I am late to the #ChocolateParty this month, but I am still here! How could I miss out on an excuse to make something with chocolate? This month the challenge was to pair chocolate with buttermilk. I love baking with buttermilk, it gives a great flavor and leaves everything so tender and moist. Muffins are always a hit here, and my freezer was actually empty of them, so I decided to do a chocolate chip muffin using buttermilk.
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On Friday I shared with you my Dark Chocolate Mint Cupcakes that are part of a competition with Nestle. When they asked me to create something for them, I actually created two chocolate treats. This is the other recipe I tested. I was really happy when caramel was selected as the ingredient for this months #chocolateparty, because then I had a reason to share them with you right away!
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Posted in Desserts
Tagged brownies, caramel, chocolate, chocolateparty, fudgy brownies, salted caramel, salted caramel brownies
Most of January I tried to be good. I only gave you one dessert all month, and that was my birthday cake. So I think it is about time I shared a sinful chocolate treat. Just in time for the February #ChocolateParty too! This month the secret ingredient for the #chocolateparty was….chocolate! That is correct, everyone participating made a “double chocolate” treat. Pretty heavenly, right?
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Seems like forever since the last #chocolateparty, but it has only been a month! Maybe because I made my December edition early in November, I was just so excited for mint and chocolate together! This month has proven harder for me though. This month the theme is coconut. See, I don’t like coconut. There in lies the problem. But I got creative, and these granola bars are awesome!
I may not like coconut, but I do like using coconut oil. Not sure if it is a texture thing or what, but I just can’t do shredded coconut. I have made granola bars using coconut oil in the past, but they needed to be done again. And healthier, and better.
If you do like coconut, adding shredded coconut to these would be a great edition. Or chopped nuts, if that’s how you role. I decided I needed to get rid of the mini marshmallow bites that were in my pantry, so I added those. Not very many though, only 1/4 of a cup, so I am still going to consider these good for you. My son has already had 2 of them today, he loves them!
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It is time for the #ChocolateParty! Do you know what the #ChocolateParty is? The first Monday of each month we post a recipe that uses chocolate, and a themed ingredient we are given. For November Roxana challenged us with cranberries. Last month it was pumpkin. If you are interested in joining, just let Roxana know!
I am not a huge fan of cranberries, so I wasn’t sure what to do for this month. But then I remembered dried cranberries, those I do like. I was in the mood for chocolate chip cookies, so I figured this was the time to play with cranberries to see what I could come up with. These cookies are based on the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe I have been making for ever. I swapped out the regular chocolate chips for white chocolate. I added in the cranberries, and decided to change up the extract to almond extract. I love almond extract, but have never used it in cookies like this before.
These were a huge hit. I brought them to my sons school, and the teachers loved them. They were soft, chewy, and the almond extract worked really well with the white chocolate and cranberries. They definitely were a fun twist on the regular chocolate chip cookie. Don’t miss all the other great recipes the group made below. Next month we will be back with chocolate and mint for the holidays!
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It is finally October!! I have been waiting for this for a few weeks now. As soon as the temperatures started to cool, I was in the mood for pumpkin. But I didn’t want to share it with you until October hit. In my head September is reserved for apples. So not only am I giving you pumpkin today, but it is also #ChocolateParty time!
This is a fun group to be a part of. The first Monday of the month we share a chocolate recipe that incorporates a themed ingredient, this month pumpkin, last month apples. Want to join? Check out all the info here!
So to kick off the pumpkin season I made hot chocolate. I will admit I was a little skeptical about this recipe. I love chocolate and pumpkin together, but in a drink I wasn’t sure how it would be. Well….it was amazing! I seriously could not get enough of it! The pumpkin is definitely present, but it is in the background. The cinnamon with the chocolate is just so soothing, and perfect for a hot drink.
I made this when my 7 year old (the other pumpkin fan in the family), was at school. I did save him a glass for when he got home. I didn’t tell him what it was, just hot chocolate. He took one sip, got a big smile on his face, and said “Pumpkin Hot Chocolate!” He loved it, and drank all of it. Which for him is impressive, I usually make him just a small glass, and he doesn’t finish it. So this is a must make this fall!
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Posted in Drinks
Tagged chocolateparty, cinnamon, drinks, flavored hot chocolate, hot chocolate, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice
