April 19th is Amaretto Day

Ever wonder who starts these crazy "holidays".  Did someone just wake up and say....hmmmm I think I'm going to make today National Amaretto day?  I'm going to start a...Today is going to be National Eat All The Chocolate You Want and Not Get Fat Day....(sigh) if only...

Anywho, here's some yummy Amaretto recipes to help you celebrate the day:

Amaretto Cream Cake

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

3 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup amaretto liqueur

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 (15 ounce) can apricot halves, drained

2/3 cup amaretto liqueur

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese

3 tablespoons amaretto liqueur

4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 round 9 inch pans.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, buttermilk, 1/4 cup amaretto and oil. Beat for 4 minutes on medium speed. Pour into 2 round 9 inch pans.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool completely. When cool, slice each layer in half horizontally, making 4 layers.
4. Make apricot filling by combining drained apricots and 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons amaretto in a blender. Process until smooth. Place bottom layer of cake on serving dish. Spread 1/3 of apricot filling on cake layer, then repeat with other layers. Frost with Amaretto Cheese Frosting.
5. To make Amaretto Cheese Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and 3 tablespoons amaretto until soft. Add confectioners sugar and beat until smooth. Frost top and sides of cake.

Chocolate Amaretto Frosting

12 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped

3/4 cup amaretto liqueur

1 cup butter, cut into pieces

1. In a saucepan over low heat, combine chopped chocolate and amaretto. Stir constantly until the chocolate is almost melted, then remove from the heat and continue to stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Beat in the butter, one piece at a time until smooth. Refrigerate until frosting is of a spreadable consistency.

Chocolate Chip Amaretto Pound Cake 

3 eggs

1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup water

2 tablespoons almond extract

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the bundt pan.
2. Mix eggs, cake mix, oil, water and almond extract with electric beater. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Pour into prepared pan. Bake approximately 1 hour or until cake tests done. Cool, then dust with confectioners' sugar.