Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies / #ChristmasCookies

This post is sponsored in conjunction with Christmas Cookies Week. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the Christmas Cookies Week recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

On day 3 of #ChristmasCookiesWeek I thought it would be fun to make a holiday version of a cookie that most of us have eaten throughout our lives. Is there anything tastier than the thumbprint cookie? During the holidays, the Thumbprint Cookie is pretty much a staple around here. We make it every year, and I always try to make a new variation of this favorite just to keep it fun!

 This thumbprint cookie fits perfectly into our Christmas tins. They are small enough to be considered a filler cookie, but I like to make simpler cookies the fillers, and let the other cookies kinda "hog the spotlight"! This tasty Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookie is a definite "cookie tin" hog! It has a great peppermint flavor, thanks to Adams Extract, and the chocolate dough is a natural taste sensation with the peppermint! Add the chunky  peppermint, and you have a cookie very few people will turn down! Building your cookie tin, it's important to use some universally liked flavors, such as the peppermint, or maybe gingerbread or egg nog. You want people to love your cookies! 
Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
(Printable recipe at end of page)

 1 cup Butter, softened
1 cup powdered Sugar
1 cup granulated Sugar
2 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Vegetable Oil
2 teaspoons Vanilla
5 1/4 cup Flour
1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Salt
2-4 tablespoons Adams Peppermint Extract
10 oz. bag Peppermint Baking Chunks, chop small
1 10 oz. bag Candy Cane Kisses
1  12 oz bag SemiSweet Chocolate Chips
2 teaspoon Milk
4 -5 tablespoons Milk 
1 3.5 oz. Candy Cane Bar
Beat the butter until it is fluffy. Add both sugars and beat until combined.
Add the eggs, oil, vanilla and 2 tablespoons of peppermint extract. Mix until blended. 
Use another bowl and mix together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mix to the wet mix. Blend until completely mixed. test the batter to see if you want to add more peppermint extract. If you do, add 1-2 more tablespoons. Stir in the chopped peppermint baking chunks. 
In a double boiler, melt the bag of semisweet chips. Add the milk as they are melting. It will help the chocolate smooth out. Add the melted chocolate to the cookie batter and mix together. reserve a 1/8 cup for the drizzle when you serve them.
Start scooping the dough into a scoop, if available. You can also use a spoon. You want your dough balls to be very close in size. Place on a cookie sheet, leaving space like above. 
To place an indentation in the middle of the cookie, I use a pestle. If you don't have one available, use any rounded object, such as the end of a wooden spoon. Before placing the pestle in to the dough, spray a very small amount of oil on the top. The oil will prevent the pestle from sticking to your dough. I use a spray canola oil, and wipe off the excess with a paper towel. Bake for 9-11 minutes. It will be difficult to tell if the cookies are brown, just watch the clock for time. Remove cookie from oven and place on a cooling rack.
Immediately upon removing the cookies from the oven, place unwrapped candy cane kisses onto each cookie. Let cool.
Once cookies are on a serving tray, toss a few of the chunks around on the cookies, then drizzle the cookies with the reserved chocolate. If it is too thick, warm up a small amount of milk or cream in the microwave, and mix it into the chocolate a little at a time, until it has a drizzle consistancy. Serve and Enjoy!

 A few notes: This cookie dough can be made ahead of time. After you have added the chocolate and mixed it in, divide the dough in half, wrap them in plastic and refrigerate. When you are ready to make the dough balls, mix the doughs together in a bowl. If the mix is a bit dry, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing after each addition. Then return to the recipe!

Don't forget about all the other fun and tasty recipes from my blogging friends! You can find them below:

#ChristmasCookiesWeek Wednesday Recipes 


Have you entered the giveaway yet? There are some great prizes, so enter here for a chance to win!

Thank you for stopping by today! I think our cookie tin is coming along fabulously, don't you?! Only 2 more cookies left! Stop by tomorrow for a very pretty and delicate Sugar Cookie Ornament!
Happy Baking!



Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprints

ingredients:

1 cup Butter, softened
1 cup powdered Sugar
1 cup granulated Sugar
2 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Vegetable Oil
2 teaspoons Vanilla
5 1/4 cup Flour
1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Salt
2-4 tablespoons Adams Peppermint Extract
10 oz. bag Peppermint Baking Chunks, chop small
1 10 oz. bag Candy Cane Kisses
1  12 oz bag SemiSweet Chocolate Chips
2 teaspoon Milk
4 -5 tablespoons Milk 
1 3.5 oz. Candy Cane Bar

instructions:


  1. Beat the butter until it is fluffy. Add both sugars and beat until combined.
  2. Add the eggs, oil, vanilla and 2 tablespoons of peppermint extract. Mix until blended. 
  3. Use another bowl and mix together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mix to the wet mix. Blend until completely mixed. test the batter to see if you want to add more peppermint extract. If you do, add 1-2 more tablespoons. Stir in the chopped peppermint baking chunks. 
  4. In a double boiler, melt the bag of semisweet chips. Add the milk as they are melting. It will help the chocolate smooth out. Add the melted chocolate to the cookie batter and mix together. reserve a 1/8 cup for the drizzle when you serve them.
  5. Start scooping the dough into a scoop, if available. You can also use a spoon. You want your dough balls to be very close in size. Place on a cookie sheet, leaving space like above. 
  6. To place an indentation in the middle of the cookie, I use a pestle. If you don't have one available, use any rounded object, such as the end of a wooden spoon. Before placing the pestle in to the dough, spray a very small amount of oil on the top. The oil will prevent the pestle from sticking to your dough. I use a spray canola oil, and I wipe off the excess with a paper towel if I spray too much.
    Bake for 9-11 minutes. It will be difficult to tell if the cookies are brown, just watch the clock for time. Remove cookie from oven and place on a cooling rack.
  7. Immediately upon removing the cookies from the oven, place unwrapped candy cane kisses onto each cookie. Let cool.
  8. Once cookies are on a serving tray, toss a few of the chunks around on the cookies, then drizzle the cookies with the reserved chocolate. If it is too thick, warm up a small amount of milk or cream in the microwave, and mix it into the chocolate a little at a time, until it has a drizzle consistancy. Serve and Enjoy!
  9. A few notes: This cookie dough can be made ahead of time. After you have added the chocolate and mixed it in, divide the dough in half, wrap them in plastic and refrigerate. When you are ready to make the dough balls, mix the doughs together in a bowl. If the mix is a bit dry, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing after each addition. Then return to the recipe!
Created using The Recipes Generator




Disclaimer: Thank you #ChristmasCookiesWeek sponsors: Adams Extract, Sprinkle Pop, YumGoggle and Silpat for providing the prizes free of charge. The #ChristmasCookiesWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Four (4) winners will be selected at random from entries received. The prize packages will be fulfilled by and sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. #ChristmasCookiesWeek bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household are not eligible to enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookiesWeek posts or entry.




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Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Deconstructed Chocolate Caramel Mini Apple Pie / #appleweek


This post is sponsored in conjunction with AppleWeek .
I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in
the creation of the AppleWeek recipes.
All opinions are mine alone.


My favorite part of an apple pie is the apples and that sweet, cinnamon sauce that they are cooked in. Mmmm...! So I thought it would be fun to make a pie with a lot of the filling and less of the crust. Don't get me wrong, I love the crust also. But sometimes you just have to change things up a bit! That's how I ended up with this Deconstructed Chocolate Caramel Mini Apple Pie!
Deconstructed Chocolate Caramel Mini Apple Pie
(printable recipe at end of page)
(2 Mini Apple Pies)

1 package of refrigerated Pie Crust
1 Nordic Ware Reversible Pie Top Cutter 
1-2 tablespoons Flour
1 teaspoon unsalted Butter, melted
1/4 cup Sugar
2-3 tablespoons Cinnamon
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
Pinch Nutmeg
1 cup Caramel Bits
2 ounces Milk Chocolate, chopped
1-2 tablespoons Heavy Duty Whipping Cream
Before opening your pie crust, let it come to room temperature. Unroll the packaged pie crust. Of course, you could make your own pie crust if you wanted. Sprinkle a tablespoon of flour on the Nordicware Pie Top Cutter. Place the piece of pie crust on top of the apple side of the cutter. Using a rolling pin, roll over the dough until it looks like the picture above. Then pull off the dough in between the apples. Put the dough aside, and use a toothpick to pick out the apples. Place them on a parchment covered cookie sheet. 
Reroll the dough and the 4 little leaves in the middle. You don't need the cute little leaves for this recipe, but it is hard to avoid them. Place on pie top cutter and do it all over again.
By the end, you will be using little pieces of dough. 
Keep cutting the dough until it is all gone. I used this Swiss Diamond Paring Knife to help me with the job! Very handy and sharp!
Brush each apple with the melted butter.
Mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Sprinkle the mix onto the apple cutouts. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let cool. These can be made a day or two before serving, keeping in a sealed container.
Chop your apples into small bite sized pieces. Click here to get the most efficient way to get these small pieces! Place apples on the stove with a pat of butter. Add the cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg. Cook on medium, stirring often until slightly soft. Remove from stove, or if you wish to enjoy your pies warm, just turn heat to low, and keep an eye on them while you finish the dish!
Get your caramel melting in a double boiler. Once it is melted, heat 1 tablespoon of heavy duty whipping cream in the microwave until warm. It takes less than 10 seconds. Slowly pour the warm cream into your caramels, stirring constantly until they are incorporated. If the cream is cold, it will not mix well, making your caramel too hard. This way it will be creamy. 
Chop your chocolate into small and large pieces.
Start building the deconstucted pies by placing some apple cutouts in the bottom of the bowls.
Add the cooked apples,
the melted caramel, and top with the chopped chocolate! 

Add a couple more apple pie crusts for fun! Serve and enjoy!

 *a couple notes~ This would be great ala mode, and for another fun taste, add chopped peanuts on top of the chocolate and caramel. Then it will taste like a chocolate caramel apple! also....There is no need to make as many apple crusts as I made. Since I was making them anyway,  I froze them for future desserts! 

 Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog for day 2 of #appleweek! Have you seen todays recipes from my blogger friends? Here's the list to check out all the yummy goodness!:

Tuesday Recipes:

Have you entered the giveaway?
 Don't forget to check out all the awesome prizes!
Enter HERE!



Yield: 2 pies

Deconstructed Chocolate Caramel Mini Apple Pie

ingredients:

1 package of refrigerated Pie Crust
1 Nordic Ware Reversible Pie Top Cutter 
1-2 tablespoons Flour
1 teaspoon unsalted Butter, melted
1/4 cup Sugar
2-3 tablespoons Cinnamon
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
Pinch Nutmeg
1 cup Caramel Bits
2 ounces Milk Chocolate, chopped
1-2 tablespoons Heavy Duty Whipping Cream

instructions:


  1. Before opening your pie crust, let it come to room temperature. Unroll the packaged pie crust. Of course, you could make your own pie crust if you wanted. Sprinkle a tablespoon of flour on the Nordicware Pie Top Cutter. Place the piece of pie crust on top of the apple side of the cutter. Using a rolling pin, roll over the dough until it looks like the picture above. Then pull off the dough in between the apples. Put the dough aside, and use a toothpick to pick out the apples. Place them on a parchment covered cookie sheet. 
  2. Reroll the dough and the 4 little leaves in the middle. You don't need the cute little leaves for this recipe, but it is hard to avoid them. Place on pie top cutter and do it all over again.
  3. By the end, you will be using little pieces of dough. 
  4. Keep cutting the dough until it is all gone.
  5. Brush each apple with the melted butter.
  6. Mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Sprinkle the mix onto the apple cutouts. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let cool. These can be made a day or two before serving, keeping in a sealed container.
  7. Chop your apples into small bite sized pieces. Click here to get the most efficient way to get these small pieces! Place apples on the stove with a pat of butter. Add the cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg. Cook on medium, stirring often until slightly soft. Remove from stove, or if you wish to enjoy your pies warm, just turn heat to low, and keep an eye on them while you finish the dish!
  8. Get your caramel melting in a double boiler. Once it is melted, heat 1 tablespoon of heavy duty whipping cream in the microwave until warm. It takes less than 10 seconds. Slowly pour the warm cream into your caramels, stirring constantly until they are incorporated. If the cream is cold, it will not mix well, making your caramel too hard. This way it will be creamy.
  9. Chop your chocolate into small and large pieces.
  10. Start building the deconstucted pies by placing some apple cutouts in the bottom of the bowls.
  11. Add the cooked apples, the melted caramel, and top with the chopped chocolate! Add a couple more apple pie crusts for fun! Serve and enjoy!

NOTES:

*a couple notes~ This would be great ala mode, and for another fun taste, add chopped peanuts on top of the chocolate and caramel. Then it will taste like a chocolate caramel apple! also....There is no need to make as many apple crusts as I made. Since I was making them anyway,  I froze them for future desserts!
Created using The Recipes Generator



  

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Tuesday, February 13, 2018

14 Last Minute Foods to Dip and Sprinkle for Valentine's Day


Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, but you still have time to make one or two of these 14 Last Minute Foods to Dip and Sprinkle for Valentine's Day! They don't take very long, and after only a few minutes in the fridge for the chocolate to set up, they are ready for gift giving!
Chocolate Dipped Mini Pretzel Sticks

Chocolate Dipped Mini 'Nilla Wafers

Chocolate Dipped Cashews

Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie Treats

Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Graham Crackers

Chocolate Dipped Graham Crackers

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Cutouts

Chocolate Dipped Fortune Cookies

Chocolate Dipped Ridged Potato Chips

Chocolate Dipped Red Velvet Oreos

Chocolate Dipped Lemon Biscotti Bites

Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Wafer Cookies

Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas

Chocolate Dipped Popped Corn Chips

There are so many ways to wrap these treats up as a little "thinking of you" gift. 

Here are a few:

Three of these chocolate dipped treats placed in a colorful tin or a cute box make the perfect little gift for someone special. 

Place chocolate dipped Red Velvet Oreo's or Vanilla Wafer Cookies in a stack and put them in a tall thin bag tied with a decorative red ribbon.

Place chocolate dipped pretzel sticks in a cute bag and attach it to a nice bottle of premium beer.

Box up the Lemon Biscotti Bites and add them to a mug with some tea for a nice surprise for someone special.

Just a note:
I used Trader Joes Milk Chocolate for dipping. I melted it in a double boiler. If you do not have one, make one by stacking a small pot on top of a big pot. Fill the big pot about 1/4 high with water, put the small pot on top and place chocolate in it. The small pot must not touch the water. Set the heat to low, and allow the chocolate to melt. 


Thank you for stopping by today!

Happy Valentine's Day! 










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Thursday, February 8, 2018

Decorated Valentine's Day Marshmallows

These cute Decorated Valentine's Day Marshmallows make a great little gift when you want someone to know you are thinking of them on Valentine's Day. They are fun and easy to make and kids would love helping with these!
Decorated Valentine's Day Marshmallows
(printable recipe at end of post)

 Jumbo Marshmallows
Colorful Sticks or Straws
White Chocolate Chips and/or Coating
Various Fun Sprinkles
Chop up the white coating, or pour the chips into the top pan of a double boiler. Melt chocolate on low. I found that using just the chips made the melted chips too thick for dipping, so I mixed it 50/50 with the coating. It makes a great consistency. While your coating is heating up, place a stick or straw in to the middle of each marshmallow. Set up a decorating station for each marshmallow with sprinkles and a bowl to catch the sprinkles.
Once the chips/coating is melted, dip the marshmallow into the coating and and spin it around until it is covered. You can cover the top of the marshmallow, or just the sides. Totally up to you! Then place your marshmallow over the small bowl and pour sprinkles over it, turning the marshmallow around as you pour sprinkles on. After trying out a lot of different types and sizes of sprinkles, I found that the best ones to use for the best coverage are small sprinkles, like the ones used above. 
Let the marshmallows set up and dry.
For gift giving, place the marshmallow in a small cellophane bag, and tie with a ribbon. 
I hope you have fun making these Decorated Valentine's Day Marshmallows! Thanks for stopping by! 
You might enjoy some past Valentine's Day ideas:


Pin it

Decorated Valentine's Day Marshmallows

ingredients:

Jumbo Marshmallows
Colorful Sticks or Straws
White Chocolate Chips and/or Coating
Various Fun Sprinkles

instructions:


  1. Chop up the white coating, or pour the chips into the top pan of a double boiler. Melt chocolate on low. I found that using just the chips made the melted chips too thick for dipping, so I mixed it 50/50 with the coating. It makes a great consistency. While your coating is heating up, place a stick or straw in to the middle of each marshmallow. Set up a decorating station for each marshmallow with sprinkles and a bowl to catch the sprinkles.
  2. Once the chips/coating is melted, dip the marshmallow into the coating and and spin it around until it is covered. You can cover the top of the marshmallow, or just the sides. Totally up to you! Then place your marshmallow over the small bowl and pour sprinkles over it, turning the marshmallow around as you pour sprinkles on. After trying out a lot of different types and sizes of sprinkles, I found that the best ones to use for the best coverage are small sprinkles, like the ones used above. 
  3. Let the marshmallows set up and dry.
  4. For gift giving, place the marshmallow in a small cellophane bag, and tie with a ribbon. 
http://www.thefreshmancook.com/2018/02/decorated-valentines-day-marshmallows_8.html
Created using The Recipes Generator
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