Chocolate Covered Brownie & Blondie Balls

With Valentine's Day tomorrow, I wanted to give something special for my boyfriend. He isn't the biggest fan of boxed chocolates, so I decided to take my recipe for protein brownies that he likes and make them into Chocolate Covered Brownie Balls.

If given the choice, he loves vanilla and white chocolate, so I made some of each flavour for a little variety.

I even sprinkled some coconut on a few of them. I have to admit that I tested every one and the white chocolate coconut ones were my favourite.

To make your own chocolate covered brownie or blondie balls, all you need is:
- Favorite Brownie or Blondie recipe, prepared (I made Protein Brownie, but you can use any)
- 1 bag Chocolate Chips (White, Milk, Semi-Sweet or Dark, whichever you prefer)
- 1 tbsp Butter.

Crumble up the cooled brownies or blondes in the pan and using a melon ball, scoop the brownie and form into a ball. Place them on parchment paper and allow to chill for an hour in the fridge.

In a small bowl, melt 1 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave according to the package. Stir in a tbsp of butter. Place a frozen brownie ball in the melted chocolate, rolling to coat. Lift out with a fork and gentle tap on the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate.

Return balls to the baking sheet and sprinkle with you favourite toppings as desired. Return to the fridge to cool until the chocolate is set.

Continue melting chocolate and covering the brownie balls. It took about 1 bag of chocolate chips to do a batch of chocolates.

I placed the brownie balls in little silver foil cups inside a heart box that I decorated.

Years I ago I received this as packaging on a present that I ordered and I loved the box. I've had it in my wrapping supplies box all these years and have finally found use for it for the boyfriend's homemade gift this year. I didn't have the heart to through it out all those years ago and I'm so glad that I didn't, because it is perfect for this.

It has enough room to hold two layers of chocolates, and I have plenty more tucked away in another container incase he wants more. Knowing his late night snacking, I'm sure that these will be gone in no time.

I hope that he likes them!

Valentine's Day Homemade Craft and Treat Ideas

With the weekend coming up, I thought I would do a little search for fun treats and crafts to make before Valentine's Day on Monday.

These are my favorite Espresso Cookies that I made for Valentine's Day last year for my friends and family. Deliciously chocolatey, with a little coffee flavour.

I packaged them up in these fun (and easy to make) little fabric Valentine Treat Bags. A great reusable craft too because you can use them year after year.

I don't have kids to worry about buying Valentine's for sharing with classmates, but the second I saw these Tootsie Roll Valentines I was in love. How cute are these? This is a great Valentine project to do with kids - using photography, computer graphics and crafting - that are sure to delight the recipients.

Looking for a creative way to turn your pizza into something special? Using a small heart cookie cutter, cut pieces of pepperoni and place on top of a homemade or store bought pizza to make fun and adorable Valentine Pizza!

Why not take the two trends of red velvet and whoopie pies together and make fun and festive Red Velvet Whoopie Pies.
 

Having a tea party soon? Make these cute Tea Cup Cookies that have a slit on the side to let them gently rest on your tea cup!

Making a craft to use with kids doesn't have to take much to be fun and can use simple scraps that you may have around the house. This Heart Tic Tac Toe game is made with a simple cardstock heart shape and uses stuffed felted hearts from felted scraps for the game pieces.

Just looking at these is making me crave delicious and chewy Cake Balls. Instead of spending money buying your sweetheart a Valentine's Day treat, why not make them a sweet thing yourself! Or better yet, take the time over the weekend to make it together!

You can even package up your homemade treats in these cute Mini Valentine's Day Gift Bags from Martha Stewart.

You could even fill up the bags with Chocolate Rolled Cookies. I love the polka dot ones :)

Looking for a sweet and sophisticated way to dress up your flowers? Make this bold, yet simple Candy and Tulip Bouquet using deep red tulips and little cinnamon hearts.

I'm a big fan of fun vintagey print templates, so when I saw this great Valentine Brownie Bag template I just had to share it. You could even change this around and make it work for packaging up treats for any party or holiday!

Hope that you find some time over the weekend to get creative and have some Valentine fun!

Cookie Dough Ice Cream Pie

This is one of my favorite recipes that I have made in the past year. So decadent, but it still reminds me of my childhood love of chocolate chip cookie dough. Who am I kidding. I still love eating cookie dough.

I made this for my boyfriend's birthday and he went crazy for it. The crunchy crust, chewy dough and creamy ice cream makes it a delicious dessert. Its sure to please!

What you'll need:
1/4 cup Butter, softened
2 tbsp White Sugar
1/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1 tbsp Milk
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 cup Mini Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1 Chocolate Cookie Pie Crust (I used Keebler, but you could also use Oreo)
3 cups Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, softened
1/2 cup Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream Sauce, heated

In a large bowl, mix butter, sugar and brown sugar until creamy. Add milk and vanilla, mixing until well blended.

In a small bowl, mix flour and salt. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients.

Stir in mini chocolate chips.

Spread cookie dough evening along the bottom of the Oreo crust, pressing it in.

Add spoonfuls of ice cream on top of the cookie dough, spreading it around smoothly with the back of the spoon. Freeze for 2 hours or until firm.

When you're ready to serve, set pie out at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften.

Drizzle warmed chocolate fudge sauce over each slice of pie after you cut them.

Just looking at this is making me crave it again.
Make it this weekend and you won't regret it!

Makes 8 servings.

Adapted from Cake, Batter and Bowl
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Homemade Peppermint Bark Jars

Every Christmas my family makes delicious Peppermint Bark. Its something I look forward to every year, so when my sister came up with the idea of giving it away this year on gifts, I was on board.

She found small glass jars, decorated them up and made handwritten cards with the recipe inside (with the leftover materials from last year's Holiday cards).

The ribbon was picked up on clearance at a local craft store. I like to check out the sales at the end of every year and pick up amazing post-Christmas deals.

We have plenty of little vintage wired pinecones at my parents' place, which made for adorable additions to the ribbon bows.

I decided to use a candy cane on my bows, which made for a nice little extra treat.

When I made the Peppermint Bark, I tried to break it into nice bite-size pieces. I may or may not have eaten a few myself ;)

This is a simple homemade gift that cost less than $8 for each gift including the chocolate, ribbon and jars. Each batch of Peppermint Bark makes approximately four gifts.

A sweet Christmas treat, with a personal touch.

White Chocolate Coconut Cookies

Last weekend I had someone visiting me and I told them I'd make any cookie, brownie, dessert etc that they wanted. And what was their only request: Chocolate Chip Cookies with white chocolate chips. The idea intrigued me. Why hadn't I thought of that before? I conveniently had white chocolate chips in the cupboard, so while I was routing around for them I found a little bag of shredded coconut. And idea was born. Why not put white chocolate chips AND coconut in it? Bingo.

White Chocolate is a relatively new phenomenon, only being first introduced in Switzerland a few years after World War I. The first white chocolate produced was by the Nestlé company in 1930 and it wasn't until a year later that the M&M Candy company started manufacturing it in New Hampshire and introduced it in the United States. Its hard to believe its only been around for about 70 years. What did they make white chocolate bunnies out of before then?

Thats your history lesson for the day. Now onto the recipe!

What you'll need:
1/2 cup Butter, softened
1 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1 Egg
1 tbsp Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 3/4 cup Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 cup Shredded Coconut
1 cup White Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar for 3 minutes.

Add in the egg, milk and vanilla and continue to mix for another 2 minutes.

Mix mix mix!

In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix for another minute.

Mix in the coconut and white chocolate chips until just combined. (I may or may not have stolen some cookie dough at this point. Sorry Mom! I know you hate that, but I can't help myself!)

Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet. Press down slightly. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Let the cookies sit on the pan for a few minutes before removing to a cooling rack.

These delectable little cookies come right out of the oven buttery and creamy. I made some chewy and some a little more crispy, and I have to say that they taste fantastic both ways. Its just your texture preference.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

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Oatmeal Brownie Drops

Even with this blistering heat wave that we are having in Ontario, I've been craving brownies...the kind that involve turning the oven on...which should be avoided at all costs right now, but sometimes in a chocolate emergency like this, it just can't be avoided.

And when the weather is like this, you can justify brownies by putting them into a delicious cold ice cream sundae. Well, at least thats what I'm doing...

What you'll need:
1/2 cup Butter, softened
3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/2 cup Cocoa
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 cup Quick-Cooking Rolled Oats (not instant)
1 cup Semi-Sweet Mini Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.

Beat in eggs and vanilla until creamy.

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, cocoa and baking soda.

Add to butter mixture, blending thoroughly.

Stir in oats and mini chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until cookie begins to set. Do not overbake. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Now you could just go ahead and eat them like this....but I wanted something a little more appropriate for a hot summer...

A cold and creamy caramel sundae. a warm, just out-of-the-oven oatmeal brownie is the perfect companion.

The warm brownie melts the ice cream, which in turn cools the brownie...making it a delicious mess. I love it!

Makes about 3-1/2 dozen cookies.
Recipe from Hershey Canada
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