No Fail Rocky Road Fudge

1 (12 oz) bag semisweet chocolate chips
1 container Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Chocolate Frosting
1 1/2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Line a square pan with foil, leaving 2 inches on each side.  Spray with cooking spray lightly.
Microwave chocolate chips in a large bowl on high for 1 minute.  Stir until melted, and if needed, microwave for 20-30 seconds longer or until chocolate is smooth.
Microwave frosting for 20 seconds, uncovered.  Stir into melted chocolate chips.
Add milk and vanilla and stir until smooth and creamy.
Stir in marshmallows and walnuts.  Spread in pan.
Refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm.
Remove fudge from pan by lifting foil.  Remove foil and cut into 8x8 rows.  Store covered tightly in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

My review:  I love fudge, but can never make it without it being gritty.  This recipe solved that, and is absolutely delicious!  This is great!

No Bake Aphrodisiacs

I clipped this recipe from Cosmo a long time ago, hence the name... but I thought I'd keep the name, because it's pretty catchy, and maybe they work! 

2 cups sugar
1 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup peanut butter, crunchy or creamy
2 1/2 to 3 cups rolled oats

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a medium saucepan on medium heat and bring to a slow boil.
Let simmer until the sugar has all dissolved.
Stir in the peanut butter.
Remove from the heat.
Stir in 2 1/2 cups of the oats.  The mixture should be thick, if not, add another 1/2 cup of oats.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper.  Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the mixture on the cookie sheet and allow to firm up at room temperature, which will take about an hour.

My review:  Wow, wow, and wow.  Cosmo recommended these to make to "make up with your boyfriend", but I don't care who you make them for, they will forgive you, love you, and probably follow you around forever.  They are scrumptious!  I'm glad I'm giving my batch away as gifts, because I could eat them all!!!

Turtles!

These are very similar to the last recipe, but I think they deserve their own post...

Rolo Candies
Round wheel pretzels or the waffle shape ones
Pecans

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Arrange your pretzels on a cookie sheet in a single layer.
Top with one Rolo candy each.
Bake for 5 minutes.
Immediately smash a pecan onto each Rolo Pretzel.
Let cool!  These may need to go into the refrigerator to get completely set.  They are also good straight from the oven... but I didn't tell you that :-)




My review:  Yummy!!  These are so good, and another pretty, easy candy to make for friends and family as gifts.  Enjoy!

Hershey Kiss Buttons!

Hershey Kisses (You can use regular kisses, hugs, or any of the special variety)
Round Wheel Pretzels or Waffle shaped pretzels
M&M's
(you decide the amounts, you just need the same amount of each)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Place pretzels on a cookie sheet, in a single layer.
Top with one hershey kiss each.
Put in the oven for 2 minutes.  (the kiss will maintain its shape, so don't wait for it to melt completely!)
Immediately use an M&M to smash the top of the kiss down.
Let cool. 
TIP:  don't try to do too many at a time or by the time you're to the end of your pan, the kisses are too cool to be smashed!


I did one batch with regular kisses:

One batch with hugs:

And one batch with the seasonal Candy Cane kisses:

My review:  I never knew how to make these, but I really liked to eat them!  What a cute little snack and filler for Christmas gift bags.  I imagine these would be fun to make with kids, because they would like the smashing with the M&M's and even the unwrapping of all the kisses!  Try them!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark

6 squares Baker's Semi Sweet Chocolate
6 squares Baker's White Chocolate
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Microwave each chocolate in separate bowls, 30 seconds at a time, until melted, stirring after each 30 seconds.  It will most likely take about a minute and a half.  Stir well until both are completely melted.  Add the peanut butter to the melted white chocolate and stir until combined.
Spoon alternating chocolates onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet, and use a table knife to swirl the two together.
Refrigerate at least one hour and break into pieces.

My review:  Delicious and so pretty!  Fun and easy to make!  It's so creamy and melt in your mouth - y that it is ridiculous.  Would be absolutely lovely paired with some coffee.  Yum!

Peppermint Chocolate Bark

6 squares Baker's Semi Sweet Chocolate
6 squares Baker's White Chocolate
12 candy canes, crushed (about 1 cup)

Microwave the chocolates in separate bowls, 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each time.  Do not overheat!  Make sure to stir well after each 30 seconds. Once completely melted, stir a 1/2 cup candy canes into each chocolate.  Spoon alternating chocolates onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet.  Swirl together with a table knife.
Refrigerate one hour or until firm and break into pieces.


My review:  Easy and yummy!  Perfect for gifting and great for snacking!

Holy Cow! Cake

This picture doesn't do this cake justice. Holy Cow! is this some good cake!

1 box German chocolate cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 jar caramel, butterscotch or fudge topping
1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 bag (8 oz) toffee chips or bits


Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan).
Mix and bake cake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan.
Let the cake cool for 10-15 minutes.
Poke top of warm cake every 1/2 inch with handle of wooden spoon.
Drizzle milk evenly over top of cake; let stand until milk has been absorbed into cake.
Then, drizzle with caramel topping. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled.
Spread whipped topping over top of cake.
Sprinkle with toffee chips.
Store covered in refrigerator.

My review: HOLY COW! This was good. sorry to overdo the Holy Cow! references, but this was insanely good. I will most certainly be making this again. and again. Perfect for any Heath Bar lover...

Cake Trifle

Bakerella, who makes some fantastical cake pops, saved me this week.

I mean it. Saved my life.

I made a cake. Just because.

And I ruined said cake. It was still cakey, still faboosh tasting, but I tried to get it out of the pan, and all hell broke loose.

And then came Bakerella. With this post.


I want to ruin cakes more often. Because, if you didn't follow the link, a ruined cake makes a fabulous cake trifle. and you know what a cake trifle includes?

Ruined Cake
1 Box of Prepared Pudding
1 tub cool whip

And then, you just layer it. and it looks fabulous, and no one ever knows that it was actually a mistake that you had to fix.

So do it.

Go ruin a cake.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Milkshakes

4 scoops ice cream (chocolate or vanilla, or both)
1/2 cup - 1 cup milk, depending on desired thickness
1 tsp vanilla extract
a couple spoonfuls of cookie dough
Chocolate syrup, if desired

Mix it all together in the blender, and blend! Makes 2 very large milkshakes!

My review: Different. I had heard of this being served at a restaurant and wanted to try it at home. I have a huge bucket of cookie dough in my fridge right now, so i had to try it! It was pretty good, especially if you like cookie dough. I still prefer plain old vanilla or a Red Bull milkshake (birch beer flavored).

S'mores Dip

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 cup Marshmallow Creme
Graham Crackers for Dipping!

Microwave the chocolate chips and milk in a bowl for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted.
Pour into a glass pie plate.
Drop marshmallow creme in teaspoonfuls over top the mixture.
Microwave for about 30 seconds, until the marshmallow is all soft and gooey.
Now, take a table knife and go nuts, swirling the crap out of it. But don't over do it. You want it to look marbled and yummy.
Serve immediately, while it's still warm, using graham crackers.


My review: I understand wanting to have s'mores without the campfire and all that, but I would still rather fire up the grill or even a burner on the stove, toast my marshmallow and sandwich it all up. This also makes way too much for just someone trying to snack... unless you have a group of hungry kids, you will have to eat until you burst. So... My review is that this is yummy, but I prefer the traditional s'more.

Pioneer Woman's Baked Fudge

P-Dub really outdid herself this time. I bought ramekins last weekend, in hopes to soon make creme brulée. But I was having people for dinner last night and remembered this post. And not to ruin your anticipation of my review, but holy cow.

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 heaping tbsp cocoa
2 tbsp flour
1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Beat the eggs until they are light in color.
Then beat in the sugar just until combined.
Now add cocoa, flour, butter, and vanilla. Mix gently until well combined.
Pour the batter into four large ramekins or an 8-inch square baking dish. Set the ramekins or pan into a larger pan halfway full with water.
Bake for 40-50 minutes, until upper crust is crispy and the rest is firm but not set.
Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

My review: Wow. This is so darn delicious, I have made it twice in a 24 hour period. My guests raved. I like making it in the ramekins, it makes it more personal and cute. And I had cute new ramekins that were begging to be used. Begging. P-Dub, you have never failed me. And I wasn't skeptical. But this was the easiest and most delicious dessert I have ever made from scratch, and it is going to take everything I have not to make it every day. Yum. Make this. Now. (And go to her site. and comment a lot. and make all of her recipes. Seriously.)