Chocolate Bonbons!!

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Ruthanne

 

Thanksgiving is past….shopping has begun…must be time for CHRISTMAS BAKING!!!!!  These fun little fudge cookies take advantage of all the great flavors of Hershey kisses available this time of year and they are SO beautiful on the table!

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

  • Soften Philadelphia cream cheese in microwave until completely smooth.
  • Melt chocolate chips in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well in between.
  • Add cream cheese to melted chocolate and blend well.
  • Add flour and stir into a thick dough consistency.
  • Flatten about 1 tsp. of dough in your palm, place a kiss in the center and gently wrap the dough around the kiss until it is completely covered.
  • Roll cookie into a ball and place on an un-greased cookie sheet.
  • Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
  • Remove warm cookies from cookie sheet and place on parchment paper.
  • Decorate as desired- like this:

 

From top to bottom:

1.  Mint truffle kisses: Dip 1/2 of cookie in green Wiltons candy melts, drizzle entire cookie with dark chocolate melts.

2. Coconut kisses: Dip top in white Wiltons candy melts, pipe a little bit of dark chocolate melts in the center and top with coconut.

3.  Caramel kisses:  To make a caramel color I mixed white melts with dark chocolate and added a bit of yellow food color.  Dip 1/2 of the cookie in this and drizzle with dark chocolate.

4. Cherry Cordial kisses: Dip top of cookie in white  melts, dab a tiny bit of green melt in the center and pull up to make a cherry stem and add a red sprinkle in the center.

5. (see top picture) Candy Cane kisses: Dip 1/2 of cookie in white melts and drizzle with red and green melts.

My thoughts:  I have become a Hershey Kiss Hoarder because of this recipe.  As soon as I see a new flavor I have to try it in these cookies– and then I buy like 5 bags so that I can have them for this recipe all year long.  All the flavors shown ARE available right now except for the coconut (EASTER, sorry…)…  One note:  the firm centered kisses (coconut, raspberry, mint truffle, candy cane etc.) work best in these cookies, as the soft centered ones tend to leak out a little (see my top picture- I’m missing some caramel 😦 )  These are the perfect bite-sized treat for any kind of occasion and kids have SO much fun wrapping dough around kisses!  ENJOY!!!!  r-

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Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Ruthanne

Creamy peanut butter piled high on rich dark chocolate cheesecake makes this dessert absolutely decadent!

INGREDIENTS:

Cheesecake:

  • 9 oz. chocolate wafer cookies (I use animal crackers)
  • 1/4 c. margarine (melted)
  • 2 (8oz.) packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
  • 1/2c. sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 c. dark chocolate chips (melted)
  • 1 c. heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tbsp. margarine (melted)
  • 3 tsp. vanilla

Chocolate Topping:

  • 1/4c. heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Topping:

  • 1/2c. heavy whipping cream
  • 1c. peanut butter baking chips

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees
  • Crush cookies into fine crumbs and add melted margarine.  Combine well and press into the bottom of a 9-Inch Springform Pan
  • Beat softened cream cheese with sugar until smooth.
  • Add eggs one at a time, beating in between each one.
  • Add remaining cheesecake ingredients, beating until smooth.
  • Pour into crust and allow to sit at room temp for 30 minutes.
  • Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 60 minutes,
  • Turn off oven, open oven door a little and allow to sit for another 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and run knife around edge of pan.  Remove edge of pan. 
  • Allow to come to room temperature (make toppings during this time)
  • PEANUT BUTTER: Put whipping cream into saucepan and heat just until bubbling at edges.  Turn heat off, add peanut butter chips, cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  • CHOCOLATE:  Put whipping cream into saucepan and heat just until bubbling at edges.  Turn heat off, add chocolate chips, cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, stir both until smooth.
  • Pour peanut butter over top of cheesecake, smoothing to edges
  • Refrigerate about 10 minutes.
  • Pour chocolate over peanut butter and smooth into a center circle.  
  • Decorate as desired.
  • REFRIGERATE cheesecake overnight before serving for best consistency. Remove bottom part of pan when cake is chilled.

My thoughts: This is my dessert contribution for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.  My family is starting to get used to getting desserts that already have a piece cut out- for photo purposes of course!  I’m also bringing broccoli (lest you think I am truly the most unhealthy person in the universe!)  I’ve made this cheesecake for years and it always is just soooo creamy and smooth.  So here’s my little Thanksgiving treat for you my faithful readers!!  I’m very thankful for YOU and all of your encouragement in this crazy new venture in my life!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

one. last. bite………

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Acorn Candies

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Ruthanne

These adorable little acorns are a perfect edible decoration for your fall table!

INGREDIENTS:

  • One bag of Hershey milk chocolate kisses (unwrapped)
  • One bag of mini Nutter Butter cookies
  • 1/4c. (or less) of Wilton Dark Candy Cocoa Melts
  • About 35-40 peanut butter baking chips

 

DIRECTIONS:

  • Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30 second increments until smooth.
  • Dip the base of a kiss in the chocolate, wiping off excess against side of bowl and place on top of a Nutter Butter cookie.
  • Allow chocolate to harden.
  • Repeat this step with the peanut butter chips.  (I found that when you press the chip on the top of the cookie it doesn’t slide off even though it has to sit at an angle.)
  • Allow chocolate to harden and serve!!!!

My thoughts:  What is it with acorn cookies this fall??  I just couldn’t resist trying these and then they were so cute I just had to share them with all of you! 

I always Google my recipe ideas when I try them to see how original I’ve actually been.  When I Googled my last recipe for peanut butter acorn cookies I saw this idea ALL OVER the place and I loved them SO much!  Easy and adorable!!!! *love*

18 Comments

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Coconut Macaroons

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Ruthanne

Chewy coconut cookies with a crisp toasted edge.  Wow your friends with these yummy (gluten free!) coconut macaroons!!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 bag (14oz) of sweetened coconut
  • 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 T. vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

  • Combine vanilla and condensed milk in a large bowl. 
  • Add coconut and blend well.
  • In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until they form soft peaks and add a pinch of salt.
  • Add egg whites to coconut mixture and fold them in.
  • Spoon mixture onto a parchment papered cookie sheet.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes (check for browned tops– you can see mine got a little over-done!)
  • Cool and enjoy!!

My thoughts: I made these with my friend Brie today- she can’t have gluten and these are blissfully free of it and soooo good.  I’ve been making these for many years and they are the best coconut macaroons I’ve ever tried.  Enjoy!!!! r-

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Mocha Cheesecake Tart (gluten free!)

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Ruthanne

A little slice of happiness!!!

This recipe was created by myself and my gluten-free friend Brie.  It was an experiment and we LOVED it (mostly)…Our only mistake was adding too much coffee to our topping– and I am fixing the recipe to correct that!  If you LOVE coffee, add more (I LOVE coffee, so I thought the tart was perfect– but it is 11pm and I am still going strong…so maybe less is better!)

Brie is a photographer…so this post will be filled with her fun photos of the process!

My fun friend Brie!

INGREDIENTS:

Crust:

  • 2 1/2 cups of crushed graham cracker crumbs (gluten free!!!!)
  • 1/3 c. margarine
  • 2 T. sugar

Tart filling:

  • 1 box of PHILADELPHIA cream cheese- softened
  • 1/2c. sugar
  • 1/4 c. cocoa powder (Nestle)
  • 1 t. vanilla
  • 1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip- thawed
  • 1/2c. mini chocolate chips (Nestle are gluten free)

Topping:

  • 1c. heavy whipping cream
  • 1T. instant coffee granules
  • 1/4 c. powdered sugar (check ingredients- I used Wal-mart brand and no gluten!)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Mix crushed grahams with sugar and melted butter.
  • Press into an 8 inch tart pan.
  • Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes- until edges are firm and crispy.
  • Remove from oven and cool completely.  Remove out tart ring.
  • Mix coffee granules in whipping cream and allow to sit for about 10 minutes. (If you don’t like coffee, just skip this step and make topping by whipping cream and powdered sugar without the coffee granules!)

Whipping cream plus coffee!

  • In a large bowl, cream together cream cheese, sugar, cocoa and vanilla until smooth.

Adding vanilla to the rich chocolatey goodness!

  • Fold in Cool Whip and blend until smooth.
  • Mix in mini-chocolate chips (saving a few for the top).
  • Spread in cooled tart crust.

Spread the filling into the crust…

yum!

  • In medium bowl, mix whipping cream/coffee blend with powdered sugar and whip on high until stiff peaks form.
  • Spread over top of tart and sprinkle with a few mini- chocolate chips.
  • Serve immediately if you want– or keep refrigerated until use.
  • Take pictures!!!! 🙂

Give me all your chocolate chips and nobody gets hurt…..!

My thoughts– YUM!!!!  Rich and creamy and I LOVED the gluten free crust (I would use it again for the flavor and consistency- and I’m not on a gluten free diet).  I really would use just whipped cream next time and skip the coffee altogether though- I think the two layers clashed in color- lol!  Really though– suprise your friends who have to be gluten free with this pie– they will love you for it!!!

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Pumpkin Pie Dip

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Ruthanne

Try a new twist on the pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving: crisp squares of pie crust ready to dunk in a creamy pumpkin pie dip!  This is the perfect Thanksgiving party dessert recipe!!!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 refrigerated pie crusts
  • 1 box (8oz.) Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
  • 1/3 cup of brown sugar
  • 1 cup of canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tub of Cool Whip
  • Cinnamon and granulated sugar – enough to dust crust squares.

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Unroll pie crusts on a cutting board and using a knife or pizza cutter slice into squares.

  • Place pieces of crust on a cookie sheet, spray with cooking spray and dust with sugar and cinnamon.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes- until light brown and toasted.
  • Remove from oven and cool.
  • Place softened cream cheese in a bowl and cream it with the brown sugar until smooth.
  • Add pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice and mix with a mixer on medium until smooth and creamy.
  • Fold in 1/2 tub of Cool Whip.
  • Place in a serving dish and top with remaining Cool- Whip.  Dust with cinnamon.
  • Serve dip with crispy cinnamon crust squares– YUM!

 

My thoughts:  Again, pumpkin is not a flavor I enjoy– I did taste test this though, and went back for seconds!  This was a HUGE hit both times I served it and I had so many people ask for the recipe I decided to post this earlier than intended so I don’t get mobbed.  If you want to try a unique twist on the traditional pumpkin pie, this is it!  Make a practice round before Thanksgiving and try it out on your friends– they will love you!  ENJOY!!!  r-

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Peanut Butter Acorn Cookies

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Ruthanne

These fun little peanut butter cookies are SO easy– only 3 ingredients in the cookies (and gluten free!)  Add a pretzel and a little chocolate and you have a fun fall dessert!  Your kids will love helping you make these for your Thanksgiving table!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cups of peanut butter
  • 2 cups of granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • pretzel sticks
  • 1/2 bag (6 oz.) of Wilton Dark Candy Cocoa Melts
  • chocolate sprinkles to decorate with

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Combine peanut butter, sugar and eggs.
  • Using about a tablespoon of cookie dough, roll it into an oblong roll (about the size and shape of a small jalapeno).  The cookies will spread when they cook and make a fun acorn oval once they are baked.
  • Break about 1/2 to 1 inch off of a pretzel rod and gently push it into the top of the cookie roll. (see photo!)

  • Place cookies on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes.
  • Remove from cookie sheet and place on parchment paper to cool.
  • Melt Wilton Candy Melts in the microwave in 30 second increments (stirring between).
  • Dip top of cookie and pretzel  into chocolate (I used a spoon to make an even line across the top), tap cookie on side of bowl to remove excess chocolate and place on parchment paper to cool.
  • Sprinkle with chocolate jimmies before chocolate has hardened.

My thoughts:  I’ve loved this peanut butter cookie recipe for years and wanted to use it to make a fun fall-themed dessert.  It took a little experimenting with the shape of the dough before I got an acorn shaped cookie– my 1st few tries looked more like apples! 🙂  I just love how they turned out, they make me smile and use a favorite recipe– I hope you get a chance to try these this fall!  r-

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Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies!

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Ruthanne

 

Confession:  I am addicted to making cookies from cake mixes.  I am intrigued that I use the same recipe each time and each flavor turns out differently not only in flavor (obviously!), but in texture and shape and size.  My recent cookie is from a Duncan Hines Strawberry mix.  These are sooooo good.  Texture: think Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies.  These are amazing unfrosted- sweet and flavorful– or make them sandwiches with frosting (I used leftover Sweet Tart frosting, but thought about my lemonade frosting….mmmmm….).  Or maybe dip half  in white chocolate….oh the possibilities for these little cookies!!!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 box of Duncan Hines Strawberry cake mix
  • 1/3c. softened margarine
  • 1/2 box of cream cheese (4 oz.)
  • 1/3 c. white chocolate chips (melted)
  • 1 egg
  • frosting of your choice (if desired).

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Cream together margarine and cream cheese until smooth.
  • Add egg, stirring until smooth.
  • Blend in melted chocolate.
  • Add cake mix last and stir until combined.  Use your hands to knead mixture into a heavy cookie dough.
  • Make evenly- size small balls of dough (I use a Small Cookie Scoop) and place on cookie sheets.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and cool
  • Sandwich with frosting or Cool Whip…or dip in white chocolate….be creative!!!
  • ENJOY!!

 

My thoughts:  This is such a happy summer-tasting dessert!  I started this blog last spring and I’ve never had a shortage of recipe ideas, but suddenly we hit fall and I’m struggling….I am a picky eater (according to my friends and family!)  I hate any kind of cooked fruit…I don’t like pumpkin….I hate cider….what to do????  I am a failure as a fall baker!!!  🙂  I’m trying to expand my horizons, but in the meantime you might still get a few summer recipes that I can’t get out of my mind until I try them!!  Who says strawberries can’t be a fall dessert anyway?? Enjoy!  r-

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Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Ruthanne

What was your least favorite Halloween Candy? You know…the one left at the bottom of that plastic pumpkin at Thanksgiving? Mine was the Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kiss. The distinctively wrapped orange and black chewy candy with peanut butter in the middle– remember those? I remember trying to trade my brother 10 of them for a Nestle Crunch and being refused.

My goal: Make something WONDERFUL out of Mary Jane PB Kisses.

The result: AMAZING! Seriously the best caramel sauce I’ve ever had.

This creamy caramel with just a hint of peanut butter flavor stays soft even when used as an ice cream topping (it’s really good with apples too!– reeeeeallly good…..!)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 15 Kraft Caramels (unwrapped)
  • 15 Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses (unwrapped)– (I found mine at Walgreens: 99 cents/bag)
  • 1 (14oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 c. butter

DIRECTIONS:

  • Place all ingredients in a saucepan and melt, stirring constantly.
  • Stir until melted and completely smooth (about 6 to 8 minutes)
  • Cool a little and pour over ice cream (or anything else that would taste good with gooey caramel sauce!)

My thoughts: I experimented with these horrible little candies all weekend…They melt in the microwave in 15 seconds (and they smell TERRIBLE burnt!)  Once they melt, they harden and form crystals within seconds (no dipping apples in THAT). They do not combine with chocolate. They DO combine with peanut butter, but YUCK– they form a dough-like consistency that sticks to your teeth.

Adding them to my best caramel sauce was the answer– and they really do taste WONDERFUL in this-they add a sweet peanut butter flavor that goes PERFECT with caramel. So a month from now, when you find these little gems still sitting at the bottom of your kids plastic pumpkins, think of easybaked and make some caramel! 🙂 -r

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Sweet Tart and Pixy Stix Cake!

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Ruthanne

 

Wondering what to do with all that Halloween Candy?  Have some fun with it and make this candy-filled cake!  The cake is marbled with Pixy Stix dust and the frosting is made of crushed Sweet Tarts and Smarties.  BRING ON THE SUGAR!!!!  The finished cake is sweet and tart and SO much fun!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 boxed white cake mix (plus the eggs, water and oil needed to make it according to package)
  • 8 Pixy Stix candies
  • 3-4 cups of powdered sugar
  • 1 c. margarine
  • 1-3 T. heavy whipping cream
  • Food coloring gels
  • about 1 c. of crushed Sweet Tarts and or Smarties (I think Bottlecaps or even Spree would work in this recipe as well)

DIRECTIONS:

Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray 2  eight or nine inch round pans with cooking spray. 
  • Place a piece of parchment paper (cut to size) in the bottom of each pan and spray again.
  • Make cake mix according to package.
  • Pour about 1 c. of cake mix into each pan.  
  • Sprinkle contents of 4 Pixy Stix over cakes (dividing equally)

    Pixie Stix dust sprinkled over cake batter-- FUN!

    ***note: blue and purple will show up the best in the baked cake, red and orange are very pale***

  • Use a knife to swirl colors together
  • Add the rest of the cake mix over the top (dividing equally) and repeat the Pixy Stix sprinkling and swirling.
  • Bake cakes at 350 for 30-35 minutes (use your cake mix directions as a guide and check often)
  • Cool cakes in pan over a wire rack.
  • When cool, tip pan over onto wire rack and remove parchment paper.
  • Use a serrated knife to make each layer level.

Frosting:

  • Cream together the powdered sugar and margarine in a large bowl. 
  • Beat on high for about 3 minutes (I used a whisk attachment).  
  • Add cream and beat for about another minute until a thick spreading consistency.
  • Crush candies in a small food chopper or processor.
  • Add crushed candies (and all the ensuing sugar dust!) to the frosting and fold it in. 
  • Add any food coloring you want to make frosting a desired shade.  (On its own the mix of candy colors make the frosting a terrible shade of gray). Adjust consistency if needed with powdered sugar.
  • Frost the cooled cake and decorate with remaining candies.


 

 

My thoughts:  I was expecting an overpoweringly sweeeeeeeet cake.  Not so– the cake has a wonderful tangy taste and the frosting balances it perfectly with sweet fruity fluff.  Your kids are going to FLIP over this recipe– they might even let you take some of their candy to make it!  Happy Sugar High to YOU!!! -r

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