Brownies and Blondies

If you haven’t yet figured it out, I am a brownie freak! I love brownies! I had never tried using actual chocolate to make brownies before so I got searching for a new recipe where I could try it. They were so creamy and melt in your mouth rich! Needless to say, I’m in love!

1-1/2 sticks butter (6 oz)
6 0z semi sweet chocolate chips, about 1 cup *
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
2 tsp instant coffee**
3 eggs
1 c sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp salt
1 c all purpose flour

*For an extra kick I used “Lindt Chili” chocolate bars.

**I omitted the instant coffee.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and Flour a 9 inch square baking pan.

Melt butter and chocolate together in double boiler. Stir in cocoa powder and instant coffee until dissolved.

Whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla and salt.

Whisk egg mixture into chocolate mixture.

Whisk in flour until thoroughly incorporated.

Pour brownie batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 – 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the pan come out barely clean. Cool.

I also made a white chocolate version of these, or blondies! To make these I omitted the cocoa powder and used “Ghirardelli White Chocolate with Vanilla” squares.

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The best M&M Cookies in the WORLD!

Being the peanut butter freak I am, I used peanut butter M&M’s. Also, I omitted the chocolate chips and added an extra bag of M&M’s. Yummy!

M&M Cookies

8 oz unsalted butter, cool
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour (spoon and sweep)
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups plain M&Ms
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

Dough requires chilling, so don’t preheat oven.

Combine the cool butter and shortening in mixer. Beat until creamy. Add both sugars and continue beating on high for two minutes, scraping bowl. Beat in the vanilla and egg. Continue beating for another minute or until fluffy.

Stir together the flour, salt and baking soda. Add this mixture to the sugar mixture and stir until mixed. Stir in the M&Ms and chocolate chips. Chill batter for about an hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Drop batter by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, spacing 3 inches apart and bake for 12-14 minutes (mine took 9 minutes on Covection Bake). Let cool on cookie sheets for about 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool.

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Sure to Satisfy Any Sweet Tooth…

I love baking and usually only do so when I’m upset… busy hands keep my mind busy. But since it’s getting closer to the holidays I have another excuse to bake up some yumminess! Today I made some Betty Crocker Toffee Bars for the first time and they are the richest dessert I think I’ve ever had. Normally I can eat baked sweets all night long but I could only have one of these. They are scrum-didili-umptious! The recipe is below on the photo but I opted to omit the nuts and instead, crushed up some Heath bars to sprinkle on top.

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Halloween Cheesecake Brownies

In light of the Halloween spirit I made some cheesecake brownies last night and thought I would share!

 

To make your own Halloween Cheesecake Brownies:

Below I will post my favorite brownie recipe but you can prepare your favorite brownie recipe or boxed brownie for these. Follow the instructions of brownie recipe up until the point of placing the pan in the oven. BEFORE BAKING, prepare cheesecake topping (below). Drop cheesecake topping by spoonfuls onto your brownie batter in pan. Swirl with a knife. Bake as directed by brownie recipe.

 

Cheesecake Topping:

• 8oz Pack of Cream Cheese (I used reduced fat)
• 1/4 Cup Sugar
• 1 Egg
• Food Coloring drops until desired color

1. Blend all ingredients until well mixed.

 

My Favorite Brownie Recipe:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup Cocoa Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch square baking pan.

2. Stir together butter, sugar and vanilla in bowl. Add eggs; beat well with spoon. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in nuts, if desired. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.

3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

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