chocolate

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

Posted by on Jul 13, 2016 in biscoff spread, Blog, blondies, Bready or Not, brownies, chocolate | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

Last week I shared Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars. This week I switch out the peanut butter for a version that tastes even better.

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

The top and bottom layers use cookie butter (Biscoff, Speculoos, whichever!) while the middle layer uses just a touch of Nutella. That combination is luscious. Cookie dough and chocolate. Guh.

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

I mentioned before that the peanut butter version can be crumbly, especially the edge pieces. Well, this new variation is even messier. Karmic balance for the extra deliciousness, right? The middle pieces were a touch gooey, even as the edge pieces pretty much shattered as they were cut.

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

That’s not a bad thing here, though. These pieces are delicious. Lap them up. Save them to top ice cream or yogurt. Just please, don’t let them go to waste.

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

Mind you, they’ll also go to your waist, but that’s a totally separate dilemma.

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

This variation of my Peanut Butter Ecstasy Bars uses Biscoff or Speculoos for the crust and Nutella in the filling for a fantastic cookie dough-chocolate combination. They might be crumbly and messy (especially the edges), but you'll want to gobble up every morsel.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: bars, chocolate, cookie butter
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup Creamy Biscoff spread or other cookie butter brand
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 2 Tablespoons Nutella or similar chocolate spread
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with aluminum foil and apply nonstick spray.
  • In a large bowl, mix butter, cookie butter, and sugar. Add the vanilla. Slowly mix in the flour. Set aside about 1 cup of the dough, and firmly press the rest into the prepared pan.
  • Using the same bowl, make the filling. Beat together the eggs, Nutella, and two sugars. Spread this over the unbaked crust. Sprinkle the reserved dough over the top.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the dough it set and golden. Cool completely in pan. Slice into bars. The bars may be crumbly, especially the edge pieces, but every bit is delicious. Keeps for at least 3 days in a sealed container.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

Bready or Not: Biscoff-Nutella Ecstasy Bars

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Bready or Not: Oreo and Caramel Cake Batter Brownies

Posted by on Jun 15, 2016 in Blog, Bready or Not, brownies, cake mix, chocolate, oreo | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Oreo and Caramel Cake Batter Brownies

If you need a fast chocolate fix, I have the recipe for you.

Bready or Not: Oreo and Caramel Cake Batter Brownies

This uses cake mix as a base for decadent brownies. If you don’t have caramels, chop up some candy bars. Use full-size Oreos or break up some other kind of cookies. Just let caramel and chocolate, in some form, get cozy.

Bready or Not: Oreo and Caramel Cake Batter Brownies

After you combine everything, this bakes up in about 20 minutes. It smells like heaven, too. A heaven oozing with chocolate.

Bready or Not: Oreo and Caramel Cake Batter Brownies

These bars end up chewy and mild. If you want deeper flavor, use dark chocolate.

Bready or Not: Oreo and Caramel Cake Batter Brownies

This is a Bready or Not Original, too. I modified it from my Golden Oreo Cake Batter Blondies.

Bready or Not: Oreo and Caramel Cake Batter Brownies

Use cake mix as a base to create quick, chewy brownies! Customize with whatever chocolate or candy you have handy, but you can't go wrong with caramel and Oreos. A Bready or Not Original.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: bars, brownies, cake mix, chocolate, oreo
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 1 box devil's food cake mix
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder optional but awesome
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 egg room temperature
  • 1/2 cup milk or half & half
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 5 ounces Caramel Bits or chopped caramel
  • 8 ounces Mini Oreos or chopped Oreos, some reserved for top

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray or butter.
  • Combine first three ingredients in a large bowl. Add egg and milk. Fold in the chocolate chips, caramel pieces, and Mini Oreos.
  • Pour into prepared baking pan. Add the reserved Oreos on top. Bake for 20 minutes, or it until passes the toothpick test.
  • Allow to set for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

Bready or Not: Oreo and Caramel Cake Batter Brownies

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Bready or Not: White Chocolate Lemon Blondies

Posted by on May 25, 2016 in Blog, blondies, Bready or Not, chocolate, cookies, lemon | Comments Off on Bready or Not: White Chocolate Lemon Blondies

Memorial Day weekend is coming up, so let’s do make something fresh and summer-y! How about chewy bars that taste like lemonade?

Bready or Not: White Chocolate Lemon Blondies

These bars are soft and chewy with a delightfully fresh flavor. White chocolate and lemon make for a wonderful pairing in both taste and texture.

Bready or Not: White Chocolate Lemon Blondies

I’d like to say that these kept well for days, but I really don’t know. They stayed yummy for one day, at least.

When my husband took these to work, a co-worker told him, “Your wife can make these any time she wants.” I always welcome that kind of encouragement to bake more!

Bready or Not: White Chocolate Lemon Blondies

Modified from A Kitchen Addiction.

Bready or Not: White Chocolate Lemon Blondies

These blondies are lemonade in cookie bar form! They are soft and tender, with a fresh flavor. Makes an 8x8 or 9x9 dish.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: bars, chocolate, lemon
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick, softened
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 lemon zested and juiced
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp lemon extract
  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • sparkling sugar or turbinado sugar for top, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch baking dish with aluminum foil and apply non-stick cooking spray.
  • Cream together butter and both sugars. Add lemon juice, eggs, and vanilla extract, and beat until combined.
  • In a separate bowl, stir together the dry ingredients: flour, lemon zest, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the flour mix into the wet ingredients.
  • Stir in white chocolate chips; dough will be thick. Spread into the bottom of the ready baking dish. An offset spatula works well to smooth it out. If desired, sprinkle sparkling or turbinado sugar all over the top.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, until it passes the toothpick test.
  • Set on a wire rack to cool completely, then use foil to lift contents to a cutting board. Cut into bars.
  • OM NOM NOM!

Bready or Not: White Chocolate Lemon Blondies

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Bready or Not: Baileys Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

Posted by on Mar 23, 2016 in Blog, Bready or Not, breakfast, cake, chocolate, quick bread | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Baileys Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

Today we wrap up the Baileys Coffee Creamer theme with an amazing pound cake that’s perfect for breakfast or snack.

Bready or Not: Baileys Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

The original version of the recipe used alcoholic Baileys and also included it in a chocolate glaze. I decided to do without the glaze (I know! Gasp!) but I think it was a good call. The cake is perfectly sweet on its own, and the mini chips add the perfect amount of chocolate taste.

Bready or Not: Baileys Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

The combination of the nonalcoholic coffee creamer and sour cream lend this a tender yet dense crumb. It slices easily because of the mini chips.

Bready or Not: Baileys Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

The most impressive thing about this pound cake was that it was delicious fresh, and it was just as delicious five days later. We kept it shrouded in plastic wrap at room temperature.

Bready or Not: Baileys Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

This is a pound cake you’ll want to pound into your mouth, again and again.

Modified from Lemon Tree Dwelling.

Bready or Not: Baileys Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

The addition of some Baileys (non-alcocholic coffee creamer or the hard stuff) does wonders for the soft texture and smooth taste of this delicious pound cake! This loaf is perfect for breakfast or snack.
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Keyword: chocolate, quick bread, sour cream
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick, room temperature
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup Baileys Irish Coffee Creamer or Irish Cream
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Prepare the loaf pan by coating with nonstick spray, then cutting a sling of parchment paper to fit the width of the pan that can stick up on either side. Apply nonstick spray on that as well.
  • Preheat oven at 325-degrees.
  • In a mixing bowl, beat butter until it's creamy. Gradually add the sugar and continue to beat 4 or 5 minutes, or until it's light and fluffy. Stop and scrape the bowl a few times.
  • While that is beating, in a separate small bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. In another bowl, whisk together the Baileys and sour cream. It's okay if it's a bit lumpy.
  • In the butter-sugar bowl, add the eggs one at a time and mix well in between. Pour in the dry mix and the Baileys mix a bit at a time, going back and forth, until everything is just combined. Stir in the mini chocolate chips. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
  • Bake for 65-75 minutes or until it passes the toothpick test in the middle of the loaf.
  • Cool on a rack for 20 minutes then use the paper sling to lift it up to cool completely. Store in layered plastic wrap at room temperature. Keeps well for at least 5 days.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

Bready or Not: Baileys Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

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Bready or Not: Baileys Irish Coffee Creamer Chocolate Mini Muffins

Posted by on Mar 9, 2016 in Blog, Bready or Not, breakfast, brownies, cake mix, chocolate, muffin | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Baileys Irish Coffee Creamer Chocolate Mini Muffins

I’m not ashamed to use cake mix every now and then. It’s fast. It can make delicious things. In this case, about 70 delicious things.

Bready or Not: Baileys Irish Coffee Creamer Chocolate Mini Muffins

I doctored this recipe to use nonalcoholic refrigerated Baileys Coffee Creamer instead of the hard stuff, and I also adapted it for mini muffins. Loads of them.

Bready or Not: Baileys Irish Coffee Creamer Chocolate Mini Muffins

These are bite-sized dollops of chocolate: chocolate cake dappled with chocolate chips, with the added smoothness of Baileys. Plus, it’s fast to whip up, especially if you have more than one mini muffin pan!

Bready or Not: Baileys Irish Coffee Creamer Chocolate Mini Muffins

Since I bought a large container of coffee creamer (hey, it was a good sale, and I needed St. Patrick’s recipes, so…), you’ll see more recipes with Baileys featured the next two weeks as well!

Modified from Couponing & Cooking.

Bready or Not: Baileys Irish Coffee Creamer Chocolate Mini Muffins

This shortcut recipe uses chocolate cake mix to churn out about 70 brownie-like mini muffins! Sure, you could use the hard Baileys in this, but nonalcoholic Baileys Coffee Creamer makes this kid and workplace friendly--and a LOT cheaper.
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Keyword: cake mix, chocolate, mini muffin
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup Baileys Irish Coffee Creamer nonalcoholic
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips, + additional for tops, if desired

Instructions

  • Prep your mini muffin pans(s) by placing liners and dousing with nonstick spray. Note that the recipe makes about 70 mini muffins. Preheat the oven at 350-degrees.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, eggs, oil, and Baileys Creamer. Once that's mixed to show no clumps, add the chocolate chips. The batter will be a little runny.
  • A teaspoon scoop makes it easy to dole out batter into the liners--but don't fill to the top! They will grow as they bake. Top with a few extra chocolate chips, if desired.
  • Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the tops are springy and the innermost muffins pass the toothpick test. Use a fork to pop them out and onto a rack to cool.
  • Store in a sealed container in the fridge or at room temperature.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

Bready or Not: Baileys Irish Coffee Creamer Chocolate Mini Muffins

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Bready or Not: Chewy Chocolate-Stuffed Cookie Bars

Posted by on Feb 24, 2016 in Blog, blondies, Bready or Not, chocolate, cookies | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Chewy Chocolate-Stuffed Cookie Bars

Do you like chocolate chip cookies, the kind that are soft, dense, and cakey? Do you like chocolate? Oh boy. Do I have the recipe for you.

Bready or Not: Chewy Choc Stuffed Cookie Bars

These babies are rich, indulgent, and made to pad thighs. Did I mention they are tasty? Yeah. These are chewy in the best kind of way.

Bready or Not: Chewy Chocolate Stuffed Cookie Bars

I prefer using milk chocolate chips, but you can tailor these to your taste buds. Go semi-sweet or dark. Mix them all up. Be crazy.

Bready or Not: Chewy Chocolate Stuffed Cookie Bars

The filling in these bars is rather like a ganache, so it will soften a lot if it’s at room temperature or warmer. I found they kept in the fridge really well in a sealed container.

Bready or Not: Chewy Chocolate Stuffed Cookie Bars

They keep well in your belly, too.

Modified from Recipe Girl.

Bready or Not: Chewy Chocolate-Stuffed Cookie Bars

Simple to make. Divine to eat. These are diehard chocolate chip bars--rich, lush, and chewy. Store sealed in the fridge for days... if they last that long!
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: bars, chocolate
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

CHOCOLATE FILLING:

  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips
  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

COOKIES:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, room temperature
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup oats quick-cooking or old-fashioned rolled
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips

Instructions

For the chocolate filling:

  • Place the chocolate chips and condensed milk in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 40-50 seconds, watching it the whole time--condensed milk can turn to lava if you're not careful! Stir well, and heat again if necessary; the chocolate chips should blend in. Once that happens, add the vanilla extract and stir in. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

For the cookie bars:

  • Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Line a 9x13-inch pan with foil, overlapping the sides to make it easy to lift out later. Spray foil with nonstick spray or rub with butter.
  • Place the butter and both sugars in a large bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients: the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture until everything is well incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  • Place about half the cookie dough in dollops in the ready pan. Gently smooth it out to cover the bottom. Pour the cooled chocolate over the dough. Top that with the remaining dough in dollops; don't worry about covering the whole surface.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the top is just golden brown. Cool completely. Use the foil to lift it out of the pan to cut. Store in a sealed container in the fridge, as the middle will soften at room temperature.
  • OM NOM NOM!

Bready or Not: Chewy Chocolate Stuffed Cookie Bars

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