Mini Microwave Cakes

This recipe is for when you don't want to make a huge cake (maybe because you'll eat it all........) or when you just want something sweet in a hurry.  It's a great starter recipe too for our burgeoning little homemakers and a great recipe to use for those little chocolates we get on Valentines day.  It works well with Gluten Free Cake mix or the regular flour varieties.

• 1/2 cup plus 2 tbs of cake mix any flavor (I use Pamela's gluten free chocolate cake, by far the best Gluten Free mix in my opinion)
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 egg
• 3 tbs oil or melted butter

Combine ingredients and divide batter between 3 teacups, 2 regular sized coffee cups, or just put it all in one over sized coffee mug and microwave for 3 minutes.  My preference is 3 teacups (I put them all in the microwave together) the first time I made this recipe I put it all in one mug.  It turned out well, but was a HUGE portion of cake.

Fast and Fun, feel free to try these variations:

• Swirl some peanut butter in with the batter
• Throw some nuts in
• Throw some m&m's or baking chocolate in
• Throw a piece of valentine's chocolate in
• Add some fresh or frozen fruit
• Add some Jelly or Jam

I love this recipe because my cake mix is lasting a lot longer than if I just made one cake or cupcakes at the beginning of the week.  (you'll understand why this is great if you've ever bought a bag of Gluten free cake mix and nearly passed out when you looked at the price)   Hope you enjoy!

Naturally Sugar Free Butter Cake

I'm not a huge fan of artificial sweeteners, but lately I've been trying to cut down on the amount of refined sugar my family consumes.  This recipe is great because it uses the natural sweetness of fruit juice to sweeten the cake and nothing else.  Little ones love it and their none the wiser.  I believe I originally got the recipe from http://healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com/ of course I tweaked it so it would be gluten free, but feel free to use your old fashioned white flour if you don't have any wheat limitations.

* 1/2 cup butter melted or Margarine
*12 oz frozen juice concentrate (any apple is by far my favorite)
*2 eggs
* 1 tsp vanilla
* 2 cups flour (gluten free flour mix or 1 cup rice : 2/3 soy : 1/3 cornstarch)
* 1 packet unflavored gelatin (omit if using traditional flour)
* 1/4 tsp salt
* 1 tsp baking soda

Melt the butter and allow it to cool slightly.  I'm never very patient and don't let it wait more than a few minutes, this doesn't seem to affect the recipe. Combine the butter and fruit juice concentrate in a large bowl.  Beat in eggs until smooth and add extract (I also add in a tsp of cinnamon if making an apple cake).  Add in the remaining ingredients and whisk until batter is smooth and fluffy.  Do not over beat or the cake will become stiff.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, spring test for doneness.

I've also made cupcakes with this recipe to good success.  Hope you enjoy.