2025 Bake Sale Cook Book Recipes

 

Here's the round-up for another year's worth of baking!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies - February 1st - We're starting the year of baking back at the beginning of the book, this time with a cherry preserves version of the recipe. Still delicious, but keep the milk handy.

Double Chocolate Chewies - March 1st - I really wanted to like these and was hoping for a nice brownie-type dessert. However, while fine, these were also pretty dry, and I was disappointed. (We couldn't find a Duncan Hines "butter recipe fudge" cake mix, but I doubt our substitution of "dark chocolate fudge" made a difference.) We will be having them again (with margarine and no powdered sugar) so maybe cooking them less time - this batch was in the oven for 20 minutes - will help. 

Cheesecake-Topped Brownies, variation two - March 29th - We weren't too thrilled with variation one, so I wasn't expecting much from these brownies. However, the frosting must make a difference, because these are quite delicious! Or maybe it's because we didn't over bake them. Or maybe it's because we added some extra brownie mix to the boxed mix (1/2 cup - to make it equal the proper weight). Whichever, we won't mind eating the rest of these brownies.

Sour Cream Brunch Cupcakes - April 19th - Wayne says this is the best recipe in the book so far! I think the sugar could be cut way back, and that they are more muffin than cupcake, but they are delicious. Here's the recipe.

Butterscotch Sticky Buns - June 7th - These were pretty good as well and definitely super sweet. Personally, we think the filling to bread ratio was way off, but that didn't stop us from using it all up.

Chocolate Pound Cake - July 5th - I had high hopes for this recipe and even decided it would be my birthday cake this year. However, even though the toothpick came out clean, we obviously didn't bake it long enough and getting it out of the pan was quite messy. What a disappointment!! It still tastes good, but we won't be serving it to our dinner guests any time soon!

S'More Pie - July 26th - This is the second version of this pie, made with a chocolate candy bar with almonds. It's delicious! (Although, you can't really taste any almonds; if you want that, it's probably better to add your own almonds to plain milk chocolate.)

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies - August 16th - We're back to the beginning of the book again! This time we're using peach preserves.

Double Chocolate Chewies (Again) - September 6th - We cooked these for a bit less time than before, but they're still on the dry side. This variation used margarine and pecans and was not dusted with powdered sugar. However, no one will complain if you frost them with some fudge icing!

Cheesecake-Topped Brownies (Again) - October 5th - This was the third variation of a recipe we first tried last summer. Prepare a regular brownie mix, then before baking top with a sweetened cheesecake mixture. After baking and cooling, sprinkle orange peel on top. I think we preferred the version with chocolate frosting (see above), but these are still pretty good.

Cappuccino Cupcakes - November 8th - This recipe wouldn't be one I'd ever select, but we're trying every single one in this cookbook, so we bought some unique ingredients and made it, and we'll make it again because there are a few variations. Basically, take a dark fudge cake mix and prepare it using coffee instead of water. Bake cupcakes and let cool. If desired, poke holes in each cupcake and sprinkle them with coffee liqueur. Add some liqueur to vanilla frosting and frost. Decorate with shaved chocolate and, optionally, chocolate-covered coffee beans. 

Note: I didn't realize how easy it is to shave chocolate. Just use the large holes on a stand grater. It worked beautifully.

Tropical Carrot Bread - December 13th - We tried the first variation of this breakfast bread, and I felt it was kind of dense, dry and crumbly, but it tastes okay and is filling. If you ever try the recipe, let me know what you think.

Reading through this round-up I'm discovering that I really didn't like many of these recipes. I wonder if that was just a fluke or if my "dessert" taste buds are changing. This also shows that pies really are our favorite dessert category, with brownies a close second. I wonder what the list will be for 2026, and if I'll like those recipes any better!