Valentines Archives - Inside BruCrew Life

30 Valentine’s Day Treats

February 13, 2013 20 Comments

Do you have any special Valentine’s Day treats you will be making your loved ones tomorrow?

If you are still looking for something fun and delicious, I have put together 30 of my favorite recipes that I have made over the past few years.
I hope you find one that you would love to make.

Caramel_Mud_Pie_Cups_title

NO BAKE CARAMEL MUD PIE CUPS

TIRAMISU BROWNIES

PEANUT BUTTER BROWNIE BATTER ICE CREAM

NO BAKE STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE CUPS

M&M Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies title 1

M&M PEANUT BUTTER PUDDING COOKIES

REESE’S RICE KRISPIE HEARTS

Chocolate chip cookies with mocha filling

WHITE CHOCOLATE MOCHACCINO CHIPPERS

Strawberry Shortcake Fudge title-redo

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE FUDGE

APPLE CIDER WHOOPIE PIES WITH RED HOT FROSTING

Hot Chocolate Cheesecakes title 2

HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKES

NUTELLA MARSHMALLOW BARS

Raspberry Hot Chocolate Bars title 1

RASPBERRY HOT CHOCOLATE BARS

RED HOT OREO FUDGE

Chocolate Cherry Muffin Tops 1

CHOCOLATE CHERRY MUFFIN TOPS

REESE’S POPCORN MUNCH

Banana Split Cheesecake

BANANA SPLIT CHEESECAKE

CHERRY MARSHMALLOW KRISPIE TREATS

Coconut Nutella Cookies2
COCONUT NUTELLA COOKIES

salted caramel brownie cups1

SALTED CARAMEL BROWNIE CUPS

Banana Split Brownie Pie 1

BANANA SPLIT BROWNIE PIE

Mocha Muffins 4

CHOCOLATE MOCHA MUFFINS

CINNABON SUGAR COOKIES

sweet crescent rolls, dessert recipes, sweet recipes

CHEESECAKE NUTELLA TWISTS

MOCHA CAPPUCCINO PUPPY CHOW

Baked French Toast
CHOCOLATE CHERRY FRENCH TOAST BAKE

TRIPLE CHIP RED VELVET COOKIES

Chocolate cake with coconut
CHOCOLATE COCONUT CAKE

Oreo Brownie Parfait 6
WHITE CHOCOLATE OREO BROWNIE PARFAITS

Strawberry_Fudge_Magic_Bars title

STRAWBERRY FUDGE MAGIC BARS

MOCHA COOKIE CRUMBLE CUPCAKES

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!

Shared with: Treasures, The 36th Ave,

Filed Under: seasonal, Valentines Tagged With: chocolate, Valentine's Day treats

Triple Chip Red Velvet Cookies

February 11, 2013 31 Comments

These Red Velvet Cookies with three kinds of chocolate chips will be a favorite Valentine’s Day treat this year.

A couple months ago I made these Chocolate Mint Cookies. I had to give them away, or I would have eaten the entire batch of cookies before the day was over. They were that good!

Have you tried the cake mix cookies yet? They are one of my favorite go-to cookies at the moment.

Triple_Chip_Red_Velvet_Cookies

I love quick and easy they are to mix up and bake. You could bake them right away, but I like to let the dough chill in my refrigerator for about 30 minutes. It helps the dough from spreading out too thin. And DO NOT bake them more than 9 minutes. They will look very undone, but they will set up quickly.

My favorite way to eat them is fresh out of the oven. The center is still so gooey and soft and just perfect. Plus the chocolate is so melty and delicious.

Triple_Chip_Red_Velvet_Cookies

I wanted to make some of these Red Velvet Cookies with a Valentine’s flair for this month. When I was shopping at Walmart I found the Nestle Valentine’s mix of chocolate chips. Every bite of these cookies has a good amount of chocolate in it.

The best thing about these cookies is that they stay soft for about 5 days. I’m sure they would stay soft longer, but cookies just don’t last long enough in our house for me to test that theory.

Triple_Chip_Red_Velvet_Cookies

I hope you like red and pink Valentine’s Day treats because I kind of went overboard this year and baked quite a few. So get prepared for a new one every day and maybe even one after the heart day is over.

Here are a couple more Cookie recipes for Valentine’s Day treats that you might like:

Cherry Cordial Cookies

Coconut Nutella Cookies

Cinnabon Sugar Cookies

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Red Velvet Cookies

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Yield: 36 cookies

Red Velvet Cookies

Red Velvet cake mix cookies with three kinds of chocolate chips

Ingredients

1 red velvet cake mix (18 oz.)

1 stick butter, melted

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup Nestle's Valentine chocolate chip mix (dk. choc and red chips)

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, combine the cake mix and butter, Add the egg, vanilla, and cream cheese and beat until mixed thoroughly. Stir in the chips by hand. Chill the dough at least 30 minutes.
Roll the dough into 1 -1 1/2 inch balls. Bake on a nonstick surface at 350* for 9 minutes. Let rest on pan for 2 minutes before removing to parchment lined counters. Cool completely before storing in a sealed container for up to 5 days. Makes 36 cookies.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2013/02/red-velvet-cookies/

Shared on: Talent Show, SaltTree Social, Tip Me, Lil Luna, Wow Me, Creative Time Out,

Filed Under: Cookies & Whoopie Pies, seasonal, Valentines Tagged With: cake mix cookies, red velvet, Valentine's Day treat

No Bake Caramel Mud Pie Cups

February 10, 2013 68 Comments

These Caramel Mud Pie Cups are the perfect no bake treat for when you only have a few minutes to make a chocolate dessert or a Valentine’s Day treat.

Caramel_Mud_Pie_Cups, no bake, chocolate, Valentine's Day treat

Last week I didn’t bake anything at all. I know! I was just as shocked as you.

Over the past few weeks I have made so many pink and red treats to share with you, that I was kind of ahead of the game in baking. All I had to do was edit and post each day. Plus, I thought no baking means no yummy chocolate treats in the kitchen tempting me from my diet. Because we all know that sugar talks to me…and the sad thing is that I listen to whatever it tells me to do. ”Oh hello, delicious cookie. Why yes, I do want to eat you. And your friend? Of course, I’ll see what I can do.” It’s ok. I know I’m a little off my rocker. It’s the sugar talking again.

I knew the no baking would end in me making something. The last time I tried to do no baking, the week ended with these Chocolate Avocado Muffins. It was only a matter of time before I made something sugary.

No Bake Caramel Mud Pie Cups, chocolate, Valentine's Day treat

Now my kids have gotten used to all these cookies and treats being around. So a week of no baking was so foreign to them. They kept asking where the snacks were. We kept pointing at the bananas and carrots and told them to have at it. Apparently they don’t want veggies and fruit after a long day at school. But we didn’t budge…well, until I had this brilliant idea to make these yummy No Bake Caramel Mud Pie cups for an after dinner treat. I found the original idea for this pie in a Holiday Jello booklet that I was looking through.

Caramel_Mud_Pie_Cups_sprinkles

FYI…looking through cooking magazines and books when you are trying to stay away from baking is not the best possible thing you could do. I now have about 30 new ideas of things to make…like I needed more things on my list.

No_Bake_Caramel_Mud_Pie_Cups, chocolate, Valentine's Day treat

We had everything I needed for these no bake cups. Well, I didn’t have nuts and that’s what the original called for. Honestly I am not a huge nut fan for a crust or in anything for that matter. Don’t quote me on that though, because every once in a while I will add nuts to some things. Just doesn’t happen often.

Anyway, I started looking in our cupboards and I found a bag of holiday pretzels. Yes, people we still had jingle bell pretzels in our cupboard. The bag was unopened, so I thought this was the perfect way to get rid of them.

And since I am slightly addicted to salted caramel, I decided to add caramel topping to the no bake cheesecake layer. Best.idea.ever. Well, not for the diet eating plan but that was just silly any way!

No_Bake_Caramel_Mud_Pie_Cups, chocolate, Valentine's Day treat

If you are not wanting to make a bunch of little pudding cups, feel free to double the recipe and put everything in an 8 inch pie plate. Your sweetie will love you when you make this for a Valentine’s Day treat.

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Want more easy no bake dessert ideas?

Peanut Butter Pie Parfaits

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecakes

Peanut Butter Brownie Batter Ice Cream

No Bake Caramel Mud Pie Cups

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 8 servings

No Bake Caramel Mud Pie Cups

Easy No Bake Caramel Mud Pie cups with a Pretzel Crust

Ingredients

3/4 cup crushed pretzels

4 Tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 Tablespoon sugar

1 package cream cheese (8 oz.)

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping

3/4 cup Cool Whip

1 box chocolate pudding (3.4 oz.)

1 1/3 cups milk

Instructions

Stir together the pretzels, butter, and sugar. Spoon into 8 small jars. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and sugar. Beat until creamy. Add the caramel and beat again. Fold in the Cool Whip. Spoon into the 8 jars.
In a mixing bowl, combine the pudding mix and milk. Whisk for 2 minutes. Spoon evenly on top of the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate.
Top with more Cool Whip and sprinkles (if desired) before serving.

Notes

Feel free to double the ingredients and make it in an 8 inch pie plate.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2013/02/no-bake-caramel-mud-pie-cups/

Shared with: Mop It Up, Sugar & Slice, Craftomaniac, Make the Scene, Melt In Your Mouth, Show Me Your Plaid, Mix It Up, Funday Link, Talent Show, SaltTree Social, Tip Me, Lil Luna, Wow Me, What’s Cooking, Treasures, The 36th Ave,

Filed Under: Pie & Ice Cream, seasonal, Valentines Tagged With: cheesecake, chocolate, no bake, pretzels, pudding, Valentine's Day treat

M&M Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies

February 7, 2013 60 Comments

Peanut Butter Pudding cookies can make a fun Valentine treat when filled with red and pink M&M candies and chocolate chips.

These cookies will be gone before you know it.

I made these M&M Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies a few weeks ago. I thought they would last the entire week for the kids to pack in their school lunches. I should have known better! We did the same thing when I made these Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies and these Caramel Corn Pretzel Cookies. The kids kept trying to eat these for breakfast. It is full of peanut butter so I guess it is great protein.

For these particular peanut butter pudding cookies, I decided to combine both of those old recipes into one delicious cookie. If you can keep your family from devouring them right away, they would make a great Valentine treat. They are so easy to make, so grab your mixer and a baking sheet and let’s get baking.

You will start by creaming your butter and sugars until light and fluffy. I use my Kitchen Aid for every recipe…I love having my hands free to measure (and instagram). Then start adding the ingredients little by little. This recipe really is a one bowl kind of recipe. Do you like it when you only have one bowl to wash? Yeah, most days I do too!

After your dough is mixed up, you will need to chill the dough. Now quite honestly, you could bake the cookies right away, but they will not be quite as thick and puffy. Give the dough at least 30 minutes of chilling time and then start rolling the M&M Peanut Butter Pudding cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch or 2 inch balls. The dough will be slightly sticky, but it should roll easily. If not, refrigerate it longer. Keep your dough in the refrigerator while each batch is baking.

M&M Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies, peanut butter pudding cookies

I like to bake my cookies on a Silpat. It will keep your cookies from spreading out even more. Look at that freshly baked peanut butter pudding cookie. Yes, I know that it looks underdone, but DO NOT bake any longer than 9-10 minutes. I promise you they continue to bake and set up after you pull them out of the oven. I always let my cookies rest about 2 minutes on the tray before moving them to some parchment paper on the counter. For the cookies that are really fat and tall in the center, I gently pressed the centers down with the back of the spatula or a spoon. Not too hard…just enough to flatten it out just slightly.

Store your peanut butter pudding cookies in a tightly sealed container once they are cool. I had one of these 2 days after I made them, and they were just as good as the day I made them. Obviously the kids thought so too. By the end of the 3rd day, all our M&M Peanut Butter Pudding cookies had disappeared! I would call that a recipe success.

I guess I need to find two more of my favorite cookies and try to combine them into another great cookie recipe.

More Peanut Butter recipes you may enjoy:

Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies

Peanut Butter S’more Blondies

Peanut Butter Mini Cheesecakes

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M&M Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Yield: 48 cookies

M&M Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies

Peanut Butter Pudding cookies with peanut butter M&M candies and chocolate chips....great for Valentine's Day treats.

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs

1 box instant vanilla pudding (3.4 oz.)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups flour

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup Peanut Butter M&M candies

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the peanut butter, vanilla, and eggs and beat again. Sift together the pudding mix, salt, baking soda, and flour. Slowly add to the butter mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and M&M's by hand.
Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. Roll the dough into 1 1/2 balls. Bake at 350* for 9-10 minutes. Cool on the pan for 2 minutes before removing to parchment on the counter. Cool completely. Store in a sealed container for 4-5 days. Makes 48 cookies, depending on the size of your dough balls.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2013/02/mm-peanut-butter-pudding-cookies/

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Filed Under: Cookies & Whoopie Pies, seasonal, Valentines Tagged With: M&M candies, Mars, peanut butter, peanut butter pudding cookies, Valentine cookie

White Chocolate Reese’s Krispie Hearts

January 27, 2013 42 Comments

White Chocolate Reese's Krispie Hearts

I love Rice Krispie treats.
Like, love them so much I can’t stop eating them until they are gone. It’s bad people.
Bad for the jeans in my life that is. Me on the other hand…
well, I am good with more krispies in my life.
I should probably stop making them when no one is home with me.

Today’s White Chocolate Reese’s Krispie Hearts will make you want to eat the entire batch in one day. What? That’s not normal to do?

White Chocolate Reese's Krispie Hearts

This batch of rice krispie treats starts out like a regular pan of krispies, but at the last minute you add a box of white chocolate pudding into the melted marshmallows. Pour in the cereal and stir until coated. Go ahead and press the hot mixture into a buttered pan. Yes, go ahead and lick the spoon. You know you want to.

But…you probably are going to burn your tongue. I know, because I do it every single time I make krispie treats.

I was at Target the other day and I just couldn’t resist buying a bag of the Reese’s hearts. Not that I can resist regular Reese’s, but there is something about cute fun shapes that makes me buy them even more. I didn’t have any idea what I was going to make with them. I just knew they had to come home with me. (Please tell me I am not alone in my random candy buying!!!)

White Chocolate Reese's Krispie Hearts

Enter the White Chocolate Rice Krispies cooling on the counter. All of a sudden I knew I wanted to share my love of krispies, CandiQuik, and Reese’s all in one glorious ADORABLE treat! You start by cutting the white chocolate krispies into a heart shape just slightly bigger than the Reese’s hearts. Then drizzle the tops of the krispie hearts with white CandiQuik and drop a Reese’s heart on the top. (go ahead and eat the rest of the Reese’s while the chocolate is setting…I won’t tell

Super easy! And so stinking cute!!!

The bonus part of cutting hearts from these white chocolate krispies???

Someone has to eat all the scraps!
It’s a rough job, but someone has to do it. ;-)

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White Chocolate Reese’s Krispie Hearts

Yield: 15 hearts

White Chocolate Reese’s Krispie Hearts

White chocolate rice krispie treats topped with white chocolate CandiQuik and a Reese's peanut butter heart.

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons butter

1 bag miniature marshmallows (10 oz.)

1 box Jello white chocolate pudding (3.4 oz.z)

6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

2 oz. white CandiQuik, melted

15 Reese's peanut butter hearts

Instructions

Place the butter and marshmallows in a large saucepan. Heat and stir on medium heat until melted and smooth. Add the pudding and stir for about 1 minute so the pudding can dissolve. Stir in the cereal.
Pour the cereal into a buttered 9x13 pan. Press gently and evenly. Let set about 15 minutes. Use a heart cookie cutter to cut out 15 hearts. Let cool completely.
Drizzle the krispie hearts with the melted CandiQuik. Press a Reese's heart on top before the CandiQuik sets. Let set before serving.

Notes

You could also cut the rice krispie treats into squares and top with the melted chocolate and hearts.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2013/01/white-chocolate-reeses-krispie-hearts/

Looking for ways to incorporate more Reese’s into your life this Valentine’s Day?
Here are a few of our family favorites.

PEANUT BUTTER PUDDING COOKIES

PEANUT BUTTER THREAT CHEESECAKES

MARSHMALLOW REESES BLONDE BROWNIES

REESES POPCORN MUNCH

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Filed Under: Rice Krispie Treats & Popcorn, seasonal, Valentines Tagged With: peanut butter, reeses, rice krispie treats, white chocolate

Raspberry Hot Chocolate Bars

January 23, 2013 50 Comments

Hello, Raspberry Hot Chocolate Bar goodness!

Yes, I like to incorporate chocolate into my breakfast every.single.chance I get! I don’t see it as any different than adding chocolate chips to muffins. And I’m not going to apologize for the spots of color in my baked goods.

Lately I have had some not so favorable comments about this Almond Joy Banana Bread…I am fully prepared for the bashing these granola bars will take for the color in them. Bring it on…it won’t stop me from throwing colored M&M’s into more things. Actually it just might make me do it more. I’m kind of like that!

This bar recipe has become my favorite go-to granola bar. It is so easy to customize it for other flavors. Last month I had the thought that hot chocolate would be great in them. Turns out I was right…I only know this because the pan of Peppermint Hot Chocolate granola bars disappeared rather quickly. Probably from all the “just one more” bites I kept taking.

So, when I started thinking of doing more recipes with hot chocolate, I went to the grocery store and started looking for some other flavors. As soon as I saw the raspberry flavor, I knew that I had to try that for the bars. Finding the raspberry M&M’s in the candy aisle was just the icing on the cake….or should I say the chocolate in my bar. I love these pretty pink and red candies. They are the perfect color and flavor for Valentine’s day treats.

My daughter went to a sleepover last weekend. It was the perfect “excuse” to bake yet another treat. Actually I was happy to get these Raspberry Hot Chocolate bars out of the house. I couldn’t stop eating little bites. It is possible that I like this version the best out of all the ones I have made.

Let’s just talk about this sleepover for just one minute. Can you believe my daughter told me to make sure I wore make up when I picked her up? Apparently I just look better that way. Ha! Yes, I walk around my house with no makeup on and sometimes even mismatched clothes. Or better yet…I have been wearing my tight jeans this week. My thought is that it will stop me from eating more sweets if I can’t breathe! It has worked one day so far.

Raspberry Hot Chocolate Bars

Ok, let’s get to the bars because really that’s why you are here right? To scroll through my ramblings and get to the recipe?

The texture of these bars is soft and chewy. They aren’t hard and crumbly like the store bought ones. If you like the hard ones, you could probably bake these an extra 5-10 minutes and get that texture. But I like all my baked goods to be soft, so I pulled them out of the oven at 22 minutes. I almost second guessed myself because they looked underdone. For one split second I thought about baking them longer. They had an almost undone look to them.

DON”T bake them any longer. They will set up as they cool and become this perfect chewy granola bar texture. The raspberry hot chocolate is subtle but definitely there. The raspberry M&M’s help enhance the raspberry flavor just a little bit more.

If you don’t like that much chocolate on your breakfast goods, go ahead and skip the CandiQuik drizzle. Like I said, I always look for ways to include chocolate in every meal, but that’s just me.

Raspberry Hot Chocolate Bars

These are the perfect on the run bar. Package them individually in ziplock bags and grab one as you run out the door for school or work.

The only thing you will regret is not grabbing TWO for the road.

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Raspberry Hot Chocolate Bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 14 minutes

Yield: 12 bars

Raspberry Hot Chocolate Bars

These quick and easy granola bars get their flavor from a raspberry hot chocolate mix and raspberry M&M's.

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

2 1/2 cups quick oats

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup raspberry Hot Chocolate (I used Land O Lakes)

3/4 cup Raspberry M&M's

1 cup Kraft Chocolate Mini Mallow Bits

3 ounces White CandiQuik melted

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat again. Mix together the flour, oats, and salt and slowly add to the butter mixture. Stir in 1/2 cup of the M&M's and the marshmallow bits.
Spread mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. Press the extra 1/4 cup of M&M's into the top of the batter. Bake at 350* for 22 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Cut into 12 bars. Drizzle the bars with melted CandiQuik. Let set. Store in a sealed container for up to 5 days.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2013/01/raspberry-hot-chocolate-bars/

Want to try a few more of our favorite granola bars?

Caramel and Apple chunks give these Caramel Apple Bars the perfect texture.

Chocolate and Peppermint is always a winner in these Peppermint Hot Chocolate Bars.

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Filed Under: Brownies & Bars, seasonal, Valentines Tagged With: granola bars, raspberry, white chocolate

Chocolate Cherry Muffin Tops

January 16, 2013 38 Comments

So I have decided that it is time to start posting some Valentine’s recipes here. You’re down with that right??? I promise not to go completely overboard, but this is a low fat chocolate cherry muffin top. Who wouldn’t want this kind of recipe early?

You could wait until February to make these muffins, but I seriously don’t recommend it. They were delicious!!! The yogurt in these muffins give them a soft, tender inside. I really like using yogurt instead of sour cream for muffins. It helps cut down on the fat content, which is something that I have started to watch a little more. My kids aren’t big cereal eaters, but they will eat muffins if I keep them on hand. By making them with yogurt I feel better about them eating chocolate for breakfast. Of course, we ate them at all times of the day. They are a perfect afternoon snack when you are craving just a little bit of chocolate. (that makes me laugh because when I crave chocolate, I don’t want to eat a little) These chocolate cherry muffins are also a great before bed snack…or a midnight snack! Whenever you decide to eat them, they will satisfy your chocolate crave!!!

The great thing about this muffin is that it is easy to make it in a muffin top pan or a whoopie pie pan, or if you don’t have either, just bake it in a regular muffin tin. I have included both baking times in the recipe for you. Let’s talk about the cherries for a minute. If you like fresh cherries, by all means, use the fresh cherries in your batter. I just happen to love maraschino cherries. There is usually a jar in my fridge at all times for sundaes or drinks. And I keep a backup jar in my baking cupboard…does that surprise you that I have more than one jar? Something about the taste of these jarred cherries makes me happy. They also keep their bright red color when you bake with them. I love pretty food!!! Pretty food just looks so much more appetizing!

See how puffy those chocolate cherry muffin tops turned out? I know you want a bite

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Chocolate Cherry Muffin Tops

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Yield: 24 muffin tops

Chocolate Cherry Muffin Tops

Chocolate muffins made with yogurt and filled with chocolate chips and cherries

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons cherry juice

1 egg

2/3 cup plain yogurt (I use Chobani)

2/3 cup coconut milk

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup miniature chocolate chips

1 cup chopped maraschino cherries

Instructions

In a mixing bowl cream the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the cherry juice, egg, and yogurt to the butter and beat again. Sift together the baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and flour and add alternately with the coconut milk to the butter mixture and beat gently. Stir in the chocolate chips and cherries by hand.
Spoon a large tablespoon of batter into a greased muffin top pan (I used a whoopie pie pan) Bake at 400* for 12 minutes. Let cool 2 minutes in the pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool. Store in a sealed container for up to 4 days. Makes 24 muffin tops.

Notes

You can use a regular muffin tin if you don't have a muffin top pan. Bake the muffins for 18 minutes. Makes about 15 muffins.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2013/01/chocolate-cherry-muffin-tops/

Looking for more chocolate muffins? Try one of these…

MOCHA MUFFINS

CHOCOLATE AVOCADO MUFFINS

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Filed Under: Muffins, Scones, & Donuts, seasonal, Valentines Tagged With: breakfast, cherry, chocolate

Red Hot Oreo Fudge…and a HOP!

February 10, 2012 37 Comments

oreo fudge, red hot fudge, sweet recipes, dessert recipes, fudge recipes

Today is a super fun day!

You get Red Hot Oreo Fudge…

AND you get directed to 5 other amazing blogs

with more yummy fudge recipes!!!

Just in time for Valentines Day too!

You would think we planned it that way or something:-)

The fudge hop links are at the bottom.

Don’t worry, we will get to them…I promise!!!

But first let’s talk about red hots.

I don’t know why, but when I think of red hots

it reminds me of Valentines.

Can I tell you a secret?

I don’t really like red hots (unless it is in this jello)…

but I discovered that if you melt red hots into vanilla frosting

it turns into a yummy, slightly cinnamony goodness

that is hard to resist!

Believe me I know…because I didn’t resist it very well:-)

It is super easy to make because it only takes 2 ingredients.

I love no fail fudge.

(mostly because I can’t get the real stuff to set up)

Melt the chips…melt the frosting…chill.

Yummy fudge in less than 30 minutes.

Now that’s my kind of fudge!!!

This is technically 4 ingredient fudge

because I added cookies and candies,

but still super easy to make…

and to eat:-)

My biggest advice about this fudge…

use a food processor to crush the red hots if you have one.

I put mine in plastic baggies and

tried to smash the crap out of it with a wooden spoon.

Did you know red hots are super hard?

It took a lot of effort to crush them.

But once I tasted the fudge it was well worth the muscle

I had to put into it.

See how pretty it looks?

Believe me…

it tasted as good as it looks too:-)

Tasted because mine is all gone…that makes me kind of sad.

I’d say it is time to check out some new fudge recipes:-)

Now for the fun part of the Party…

heading to the other blogs and seeing more fudge.

Be prepared to drool A LOT!!!

These 5 girls are some of my most favorite food bloggers!!!

I love reading their blogs

and seeing the yummy treats they come up with.

And they are all sweet as can be! (the girls, not the fudge)

You are going to love them as much as I do!!!

Aimee from Shugary Sweets - Cherry Fudge

Dorothy from Crazy for Crust – 100 Grand Fudge

Ashton from Something Swanky – Red Velvet Fudge

Holly from Life as a Lofthouse – Snickers Fudge

Mandy from Mandy’s Recipe Box – Smooth as Silk Fudge

Red Hot Oreo Fudge

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Yield: about 50 squares of fudge

Red Hot Oreo Fudge

Two layers of chocolate and vanilla fudge with Oreo chunks and red hot candies mixed in.

Ingredients

For the Oreo Fudge

1 can chocolate frosting

1 bag chocolate chips

10 oreos, crunched

For the Red Hot Fudge

1 can vanilla frosting

1 bag white chocolate chips

1/2 c. red hots, crushed

Instructions

Line an 8x8 pan with wax paper and spray lightly with non stick cooking spray.
In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate chips. Stir until melted. Stir in the chocolate frosting and continue stirring until melted and creamy. Stir in the cookie crumbles. Pour into the lined pan. Refrigerate for 10 minutes or until set.
In a saucepan over low heat, melt the white chocolate chips. Stir until melted. Stir in the vanilla frosting and continue stirring until melted and creamy. Stir in the crushed red hots. Stir a few minutes while the red hots melt and turn your fudge a pretty pink. Pour on top of the chocolate oreo fudge and let set on the counter for 10 minutes. Top with sprinkles and place in the fridge to set up completely.
Let the fudge come to room temperature before cutting into squares.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2012/02/red-hot-oreo-fudge-and-a-hop/

Shared with: Friday Flair, I’m Lovin It, BFF Open House, Free For All, Sweet Tooth, Weekend Potluck

Every Creative Endeavor, Weekend Showoff, Seasonal Inspiration, Weekend Wrap Up, Sweets for a Saturday

Chic and Crafty

Filed Under: Fudge and Candy, seasonal, Valentines Tagged With: chocolate, chocolate fudge, dessert recipes, fudge, holiday recipes, oreo, red hot recipes, sweet recipes, valentines fudge

Baked Cherry Chocolate Coconut French Toast

February 9, 2012 16 Comments

Things that are making me smile this week:

1. My kids getting A’s and B’s on their tests.

2. Warm beds on cold mornings

3. Starbucks new Love cups

4. Magazines all about chocolate

5. Clean sheet day

6. Fun new recipes to try out from a friend

7. Planning a blog hop with some of my fav girls

8. Sparkly shirts found on clearance

9. Playing ping pong with the family

10. Warm french toast bake for a late night snack.

What?

You thought this was a breakfast food?

Sorry…we don’t eat much for breakfast in this house:-)

so it ends up being a bed time snack!

But if you get up early enough to make this…

more power to you.

(I recommend reheating in a microwave, if you aren’t a morning person like me:-)

Baked Cherry Chocolate Coconut French Toast

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 10 mini french toast cups

Baked Cherry Chocolate Coconut French Toast

Toasted bagels, dried cherries, and chocolate add a fun twist to french toast.

Ingredients

3 Tbsp. butter, melted

3/4 c. cubed bagels (2 whole)

1 c. milk

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/3 c. sugar

1/2 c. shredded coconut

1/2 c. chocolate chips

1/2 c. dried cherries

2 Tbsp. cherry juice

1 c. powdered sugar

Instructions

Cut bagels into cubes and toast on a pan at 350* for 7-8 minutes. Drizzle with the melted butter while on the baking sheet.
Whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla and sugar in a large bowl. Add the bread cubes, chocolate chips, coconut and cherries. Let set in the bowl for 20 minutes. Divide into mini foil pans or use muffin liners. Bake at 350* for 20 minutes.
While baking, stir cherry juice into powdered sugar. Drizzle french toast with cherry glaze if desired. Serve while warm.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2012/02/cherry-chocolate-coconut-french-toast-bake/

Shared with: Sweet Treats, It’s a Keeper, Tastetastic Thursday, BFF Open House, Chic and Crafty

I’m Lovin It

Filed Under: breakfast, Valentines Tagged With: baked french toast, cherry, chocolate, chocolate cherry french toast, coconut

Pink Velvet Macaroons

February 6, 2012 13 Comments

A few months ago I saw Red Velvet Macaroons

in the bakery section at Walmart.

They sounded so good, BUT…

there are just some things that I won’t buy

because I know that I can make them at home cheaper!!!

I added them to my Christmas cookie list,

but sadly I never got around to making them.

A few weeks ago I found them on my list and decided

to make them with a slight change.

With Valentines Day coming up soon,

Pink Velvet macaroons seemed like the best choice.

Have you seen the new Kraft marshmallow bits???

They are just like the little mini marshmallows

that come in hot chocolate packets.

I found mine at Target and thought

they would be the perfect addition to the macaroons.

They turned out so delicious and

slightly chewy from the melted marshmallows.

Definitely going to be making them again very soon!!!

Do you have a go-to cookie that you will be making for your Valentine?

Pink Velvet Macaroons

by Inside BruCrew Life

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

2 egg whites
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. coconut
1 c. marshmallow bits
1/4 c. flour
4 tsp. cocoa powder
1/8 tsp. salt
pink food coloring
1/4 c. white chocolate chips, melted
sprinkles

Instructions

Beat egg whites, sugar, and vanilla on high until stiff peaks form. Fold in the coconut, marshmallow bits, cocoa powder, flour and salt. Add just a little bit of pink food coloring and stir in gently.

Scoop large spoonfuls onto a non stick baking sheet. Bake 23-25 minutes at 325*. Cool on a wire rack. Drizzle with melted white chocolate and add sprinkles. Makes about 18.

Shared with: Making You Crave, Mingle Monday, Melt in Your Mouth, Chocolate Love

Talent Show, Tasty Tuesday, Crazy Sweets, Naptime Creations, Get Your Craft On

Thank you so much for reading my blog. If you liked this post, please leave a comment. Comments are a great way for me to see what is a blog hit or miss:-)

Filed Under: Cookies & Whoopie Pies, seasonal, Valentines Tagged With: coconut, cookies, marshmallow

Coconut Nutella Cookies

January 9, 2012 40 Comments

So my husband thinks I have a serious problem…

…every time I have a recipe idea, I add it to a list.

This said list has about 24 ideas on it…

and that is just the Iphone list.

(I have a notebook that has another food list;-)

This list is what caused my husband to think I am nuts.

Please reassure me and tell me that you have crazy lists too.

Maybe they aren’t lists full of sugary laden treats like mine,

but I would love to know I am not the only one

with a crazy list that is never ending.

Happy day! I got to cross one of the items off the list:-)

Sadly I added about 4 more over the weekend.

What I can I say?

Got sugar.

On the brain that is.

Back to crossing one off the list.

Last summer my husband and I had the opportunity

to go to St. Maarten for a week without our kids.

Best vacation spot EVAH!!!!

We are definitely going back with the kids sometime.

For breakfast one day I had Coconut Nutella crepes.

So you can guess what I added to my list…

coconut nutella something.

I knew I wanted to make something

with those two flavors paired together.

But it also had to be just the right recipe.

These cookies…

they were the right choice for this combination.

Just enough coconut, plenty of chocolatey Nutella.

Took me right back to the beach…

which in winter is where I really want to be.

Coconut Nutella Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Coconut Nutella Cookies

Soft coconut cookies with a hidden Nutella pocket

Ingredients

1/2 c. shortening

1/2 c. brown sugar, packed

6 Tbsp. sugar

1 egg

1/4 c. milk

1/2 tsp. coconut extract

1 1/2 c. flour + 2 Tbsp.

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. shredded coconut

1/2 c. Nutella

1/2 c. white chocolate chips

sprinkles

Instructions

Cream shortening and sugars in a large mixing bowl. Add the egg, milk, and extract and beat well until creamy. Slowly add the baking soda, salt, and flour. Stir in the coconut.
Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and set on wax paper. Make an indentation in the center of each ball. Fill with nutella. Cover the nutella with a small flattened piece of cookie dough. Seal the edges and roll into a ball again. (the dough is very sticky)
Place the dough balls onto an ungreased baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375* for 9-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
Melt white chocolate chips in microwave safe bowl. Spoon into a plastic baggie and cut the tip off. Drizzle cookies with chocolate and add sprinkles. Keep in a sealed container for best taste.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2012/01/coconut-nutella-cookies/

Do yourself a favor and make some for your favorite somebody…

or just make them for yourself to enjoy while the kids are in school.

It’s ok. I won’t tell:-)

Shared with:

Mingle Monday, Makin’ You Crave, Melt in Your Mouth, Chef in Training

Naptime Creations, Get Your Craft On, A Little Birdie Told Me, Mandy’s Recipe Box

Crazy Sweets, Tea Party, Sweet Party, Sweet Treats

Filed Under: cookies, Cookies & Whoopie Pies, Valentines Tagged With: coconut, coconut nutella cookies, cookies, nutella, nutella recipes, white chocolate

Treats for my Sweets!

February 14, 2011 25 Comments

Is there anyone else out there that just doesn’t get the hype
of Valentines Day?Honestly, do we need another ramped up Hallmark holiday?
I think it is kind of silly that we NEED a day reserved for
telling our loved ones how much we love them.

Seriously…shouldn’t we be telling them EVERY day
how much we love them?

And I think it means more when it it asurprise
on a random day, rather than on an appointed day!Ok, just had to get that off my chest:-)

(and no, my hubby and I don’t buy each other gifts for ♥ day)

But that doesn’t mean I can’t bake my family
a fun yummy HEART inspired dessert for tonight:-)

Because nothing says I love you more than chocolate…right?

I had some leftover chocolate chip cookie dough
and chocolate cake batter that was taking up space in my fridge…
what to do with it????

Break out the fun heart shaped silcon muffin pan
that I found in the $Spot at Target!!!

I went ahead and sprayed it with some baking spray,
and then put a teaspoon of cookie dough…

(recipe found HERE…just use all vanilla extract)

…in the bottom and push it around and up the sides
to form a cavity for the cake batter.
If you need more cookie dough, go right ahead…
it will just be yummier that way:-)

Then spoon in a teaspoon of cake batter
and try to keep it in the center of your dough.
Go ahead and grab another teaspoon of cookie dough
and flatten it slightly with your fingers.
Put that on top of the cake batter and
try to seal the edges of the cookie dough with each other.
This will keep the cake from leaking out.

Bake at 350* for 15-18 minutes.
(metal pans might bake a little bit faster)
Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes
before flipping them out carefully onto a tray!
Let cool completely.

Then top them with your favorite
chocolate butter cream and sprinkles!

See how yummy this looks!
I just HAD to cut one open to show you…

it is quite possible that I ate
this bad boy as soon as pics were done;-)

What????
I couldn’t post a recipe without taste testing it first.
It was done in the name of research!

I also wondered how good it would be with other things inside…
(I was totally inspired by this post by Jenny from Picky Palate)
…so, I raided my cupboard & used up some of the random
candies that were hiding in there.

How about some Reese Pb Cup Hearts baked inside???

Maybe you would rather have a
PB Snickers bar inside?

((have you had these new snickers yet???
I think they are better than the original!))

ok, one last one…
maybe you are a butterfinger kinda person??

I love how the centers fall slightly after coming out of the oven…
the perfect spot for some more choc butter cream!

Ok, I am out of here!
I have a house to clean
and REAL food to make…because nothing says I love you more
to my husband than those 2 things!

Happy ♥ Day!!!

Thank you so much for reading my blog. If you liked this post, please leave a comment. Comments are a great way for me to see what is a blog hit or miss:-)