Throwback Snack: Dunkaroo Dip

I was a bit delayed on Mr. J’s August snack of the month. August’s theme was #throwback so I recreated Dunkaroos! I don’t remember ever seeing them at my house growing up. Essentially it was a cookie dipped into frosting so I doubt they are worse than another cookie with frosting but alas, they are no more…except for Pinterest. It is very addicting. The cake mix makes it.

Dunkaroo Dip - The Three Bite Rule

Ingredients:

1/2 box funfetti cake mix
1 cup Greek vanilla yogurt
2 cups cool whip

Directions:

Mix together the funfetti, yogurt, and cool whip.
Dunkaroo Dip - The Three Bite Rule
Mix and serve with animal crackers for dipping.
Dunkaroo Dip - The Three Bite Rule
Add a few more sprinkles serve and enjoy!

I served these as single dipper portions…much like the 90s treat? Why, yes! I gave Mr. J I Owe Yous with themes for his birthday to get a year of Snacks/Treats.

June: hot & cold (Ice cream topping basket)
July: shareable (loaded waffle fries)
Aug: throwback (this Dunkaroo dip!)
Sept: sweet
Oct: homemade
Nov: chewy
Dec: craveworthy
Jan: minty
Feb: crunchy
Mar: dip-able
April: traditional
May: fresh

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

I saw, I pinned, I waited forever, then I made. I’m not much of a baker but despite the cake, topping, and glaze it was actually really easy. It was addictive and somehow squares of the pan just kept disappearing. I’m not sure how it happened.

The Three Bite Rule - Pumpkin Coffee Cake
This comes from Tasty Kitchen by way of How Sweet It Is and Pretty Good Food and whoever else has made it.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

⅓ cups water
1 can pumpkin
2 eggs
1 tbs vanilla
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 box spice cake mix
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup brown sugar

Topping:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
4 tbs melted butter

Glaze:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions:

In a mixer, combine water, pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined. Add the cake mix and baking soda and mix again until just combined.
Preheat the oven to 350-degrees.
Pour cake into a sprayed 9×13 pan.
In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients: brown sugar, flour and melted butter. Use your fingers to sprinkle over the top of the cake.
The Three Bite Rule - Pumpkin Coffee Cake
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
In a medium sauce pan simmer brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream. Remove from heat and stir until all sugar dissolves.
When the cake is cooked, pokes some holes and pour glaze over the top.
The Three Bite Rule - Pumpkin Coffee Cake
I absolutely loved this. It was great as dessert and as breakfast.

S’mores Fudge

I just whipped up some fudge upon request from my dad and I wanted to go crazy with it, or just make some I hadn’t done before. Since it was his bday  I figured I’d stick to chocolate and find out what other flavors would pass muster for the future. I added a few colored sprinkles on top and poof, it was birthday fudge.

I still wanted to jack up some fudge. I thought about cookies & cream, but I seem to always have mini marshmallows around so this proved timely.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Fudge

Everyone loved the half chocolate half peanut butter one I did. Dad liked the mocha fudge I gave him for Christmas last year. I messed around making this s’more fuge and figured Mr. J would eat it since I had made some but given it all away.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1/2 container Fluff
1 small can evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter (I used a butter substitute and the texture was off, don’t do this)
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 mini marshmallows
4 graham crackers, crumbled

Directions:

Over medium heat, melt sugar, fluff, milk, butter, and salt together. Some bubbles will come up when the air is coming out.
Bring to a boil and boil, stirring consistently for 5 minutes.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Fudge
Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips until melted and mixed through.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Fudge
Pour into a 9×9 baking dish that you’ve buttered, sprayed, or lined with parchment paper.
Top with marshmallows.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Fudge
Top with graham crackers.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Fudge
Let cool for at least 2 hours.

It gets firmer in the fridge, but then the marshmallows get a bit weird. They don’t seem to like life in the fridge. I made this a while ago…it was hot and also because I made the mistake of using a butter substitute it didn’t quite harden enough. It tasted great though. It is definitely “never fail fudge” if you follow the instructions. I had gotten as far as melting the marshmallow so it was too late to turn back, or I’d be figuring how to dispose of sticky melted marshmallow which seemed more challenging than taking the risk with not-real butter.

S’mores Bread Pudding

Bread pudding is so foolproof. It also is the perfect dessert to make as a “small batch”. I made some mini ramekins that were a great single serving. I loved these flavors so I’m glad there wasn’t a big batch to sneak bites from. I also kicked it up a notch by using chocolate chunks. Chocolate chips would be fine but I loooove the big hunks. It is such a special touch to me.

Need a Valentine’s Day treat? Make this. Dinner isn’t necessary. Valentine’s Day is a day for chocolate. Done!

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy cream/light cream/milk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 soft sub rolls cut into into cubes (or approx. 6 slices of French bread)
1 cup chocolate chunks
1 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup crumbled graham crackers (plus another few tbs for topping)

Direction:

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees.
Whisk together cream, eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla.
The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Bread Pudding
Cut bread into 1″ cubes
Mix the bread into the wet mixture and toss to coat.
Add in marshmallows, chocolate chunks, and crumbled graham crackers and stir.

The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Bread Pudding

Spray ramekins or muffin tins, or a baking dish with non-stick spray and spoon into dishes.

The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Bread Pudding
Top with remaining graham cracker crumbles.
Bake 20 minutes. Broil another minute to brown the top.

The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is so adaptable. It lends itself to so many flavor combos. I had s’mores on the brain so I went with it. I’ve made black forest bread pudding a few times and love it. It uses pumpernickel bread (which has cocoa in it = dark color) and dark cherries.

I kind of let mine go a minute too long. Seriously. That decision to broil needs to be carefully watched. I had some “crunchy” parts. It was really good nonetheless. I loved the simplicity of this for a quick dessert.

The Three Bite Rule - S'mores Bread Pudding

suggested adaptations: 
bread pudding base + 1 tsp cocoa powder + strawberry slices + chocolate chips = chocolate dipped strawberry bread pudding
bread pudding base + 1 tsp cocoa powder + mini marshmallows = hot cocoa bread pudding
bread pudding base + banana + butterscotch/cinnamon chips = bananas foster bread pudding

What I Ate: Sweet Pumpkin Dip

What I Ate’ is a series of posts for so-easy-this-doesn’t-need-a-recipe but I’m sharing with you for the idea or inspiration.

It is Pumpkin Week here. Check out my Pumpkin French Toast and my Pumpkin Risotto. This is too easy to share, but it is just such a fall delight and very addictive.

I’m not a big baker so this sweet dip hit the spot. It also isn’t the worst sweet treat to eat. I whipped this up, refrigerated it until I was ready, and then packed it for an Octoberfest party. Now that’s easy.

The Three Bite Rule - Pumpkin Dip

Ingredients:

1, 15-oz can pumpkin
1, 15-oz container non-dairy whipped cream
1 box vanilla pudding mix (regular, cook to serve)
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

Whip everything together.
The Three Bite Rule - Pumpkin Dip
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
The Three Bite Rule - Pumpkin Dip
Serve with graham crackers for dipping.
The Three Bite Rule - Pumpkin Dip
I like this dip. The flavors and ease are definitely the high points. It is delightfully light and fluffy. I didn’t even think about dipping apples until now, but how great would that be?! I spread this onto toast one morning and couldn’t get over my genius moment. Whip this up for Thanksgiving when everyone needs something to munch on.

This is basically a quickie pumpkin mousse. Sprinkle some graham cracker crumbles on the bottom and top with a dollop of whipped cream and you’ve got dessert.

Should we keep talking about pumpkin? One more day! Tomorrow is something out of the ordinary for The Three Bite Rule and I want you to see it.