Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate cream frosting

 

Dark Chocolate cupcakes with a chocolate cream frosting 

and white chocolate chips on top!

Recipe originally from Ghiradelli's chocolate baking book...
I changed several ingredients! 

Cupcake Ingredients:

1 cup and 2 tbsp. flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 large egg

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup and 2 Tbsp. whole milk

1/3 cup Starbucks dark chocolate frappuchino

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

Frosting Ingredients:

6 oz. semi-sweet baking bar or 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

3 tablespoons unsalted butter- softened

1 cup white chocolate chips-( for the tops!)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350.  Line 1 cupcake pan with paper liners (12 cupcakes).  

 Stir together in a medium sized bowl the dry ingredients. (flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt)

In the mixer (or another bowl), whisk together the egg, brown sugar, and white sugar.  

Add the milk, starbucks, and melted butter.

Put in the dry ingredients.

Spoon the cupcake batter into the cupcake molds evenly- fill about 3/4 full.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. 

Cool the cupcakes for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan.  Continue to cool them till they are room temperature.

To Make the Frosting:

 Melt the chocolate chips or pieces in a bowl- put a saucepan on the stove with an inch of water in the bottom.  Place the bowl on top of the pan- so the simmering water is beneath the bowl and can melt the chocolate.  Stir until smooth.

Heat the cream until hot, remove it from the heat and whisk it with the melted chocolate.  Transfer it to a bowl and let it cool until it's just warm.  Add the soft butter- whisk it in.  Let the frosting sit in the fridge for about an hour, so it can harden.  

Use a pastry bag to squirt the frosting onto the cupcakes, sprinkle the white chocolate chips over the finished cupcakes.  Enjoy!

Makes: 12 cupcakes 

S'mores Turnovers

Ingredients

Finished Turnover....mmmmm

MMMMMMMMMmmmmmm

laying out the dough and ingredients

I put peanut butter in some of them (for me) and some of the jet-puff marshmallow in the other ones (for Brian)

I found this recipe on a blog online  recipe girl blog- it is amazing!  And super easy to make.

Ingredients:
1 box of puff pastry (2 sheets)
3 graham crackers
I small jar of jet puffed marshmallow creme
Hersheys bars (small ones- or break off one of the really big ones like I did :)
Peanut butter
1 egg and 1 tbsp. water (for egg wash)


Instructions:



1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2. Lay Puff Pastry on clean surface. Working with one sheet of Puff Pastry at a time, cut on three folds, creating 3 rectangles (about 3″ x 10″ each). Cut each 3 x 10 rectangle in half. You’ll have 6 pieces to work with for each sheet of Puff Pastry.

3. Assemble turnovers:(see above picture)   Lay graham cracker on 1/2 of each square, top with chocolate that has been cut down to match the length of the graham cracker. Put 1 Tbsp. peanut butter (or marshmallow creme)  on top of each chocolate bar.

4. Working with one turnover at a time, wet edges of Puff Pastry and fold (over) in half. Gently push edges together to stick; use fork to seal edges together and create ridged pattern. Repeat with each turnover until all are sealed up.
5. Mix egg with the 1 tbsp. water.  Brush turnovers lightly with egg wash, then use a sharp knife to cut two small slits into the top of each turnover.

6. Bake 15 minutes, or until turnovers are puffed and golden. Remove from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes. Scoop marshmallow creme into a zip baggie (don’t zip). Microwave for 8 seconds to soften. Zip bag and snip a small piece off of the corner of the bag. Drizzle marshmallow onto the top of each turnover. Serve immediately.

Makes  12

Caramel Chocolate Brownies

mmmm- chocolatey....

So- I found this awesome recipe online at this blog:    zesty cook's recipe

Apparently- they found it as a toll-house recipe.

I think it's amazing!  You should try it!

The first brownie layer

Cover with chocolate chips

Add carmel mixture

Spoon remaining batter over it all

Yum!

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. chocolate cake mix
• 1 cup Evaporated Milk
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
• 35 caramels, unwrapped
• 2 cups Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Combine cake mix, 2/3 cup evaporated milk and butter in a large bowl (batter will be thick). Spread half of batter into ungreased 11 by 7 inch pan (9 by 13 would work too).
3. Bake for 15 minutes.
4. Heat caramels and remaining evaporated milk (1/3 cup)  in small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until caramels are melted. 
5. Sprinkly the chocolate chips over the brownies in the pan.
6.  Pour the caramel mixture on top of that.
7. Drop the remaining brownie batter by spoonfuls on top of it all.
8. Bake an additional 25 minutes.

Enjoy!

****These are really good hot and gooey-  I like them better after they've been in the fridge overnight.  The caramel hardens ( a little bit,) and it's sooooo good!

Banana chocolate chip bread

Mmmmm.... Brian's Favorite (and Famous)  Banana Bread with yummy chocolate chips in it!

I put foil inside the pan so I can just lift the loaf out w/out anything sticking!

smash bananas~!

Brian's Recipe (tweaked by me a little bit... :)


Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 stick margarine (1/2 cup)
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas- smashed
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp baking soda

lots of chocolate chips (about a cup and a half)

Instructions:
In a mixer- or a bowl-  mix the butter, sugars and vanilla.
Add the 2 eggs- mix.
Then add the 3 smashed bananas- mix.
Add the flour, salt and baking soda. mix!

Last- add the chocolate chips.
(It's ok if u don't like them- just don't add them!  Tastes great without them too!)

pour into loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for an hour.  (may need longer depending on your oven)

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mmmmmm chocolate  chip cookies are my favorite!  Here's my recipe:

Chocolate chip Cookies:

2 sticks margarine (1 cup)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar

2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. baking powder
3 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp. salt

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

1.  First, mix the butter and the sugars together in the mixer.
2.  Next, add the two eggs and the vanilla- mix it.
3.  Add the baking soda, powder and salt- mix.
4.  Gradually add the flour.
5.  Mix in the chocolate chips.
6.  Chill the dough in the fridge for half an hour-  (This really helps!)

Bake at 350 degrees for about 10- 12 minutes.
Makes 24-36 cookies (based on how big or small you make them... :)

Chocolate Trifle

This Recipe was found online, but I changed half of it, so I claim it as my own!  :)

Ingredients:

1 (19.8 ounce) package brownie mix ( I used Ghirardelli's double chocolate mix...mmmm) 1 big and 1 little  package instant chocolate pudding mix (I used sugar free chocolate fudge flavor) 1/2 cup water 1 (14 ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

1cup heavy whipping cream 1 1/2 containers frozen whipped topping, thawed 1 hersheys bar ½ cup milk

Directions:

1.	Prepare brownie mix according to package directions and cool completely. Cut into 1 inch squares.
2.	In a mixer, whip up the 1 cup of whipping cream. In a separate bowl,  combine pudding mix, water and sweetened condensed milk. Mix until smooth, then put into the mixer with the heavy whipping cream until no streaks remain. Add ½ cup of milk to the mixture. Defrost the cool whip.
3.	In a trifle bowl or glass serving dish, place half of the brownies, half of the pudding mixture and half of the 12 ounce container of whipped topping.  Repeat layers.  Shave chocolate onto top layer for garnish. (or just stick pieces on top like i did...) Refrigerate 8 hours before serving.

Servings: 12

My Favorite Cinnamon Rolls w/Cream cheese Frosting

These cinnamon rolls were a discovery from high school international foods class.  I have never ever tasted a better cinnamon roll recipe than this!  I learned this recipe from Mrs. Kilgore, and may have adapted it a little bit to make it more my own.  :)Next time I make them, I will add more  pictures, as some of the steps may seem a little difficult without pictures. (they aren't that bad!) 

Rolling out the dough-  about 10 inches by 12-14 inches

Sprinkle cinnamon all over the dough, then add the brown sugar all over it too- (evenly)

The finished rolls, ready to be iced!

The Recipe:

Sweet Dough:
1 1/2 cups milk
2 Tbsp. yeast
1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup oil
4 1/2 to 5 cups white flour

Filling:
3 Tbsp. melted butter (or margarine)
1 1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon ( or more if u like cinnamon a lot)
3/4 cup brown sugar

Icing:
4 Tbsp. butter (or margarine)
4 oz. cream cheese
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. milk

To make the icing- just mix these things in the mixer till they look really yummy... :)

The Process:
1.  Heat the milk in the microwave till hot-  i do it a minute and a half in a glass container.
2.  Add the yeast and sugar-  whisk it and set it aside to grow.
3.  In a mixer, mix the eggs, salt, vanilla, and oil.
4.  When the yeast mixture has grown (just has to show some growth in size) add it to the mixer and mix it.
5.  Slowly add the flour.
6.  Take the dough and knead it on a floured surface for 3-5 minutes.
7.  Put the dough in an oiled bowl- cover it with saran wrap and set it in a warm place (to rise) for 45 minutes or until it has doubled in size.
8.  Roll the dough out on a floured surface into a rectangle shape. (see picture above)  about 10 inches high and 12-14 inches wide.
9.  Sprinkle the filling on top of the dough rectangle-  first the melted butter, then the cinnamon, then the brown sugar.  (See above picture)
10.  After you spread the butter, cinnamon and brown sugar evenly over it- then you roll it like a big long cylinder- the sides should look like a pinwheel.  Just roll it up!  (It looks somewhat like a roll of that cookie dough you can buy in the store.  Then use a sharp knife to cut the dough into 12 equal pieces and place them onto a foiled cookie sheet (aluminum foil) to rise for 45 minutes. 

11.  Bake at 340 degrees for 12 minutes.  Frost soon after removing from oven, so that the frosting melts over the hot cinnamon rolls.... mmmmm....

Makes 12 very large cinnamon rolls.

A list of amazing desserts to be baked and blogged about.

I will endeavor to bake all of these things.... someday!  It is my goal to find the best recipe (or create the best) for each of these items.

For now, I will only list ten things under each category- when I have finished them all, I will make another list.  :)

Cookies:

• Chocolate chip cookies
• Sugar cookies
• Peanut butter cookies
• Oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies
• Cherry-chip cookies
• Macaroons
• Snickerdoodles
• Jam thumbprint cookies
• Double-chocolate chocolate chip cookies
• Russian Tea-cakes

Cakes:

• Chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting
• New York cheesecake
• Carrot Cake
• Chocolate Cheesecake
• Pound Cake
• Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake
• Dark Chocolate cupcakes
• Coconut cake
• Coffee Cake
• White cake with Chocolate frosting

Bars and Squares:

• Fudge Brownies
• 7 layer bars
• Rice crispy butterscotch chocolate bars
• Lemon bars
• Pumpkin bars
• Marilyn's dream bars (chocolate chip meringue bars)
• m and m coconut bars
• S'more turnover bars
• Chocolate Caramel Brownies
• Oreo Fudge Brownies

Pies/ Tarts

• Lemon Meringue Pie
• Fruit Tart
• Apple Pie
• Pumpkin Pie
• Coconut Cream Pie
• Banana Cream Pie
• Boston Creme Pie
• Apple tart
• Strawberry Cream cheese tart
• Puff Pastry fruit tart

Other Desserts:

• Baked Donuts
• Fried Donuts
• Chocolate souffle
• Crepes
• Dark Chocolate peanut butter cups
• Truffles
• Flourless chocolate torte
• Apple Crisp
• Toffee
• Fudge

Breads:

• Artisan French bread
• Sourdough bread
• Banana chocolate chip bread
• Pumpkin Bread
• Bread machine cinnamon/raisin/vanilla bread
• Cinnamon Rolls with Cream cheese frosting    
  
• Banana Muffins
• Poppyseed muffins
• chocolate chip fudge muffins
• Blueberry streusel muffins

A New (Old) Piano!

For this amazing project, my husband and I bought an old piano at a thrift store.  It looked like this:

The poor old thing was quite beat up and needed some TLC, so we made a trip to home depot and got supplies to strip it, refinish it, and polyurethane it.

  Here are some pictures of the process...

And the finished masterpiece!!!!!  Yay!