Cake mix is fantastic ingredient to keep in the pantry for a quick-fix dessert. It’s easy to doctor into something extraordinary, such as with these S’mores Cake Mix Bars.
This is a treat that doesn’t taste like cake mix at the end. It’s just sweet and wonderful, courtesy of the lovely combination of ingredients.
I used ready-made graham crackers crumbs here, but really, you could probably use various kind of vanilla cookies, smashed, to mix in. Vanilla wafers or even Golden Oreos would be good substitutes.
I love bar recipes like this where ingredients are swirled together at the end. There is something visually delightful about that marbled look.
Be sure that when these bars are sliced, they are stores with waxed paper between the layers. Marshmallow makes things a bit sticky! And delicious.
This original Bready or Not recipe uses cake mix for a quick-fix delicious dessert that doesn’t at all taste like cake mix. It’s just plain delicious.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bars, cake mix, chocolate, marshmallow
Author: Beth Cato
Equipment
9×13 pan
waxed paper
Ingredients
1box white cake mix or yellow cake mix or French Vanilla
1/2cupunsalted butter 1 stick, melted
1teaspoonvanilla extract
2eggs room temperature
1cupsemisweet chocolate chips
7ouncemarshmallow fluff jar
1/2cupgraham cracker crumbs
Instructions
Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 9×13 casserole pan with foil and apply nonstick spray or butter.
In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs until no dry crumbs remain. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Pour batter into the prepared pan and even out surface. Add the graham cracker crumbs in little piles scattered across the top. Use a butter knife to partially swirl the crumbs into the dough. Add dollops of marshmallow fluff across the top. Again, swirl the marshmallow into the dough, coating it with graham crackers in the process. Don’t combine everything too much–there should still be visible swirls and varied textures.
Bake at 350-degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, until edges are golden and contents look set.
Completely cool at room temperature or speed process in the fridge. Use foil to lift the contents onto a cutting board. Slice into bars. Store in a sealed container with waxed paper between the stacked layers.
You can’t go wrong with these classic brownies! This recipe makes a big casserole dish of chocolaty goodness. Make this recipe to share, or freeze some brownies for later!
1Tablespoonespresso powder or instant coffee granules
2teaspoonsground cinnamon
6eggs room temperature
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven at 325-degrees. Line a 13×9 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray or butter.
In a medium microwave-safe bowl, microwave the chocolate and butter in very short bursts, stirring well between each pass, until it is melted and smooth. Set aside to cool.
In a small bowl, combine the flour and cocoa.
In a large bowl, combine the sugar, espresso powder, and cinnamon. Pour in the chocolate mixture. Beat until just combined. Add eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla. Gradually stir in the flour-cocoa mix. Spread the batter in the prepared pan.
Bake for 35 to 42 minutes, until the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan and the very middle passes the toothpick test. Set on rack to completely cool.
Use the foil to lift the brownies onto a cutting board. Cut into bars. Store in a sealed container at room temperature. Brownies can also be layered in wax paper and frozen for later enjoyment.
A classic shortbread gets deeper coffee flavors in this new take featuring cocoa nibs.
Cocoa nibs are strong stuff. You don’t need a lot to add some oomph. Here, two tablespoons is enough to do the trick.
Use whatever chocolate chips you have around for this recipe. Going dark will be a closer match for the nibs. Therefore, I prefer semisweet or milk chocolate, or a combination thereof.
The resulting shortbread is firm enough to hold up when it is cut into finger-sized pieces, but it is wonderfully soft and chewy to eat.
Eat this for a snack or dessert, or do the proper UK thing and serve it with some hot tea!
Bready or Not Original: Chocolate Chip Shortbread with Cocoa Nibs
This recipe creates a small pan of delicious chocolate chip shortbread with a boost from cocoa nibs.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: British, Scottish
Keyword: chocolate, cocoa nibs, cookies
Author: Beth Cato
Equipment
9×9 pan
Ingredients
1cupunsalted butter 2 sticks, room temperature
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1/4teaspoonsalt
3/4cupconfectioners’ sugar
2cupsall-purpose flour
3/4cupchocolate chips
2Tablespoonscocoa nibs
Instructions
Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 9×9 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray.
In a big bowl, beat butter, vanilla, and salt until it is smooth and creamy. Slowly beat in the confectioners’ sugar followed by the flour. Fold in the chocolate chips and cocoa nibs.
Dump dough into the prepared pan. Lightly flour hands and pat dough flat and smooth. Score through the dough with a floured knife to make rectangular wedges, then prick surface all over with a floured fork.
Bake for 30 to 33 minutes, until shortbread is set and the edges are browned. Let set in pan for 20 minutes, then use the foil to lift contents onto a rack to completely cool. Move them to a cutting board and slice into pieces along original score marks.
This small loaf is perfect for one person or a small family. It keeps well at room temperature for days, and can be frozen for later enjoyment, too.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: quick bread
Author: Beth Cato
Equipment
9x5x3 loaf pan
Ingredients
1 1/2cupscornmeal
1/4cupall-purpose flour
1/4cupgolden flax meal
1 1/2teaspoonsbaking powder
1/2teaspoonsalt
1/2cupvegetable oil
1/2cupsour cream or substitute plain yogurt or crème fraiche
1/4cuphoney
2large eggs room temperature
Instructions
Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 9×5-3 loaf pan with a parchment paper sling along the long side, with enough paper sticking up on each side to grip it.
In a medium bowl, stir together cornmeal, flour, flaxseed meal, baking powder, and salt.
In a big bowl, beat together oil, sour cream, honey, and eggs. Add in the dry ingredients until just mixed. Pour batter into the pan.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the middle passes the toothpick test. Let cool at least 10 minutes before using paper sling to set cornbread on cutting board.
Cornbread keeps well for days well-wrapped at room temperature. It can also be frozen for later enjoyment.