Fourteen Valentines Desserts!

Maybe you're hosting a party for valentines day, or maybe you're staying in alone. Either way, your taste buds deserve a sweet treat for the special day, right?

 Here are 14 recipes to help you switch things up for the holiday, and to have some fun along the way.

Bars:
1. Chewy Cocoa Brownies (pictured above)
2. Chewy Peanut Butter Bars (pictured below)
3. Chocolate Rice Crispy Bars (a favorite of my family for years)







Cakes:
4. Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake
5. German Chocolate Cake
6. Heavenly Angel Food Cake (pictured above)
7. Simple Ice Cream Cake





Candies:
8. Angel Food Candy
9. Coconut Joys
10. Foolproof Fudge
11. Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites (pictured above)





Cookies:
12. Brownie Biscotti (pictured above)
13. Dark Chocolate Chip Comfort Cookies (these are amazing! Too bad I no long eat peanut butter or gluten.)

Misc. 
14. Homemade Eclairs 


Have a great Valentines day, and make sure to enjoy some treats with your loved ones!

-Bethany

Recipe: Gluten Free/Egg Free Chocolate Cupcakes

Pretty? No. Tasty? YES. 

I as so happy that the first gluten free recipe that I tried turned out to be a success! I know that these cupcakes are going to be one that I come back to again and again.

My sister and I are attempting the gluten free diet together, starting a few days ago. If you have any favorite gluten free recipes, I'd love to give them a try!

Gluten Free/Egg Free Chocolate Cupcakes
1 cup brown rice flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
In a medium size bowl mix up the flour, xanthan gum, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and chocolate chips (if using). 
In another, smaller bowl, stir together the wet ingredients. Add to the dry ingredients and mix just until moistened.
Scoop batter into twelve paper lined muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Original recipe found HERE.

Notes: The texture was a bit grainy. The taste was awesome, sort of like a brownie (since I am not used to eating gluten free, you can know that it really was good). They didn't come out of the wrappers the best and sunk in the middle - not the prettiest. They are delicious without chocolate chips, but all the better with them.



I hope you enjoy them as much as I am!

-Bethany

Recipe: Peanut Butter Smores*

I just found out that today is National Smores Day. 

To celebrate the day, I am sharing with you a recipe that I wanted to share for a while... peanut butter smores!

Peanut Butter Smores

1 Graham Cracker

1 teaspoon peanut butter

About a dozen chocolate chips

1 marshmallow

Break cracker in half. Place one half on a microwavable plate, then spread the peanut butter on top and place the marshmallow on top of that. Microwave for about 10 seconds, until the marshmallow is puffed up a bit. Remove from microwave and throw the chocolate chips on top, then place the other half of the cracker on top of that. Then enjoy the peanut buttery deliciousness!

Happy Smores day!

-Bethany

Recipe: German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake
1/2 cup boiling water
4 ounces sweet cooking German chocolate
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk, or 1 tablespoon vinegar and enough milk to make 1 cup. Let sit for 5 minutes before adding to batter
4 egg whites , stiffly beaten

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
   Beat egg whites until stiff.
2. In a bowl, pour boiling water on chocolate, stirring until chocolate is melted; cool. Mix sugar and butter in large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs yolk, one at a time. Beat in chocolate and vanilla on low speed.
   Mix flour, baking soda and salt together.
3. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk, beating after each addition until batter is smooth. Fold in egg whites. Pour into 3 greased 8 inch round cake pans.
4. Bake 35-40 minutes.

   
   

   Recipe found HERE.

   Find my cupcake version of the recipe HERE.

   
   

   
   

   Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect; it means you decided to look beyond the imperfections.
   
   
   -Bethany

Recipe: Double Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

 These cookies were delicious. The dough log crumbled when I made them, so I ended up just packing them together, but they were good anyway. I recommend trying them!

Double Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips 

Preheat oven to 325.
Mix the flour, sugar, and cocoa powder in a food processor, pulsing to combine well, or with a beaters.
Drop in the butter and vanilla and pulse or beat until the mixture just comes together. 
Stir in the chocolate chips and turn the dough out onto a board and form into an 8" log. 
Wrap it in waxed or parchment paper and twist both ends to secure.  Refrigerate for at least an hour, or overnight.  Or freeze the dough for later use.
Slice the log into 1/2" slices with a sharp knife.
Put on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in the center of the oven at 325 for 12 to 15 minutes.  They will feel slightly soft, careful not to over bake them.
Cool for a few minutes on the pan and then transfer to a rack.
Makes about 12-14 cookies.


Recipe found HERE.




Love is life's greatest happiness.


-Bethany

Recipe: Chocolate Rice Crispy Bars

Anything that has chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and peanut butter in it is bound to be yummy. 

Chocolate Rice Crispy Bars

1 cup sugar

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup peanut butter

6 cups rice crispies

1 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup chocolate chips

In a large saucepan bring sugar and syrup to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in peanut butter until melted. Stir in cereal and spread into a greased 9x13 pan. melt butterscotch and chocolate chips in the microwave or over a double boiler. Spread on top.

Eat and enjoy!

Personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a checklist of acquisition or achievement. Your qualifications are not your life.

J.K. Rolling

--Bethany

Recipe: Brownie Biscotti

Brownie Biscotti: step by step photos.

Brownie Biscotti

• 1/3 cup butter
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
• 1 beaten egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon water

1. Pre-heat oven to 375° F. Beat butter until soft and add sugar and baking powder. Beat in eggs and vanilla, add cocoa and as much flour as you can by mixer and the rest by hand when the dough becomes too stiff. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Divide dough into two equal parts. Shape into 9 x 2 x 1 inch loaves. Place on a baking sheet 4 inches apart. Brush with mixture of water and yolk. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool on sheet for 30 minutes. Cut loaves into 1/2" thick slices diagonally. Lay cut side down and bake at 350°F  for 15 minutes. Turn over and bake other side for 10 to 15 minutes until dry. Cool. Store in airtight container.

Found HERE.

It was extra delicious dipped in coffee!


The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.
-James Oppenheim


--Bethany

Recipe: German Chocolate Cupcakes

German Chocolate Cupcakes
1/4 cup boiling water
2 ounces sweet cooking German chocolate or 6 tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons oil and 1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup applesauce
2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk, or 1/2 tablespoon vinegar and enough milk to make 1/2 cup. Let sit for 5 minutes before adding to batter
2 egg whites , stiffly beaten

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
   Beat egg whites until stiff.
2. In a bowl, pour boiling water on chocolate (or mix oil, cocoa and tablespoon sugar, then add boiling water), stirring until chocolate is melted; cool. Mix sugar and butter in large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs yolk, one at a time. Beat in chocolate and vanilla on low speed.
   Mix flour, baking soda and salt together.
3. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk, beating after each addition until batter is smooth. Fold in egg whites. Pour into silicone cupcake wrappers.
4. Bake for about 15 minutes. Makes about 20 cupcakes.

Find the original recipe HERE.




The discovery of a new dish does more for human happiness than the discovery of a new star.
-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin


--Bethany

Recipe: Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake

Find the recipe HERE.

 "Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response."
- Mildred Barthel

--Bethany

Recipe: Chewy Cocoa Brownies

This is my favorite brownie recipe... I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do!

First, melt some butter..

...then add sugar...

...cream together and add eggs...

...beat...

...then add the dry ingredients...

...and beat again...

...pour into a baking pan...

...and bake them.

Chewy Cocoa Brownies

1 2/3 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted

2 tablespoons water

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
Combine granulated sugar, butter and water in large bowl. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; stir into sugar mixture. Stir in nuts (if using). Spread into prepared baking pan.
Bake for 18 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

Recipe found HERE

Happiness is the art of never holding in your mind the memory of any unpleasant thing that has passed."

Anonymous 

--Bethany

Recipe: Chocolate Whoopie Pies

Woopie pies have become one of my favorite things to bake. I love how fluffy and delicious they are... I love making a variety of frosting to place in the center... I love finding two that are matching in size, like a game of memory... whoopie pies are great. 

Chocolate Whoopie Pies

• 1 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons oil (or 6 tablespoons applesauce)
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons milk

1. Preheat oven to 425. Lightly coat cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
   In a mixing bowl, beat sugar and oil until crumbly. Add eggs and beat well. In separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
   Gradually beat flour mixture into sugar mixture. Add milk and mix together well.
   With lightly lightly floured hands, roll dough into 1 1/2" balls. Place balls 2" apart onto cookie sheets.Flatten balls slightly with bottom of lightly greased flat-bottom glass.
   Bake at 425 for 5-6 minutes or until tops are cracked. Cool for 3 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool.
   Fill with frosting of your choice and serve.

Everybody wants happiness, but no one wants pain,
but you can't have a rainbow without a little rain.
(not sure who wrote it)


--Bethany

Recipe: Quick Chocolate Cupcakes

   My favorite chocolate cupcakes. (and they're vegan, too!)

Quick Chocolate Cupcakes
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/4 cup oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 18 muffin cups with paper wrappers. In bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add liquid ingrediants, beat until batter is smooth. Fill muffin cups. Bake 16-18 minutes.

Makes about 1 1/2 dozen.



"The happiest person is the person who thinks the most interesting thoughts."
Timothy Dwight 

--Bethany

Recipe from Hershey's 100th Anniversary cookbook.

Recipe: Cake pops

Thus far I have only made Cake Pops twice... but I look forward to making them many more times in the future... they are so fun to make, cute to look at and delicious!

I don't know how I forgot to take a picture of them once we made them into balls... but I did. Oops.

Cake Pops
1 box cake mix
1 16 oz. can frosting
Pretzel sticks
Dipping Chocolate


Bake cake mix according to directions. When cooled, cut into sections then crumble into a large bowl. Add frosting and mix. Shape into balls and stick pretzel sticks into them. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and freeze until firm. Melt chocolate and dip.

Find Bakerella's directions for making these HERE. And be sure to check out all of her other adorable pops, too!

I am posting this today in honor of Cake Pop day.



"Stop searching. Happiness is right next to you."
Anonymous 

--Bethany