Bakin' Brownies

   In honor of the holidays I decided to bake Peppermint Stick Brownies for my family and friends! In many different areas around the world you can almost guarantee the presence of brownies in parties for people of all ages. Thanks to the book Cookies Cookies Cookies By Shelli McConnell I figured out a way to bake brownies for my family and friends and add a little holiday spin on them!

A sample of how the final product
will turn out to be 

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 & 1/2 cups all purpose flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 & 1/4 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup margarine or butter
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup mint-flavored chocolate pieces 
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans 
• Fudge Frosting 
• 1/2 cup broken peppermint sticks or coarsely crushed striped round peppermint candies 

Recipe 

Step 1: Pour and stir together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Step 2: In a large sauce pan combine the sugar, margarine or butter, and cocoa powder. Place sauce pan over medium heat and stir constantly until margarine or butter is melted. Remove from heat.

Step 3: Add eggs and vanilla into the same sauce pan from step 2. Use a wooden spoon and lightly beat just till combined (don't overbeat).

Step 4: Add the milk and the newly formed chocolate mixture alternately (adding in the two new substances in small amounts while switching between the two). Beating after each addition. 

Step 5: Stir in chocolate pieces and walnuts or pecans. Spread batter into a greased baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-28 minutes or till a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Step 5: Stir in chocolate pieces and walnuts or pecans. Spread batter into a greased baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-28 minutes or til wooden tooth pick inserted near center comes out clean.

 Step 6: Cool brownies in pan or wire rack. Frost with Fudge Frosting. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint. Cut into desired bars.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Step 6: Cool brownies in pan or wire rack. Frost with Fudge Frosting. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint. Cut into desired bars.

Want your brownies to have even more holiday spirit then it already does? Shelli McConnell has created a way for that very thing to be possible, "here's a secret, mint-flavored chocolate pieces are nestled in the center of these chocolaty brownies" (McConnell 16). My loved ones fell in love with the sweet surprise that was found in every delicious peppermint stick brownie, and because of that I can promise that your loved ones will too! 

Did you bake anything special for your loved ones in honor of the holidays?

If so what did you bake? Did your family enjoy it?

Happy Holidays Everyone!

McConnell, Shelli. Meredith Corporation. Des Moines: Meredith Corporation, 1992. Print.

Bakin' Cookies

          For as long as I could remember, my family and I loved to bake. Baking is a great way to bring the family together and have fun. I decided to bake "delicate cake-soft cookies frosted with a rich butter-flavored icing" (McConnell 11) called Browned Butter Cookies from the book Cookies Cookies Cookies By Shelli McConnell.

The final product of the Browned Butter Cookies

Ingredients Needed:

• 2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 & 1/2 cup margarine or butter
• 2 eggs 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 cup dairy sour cream
• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts 
• Browned Butter Icing 

Recipe:

Step 1: In a medium sized mixing bowl stir well together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. After the ingredients are well mixed set aside the bowl.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl combine the brown sugar and margarine or butter. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed till well combined. Then beat in eggs and vanilla till fluffy.

PLEASE NOTE: Leave out the butter for about 5-10 min or until the butter has soften prior from adding it to the mixture

Step 3: Add the flour mixture to the newly made margarine mixture along with the sour cream, mix well. 

Step 4: Stir in chopped nuts 

Step 5: Scoop and roll the cookie dough till your satisfied with how large the balls are and set them 2 inches apart onto the greased cookie sheets. Bake in a 350 degree oven about 10 minutes or till set. (Note: The time is a suggestion and can be changed till satisfaction) 

Step 6: Take out the cookies from the oven and set the baked cookies on wire racks or plates and wait till they are cooled down

Step 7: Frost cookies with browned butter icing and decorate with sprinkles or other wanted sweets

Step 8: Eat up and enjoy with your family and loved ones!

      Through the process of making these cookies I learned that it was a lot harder and more work alone then I initially thought . Usually, my mom would do most of the work and my sisters and I would just do the 'fun parts' like mixing and pouring in the ingredients. I am genuinely glad that I am finally putting in a lot more effort into learning how to bake and I hope you guys enjoy learning with me. 

Do you enjoy baking?

 If so who do you like to bake with & what is your favorite thing to bake? 

McConnell, Shelli. Meredith Corporation. Des Moines: Meredith Corporation, 1992. Print.