Michelle's Tasty Creations: Chocolate

Showing posts with label Chocolate. Show all posts

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Dark Chocolate Peanut Clusters

If you're looking for an easy but fancy treat to make this holiday season try these Dark Chocolate Peanut Clusters.

The are so easy to make and you can give them as hostess gifts wrapped in a cellophane bag or dressed up in a holiday mug and brighten your family and friend's day.

These would make great teacher and coworker gifts too.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sometimes you just need a classic cookie in your corner.

After trying lots and lots of "the best cookie in the world" recipes I always come back to the Classic Toll House recipe with just a few adjustments.

Brownie Mug

Here I am again with these fun and delicious mug cakes!

But this time we're making brownies in a mug, Yuuuuuum!

Reese's Pieces Monster Cookies

I think I have found my all time favorite cookie!

I am a little behind the times and hadn't really ever tried Reese's Pieces candy until the other day and boy oh boy where they yummy!

So, me being the baker that I am decided to put them in a cookie!

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Felt like trying something new the other day and what goes better than chocolate and peanut butter?

I always fall back on brownies in a pinch for making a sweet treat too so this was a perfect day to make these.

German Chocolate Layer Cake

As you all know from the past, I'm not much of a chocolate person but I do LOVE German Chocolate Cake.

Growing up it's the cake I remember my Mom making that I really loved.

Probably because of the coconut and pecans in the delicious frosting.

This is a super easy recipe to follow but looks really fancy when you serve this cake.

Double Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

I felt like making bar cookies today and instead of the standard chocolate chip cookie bars I decided to make my base with peanut butter cookies.

And what better recipe to use than a tried and true amazing Chewy Peanut Butter base cookie recipe with a few added touches to make them over to top delicious.

Peanut Butter M&M Truffles

I have decided to give candy making a try this year and when these peanut butter M&M balls came across my Facebook page from Tasty (who else, lol) I decided this was where I would start.

Is there a better combination than chocolate and peanut butter? I think not!

Candy making in this form is way easier than you would think. You don't need to bust out the candy thermometer and the flavor combinations are endless.

Mocha Crazy Cake

While I was checking out Facebook a while back I found this recipe over at Sweet Little Bluebird blog for Chocolate Crazy Cake and adapted it slightly for a Mocha Cake.

What is Crazy Cake you ask? It's a cake that was developed during the depression when some food items were scarce; like eggs, milk, and butter.

This is a cake that is made without any eggs, milk, or butter. This cake is dairy free; which is perfect for those of you with egg or dairy allergies.

Individual Chocolate Chip Pizookie

I am loving my individual cast iron pans!

I have made Oreo Cookie Pizookies in them and now I have made Individual Chocolate Chip Pizookies. Just wait until the summer fruit comes in and then the cobblers will start!

What could be better than a dessert you don't have to share! Unless you want to, of course ;)

These are perfect to pop in the oven when you sit down to dinner and they are ready to eat when you're done.

Make them for company and you'll never hear the end of it!

What ever your reason for making these warm gooey chocolate chip pies of deliciousness, just make them!

Individual Oreo Pizookie

My daughter absolutely LOVES the Oreo Cookie Pizookie at BJ's restaurant.

So I thought why not try and make them at home.

Much more fun and you can have them any time of the day or night :) A plus in my book!

Since I got her approval on this delicious dessert, I'm going to share it with you. You should give it a try for your kiddos at home too (no matter their age).

Peppermint Kiss Cookies

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go....

Especially out here in blogland; everyone is gearing up for the holiday season with new recipes to share in time for you to try them too.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Buttercream

I think one of life's best combinations HAS to be chocolate and peanut butter; even for a non-chocoholic like me, I still like the flavor combo.

I also LOVE cupcakes. I think they are so much more fun to make than full size cakes. I can be more creative with a cupcake and they are more personal that a huge cake made for everyone.

I actually can't believe I've never made these before. They were so easy to make that I'm surprised more people don't make cupcakes at home on a regular basis.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Last week was the second week of summer for us and the boys spent the week working around here, doing yard work and fixing the two gates going into the back yard.

I figured the least I could do was ask them what kind of sweet treat they wanted me to make for them to snack on while they were working.

Justin said "I don't care mom, whatever you make is fine" Gotta love that boy!

Connor said "I'd love to have some White Chocolate Macadamia cookies". So Connor won because I really wanted to bake something and I can always use another great white chocolate cookie recipe :)

As you all already know, I'm not a big fan of chocolate. What you might not know is that I do LOVE white chocolate! Especially in baked goods.

Chocolate Pistachio Swirl Cake & SRS

It's that time again for our Surprise Recipe Swap. This is a fun swap hosted by Jutta over at Hungry Little Girl. For the swap you are assigned a new blog partner each month and you get to look through their blog, find a recipe to try then make it and blog about it. If you are interested please click on the link at the bottom of this post.

This month I was assigned Heather from My Sweet Mission blog. I was excited to check out this blog I hadn't visited before. Heather has an amazing assortment of recipes to chose from. I actually printed out several of her recipes to try including Patriotic {no roll} Sugar Cookies, Crusty Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes, and Warm Waffle Brownies, and finally settled on her Chocolate Pistachio Swirl Cake for this swap.

Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes

I know I preach about how I don't really like chocolate, but the one kind I DO eat is chocolate cake mix either in cake or cupcake form.

I also tend to preach about how much I like box cake mixes. I think there is no reason not to use a box mix when they come out perfect every time. You can even add to or change the ingredients to give them a richer taste.

In case you didn't already know I'm also a coffee lover! And I LOVE all things coffee flavored.

I love coffee ice cream, coffee candy, coffee coffee, lol and I ESPECIALLY LOVE my newest buttercream variation which happens to be coffee flavored Mocha Buttercream.

Chocolate Cream Pie

I have been making Chocolate Cream Pie for years!

It has got to be one of the simplest pies around, but I don't know a lot of people who make them.

Chocolate Pie is a family favorite around here! The hubby loves it, the kids love it, even the kids friends love it. I'm the only one who's not a huge fan because, as you know (if you've been following me for awhile), I'm not much of a chocolate person.

Michelle's Rocky Road

Lately I've been wanting to make chocolate candy "something". Now, for those of you who know me, this is an extremely weird thing. I am NOT a chocolate eater. I love caramel, vanilla, maple, and many other flavors but I usually don't eat chocolate ESPECIALLY if any of the other flavors are around. But lately I've really been in the mood to make Rocky Road.

Kit Kat Cake

Well, I did it! I made the Kit Kat Cake I've been seeing all over Pinterest and some blogs lately last weekend for Justin's 16th Birthday. It was super easy to make and the end result was Amazing. If you would like a great variation go check out Jennifer Cooks for her Ice Cream Kit Kat Cake.

Here's what you need:

1 box Devil's Food cake mix, I use Betty Crocker

1 (3.9 oz) box instant chocolate pudding

3 eggs

1-1/4 cup water

1/2 cup canola oil

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:

3/4 cup butter, at room temperature

1/4 cup shortening, Crisco

3-1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract
5 - 8 Tbs. heavy whipping cream

Toppings and sides of cake
11 regular size (4 sticks) Kit Kat Bars, (10 if using a 8" cake)
1 (12 oz) bag plain M&M's, plus more if needed
1 20" piece of ribbon of your choice

Spray two 8" or 9" (whichever you are using, both work well) cake pans with cooking spray and set aside.

In a medium bowl mix cake mix, pudding, eggs, water and oil until smooth. Pour into two prepared 8" or 9" cake pans and bake cake according to the directions. Let cool 10 minutes then remove to a wire rack and cool completely. I used a 9" cake pan set but an 8" would work fine too.

Once the cake is cooled, make the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting or use your favorite canned frosting.

Place powdered sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl and mix with a wire whisk to incorporate, or sift if you have more time then me.

In a stand mixer cream the butter and shortening for a few minutes until light and fluffy.

Add the powder sugar/cocoa mixture and beat on low until incorporated then add the vanilla and cream until it is the right consistency. Turn to medium high and beat for 3 minutes.

To assemble:

Start by CAREFULLY opening all the Kit Kat bars and breaking them into sections of two bars each (or single bars if you want to).

I bought a 13" cake board from the party store but a cake plate or regular plate with enough room around the edge will be just fine.

Place about 1 Tbs. of frosting in the center and set the first cake round on top of it.

Place 1/3 of the frosting in the center and spread evenly out to the edges.

Place second cake on top and place another 1/3 of frosting on top and spread evenly out to the edges. I didn't trim the cake flat but you can if you wish to (worked just fine with a slight rise in the center). Next use the remaining frosting to frost the sides evenly.

Line the Kit Kat bars up around the cake by pressing lightly into the frosting and touching together.

Next, tie the ribbon around the cake and trim the edges. Pull slightly tight to keep the Kit Kat's in place.

Fill the middle with most of the M&M's reserving some to go around the bottom of the cake on the plate. You can always use 1/2 a second bag like I did.

Happy 16th Birthday Justin!!!!!!!

I even found candles to match! This is the inside of the Yumminess!

Serves - 16 - 20 I cut the pieces at every two Kit Kat bars (1 section) because it was super chocolaty but if you break the Kit Kat's into single bars you could cut the pieces 3 bars wide. I served 20 people with one 9" cake and had large piece left over.

Enjoy!

~Hugs~

Michelle

Here's the handy printable - Kit Kat Cake

Linking up with:

Chic and Crafty at The Frugal Girls

Sundae Scoop Link Party at I Heart Naptime

Mix it Up Monday at Flour Me With Love

Sweet and Simple Sunday at Cups by Kim

Makin' You Crave Monday at Mrs. Happy Homemaker

Mouthwatering Monday at A Southern Fairytale

Lil' Luna Link Party #72 at Lil' Luna