Good manners dictate that one should not discuss politics at the dinner table, but what if there has been a murder that is wrapped up in politics? Lake Eden’s sheriff is the one all anyone can talk about. He is running for re-election. I mean, he was running for re-election. Hannah enlists the help of her sister Andrea to uncover the layers of secrecy surrounding the election and the murder.
Book 5 of the Hannah Swensen Mysteries series involves all of our favorite characters. Hannah is encouraged by Andrea to investigate the recent murder because Andrea’s police officer husband is forced to sit this out of this investigation.
Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Cozy Mystery Novel with Recipes by Joanne Fluke
Book Review
Murder Mystery Books🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
Book Review Outline and Tone:
I love a good mystery, that is why I read mystery novels. In Fudge Cupcake Murder, there is, of course, a murder mystery, but there is also another mystery. The mystery of the secret ingredient. Hannah is putting together a cookbook and has asked people in Lake Eden to give her recipes to include. One friend, Beatrice, says she has a recipe for the best fudge cupcake ever! The only problem is, the recipe is her late mother-in-law’s recipe and her mother-in-law never revealed what the secret ingredient is. So while Hannah is trying to focus on solving the latest homicide, she is also making batch after batch of cupcakes trying to discover the secret ingredient.
If I am coming across as a bit more excited about the secret ingredient than the murder, that is probably accurate. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t able to solve the murder mystery early. She had me guessing right up until I was yelling at the book, “Hannah! Don’t go there!” It is just that I could relate to the secret ingredient better than solving a murder mystery.
I have a cake that I love to make and it too has a secret ingredient. I never tell people before they eat the cake because for some people they judge the cake before they try it. My uncle is famous for his chocolate chip cookies. He too has a secret ingredient. Everyone he has ever offered his cookies to, loves them, but he won’t share the secret. That is, until a family reunion. My sister and I made guess after guess and we finally wore him down. He told us that because we are family he would share the secret.
And now I have a problem. I have teased you with this information, so I should probably tell you the secret ingredients. However, if my uncle finds out, I probably won’t be invited to the next family reunion.
The author: Joanne Fluke
Joanne Fluke published her first Hannah Swenson novel, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, in 2001. Since then she has been a New York Times bestselling author several times. She is a popular guest on her local television station and she always uploads her interview to her Youtube Channel. She even has many interviews organized by the book. Some of her books have been made into movies on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel. Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery can be found https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/. Joanne Fluke will interact with fans on her Twitter and her Facebook accounts.
What is not to like?:
The only bad thing about having a main character accused of a crime is the reader knows that somehow the character will be found innocent.
The verdict:
This is another fun Hannah Swensen cozy mystery read. I did enjoy the mystery and was not able to guess who the murderer was until the very end. But I especially liked the side story of the mystery ingredient in the Fudge Cupcakes.
Books to Read 📕📗📘📙
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Apple Orchard Bars
from a Cozy Mystery, Fudge Cupcake Murder
by Joanne Fluke
Assemble the Ingredients
Easy dessert to make: 5/5 on the Easy as Pie scale 🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧
Melt butter, add the sugars, and stir.
Use
Good Grips, no slip when mixing. Each bowl has a spout for easy pouring. Dishwasher safe.
Sizes are easy to read on the measuring cups.
They are microwave safe (for melting the butter) and with their grip on the bottom, they won’t spin as you mix in the ingredients.
Add baking soda, salt, baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon, and beaten eggs.
Whenever I bake I use for measuring liquids. It is great to have so many different sizes.
Mix well.
Then add the oats, chopped apple and 1 ½ cups flaked coconut. (Reserve 1/2 cup for on top.)
Add the flour and mix it all thoroughly.
Grease a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan. Spoon the dough in and smooth it with a rubber spatula.
This is an easy recipe to mix together, especially when you have a good silicone spatula like
Sprinkle the 1/2 cup coconut you reserved evenly on top.
Bake at 375 degrees F. for 25 to 30 minutes, or until slightly browned on top.
Let cool and cut into bars like brownies.
Easy Dessert 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
Dessert Recipe 📖📖📖📖📖
From Hannah: (Bill likes these with hot chocolate-he says it brings out the taste of the apples.)
(Tracey’s still trying to convince Andrea that they’re health food and she should have them for breakfast.)
Apple Orchard Bars from: Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Ingredients
- ½ cup melted butter (1 stick)
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 beaten eggs (you can beat them up with a fork)
- ½ cup rolled oats (uncooked oatmeal)
- 1 cup peeled chopped apple (I used 3 medium Gala apples)
- 2 cups flaked coconut
- 1½ cups flour (not sifted)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F., rack in the middle position.
- Melt butter, add the sugars, and stir.
- Add baking soda, salt, baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon, and beaten eggs. Mix well.
- Then add the oats, chopped apple and 1 ½ cups flaked coconut. (Reserve 1/2 cup for on top.)
- Add the flour and mix it all thoroughly.
- Grease a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan.
- Spoon the dough in and smooth it with a rubber spatula.
- Sprinkle the 1/2 cup coconut you reserved evenly on top.
- Bake at 375 degrees F. for 25 to 30 minutes, or until slightly browned on top.
- Let cool and cut into bars like brownies.
What would I do differently next time?
My family absolutely loved these and ate them both as a dessert and for breakfast. The only thing I missed was a little chocolate. Next time I might add some chocolate chips.
Will I make it again?: Yes! This was a big success with my family. 😋😋😋😋
I have reviewed some other breakfast recipes. Check out Cheese Grits from When the Grits Hit the Fan by Maddie Day and Hot Mama Frittata from Bedeviled Eggs by Laura Childs.
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