Kim, Author at Cinnamon and Sugar

Win 4 books by Darci Hannah!

I’m doing something a little bit different this week by giving away four books to one lucky winner! Today it’s books by Darci Hannah from her Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries!

Often Kensington Publishing will send me a print book (sometimes an advance readers copy or even the finished book) for authors that I’m reviewing, even though I read the ebook ARC from NetGalley. A lot of authors, like Darci Hannah, are truly generous and instead of me using the publisher’s copy for giveaways, will offer to send out signed copies of their books to winners. Thank you, Darci! But that leaves me with a lot of books on my shelves. While I love looking at them there, I’m rapidly running out of room, plus I have the books on my iPad if I ever have the time to reread.

So, I’ve decided to do a giveaway to share books that I’ve already featured with their recipes on the blog. Please use the Rafflecopter link below. Contest ends March 9, 2025 and is limited to U.S. residents due to insane shipping fees outside the country.

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If you’re interested in my detailed reviews, I’m including links to the original blog post for each of them. Simply click on the book cover or the recipe title and it will take you to that page for the review and the featured recipe.

Featured Recipe: Carrot-Raisin Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Synopsis

After catching her celebrity chef fiancé sizzling in the arms of another woman, Lindsey Bakewell left big city Wall Street for small town Beacon Harbor, Michigan to pursue her own passion as a pastry baker—and gets mixed up in someone’s sweet taste of revenge . . .

More interested in kneading dough than adding it up, Lindsey’s breakup inspired her to set up the shop she always wanted in a place that always made her happy. She’d spent many childhood summers near this beach community and converting the old run-down lighthouse into a bakery café and home offers a perfect fresh start for Lindsey and her devoted Newfoundland dog, Wellington.

But not everyone in town has a sweet tooth. The preservation society won’t have the lighthouse’s history sugar coated by lattes and cakes—and a protest group crashes Lindsey’s Memorial Day opening. Then her ex-fiancé Jeffrey Plank and his girlfriend Mia Long arrive to trash the place. In the ensuing chaos Mia chokes on a donut and dies.

An autopsy reveals cyanide in Mia’s bloodstream and Lindsey is the police’s prime suspect. To clear her name, she’s going to need to combine ingredients found in the town’s checkered past to uncover the identity of a desperate killer . . .

Featured Recipe: Fabulous Frosted Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Synopsis

Lindsey prefers to keep her bakeshop’s Halloween decor light and autumnal, rather than gruesome and ghoulish. But everyone knows her lighthouse home is haunted. Some intrepid teens have even tried to break in to witness the resident ghost themselves. Dreading Halloween night, Lindsey reluctantly allows her influencer and podcaster best friend, Kennedy, to host a live ghost hunting investigation in the lighthouse, conducted by a professional team. Protective of her ghost, Lyndsey is understandably nervous about what they might uncover . . .

The segment is uneventful—until things take a terrifying turn. The team freaks out. As Kennedy joins the mad dash outside, she bumps into what looks like the prankster teens’ creepy clown costume hanging from a tree. But when Lindsey’s dog, Wellington, begins to whine, they make a grim discovery: the clown is no dummy. It’s a corpse.

Now Lindsey and company will need to keep their cool if they want a ghost of a chance to solve the murder—and see another Halloween . . .

Featured Recipe: Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake

Synopsis

Follow the aroma of shamrock sugar cookies to the Beacon Bakeshop, a lighthouse on the shores of Lake Michigan where amateur sleuth Lindsey Bakewell is busy preparing for Beacon Harbor’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities – with a little help from her adorable Newfoundland, Wellington, of course!

Lindsey is baking up a storm—shamrock sugar cookies, Guinness chocolate cupcakes, Irish soda bread—for the well-timed grand opening of the Irish import gift shop, the Blarney Stone, owned by her boyfriend’s uncle, Finnigan O’Connor, recently relocated from the Emerald Isle.

But it’s Uncle Finn himself who seems full of blarney when he gleefully reveals a pot of real gold he claims he stole from an actual leprechaun. And Finn’s fortune takes a turn for the worse when he’s arrested for the bludgeoning of a small unidentified man dressed as a leprechaun—the murder weapon alleged to be his now-missing shillelagh.

Eccentric Uncle Finn may enjoy believing he’s outwitted a leprechaun, but he would never be so deluded as to clobber one with his walking stick. Now Lindsey will need more than the luck of the Irish to seize a golden opportunity to catch the real killer . . .

Featured Recipe: Lindsey’s Raspberry Lemon Bundt Cake

Synopsis

Lindsey’s patrons have a new outdoor patio where they can eat their treats in the glorious summer weather. But even more exciting is that the Beacon Bakeshop is going to host British celebrity chef Vivi Lemonberry—and what could be a more appropriate event than a tea party?

What Lindsey didn’t realize is that Vivi is here to put some distance between herself and her recent professional and personal scandals. Despite assurances that Vivi is as sweet as a chocolate-dipped strawberry, Lindsey is cooling rapidly toward the culinary icon . . . especially after she banishes Lindsey’s beloved dog, Wellington, from the bakeshop and then flirts outrageously with Lindsey’s boyfriend.

She’s not the only one feeling hostile, though. While Vivi’s in the middle of making a tart in front of the cameras, a woman runs up and slaps her. Soon, Vivi’s nowhere to be found, and folks are speculating on whether she’s run off with her secret lover or just laying low due to embarrassment. That is, until Lindsey finds a body bobbing near the surface of Lake Michigan. It’s a sour ending for the diva, but Lindsey is determined to squeeze the truth out of every clue until she finds the killer . .

Rhubarb Crumble Cake

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KILLING ME SOUFFLÉ is the twentieth book in the Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander. Filled with family, friends, great food, and a new adventure along the Oregon coast, I breezed through this newest release, not wanting to put the book down as I caught up with Jules and the gang. Jules’ young mentees, Sterling and Stephanie, have struck out on their own, taking over the coastal Whaleshead Resort restaurant. To celebrate their grand opening, Jules and the team from Torte, along with family members, have joined the young couple to celebrate. One of the most endearing qualities of this series is the theme of family and friends. No matter what, they support each other, encourage each other, and pitch in to help whenever it’s needed. Ms. Alexander also captures the setting with her strong descriptive language. You can smell the sea salt in the air, here the squawking of the seagull, taste the chocolate soufflé coming from the kitchen, and feel the chill wind blowing off the ocean. It makes me want to take a trip to the Oregon coast.

No matter how much preparation Sterling and Stephanie have put into making the opening a success, nothing could have prepared them for the manager of the resort being found murdered… unfortunately, by Jules. With their livelihoods on the line, Jules and her team start hunting down information. As she digs into the manager’s life, it becomes apparent that no one liked him, and multiple people just might be happy he’s no longer around. Being a virtual stranger to the area, investigating isn’t as easy as it is back in Ashland. Still, Jules is determined to help her young friends. I really liked that Jules’ mother and step-dad (the Professor) are also around. As a trained detective, the Professor has an in with local law enforcement which aids Jules in her quest. There are a few twists, but for the most part, this is the kind of book to curl up with beneath a quilt, a cup of hot tea at hand, and immerse yourself in a cozy read.

There are several recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to try. The second I saw the recipe for Rhubarb Crumble Cake I just knew I had to make it since my family loves rhubarb. Rhubarb, with it’s tart bite, is the perfect complement to a vanilla-based cake and a cinnamon crumble topping. This moist cake makes for a great breakfast (you get fruit, oatmeal, and eggs in one handy slice!) or for an afternoon pick-me-up with a cup of coffee or tea, or dessert when served with a scoop of ice cream. Since this blog post happened early in the year, I couldn’t find fresh rhubarb and had to resort to frozen rhubarb. With a tweak or two, it can be a fine substitute: first, defrost it ahead of time and drain off the excess liquid. I didn’t and the cake center didn’t bake through even after adding 15 minutes of extra baking time. But with spring on the horizon, fresh rhubarb is around the corner which means more Rhubarb Crumble Cake is in our future!

Amazon Synopsis

Amidst the rocky beaches of the Oregon coast, Torte’s beloved Sterling and Stephanie have been hired to take over the aging restaurant at the cliffside Whaleshead Resort. They’re nervous about striking out on their own, but excited by the opportunity to put their own spin on a new menu. From fresh fish caught the very same day to vegan options and handcrafted pastries, they’re buzzing with ideas. What’s even better is that Jules and the team from Torte have come out for opening weekend to cheer them on.

Despite some opening night jitters, the dinner is off with a bang. Guests and long-term residents of Whaleshead Resort are eager to taste the young couple’s creations. As the tickets begin to line up and guests pile in the front door, Jules and Carlos offer to roll up their sleeves and help in any way they can.

Stephanie is taking on every chef’s nightmare—a fluffy chocolate soufflé—and Sterling is fast at work prepping shrimp linguini and pan-seared halibut when they suddenly hear screaming. Erik Morton, the manager of Whaleshead and their new boss, has taken a fatal fall down the steep and dangerous cliffside trail leading to the beach. Jules and her young protégés quickly realize this was no accident. Now, the team will have to juggle the investigation while keeping the restaurant—and Steph and Sterling’s new jobs—from crashing like the waves along the cliffs.

A special thanks to Minotaur Books for offering a print copy of KILLING ME SOUFFLÉ to one lucky winner! Contest ends March 2, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Rhubarb Crumble Cake

Ingredients

For the cake:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1-1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk

For the rhubarb:

2 cups fresh rhubarb, washed and chopped into cubes
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest

For the crumble topping:

1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
Whipped cream for serving

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F). Grease a 9-inch square baking dish and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, 1 cup of the sugar, and vanilla extract. Bead in the eggs one at a time.
In a small bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups of the flour with the baking powder and salt.
Alternate adding the milk and the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix until just combined.
Mix the chopped rhubarb with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, orange juice, and orange zest in a separate bowl until the rhubarb is well coated.
Spread the cake batter evenly over the bottom of the greased baking dish. Layer the coated rhubarb over the batter.
In a new bowl, combine the oats, remaining 1/2 cup flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut the chilled butter into the mixture until it resembles sand. Sprinkle the crumbly topping evening over the rhubarb layer.
Bake for 45 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool to room temperature. Serve slices with a dollop of whipped cream.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

If you can't find fresh rhubarb, you may substitute frozen rhubarb. Be sure to defrost first and drain excess liquid before using. You may need to increase the baking time by 5 to 10 minutes. Use a toothpick inserted into the center to check for doneness before increasing the baking time.

Notes

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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#giveaway Celebrating Cinnamon & Sugar’s 10th Year Blogiversary

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the many, many wonderful authors and their fans who have
made my blog a success! I truly appreciate the generosity of these talented authors who share
their books and delicious recipes with the cozy mystery community.
Readers and authors alike have inspired me
to write my own books and dream up tasty treats to share!

To celebrate my 10th Blogiversary, I’m giving away

A prize pack containing:
Print copy of Chocolate Can Be Deadly
Chocolate candy from See’s (a California icon!)
Rose Petal Soap
$10 Amazon gift card
$5 Starbucks gift card
Plus a bunch of fun swag!

Contest ends 2/23/25 and I’m so very sorry that due to shipping costs, it’s limited to U.S. residents only.

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Thank you to everyone for being a part of my journey!!!

And a gentle reminder that my newest Cupcake Catering Mystery, Chocolate Can Be Deadly, is still priced at only $0.99 for the ebook version on Amazon and is also available to download for free on Kindle Unlimited!

Click here to visit Amazon: CHOCOLATE CAN BE DEADLY

Banana Pancakes

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THE WAGTAIL MURDER CLUB is the tenth book in the Paws & Claws Mysteries by Krista Davis. First off, the setting of the Sugar Maple Inn in Wagtail, Virginia is absolutely charming and I wish it were a real place! Between the town, protagonist Holly Miller and her family, and her menagerie of pets, you couldn’t ask for a better place to while a few hours away, immersed in this book. Adding to the adorableness, is a new rescue dog, Squishy, who moves in and steals each scene he inhabits. I’ll have to admit he tugged at my heartstrings more than a few times. The author has an admirable way with descriptions, bringing each of the characters and the setting to life. Holly’s relationship with her grandmother and her mother is delightful, and I enjoyed how they interact and work together. The only discord in the story is the arrival of Ben, Holly’s ex-boyfriend. I won’t spoil the plot with details, but I hope this is the last we see of him and his sense of entitlement and condescending ways.

With Ben and his new attorney colleagues in town to discuss opening a satellite office, there’s some drama going on. Plus, folk in Wagtail are up in arms about a released convict moving to town, and living across the street from Holly’s mother. When one of the visiting attorneys plunges to her death, it soon becomes apparent that it was anything but accidental and is similar to the death of a young woman numerous years before. Could there be a connection between the two murders? Holly, with the assistance of her darling dogs, her grandmother, and mother, starts investigating. There are many suspects to sift through, with misdirection around every corner. I always love a good whodunit that features a long-ago crime that is somehow related to the current day crime. Ms. Davis does an admirable job tying the two together into a cohesive story. It’s always a pleasure visiting Wagtail and I can’t wait to make a return visit with the next book in the series!

You can always count on several yummy recipes included in the Paws & Claws Mysteries, some for humans, some for pets, and some that can be shared with our furry friends. In this newest release, Ms. Davis includes a recipe for Banana Pancakes, using three simple ingredients and all are safe for our pups to eat in moderation. I think I’ve found my new favorite breakfast! These take just a minute to mix the batter up with a fork, using banana, eggs, and flour (I’ve made these three times and substituted gluten-free flour once, and oat flour another time… it works perfectly). And before you know it, you’ve got beautifully browned, yummy pancakes sitting on your plate. Missy has never been a fan of bananas so I wasn’t sure if she’d want to eat a small pancake. She sniffed it but didn’t back away, so I offered her a small nibble. Once she downed it, she snatched the entire pancake off the plate (leaving the banana garnish behind) and ran to the back of the dining room table to gobble it up, lol. Apparently she didn’t want me changing my mind about her getting such a special treat. Missy gives this recipe two paws up and wants to know when I’m making them again!

Amazon Synopsis

Holly Miller is on her way home to Wagtail, Virginia when she spots something in the grass not far from her car. It turns out to be an adorable black Labrador in a cage with a note attached to his collar. My name is Squishy. I am a very good boy. Please take good care of me. Holly takes Squishy home to the Sugar Maple Inn, which she owns with her grandmother, who also happens to be the mayor of Wagtail. They decide to foster Squishy at the Inn. Days later, Holly is surprised to see her ex-boyfriend Ben checking in with a group of his attorney colleagues who all seem to think that he and Holly are still an item!

Aided by Squishy, Holly’s rascally dog and cat find one of Ben’s fellow attorneys who has died from a non-accidental fall. Is the fiend a resident of Wagtail or a visitor? Holly bands together with her mom, grandmother, and beloved elderly Inn butler, Mr. Huckle, to uncover the killer and the truth about Squishy. Because nothing brings a town together like murder.

A special thanks to Krista Davis for offering a hardcover copy of THE WAGTAIL MURDER CLUB to one lucky winner! Contest ends February 16, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Banana Pancakes

Share with your dog, but you eat the maple syrup.

These are the quickest, easiest pancakes I have ever made. Because of the moisture in the banana, you may not even need milk. I have made them with milk and without. They're a little bit thinner with milk, but my preference is without milk. However, if you make them with bananas that are too green, you may find the mixture too dense. All you have to do is add one or two tablespoons of milk for additional moisture. While these are for people, your dog can also have a bite, just not too much. If you want more than two pancakes, simply double the recipe.

Makes 2 pancakes.

Ingredients

1 banana, preferably ripe with a few spots on the peel
2 eggs
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
Canola oil
1 - 2 tablespoons milk (optional)
Maple syrup (for serving)

Instructions

Mash the banana with the back of a fork in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and use the fork as a whisk, blending the eggs with the banana. It won't be smooth; there should be some lumps.
Add the whole wheat flour and whisk it in with the fork.
Preheat a stove burner on medium and set a small or medium frying pan on it.
Pour a tablespoon or so of the canola oil onto the warm pan (eyeball it). Swirl to spread it, then pour in half of the banana mixture. You may need to adjust the heat if it gets too hot. When the bottom is set, flip the pancake to cook the other side until it's a light brown color.
Move the pancake to a plate, add more oil to the pan as needed, and repeat the process with the remaining batter.
Serve with maple syrup for humans. Your pups will be thrilled to eat them without the maple syrup. Or for extra banana flavor, slice another banana and sprinkle the slices over the top.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Notes:

I made these with gluten-free flour once, and with oat flour another time. Both substitutions for whole wheat flour worked perfectly. If you use a gluten-free flour blend, make sure the ingredients are safe for your pup.
While the directions say to make these into two large pancakes, I made one of the batches into small pancakes. It took more time to cook up all the batter, but did make it easier to give just one small pancake to Missy.

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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Apple Muffins with an Added Suprise

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I’m delighted to be participating in the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour presenting SEAMS LIKE THE PERFECT CRIME, the fourteenth book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries by Lois Winston! I’ve had my eye on this series for a while but this is the first opportunity I’ve had to finally read one… and now I need to add the previous thirteen books to my TBR list! Despite not know the entire backstory of protagonist Anastasia Pollack’s life, the author did an admirable job weaving in just enough information so that I never felt lost… although I have enough curiosity to make me determined to read and find out. This is one of those books where you love the characters, except for those who are meant to be hated. And thrown in for some humor is the Shakespearean-reciting African Grey parrot, called Ralph. Each of the players had very distinctive personalities, but I like Anastasia is a capable woman with a soft spot for those who need help. She may be a bit of a pushover, but when the situation calls for it, she stands firm and does the right thing. You can tell what kind of woman Anastasia is by the way her teen son lives his life and responds to those who need help as well. It added heartwarming moments to the storyline.

But as all cozy mysteries are prone to do, there is a murder and Anastasia gets involved after her son finds the victim. Goodness, the lead up to and the crime is certainly a page-turner! (Be sure to read the author’s note at the back of the book… it’s eye opening how the plot came to be.) Given the victim is a brand-new neighbor, Anastasia doesn’t know much about him or the people he knows. There is an added level of difficulty in finding out the suspects and the motives for his death, and the author is methodical in laying out the clues and the investigation. The plot moves along at a quick pace and as the story progressed, I found myself unable to put the book down until I’d read the very last sentence.

I enjoyed reading the instructions for Anastasia’s Quilted Memories Ideas at the back of the book. I’m not terribly crafty, but I love the idea of saving favorite clothing items (especially from children) and creating something that will last. And while the book itself doesn’t have any recipes, Anastasia’s best friend is constantly bringing delectable goodies to their office, with mouthwatering descriptions. You can read a brief excerpt (below) relating to Lois Winston’s recipe I’m sharing today—Apple Muffins with an Added Surprise! I loved how moist these muffins were, thanks to both apple and zucchini used in the batter. The cinnamon adds a nice flavor while the cream cheese filling adds richness. These make an excellent and delicious breakfast treat or perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up!

Amazon Synopsis

When staffing shortages continue to hamper the Union County homicide squad, Detective Sam Spader once again turns to his secret weapon, reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack. How can she and husband Zack Barnes refuse when the victim is their new neighbor?

Revolutionary War reenactor Barry Sumner had the odd habit of spending hours mowing a small patch of packed dirt and weeds until his mower ran out of gas. He’d then guzzle beer on his front porch until he passed out. That’s where Anastasia’s son Nick discovers his body three days after the victim and his family moved into the newly built mini-McMansion across the street.

After a melee breaks out at the viewing, Spader zeroes in on the widow as his prime suspect. However, Anastasia has her doubts. There are other possible suspects, including a woman who’d had an affair with the victim, his ex-wife, the man overseeing the widow’s trust fund, a drug dealer, and the reenactors who were blackmailing the widow and victim.

Keep reading for an excerpt from the book:

Anastasia Pollack, magazine crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth of my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, needs copious amounts of caffeine and baked goods to deal with everything I dump on her—from a communist mother-in-law to more dead bodies than the average big city homicide cop encounters in a lifetime on the force. Luckily, her BFF, food editor Cloris McWerther, keeps the magazine break room well stocked with both. Most of the time:

After suffering through the usual bumper-to-bumper morning commute, I arrived at work in time to snag a coffee in the break room. Unfortunately, I found only crumbs remaining on the plate of whatever goodies Cloris had provided this morning.

I popped my head into her cubicle and mumbled a half-hearted, “Morning.”

She took one look at me and frowned. “Get up on the wrong side of the bed?”

I held up my coffee mug. “Notice anything missing?”

“Should I?”

“Mondays are bad enough, but starting the week without a Cloris confection is a violation of the United Nations ban on torture.”

“Before you report me, check your desk.”

I spun around and stepped across the hall. A ginormous apple muffin sat on a napkin beside my keyboard. I called across the hall to her. “You’re now officially in my will.”

Cloris snorted. “So, I inherit your debt?”

“You never know. I may win the lottery someday.”

“You don’t play the lottery.”

“That could change.”

“I won’t hold my breath, but you’re welcome for the muffin.”

I blew her a kiss. “Best BFF ever.”

A special thanks to Lois Winston for providing three winners with a print or ebook copy of SEAMS LIKE THE PERFECT CRIME. Print limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends February 17, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. Contest is administered by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour and the winner will be announced on this page and notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Apple Muffins with an Added Surprise

Servings: 12 muffins

Ingredients

Muffin Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup grated zucchini
1 small peeled and diced apple, any variety suitable for baking

Cream Cheese Filling Ingredients:

6 ounces whipped cream cheese, room temperature
1 egg yolk, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons granulated sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F). Grease a 12-count muffin pan or line with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry muffin ingredients except the sugar.
Using a stand mixer, whisk together the oil, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Fold in the zucchini and apples.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together only until combined.
Using the stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and sugar until smooth and creamy.
Using a 1-tablespoon scoop, place a scoop of muffin batter into each muffin cup. Add a scoop of the cream cheese mixture. Then another scoop of muffin batter.
Bake at 425 degrees (F) for 5 minutes. Leaving the muffins in the oven, reduce the temperature to 350F and continue baking 15 minutes more.
Cool muffin tin on wire rack before removing muffins.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

I added some coarse sparkling sugar to the tops of the muffins before baking.

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE

February 6 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CRAFT POST

February 7 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – RECIPE POST

February 8 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 12 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 13 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 14 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 15 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tunnel of Fudge Cake

I’m so excited to share that CHOCOLATE CAN BE DEADLY is finally here! I’m celebrating with a giveaway and I’ve extended the ebook sale price of only $0.99 for another week so don’t miss out. Ebook, print, and Kindle Unlimited versions are available on Amazon. Click on the title to go to Amazon. Print is available at most online book retailer sites.

CHOCOLATE CAN BE DEADLY

Print is available at most online book retailer sites.

What it’s about:

Catering a post-Valentine’s Day Death by Chocolate dessert party should have been a delicious way to wrap up a week of romantic festivities. But when the new fiancé of the hostess is found dead during the event, clutching one of Emory’s chocolate cupcakes and a heart-shaped box of chocolates close by, the guests and the police put her at the top of their suspect list. With her cupcake catering business melting away as word spreads about the poisoning, Emory, and her octogenarian pal, Tillie, will need to pry into the sticky, dark secrets of the attendees. Will they uncover who’s been hiding a rotten center, or will the killer stir up danger and frost Emory for good?

Includes chocolate recipes, like the Tunnel of Fudge Cake I’m sharing today!

To celebrate the release of CHOCOLATE CAN BE DEADLY, I’m giving away two $10 Amazon gift cards! Please use the Rafflecopter below the recipe. Contest ends February 2, 2025 at 11:59 PST. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Ingredients

Cake

3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder + extra for Bundt pan
1/2 cup boiling water
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups pecans, finely chopped
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon salt
5 eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1-1/4 cups unsalted butter, room temperature

Chocolate Glaze

3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup light corn syrup
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Garnish Ideas

Pecan halves or chopped nuts, chocolate leaves or hearts, chocolate shavings, colorful sprinkles, fresh raspberries

Instructions

Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Heavily grease a 12-cup Bundt cake pan, then dust it with cocoa powder. Set aside.
Place 2 ounces of chopped bittersweet chocolate into a small heatproof bowl, and pour the boiling water over the chocolate. Whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
In a large bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, pecans, confectioners' sugar, and salt.
In a small bowl, beat the eggs and vanilla together.
Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and butter together until light and fluffy. Reduce the mixer to low, add the egg mixture and beat until combined. Add the chocolate mixture and beat until thoroughly incorporated. Batter may appear curdled but that is normal. Mix in the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Don't over mix.
Pour the batter into the Bundt cake pan. Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes, until the edges slightly pull away from the pan and the top springs back when lightly touched. A skewer won't give an accurate measurement of doneness, so don't use.
Remove the cake from the oven and place on a wire rack. Cool in the pan for 1-1/2 hours, then invert onto a serving plate and cool completely.

Chocolate Glaze

Once the cake is completely cooled, heat the cream, corn syrup, and chopped chocolate in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until smooth, then stir in the vanilla.
Remove from heat and allow to thicken for about 30 minutes.
Drizzle glaze over the cake. Add garnish if desired. Allow it to set for about 20 minutes before serving.

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