Duncan Hines Red Carpet Cupcake Challenge

Have you dreamed about a celebrity eating one of your cupcakes? Well, now's your chance.

Duncan Hines is the official dessert sponsor of the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards and Creative Arts Award Governors Ball. What does this mean to you? Duncan Hines is giving you the opportunity to have your cupcakes featured at this year's event! Your cupcakes will be sampled by Emmy winners, celebrities, and guests who will be in attendance at this year's Performer's Nominees Reception on August 27th.

That isn't all...you will also receive a trip for two to Los Angeles and two tickets to Fans in the Stands. What a fabulous prize! I would love for a chance to celebrity-watch.

How to Enter: Submit a photo and your recipe through duncanhines.com or through the Duncan Hines Facebook page before July 21, 2010. Visitors will vote for their favorite cupcake. The cupcake with the highest votes will enter the Top 10 phase. The winning cupcake will then be chosen by a panel of celebrity judges based on creativity, ease of preparation, and taste. The winner will be announced on August 3, 2010. Go here to view full rules.

Good luck!

Conversation Heart Brownies

Looking for a cute, easy (and dare I say, last minute) Valentine's treat idea?

Look no further! These Conversation Heart Brownies from Duncan Hines are super easy to make and will show your sweetheart how much you care.

Conversation Heart Brownies
1 pkg Duncan Hines Chocolate Lover's Double Fudge Brownie Mix
1 large egg
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tub Duncan Hines Creamy Home-Style Classic Vanilla Frosting
1 tub Duncan Hines Creamy Home-Style Classic Chocolate Frosting

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of 8x8 pan.

2. Prepare and bake brownies according to package directions.
Cool completely.

3. Cut into hearts using heart-shaped cookie cutter,
carefully remove from pan.

4. Frost and decorate.

5. Eat the remaining brownies
(I added this myself...I mean, you wouldn't want
the extra brownies to go to waste!)

Merry Christmas Cupcakes!

Yesterday I posted some last minute holiday treats, but I didn't include any cupcakes. Christmas wouldn't be complete without cupcakes, so here are a few ideas for all of you last-minute bakers like myself. Have a Merry Christmas!

Nutcracker Cupcakes from Duncan Hines

Ornament Cupcakes from Duncan Hines

Gingerbread Boy Cupcakes from Duncan Hines

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting from Beantown Baker

Pumpkin Something

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One of my favorite desserts growing up was Pumpkin Something. Pumpkin what? Yes, it was called Pumpkin Something. I recently made it for the first time since I've been married. My husband fell even more in love with me!

Duncan Hines has a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Crunch, which is pretty similar to my mom's Pumpkin Something (minus the pecans). If you're looking for something a little sweeter than pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, give this a try. I promise it will be a hit!

Pumpkin Pie Crunch/Pumpkin Something

Ingredients:
1 16oz. can pumpkin puree
1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
3 large eggs
1-1/2 cups sugar
4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. salt
1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of 13x9 pan.

2. Combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in large bowl. Stir until well blended. Pour into pan. Sprinkles dry cake mix evenly over pumpkin mixture. Drizzle with melted butter.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes. Cool completely. Top with whipped cream (optional). Refrigerate leftovers, if any.

Duncan Hines Halloween Cupcakes

Duncan Hines' website has some great Halloween-inspired cupcake recipes using Duncan Hines cake mix and frosting.

The cream cheese filling in the middle of these Devil's food "Spooky Surprise Cupcakes" looks delicious!

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You can also check out other Halloween cupcake recipes and decorating ideas from Duncan Hines that come from their partnership with best-selling cookbook "Hello, Cupcake!". See the pictures and recipes here.

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Even though it's not a cupcake, this Pumpkin Spice Cake is too cute! Nice touch of adding the ice cream cone in the middle of the cake for the pumpkin stem.

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