Delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars!

I wasn't sure what to expect with this recipe, but I was very pleased! It's alittle like the No Bake Cookie recipe that I posted awhile ago, but in a layered form, and much easier. These cookie bars would also make a delicious, and somewhat healthy breakfast. But I can't promise they're super healthy. I set them out on the counter at my parent's house and they were gone by the end of the day. 

They really are a yummy snack. Try it out, mix it up, change some ingredients if you like, and let me know how it works out!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups cooking oats
• 1 cup your choice of chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)
• 1/2 cup peanut butter

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a medium sauce pan on low heat. Then, slowly add the brown sugar, vanilla, and oats. Cook for 3 minutes while stirring. 
2. Butter or grease an 8x8 pan and press a little over half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom. 
3. In a glass bowl, microwave the chocolate and peanut butter together. Take out and stir about every 20-30 seconds. Pour this over the oatmeal crust.
4. With the remaining oat mixture, sprinkle it over the top. If you have left over chocolate you can drizzle that over the top as well.
5. Refrigerate until firm and enjoy!

Chocolate X2 Cookies!

Chocolate X2 Cookies!

Hey everyone! I just moved back into my college dorm, so I haven't been able to bake too many things recently. However, I saved some time to make these delicious cookies! They are a little like making brownie cookies, if that makes any sense at all. They are dense, soft, and very chocolate-y. I'm a big chocolate fan, if you haven't noticed from my previous recipes, so this is the perfect treat.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
• 2/3 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 tbsp water
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 2 cups semi-sweet baking chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine brown sugar, shortening, water, and vanilla until creamed and well blended. Beat eggs into the creamed mixture.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda. Slowly mix into creamed mixture.
4. Add chocolate chips.
5. Drop or shape dough on greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for about 10 minutes.
7. Cool and enjoy!

Peanut Butter and Fudge Frosting

Peanut Butter and Fudge Frosting!

I love peanut butter and of course, love fudge as well. If you feel the same way then you can't go wrong with this great frosting recipe! I used it to frost my "Not-So-Bad-For-You Brownies", but you can use it on cake, cookies, or whatever you wish! It turns out a little stiff, so I added a small amount of milk and more peanut butter for extra flavor, but that is completely up to you. Get creative!


Ingredients

• 1/2 c. peanut butter
• 1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa
• 2 2/3 c. confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• • 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 c. cream or evaporated milk


Directions

1. Cream together the peanut butter and cocoa. 
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, except the cream.
3. Slowly add in cream.
4. Spread and serve!

Not-So-Bad-For-You Brownies

Yes, you read the title correctly. These brownies are surprisingly better for you than most other brownies. Here is the secret, you use applesauce instead of oil. Yes, it sounds a little weird, maybe even gross. Trust me, you won't regret it once you try it! You can't even taste the applesauce. The best part is that the brownies turn out more dense, and not like a cake. (That's how I love my brownies!) If you love brownies as much as I do, and they are sabotaging your diet then give this a try! The only problem I found is that I didn't use a leavening agent (baking soda or powder), next time I try it I will see what happens when I add that in, otherwise they turned out great!!

Ingredients

1 cup(s) (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 stick(s) (1⁄4 cup) unsalted butter, cut up

1 cup(s) packed light-brown sugar

1 cup(s) unsweetened applesauce

4 large egg whites

1 cup(s) white whole-wheat flour

1/4 cup(s) unsweetened cocoa

1/2 teaspoon(s) salt

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Melt together the chocolate chips and butter in a bowl in the microwave or in a small pan on the stove until smooth.
3. Beat in sugar, applesauce and eggs.
4. Stir in flour, cocoa, and salt until well blended.
5. Pour into a greased 13x9 pan.
6. Bake for about 20 minutes then cool on a wire rack.
7. Serve!

Chocolate Pound Cake!

Chocolate Pound Cake!

If you like pound cake, then you must try this! It's not too sweet, so it is just perfect for an after-dinner dessert or a light snack. You can take this recipe and make it in a 13x9 dish, bundt cake dish, muffin cups, or small loaf pans. I used a regular, non-fluted bundt cake pan. Any way you want to make it, it still tastes just as good! 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup shortening
• 2 sticks of softened butter
• 3 cups sugar
• 5 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream together the shortening, butter and sugar, until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
4. In a small bowl, sift together the cocoa, flour, and baking powder.
5. Mix together buttermilk and vanilla in a small bowl and mix into the shortening mixture. 
6. Slowly, by thirds, add in the flour mixture.
7. Make sure it is well blended and pour into a greased pan.
8. Bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes. 
9. Serve any way you like it! Enjoy!

Reese's Stuffed Cupcakes!

Reese's Stuffed Cupcakes!

This is a recipe I came up with at last minute for my brother's birthday party. He loves Reese's peanut butter cups and cupcakes, so I thought, why not put them together? It can't possibly taste bad! Sure enough, they were delicious. The kids loved them. I also added a little bit of peanut butter to the frosting to create a more peanut buttery taste. But that is entirely up to you! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• Your choice of cake mix (in my experience chocolate works best)
• You will also need all the ingredients to prepare your mix. Eggs, water, oil, etc.
• 12 unwrapped Mini Reese's peanut butter cups
• Your choice of frosting (again, in my experience chocolate frosting has worked best)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Prepare cake mix as instructed.
3. After greasing a cupcake pan, fill each cup about 1/4 full. 
4. Make sure the peanut butter cups are free of any wrappers and lightly push them into the mix. Do not push them all the way to the bottom of the pan.
5. Use the rest of the mix to cover each of the peanut butter cups all the way.
6. Bake for about 25-30 minutes (depending on which mix you have)
7. Cool the cupcakes thoroughly, frost, and serve!

Mini Peanut Butter Pies!

Peanut Butter Pie!

If you love Peanut Butter, then you probably love peanut butter pie as well. It is thick, rich, and delicious. This recipe is a lighter recipe, using cool whip instead of whipping cream. You are welcome to use a light cream cheese. You can also use light chocolate syrup if you would like to decorate them! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

• 3/4 cup white sugar

• 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
• 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, melted

• 2 (8 ounce) containers frozen whipped topping, thawed

• 1 (9 inch) graham cracker crust (homemade or store bought) (I used 12 small homemade graham cracker crusts in a cupcake pan)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.

2. Beat in the peanut butter and melted chocolate. 

3. Fold in one container of whipped topping.

4. Pour into crust(s) and top with the other container of whipped topping.

5. Decorate with whatever you want!

6. Refrigerate about 2 hours before serving.

Texas Sheet Cake!

Texas Sheet Cake!

Texas Sheet Cake is a classic recipe. It is often mistaken for brownies, but indeed it is very different! Brownies are more most and condensed, whereas cake is more fluffy. You definitely should not pass up this recipe. It is very delicious. I have never been a huge fan of Texas Sheet Cake, but this one changed it all! 

Also, this recipe was actually first made by my mom's good friend, Brand Parcel. My mom liked it so much that she had to ask for the recipe. She made it a few times, and now it's my turn to give it a shot! I just made it today and it's already half eaten. Try it! 

Ingredients for cake

• 2 c. flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 c. shortening
• 1 c. water
• 4 tbsp. cocoa

Ingredients for icing

• 1 stick butter
• 4 tbsp. cocoa
• 6 tbsp. buttermilk
• 1 lb. powdered suagr
• 1 c. pecans or walnuts chopped
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and sugar. 
2. In a separate bowl, mix together the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and baking soda.
3. In a small saucepan, bring the butter, shortening, water, and cocoa to a boil.
4. After it begins to boil, pour over the flour mixture and mix well.
5. Add in the buttermilk mixture.
6. Grease and flour (I use sugar instead of flour) a sheet pan. 
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
8. As the cake is baking, you will need to mix together the icing because it is put on the cake as they are both warm. So, melt the butter, cocoa, and milk in a saucepan. 
9. Bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. 
10. Remove from heat and mix in the powdered sugar, nuts, and vanilla.
11. Spread on the cake right after it is removed from the oven! Cool and serve.

Cranberry Cupcakes

Cranberry Cupcakes!

These cupcakes are delicious. I was a bit skeptical about trying this recipe, but if you mix the right soda and cake mix together it is heavenly. I also completely changed the recipe, so in my opinion it tastes a lot better. It doesn't taste low calorie, but it is! I made mini cupcakes and each has 51 calories. For Larger cupcakes it would have roughly 100 calories. Either way, that is a really good deal! There is no oil in this recipe, just diet soda and cake mix! If you are wondering why you would ever mix the two....just try it....you won't regret it.

Ingredients

• 1 box white cake mix (or really whatever cake mix you would like)
• 10 oz Diet Cranberry Sierra Mix (or whatever diet soda you would like! Or regular soda works too but keep in mind the calorie count will be different.
• 1 egg

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly.
2. Pour into baking cups.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes!

Chocolate Truffles!

Chocolate Truffles! 

This was my first time making truffles, and they turned out better than I expected. I had to share it with you! I didn't believe that this recipe would be easy, but it was. Do not be fooled by the fancy appearance, they are simple. Get creative with the coating that you choose. Try cocoa, granulated sugar, chopped nuts, powdered sugar, or even try dipping it in melted chocolate. I highly recommend this recipe for anyone who wants to try something new. 

Ingredients

• 3/4  c. unsalted Butter
• 3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tbsp. vanilla
• extra cocoa or powdered sugar for coating

Directions

1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan on low heat.
2. Slowly add in the cocoa powder until the mixture is smooth.
3. Add the sweetened condensed milk and stir constantly on medium heat until it has reached a pudding like consistency (about 3-4 minutes)
4. Remove from heat and add the vanilla
5. Cover the pan and place in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
6. Remove from refrigerator and roll into 1 inch ball. Roll truffle in desired coating (nuts, cocoa, powdered sugar, etc.)
7. Chill for another 2 hours and serve!