chocolate Archives - Inside BruCrew Life

Butterscotch Pudding Cookies

February 17, 2013 41 Comments

Looking for another pudding cookie recipe? These Butterscotch Pudding Cookies will satisfy any sweet and salty cravings you might have today!

Butterscotch Pudding Cookies, Jello pudding cookies

Today I am sitting in the airport after attending the Build Your Blog conference in Salt Lake City. My brain is swirling with all the things I learned and the lack of sleep. But what a fun (and quick) weekend!

I got to meet so many bloggers that I have been “stalking” over the years, and they are just as sweet in person as they are on their blogs. I also got to meet so many people that read my blog….you girls totally filled my bucket this weekend! I heart all of you for making me feel like a rock star! I can’t wait to meet back up with all of you in June at BlogHer.

Butterscotch Pudding Cookies

Maybe some cookies when I get home will help me think through everything I learned this weekend. Lately every time I make cookies I get the urge to throw pudding into the batter. These Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies started this crazy attraction to pudding cookies. Last fall I made these Butterscotch Pudding Cookies and shared them on I Heart Naptime…can you believe that I never shared them here???

I have 3 hours of layover time today, so I thought I would share this pudding cookie recipe for your kitchen. If you are a sweet and salty fan, these cookies are for you. Soft, chewy butterscotch pudding cookies filled with butterscotch and chocolate chips and crunchy bits of salty pretzels. Are you tracking with me here?

The pudding mix in the batter keeps the cookies soft, even days later. (Although let’s be honest…cookies never last long in a house with 3 kids.) When I bought the butterscotch pudding, I knew I wanted something else to pair with it since butterscotch can be overly sweet. I grabbed a bag of pretzels thinking that the salt from those would balance out the sweetness. It was the perfect mix of sweet and salty in every bite.

Maybe it’s a good thing my kids are cookie monsters…less pudding cookies for me to chow down on.

Here are a few other pudding cookies that we like to munch on:

Coconut S’mores Pudding Sandwiches

Peppermint Mocha Pudding Cookies

M&M Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies

Make sure you don’t miss any of the crazy baking
by following the BruCrew here:
FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | GOOGLE+ | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Butterscotch Pudding Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Yield: 48 cookies

Butterscotch Pudding Cookies

Butterscotch pudding and pretzels give these cookies a fun twist.

Ingredients

1 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. quick oats

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1 (3.4 oz.) box instant butterscotch pudding

1 c. chocolate chips

1 c. butterscotch chips

1 c. coarsely crushed pretzels

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again.
Combine the oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and pudding mix. Slowly mix into the butter mixture until thoroughly combined. Do not over mix. Stir in the chips and pretzels by hand.
Drop by small spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Bake at 375* for 8-10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Store in a sealed container.

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2013/02/butterscotch-pudding-cookies/

Shared with: Mop It Up, Funday Party, Craftomaniac, Bulletin Board, Mealtime, Mix It Up, SaltTree Social, Talent Show, Whimsy, Wow Me, What’s Cooking, Show & Share,

Filed Under: Cookies & Whoopie Pies Tagged With: butterscotch, chocolate, Jello pudding, pretzels, pudding cookies

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

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.

Make sure you don’t miss any of the crazy baking
by following the BruCrew here:
FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | GOOGLE+ | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

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

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

Make sure you don’t miss any of the crazy baking by following the BruCrew here:
FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | GOOGLE+ | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

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

Shared with: Treasures, 52 Mantels, Linking Up, Pin It, Taste and Tell, Creative Thursday, Chic & Crafty, Inspiration Gallery, I’m Lovin It, One Creative Weekend, Friday Flair, Weekend Potluck, Show & Tell, Seasonal Inspiration, Finding the Pretty,

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

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.

Make sure you don’t miss any of the crazy baking by following the BruCrew here:
FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | GOOGLE+ | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

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

Banana Split Cheesecake

January 6, 2013 83 Comments

Today marks a huge life change for the BruCrew family.

This post really has nothing to do with this cheesecake that is staring you in the face. Other than it is to celebrate this big life change we just made.
Stick with me through this post…I promise you the recipe will be worth the read

My husband started his new full time job today as an assistant pastor at our church. Over the past year, we have been making changes in our family to get ready to follow this dream and conviction. I know that God will provide all our needs, and we will be fine because we are following God’s will for our lives.
It is going to be an adjustment to living with less.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: cheesecake Tagged With: banana split, cheesecake, chocolate, strawberry

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Granola Bars

November 28, 2012 54 Comments

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Granola Bars

Well, winter is officially here. Snow was on the ground yesterday morning. It was only a very light dusting…you could really only see in on the piles of leaves and on the rooftops. But it was enough to get my kids super excited. My son is hoping for lots of the powdery white stuff this winter. Is it bad that I am wishing against snow? Last year we only had one big snowfall. That’s my kind of winter;-)

When snow comes, I think about hot chocolate. We almost always have a big container of the powdered stuff in the cupboards. We used to buy the little boxes with the packets because they were convenient and the kids could easily make their own. But then we realized how much hot chocolate they go through that way. It is actually cheaper to buy one of those bigger containers…that way you aren’t paying for all the packaging. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Brownies & Bars Tagged With: Andes crunch pieces, chocolate, homemade granola bars, hot chocolate granola bars, peppermint, peppermint hot chocolate

Brownie Mint Rice Krispie Treats

November 18, 2012 35 Comments

CURRENTLY I AM…

…EXCITED FOR - Thanksgiving with my hubby’s family…can’t wait to snuggle those nieces and nephews.
…MISSING – my sisters and brother and their little munchkins.
…WEARING - jeans, black & orange top with a black & cream striped cardigan and silver flats with my bling owl necklace
…LISTENING TO - The Parent Rap…funny stuff if you have kids.
…TRYING - to not lose my patience when kids are doing the things kids do so well.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Rice Krispie Treats & Popcorn Tagged With: brownie, chocolate, marshmallow, mint

Reese’s Turkeys

November 15, 2012 60 Comments

I couldn’t wait any longer to show you these cute little peanut butter turkeys. Well, ok, I had to wait until today because I finally finished putting everything together this afternoon. But the idea for them has been rolling around in my head all month long. I sure hope you have a bag of candy corn and some leftover Reese’s candy from Halloween. Who am I kidding? Leftover Reese’s? That never happens in this house either. My kids are just as crazy for those candies as I am. They used to share them with me when they were little…now they hide them, so I can’t find them:-) So, I just bought more for this fun project. I can’t wait to make more for us to devour on Thanksgiving Day.

How cute would these little fry boxes be at each kid’s place setting this Thanksgiving? I think this fry box die cut is my favorite one from Lifestyle Crafts right now. It makes the cutest little boxes for small treats. Plus using a die cut sure beats tracing an old McD’s fry box and trying to cut it all out right:-) I also found the “Keep Calm and ______” stamp at JoAnn’s the other day. I just filled in the “eat ham” part with some small letter stamps I found at Walmart. How perfect is this saying for these little boxes filled with turkeys?

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Fudge and Candy, seasonal, Thanksgiving Tagged With: candy, candy corn, chocolate, peanut butter, reeses, Thanksgiving recipe, turkey shaped candy

Cherry Jubilee Chocolate Cheesecakes

November 11, 2012 29 Comments

Hey, there cheesecake fans. Yeah, I’m talking to you:-) These chocolate cherry cheesecakes are going to blow your cheesecake lovin minds. You totally need to try these cherry filled cheesecake minis sometime this holiday season. I love how plain and chocolatey they look, but then one bite and you realize it is so much more!!! [Read more...]

Filed Under: cheesecake Tagged With: cherry, chocolate, cupcakes, Lucky Leaf pie filling, oreo

Creepy Crawly Brownie Pizzas

October 28, 2012 25 Comments

I have one last minute Halloween treat to share with you guys. Actually I thought about holding off and saving it for next year since I am getting this up so close to the actual holiday. But you and I both know that I will totally forget about this come next year. And since these were so very good, I figured you wouldn’t mind another creepy treat before we dive into holiday goodies.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Brownies & Bars, Halloween Tagged With: brownies, chocolate, cream cheese, oreo

Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes

October 18, 2012 46 Comments

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Dear News Crew,

Thank you so much for deciding to visit my house for an interview on neighborhood crime today. I am so glad that I did not shower, was sporting a pony tail and decided to wear barely any makeup. That should be a pretty sight on the evening news tonight. At least I wasn’t in pajamas or sweats:-)

Love,

The Vain Lady Who Hopes No One Recognizes Her

Dear Ankle,
It’s time you suck it up and stop hurting. I have given you 4 weeks of rest. In return, you have allowed the brownies and cupcakes to take up residence in places I don’t like. I have decided to make you go back to the gym, so don’t even try to start hurting again because I’m not listening.

Love,
The Exercise Deprived Lady with Cupcake Buns

Dear Elliptical,
Why do you always cause me to think about cookies and cupcakes when I visit you? Next time I am there, please make sure to fill my head with visions of salad instead. Thank you for helping me out with this weakness of mine.

Love,
The Lady with Cupcake Visions

[Read more...]