S'mores Bars

This Super EASY recipe is perfect when you're in the mood for S'mores!

I almost prefer these over the campfire S'mores because they're even easier to make!

I love snacking on these.

This recipe goes in my "dangerously delicious" category!

Ingredients:
makes 20-24 bars

1 10 oz. bag mini marshmallows
1 12 oz. package semi sweet chocolate chips
5 Tbsp butter 
8 c Golden Graham cereal (one 12 oz. box)
1 tsp vanilla 

Instructions:

1. Place package of chocolate chips in the freezer to chill. Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan, set aside.
2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Once butter is melted, add in 5 cups of marshmallows and stir until almost completely melted. 
3. Stir in vanilla if desired. Remove from heat and transfer butter mixture to a large mixing bowl and add cereal, stirring to coat. 
4. Once cereal is coated, remove chocolate chips from freezer and add to cereal mixture. 
5. Also add in the remaining cup of marshmallows. Gently stir until evenly distributed.
6. Press cereal mixture into prepared baking pan. Cover and refrigerate until set. 
7. Turn out onto cutting board and cut into squares.  Keep stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator

Caramel Swirl Chocolate Chip Brownies

Call me crazy but I've never been big on Brownies.

My mom never made brownies for us growing up.

I honestly have no memories of 1 brownie.

I mostly remember cookies, pies and cake, from a box ;)

Anywho, so I wanted to make a brownie that I could really enjoy!

1st of all, has to be Homemade!

Brownies made from a mix is pretty boring to me.

2nd, Caramel sounded like a pretty good idea!

3rd, I like texture in my brownies 

so Chocolate chips was a must!

AND... this recipe is definitely a Winner!

It has everything I could love in a brownie!

It's more of a Fudgy brownie rather than a Cakey brownie...which I prefer!

Hope you Enjoy!

adapted from: That skinny chick can bake

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1/2 bag of milk chocolate chips
1/2 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 ounce bag caramels, unwrapped
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 cup semi sweet mini chocolate chips, to sprinkle on top


Instructions:

1. Melt 1 c butter, 1/2 bag milk chocolate chips and 1/2 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips in a microwave (mine took 1 min 45 sec, stirring inbetween).
2. Add 1 1/2 c sugar, 4 eggs and 2 tsp vanilla to chocolate mixture.
3. Fold in 1 1/4 c flour and 1/2 tsp salt.
4. Pour 1/2 of batter in 9" x 13" baking pan lined with nonstick foil.
5. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.
6. Before brownies are done baking, Melt caramels and 1/3 c heavy cream in the microwave in 30 sec intervals.
7. When brownies are finished baking, pour melted caramel sauce onto brownies.
8. Pour remaining brownie batter on top. (brownie batter will be a little thick, but just carefully swirl into the warm caramel sauce which will help it spread easier.)
9. Sprinkle on top with 1 c of chocolate chips.
10. Bake in 350 degree oven for additional 20 minutes.
11. After cooled, refrigerate for easy/clean cutting.

Melt 1 c butter, 1/2 bag milk chocolate chips and 1/2 bag of 

semi sweet chocolate chips (mine took 1 min 45 sec).

Add 1 1/2 c sugar, 4 eggs and 2 tsp vanilla.

Fold in 1 1/4 c flour and 1/2 tsp salt.

Pour 1/2 of batter in 9" x 13" baking pan lined with nonstick foil.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Before brownies are done baking, Melt caramels and 

1/3 c heavy cream in the microwave in 30 sec intervals.

When brownies are finished baking, pour melted caramel sauce onto brownies.

Pour remaining brownie batter on top.

(remaining brownie batter will be a little thick, but just carefully swirl 
into the warm caramel sauce which will help it spread easier.)

Sprinkle on top with 1 c of chocolate chips.

Bake in 350 degree oven for additional 20 minutes.

After cooled, refrigerate for easy/clean cutting.

Pumpkin KISS Brownie Bites

I'm really excited about this recipe!

I am cuh-Razy about pumpkin when Fall rolls around.

Pumpkin cookies, Pumpkin bread, Pumpkin cupcakes...etc.

I've been wanting to try those Pumpkin Spice KISSES for a long time now.

AND

HOLY COW, they are delicious!

I decided to try combining a batch of 

Chocolate Chunk Brownie mix, can of Pumpkin and Pumpkin Kisses.

And there couldn't be a better combo for Fall Baking!

These are so delicious and there so MINI you can enjoy more than one.

This recipe is used without oil and eggs, allowing it to be LESS FAT!

Pumpkin is used instead of oil and eggs to give you a small healthy kick 

in these Brownie Bites!

This recipe is SIMPLE, DELICIOUS and LOW FAT!

Ingredients:
makes 44-48 bites

Betty Crocker Chocolate Chunk Brownie mix
1/4 c water
1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree
4 dozen Pumpkin Spice KISSES (1 bag will be enough)

Instructions:

1. Mix Chocolate Chunk Brownie mix, 1/4 c water and 1 can of pumpkin puree. Mix until well blended.
2. Scoop batter into mini muffin pan, about 2/3 full.
3. Bake in 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.
4. While brownie bites are baking, unwrap about 4 dozen Kisses, place in refrigerator until done baking.
5. After done baking, immediately place 1 pumpkin spice KISS into each brownie bite, facing down.
6. Allow Brownie bites to cool for 3-4 minutes. 
7. Remove from pan and why the heck wait, eat immediately! They MELT in your mouth!

 Mix Chocolate Chunk Brownie mix, 1/4 c water and 1 can of pumpkin puree.

 Mix until well blended.

Scoop batter into mini muffin pan, about 2/3 full. 

Bake in 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.

While brownie bites are baking, unwrap about 4 dozen Kisses, place in refrigerator until done baking.

After done baking, immediately place 1 pumpkin spice KISS into each 

brownie bite, facing down.

Allow Brownie bites to cool for 3-4 minutes. 

Remove from pan and why the heck wait, eat immediately! They MELT in your mouth!

 

Mounds Brownie Cake

This dessert is a brownie and a cake because it's so moist but it's thick enough to be a brownie! 

DO NOT BE AFRAID of this brownie cake.  This yummy, healthy, flourless dessert is as healthy as it gets.  The avocado and black beans make it really moist and thick.  You're getting your fiber and healthy fats in this delicious Chocolately, Coconut Brownie Cake! 

If you're a fan of MOUNDS candy, you will love this dessert!

Ingredients:

1 can reduced sodium Black Beans

3 eggs

1/3 c ripe avocado (almost 1 avocado)

1/2 c sugar (I used stevia)

1/4 c cocoa powder

pinch of salt

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 c mini chocolate chips + more for sprinkling

3/4 c shredded sweetened coconut

Instructions:

1. Beat 1 can of Black Beans.
2. Add 1/3 c of avocado.
3. Add 3 eggs, 1 c sugar, 1/4 c cocoa powder, pinch salt and 2 tsp vanilla extract. Mix well.
4. Fold in 1/2 c mini chocolate chips
5. Pour batter in greased 8x8" square dish.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Bake 30-35 minutes.
7. Sprinkle 3/4 c coconut and mini chocolate chips.  
8. Stick in oven for 2-3 extra minutes to melt the chocolate chips.

Instructions with pictures

Beat 1 can of Black Beans.

I used my wire whip attachment with my kitchenaid

Or you can use a food processor.

Add 1/3 c of avocado to bowl.

Add 3 eggs, 1 c sugar, 1/4 c cocoa powder, pinch salt and 2 tsp vanilla extract.

Mix all together.  

Now doesn't that look delicious! 

Add 1/2 c mini chocolate chips.

Pour batter in greased 8x8" square dish.

Preheat oven to 350.  Bake 30-35 minutes.

Sprinkle coconut and mini chocolate chips.  Stick back in oven for 2-3 extra minutes!

Dig in, cause it is so moist and chocolatey when it comes out!

I kept mine in the fridge to keep it moist.  It was gone in 2 days!  I love this dessert! And my husband loves it too!

Homemade Granola Bars

I've always wanted to make my own granola bars.  This recipe is so easy.  You will most likely have all the ingredients (which I love, save those pennies!).  You can add whatever you want to spice up your granola bars-- nuts, raisins, m&m's etc.  Have fun with it!

Get excited!

Here's what you'll need.

Dry Ingredients: Mix, 1 c Oat flour (I used regular oats and blended it in a blender), 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.

Wet Ingredients: Blend 2 T butter and 1/2 c brown sugar FIRST, then add 1 egg, 1/4 c honey, 1/4 c applesauce and 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract.  Blend together.

Add dry ingredients (including 2 cups of quick oats) to wet ingredients .  This is the fun part-- Add what you want to your mixture. I added mini chocolate chips, pecans and coconut (1/2 c each)! That's what I had in my food pantry :)

Stir by hand all ingredients together. 

I wanted to grab a fatty spoon and eat it right out of the bowl! 

Grab a 9"x9" baking dish, Cover with Parchment Paper.  Spray inside with cooking spray.

Now, fill dish with granola mixture and press down firmly. Put in 350 degree oven for 23 minutes!

The kitchen smelled so heavenly while it was baking. 

Let it cool in dish for 20 minutes then take out of dish and let it completely cool on cooling rack.

These are insanely good!  I plan on cutting these bars in half because they are quite filling! This was the perfect snack after my workout today!

You can find the full recipe HERE.