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Posts Tagged ‘brownie recipe’

These brownies are another one of my favorite creations that are made using a simple store-bought mix.   The macadamia nuts kick these brownies up a notch!

Ingredients:
1 package store brought brownie mix (+ eggs & oil)
1/3 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Prepare the brownie batter according to the package directions.  Then fold in the macadamia nuts and chocolate chips.  Spread the batter evenly in a 9" x 9" square cake pan.  Set aside and make topping.

Topping:
3 oz softened cream cheese
2 Tbsp. softened butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp flour
1 egg
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (Guittard are my favorite)
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1/3 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Cream together the sugar with the cream cheese, butter, and flour.  Mix in the egg.  Then add the chocolate chips, coconut, and macadamia nuts stirring until well combined.  Spoon the topping mixture over the brownie batter distributing as evenly as you can. Bake at brownies at 350 degrees F for 35 - 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean and the topping is golden brown. Cool and cut into squares.

If you're a fan of coconut macadamia nut brownies, then you'll definitely want to check out these other popular cookies.

If you love chocolate and cheesecake, you might find cream cheese swirled brownies just as delicious.  These yummy little morsels are great when they are served warm from the oven or heated slightly in the microwave.  They're just as easy as making cookies, but much more unique. Add a steaming cup of coffee and you are all set!

How To Make Them:

Buy a package of your favorite brownie mix and prepare the batter according to the directions on the box.  Then spread 1/2 the batter in the bottom of a 9" x 13" rectangular baking dish or cake pan.

Cream Cheese Swirl Ingredients:

6 oz. cream cheese, softened
5 Tbsp. butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. flour

Using a hand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar until well blended.  Then add the eggs and vanilla mixing well.  Finally mix in the flour until the entire cream cheese swirl mixture is smooth.  Drop the batter by teaspoonfuls over the pan of brownie batter.  Then pour the remaining half of the brownie mixture on top spreading evenly.  Using a knife held vertically, run the knife through the batter/cream cheese to create swirl patterns.  Bake the brownies according to the directions on the outside of the box (normally 350 degF for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean). Cool slightly and cut into squares for serving to guests.

If you love brownies, cookies and other desserts, check out the winter wishes dessert basket that is filled with all those goodies and more!

I LOVE the combination of peanut butter and chocolate... I guess that is why I'm such a fan of Reese's peanut butter cup candy.  A creamy layer of peanut butter sits between the rich chocolate frosting and brownies on these bars. This recipe is made in a jellyroll pan using 2 packages of brownies so they are a great choice for feeding a crowd at a family get-together or church potluck.

Bake 2 packages of brownies in a 15" x 10" jelly roll pan as directed on the brownie mix package. Upon removing the brownies from the oven, immediately spread an 18 ounce container of chunky or creamy peanut butter on top of them (personally I like creamy Jif peanut butter the best).  Cool the brownies with peanut butter completely.  I recommend placing them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

Chocolate Frosting
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup milk
10 large marshmallows
1/4 cup cocoa
1 package powdered sugar (16 oz)

In a large saucepan, melt together the butter, milk and marshmallows over low-medium heat stirring constantly until smooth. Remove the saucepan from heat and whisk in the cocoa powder. Then using a hand mixer, add the powdered sugar a little at a time and beat until the frosting is smooth and has a spreadable consistency. Spread the chocolate frosting over the peanut butter layer. Place the jellyroll pan of brownies back in the refrigerator and cool an additional 20 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.

My NOTES: If you microwave the peanut butter on 50% power for 2 minutes and then stir it vigorously, it will spread on the brownies much easier!

As I wake-up to a thick layer of frost on the ground this morning, I am once again reminded that camping season is over and that means no more sitting aside the campfire making delicious chocolate treats (S'mores) with our kids.  Truth be told, I think I like to eat them even more than they do!  When winter rolls around our house, we turn to these brownies to get our S'mores fix (at least until February and March when the girl scouts go door-to-door selling the real deal).

What You'll Need:

1 package brownie mix (& the ingredients to make the brownies)
2/3 cup chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
6 full sheets of regular graham crackers (broken into quarters)

Mix and bake the brownie mix as directed on the package (in a 9"x13" pan if possible).  Upon removing brownies from the oven, immediately sprinkle them with the chocolate chips and miniature marshmallows while the brownies are still hot.  Then place them back in the oven for about a minute so the chocolate melts and marshmallows melt slightly....CAUTION....keep your eyes on the brownies because the marshmallows can easily burn at this point. Remove from the oven and lightly press a layer of graham crackers on top the melty marshmallows to form s'mores.  Cut the brownies into squares following the lines of the graham crackers.

MY NOTES - If you aren't planning to eat these brownies the same day they are made, you may want to skip putting on the graham crackers and do that as you serve the individual brownies in the days to come.  Otherwise the graham crackers can get soft from the moisture and they aren't as good in my humble opinion.  They good eaten quickly in our house and when I bring them to family celebrations so I almost always put the graham crackers on top right away.  These are the perfect after school cookies for kids.

Looking for more of a challenge? Try baking s'mores cupcakes! They're delicious and just as tasty.

As a Mom, I love to make treats for my kids, but using my time efficiently is a must.  Therefore, I've taken to using brownie and cake mixes as a base for some of my favorite dessert recipes.  Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some of my favorite brownie recipes where I use boxes of Ghirardelli chocolate brownies as the main ingredient.  It is no surprise that rocky road brownies are a favorite of mine since I have loved rocky road ice cream ever since I was a kid.  We used to buy Schwann's Rocky Road in 5 quart pails every Friday at my house. Yummy!

Ingredients:

1 brownie mix (store bought 19.8 oz)
1 cup chopped pecans
3 cups mini marshmallows
2 squares of unsweetened chocolate (1 oz each)
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 package powdered sugar (16 oz)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Mix the chocolate brownies according to the directions on the box.  Mix in the 1 cup of chopped pecans. Then evenly spread the batter in a greased pan and bake for 25 minutes (use the pan size, baking time, and oven temperature recommended on the box). Remove from brownies from the oven. Immediately sprinkle the miniature marshmallows over the hot brownies so they melt a bit. Cool.

In a heavy saucepan or double boiler, melt the chocolate, milk and butter together until combined, stirring constantly. Remove the melted chocolate mixture from the heat and add the vanilla, mix well. Add the powdered sugar to the chocolate mixture a little at a time, mixing with a hand mixer on low speed, until the frosting is the desired consistency for spreading. Spread over the cooled, marshmallow topped brownies. Cool and cut into bars.  I suggest heating them a bit in the microwave when you serve them to guests so that the marshmallows get a little gooey.  And a scoop of ice cream on top never hurts the presentation!

If you have some downtime some day, or want to make the gift of brownie mix, try this recipe for homemade jar mixes.

If you want to make the popular dessert known as brownies, you've found the right place. This recipe is known to make some of the best brownies from scratch!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sifted cake flour

• 1/2 cup sifted unsweetened cocoa
• 1/4 pound butter
• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
• 2 eggs
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup pecans

Directions:

Sift the flour and cocoa together. Cream the butter and gradually add the brown sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and salt, mixing well. Add the cocoa mixture alternately with the milk.

Stir in the vanilla and pecans. Pour into a greased 8 inch square pan.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares before cooling. Makes about 25.

If you want to take your brownies to the limit, try these other amazing unique brownie recipes.

• 1 box of brownie mix (preferably the kind with the extra package of syrup)
• 12 blue M&M's

Follow directions on the box for preparing the brownie batter.

1. After you have prepared the batter and poured it into the baking pan, hide about 15 M&M's inside the batter (the cook can then eat the rest of them).
2. Bake brownies following the package instructions.

Cut and serve.