Halloween Candy season may be over, but Pumpkin has not gone out of style just yet. I saw these online the other morning at 5AM because my 14 month-old is all, SCREW YOU TIME CHANGE, THIS FEELS LIKE 6AM STILL, and I realized I actually had everything I needed to make them! Chocolate chips, pumpkin puree, almond butter, pumpkin pie spice and honey. That's it. A dark chocolate shell with a creamy pumpkin butter center. Oh, and sea salt on top because chocolate can barely go without it these days. They were easy to make and delicious (however I recommend popping them in the fridge to let the bottom chocolate harden before you add the filling and top).
Enjoy these. Enjoy your weekends. Enjoy your sleep if you're getting any (I hate you).
Luckily for me, Carson often comes home with the best recipes (as seen in
this series). It's easy to get in a rut when you have a food blog, so I always welcome new ideas, especially if they have to do with peanut butter, banana and chocolate. OBVIOUSLY. Now you know I'm not overly concerned with nutritional facts, especially when it comes to desserts, but these little guys are only 155 calories each. I was Math Student of the Month once in Middle School so I know that means you can eat like 17 of them all at once. No really! Dark chocolate with a whipped peanut butter banana center, gah. I've kept mine in the freezer, because they're delicious that way.
*Tip: when putting the first layer of chocolate down, use a spoon to push it up on the sides, which will help your "cup" shape take form.
Hello there, how were your weekends? I was alone with my kids, so it felt approximately 17 days long. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited to spot that big, yellow school bus this morning! As I tend to do, I filled some of the time by making sweets. There was a gingerbread house that turned into gingerbread wall cookies (our home could not stand the test of time). And there were these Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles. I found the recipe on the back of these
Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips and you must, must, must try and find a bag or twelve...
They taste like creamy, white chocolate candy canes. You could sprinkle them on top of cakes, bake them in cookies or just throw handfuls in your mouth. OR, you could make these super easy and delicious truffles which make GREAT gifts. Rich, minty dark chocolate inside a peppermint crunch coating is exactly what you need at the end of the day while you're wrapping presents, trust me.
That, and a bottle of wine.
Andes Dark Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
(Makes 2 dozen)
1 cup whipping cream
8 oz. dark chocolate chips (at least 60% cocoa)
1 10 oz. pkg of Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips, reserve 1 cup for coating
Place dark chocolate chips and peppermint baking chips (reserving one cup) in a heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Turn off heat, and let sit for a minute. Then pour half of the cream over the chocolate. Let sit for 30 seconds, then whisk until smooth. Pour remaining cream over chocolate and whisk again until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least an hour. When ready to make truffles, remove bowl and let sit on counter for a few minutes. Take a heaping teaspoon of the chocolate mixture, and roll between your palms (this will be messy), and then roll in reserved peppermint chips. Let sit on parchment lined baking sheet in the fridge to set. Place in airtight container to store.
I'm all about making little trays of baked goods and treats for random people during the holidays. Even if you have no idea what sort of likes and dislikes the person may have, it's a gesture that says, "Hey, Nice Lady At The Bagel Shop Where I Spend Way Too Much Money, you're nice, Happy Holidays!" I tend to make things all December long, storing them in airtight containers in the fridge, so I can pull them out when someone like the Amazon delivery dude comes by (every, single, day). Fudge is the perfect treat to make... it lasts for a long time and is very rich, therefore you can cut them in teeny, tiny pieces. This Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge is sooooo good, and topped with sea salt? I mean, the Amazon delivery dude might fall in love with you. Which could be a problem, since he's at your house every, single, day.
And so it begins! I plan on making something sinfully scrumptious every day this month. Maybe. Ok, I probably won't, but I'm going to try. And I'm going to stand on street corners, handing treats out to all who pass by, but only if they're jolly. And only if it's warm outside. First up, Andes Mint Bark... easy to make (especially in bulk), easy to gift, easy to eat waaaay too much of.
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