New Baking Recipes!

I have been baking a lot lately, just haven't had the energy to post. Pregnancy is getting the better of me these days. Here are some of the new recipes I have done.

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Bars

I found this recipe on Pinterest, and it is probably going to be one of my favorites! I have already made it twice, and both times it was gone in hours!

2 1/8 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted and slightly cooled

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk ( I accidently used egg whites and it came out awesome!)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9x13 inch pan with foil leaving a little hanging over the edges for easy removal. Spray foil with cooking spray.

Mix flour, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl and set aside. Whisk the melted butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add dry ingredients and fold in until just blended. Don't over mix. Fold in the chocolate chips and place in pan using a spatula to smooth out the top.

Bake until the top of the bars are light golden brown, slightly firm to the touch, and edges start to pull away from the pan. The recipe says about 24-28 minutes but I had to cook mine for about 33. Keep an eye on them. Cool completely and remove from pan.

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Holiday Bark

 

 

I took this recipe from moneysavingmom.com. I was a little skeptical about this one at first. This was so easy to make.  My neighbors enjoyed it also. It keeps bringing you back for that sweet salty taste!

 

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Holiday Bark

• One sleeve of Saltine crackers (you can use an off-brand)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 2 1/2 cups semi-sweet chips
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• Chopped M&M’s (or other candies or nuts)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper and lay crackers on the the pan (make sure the cookie sheet has sides, otherwise, you’ll end up with sticky burned goo all over your oven!). Leave a small amount of space between the crackers (see an example of how these should look here).

Bring sugar and butter to a boil in a saucepan on medium heat. Turn down to medium low heat and boil for 3 minutes, without stirring.
Pour boiling mixture over crackers on the cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
Spoon the peanut butter on top of the crackers and bake for another minute. Spread melted peanut butter over the crackers with spatula and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Return to the oven and bake for another minute.

Spread the now-melted chocolate chips evenly over the crackers with a spatula. Top with M&M pieces and freeze until hardened (this will take 1-2 hours).
Once these are hardened, remove break into pieces and store in a ziptop freezer bag in the freezer for up to four weeks.

 

Best Brownies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/2 cup butter                                                  

    

1 cup white sugar                                                    

 

2 eggs                                                    

 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract                                                    

 

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder   

                                                 

1/2 cup all-purpose flour                                                    

 

1/4 teaspoon salt

                       

1/4 teaspoon baking powder                                                    

                    

 3 tablespoons butter, softened

                                                                 

 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

 

 1 tablespoon honey

 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract                                                    

 

1 cup confectioners' sugar

                                                  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan.

 

In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.

 

Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.

To Make Frosting: Combine 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Frost brownies while they are still warm.

 

  * The brownies were delicious! The only thing I didn't do is the frosting mixture. I thought it might be a little too rich. Brian seem to love them. He sat down and ate them all in one serving. Hmmmm?