies!

debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

Anne said...

We like to make pumpkin bread with chocolate chips.
ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

Anne said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/28362762327

ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

ms-texas said...

tweeted

http://twitter.com/bellows22/status/28362647271

debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

susitravl said...

I'm not artistic so we get ready to bake Halloween Cookie Dough from the dairy case.
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com

Larissa Leavens said...

Cupcakes...always cupcakes!

meeyeehere said...

Orange Marshmallow Scary faces!!!
All you need is marshmallows,food coloring and frosting
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

TruthHole said...

We all like to watch Mom make pumpkin pie with the pumpkin left over guts

truthhole@gmail.com

Deb said...

I'm not the most creative - I can follow a recipe, but I'm not one to envision an idea and know how to make that with food, but what I have done is take a ghost cookie cutter and cut ghosts out of rice krispie treats. Simple, but the kids love them!

Unknown said...

We don't have any treat making traditions yet since my kids are still little but we'll probably attempt making some cookies this year. :)

Leah @ A Butterfly In My Stomach said...

I made spice cake with cream cheese frosting....

leahforlove(at)aol(dot)com

bikeohio said...

Sugar Cookies!

bikeohio said...

http://twitter.com/bikeohio/status/28588342913

susan1215 said...

We like making carmel apples and decorate sugar cookies

s2s2 at comcast dot net

susan1215 said...

http://twitter.com/susan1215/status/28596769865

Deb G. said...

I make the gingerbread cookies that Sandra, the lady in Sackville, New Brunswick, who half brought me up, always made. Always, always, always. Traditions: can't beat 'em!

marybug2 said...

i TWEETED YOUR GIVEAWAY
http://pointsofreview.blogspot.com/2010/10/pop-tarts-halloween-sour-cream-coffee.html
marybug2@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

We always liked making brownies and decorate them in a halloween theme.
gmissycat@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Tweeted here also.
http://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/28613380505
gmissycat@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

We make spooky sugar cookies with orange icing and lots of sprinkles.

shel704 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/28621783475

Susan C. said...

We're not that creative, and usually buy some candy apples this time of year. But I might have to make that cake! Wow!

Melinda said...

pumpkin muffins
mjf926 at gmail dot com

Artistic Cook said...

we like to make sugar cookies and make pumpkin or halloween cat cut outs and ice them!

chrissiemz said...

We make rice krispy treats and jello with gummy worms and cupcakes we made today. I love this time of year.
chrissiemz@yahoo.com

chrissiemz said...

I tweeted the giveaway
http://twitter.com/chrissiemz/status/28652491771
chrissiemz@yahoo.com

Sandyhere said...

We always carve a pumpkin then toast the pumpkin seeds after, a different flavor every year.

Anonymous said...

We love to make haunted gingerbread houses (really graham cracker houses) and sometimes candied apples.

urchiken at gmail dot com

jakiesmom said...

we make sugar cookies with fun halloween shapes and this year we are making jack o lantern cupcakes
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

wigget said...

we just decorated sugar coookies in the shapes of pumpkins, ghosts, and moons

Henria O. said...

We like to make cupcakes!
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com

Heather (Creative Family Moments) said...

We intend to make caramel apples each year. But someone always ends up sneaking a caramel before we do... which turns into 5 (the number of people in our family) which quickly turns into 30 until all the caramels are done and we are left with just apples. Which we eat. By themselves.

Unknown said...

We make cookies or cupcakes and decorate them with halloween colored sprinkles.
dgoodridge84@yahoo.com

Christine said...

My kids are decorating cupcakes as I type. I picked up air heads, m&ms, and sour punch straws and they are decorating away. My oldest already has brought in her vampire cat cupcake.

Christine
dazed1821@aol.com

Frieda Loves Bread said...

Every year, it is a tradition to make a soft, round sugar cookie and decorate it with orange icing. Then we pull out the chocolate chips and make Jack-O-Lantern faces with them. Fairly simple, but traditional, nonetheless~

friedalovesbread[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

we like to make cookies with sprinkels on them and chocolate covered apples.
tcogbill at live dot com

Sasha said...

We'll be making cupcakes tomorrow, decorated for Halloween.

barelytogether at yahoo dot com

April Yedinak said...

we make candied apples and cupcakes
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com

angie lilly said...

We love to make cinnamon sugar roasted pumpkin seeds after we carve our pumpkins!
Angie
one 4 earth at aol dot com

angie lilly said...

I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/FotoMacro/status/29206090643
Angie
one 4 earth at aol dot com

Scott said...

there is nothing better than a hot mug of spiced cider on trick or treat night when its cold outside!
Scott
nynekats at aol dot com

Scott said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/RePurrPussed/status/29208456955
Scott
nynekats at aol dot com

Lexiquin said...

My kids love when I make "Great" pumpkin cookies.
aleq13@gmail.com

Lexiquin said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/#!/lexiquin/status/29247595465

Anonymous said...

We like to make taffy apples.

pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Anonymous said...

http://twitter.com/lpauld68/status/29297042046

pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com