Cheesecake Trifle

♥ Beginner

My dad believes that you're never prepared to attend a party until a trifle has been made. He right too. They not only hit the spot for flavor, combining all of our favorite things in one, but they also look really beautiful and professional. Let's be honest, it's hard to screw up a trifle.

This one just happens to include all of my children's favorite things. A spin on the traditional red, white, and blue trifle that you see around the fourth of July... this one was gone in a matter of two days. Enjoy!

What you'll need: 
1 Angel Food Cake
1 Box of blueberries
1 Box of Strawberries
1 Box of Raspberries
1 Instant Jell-O Packet, Cheesecake Flavor
2 Cups of Milk
1 Cool Whip, 12 oz.
2 Butterfingers Candy Bars, crushed


How it's done: 

1. Start by preparing your pudding. Make the pudding using the Jell-O packet and the milk. Set in the fridge for 10 minutes.

2.Cut the angel food cake into bite size pieces. Cut off the tops of the strawberries and quarter them. Rinse all of the fruit, and set aside.

3. Once pudding has set, remove from fridge and gently fold in the cool whip. Once combined, it's time to assemble the trifle!

4. Layer in the following order - Angel Food Cake, Fruit, Pudding mixture, Crushed butterfingers bar. Two layers, and whalah! Enjoy!

Peanut Butter S'mores Cookies

♥ Beginner

I've been posting so much "real food" lately, and have been neglecting the sweets. The baking side of me has felt neglected. When my daughter came into my room this morning and said, "mommy, why don't we ever do anything fun in the kitchen anymore?" it pushed me over the edge. So off the babies went to bed, and into the kitchen we went.

I had one last cup of marshmallow fluff left (it doesn't
conform to the No-Preservatives & No-Dye program that we're on), but I needed to use it up. We just happened to have these items on hand, so we got to work creating a new cookie that tastes awesoooommmmme. If you don't like s'mores, or peanut butter, we can't be friends anymore. :)

What you'll need:
1 Box of Ritz Crackers (or similar)
1 Jar of Peanut Butter
1 Jar of Marshmallow Cream
1 Package of Chocolate chips OR Chocolate Bark

How it's done: 
1. Lay your crackers flat on the counter, bottom side up. Put Peanut Butter on half of them (not too much!), and put marshmallow fluff on the other half. Careful to go very light on the marshmallow fluff because when it comes in contact with the warm chocolate it will try to leak out the sides!
2. Push each half together to form sandwiches!
3. Melt your chocolate! (According to package instructions.) And dip your sandwiches in them. Place on baking rack to cool.

(This is where the old me would have covered them in sprinkles or drizzled them with an alternating color candy melt, but since we've given up dyes I restrained myself. :))

Enjoy!!!

French Éclairs

♥♥♥ Advanced

If you've seen the Pate a Choux recipe, then you know where my inspiration for Éclairs came from. Aside from the fact that it's one of my absolute favorite desserts. My grandma makes them better than anyone (although, mine are prettier...ooooo!) and everyone requests hers when she's in town. However, these are a quick second, and are especially good when the pastry and chocolate are still warm. Seriously, try them warm with a cold Crème Patissiere... it will knock you off your feet. 

"I find it hard to disagree with the possibility that the height of luxury might not be an expensive car, a yacht in Monte Carlo, or a villa in Jamaica, but may instead be a really, really, really good chocolate eclair." -Andre K. Crump

What you'll need: 

Eclair Shells: 

* Pate A Choux Sucree (Cream Puff Dough) 

* 1 Egg, for the egg wash

* A pinch of Salt

Crème Patissiere

* 6 Egg Yolks

* 1/2 Cup Sugar

* 6 Tablespoons of Flour

* 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch

* 2 Cups of Milk

* 2 Tablespoons of Vanilla Extract

Chocolate Icing

* 10 oz. (1 1/4 Cup) Dark or Milk Chocolate 

* 3 Tablespoons Milk

* 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, cut into small pieces

* 4 Tablespoons Sugar

How it's done: 

Éclair Shells: 

1. Preheat the oven to 400*F, and butter a baking sheet. 

2. Using a 1/2 Inch Nozzle, pipe 3-4 inch long logs of Pate a Choux Dough on the sheet. Allow adequate spacing! 

3. In a bowl, beat the egg and salt to form a glaze. Brush the top of each log with the glaze. Use the back of a fork dipped in the egg wash to score the top of each log. Drag prongs lightly across the top of the logs length, creating rows of shallow lines. 

4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until light golden brown, and somewhat crisp, but not hard. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. 

Crème Patisseiere: 

1. In a bowl, whisk eggs and sugar together until they thicken and are pale yellow. Fold in the flour and cornstarch. 

2. In a saucepan, bring the milk to a low boil, then pour hot milk into the bowl of egg yolks. Stir well. Then pour mixture back into saucepan and heat to a boil. Lower heat and allow Crème to thicken, stirring regularly. When thickened, remove pan from heat, pour into a bowl and mix in vanilla extract. Cover the creme with parchment or saran wrap, which prevents a skin from forming on top, and chill to cool. 

Chocolate Icing: 

1. Slowly bring butter, sugar, and milk to a low boil in a saucepan, stirring continuously to make sure sugar dissolves. Add chocolate and remove from heat. Stir until chocolate has melted and icing is a smooth texture. Allow to cool some before using. 

To Assemble: 

1. Make a horizontal slice down the middle of the length of the Eclair shell. Pipe or spoon Creme Patissiere into the cavity of the Eclair shell. Top with the other half of the shell. Spoon the warm chocolate on top of the eclair, or dip the eclair into the frosting. 

Chocolate & Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

♥ Beginner

These are great to make around our house because even though we may be on the low side of groceries, we ALWAYS have the ingredients for no-bake cookies. I'm willing to bet that your home usually does too. I actually forget about no-bake cookies until my loving husband decides to make them. (This is sort of his thing in the kitchen!)

He got frustrated yesterday when he started pulling things out of the cabinet, determined to make something sweet for our family (thinking he could surprise me), when I asked "Whatcha makin'? No-Bake's?" His reply was an exasperated "How did you know?!"  - - I know everything. He should know that by now. 

If you don't love these little nuggets, there's something seriously wrong with you...

What you'll need: 

* 8 Tablespoons of Butter

* 1/2 Cup of Milk

* 2 Cups of Sugar

* 1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

* 4 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter

* 3 Cups of Oatmeal (Rolled or Quick Oats)

* 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

How it's done: 

1. Combine the Butter, Milk, & Sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil and boil for 1 minute. 

2. Remove mixture from heat, and stir in chocolate chips, peanut butter, & vanilla. Once fully melted, pour mixture over oats. Work quickly!  

3. Once combined, drop by the spoonful onto waxed paper and let cool & harden. 

You'll need to make about 4 batches of them, because they disappear SOOOOOO quickly!!

*Pictures are from www.browneyedbaker.com - Check her out, she's amazing too! 

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

♥ Beginner 


When it dawned on me that I didn't have a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe here on the blog, I knew I had to post one right away. I'm sure most everyone has a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, but for me it holds a special place in my heart. I can remember my mom baking cookies in the kitchen when I was just old enough to help her scoop dough onto the cookie sheet. My sister and I had so much fun scooping those lopsided little cookies. I imagine that most people have memories like that in the kitchen. 

This recipe is actually straight out of the Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook, it's the very recipe my own mom has used for years... well, until she discovered the Toll House scoop and bake cookie dough that is...

What you'll need: 

1/2 Cup Shortening
1/2 Cup Butter
1 Cup packed Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 1/2 Cups of All-Purpose Flour
2 Cups Chocolate Chips

How it's done: 

1. Preheat oven to 375*F. 

2. It's very important that your butter is room temperature or your cookies could go flat! Beat in large mixing bowl butter and shortening on high speen for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt and mix until combined. 

3. Beat in eggs & vanilla until combined (Note: Over-beating your eggs can make your cookies go flat as well, only beat until things are combined from here on out - or hand mix!) 

4. Add in flour and mix until combined.

5. Hand mix chocolate chips into batter. 

6. Drop by the tablespoon onto your non-stick cookie sheet two inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until edges are brown. Cool on wire rack. 

O-O-Oreo!

♥ Beginner

J and I just celebrated our 6th anniversary, so it's kind of fitting that I upload the one snack that we always seem to have around our house. Oreo's are one of J's favorite treats, and ever since we got married they seem to sort of just be one of those rotating treats that our house is only without between grocery trips. It dawned on me the other day that I could probably make them, for cheaper, than what we spend on them each year.  Honestly, I'm not sure if these were much cheaper since I used a cake mix, but they sure were yummy - and they might replace to usual blue package in the cabinet.

If you're wondering how good they are, then just know that once you make them you'll be so addicted!  And know also, that if you make them for a party or friends, people will beg you to bring them to every event there after.  It's a lot like the dark forrest cupcakes, you'll never hear the end of it from friends and family. 

What you'll need: 

• Chocolate cake mix (I used Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Dark Chocolate Fudge but you can use any chocolate cake mix) 
• 1 Cup of Chocolate Chips
• 1/2 Cup of Oil
• 2 Eggs
• 1/8 Cup Flour
• 1/4 Cup Shortening
• 1/4 Cup Butter (1 Stick) 
• 2 Cups of Sifted Powder Sugar (or more depending on desired consistency) 

How it's done: 

1. Preheat your oven to 350*F. 

2. Mix together Cake Mix, Eggs, Oil, and Flour. (Mixture will seem oily, but it's okay!) Add chocolate chips if you want them in the mix. 

3.  Using a teaspoon (it seems small, but it's perfect size, I promise) scoop out batter, form it into a ball and place on a cookie sheet.  Using the teaspoon guarantees that the cookies will be uniform in size. 

4. Bake for 9-11 Minutes. 

For the Oreo Cream: 

5. Cream the Shortening, and Butter in mixer.  

6. Slowly add the sifted powdered sugar, and mix until creamy.  

7. Once the cookies have cooled, pipe filling into onto one cookie and top with another cookie.  Whallah, Oreos!  O-O-Oreo, the right stuff!

Marshmallow Pops

♥ Beginner

I can guarantee that your kids will love these.  If they're old enough, they'll enjoy making them too.  These are an easy treat with a lot of pizzaz (and they look great at parties too!).

What you'll need: 

• 1 Bag of Marshmallows
• 1 Bag of Pretzel Sticks
• 1 Bag of Candiquik - Milk Chocolate (or Wilton Candy Melts) 
• Sprinkles

How it's done: 

1. Put a pretzel into each marshmallow about 3/4 of the way through.

2. Melt your chocolate in tall slender bowl.

3. Dip your marshmallows in the chocolate and then sprinkle with sprinkles.

4. Let harden on parchment paper on a cookie sheet.

Whallah!  A tasty treat that's easy and fun to make.

Pain Au Chocolat (Chocolate Bread)

♥ Beginner

If there's one thing I know, it's that the French have had a lot to do with the things that I love the most. Pastries.  I can give credit where credit is due.  Europe is notorious for bringing us some of our favorite little treats, and even occasionally some new treats as well.

This pastry has been around for a LONG time, but it's not one you'll commonly find in a bakery here in the U.S.A. I'm not sure if it's just too simple or what, but they are awesomely easy to make, and are super yummy - especially straight out of the oven!

In a sense, it's chocolate wrapped in a puff pastry covered in sugar.  My three favorite things in one treat! What's even better?  Only 4 ingredients!

What you'll need:

• Frozen Puff Pastry Sheets 
• 2 Cups Chocolate Chips
• 3 Tablespoons Butter
• 1/4 Cup Sugar

How it's done:

1. Defrost your puff pastry - roughly 40 minutes.

2. Preheat your oven to 500*F - They should go that high, but if yours doesn't just adjust the cooking time for longer as needed.

3. Roll out your puff pastry, and cut it into 12 equal squares. Place a few chocolate chips in the middle of each one, and roll them up!

4. Pinch the seams so they stay closed. Brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with sugar.

5. Place them on parchment on the cookie sheet, and bake for 5-7 minutes.  Until puffed and golden.

6. Serve and enjoy!

You could top them off with some powdered sugar, or a chocolate drizzle for an even better pastry but that's up for you.  I am also a fan of a raspberry drizzle if you're really in the mood for something special.

***You could use pre-made croissant dough if you were desperate but it wont taste as good!

Chocolate Mouse Raspberry Cups

♥ Beginner

Early this week, Jared and I attended a beautiful memorial service for some dear friends in our ward who passed away from Cancer.  It was a father and son, and the memorial was beautiful.  So positive and uplifting, and they are truly such an amazing family.

In an attempt to help some, I made a few desserts for the service and because I think they are so good I figured they should be shared. The best of which were these amazing mini-mouse cups! These are phyllo dough cups, with chocolate mouse, a raspberry, and shaved chocolate.

*FYI, these don't transport as well as I had hoped, so try and put them together wherever they will be consumed!

What you'll need:

• Chocolate Fudge Pudding Box
• 2 Cups of Milk
• 2 Cups of Cool Whip
• 1 Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Square
• 1 Cup of Raspberries
• 4 Boxes of Mini Phyllo Dough Cups (Found in the frozen pie crust section of the grocery store) 

How it's done:

1. While your Phyllo Dough cups defrost (just leave them in the box on the counter), mix up your milk and box of pudding.  Let it set in the refrigerator for 10 minutes until firm.

2. Once the pudding has set, gently fold in the cool whip. Re-refrigerate for ten more minutes.

3. Spoon the mouse into the Phyllo cups, and top with a raspberry.

4. Using a vegetable peeler, shave one of the chocolate squares over the mouse. Ready to serve!

Enjoy!

**You can also make your own phyllo cups if you want ones that are a bit larger (dessert size instead of bite size) by purchasing Phyllo dough, and cutting it into squares and baking it in muffin tins.

***You will have significantly more mouse than you will cups or raspberries.  This recipe will yield 60 mini cups, but you will have enough mouse for about 150. If you choose to make them all, you'll need more cups and more raspberries.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

♥ Beginner

I love chocolate covered pretzels.  They are a great snack to have on hand when you're desperate for some chocolate.  I actually had one of those days yesterday, but that's a different story.

With it being such a simple treat, I hardly need a post dedicated to it, but I hope I can help to make a few steps even simpler.

What you'll need:

• Melting Chocolates - Milk and White if you want the same kind as me! I like to use CandiQuik but there are several different brands that work.  You can also use chocolate chips, but lets be honest, that's not as easy and costs about the same amount. 
• 1 Tablespoon Shortening (Approximate) 
• 1 Bag of Pretzels 

How it's done:

1. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

2. Melt your milk chocolate in a tall thin container.

3. Dip each pretzel with a fork or pretzel dipper and then place it on the aluminum foil to dry. Repeat.

4. Melt the white chocolate and pour it into a ziplock bag.  Cut the tip, and drizzle it over the pretzels.

5. Let stand to dry, or refrigerate for ten minutes.

Enjoy!