I recently was sent some great Duncan Hines products, chewy brownies, muffins, and cupcake mix, To try out some new great recipes Duncan Hines has put together for the holidays. These recipes are inexpensive and very easy to make.

Unfortunately due to dairy and nut allergies prevented me from making some of these recipes for my family. I  got to make cupcakes, and brownies, but wanted to share these great recipes with you.

carrot cake cheese cake:

• 1 box Duncan Hines carrot cake
• 1 cup hot tap water(for soaking carrots and raisins)
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 8 1/2 oz can crushed pineapple, packed in juice, drained well, reserve juice
• 1/2 cup coconut(optional)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• Cheese cake filling
• 2-8oz pack cream cheese
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 1 tbsp flour

soak raisins and carrots in 1 cup hot water, allow to stand 5 mins. drain and squeeze out excess water from carrots and raisins. In mixing bowl add dry mix, eggs, oil, carrots, raisins and pineapple. add coconut and walnuts. mix well by hand. spread 2 cups of carrot cake on bottom of a greased 9-9 1/2 springform pan. reserve remaining carrot cake.

in bowl beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla until smooth. Beat in eggs and flour. spread 1/2 of cheesecake batter on top of carrot cake. Spoon on remaining carrot cake and top with remaining cheese cake batter.  Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 50-60 mins. or until cake is set and cooked through. When cake is cooled frost with pineapple cream cheese frosting or Duncan Hines Cream Cheese frosting.

Pineapple cream cheese frosting:

• 2 oz cream cheese
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 cups powered sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 T pineapple juice

beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and pineapple juice until smooth. beat in powder sugar until smooth. frost top of cake. 

Macaroon brownies:

• Duncan Hines family style chewy fudge brownie mix
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup almond extract
• 1 cup almonds
• 1 cup flaked coconuts

Preheat oven to 350, grease pan.

prepare brownies according to package directions

bake 25 minutes

place egg whites in medium bowl. beat at high-speed until foamy, beat in sugar gradually. beating until meringue forms firm peaks. Add almond extract. Fold in almonds and coconut. spread over warm brownies.

bake for 12-14 mins. longer or until meringue is slightly turned brown.

**I just made regular brownies, but they were still very good.  These recipes are cheap and great for the holiday season.

retail: Duncan Hines mixes 2-4 dollars

rating:9

Disclosure: i received mixes from Duncan Hines to facilitate my review other ingredients were provided by me. I did not receive any other compensation for this post. these are my personal views and should not affect your judgement on the products.