Christmas Archives - Inside BruCrew Life

Chocolate Mint Cookies

January 13, 2013 47 Comments

Chocolate Mint Cookies using cake mix

I know Christmas is long gone, but you want another chocolate mint cookie recipe right?

This week I worked on cleaning out some of the cupboards in our kitchen. I organized my baking liners and drink mixes, got rid of extra plates and cups we don’t use, and looked through my baking supplies. Turns out I am a baking supply hoarder.

I stopped looking through that particular cupboard after I counted 15 bags of different baking chips. It was easier just to shove it all back in and close the door. That cupboard is scheduled for clean out on another day because I don’t think I really want to know how many bags of chips, marshmallows, and cake mixes I have accumulated.

Chocolate Mint Cookies using cake mix

This chocolate mint cookie uses a cake mix up and some of the baking chips that fell out when I opened the cupboard door. Apparently I overbought on the Christmas baking chips this year because I still had 2 bags left of the mint and dark chocolate pieces. Every time I went to Walmart, I felt the need to buy a few bags of Christmas baking chips, so now it is quite possible that I am stocked for Christmas 2013.

Who am I kidding?

If I don’t bake with them, chances are very possible that I will eat them when I am craving chocolate like a mad lady at midnight! Anyone else do this???

Now I am really hoping that some of you crazy bakers have the same problem as me because this is one cake mix cookie you need in your life. And I am talking like now…as in right this very minute. Don’t do another thing today until you have this cookie in your oven. You will thank me later…or curse me when you can’t button your pants. Either way…you’re welcome.

Chocolate Mint Cookies using cake mix

This chocolate mint cookie is kind of a cheater.

It starts with a cake mix, but by the time it comes out of the oven, you will not recognize it as cake anymore. These taste like a deep fried Oreo, minus all the fat from frying, if you eat them right from the oven. It was so super chocolate-y and divine that I was glad I had someone else to give them too.

The thought crossed my mind that I should just hide these from everyone and make something else to give. But my tight jeans reminded me why that wasn’t such a good idea. Curse you holiday bulge!!!

Chocolate Mint Cookies using cake mix

If you make these chocolate mint cookies (AND you definitely should) I want you to know that I hold no responsibility for the tight pants that will come from eating the whole batch. Now I know I just told you to bake these before anything else today, BUT I don’t recommend making these cookies if no one is home with you. You will probably want to eat all of them…at least hide them in the back of the kitchen closet for your midnight raids.

Or you could freeze the leftovers like I did. I enjoyed the last two before I went to bed last night.
Just pop the bag in the microwave for 10-20 seconds, and it’s like they are fresh from the oven.

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Chocolate Mint Cookies

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Yield: 36 cookies

Chocolate Mint Cookies

Easy chocolate mint cookies from a cake mix.

Ingredients

1 chocolate cake mix (

8 Tablespoons butter, melted

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups mint Oreo cookie chunks

1/2 c. chocolate and mint chips

Instructions

Whisk together the butter, egg, cream cheese, and vanilla. Add half of the cake mix and mix well. Add the other half of the cake mix and cookie chunks and mix again. Stir in the chocolate mint pieces by hand.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Roll dough into 1 or 1 1/2 inch balls. Place on un-greased baking sheet or a Silpat. Bake at 350* for 9 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in a covered container for 4-5 days. Makes 36 cookies.

Notes

If you can't find the chocolate and mint baking chips, you can substitute the Andes mint baking chips.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2013/01/chocolate-mint-cookies/

Shared with: Sugar & Slice, Mop It Up, Mealtime, Mix it Up, Craftomaniac, Bulletin Board, Show My Your Plaid, Open Call, Tasteful Tuesday, Totally Tasty, What’s In Your Kitchen, Round Up, Adorned From Above, Treasures, Taste and Tell, Chic & Crafty,

Filed Under: Christmas, Cookies & Whoopie Pies, seasonal Tagged With: chocolate, mint

Peppermint Snowball Cookies

December 27, 2012 32 Comments

Yesterday we had our first big snow storm of the season. Some parts of the state were under a blizzard warning. I am so glad we only got about 4 inches of the white stuff.

Want to know a secret? I don’t like snow. Oh, I don’t mind it one day a year when I can watch it coming down from inside my window. Sooner or later though I have to leave our warm cozy house and head to the store for groceries. There are others in my house who get grumpy when we don’t have real food for dinner [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, Cookies & Whoopie Pies, seasonal Tagged With: candy cane topped cookies, cookie recipes, dessert recipes, mint cookies, shortbread cookie, sweet recipes

Peppermint Kiss Popcorn Munch

December 21, 2012 14 Comments

Today I am joining a wonderful group of blog friends in Cookies & Crafts for Sandy Hook. (I know I’m stretching it slightly by calling this an edible craft:-) This past week I was reminded again of how fragile our life on Earth is. God has given us a precious gift in our children. We love and serve them every day without thinking. My heart breaks as I think of how much hurt those parents must be feeling right now. How can me posting a tribute help them? It can’t, but it can let them know we are in this together. We will continue to pray for them in the coming weeks. My prayer for the parents is that they rest in the faith that we have a great and loving God who wants us to lean on Him in times of hurt and despair. He is greater than any fear or hurt we can experience. His love covers all! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, Featured, Rice Krispie Treats & Popcorn, seasonal Tagged With: chocolate covered popcorn, dessert recipes, hershey's candy cane kisses, peppermint M&M's, peppermint marshmallows, peppermint popcorn, sweet popcorn, sweet recipes

Chocolate Chip Candy Cane Fudge

December 16, 2012 40 Comments

I know by now everyone has heard about the horrific tragedy that took place in CT on Friday. My heart has been breaking as I pulled my kiddos a little bit closer to my side this weekend. I found myself noticing the little things that I normally take for granted. A few more hugs and “I love you’s” were given as we spent the weekend together! To lose a child in such a way is beyond my comprehension. We can’t even imagine the pain and agony the parents and families are feeling right now. My hope and prayer is that they will know that there are so many other families and communities lifting them up in prayer right now.

We did talk about it with out kids and explained some of what happened, so we could pray together as a family for the community in Newtown. Their eyes were wide with concern as they struggled to understand why someone would do such a thing. There is nothing we can do physically to prevent these things from happening, but we can hold tight to the fact that we are loved by an almighty Father in Heaven who loves us and has a plan, even when we can’t comprehend how something like this fits into that plan. Life on earth is fragile and fleeting. Take time each day to enjoy your families, to find joy in the midst of trials, and to love a little bit more. I know I will!!!

This holiday season we have been trying a new holiday tradition. We wanted to do more things as a family, and in light of the recent events, I believe it is a tradition that we will be doing again. We have 12 days of Christmas planned for our kids. They were excited when we told them about it…mainly because they thought it was 12 days of gifts for them. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, Fudge and Candy, seasonal Tagged With: candy cane fudge, candy cane jello, chocolate chip fudge, dessert recipes, fudge recipes, sweet recipes

Marshmallow Frosty Hats and a Lisa Leonard necklace Giveaway

December 13, 2012 33 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I love to wear hats in the cold weather. Curly hair does limit what types of hats I can wear though. Most times I end up with bad hat hair for the rest of the day…but the cute hats are so worth it.

The other day I was looking at my snowman collection…it multiplies every winter. I have tall ones, fat ones, funny ones…you get the point. Anyway, they are all wearing some sort of hat. And because I love cute hats, I had the fun idea to create a cute winter hat snack for my kids to take to their Christmas parties next week. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, Featured, Fudge and Candy, seasonal Tagged With: chocolate covered marshmallows, christmas recipes, dessert recipes, edible snowman hats, Jet puffed marshmallows, snowman hat recipes, sweet recipes, winter school snacks

Peppermint Mocha Pudding Cookies

December 12, 2012 39 Comments

chocolate pudding cookies

As soon as Walmart started carrying the Andes peppermint crunch pieces, I have been baking with them. I’m kind of addicted to those pink chips!!! I am also severely addicted to pudding cookies…but you know that already:-) This past spring I made Peanut Butter Pudding cookies, and they became my all time favorite cookie. Until now…

I have had a jar of the Jif Mocha spread in my cupboard just waiting to be used. Have you tried that mocha spread yet? It is my new love!!! (It’s possible that I may eat it by the spoonfuls.) I just subbed the mocha spread for the peanut butter and added those yummy peppermint pieces for a fun Christmas cookie. As soon as I ate one fresh from the oven, I was in cookie heaven. These are my absolute favorite cookies now! I need to stock up on more of those Andes chips, so I can make these year round. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, Cookies & Whoopie Pies, seasonal Tagged With: Andes peppermint crunch, chocolate fudge pudding, Jell-0 pudding, Jif Mocha spread, peppermint cookies, pudding cookie recipes

Candy Cane Pudding Parfaits

December 9, 2012 63 Comments

This week I wanted to make a fun and easy dessert for our family to enjoy after dinner. I had a box of candy cane pudding and a carton of Cool Whip frosting that I wanted to use together. Another search of my cupboards and I also found some mini candy canes and some candy cane Oreos hiding in the very back. Don’t you hide cookies too? If I keep them in plain sight, my family will eat them before I have a chance to get creative with them.

I even found these cute parfait glasses that I had forgotten about. (You know you have a prop addiction when you can’t remember when you bought the said cute glasses.) But when they are only $.50 a piece, it is an ok addiction to have for the time being. Something else I would like to become addicted to are the gorgeous serve ware pieces at Nambe’. I am so excited for today’s giveaway because one lucky reader is going to win the gorgeous wood tray that the parfaits are sitting on.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: cheesecake, Christmas, miscellaneous, seasonal Tagged With: candy cane jello, candy cane Oreos, Cool Whip frosting, Jello pudding parfaits, Nambe, pudding dessert recipes

Eggnog Scones

November 20, 2012 25 Comments

Eggnog is one of those holiday drinks that you either love or hate. I personally love the stuff! Now I can’t chug an entire gallon, but a nice sized cup once a day is a nice way to bring in the holidays. Only my oldest agrees with me on this one. It was pure torture for him the other week. You see, I bought some eggnog and told him not to touch it until I was finished baking. Then I promptly forgot about the eggnog for oh, let’s say about 5 days or so. I say forgot very lightly, because you see my son would come home from school every day and ask if he could have some. No, not yet, was the answer for those long 5 days. I kept thinking maybe we needed some more eggnog muffins or maybe some eggnog cheeesecake brownies or even better eggnog latte cupcakes! The only problem with those…I can’t bake the same thing twice. At least not for myself that is. So until inspiration hit, the cap was staying put on the eggnog.

And then one day I just decided that we needed some eggnog scones for breakfast the next day. I usually bake on a whim every day. My cupboards are packed with fun baking ingredients just waiting for the day when I get a lightbulb moment and decide to use that particular item. Any one else bake like this? I wish I could say I have a plan each day…but no, my kitchen is always very random. I never know for sure what is going to happen each day.

Anyway, my son was a very happy camper when he got home and I handed him the eggnog container and told him the rest was his. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, Muffins, Scones, & Donuts, seasonal Tagged With: breakfast, chocolate chips, eggnog, holiday

Gingerbread Oreo Truffle Bark

November 13, 2012 67 Comments

Gingerbread Oreo Truffle Bark

Have you seen the new Gingerbread Oreos yet? I have to admit that I am not a huge gingerbread fan, but I really like these. No scratch that…I love these.

Of course they are Oreos and I have yet to find an Oreo that I didn’t like. As soon as I saw the first package of these posted on Instagram, I headed to our Walmart. I checked the seasonal aisle, I checked the cookie aisle, and I checked the displays in the middle of the aisles. Nothing! I was starting to lose heart that our Walmart had decided to not carry them. As I headed to the checkout lane, there right in front of my eyes was an Oreo display! And one whole side was the Gingerbread ones…it was meant to be:-) In fact, I’m pretty sure I heard angels singing. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, Fudge and Candy, seasonal Tagged With: candy bark, gingerbread, holiday recipe, oreo, oreo truffle recipe, truffle, white chocolate

Oreo Peppermint Cookies

December 22, 2011 15 Comments

I really hate to do this to you…

but these cookies are going to rock your world.

I realize you probably already have your cookies baked

or at least have your list of ones you are going to bake.

And I realize you need another cookie recipe
like you need a hole in your head.

But let me persuade you to add these
chocolate peppermint goodies
to that Christmas list.

Santa would want them on his plate of cookies.

Seriously they have oreo and peppermint patty pieces
all baked inside a dark chocolate dough.
What’s not to like???

Shoot, forget Santa…you need these in YOUR life.

Like today:-)

Oreo Peppermint Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Yield: about 24 cookies

Oreo Peppermint Cookies

Chocolate cookies made with Oreo chunks and peppermint candies.

Ingredients

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 c. flour

1/4 c. dark cocoa powder

1 egg

2 c. oreo cookie chunks

1 c. peppermint patty pieces(the chocolate candies, not the actual patties)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350* In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in both sugars. Add the egg and beat again.
Stir in the baking powder, cocoa powder, and flour. Add the oreo chunks and patty pieces and stir by hand to distribute. Do this gently so you don't break up the chunks of oreos more.
Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2011/12/oreo-peppermint-cookies/

Linked to:
Sweet Treats, Show and Tell, Catch a Glimpse, A Little Nosh, Bacon Time
Tickled Pink, WhipperBerry , Answer is Chocolate, Sweet Indulgences

More the Merrier, Crafty Confessionals, Crazy for Crust

Filed Under: Christmas, cookies, Cookies & Whoopie Pies, seasonal Tagged With: candy, chocolate, chocolate peppermint cookies, cookies, holiday cookies, holiday recipes, oreo, peppermint cookies

Eggnog Crumble Muffins

December 20, 2011 16 Comments

Is it a bad thing that all I want to eat all week long are

things completely not good for me.

You know things like

cookies, candy, truffles, cheesecake, fudge, and brownies?

Dinner? Who wants that when I can munch on cookies.

Don’t look at me like that!

You know that’s all you want to eat too:-)

It is Christmas week after all.

I’m pretty sure that the amount of butter and sugar

we are going through over here is not good for our health.

But hey, January is just around the corner and

then I will start my same resolution of working out more

and eating less sugar.

Ha! Me eat less sugar?

That’s a good one:-)

I promise this is the last eggnog recipe of the season.

I tend to get obsessed with a flavor and try to make it

into about a billion different recipes

before I get tired of it and move onto the next flavor.

These muffins were yummy and not at all over the top.

My oldest son absolutely loves eggnog and

he gave these muffins two thumbs up!

I’m thinking I need to make these one last time

before I start thinking bad thoughts about the eggnog.

Christmas morning it is!

Eggnog Crumble Muffins

2 c. flour

1 c. sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 c. eggnog

2 eggs

1/2 c. oil

1/2 c. white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350* Line muffin tin with cupcake liners. Sift the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Whisk the eggnog, eggs, and oil in another bowl. Pour the eggnog mixture into the flour and stir until combined. Stir in the white chips. Fill liners 2/3 full. Top with 1 Tbsp. oatmeal topping. Bake 20 minutes or until tops spring back when touched. Makes 16 muffins.

Oatmeal Crumble Topping

1/2 c. oatmeal

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

2 Tbsp. melted butter

1 Tbsp. flour

Stir all together until well combined.

Linked to:

NapTime Creations, Chef in Training, Two Maids a Baking, Mandy’s Recipe Box

Crazy for Crust, What’s Cooking, This Chick Cooks, Sweet Party, Show & Share

What I Made, Junk in their Trunk, Remodelaholic

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