Better Than "Who-Ha" Cake

If you've ever eaten chocolate "Better Than Sex Cake", then you know what I'm talking about when I say "Yum!" is an understatement.  Well, change out the chocolate cake for a yellow cake and some pumpkin, and use a crushed Butterfinger bar instead of a Heath bar, and you've got yourself what I call, Better than Who-Ha Cake!  (My daughter HATES the "s" word {s-e-x}.)

1 Yellow or White Cake Mix

1 small can solid pack pumpkin puree (about 1 1/2 C)

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 jar Mrs. Richardson's Butterscotch Caramel Sauce

1 container Cool Whip, Thawed

Hershey's Chocolate Syrup, optional

1 Butterfinger bar, crushed

Preheat oven to 350º. Mix dry cake mix with pumpkin until smooth; batter will be sticky.  Spread into prepared 9x13 pan.  Bake 25-30 minutes,or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.  While still warm, poke holes all over tops of cake.  (I use the handle of a wooden spoon.)  Pour entire can of sweetened condensed milk and butterscotch caramel sauce over top; spread evenly.   Let cool completely.  Spread Cool Whip over cooled cake.  Drizzle chocolate syrup over cake in one direction and lightly drag knife through in cross-direction (see picture) for lovely design.  Sprinkle with crushed candy bar.  Refrigerate until ready to serve. *Note* Don't worry about trying to "cut" the cake.  Just scoop it out with serving spoon.  Enjoy!

Hershey "Kissed" Pumpkin Cookies

These delightful little cookies are so... nom, nom, nom.  Seriously, so good and best of all, so simple!  Depending on the size of cookie, this recipe yields 2-3 dozen.

1 spice cake mix*

1 C solid pack pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)

24-36 unwrapped Hershey's Kisses (Or Hugs)**

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper, or lightly spray with cooking spray.  In mixing bowl combine cake mix & pumpkin; mix until well blended.  Batter will be sticky.  Using 2 spoons, drop by spoonful onto pan.  Bake 14-16 minutes.  Lightly press Kiss into center of cookie and let sit on pan a minute or so before transferring to cooling rack.  Let Kisses set before transferring to airtight container.  

*If you don't have a spice cake mix, you can use a white or yellow mix and just add 1 tsp pumpkin pie spices.

**I use Chocolate Caramel Kisses for these cookies.

TIP:  For "sticky" cookie batter, use the back of a spoon dipped in flour to "shape" cookie dough before baking.  See picture below. 

Yam Crisp

Ever since a colleague of mine told me about the yam crisp his wife makes every Thanksgiving I have been craving it. I begged for her recipe only to be told, "a little of this and a little of that" type of thing. I knew in my mind how it should taste, and here is what I came up with. Thanks Ruthykins for giving me the tips on the crumb topping. When I made it, I had to make some in a little pan so we could "taste test" it at home first. It was a HIT!

*double the recipe for a 9x13 pan as shown

1 - 29 oz cut yams, drained
1/4 C butter, melted
1/2 C brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Topping:
3/4 C Oats
1/4 C Flour
1/4 C gran sugar
1/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C butter, melted

In mixing bowl, combine yams, 1/4 C melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Beat together until well mixed and creamy, as you would for mashed potatoes. Spread in lightly greased 9 inch square pan or casserole dish. In separate, small mixing bowl combine dry ingredients for topping. Add melted butter a little at a time and continue to mix. You should end up with a moist, but still crumbly mixture. Spread crumb topping evenly over yams. Bake @ 350 for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm with ice cream or whipped topping if desired.