Gingerbread Men for Hot Chocoalte

Did you ever see something on the internet or in a magazine and think "What a cute idea"?  I saw this idea someplace and while I was shopping at Hobby Lobby I ran across the silicon gingerbread molds.  Since they were 50% off I thought that I would give this a try.

Success!!

Just use softened Cool Whip and fill the cute gingerbread mold. I used a cake frosting spatula to scrape the excess off. 

Popped them in the freezer. I left them overnight, because they were still softish just a few hours later, and I broke the leg off on one trying to get him out. 

Great idea and it worked very well. 

  

 Spoon the Cool Whip into the mold and use a flat spatula to scrape the excess off.

Freeze the little guys. 

 Pop them into your hot chocolate and ENJOY!

The kids will love them.

~Michelle

Peanut Butter Graham Cracker Bites - No Bake

Peanut butter and chocolate are always a wonderful combination. Here is a pretty simple no bake recipe.  The most challenging part is always the dipping in the melted chocolate. Try this and wow your friends this Christmas season. 

 recipe found on Pinterest; here

Peanut Butter Graham Cracker Bites

Makes: 25-27 balls

 Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups graham crackers crumbs - I used Keebler crumbs
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate

Directions:

Add graham crackers crumbs to the 1 cup of peanut butter. Mix it up good. You want the mixture to be dry enough to be able to form balls. Add a little bit more peanut butter or cracker crumbs to achieve this consistency if need be.

Form even sized balls with your hands and place on a wax paper covered plate, cutting board or baking sheet. Freeze for 30-60 minutes.

I used a double boiler to melt the chocolate; stir chocolate until melted. Place the mini chips in a small bowl. Note: You can use whatever topping that you would like including nuts, crushed Oreos, Heath bars…etc.

I used two forks to dip the peanut butter balls in the melted chocolate, one at a time, and then I sprinkled the chips over the balls. Refrigerate or freeze until firm.

~Michelle

Brownies

Don't be afraid to make brownies from scratch. They are really not as difficult as you might think. I whipped these up while the kids played in the basement with friends.  The smell drifted down the stairs and up came the boys.. They waited patiently while the delicious brownies cooled. 

The brownies had a fantastic crunchy top and a really moist and chocolaty center. Of course the addition of some chocolate chips to the mix, I'm sure, made the difference.

Enjoy

recipe adapted from Pillsbury - The Complete Book of Baking

Homemade Fudgy Brownies

Ingredients

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips


Directions

Heat oven to 350F. Grease 13x9-inch pan.  In small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and butter, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from the heat; cool slightly.

In medium bowl, beat sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add flour, salt and chocolate mixture, blend well. Spread in greased  pan. sprinkle the chips on the top.

Bake for 30-38 minutes. DO NOT OVER-BAKE. Cool completely 

~Michelle