Chocolate and Candy
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Mint Chocolate Cupcakes
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the subtle power of comfort food. Maybe it’s the war in Ukraine, maybe it’s the fact that we’re coming up on two years of the pandemic, or maybe it’s any number of other difficult and scary things happening in the world. But whatever the reason, there’s something innately comforting about sharing food with those we love when we can’t control what’s happening around us. When I think about comforting desserts, I think of cake. Especially chocolate cake with a rich, creamy frosting. In that vein, I created these über-comforting Mint Chocolate Cupcakes. They’re perfect for St. Patty’s Day, but can offer a dose…
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Tiramisu Brownies
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Whether you like this particular holiday or not, you have to admit it’s a great excuse to eat chocolate. And although we don’t actually need an excuse to eat chocolate, it’s still a great reason to make — and eat — an over-the-top chocolate dessert. Our assignment for Valentine’s Day 2022: Tiramisu Brownies. Brownies…But Sexier Yep, these beauties are a mashup of brownies and tiramisu. Think deeply fudgy brownies with pieces of ladyfingers mixed in, then covered in a thick, creamy mascarpone-whipped-cream-Kahlua topping and a hearty dusting of cocoa powder. A decidedly sexier version of brownies…perfect for Valentine’s Day. The Fudgiest Brownies This…
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Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake
This past Tuesday was my birthday (we won’t talk about how old that makes me…let’s just say I’m old enough to remember the first time stirrup pants were in style). I genuinely love my birthday. I always take the day off of work and do whatever I want. This year my plans were pretty low key, but they did include a spectacular cake. The past few years for my birthday, I’ve made my own cake…partly because I’m picky and partly because I just love doing it. Two years ago it was this Chocolate Cake With Earl Grey Buttercream and Salted Caramel, and last year it was Aroshaliny’s Persian Love Cake.…
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Homemade Cinnamon Marshmallows
It’s spooky season, my friends. Halloween is just days away, which means costumes, trick-or-treating, and, most importantly, CANDY. I have so many memories from childhood running through the streets of my hometown with my friends, gathering treats from the neighbors like an adorable little bandit (back then we trick-or-treated without adults…in the dark…gotta love the ’80s!). But since I’m now too old to go door-to-door collecting peanut butter cups and kit kats (who makes these rules anyway?), these days I make my own candy. (Yes, I know I can just go to the store and buy myself all the kit kats I can eat, but this is more fun.) This…
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Fudgy Dark Chocolate Double Ginger Brownies
Fall has arrived, though officially summer still has more than a week left to dazzle us with its sunshine. This is my favorite time of year — the summer sun still holds enough warmth to add some bronze to your skin, while the chill in the air invites you to grab that sweater on your way out the door, just in case. The leaves are beginning to change, the days are getting shorter, and the cooler nights offer a taste of winter to come. This time of year my taste buds turn from the fresh, light flavors of summer and begin to crave the warmly spiced flavors of fall: cinnamon,…
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Peppermint Swirl Marshmallows
Happy Christmas week! (And Happy Saturday to those who don’t celebrate!) This weekend I’m finishing up my holiday baking, picking up a few last-minute gifts, and wrapping presents. Even though everything else is different this year, the one thing that hasn’t changed is that I’ve still managed to give myself way too much to do! There are just so many delicious holiday treats I want to make that I can’t bring myself to pare down my list. These peppermint swirl marshmallows, for instance, are so delicious that I’ve already made them twice. They are the perfect thing to add to your Christmas morning cup of cocoa or coffee, roast in…
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Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
I don’t have any exciting stories of squirrels breaking into my house to share with you today, just a great no-bake cookie recipe. These chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies are quick and simple to toss together, and are the perfect thing for when you want cookies but don’t want to turn the oven on. My mom made these cookies all the time when I was a kid. Neither of us remember exactly where they came from, so if you’re reading this and you know where they originated, let me know – I’d love to give credit where credit is due. They are chocolatey, peanut buttery, chewy, and oh-so-delicious. They’re also…
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Dorie Greenspan’s World Peace Cookies
Well friends, the past couple of weeks have been pretty terrible across the world, there’s no two ways around that. With more than half a million people having contracted COVID-19, and nearly 25,000 dead from it worldwide (www.worldometers.info/coronavirus, as of today), we are all in the grip of fear and grief, and it’s difficult to be hopeful. There is hope though, if you look for it – medical staff and other essential workers putting their lives at risk for us all, neighbors helping each other out, whole communities coming together (in a properly socially distant way of course) to support small businesses and artists, and so much more. With everything…
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Mocha Swirl Meringues
Well my friends, we’re nearing the end of February, so I thought we could all use one more chocolate recipe. Chocolate month continues this week with one of my favorite flavor combinations in one of my favorite treats. These Mocha Swirl Meringues combine my love of chocolate with my love of coffee, all in a crisp and airy meringue. Plus, they’re shaped like snowballs which is appropriate because it’s still very much winter around here. This is the time of year when I start to get antsy for Spring. Unfortunately for me, Spring is still a long way off here in Northern Minnesota. We’ll likely still get a couple of…
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Espresso Brownies with Chocolate Glaze
This has got to be one of my favorite chocolate recipes of all time. These Espresso Brownies with Chocolate Glaze are dense and deeply chocolatey, with a hit of espresso and crunchy pecans. Topped off with a glossy chocolate glaze and a sprinkle of coarse sea salt (or actual sprinkles, if you prefer), these brownies will make any grey day brighter. And in February in Northern Minnesota, we have a lot of grey days. Yes, we don’t see the sun around here much this time of year, so we have to make our own sunshine. Chocolate helps. A lot. Especially if you share your chocolate with loved ones. (Valentine’s Day…
