Chocolate Cinnamon Bread Pudding

This is such a good and easy dessert to make.  I recently made it for a potluck (which is perfect because you can eat it warm or room temp or even cold) and I enjoyed it so much, I made a batch for home just a few days later.  This is really good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

1 tablespoon butter
8 slices cinnamon raisin bread
2 cups milk
4 oz chocolate
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
confections sugar for dusting (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350.  Spray or butter a 9 inch square baking dish. Toast the
bread and tear each slice into four pieces. Place them in baking dish. Heat chocolate, milk and butter over med until chocolate is melted (stirring frequently). Whisk eggs, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Slowly add the milk/chocolate mixture and stir until combined.  Pour over bread and bake 25 minutes.  Cool for about 15 minutes and top with confectioners sugar (if using).  Otherwise, top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Red Velvet Cake Truffles

Ok, this is my Mom's recipe.  She is the queen of desserts.  When we visit, she makes at least one new dessert a day until I finally beg her to stop.  These truffles are super easy and super addicting, so proceed with caution!

First, you make a red velvet cake (straight from the box).  Just follow the directions to bake.  Let cool. Cut it into chunks and place it in a very large bowl.  Add one can of cream cheese frosting.  You are going to get messy so get use to the idea.  You have to mix it with your hands.  Mix thoroughly.  Using your hands, roll out into small balls (about an inch). Place on a foil or wax paper lined baking sheet and chill in refrigerator for 3-4 hours.

Next, melt the chocolate (white, milk, dark, or all three).  I do it on the stove with a double broiler but you can also do it in the microwave.  Whichever method you use, just make sure the chocolate doesn't burn.  Take the balls and coat in the chocolate and place back on the lined baking sheet.  Once they've all been dipped, place back in the fridge to chill.

Isn't that easy?!

Ingredients
Red Velvet Cake mix and ingredients to make the cake
1 can cream cheese frosting
white/dark/milk chocolate for melting

Enjoy!

Brigadeiros...chocolate heaven

Brigadeiros are the awesome little bonbons that are frequently served at birthday parties.  They are made up of butter, cocoa powder and sweetened condensed milk then rolled in chocolate sprinkles.  They are easy to make but they take a little while.  Worth it, I promise.

Cute story about these little treats. A Brigadier (Brigadeiro) General was running for political office in the 1940's.  His wife made these candies and served them at his political functions.  The candies became so popular, people would ask "have you had the brigadeiros candy?" and there is the history of the name.  Supposedly. Either way, it makes a good story.

2 Tablespoons butter (+ extra for plate and your hands)
1 can (14oz/395g) sweetened condensed milk
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder (I used dark cocoa powder)
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 heaping Tablespoons almond butter
mini baking cups

Confession - I didn't even think about adding the almond butter until the very end of the cooking time.  I love nut butter/chocolate together and as I sat there stirring and stirring and stirring, it came to me in a vision.  I like the addition but if you're not as crazy about chocolate/nut butter, you can always leave it out.

Melt 2 T butter over low head.  Once it's melted add the sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, salt and vanilla extract. Stir.  Stir. Stir.  You have to cook this over low heat and it takes a while (took me 25 minutes).  You have to continuously stir it so it doesn't burn.    When it was almost done,  I added the almond butter.  You can add it at the end but I'd just add it at the beginning with the rest of the ingredients.  Once it's reduced down and thickened to where you can part it with a spoon and have it stay apart for a few seconds, it's thick enough.   Pour the mixture onto a buttered plate and place in the fridge to cool.  You want this to be cool enough for you to pick it up and roll it in your hands, so let it cool for at least half an hour.

Once it's cool, butter your hands and roll the mix into small balls.  Next comes the fun part - roll the balls into the chocolate sprinkles and place in mini baking cups (mine were full size because I couldn't find the minis)
.  Put back in fridge for a while to firm up (another 30 minutes, if you can stand it).

There are other toppings you can use on them besides the sprinkles - chopped nuts, coconut flakes, crushed cereal, etc.  Be creative and use what you like.

I hope you enjoy this recipe!

the ingredients

the correct thickness

going into the fridge to cool

ready to roll

finished product

Chocolate Banana Cranberry Bread

I love the bananas here.  I mean, I love bananas period but here they seem more flavorful and a little sweeter.

So, we had a couple bananas that were getting pretty ripe and I decided banana bread would be perfect. I also have a lot of dried cranberries and some chocolate and thought that might all work together.  And it did!   As I sit here typing this, I can't wait for my afternoon coffee so I have an excuse to have another delicious slice.

Here's the recipe --

1/4 cup softened unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 small bananas chopped
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate (or you can use chocolate chips)
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking soda, sifted
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat to 350.  Butter or spray a loaf pan.  Cream sugar and butter together.  Add the eggs, one at time, and mix between each one. Fold in the bananas, cranberries and chocolate, water and vanilla.  Add everything else and mix just until its incorporated.  You don't want to over mix it. Bake for about an hour - until the top is nicely brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

Let it cool in the pan for a few minutes then loosen with a knife and put on a pretty dish.

I really like this bread but I think I'll use more chocolate next time. And maybe throw in some nuts.

German Chocolate Pecan Pie

So, here is my go to pie for Thanksgiving -- German Chocolate Pecan Pie.  HEAVENLY!!!  Pecan pie is so good by itself but the addition of chocolate and coconut really steps it up a notch or five. It is a Rachael Ray recipe that I have changed slightly.  The original recipe calls for 3/4 cup of chocolate chips and (I can't believe I'm writing this) it's a little too chocolatey.  I know, it's hard to believe that I think something could have too much chocolate but it's true.  I also usually just use 2 cups of pecans because that's the size bag I find in my grocery stores.  It makes the perfect amount of filling for the pie so I really don't think it's missing anything by having half a cup less of pecans.  This is a really easy recipe - my four year old helps with the filling.  I usually cheat and buy a pre-made shell so the whole thing takes about 45 minutes.  I do pre-bake the shell for about 10-12 minutes before filling it.  So, that's it - the recipe to the most amazing delicious pie ever.

Pre-made pie shell
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 cups pecan pieces
3/4 cup sweetened flake coconut
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake for pie shell 10- 12 minutes. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. In a heavy, medium saucepan, whisk together the  butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt with the brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat until melted and smooth. Whisk the sugar mixture into the beaten eggs. Stir in the nuts and coconut. Put the chocolate chips in the pie shell. Pour in the filling and bake until set, about 25 minutes. Let the pie cool completely before slicing.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I had some banana's that were getting pretty ripe so I decided to make up a quick batch of banana bread.  I happen to have some chocolate chips on hand, so of course I had to add them!  Here is what I used...

1 cup flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

4 medium overripe bananas, mashed

1/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/4tsp cinnamon (or to taste)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup chocolate chips

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease loaf pan (or muffintin, if you prefer)

In a large bowl, combine banana, sugar, egg, vanilla and oil.  Mix well. Use a small mesh colander and sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda andsalt on top of the wet ingredients and then stir to combine. This will save you from dirtying a second bowl. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into prepared loaf pan (or muffin cups). Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a bread comes out clean. It took me about 45 minutes.  Muffins will bake faster.  Letcool before serving.

This was pretty delicious. I topped it with some homemade whipped cream.   I think next time I'll add a little homemade almond butter to the mix because what could possibly be better than almond butter, banana, and chocolate???

Enjoy