Photo: Hayley Parker

Bar Cookies You Can Totally Get Away with Eating for Breakfast
Cinnamon roll fans (you know who you are) will find much to love in these creative mash-ups, which combine the flavors of the sweet, spiced treats with blondies. They're a snap to make, too: You prepare a straightforward blondie batter (with its signature browned butter) then mix in a tablespoon of cinnamon. Bake as usual, let cool and—here's where things come full circle—spread a fluffy cream-cheese frosting over the bars (it's just like the one atop cinnamon rolls) before chilling and cutting them into squares.

Get the recipe: Cinnamon-Roll Blondies

Photo: Hayley Parker

A Way to Join the Milkshake Trend That's Still Going Strong
Though these frothy pink shakes look like they might be made with strawberries or raspberries, the sweet truth is that there's a slice of iced red-velvet cake (or, if you prefer, cupcakes) inside. You simply place the cake inside the blender, along with the vanilla ice cream and milk, and blitz until smooth. To make these shakes Instagram-worthy, top them with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, sprinkles and an additional cupcake.

Get the recipe: Red-Velvet Cupcake Shake

Photo: Hayley Parker

Cookies with a Deep, Dark Chocolaty Secret
Chocolate chip cookies can handle a pretty dazzling array of mix-ins, from pretzels to cornflakes to chili flakes and even ground coffee. But how about inserting an entire brownie inside the cookie dough, so it's completely hidden until you take a bite? It can be done—and, in fact, doing so is surprisingly easy. Just make a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough, portion it into balls on a baking sheet, gently flatten each one a bit and place half of a store-bought brownie bite in the middle. Roll the dough around the brownie until the cookie dough is round again and bake. When they're cool, bite into one and be amazed.

Get the recipe: Brownie-Filled Chocolate Chip Cookies

Photo: Hayley Parker

A Reason to Revisit an Oldie
Pineapple upside-down cake may not be the trendiest dessert out there, but it's certainly onto something: place a treat-worthy ingredient—pineapple rings, or, um, glazed doughnuts and doughnut holes—into a pan, along with a sauce of some type (bonus points if it includes, as this does, butter, brown sugar, cream and pecans), pour cake batter over the top and bake. Let cool for a few minutes and then verrrrry carefully invert the pan onto a plate, so whatever was once on the bottom—ahem, those doughnuts and holes—is now on top. Brilliant.

Get the recipe: Doughnut Upside-Down Cake

Photo: Hayley Parker

A Cereal Cake That Puts Plain Old Bars to Shame
If you've ever made Rice Krispies treats, you'll immediately get the concept of this eye-catching cake, which is basically a marshmallow-cereal bar, in Bundt-cake form. What makes it even more fun is the addition of cereal marshmallows—the ones from your childhood, rainbow-colored and shaped like hearts and horseshoes (which you can find online or in specialty food stores). We recommend loading the bottom of the Bundt pan with these Technicolor goodies, so that when you turn the cake out, they wind up on top.

Get the recipe: Marshmallow Charms Bundt Cake
Published 07/26/2017