Tag: chocolate

Cookies, Desserts, Recipes

Cookie Days #1: Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

Sarah

Yesterday I referenced some cookies that were getting in the way of real meals around my house. I’d like to take the rest of this week to tell you all about them! How does that sound? Well, if it doesn’t sound good, then click away because that is the plan, Stan.

So, anyways. Cookies.

About a month ago, right before Thanksgiving, I received a holiday mailer from Sam’s Club. We’re members, so it wasn’t too big of a surprise. I normally toss that sort of thing, but for some reason decided to flip through the ads just to see what kind of goodies they were trying to sell me today. I mean, I already buy my carrots in 5 pound bags and can get enough oats to last a year [for real]. But lo and behold, from the pages of a Sam’s Club advertisement, a recipe caught my eye. A cookie recipe, to be exact, one that would have been the bane of my third grade school Christmas gift exchange: Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies.

See, as a third grader, I hated those little fake-sweet things with a passion, and arrived home in tears right before Christmas break because my Secret Santa got me a fancy box of them tied with a bow. This was devastating to the girl who only wanted a troll or a Barbie or whatever was in in third grade. Devastating, I say. Just ask my mom.

Now, many moons later, I can’t say that I adore chocolate covered cherries… but as I saw that recipe, memories of third grade abounding, I knew I just had to try them. The icing on the cake [or perhaps, the cherry on top?] was that the recipe submitter was none other than one Sarah Y. Before I got married, I was Sarah Y. Now I am Sarah K., but as a tribute to my third grade and maiden self, these Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies earned themselves a spot on my Christmas cookie plate. On their own merit, they have earned themselves a tasty award thanks to the abundance of soft, luscious chocolate coupled with the sweet satisfaction of a maraschino cherry. They are delicious, and just a smidgen different from your average Christmas cookie, so I hope you give them a try and come back the rest of this week for more cookie magic.

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies [from Sarah Y. via Sam’s Club, also online at BHG]
printable version

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 10-ounce jar undrained maraschino cherries
  • 6 ounces dark or semisweet chocolate pieces
  • 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

First, in a small bowl, mix together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside. Then, beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well, then fold in dry ingredients.

Next, drain cherries, reserving juice. Shape dough into one inch balls and press down in the center of each ball with thumb, placing balls on baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Place a cherry in each indentation.

Lastly, heat chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in a small saucepan, stirring constantly until chocolate has melted. Remove from heat and stir in 4 tablespoons reserved cherry juice.

Working quickly, spread about 1 teaspoon frosting over top each cherry. Bake for 10 minutes then cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Time: 45 minutes.

Yield: about 36.

Notes: The original recipe claimed a yield of 48, but even if I had gotten that, my jar of cherries only contained 30 so I had to replace a few with dried cranberries instead… just as a fair warning!

Breakfast, Granola

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Energy Bars

Sarah

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Energy Bars–equally yummy for a snack or for a healthy dessert!
pumpkin chocolate chip energy bars via thepajamachef.com

Last spring, I was addicted to making homemade granola bars. I blogged about a couple recipes, but also had a some serious flops. Like the burnt cherry-almond granola bars or the pumpkin granola bars that were  a weird combination between crunchy granola bar and thick oatmeal. Not good. Not good at all, friends. Truth be told, I had sort of given up on the idea of pumpkin granola bars after that incident. But then I saw this recipe from Michelle at The Lively Kitchen, and I was smitten. I knew I had to try it. Her Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Energy Bars sounded incredible with two of my favorite flavors, and they also looked crisp instead of mushy.

On Sunday, the stars aligned.* I was at the grocery store picking up a few things for the week when I thought I should get some snacks for the trip to Florida. I’ll be flying on Wednesday during lunchtime and am anticipating the hunger of a really late and/or expensive lunch already. So I started looking at the granola and energy bar selection and was sorely disappointed. Everything was either sugar laden** or uber expensive. So I walked away from the cereal aisle and headed home to my kitchen, ready to get to work. I love how this recipe incorporates a bunch of pantry staples and was very impressed with how well the batter held together before baking. While the bars were baking, my kitchen was filled with a delicious spiced aroma. It took all of my will-power to let them cool completely before cutting, but once they were there, all bets were off. Though they are not as crisp as the quintessential granola bar, they are about a billion steps up from pumpkin granola bar attempt #1–a definite win in my book.

Ben and I both agreed that these bars are great. They are flavorful, filling, and portable–three essentials for snacks in our house. I have a feeling we’ll be fighting over every last one until the bitter end I make more. For now, I’ll just stare at this and enjoy… the kitchen is a little too far away right now…

pumpkin chocolate chip energy bars

*I don’t really know what it means when “the stars align” and I don’t really believe in that sort of thing anyway, but it sounded good so I went with it. 🙂

**I know this recipe has sugar in it, but I know what it is and where it came from. That’s loads better to me!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Energy Bars

  • Servings: 12 bars
  • Print

adapted slightly from The Lively Kitchen
Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup almond butter
  • 1/3 cup pumpkin puree

Directions:

Preheat oven 375 degrees F. Grease an 8×8 inch pan with baking spray.

In a small bowl, stir together flaxseeds and water. The mixture will start to gel. In a large bowl, stir together all dry ingredients: oats, flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, sugar, and chocolate chips. Add maple syrup, almond butter [I microwaved mine for about 30 seconds to soften it up a bit first], and pumpkin to the gelled flaxseed mixture. Stir together well, then fold into dry ingredients until fully combined. The mixture will be thick, and to be honest, I used my hands to speed the process up.

Spoon batter into prepared pan and use the back of a spoon to even out the mixture. Bake for 14-16 minutes or until set. Do not overbake, bars will harden a bit as they cool. Cool completely before cutting.

 

Candy, Desserts, Recipes

Candy Corn Pretzel Bites

Sarah

I know it’s after Halloween. Candy corn season is finito, at least til next fall. But in case you need something to do to fulfill any sweet/salty cravings that come your way while finishing up the last of the clearance/leftover Halloween candy, here’s a great option.

You’ve got your layer of salty square pretzel [the best pretzel shape, in my opinion] covered with a layer of chocolate and topped off with the sweet refreshment of pure sugar candy corn. Or autumn corn. Or pumpkins. Or even caramel candy corn. Yes, it’s just as good as it sounds. Try it this weekend or file it away for next fall, this is a treat that will be on my list for years to come!

Candy Corn Pretzel Bites [from Baking and Creating with Avril]
printable version

Ingredients:

  • Pretzels
  • Hershey Kisses
  • Candy Corn

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with alumnium foil or parchment paper. Place pretzels on cookie sheet and top with a Hershey Kiss. Bake for 4-5 minutes. Chocolate should be barely shiny–much longer and it will get gross [technical term here, folks]. Press candy corn into chocolate and let cool before enjoying or storing in an air-tight container.

Time: 15 minutes.

Yield: varies.

Desserts, Other, Recipes

Individual Pumpkin Pie Parfaits

Sarah

Sometimes, a picture is worth 1000 words.

I think now is one of those times.

Let me explain, in case you’re confused. Oreo crust. Pumpkin pudding. Whipped cream. Oreo. Pumpkin. Whip. Oreo. Delicious spoonfuls of marvelousness coming your way. Yes, please.

Individual Pumpkin Pie Parfaits are like a cup of pumpkin pie, except 1000% easier and [dare I say] way more delicious. I made these recently when we had friends over for dinner because they could be made ahead of time from ingredients already in my fridge and pantry. I typically go for over the top baked desserts when I’m cooking for company and so often just forget about pudding or easy chilled treats, but these parfaits are a good reminder to think beyond the oven and experience fall in a new way. Pumpkin and chocolate just can’t be beat this time of year.

Individual Pumpkin Pie Parfaits [adapted from My Name is Snickerdoodle and The Avid Appetite]
printable version

Ingredients:

  • 1 small box [3.4 ounce package] instant vanilla pudding
  • 2 1/2 cups milk, divided
  • 1 envelope Dream Whip
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 cup crushed Oreos [8-10]
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine vanilla pudding powder and 2 cups milk. Beat with a wire whisk for 2 minutes then cover and refrigerate for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a stand mixer, whisk Dream Whip envelope, 1/2 cup milk, and vanilla on low for two minutes. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl, then beat on high for 5-8 minutes or until stiff peaks form.

Remove pudding from refrigerator and stir in pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree. Set aside. Stir powdered sugar into Dream Whip mixture. Set aside.

Mix together Oreo crumbs and melted butter. Press 1 tablespoon into the bottom of four small dessert glasses or bowls, then top with 1/4 cup pudding, and 1/4 cup Dream Whip*. Repeat, ending with cookie crumbs.

Refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 4 hours.

Notes:

Can substitute 2 cups Cool Whip or Whipped Cream for the Dream Whip. I just used what I had at home.

31 days of pumpkin

Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Exchange sponsored by Spice Islands.

Bars, Desserts, Family, Recipes

Pumpkin Brownies

Sarah

So I have totally been slacking on Pumpkin Month. 😦 But don’t despair! I have some great pumpkin recipes to share this week that I am so, so excited about to make up for it. First up is one of my absolute favorite fall desserts… Pumpkin Brownies. Normally I am a brownie purist, but this time, I’ve made an exception. Pumpkin is a fun add-in to any recipe, so why not experiment with pumpkin in my brownies?

Pumpkin Brownies via thepajamachef.com

I first made these brownies last fall, but they disappeared before I ever got a photo. That is just a tiny glimpse into just how delicious they are, because this happened several times. Making the same recipes over and over again is just not something that I do–there are too many good recipes out there so it is very rare!

Needless to say, I was incredibly excited about fall this year so that I could have an excuse to enjoy these festive fall treats. These brownies are rich, fudgy, and chewy–everything a perfect brownie should be in my book. Combined with layers of spiced pumpkin cake, Pumpkin Brownies make the perfect festive seasonal treat that even the non-pumpkin obsessed can love. [If you read regularly, you’ll know that I’m referring to my husband as one of the members of that club. :)] Slivers of these brownies are delicious any way they are served–warm out of the pan, at room temperature, or chilled from the fridge, though I have to say that room temperature is best.

If you’ll excuse me now, I’m going to go hobble off and lament the fact that we don’t have any of these brownies freshly baked. They would be the perfect recovery fuel for the Columbus Marathon on Sunday. We’re still feeling the soreness of the day, but we finished and had fun running together. I’m so proud of Ben finishing his first full marathon! Even if it’s his first and only marathon, he did an awesome job pushing through the pain and helping me run through some unfortunate knee pain that I’ve never experienced before. If he hadn’t been there, it would have been easy to give up, but instead we kept at it and crossed the finish line hand in hand. It was a great experience that I loved sharing with my husband. 🙂

Reader Question ~ What’s one of your most recent proudest accomplishments?

Pumpkin Brownies

  • Servings: 24
  • Print

from anecdotes and apple cores

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • 15 tablespoons [2 sticks – 1 tablespoon] butter, melted
  • 2 1/4 cups white sugar
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 5 eggs
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ¾ cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 1/8 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, stir together flour and baking powder. In a large bowl, combine melted better, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs one at a time and then fold in flour slowly until completely incorporated. Divide the batter in half evenly into two bowls.

In one bowl, stir in cocoa and chocolate chips. In the other, stir in pumpkin and spices.

Spread half of the chocolate batter into the bottom of the dish. Pour half of the pumpkin batter on top. Repeat the layers and then drag a knife through the layers gently to marbleize it. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool and cut into squares.