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Spiderweb Brownie Tart

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Fun stripes of color make this tart a beautiful addition to your fall table. Rich dark chocolate and creamy mint filling make it a delicious one!

Isn’t this fun? I love the October colors and the mint filling, but this could be made with any flavoring and in any combination of colors. Plus….it is EASY- I promise! The only special equipment you need is a 9 inch tart pan with a removable bottom- and if you don’t have that, you can make these in a regular 9×9 brownie pan. They aren’t quite as pretty- but still very fun!

spiderweb-tart5This is my mom’s famous brownie recipe. If you’ve been following us on Easybaked for very long, you know that I use this recipe ALL THE TIME. I just rearrange it into different ideas. You also know that we lost my mom almost two years ago very suddenly to cancer. Every time I re-make her recipe into something new, it makes me smile. She would have loved this idea, and I wish she were here to try it!

The original recipe for these is here. The brownie is baked in a large jellyroll pan (like a Texas sheet cake) and then covered in mint and chocolate glaze. That recipe was WAY too large to use in a tart pan, so I reduced it to 1/3 of it’s size for this idea. I had to google crazy things like “what is 1/3 of 2 cups”- only to realize that 1/3 of one cup times 2 is…..(wait for it)….. 2/3 of a cup. Sigh. Math is not my strong suit. 🙂

spiderweb-tart

I really hope you enjoy making, serving and (of course!) eating this fun little tart, dear friends!

Here is how we made it: (printable recipe is here)

INGREDIENTS:

Brownie:

  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 tablespoons of dark cocoa powder (try to use dark- it makes it easier to color the brownie black)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2/3 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • Food coloring gel in black

Mint filling: (this makes a little more than you need- but makes certain you have enough of each color)

  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 8 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoons mint extract
  • Food coloring gel in orange, green and purple

Chocolate glaze/spiderweb:

  • 1 cup of dark chocolate chips (again, use dark so it is easier to color black)
  • 6 tablespoon of butter
  • Food coloring gel in black
  • About 1/4 cup of Wilton’s candy melts in each color: orange, green and purple

DIRECTIONS:

NOTE: Throughout this recipe, be careful when moving the tart pan, as holding it from the bottom will cause the edges to slide off. I usually keep tarts on a cookie sheet when I bake and decorate them- I took this one off (very carefully!) so I could photograph the process for you.

Brownie:

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Cream butter and sugar together. 
  • Beat in eggs, cocoa, vanilla and salt.
  • Add flour and milk (alternating them and mixing well in between)
  • Add black food coloring gel until batter is a dark almost-black color.
  • Spread evenly in 9 in tart pan that has been set on a cookie sheet.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Cool completely.

Mint filling:

  • Melt butter and add to powdered sugar. 
  • Add extract.
  • Mix well, using water to bring it to a thick but spreadable consistency.
  • Divide filling into three bowls and mix in gel food coloring until you get a desired shade of green, orange and purple.
  • As soon as color is mixed in, spoon each filling color into a small and sturdy (use freezer, not sandwich) zip-top bag. Push all the air out and seal tightly. As this filling is exposed to air it begins to harden up- so sealing these up right away prevents this. If you are slow, you can always add a little more water to get it back to the right consistency.
  • Set aside until brownie has cooled.
  • Cut a corner off each bag, and squeeze filling out into a circle at the center. Alternating colors, add rings around this until the entire top of the brownie is covered with filling.

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  • Once the top is covered, set a piece of parchment paper or wax paper on top and gently press the filling down so that it goes all the way to the edges. You might need to push it into some of the fluted edge. Try to make it nice and flat. The glaze will cover all the ridges, but you want to be sure that the edges are pushed down enough that the glaze has room to get to the edge of the pan without overflowing.

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Chocolate glaze:

  • Melt butter and chocolate together in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until completely melted and smooth.
  • Add black gel food coloring until glaze is a dark almost-black (I added quite a bit and never got it completely black- but close!)
  • BEFORE pouring glaze onto tart: melt each color of candy melts and place each in individual zip-top bags (so they are ready as soon as glaze is poured)
  • Pour glaze over top of mint filling, using a spoon or knife to push out to all the edges.
  • Before glaze hardens, cut a small corner on each bag of melted Wilton’s candy melts and pipe circles (like a target shape) in alternating colors on top of the melted glaze.
  • Use a toothpick or skewer to draw lines through the glaze, starting at the center and drawing lines out to the edge.
  • Add (if desired) black Sixlets at each point around the edge.
  • Chill until top layer of glaze is hardened. Do not remove outer ring of tart pan until this has completely hardened. Then, push up on the bottom firmly, until the edges slide out of pan. This takes a little patience- I refrigerated my tart overnight and then let it sit out for about 30 minutes before I was able to push the bottom up and remove that outer ring. If you have a hard time, push up in different spots along the edge, loosening all the edges 1st, before pushing the whole thing out.
  • Enjoy!

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My thoughts: I wish you could have seen my face when I cut into this and pulled out that first piece. So many recipe ideas work great in my head but are a flop in the kitchen. This one was not a flop! It worked perfectly- and I love that striped layer SO much! I really hope you give this one a try, and enjoy it as much as I did! As always, when I post this brownie recipe… this one’s for you mom! *heart*

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We have LOADS of fun October dessert ideas here on Easybaked! Here are a few of them: (click on photo to see recipe)

Spider Cupcakes!Ginger Maple CookiesHalloween Bundt CakeCandy Corn Peanut Bars!!

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Cookie Dough Layer Cake

 

Cookie Dough Layer Cake4Creamy cookie dough filling surrounded by rich chocolate cake and topped with a delicious chocolate glaze. An easy, beautiful and oh-soo-yummy dessert!

I’m in love with cookie dough. When I go to those fancy yogurt shops where you make your own sundae I am always tempted to skip the yogurt and just fill my dish with those little cookie dough bites. This easy (super, super easy) layer cake is filled with my favorite creamy cookie dough. I’ve used it to top cupcakes and to fill brownies— and now to fill cake. I love it. I think you will too!

As in most of my recipes, this dessert is made simple with the use of a cake mix (I used a Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge here), but you can substitute your favorite cake recipe instead. More work… but that’s up to you!

Cookie Dough Layer Cake2

Here is how we put this cake together: (printable recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

Cake/Filling:

  • One boxed chocolate cake mix (plus water, oil and eggs to make according to package)
  • 2 sticks (8 oz.) unsalted butter(softened)
  • 2 sticks (8 oz.) salted butter(softened)
  • 2 c. powered sugar
  • 1 c. brown sugar (packed)
  • 3 T. vanilla
  • 1/3c. flour
  • 1 (12 oz) bag of mini chocolate chips.

Glaze:

  • 1 1/2 sticks of salted butter
  • 1 12 oz. package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

  • Make cake mix (or your favorite cake recipe) and bake according to box/recipe in 2- 8 or 9 inch round pans.
  • Cool cakes completely.
  • While cakes are baking and cooling, make your filling.
  • Place all filling ingredients except mini chips into a large mixing bowl and beat with mixer on low until combined and then high until light and fluffy.
  • Add mini chips (keep about 1/3 of a cup aside to sprinkle on sides and top of cake) and beat on low until fully combined.
  • Make glaze by melting butter and chips together and set aside.
  • Once cakes are cool, trim the tops so they are flat.
  • Place 1 cake on serving plate, cut side up, and spread a little of the glaze on top. 
  • Spoon all of filling on top and spread all the way to the edge of the cake.
  • Place second cake on top, cut side down, and use a knife to smooth edges of filling flat between the two cake layers.
  • Sprinkle edges of filling with extra chocolate chips, and then pour glaze over the top and add the rest of the chips.
  • Refrigerate until firm.

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My thoughts: I wondered if the filling layer was too thick (it’s a lot of filling!) I knew that I would love all that cookie dough, but would others? They did. It got rave reviews and even a 2 thumbs up from a frosting-hater 🙂 You could make half of the filling recipe if you want- but it is honestly soooo yummy to have a big bite of cookie dough with every bite of cake. Wish I had some left…!  Enjoy!  ~r

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Other fun layered caked here at Easybaked (click on a photo to see the recipe):

Grandma's Chocolate Cream CakeKey Lime Cake!Strawberry Lemonade Birthday CakePolka Dot Cake!!!!!!

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

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Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes3

Filled with cream and topped with rich chocolate, these cupcakes capture all the delicious flavor of a Boston Cream Pie in a single-serving form! Easy and soooo yummy!

I’ve never understood why they call it a pie, when it is SO obviously a cake, but Boston Cream Pie is one of my favorite desserts. There’s something about that filling that makes it so moist and flavorful!

These little creations are as easy as can be because they use a cake mix and instant pudding. Easy and delicious!!

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Here’s how we made them: (printable recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

  • One boxed yellow cake mix (plus water, oil and eggs to make according to package)
  • One packet of Jell-O White Chocolate Instant Pudding (plus milk to make according to package)
  • One cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 6 Tablespoons of butter
  • Cool Whip, or Butter Cream frosting (1 stick of (softened)butter with 3/4 cups of powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla)
  • 24 red Sixlets candies (as desired for decoration)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Make cake mix according to package and divide into 24 cupcake liners placed in tins. Bake according to package, and cool.
  • Make pudding according to package and spoon into a large zip-top bag. Refrigerate until use.
  • Make chocolate sauce by melting chocolate chips and butter together in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between, until melted and smooth.
  • If you are making butter cream for the top (this gives you a swirl on top that is more firm for transporting than Cool Whip): Beat together the butter cream ingredients until they are light and fluffy.
  • Place either Cool Whip or butter cream in a zip-top bag fitted with a decorative tip.
  • To assemble: use a cupcake corer (or a knife) to remove a core out of the center of each cooled cupcake.
  • Cut the tip off the bag containing the pudding and pipe a dollop of pudding into the center of each cupcake.

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  • Trim the “core” a little bit (makes room for the pudding) and place the top of the core back on, covering the pudding with cake.
  • Carefully spoon the warm chocolate over the top of each cupcake, gently pushing it toward the sides, but not over the sides.
  • Allow chocolate to cool. It will firm up.
  • Once it is completely cool, pipe Cool Whip or butter cream in a little swirl on top.
  • Decorate using sixlets (or any other sprinkles or decorations you like!)
  • Enjoy!

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My thoughts: These really are delicious… I try to only “taste” my treats and give the rest away, but you better believe I finished this little cupcake…with a cup of coffee. Yum!  I hope you get a chance to try them too! ~r


Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

Here are some other fun uses for pudding! Click on a photo to see the recipe.

Heath Bar Ice Cream Dessert3Toxic Slime-filled Cupcakes!Mini Filled Boston Cream Pies!frozen s'more cups

Raspberry Fudge Layer Cake

Raspberry Fudge Layer Cake1Layers of pound cake, chocolate and raspberry are sure you make your Valentine smile this year!

You know those desserts that look incredibly difficult and are super easy? This is one of those. The cake is simply a frozen pound cake sliced and stacked with chocolate and raspberries. Makes you smile, doesn’t it?

Raspberry Fudge Layer CakeHere’s how we made it: (printable recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

  • One frozen pound cake
  • 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup of red raspberry jam
  • 1 cup of sliced red raspberries
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 1/2 cup of whipping cream

IMG_0147DIRECTIONS:

  • Remove pound cake from packaging and use a large serrated knife to slice it into 3 or 4 layers
  • Divide the bag of chocolate chips into 2 separate microwave-safe bowls.
  • Add the stick of butter to one, and the whipping cream to the other.
  • Melt each bowl of chocolate, one at a time, in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth.
  • Set aside the butter/chocolate glaze.
  • Lay the bottom layer of the pound cake on a baking rack set over a cookie sheet.
  • Spread chocolate/whipping cream mixture generously on the top of this layer and sprinkle with fresh raspberries.
  • On the “bottom” of the next layer, spread raspberry jam and then gently place (jam side down) on top of the raspberries.

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  • Repeat this process until all layers are used.
  • Refrigerate until layers firm up a little (10 minutes or so)
  • Pour remaining chocolate/butter glaze over the top and sides of cake, allowing excess to run through the baking rack and onto the cookie sheet below.
  • Refrigerate until glaze firms up.
  • Cut into slices and enjoy!!!

Raspberry Fudge Layer Cake5My thoughts: This is so easy. A tiny bit messy with all of that melted chocolate, but once it is made, it stores well for a couple of days and makes a beautiful layered dessert. I think you could fill these layers with so many different things for different times of the year. Yum. Enjoy!!! Happy Valentine’s Day! ~r

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Other fun (and creative!) Valentine’s treats, just click on a picture for the recipe:

White Chocolate Strawberry Cookies!!Chocolate covered strawberry Cake roll!!Frog Oreos!!Creamy cheesecake with sour cream topping

Cream-filled Doughnut Cupcakes

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Doughnut Cupcakes

These cream-filled, chocolate glazed, doughnut-flavored cupcakes combine two favorites into one incredible dessert!  Use a fun mini-doughnut pan to make adorable decorations to top these yummy cupcakes!

Doughnut Cupcakes!

Ingredients: (makes 16- 18 cupcakes)

Cupcakes:

  • 1/2 c. butter, softened
  • 1/2 c. sugar
  • 1/2 c. brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 t. vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 1/3 c. flour
  • 2 1/2 t. baking powder
  • 1/2 t. baking soda
  • 1/2 t. salt
  • 1 c. milk

Cream filling:

  • 1 stick (4 oz) butter
  • 3/4 c. powdered sugar
  • 1 t. vanilla

Chocolate glaze:

  • 1 c. dark chocolate chips
  • 6 T. butter

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350F degrees
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, both sugars and vanilla.  Beat on medium until combined.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, beating in between.
  • In a medium bowl combine flour, powder, soda and salt and blend.
  • Add flour mixture and milk, alternating between the two and beating well in between.
  • When batter is complete, scoop about 1 c. of batter into a large zip-top bag.
  • Clip corner and pipe into a Wilton Mini Doughnut Pan– fill each doughnut opening a little less than 1/2 full.
  • Bake mini doughnuts for about 5-6 minutes and cool on a rack.
  • Decorate them as desired (cinnamon, powdered sugar…I used a simple powdered sugar/milk glaze with food coloring and sprinkles)
  • Scoop remaining batter into cupcake liners in a cupcake tin, filling them about 2/3 full.
  • Bake at 350F degrees for about 18-20 minutes (test them when they come out, the centers took a little time to bake all through)
  • Cool cupcakes and core them (I use a Cupcake Plunger so that I have nice little circles to set back on top of the filling when I’m done.)
  • Make filling:  Place butter, powdered sugar and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl and beat on high until light and fluffy.
  • Place filling in a zip top bag and pipe evenly into each cupcake.  Place the cut-out top of the cupcake back on.
  • Make glaze by melting the chocolate chips and butter together in the microwave in 30 second increments stirring until smooth and shiny.
  • Cool just a little (so its easy to handle) and spoon or pipe onto top of each cupcake.
  • Before the glaze hardens, place a mini doughnut on top for decoration…so much fun!!!!!
  • Enjoy!

Creme-filled Doughnut Cupcakes!

My thoughts:  These cupcakes are a little work with the filling and the topping (and notice, dear fans, that I did NOT use a cake mix for these!!)  The extra effort really pays off in how good these cupcakes are.  Oh my.  Like doughnuts in cupcake form…perfect!  Enjoy!!!  ~r

Doughnut cupcakes!!

Try some of Easybaked’s other cupcake ideas.  Click on an image to get the recipe:

Cookie Dough CupcakesPile of Cupcakes!Rich Chocolate Ganache Mini Cupcakesblackberry cream cupcake

 

Mini Heath Bar Crunch Cakes

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These mini Chocolate cakes are filled with a creamy Heath Bar filling and covered in a chocolate glaze.

A few weeks ago I posted a Boston Cream Pie recipe using this fun little Mini Cake Pan.  Again, this recipe would work just fine as a regular cake with the cream as a filling between the layers and the glaze poured over the top– but I chose cute over practical and used these pans.  This is the second dessert I’ve done in them and they just turn out beautifully!  Here’s the recipe- it is an easy one!!!

Ingredients:

  • One chocolate cake mix (with oil, water and eggs to make according to box)
  • 2 c. Cool Whip Topping
  • 2 1/2 c. crushed Heath Bars
  • 2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 c. unsalted butter
  • 1 T. corn syrup

Directions:

  • Make glaze 1st:  Melt together chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup.   Place in fridge for at least one hour
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Make cake mix according to box
  • Spoon  about 1/2 c. of batter into each Mini Cake Pan
  • Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes
  • Tip baked cakes on to a cake rack and cool completely.
  • Repeat this process (one cake mix will make 4-5 complete cakes)
  • To make filling, combine Heath bars with Cool Whip topping.
  • Spoon filling in the cavity in each cake.

    • Tip one cake layer on to a second (keeping the fillings in the middle)
    • Remove glaze (it will be pretty thick) from the fridge and frost tops and sides of each cake.
    • Reheat remaining glaze and pour over the top of each cake to make a smooth outer layer (do this on a cake rack over a cookie sheet so excess glaze can drip through).
    • Sprinkle tops of each cake with remaining crushed Heath bars.
    • Chill until glaze is hard.

My thoughts:  I’m a huge fan of heath bars and chocolate together, so this was a dream dessert in my book!  I really like how the white filling is a “surprise” when you cut into the cake.  These are VERY easy to make and put together- my only dilemma was the glaze.  I tried it with the Boston cream Pie recipe and struggled with it then, but it was SO YUMMY that I used it again here.  I didn’t get the smooth finish I was hoping for…sigh.  If any of you have a good smooth glaze that you use– please share!!!!  Enjoy!!! -r

NOTE:  This recipe will be automatically posted for me as I will be out of the country for a few weeks.  I will be unable to answer your questions or respond to your comments during this time– my apologies ahead of time!  I will catch up with all of you when I return!  -r



Mini Boston Cream Pies

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These miniature Boston Cream Pies are the CUTEST treat!  Covered in chocolate glaze with a surprise yummy filling in the middle, these are sure to make you and your family smile!

When you are as obsessed with desserts as I am, you get really fun kitchen presents!  For my birthday last year, my friend Angie got me the most adorable Mini Cake Pan ever.  They are made by Wilton and they create cute little layer cakes that have a square of filling on the inside.  I love them and decided to use them with this Boston cream Pie recipe instead of just a plain old regular size cake.  If you want to try the pans out just click on Mini Cake Pan and you can see them on Amazon– if you don’t want another kitchen gadget (I totally understand the dilemma!) just make this recipe in two regular round cake pans- put the filling in the middle and just pour that glaze right over the top.

Ingredients:

  • One white cake mix (with water, oil and eggs to make according to box)
  • One box (3.4 oz) JELL-O instant vanilla pudding
  • 1 c. milk
  • 1 1/2 c. Cool Whip Topping
  • 2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1c. unsalted butter
  • 1 T. corn syrup

Directions:

  • Make glaze 1st: Melt together chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup and mix well.  Refrigerate at least one hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Make cake mix (whole egg method) according to box.
  • Spoon about 1/2 c. batter into each well greased Mini Cake Pan.
  • Place pans on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.
  • Tip pans over onto a cake rack and allow cakes to cool completely.

  • Repeat process (one cake mix makes 4 to 5 full (two piece) cakes).
  • To make filling, combine pudding mix with milk and whisk for 2 minutes.
  • Fold Cool Whip topping in and set aside for at least 5 minutes.
  • Trim bottoms of cakes flat and spoon filling into each cavity.

  • Tip one cake on top of the other, keeping the filling in the center.
  • Remove glaze (it will be pretty thick) from the fridge and frost tops and sides of each cake.
  • Reheat remaining glaze and pour over the top of each cake to make a smooth outer layer (do this on a cake rack over a cookie sheet so excess glaze can drip through).
  • Chill until glaze is hard.




My thoughts:  I just served these last night and they were a huge hit.  Everyone loved how cute they were and the surprise filling in the center.  I loved the creamy filling with the rich glaze…YUM!  The glaze is a little difficult to get right (I thought!)  I was hoping for a smoother finish- but it tasted GREAT!  –Enjoy!!!!!!!  -r

Chocolate Cookies – New Zealand Style!

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Tiny, crunchy chocolate and coconut cookies with a delicious chocolate glaze- SO good!

I love food blogs- particularly ones that major in fun desserts!  One of my favorite Saturday morning activities is to read through all my favorite blogs and enjoy the photos.  This past weekend Aimee from Clever Muffin posted a recipe that I simply HAD to try.  This doesn’t happen very often, as I prefer creating to copying–but the photos of these little cookies just screamed MAKE ME!!!  So I did.

I love them– truly LOVE these cookies.  They are so light and crunchy and cocoa-y.  I will be adding these to my permanent recipe collection and making them again….soon.

These are called Afghan Biscuits.  One of the things I love about Aimee is that she’s from Australia and she calls cookies “biscuits”, powdered sugar “icing sugar”and her mom her “mum”.  I also love that the world is such a small place that I can get a recipe from a friend in Australia and here I am 3 days later eating New Zealand-ish “biscuits” in my living room.  So. Much. Fun.

Anyway, Aimee has the history of these cookies on her blog.  She says they were invented in the 1940’s, possibly as a means to send cookies to loved ones away at war in WW2.  She says they “post” (so cute!) beautifully.  I know several of you have ones you love far away from you– here’s a great idea for a cookie that keeps well in the mail.   Are you ready for the recipe???  I’m really excited to share it with you!

INGREDIENTS:

Cookies:

  • 14 T. butter -softened (I know, awkward measurement…had to convert 200 grams for you though and the alternatives were 1.76 sticks of butter OR 0.88 cups of butter….so yeah….you choose.)
  • 1/2 c. sugar
  • 1 t. vanilla extract
  • 2 T. cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 c. flour
  • 1 c. lightly crushed cornflakes
  • 1 c. shredded coconut

Icing:

  • 1 c. powdered sugar
  • 2 T. cocoa powder
  • Water (1-3 T.) to make a good spreading consistency.
  • Almond slivers (to garnish)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Heat oven to 250 degrees.
  • Place 1 c. shredded coconut on a small cookie sheet and place in oven for 10-15 minutes until it is dried and crunchy— not browned– just dry and crunchy.  Remove from oven and cool.
  • When coconut is cool, use your hands to crush it up  into smaller pieces, set aside.
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • Use an electric beater to cream sugar and butter together, add vanilla.
  • Add flour, cocoa and coconut, beating until well combined.
  • Add cornflakes and beat on low speed until just combined.
  • Use a small cookie scoop to spoon batter onto parchment paper.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 12-16 minutes.
  • Allow cookies to cool before frosting.
  • Make icing by combining  powdered sugar, cocoa and water until you have a smooth glaze that doesn’t run off the edges of the cookies.
  • Top cookie with icing and one almond sliver.


My thoughts:  These are SO good.  SOOOOOOOOOO good.  Many thanks to Clever Muffin for the inspiration!  Go check out her blog– you will love it!  Enjoy!!!!!!  -r

Raspberry Truffle Tart

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Smooth dark chocolate and tangy raspberry filling topped with a shiny glaze make this tart one of the richest and creamiest desserts you’ve ever had!

INGREDIENTS:

  • One refrigerated pie crust
  • 1c. Ghirardelli Bittersweet chocolate chips
  • 2c. Ghirardelli Semi-sweet chocolate chips (divided)
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 5 T. heavy whipping cream
  • 3 cups plus 5 T. powdered sugar
  • 2 T. vanilla
  • 12 T. butter (divided and melted)
  • 2t. raspberry flavoring
  • red food coloring

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray an 8 or 9 inch tart pan with cooking spray and line with pie crust.  Poke holes into bottom with fork and set on a cookie sheet.
  • Melt together 1 cup of bittersweet chips and one cup of semi-sweet.  Allow this to cool to room temperature.
  • In a separate bowl combine eggs, cream, vanilla and 5 T. powdered sugar.
  • Add cream mixture to chocolate and blend well.  Pour into crust and bake for 20 – 25 minutes until center is set.
  • Cool tart completely and then remove outer ring.
  • For filling: Combine remaining 3 c. of powdered sugar with 6 T. melted butter and blend well. Add raspberry flavor and food color. Blend well (add extra powdered sugar if needed for thick frosting-like consistency) and spread over the top of cool tart.
  • For Glaze: Melt 6 T. butter (do not use margarine here!) with remaining cup of semi-sweet chips and stir until smooth.  Pour over top of tart and smooth to edges.
  • Garnish with fresh raspberries if desired.

My thoughts…soooo rich (take a small slice!) and so flavorful!  This tart recipe (minus the toppings) is one of my last-minute go-to recipes.  Its SO quick and easy and you can serve it right out of the oven warm -with cool-whip or ice cream.  The toppings are a bonus if you have a little more time- mix those flavors up!  Great with mint and peanut butter and maple and coconut– such a fun and versatile recipe!  ENJOY!!!

A special thanks to my friend Brie from Color Canvas Media who is teaching me about my camera and who helped me take these photos far better than I could have alone!  I’m addicted to Foodgawker and thus far I’ve had 36 photos rejected and 2 accepted (lol!!) I’ve never had any interest in photography and now I think I’m addicted- fun new hobby!   So here’s to better blog pictures! Thanks Brie!!!!!

Mint Creme Brownies

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If you like mint with your chocolate these brownies are the recipe for you!  Rich and chewy, these brownies are topped with a creamy mint layer and rich chocolate.

INGREDIENTS:

BROWNIE:

  • 1cup butter
  • 2 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

MINT FROSTING:

  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 8 tablespoons melted butter
  • 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
  • green food coloring (to desired shade of green)

CHOCOLATE GLAZE:

  • 12oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 12 tablespoons butter (do not substitute margarine here!)
DIRECTIONS:
BROWNIE:
  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Cream butter and sugar together. 
  • Beat in eggs, cocoa, vanilla and salt.
  • Add flour and milk (alternating them and mixing well in between)
  • Spread evenly in greased jelly roll pan.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until done in center and just starting to pull away from sides.
  • Cool.  

MINT FROSTING:

  • Add melted butter to sugar and extract.
  • Mix well, using water to bring it to a thick but spreadable consistency.
  • Add food coloring to desired shade of green.
  • Spread over cooled brownies and chill for a few minutes to harden up.
CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
  • Melt butter and chocolate together in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until completely melted and smooth.
  • Pour over cooled mint frosting and spread evenly over top
  • Chill until top layer is hard and cut into bars.


Optional decorating:
  • Using  green chocolate melts that are melted and placed in a ziplock with a corner clipped, drizzle over the top of the warm glaze.  
  • Draw a tooth pick , knife or skewer through the chocolate- 1st one direction and then back the other to make a fun design on the top of these bars.

My thoughts:  These brownies are 100% mom 🙂  I grew up enjoying these yummy treats (she always put the nuts in though and I really prefer them without!)  My mom is an amazing cook and baker- these are just one of many of her recipes I love!  I’ve no idea where she got this recipe– I do know that its been modified throughout the years (more mint…more chocolate- YUM!)  One fun twist to this is that you can color the mint layer with any color.  I’ve matched shower colors with these– made orange halloween brownies….etc.  REALLY fun and yummy recipe– enjoy!  -r

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Here we are, six years later. We lost mom to cancer 2 years ago and we miss her SO much. When I asked dad what he wanted for his birthday this year he requested these yummy brownies. This picture was so fun, I thought I’d add it here! So thankful for the recipes that remind me of mom! ~r

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