• German Chocolate Brownies
    Cookies and Bars

    German Chocolate Brownies

    February is always chocolate month to me. Besides Valentine’s Day, it’s also ridiculously cold and dark up here in the north. We need plenty of chocolate to guide us through the second half of winter — because yes, we still have half the winter to go (sorry winter-hating friends, but it’s true). Well, more than half, because winter lasts until April here…or sometimes May…but I digress. The point is, we need a little extra chocolate this time of year. And what better way to up our chocolate intake than with rich, gooey brownies? Bonus points if they’re covered in a sweet, custardy, coconutty topping. Introducing your new winter BFF, German…

  • Tiramisu Brownies
    Chocolate and Candy,  Cookies and Bars

    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…

  • Double Ginger Brownies
    Chocolate and Candy,  Cookies and Bars

    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,…

  • Olive Oil Pistachio Brownie Cookies
    Cookies and Bars

    Olive Oil Pistachio Brownie Cookies

    I’ve been wanting to make an olive oil chocolate chip cookie for a while, and that’s how this one started out. But as I worked on the recipe, it ended up much more chocolatey and brownie-like than I originally intended. And I have to say, I’m not mad about it. This is a rich, fudgy dream of a cookie. Say hello to Olive Oil Pistachio Brownie Cookies! I have a feeling you’ll love them. Olive Oil In Cookies? Yep, You Read That Right. Cookies aren’t the first thing I think of when I think of olive oil. Pasta, bread, salad dressing, roasted veggies…there are a million and one savory ways…

  • Malted Coffee Blondies
    Cookies and Bars

    Malted Coffee Blondies

    This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Despite the fact that I already have four chocolate chip cookie recipes on the blog (five if you count my Dark Chocolate S’mores Cookies), I can’t seem to stop making up new ones. This time I went for something in bar form – say hello to Malted Coffee Blondies! These chewy chocolate- and pecan-studded beauties have three sources of inspiration. First, the blondies I used to make when I worked at Amazing Grace Bakery here in Duluth (so good I dream about them). Second and third, recipes…

  • Espresso Brownies with Chocolate Glaze
    Chocolate and Candy,  Cookies and Bars

    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…

  • Salted Caramel Brownies
    Chocolate and Candy,  Cookies and Bars

    Salted Caramel Brownies

    It is insanely cold in Duluth right now. As I write this, it’s -20°F outside (yep, you read that right, 20 degrees BELOW zero). And that’s the actual air temperature, not including wind chill. It’s the kind of cold where you get an instant ice cream headache just from walking outside. It is awfully pretty though. There’s something in me that loves this kind of cold. Partly because of how beautiful it is, partly because just going to the grocery store feels like an adventure, and partly because it’s a great excuse to stay home and enjoy some of my favorite indoor activities. It’s supposed to stay this cold for…