Tag Archives: no-bake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Fudge

Super easy homemade peanut butter and chocolate fudge made with just four ingredients!

Four ingredient fudge!

Life has been so hectic here, and I suspect I’m not alone. With busy work schedules, back-to-school time and life in general, sometimes cooking or baking for the family can take a back seat. There are so many weeks that I’m scrambling to find a few things in my fridge to throw together so that L, Matt and I are well fed. Keeping those last minute meals interesting without going crazy sometimes seems to be an impossible task.

Super easy homemade fudge!

That’s why I was really excited to receive a copy of Five-Ingredient Recipes, A Cookbook for Busy People in the mail a few weeks ago. Not only are there interesting dinner recipes that most families will enjoy, but there are also fun and super easy dessert recipes as well. I’ve been seriously slacking in the baking department lately so I was thrilled to find a sweet treat recipe that required minimal time and ingredients. Something that I can make with ingredients in my pantry AND get done while L takes his (sometimes way too short) nap is a huge win.

Fast and Easy Five Ingredient Recipes

For some crazy reason I’ve never made fudge before, so when I found the recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge in Phi’s cookbook I couldn’t wait to get “cooking.” And I use that term lightly because All I had to do was microwave, stir and chill. This recipe is beyond easy to make and the result is rich, delicious and kind of addicting. Exactly what you want out of a dessert.

4-ingredient homemade fudge!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Fudge
 
Super easy homemade peanut butter and chocolate fudge made with just four ingredients!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 16-24
Ingredients
  • 130g (1/2 cup) creamy peanut butter (not all-natural)
  • 20g (2 tablespoons) powdered sugar
  • 340g (2 cups) good-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 114-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • Flaky sea salt (optional, my addition)
Instructions
  1. Line an 8 or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang for pan removal later; set aside
  2. In a small microwaveable bowl, heat peanut butter for thirty seconds on high heat; stir in powdered sugar; set aside
  3. Place chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a large microwaveable bowl; heat for thirty seconds on high and stir; repeat once or twice until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth (it will get thick quickly); immediately spread in prepared baking pan
  4. Spoon peanut butter mixture over chocolate and use a knife to swirl peanut butter into chocolate; sprinkle lightly with sea salt if desired
  5. Chill pan in freezer for thirty minutes or fridge for one hour; once chilled, remove fudge from pan by using sides of parchment paper to lift it up; place on a cutting board and slice
  6. Serve immediately or store leftovers in fridge for up to a week
Notes
Notes:
Recipe from Five-Ingredient Recipes, A Cookbook for Busy People

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I received a copy of Five-Ingredient Recipes, A Cookbook for Busy People for free but as always, all opinions are my own.

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

Rich and creamy no-churn peanut butter ice cream with swirls of milk chocolate and peanut butter.

No machine needed!! PB Cup Ice Cream!

Part of me wants to apologize for the fact that all I want to make and eat is ice cream. I can’t even blame pregnancy or breastfeeding for this summer’s obsession. But you know what? No churn ice cream is freaking easy and so delicious. No apologies over here!

This ice cream tastes exactly like a peanut butter cup!

And since I did figure out the ultimate peanut butter ice cream recipe this past Spring, I figure I should really take advantage of that and make every single version of peanut butter ice cream I can think of. Makes sense, right? Well, this time around I kept it simple with a peanut butter base, peanut butter swirl and milk chocolate ripple. Okay, maybe that sounds complicated, but I promise it’s not. Just four ingredients is necessary to make an ice cream that tastes exactly like a peanut butter cup. Summer eating does not get much better than this!

The best no churn chocolate and peanut butter ice cream! Only 4 ingredients!!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
 
Rich and creamy no-churn peanut butter ice cream with swirls of milk chocolate and peanut butter.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
For the ice cream base:
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 130g (1/2 cup) salted creamy all-natural peanut butter
  • 475 milliliters (2 cups) heavy cream
For the peanut butter swirl:
  • 150 (~2/3 cup) salted creamy all-natural peanut butter
For the chocolate swirl:
  • 240g good quality milk chocolate disks or bars, roughly chopped
Instructions
Make ice cream base:
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk and sea salt until smooth
  2. In the separate bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  3. Once cream is ready, fold it into peanut butter mixture
  4. Pour half of ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan or ice cream storage container
  5. Make peanut butter swirl:
  6. Microwave peanut butter for 15 seconds
  7. Drizzle half of peanut butter swirl over top
  8. Make chocolate swirl:
  9. In a small microwave-safe dish, heat chocolate in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted
  10. Pour half of milk chocolate over ice cream; use a knife to marbleize chocolate and peanut butter into ice cream
  11. Repeat with remaining ice cream, peanut butter and chocolate
  12. Wrap well with seran warp or tin foil and freeze for 6 hours or overnight
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Double Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Rich chocolate ice cream full of dark chocolate chunks; no churn ice cream for the chocolate lover!

Rich and chocolatey ice cream - don't need an ice cream maker!

Anyone who has raised a toddler knows that meal time can go in any direction. On a good day, your child will happily eat everything on his or her plate. On a bad day, a child yelling “no eat” or food tossed “accidentally” onto the floor may result. Some days a little game playing (“oh, do you want to use my fork today?or “how about mommy gets you some special sauce?”) will do the trick. Then there are days when chicken is too much effort to chew and half of it gets spit out.

So when we recently had to give L a medicine that was combined with food, I decided ice cream would be the best bet if we wanted to be 100% sure he would finish it. He is my child, after all. So when I ran out of the all-natural Turkey Hill chocolate he’d been eating, I had to dig into my own stash (what, you think I share my ice cream?). I wasn’t so sure he’d be able to eat those big chocolate chunks but what do you know, my kid who can’t always chew his chicken made his way through every.single.bite. My child for sure!

No Churn Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream - the whole family LOVED this!

And really, I can’t blame him. This double chocolate chunk ice cream is the ultimate ice cream flavor for the chocolate lover. The rich dark chocolate base is creamy and basically perfected with the addition of chocolate chunks. And since it’s toddler approved, you know it’s good.

Double Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
 
Rich chocolate ice cream full of dark chocolate chunks; no churn ice cream for the chocolate lover!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
  • 473 milliliters (2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 50g (½ cup + 2 tablespoons) dark unsweetened cocoa powder high quality
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) pure vanilla extract
  • 195g (1¼ cups) roughly chopped 55% dark chocolate
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, vigorously whisk together sweetened condensed milk, cocoa and vanilla; mixture will be very thick and you want to remove any cocoa clumps; set aside
  2. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  3. Once cream is ready, gently fold half of it into sweetened condensed milk mixture; gently fold in remaining cream until fully combined; fold in chocolate chunks
  4. Pour ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan or ice cream storage container; wrap well with seran warp or tin foil and freeze for 6 hours or overnight

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Peanut Butter Ripple Chocolate Ice Cream

Peanut Butter Ripple Chocolate Ice Cream

Oreo Fudge Swirl Ice Cream

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Drumstick Ice Cream Cake

Drumstick Ice Cream Cake

Graham and Milk Chocolate Ice Cream

No churn graham cracker ice cream with rich milk chocolate chunks.

Amazing graham cracker ice cream with milk chocolate chunks!

I’m here! Our internet is fixed, I survived my sister’s bachelorette party (I came back in almost one piece), and I have so many recipes piling up and ready to be shared. There are a few that I’m quite in love with, but since the Fourth of July is this weekend, ice cream seemed like the first priority.

latest no churn ice cream obsession!

I almost don’t want anyone to know about this ice cream, because there’s a quart of it in my freezer and I”m not quite ready to share. It’s rich, creamy, loaded with graham cracker flavor (and pieces!) and swirled with pure milk chocolate. Important to note, per my usual, it’s an easy no-churn flavor. No ice cream maker needed. There’s so much goodness in every scoop, I’m most definitely in love.

Obsessed with this ice cream recipe!

If you want to go sundae crazy, I’d recommend a warm marshmallow sauce to get a s’mores-like impact. Or maybe pile it high with fresh whipped cream and some warm blueberry sauce. For now, I’ll be scooping bowlfuls sans topping to enjoy all the flavor and texture this ice cream has to offer.

I can't believe this ice cream was made without an ice cream maker!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Graham and Milk Chocolate Ice Cream
 
No churn graham cracker ice cream with rich milk chocolate chunks.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
  • 475 milliliters (2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 140g (~1 cup + 2 tablespoons) finely ground crackers (~ 12 sheets)
  • 80g (1¾ cups) graham cracker broken into bite-sized pieces (~5 sheets)
  • 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
  • 240g good quality milk chocolate disks or bars, roughly chopped
Instructions
  1. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  2. While whipping cream, in a separate large bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk, graham cracker crumbs, graham cracker pieces and vanilla
  3. Fold cream into sweetened condensed milk mixture
  4. Pour half of ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan
  5. In a small microwave-safe dish, heat chocolate in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted
  6. Pour half of milk chocolate over ice cream; use a knife to marbleize chocolate and ice cream
  7. Top with remaining ice cream and repeat
  8. Wrap well with seran wrap or in an ice cream container and freeze for 6 hours or overnight

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it onInstagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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No Churn Cookie Butter Ice Cream

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Gingersnap Peach Crumble Ice Cream

 

Cinnamon Bun Cookie Ice Cream

No churn ice cream swirled with cinnamon roll filling and full of cinnamon roll cookie pieces!

No churn ice cream swirled with cinnamon roll filling OMG,

Every time I make a new ice cream flavor, I convince myself that it’s a new favorite and I can’t possibly come up with another that I will enjoy as much. The last batch, which was so good that I actually am not allowed to make it again (I had no self-control whatsoever!), was no different. However, this Cinnamon Bun Cookie Ice Cream is giving all previous ice cream experiences a run for their money!

IN LOVE

Creamy no churn vanilla ice cream is the base. In that, we have cinnamon roll filling (uh, yes!) and chopped chunks of cinnamon bun Oreos (yes, they do exist). Is it me, or were Oreos created soley for being folded into ice cream? My husband might beg to disagree, but I will pile my Oreos into ice cream each and every chance I get!

SONY DSC

I may have shed a small tear when I ate the last bowl of this cinnamon bun ice cream. It was that good, really.

Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream recipe - unbelievable!

 

5.0 from 1 reviews
Cinnamon Bun Cookie Ice Cream
 
No churn ice cream swirled with cinnamon roll filling and full of cinnamon roll cookie pieces!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
  • 475 milliliters (2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) vanilla extract
  • 230g (3 cups) roughly chopped cinnamon roll Oreos, roughly chopped (16 cookies)
  • 120g (~1/2 cup tightly packed) light brown sugar
  • 28g (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
  • 6g (2 teaspoons) ground cinnamon
Instructions
  1. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  2. While whipping cream, in a separate large bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk and vanilla; stir in Oreos
  3. In a separate small bowl, combine brown sugar, melted butter, cinnamon; set aside
  4. Once cream is ready, fold it into sweetened condensed milk mixture
  5. Pour half of ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan and drop half of brown sugar mixture over top; top with remaining ice cream and top with remaining brown sugar mixture; wrap well with seran wrap or tin foil
  6. Freeze for 6 hours or overnight before serving
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Pretzel Ice Cream

No churn peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter chunks and chocolate covered pretzel pieces.

basically the best ice cream ever.

I’ve been working very hard to bring you the very best no churn peanut butter ice cream you will ever eat. And by working hard, I mean eating my weight in peanut butter ice cream. No regrets over here!

HOLY COW peanut butter chocolate covered pretzel ice cream!

While I basically eat and breathe peanut butter, I wanted to find a balance between incredible peanut butter flavor and whoa this is pure frozen peanut butter (<—- not that there’s anything wrong with that!). I found that in order to do that, dividing the peanut butter into two parts: 1) peanut butter ice cream base and 2) peanut butter ripple was necessary. I know, I really took one for the team figuring that out.

no churn peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter swirls AND chocolate covered pretzels

And while that was ultimately awesome on its own, I wanted to add a mix-in, because ice cream with mix-ins is almost always better than ice cream without! The peanut butter was just calling for something crunchy and chocolaty so chunks of chocolate covered pretzel were a clear choice. I chopped up some Bark Thins because I’m mildly obsessed with them and the chocolate is rich, dark and not too sweet. Peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter ripple and chocolate covered pretzel in almost every bite. Sweet, salty, indulgent.

The BEST homemade ice cream!

In case it’s not already been made clear, this was complete peanut butter ice cream perfection.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Pretzel Ice Cream
 
No churn peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter chunks and chocolate covered pretzel pieces.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
For the ice cream:
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 130g (1/2 cup) creamy peanut butter (if using salted natural peanut butter, omit sea salt)
  • 3g (½ teaspoon) sea salt
  • 210g (2 cups) chopped chocolate covered pretzels (I used Bark Thins because I’m obsessed with them)
  • 475 milliliters (2 cups) heavy cream
For the peanut butter swirl:
  • 130- 200g (1/2- ¾ cup) creamy peanut butter (see notes*) (if using salted natural peanut butter, omit sea salt)
  • 1g (¼ teaspoon) sea salt
Instructions
Make ice cream base:
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk and sea salt until smooth; stir in chocolate covered pretzels
  2. In the separate bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  3. Once cream is ready, fold it into peanut butter mixture
  4. Pour half of ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan or ice cream storage container
Make peanut butter swirl:
  1. Microwave peanut butter for 15 seconds and stir in salt
  2. Drizzle half of peanut butter swirl over top then run a knife through peanut butter to marbleize; repeat with remaining ice cream and peanut butter
  3. Wrap well with seran warp or tin foil and freeze for 6 hours or overnight
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart
*I prefer to use the full 200g of peanut butter but that can make the ice cream very peanut buttery; use less if you aren’t quite as peanut butter crazy as I am

 

 

The BEST peanut butter ice cream!

This post contains affiliate links.

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it onInstagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Drumstick Ice Cream Cake

Drumstick Ice Cream Cake

Banana Pudding with Peanut Butter Cream

Classic homemade banana pudding is even better when topped with fresh peanut butter whipped cream!

The most AMAZING and creamy banana pudding from scratch!

Ever since our trip to Charleston (yes, I really owe you a post on that!), I’ve been craving banana pudding like crazy. On our last night of vacation, we ordered dinner to the room. I had ratatouille with a fried egg (for the second time on the trip!) and the most amazing banana pudding for dessert! It was made with caramelized bananas and… wait for it… peanut butter whipped cream. All of the deliciousness was crammed into a cute little jar and despite how full I was, I ate every last bite.

Everyone was completely in love with this banana pudding, so creamy and amazing!

I’ve made peanut butter whipped cream before and was already in love. Banana pudding with peanut butter whipped cream ended up being an amazing twist on a classic southern dessert.

Banana pudding topped with PEANUT BUTTER whipped cream, holy cow!

So when we had our friends over for dinner a few weeks ago, I was really excited for an excuse to make an entertaining-worthy dessert like banana pudding. Cookies are great and everything, but I can make them any day of the week. Banana pudding? It deserves to be a special party treat.

While I didn’t caramelize the bananas (I have to be picky about where I use my time!), the dessert was every bit as good as I remember it being while we were away. The from-scratch vanilla and rum infused pudding was so luscious, creamy and indulgent. The thinly sliced bananas and softened cookies complimented it beautifully. And the peanut butter whipped cream? Let’s just say that when we indulge in a special dessert, we really do it right around here. Everything worked.

Only rave reviews for this dessert recipe!

5.0 from 1 reviews
The Ultimate Banana Pudding with Peanut Butter Whipped Cream
 
Classic homemade banana pudding is even better when topped with fresh peanut butter whipped cream!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: Makes 8 servings
Ingredients
Vanilla Custard
  • 3⁄4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1⁄4 cup (35 grams) cornstarch
  • 1g (1/4 teaspoon) salt
  • 90g (6 large) egg yolks at room temperature
  • 830 milliliters (3 1⁄2 cups) milk, preferably whole
  • 28g (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, sliced
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) vanilla bean paste
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) dark rum (optional but recommended)
Peanut Butter Whipped Cream
  • 237 milliliters (1 cup) heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 20g (2 tablespoons) powdered sugar
  • 75 grams (3 tablespoons) creamy peanut butter (do not use “natural”)
  • 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
  • 8 medium-sized glasses (~240 milliliters or at least 1 cup each)
40-50 vanilla wafers
3 just ripe (firm) bananas, thinly sliced
Instructions
  1. See notes on preparation timing below
Vanilla Custard
  1. In a large heavy-duty pot, whisk together eggs, sugar, cornstarch and salt; drizzle in milk and whisk continuously while pouring
  2. Once combined, place pot on stove over medium heat and stir continuously as mixture comes to a simmer; once simmering, continue to stir and cook until thick, about five minutes
  3. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in butter, vanilla and rum; place custard in a heat-proof airtight container overnight in refrigerator before continuing with recipe
Peanut Butter Whipped Cream
  1. When ready to make parfaits, prepare whipped cream
  2. Place all ingredients into the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment
  3. Beat on medium-high speed for two to three minutes or until stiff peaks form
To put it all together
  1. Place two cookies on the bottom of each glass; top cookies with about ½ cup of custard; follow custard with 6 thin banana slices and then three additional cookies; top each with remaining custard (should be about ½ cup per glass) and then whipped cream (1/4 –1/3 cup per glass)
  2. Top with additional wafer cookie just before serving if desired
Notes
I highly recommend making pudding the night before serving (it needs time to set) and prepping the parfaits several hours before enjoying. This will ensure that the pudding has set and the cookies have time to soften. If covered well with seran, parfaits can be stored up to 24 hours before serving.
Custard from Smitten Kitchen

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Peanut Butter S’mores Parfaits

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Blood Orange Chocolate Truffles

Rich and decadent dark chocolate truffles with a hint of blood orange. These are the best homemade candy!

These chocolate truffles are unbelievable!

Over the last few years it’s gotten increasingly harder to schedule plans with friends. Between kids, family obligations and the seemingly speed-of-light passing of time, everyone’s schedules fill up fast. The “let’s do this again, and soon this time!” inevitably turns into the passing of another two months until another date is made. Top that with the winter season leading to at least one child being sick and getting friends together really becomes an unfortunate challenge.

No one can believe that these are homemade!!

So when we were able to get four of our favorite couples (plus kids!) to our place for dinner, we wanted to make it lots of fun. The night started early (5pm ha!) so that everyone could bring their babies without worrying about childcare. It was definitely a risk to sign up for 4 children under the age of three in one apartment during the witching hour, but we went for it.

So rich and amazing! We went crazy over these truffles and can't wait to make them again.

Matt and I decided to go Mexican with dinner and break all the rules by making a recipe for chicken enchiladas we hadn’t cooked before (luckily America’s Test Kitchen is always dependable!). Plus, there was plenty of chips and guacamole to go around, even after L ate half of the guac. Add to that cilantro lime rice, Mexican-spiced beans, cumin-roasted cauliflower and salad.

Chocolate truffles are the best hostess gift! They seem so fancy but are actually easy to make,

I kept things seasonal and festive with spicy blood orange margaritas (that I’m still thinking about) and thought, why not have a blood orange dessert as well? So these Blood Orange truffles (along with a soon-to-come recipe for banana pudding) made their appearance.

Now, I know that orange and chocolate is a traditional flavor pairing that some people love, but historically it really hasn’t appealed to me. However, these truffles were quite extraordinary. The blood orange brought a fruitfulness to the truffles that complimented the bitterness of the dark chocolate at just the right level. That flavor, with a sensational melt-in-your-mouth richness made them a huge hit. In fact, my friends were a bit in disbelief that I had in fact made the truffles myself.

I promise you, though, that these are a lot easier than you might think. The most complicated part is tediously rolling the individual truffles but it’s very much worth the effort. Additionally, you can make these up to one week ahead of time if stored in the fridge. Just make sure not to eat them all before you gift or serve them. That is no easy feat.

Blood Orange Truffles are my new favorite dessert! Homemade candy is the best.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Blood Orange Chocolate Truffles
 
Rich and decadent dark chocolate truffles with a hint of blood orange. These are the best homemade candy!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 20 truffles
Ingredients
  • 79 milliliters (1/3 cup) heavy whipping cream
  • 1g (1 teaspoon) blood orange zest (~1 orange)
  • 142g chopped semi-sweet chocolate
  • 57g (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) blood orange juice (~1/3 orange)
  • 10g (2 tablespoons) unsweetened cocoa powder (you won’t use all of it)
Instructions
  1. Combine heavy whipping cream and orange zest in a small heavy-duty saucepan; heat over low-medium heat
  2. Bring to a light rolling boil then remove from heat; immediately pour through a mesh strainer over chocolate and whisk until smooth
  3. Whisk mixture until chocolate is completely melted; whisk in butter and orange juice until smooth
  4. Chill mixture in refrigerator for at least two hours or overnight
  5. Once firm, use a small or cookie dough scoop to form small ball-shaped truffles; they will be slightly soft and sticky; freeze for fifteen minutes to set
  6. Once set, roll truffles in cocoa powder and store in an airtight container in refrigerator until ready to eat
  7. Bring to room temperature before serving
Notes
Adapted from my lemon truffles
May store in refrigerator up to one week

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it onInstagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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The Thirty Best Dessert Dips To Make for The Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is infamous for being the snacking holiday of the year. Chips and dips are synonymous for watching football games and I just don’t understand why cookies and sweet dips don’t get the same attention. Well, it’s time to change that. Here are the 30 best dessert dips that you should make for the Super Bowl. Slice up some apples and stock up on graham crackers and pretzels for your sweet dipping needs!

The best dessert dips you need to make

3-Ingredient Chocolate Lava Dip from Two Healthy Kitchens

5-Minute Whipped Caramel Apple Dip from Country Cleaver

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip from Keep It Sweet Desserts

Brown Sugar Chai-Spiced Caramel Fondue from Keep It Sweet Desserts

Brown Sugar Chai-Spiced Caramel Fondue from Keep It Sweet Desserts

Brownie Batter Dip from Tammilee Tips

Candy Cane S’mores Dip from Cafe Delites

Cannoli Dip from Wine Lady Cooks

Cherry Cheesecake Dip from Lemon Tree Dwelling

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fruit Dip from The Lemon Bowl

Cookie Dough Dip from Belly Full

Cream Cheese Fruit Dip from Diethood

Creamy Lemon Dip from Cooking on the Front Burners

Fruit Salsa from Culinary Hill

Fruit Salsa from Culinary Hill

Healthy Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Dip from Running to the Kitchen

Homemade Cookie Butter from Donuts, Dresses and Dirt

Hot Chocolate Dip from Neighbor Food Blog

Hot Fudge Malt Dip from Crumbs and Chaos

Lime Curd Dip from Always Order Dessert

Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip from Chocolate Moosey

Nutella Cheesecake Dip from Snappy Gourmet

Peanut Butter Brownie Batter Dip from Crazy For Crust

Peanut Butter Cup Apple Dip from Crumbs and Chaos

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip from Country Cleaver

Pumpkin Yogurt Dip from The Lean Green Bean

Skinny Cookie Dough Dip from With Salt and Whit

Skinny Cookie Dough Dip from With Salt and Whit

Skinny Red Velvet Cookie Dough from With Salt and Whit

Slow Cookie Caramel Apple Pie Dip from The Magical Slow Cooker

Strawberry Cheesecake Dip from Julies Eats and Treats

Tagalong Cookie Dough Dip from Wine and Glue

Tiramisu Dip from Lemon Tree Dwelling

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

Cookie dough dip made with brown butter, cream cheese and lots of chocolate chips is a perfect super bowl treat!

Move over savory dips, we are snacking on COOKIE DOUGH DIP for Super Bowl!

Sometimes I’m a really good wife.

And sometimes, I make pure crack cookie dough dip when my husband’s on a diet. Sorry, Matt.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip made with brown butter OMG

But can you blame me? We were in the midst of a massive snowstorm with an animal a toddler to keep busy and Super Bowl recipes to create. Brown butter cookie dough was clearly the only option.

Truthfully, if Matt had caved and eaten some, I think he would have agreed that each bite was worth every.single.calorie. But he stuck to his healthy eating and I was left to enjoy the creamy, sweet, deliciousness all to myself. Well, almost… I actually brought some to my neighbors (snow day mvp?), because I like to fit into my jeans, too.

I think I made a version of cookie dough dip a few years ago when it was first making waves around the internet. It was good and everything, but this brown butter version is even better. It’s a super indulgent and delicious way to enjoy the nuttiness of a deep brown butter-infused dessert. And cookie dough dip is pretty much the ultimate recipe to make for the Super Bowl because it’s a dip. It goes perfectly with the pretzels everyone’s already snacking on but also pairs well with graham crackers and animal crackers. Plus, it’s super easy to whip up and you can make it ahead of time and then keep it in the fridge until party time. One more bonus? It’s accidentally gluten-free. Extra party friendly.

The most amazing dessert dip for Super Bowl!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
 
Cookie dough dip made with brown butter, cream cheese and lots of chocolate chips is a perfect super bowl treat!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert, Snack
Makes: 3 cups
Ingredients
  • 142g (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 226g (1 8-ounce package) light cream cheese, softened at room temperature
  • 117g (1/2 cup, tightly packed) light brown sugar
  • 80g (1/2 cup) powdered sugar
  • 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) pure vanilla extract
  • 5g (1 teaspoon) salt
  • 190g (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. *Brown the butter: Heat butter in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, when butter turns to an amber/light brown color, remove from heat immediately (You should be able to smell the deeper more caramel flavor of the butter) pour browned butter immediately into a small bowl and place in fridge until completely cooled for (about 30 minutes)
  2. Once butter has cooled, place in the large bowl of a mixer with paddle attachment; add cream cheese and beat on medium-high speed or until well combined
  3. Add sugars, vanilla and salt and beat on medium speed until completely combined
  4. Stir in chocolate chips
  5. Serve immediately or store covered in refrigerator up to three days
  6. Serve with graham crackers and pretzels
Notes
*Make sure you give yourself enough time to completely cool the brown butter(about thirty minutes); once that is done the dip takes only about five minutes to make!
Adapted from the many recipes online found by searching “cookie dough dip”

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Lemon Truffles

No-bake white chocolate lemon truffles are a refreshing change of pace for the holidays. Make this sparkly treat for your New Year’s Eve festivities!

Lemon White Chocolate Truffles for the holidays!

Sometimes you just want to make something that tastes good and is extra pretty.

These lemon truffles are such a gorgeous little treat that you can’t help but ooooh and aaaaah over. They sparkle on the outside while the inside showcases an ultra creamy filling. The essence of lemon is present but not lip-puckeringly so and balances perfectly with the sweet white chocolate.

Lemon truffles are so pretty and sparkly for new year's eve!

The truffles do require some lead time because you want to make sure there is plenty of time for chilling. Otherwise, you will end up with a bit of a sticky mess. It’s worth it, though. You can display them in a fancy candy dish and most people would assume that they were the result of a high-end candy shop purchase. They are gorgeous and festive which lends them quite well to a New Year’s Eve celebration. And thinking way ahead, keep them in mind for special Valentine’s Day gifts.

 These are the best lemon truffles! So creamy and amazing.

Lemon Truffles
 
No-bake white chocolate lemon truffles are a refreshing change of pace for the holidays. Make this sparkly treat for your New Year’s Eve festivities!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 20 truffles
Ingredients
  • 79 milliliters (1/3 cup) heavy whipping cream
  • 1g lemon zest (~1 lemon)
  • 142g chopped white chocolate
  • 57g (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) lemon juice (~1/3 lemon)
  • ½ cup shimmering sprinkles
Instructions
  1. Combine heavy whipping cream and lemon zest in a small heavy-duty saucepan; heat over low-medium heat
  2. Bring to a light rolling boil then remove from heat; immediately pour through a mesh strainer over chocolate and whisk until smooth
  3. Whisk mixture until chocolate is completely melted; whisk in butter and lemon juice until smooth
  4. Chill mixture in refrigerator for at least two hours or overnight
  5. Once firm, use a small or cookie dough scoop to form small ball-shaped truffles; they will be slightly soft and sticky; freeze for fifteen minutes to set
  6. Once set, roll truffles in topping and store in an airtight container in refrigerator until ready to eat
  7. Bring to room temperature before serving
Notes
Adapted from these white chocolate truffles

 

Lemon Truffles are my new favorite thing!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Chocolate Covered Oreos, Three Ways

Chocolate covered Oreos are the best homemade Christmas gift! The three different recipes for this easy no-bake treat are so much fun.

Chocolate covered Oreos make the most delicious gift!

Chocolate covered Oreos aren’t exactly a new thing. I’ve been making them for years and have seen them sold in many candy stores. Usually, though, they are plain milk or dark chocolate. After spotting a variety of flavors at Trader Joe’s (and yes, I know, they aren’t technically “Oreos”), and using lots of self-restraint not to buy the big tin, I decided to make my own. That way, I was able to pick my favorite flavor combinations and control what chocolate I use! Bonus, they make a great treat for gift giving and bringing to holiday parties.

For this post I made three variations of Chocolate Covered Oreos:

  • Milk chocolate with dark chocolate drizzle
  • Peppermint dark chocolate (perfect for Christmas!)
  • Milk chocolate peanut butter (peanut butter IN the chocolate AND topping!)

I finally know what everyon's getting for Christmas this year!

Even though I love baking holiday cookies, it’s nice to change it up once and a while with something that looks extra pretty and fancy (people are always impressed with chocolate dipped  anything). Plus, I can’t bring myself to give someone store-bought food gifts. Sidenote: I actually love when people buy me food gifts. Is that weird?

OMG PEANUT BUTTER chocolate covered Oreos!!!

5.0 from 2 reviews
Chocolate Covered Oreos
 
Milk chocolate covered sandwich cookies drizzled with dark chocolate.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 2 dozen
Ingredients
  • 500g [url:1]good quality milk chocolate[/hturl], in disks or roughly chopped
  • 10g (2 teaspoons) unsalted butter
  • 2 dozen chocolate sandwich cookies
  • 110g good quality dark chocolate, in disks or roughly chopped
Instructions
  1. Place milk chocolate and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl; melt by microwaving in 30-second increments and stirring vigorously in-between; continue until melted and smooth
  2. Use two forks to dip cookies into melted chocolate
  3. Place dark chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl; melt by microwaving in 30-second increments and stirring vigorously in-between; continue until melted and smooth
  4. Drizzle dark chocolate over cookies
  5. Chill in refrigerator for one hour or until ready to serve or package; best kept in a cool dry place but will stay nice longer in refrigerator

5.0 from 2 reviews
Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Oreos
 
Chocolate sandwich cookies coated in a peanut butter milk chocolate shell and topped with peanut butter chips.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 2 dozen
Ingredients
  • 460g good quality milk chocolate, in disks or roughly chopped
  • 40g (2 tablespoons) creamy peanut butter (do not use natural)
  • 2 dozen chocolate sandwich cookies
  • 80g (1/2 cup) peanut butter chips, roughly chopped
Instructions
  1. Place milk chocolate and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl; melt by microwaving in 30-second increments and stirring vigorously in-between; continue until melted and smooth
  2. Use two forks to dip cookies into melted chocolate; immediately sprinkle with peanut butter chips
  3. Chill in refrigerator for one hour or until ready to serve or package; best kept in a cool dry place but will stay nice longer in refrigerator

 
5.0 from 2 reviews
Peppermint Dark Chocolate Covered Oreos
 
Peppermint chocolate covered sandwich cookies are perfect for Christmas.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 2 dozen
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Place dark chocolate and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl; melt by microwaving in 30-second increments and stirring vigorously in-between; continue until melted and smooth; stir in peppermint extract
  2. Use two forks to dip cookies into melted chocolate; immediately sprinkle with peppermint baking pieces
  3. Chill in refrigerator for one hour or until ready to serve or package; best kept in a cool dry place but will stay nice longer in refrigerator

 

Everyone LOVES chocolate covered Oreos

Happy Hanukkah!!

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Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Peppermint Mocha Truffles

Peppermint Mocha Truffles

Peppermint Mocha Truffles

Rich dark chocolate truffles with a hint of coffee and splash of peppermint. The best no-bake edible Christmas gift!

 Making these Peppermint Mocha Truffles for parties AND gifts!   

Peppermint mocha is my ultimate holiday weakness. The drink, the sweets, everything. In fact, despite the fact that I’ve mostly given up fake sweeteners and usually drink coffee sans sugar, the skinny peppermint mocha latte is my once or twice a year guilty pleasure treat that I truly savor. Last year I remember drinking one as we took L, just a newborn then, on a walk. It was a chilly late fall day and he seemed to be going through an eat-every-hour growth spurt. That peppermint mocha latte was my little break.

Ah peppermint mocha everything!!!

There is something so sinful about peppermint mocha treats. The rich deep chocolate flavor combined with a pop of mint is so satisfying. In making these truffles, I chose to go with an extra-dark chocolate for a base to keep them from being too sweet. That, combined with some instant espresso and a splash of peppermint extract, creates a great balanced flavor.

The recipe isn’t all that complicated. In fact, the hardest part is just rolling out all the truffles. I’d even recommend doubling or tripling the batch if you plan on making them for gifts or parties.

Peppermint Mocha Truffles
 
Rich dark chocolate truffles with a hint of coffee and splash of peppermint. The best no-bake edible Christmas gift!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 2 dozen truffles
Ingredients
  • 79 milliliters (1/3 cup) heavy whipping cream
  • 3g (1 teaspoon) instant espresso
  • 142g finely chopped dark chocolate (72% or higher), any type
  • 57g (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • ½ milliliter (1/8 teaspoon) peppermint extract
  • Toppings-I like peppermint baking pieces (finely chopped), crushed candy canes and holiday sprinkles
Instructions
  1. Whisk together heavy whipping cream and espresso in a small heavy-duty saucepan; heat over low-medium heat
  2. Bring to a light rolling boil then remove from heat and immediately pour over chocolate and whisk until smooth
  3. Whisk mixture until chocolate is completely melted; whisk in butter and peppermint extract until smooth
  4. Chill mixture in refrigerator for two hours or until it is firm
  5. Once firm, use a small or cookie dough scoop to form small ball-shaped truffles
  6. Roll truffles in topping and store in an airtight container in refrigerator until ready to eat
  7. Bring to room temperature before serving
Notes
Adapted from the Lindt Chocolate Passion Recipe Book
Truffles should be enjoyed within two weeks for best results
Recipe can be easily doubled

Peppermint Mocha Truffles OMG

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Banana Pecan Bourbon Flapjacks

Thick buttermilk pancakes with a maple bourbon banana pecan sauce. This is the ultimate breakfast for dinner!

buttermilk pancakes with a maple bourbon banana pecan sauce <--- can i please have this every day?

It might seem a bit odd to share a pancake recipe the week of Thanksgiving, but I have a few reasons for this.

  1. You probably already have your Thanksgiving menu planned out so giving you an additional recipe for the holiday might just stress you out.
  2. Holiday weekends call for holiday brunch. Scale the recipe up for a crowd or enjoy an intimate treat after the big family get together.
  3. If you are hosting the holiday or travelling, you probably don’t have much time for additional cooking. Enter breakfast for dinner, an easy and delicious solution!

This recipe comes from the new cookbook, Dinner for Two by Julie Wampler. You might know Julie from the blog Table for Two. Her cookbook features 70 dinners recipes for (duh) two. Most recipes can easily be scaled up for a family as well. I’m excited to try some of the savory dishes for Matt, L and me, but for the blog, I wanted to stick with something on the sweet side. And what could be better than indulging in a sweet pancake dinner? It’s such a treat for once and a while. Pair it with some scrambled eggs and a steamed vegetable or side salad and you have a pretty balanced meal.

buttermilk pancakes with a maple bourbon banana pecan sauce.... breakfast every day?!

This name of this recipe may make you think that it’s a lot of work, but in reality, like most of the recipes in Julie’s book, it’s actually pretty simple. If you use two separate skillets, you can basically make the topping and the pancakes at the same time and get dinner (or breakfast) on the table in less than twenty minutes. Just get your banana topping started first and let it cook while you then prepare and cook the pancakes.

A note on the final product: The pancakes and topping are quite delicious. The pancakes themselves aren’t very sweet, so I definitely recommend pairing them with the bourbon banana nut topping. If you aren’t into nuts, just leave them out. Either way, the topping is a great alternative to plain old maple syrup.

buttermilk pancakes with a maple bourbon banana pecan sauce OMG yum!

Banana Pecan Bourbon Flapjacks
 
Thick buttermilk pancakes with a maple bourbon banana pecan sauce. This is the ultimate breakfast for dinner!
Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast, Brunch
Makes: 2-3 servings
Ingredients
Banana Pecan Bourbon Topping:
  • 2 bananas, sliced into rounds
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon bourbon whiskey
  • ½ cup roughly chopped pecans
Pancakes:
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
Instructions
Make the topping:
  1. Place ingredients in a small skillet over medium heat and bring to a skimmer; allow to thicken for ten minutes, stirring occasionally
  2. When the topping is a thick syrupy consistency, remove from heat until ready to use
  3. Make the pancakes:
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients
  5. Make a well in the center of the mixture and add the egg and buttermilk; whisk batter until no lumps remain; batter will be thick
  6. Spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray and place over medium heat
  7. Once skillet is hot, use a ⅓  cup measuring cup to drop batter onto skillet
  8. Cook pancakes on one side for about two minutes or until bubbles start to form then flip and cook additional two minutes; repeat with remaining pancake batter
  9. Serve pancakes immediately with banana pecan bourbon topping
Notes
Recipe from Dinner for Two by Julie Wampler
If you use two separate skillets, you can basically make the topping and the pancakes at the same time and get dinner (or breakfast) on the table in less than twenty minutes. Just get your banana topping started first and let it cook while you then prepare and cook the pancakes.

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Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Brown Sugar Chai Spiced Caramel Fondue

A chai spiced caramel sauce perfect for holiday entertaining.

SO perfect for parties! This chai caramel sauce is perfect for dipping fruit and cookies

I’m very enthusiastically jumping onto the chai bandwagon! There’s no looking back now. (In fact, can we take a quick moment to drool over Christina’s chewy chai bars?)

In all serious, though, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be joining me. The flavors of chai are so warm and comforting. Cardamom is what really makes it special, but the clove, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper (yes, black pepper!), round it out. The spicy flavor tones end up being perfect to balance out a sweet brown-sugar based caramel.

I served this caramel fondue as a dip when we had friends over on a recent Sunday afternoon. It was able to sit out for a few hours as the flavors developed. And actually, there was a little bit leftover and it tasted even better the next day (a dream for holiday entertaining plans)! I loved dunking graham crackers into the fondue along side my almond milk latte, but I did catch some people even dunking their blondies. Yes, my friends are geniuses.

Chai Caramel Fondue! Serving this at every holiday party

Brown Sugar Chai Spiced Caramel Fondue
 
A chai spiced caramel sauce perfect for holiday entertaining.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1¼ cups
Ingredients
  • 195g (¾ cup + 1 tablespoon) light brown sugar, tightly packed
  • 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) water
  • 118 milliliters (1/2 cup) heavy cream
  • 9g (2 teaspoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
  1. Whisk together brown sugar and water in a small heavy-duty saucepan; place over medium-high heat and cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes or until a deep amber brown and bubbling; remove from heat and immediately whisk in heavy cream and butter until smooth (be careful as the hot caramel may bubble up)
  2. Stir in remaining ingredients and then briefly stir over medium heat until smooth
  3. Serve warm; for a thicker dip (and for flavor more intensified), allow to cool in refrigerator for several hours before gently reheating
Notes
Adapted from Food and Wine
Can be stored in refrigerator up to one week

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Milk Chocolate Tart with Peanut Butter Pretzel Crust

An easy no-bake dessert that only uses four ingredients! This tart is simple but impressive.

No-bake AND only 4 ingredients!!!

I’m currently joining in on the chorus of everyone asking how Thanksgiving is now less than two weeks away. My theory is that the warm fall weather we have had was actually a huge mind trick. How could Thanksgiving be coming if I barely need a jacket?

This tart is incredible and only takes 4 ingredients!

The good news is that I’ve got a dessert recipe for you that is perfect for dealing with limited holiday prep time. This milk chocolate tart looks impressive and complicated, but it actually is super easy. In fact, this tart is no-bake. Yes, three cheers for a dessert that won’t put pressure on your oven itinerary for Thanksgiving!

Pretty much the best no-bake EASY dessert ever

And beyond all that, the tart tastes pretty extraordinary. The peanut butter pretzel crust is kind of amazing. It’s crunchy and salty and, well, it’s made with peanut butter. The filling? The filling is creamy, rich and decadent. I’ve noticed that milk chocolate doesn’t get enough praise in the elevated dessert world and this tart is telling me it really should get some more love.

So while I’m still mildly panicked about all the things I want to do before Thanksgiving, I’m just going to go ahead and enjoy a big slice of this chocolate tart and not worry about it too much.

A super easy tart that would be perfect for Thanksgiving!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Milk Chocolate Tart with Peanut Butter Pretzel Crust
 
An easy no-bake dessert that only uses four ingredients! This tart is simple but impressive.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 servings
Ingredients
Filling:
  • 340g (12 ounces) good quality milk chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 355 milliliters (1 ½ cups) heavy cream
Crust:
  • 130g (1/2 cup) creamy peanut butter
  • 200g (2 cups) crushed salted pretzels plus additional for topping tart (optional)
Instructions
Make the filling:
  1. Place chocolate in a large heat-safe bowl and set aside
  2. In a small saucepan, bring cream to a rolling boil over medium high heat (do not stir) and then immediately pour over chocolate; let sit for five minutes and then whisk until completely smooth
  3. Let cool at room temperature for one hour and make crust
Prepare crust:
  1. In a medium bowl, melt peanut butter in microwave by heating for 15 seconds, stirring and repeating until easy to stir; stir in pretzel crumbs
  2. Press mixture into a 11-inch tart pan so that it is evenly spread out and up the edges; place in refrigerator until ready to use
  3. Once ready, pour chocolate mixture into chilled crust; then chill tart in refrigerator 4 hours (or up to 24 hours)
  4. Use additional pretzels to decorate tart before serving if desired
Notes
Significantly adapted from Food and Wine
The filling requires one hour of cool time and then the tart requires four hours of chill time before serving.
The crust may be a little crumbly when you remove it from tart pan.

My new favorite dessert!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Pumpkin Cookie Ice Cream

Creamy pumpkin ice cream with huge chunks of pumpkin sandwich cookies. You don’t need an ice cream maker for this fun fall treat!

Super creamy pumpkin ice cream with cookie chunks!

The other week I picked up a bunch of fun fall treats from Trader Joe’s and Target. When I got home, I set them on my counter and said, “inspire me”.

And while this move usually works pretty well with me, I ended up with a million ideas that just didn’t seem interesting enough. But then I thought, what do I always like to make and eat? Ice cream, obviously. And thanks to a few big can’s of pumpkin and some pumpkin sandwich cookies (you can find Oreo and Trader Joe’s versions), a new no churn ice cream was born.

HOMEMADE Pumpkin Cookie Ice Cream! No churn!!!

This no churn ice cream recipe is so easy to make (as usual). It starts with the typical whipped cream and sweetened condensed milk combo but is enhanced with canned, pumpkin, a couple of different spices and huge chunks of cookies. Fall ice cream for the win! And if you are smart, you might just stock up on your pumpkin sandwich cookies so you can make this all year round.

HOMEMADE Pumpkin Cookie Ice Cream!

And just so you know, some things I bake for the blog and give away or use for entertaining. This ice cream? I ate the whole batch myself. I’m not sure if that should be embarrassing or not.

Pumpkin Cookie Ice Cream
 
Super creamy pumpkin ice cream filled with pumpkin sandwich cookies. No ice cream maker needed for this recipe!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~2 quarts
Ingredients
  • 475 milliliters (2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 160g (2/3 cup) canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
  • 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) vanilla extract
  • 2g (3/4 teaspoon) ground cinnamon
  • ½g (1/4 teaspoon) ground nutmeg
  • 218g (~2 cups) chopped pumpkin sandwich cookies (14 cookies)
Instructions
  1. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  2. While whipping cream, in a separate large bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg
  3. Once cream is ready, fold it into sweetened condensed milk mixture; stir in cookies
  4. Pour ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan; wrap well with seran wrap or tin foil
  5. Freeze for 10 hours or overnight before serving
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Sandwiches

A no-bake treat that every kid and adult will love, these chocolate covered peanut butter Ritz sandwiches are almost too good to be true!

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Sandwiches!!! only 4 ingredients!

These hardly need any explanation or recipe.

Except, they kind of do.

This past spring in Florida, when I took a brief break from eating Kilwins’ ice cream, I picked up an array of chocolates to bring back to the house and hide in my room share with everyone. When I saw that they had chocolate covered peanut butter and Ritz sandwiches, I couldn’t resist getting a few. But to be honest, I was a little disappointed in the finished product. They weren’t bad, per say, but you really couldn’t taste the peanut butter.

These Chocolate Covered PB Ritz Sandwiches are so much fun!

Well, it took me about four months to finally pick up a box of Ritz crackers (those would not typically be safe in my pantry), but I’m glad I did. I recreated the treat (and put it all on snapchat because I couldn’t resist), this time with the right amount of peanut butter, and then proceeded to eat too many to count. I wish I was kidding.

Anyway, this is definitely one of the easiest no-bake desserts (or really I’d prefer to call them snacks) you could possibly make. Buttery crackers topped with peanut butter and then dipped in chocolate should happen in your kitchen immediately.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Sandwiches
 
A no-bake treat that every kid and adult will love, these chocolate covered peanut butter Ritz sandwiches are almost too good to be true!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 2 dozen sandwiches
Ingredients
  • 4 dozen Ritz crackers
  • 120g (~1/2 cup) creamy peanut butter
  • 500 grams good quality dark chocolate chocolate (I used 72%), roughly chopped (can substitute good quality milk chocolate if preferred)
  • 14g (1 tablespoon) unsalted butter
Instructions
  1. Lay half of your crackers (24) out on a baking sheet; spread about 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of peanut butter into each cracker (don't use much less or you won't be able to taste it!)
  2. Top each with a second Ritz cracker
  3. Place tray in freezer for a half hour to chill
  4. When ready, place chocolate and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl; melt by microwaving in 30-second increments and stirring in-between; continue until melted and smooth
  5. Use two forks to dip sandwiches into melted chocolate
  6. Place dipped sandwiches onto parchment or wax paper and chill in refrigerator one hour
  7. Keep stored in an airtight container in a cool room or refrigerator until ready to enjoy
  8. Enjoy within one week for best results

 

Chocolate PB Ritz Sandwiches = winning!!!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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PBRippleIceCream3_thumb.jpg

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Gingersnap Peach Crumble Ice Cream

Other title considerations: Brown Butter Gingersnap Crumble Ice Cream; Peach Cobbler Ice Cream with Gingersnap Crumbs; Gingersnap Crunch Ice Cream with Peach Filling; Peach Cobbler Ice Cream; Bourbon Peach Crumble Ice Cream with Gingersnap Crumbs. Decisions, decisions.

Gingersnap Crumble Peach Ice Cream (with bourbon and brown butter!!!)

It’s my birthday week which means that nothing but ice cream will do! I wanted to make one more batch of homemade ice cream before the summer ended (though I have a few other ideas so it might not be my last) and asked on Facebook what it should be. A few of you had some good ideas so I combined a couple of them into one!

Gingersnap Crumble Peach Ice Cream (and you don't need an ice cream maker!)

It actually was the perfect week to make peach ice cream because Matt had bought the biggest white peaches I’ve ever seen at Costco. No joke, these peaches were as big as grapefruits. My mom actually walked into my apartment and asked “what are these?!”

The gingersnap crumble is all sorts of awesome… it’s just brown butter and and gingersnap crumbs. Thank you, Gerry, for the fabulous idea! The peach filling is easy to make, barely any sugar, just the sweetness of perfect late summer peaches to carry it. And then the no churn ice cream base, you know the drill: cream, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla. Oh yeah, and bourbon. Because with peach and ginger it just seemed right!

Gingersnap Crumble Peach Ice Cream <------ omg making this!

Gingersnap Peach Crumble Ice Cream
 
Other title considerations: Brown Butter Gingersnap Crumble Ice Cream; Peach Cobbler Ice Cream with Gingersnap Crumbs; Gingersnap Crunch Ice Cream with Peach Filling; Peach Cobbler Ice Cream; Bourbon Peach Crumble Ice Cream with Gingersnap Crumbs. Decisions, decisions.
Author:
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
Crumble:
  • 120g (~1 cup) ground gingersnaps* (16 cookies)
  • 71g (5 tablespoons ) unsalted butter
Peach filling:
  • 360g (~2½ cups) fresh peeled and chopped ripe peaches (~2-3 medium peaches)
  • 16g (~1 tablespoon, packed) light brown sugar
  • 15 millimeters (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice (about ½ lemon)
  • 10g (~1 tablespoon) cornstarch
  • 1g (1/2 teaspoon) ground cinnamon
Ice cream:
  • 237 millimeters (2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 30 millimeters (2 tablespoons) bourbon
  • 5 millimeters (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Make crumble
  2. Melt butter in a heavy-duty pan over medium heat; once melted, stir constantly until browned and then remove from heat; stir in gingersnap crumbs; set aside to cool
  3. Make peach filling
  4. Place peaches, sugar and lemon juice in a medium pot stove with medium heat
  5. Stir occasionally for several minutes until some of the fruit begins to break down and juice begins to form
  6. Turn the heat to high, add cornstarch and stir quickly until sauce reaches desired thickness (1-2 minutes); stir in cinnamon
  7. Place sauce in refrigerator to cool for 30 minutes
  8. Once ready, finish making ice cream
  9. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  10. While whipping cream, in a separate large bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and bourbon
  11. Once cream is ready, fold it into sweetened condensed milk mixture
  12. Fold in peach filling
  13. Pour half of ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan and drop one half of crumble over top; top with remaining ice cream and then with remaining crumble; wrap well with seran wrap or tin foil
  14. Freeze for 6 hours or overnight
Notes
*Can easily be adapted to be gluten-free by using gluten-free gingersnaps
Sauce and crumble can be made up to one day before putting ice cream together, refrigerate the filling in an airtight container until ready to use and store the gingersnap crumble in an airtight container at room temperature

Gingersnap Crumble Peach Ice Cream - now I know how to use up all my peaches!!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Sublime Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Pie

This no-bake ice cream pie is the ultimate summer dessert! Oreo crust, peanut butter ripple ice cream, tons of peanut butter cups and whipped cream!

SUBLIME Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Pie!!!
This dessert wavers back and forth between hot mess and best thing ever. I’m going with best thing ever.

This ice cream I shared with you? It was already pretty heavenly but I just had to take it even further. All my life I’ve been a pretty big ice cream pie fanatic (as a kid I used to get one every year for my birthday from Baskin Robbins). It makes sense. You usually start with an Oreo crust (always, always good) and then load it up with your favorite ice cream. Here I decided a full pound of peanut butter cups should be used as well, because why not? Make this dessert when you are having some friends over for a barbeque because it’s something worth sharing. Just know that it may be a little messy to cut. Call it “homey” if you will.

SUBLIME Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Pie!!!

Sublime Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Pie
 
This no-bake ice cream pie is the ultimate summer dessert! Oreo crust, peanut butter ripple ice cream, tons of peanut butter cups and whipped cream!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 servings
Ingredients
  • 285g (~2¼ cups / 25 cookies) finely crushed Oreos
  • 71g (5 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 Recipe for Peanut Butter Ripple Chocolate Ice Cream
  • 454g (~3 ½ cups) chopped peanut butter cups (from about 22 large)
  • 2 cups Stabilized Whipped Cream (recipe here)
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, combine Oreo crumbs and melted butter; press mixture down evenly into the bottom of a spring form pan; chill in refrigerator for thirty minutes
  2. A few minutes before crust is ready to fill, take ice cream out of freezer to soften slightly
  3. Carefully spread half of ice cream over crust; top with chopped peanut butter cups
  4. Cover pan with foil and freeze; make stabilized whipped cream
  5. Spread whipped cream over peanut butter cup layer and place pie back in freezer for at least one hour or until ready to serve

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Peanut Butter Ripple Chocolate Ice Cream

You don’t need an ice cream maker to make this ice cream! Rich chocolate ice cream with a ribbon of salty peanut butter.

Rich Chocolate Ice Cream with a Salted Peanut Butter Ribbon (no ice cream maker for this one!)

If you love chocolate and peanut butter as much as I do, you’ve no doubt had a variation of this ice cream flavor before. I know, not as creative as this recipe or this one, but trust me, necessary. Because, one: you can always use another no churn ice cream recipe and two: I have a follow-up dessert that revolves around this one and trust me, you don’t want to miss it.

Peanut Butter Ripple Chocolate Ice Cream
 
You don’t need an ice cream maker to make this ice cream! Rich chocolate ice cream with a ribbon of salty peanut butter.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
  • 16 fluid ounces (2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 50g (½ cup + 2 tablespoons) unsweetened cocoa powder (any kind will work, I used a lighter cocoa powder for a more milk-chocolatey flavor)
  • 15 milliliters 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 200g (~¾ cup) creamy peanut butter
  • 1g (¼ teaspoon) salt
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, cocoa and vanilla; mixture will be very thick; set aside
  2. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  3. Once cream is ready, gently fold ⅓ of it into sweetened condensed milk mixture; gently fold in remaining cream until fully combined
  4. Pour half of ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan or ice cream storage container; microwave peanut butter for 15 seconds and stir in salt; drizzle half of salted peanut butter over top then run a knife through peanut butter to marbleize; repeat with remaining ice cream and peanut butter
  5. Wrap well with seran warp or tin foil and freeze for 6 hours or overnight
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart

Chocolate Ice Cream with Salted Peanut Butter Ripple. and you don't even need an ice cream maker!

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Thin Mint Ice Cream

Creamy no-churn ice cream full of huge Thin Mint cookie chunks.

Thin Mint Ice Cream <-no ice cream maker needed!

Recently I found myself in a disappointing situation. The ice cream selection in my freezer was boring the heck out of me.

Thin Mint Ice Cream - loaded with thin mints but not TOO minty!

To remedy the situation I decided to take matters into my own hands and make some no churn ice cream. You all know I’m obsessed, it’s kind of becoming a problem the best thing ever. You probably should make it too. Head over to Meyer’s Styles for all the details!

Thin Mint Ice Cream <- love

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Monster Cookie Dough Ice Cream (No Churn!)

Vanilla ice cream loaded with monster cookie dough (peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough with M&Ms and chocolate chips!). You will enjoy cookie dough in every bite!

Monster COOKIE DOUGH Ice Cream <-no machine, no eggs, so easy!

I think the deep freeze is over (said crossing fingers and knocking on wood). And in case it’s not obvious, I (and everyone else in the northeast) am more than ready. I’m ready for shorts, flip-flops (okay, I’d settle for being outside without a puffy coat), walks with L and warm weather food. I’m ready for ice cream, lots of it.

Monster COOKIE DOUGH Ice Cream <-no machine needed!

Okay, let’s be real. I’ve been eating ice cream all winter long. Maybe not quite as much ice cream as I ate last summer, but plenty still. The main difference is that I currently eat it with the heat turned up while wearing a massive sweatshirt and wool socks. Last week, when I remembered that I had some heavy cream about to expire, I was inspired to go churn up make some super easy and delicious ice cream once again. I asked on Facebook and Twitter what flavor I should make and Erin suggested monster cookie dough. Genius much?

Monster cookies are typically peanut butter oatmeal cookies loaded with M&Ms. How could that possibly be a bad thing? And what tastes good as a cookie almost always tastes better as cookie dough. So translated into ice cream we are in clear delicious territory. Not to mention that this ice cream really is LOADED with cookie dough. No searching with the spoon to find the little chunks (don’t pretend you don’t do that). Seriously, cookie dough in every bite.

Monster Cookie Dough Ice Cream (No Churn!)
 
Vanilla ice cream loaded with monster cookie dough (peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough with M&Ms and chocolate chips!). You will enjoy cookie dough in every bite!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: Makes ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
  • 16 fluid ounces (2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) vanilla extract
  • 1 recipe for oatmeal cookie dough (see below)
Instructions
  1. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  2. While whipping cream, pour sweetened condensed milk into a separate large bowl and mix with vanilla
  3. Once cream is ready, fold it into sweetened condensed milk mixture; fold in cookie dough
  4. Pour ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan
  5. Wrap well with seran warp or tin foil and freeze for 6 hours or overnight

 
Monster Cookie Dough Ice Cream (No Churn!)
 
Edible Monster Cookie Dough
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • 65g (~1/4 cup) creamy peanut butter
  • 14g (1 tablespoon) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 28 g (~2 tablespoons packed) light brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 25g (~2 tablespoons) granulated sugar
  • 5 milliliters / 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 60g (~¾ cup) rolled oats
  • ½g (¼ teaspoon) ground cinnamon
  • ½g (1/8 teaspoon) salt
  • 56g (~1/4 cup) mini M&Ms
  • 53g (~1/4 cup) mini chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy; stir in vanilla
  2. Gradually stir in oats, cinnamon salt just until combined
  3. Stir in M&Ms and chocolate chips
  4. Set aside to make ice cream

Monster COOKIE DOUGH Ice Cream <-no churn!

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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monster cookie dough ice cream!!!!!

Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups

Rich homemade candy  cups filled with peanut butter caramel sauce and topped with the perfect amount of flaky sea salt.

Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups - dying over these

I told you I had something up my sleeve for the caramel sauce. I don’t even think I need to talk too much about these little candy cups, the pictures say it all. Last minute Valentine’s Day treat perhaps?

 

4.0 from 1 reviews
Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups
 
Rich homemade candy cups filled with peanut butter caramel sauce and topped with the perfect amount of flaky sea salt.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 candy cups
Ingredients
  • 10 ounces good quality dark chocolate (I used 72%), roughly chopped
  • ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 cup Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce
  • Flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
  1. Line a mini muffin pan with 12 tin foil cupcake wrappers and set aside
  2. Place chocolate and butter in a medium microwave safe bowl; melt by microwaving the chocolate and butter in 30-second increments and stirring in-between
  3. Use a teaspoon to coat the bottom of each cup with melted chocolate; place muffin pan in fridge for fifteen minutes or until chocolate is set
  4. Remove pan from fridge and spoon caramel sauce into center of each cup (about 1 tablespoon); if caramel sauce has been chilled and is firm, microwave for 10-20 seconds and stir for a more workable consistency
  5. Spoon melted chocolate over caramel and around edges so that coated on all sides; sprinkle tops with flaky sea salt if desired (and it should be desired)
  6. Chill for one hour in refrigerator before serving; store in refrigerator up to one week

Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups... the picture says it all

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce

Everybody loves caramel sauce but peanut butter caramel sauce takes your traditional ice cream topping to another level!

Homemade PEANUT BUTTER Caramel Sauce! amazing

I haven’t been doing a ton of baking since L was born. I’ve been having a little trouble motivating myself and finding my creativity. In fact, when I made these cookies, I ended up taking more pictures of L than I did the cookies. Whoops! He is just too cute sometimes and I can’t help myself.

So when I saw this recipe, I was obviously excited.since I decided to make peanut butter caramel sauce the next day. My mom was here helping with L and I took about ten minutes in the kitchen to whip this up. Basically the best way to spend a few minutes away from that little monkey if I have to.

The sauce turned out pretty darn amazing… I kind of feel like I should always have a batch of it on hand. Other than eating it straight from the jar with a spoon you can do so many things with this sauce… ice cream sundaes (obviously), cake, Oreo bars….. the list goes on! AND I have a new idea coming to you later this week.

Homemade PEANUT BUTTER Caramel Sauce! new favorite ice cream topping

 

Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce
 
Everybody loves caramel sauce but peanut butter caramel sauce takes your traditional ice cream topping to another level!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1¼ cups
Ingredients
  • 160 grams / 5⅝ ounces (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • [45] milliliters / 3 tablespoons water
  • 117 milliliters / 4 fluid ounces ( ½ cup) heavy cream
  • 29 milliliters / 1 fluid ounces (2 tablespoons) milk (any type)
  • 2 grams (1 teaspoon) coarse or flaky sea salt
  • 77 grams / 2 ¾ ounces (¼ cup) creamy peanut butter (not all natural)
Instructions
  1. Combine the sugar and water in a medium* heavy-duty saucepan and cook over high heat, whisking until the sugar dissolves
  2. Let boil for several minutes without stirring until the mixture becomes a deep amber color, watching closely so it doesn’t burn; Once the caramel begins to darken, the rest of the process happens very quickly (see photos above for caramelization process)
  3. As soon as most of the sugar water mixture is a deep amber, whisk in the cream (be careful as mixture will bubble up) and remove from heat immediately
  4. Whisk in milk and sea salt
  5. Place pot back over low heat and quickly whisk in peanut butter; remove from heat as soon as combined
  6. Serve warm or store covered in refrigerator up to two weeks**
Notes
Adapted from my salted caramel and this peanut butter caramel
*If doubling, use a large pot and allow extra time for caramelization
**For thicker sauce, chill in refrigerator for a few hours before using or serving; re-heat gently before serving

Homemade PEANUT BUTTER Caramel Sauce! To die for.

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Peanut Butter Banana Energy Balls {gluten-free, vegan}

A no-bake treat and healthy snack made with just a few ingredients. These naturally gluten-free energy balls are so convenient to have on hand!

Peanut Butter Banana Energy Balls - These naturally gluten-free energy balls are so convenient to have on hand

Every day since L was born, you would think I hadn’t eaten in a week. Seriously, I’m so hungry ALL the time. He eats every three hours and I do too. Sometimes I have time to make myself a big salad and inhale it in about three minutes. Sometimes I have him on my lap while I try to cut the chicken on my plate into bite sized pieces with just one hand. Other times I have him in the Baby K’tan and try not to spill food on his head (there may or may not have been an incident with turkey). And sometimes I just need something to grab. While I definitely eat a lot and have my fair share of dessert, I’ve been trying to eat mostly healthy every day since having him. Snacks like these little energy balls have saved me. I’ll often grab three or four out of the freezer and pair them with a couple sticks of string cheese for a surprisingly filling and healthy snack that you can eat with one hand. New mom win!

 

Peanut Butter Banana Energy Balls {gluten-free, vegan}
 
A no-bake treat and healthy snack made with just a few ingredients. These naturally gluten-free energy balls are so convenient to have on hand!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 30 bite-sized energy balls
Ingredients
  • 245g(~2 medium) ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
  • 32g (2 tablespoons) creamy natural peanut butter (I prefer salted)
  • 20g (2 tablespoons) chia seeds
  • 1g (~1 teaspoon) ground cinnamon
  • 80g (1 cup) old-fashioned oats
  • 80g (1 cup) old-fashioned oats, ground
  • 24g (¼ cup) PB2, peanut flour or protein powder
Instructions
  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and set aside
  2. In a medium bowl, combine bananas, peanut butter, chia seeds and cinnamon
  3. Stir in oatmeal, ground oats and PB2 until well combined
  4. Use a tablespoon or small cookie dough scoop to divide up dough and then use your hands to roll into balls; place on prepared baking sheet
  5. Freeze for two hours before placing balls to store in a ziplock bag or Tupperware container
  6. Freeze for up to one month; energy balls can be enjoyed frozen or at room temperature
Notes
*If making for someone with a gluten sensitivity, make sure that all ingredients are certified gluten-free
These run about 40 calories / piece; I like eating a few at a time with some string cheese for a filling snack

Peanut Butter Banana Energy Balls - a healthy, no-bake treat!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Fluffernutter Mini Pies {Guest Post}

Today’s guest post is from Madison, a blogger that I’ve been virtual friends with for years now. We even got to meet over dinner a few years ago!  She has her own little one due at the end of this winter (a wonderful miracle that you should read about). Visit her blog and take a look at some of my favorite recipes she has posted (Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas, Classic Apple Pie with an Ultra Flaky Crust, and Peanut Butter Toffee Cookies).

Fluffernutter Mini Pies!

Hi, Keep It Sweet readers! I’m so excited that Lauren asked me to share a recipe with you while she is enjoying some much-deserved time with her new little one! Lauren and I have been blog friends almost as long as our blogs have been around and I couldn’t be happier for Lauren and Matt as they journey into parenthood.

It’s a little intimidating to share a desert recipe on Lauren’s site. That girl can bake! I think her blondies are my husband’s all-time favorite dessert. But I’m going to give it a go anyway!

The recipe that I’m sharing with you today, Fluffernutter Mini Pies, is a scaled-down dessert that makes just four small pies and can be whipped together in no time. I find that having too many sweets in the house is a recipe for disaster since my willpower is just not that strong, so sometimes it’s nice to have something that makes just a few servings.

I didn’t grow up on the marshmallow crème and peanut butter combination known as fluffernutter, but I’ve come to love the combo as an adult. These pies combine cream cheese, peanut butter and marshmallow crème into an easy pie filling. Not into mini desserts? Just double the filling amount and use a regular pie shell and you’re good to go for larger groups. Enjoy!

Fluffernutter Mini Pies!

 

5.0 from 1 reviews
Fluffernutter Mini Pies {Guest Post}
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 4 mini pies
Ingredients
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup marshmallow crème
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 4 miniature graham cracker crust pie shells
  • Salted peanuts and miniature marshmallows for garnishing
Instructions
  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk heavy cream and vanilla until firm peaks form. Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl and set aside.
  2. With your electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, peanut butter, marshmallow crème and powdered sugar until smooth. Gently fold in the whipped cream until evenly combined.
  3. Spoon or pipe mixture into the prepared pie shells. Garnish mini pies with the peanuts and miniature marshmallows and refrigerate at least 1 hour or until mixture is firm and set.

Madison Mayberry Hofmeyer is a wife to Joe and food editor (yes, that’s a real job!) for The Betty Crocker Kitchens living in Edina. They are expecting their first baby in March who will join their two fur babies, dogs Nutmeg and Pippa. Madison blogs about all things food and life over at Espresso and Cream.

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Double Dip Mints (aka Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Patties)

This recipe for Double Dip Mints was inspired by one of my favorite candy stores.  Homemade milk chocolate dipped peppermint patties are even better than the original candy you are used to!

Double Dip Mints - such a great treat to gift to a friend!

In all of my summers of going down the shore, there are definitely mixed memories of people and events  that seem to be somewhat of a blur at this point.  Aside from a few special moments, without a doubt, one of my favorite things about the annual trips is visiting  Jagielky’s, an unbelievable chocolate store with a vast selection of homemade sweets.  I’m not even really a candy person in general, I can usually take it or leave it, but their chocolates are to-die-for.  The homemade caramel in the cashew turtles is just perfect and their almond butter crunch bars (milk chocolate and almond covered toffee) are one of my favorite treats in the world.  My mom and sister love their homemade marshmallow-filled chocolates and I never leave without a chocolate covered Oreo for Matt.  But there is one candy that always seemed to me so simple yet so genius and I had to recreate it, the Double Dip Mint.

The Double Dip Mint is really very straight forward.  It is basically like someone took a peppermint patty and then dipped it in milk chocolate.  So instead of one type of chocolate coating, you get two.  So for those of you who haven’t picked sides on milk versus dark, these are perfect for you.  My homemade version might not be quite  as delicious as the specialty treat I’ve been buying for years, but it’s pretty darn close.  Plus, this time of year I’m not heading to the shore so making them myself is necessary.

I worked off of Christina’s peppermint patty recipe and increased the volume so that you could sneak a few for yourself and then gift a dozen to a friend for the holidays.  Feel free to double or triple the recipe as needed!

 

Double Dip Mints (aka Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Patties)
 
This recipe for Double Dip Mints was inspired by one of my favorite candy stores. Homemade milk chocolate dipped peppermint patties are even better than the original candy you are used to!
Makes: 18-20 pieces
Ingredients
  • 240g (~1½ cups) powdered sugar, plus additional for rolling
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) water
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) light corn syrup
  • 2 milliliters (¼- ½ teaspoon) peppermint extract
  • 170g good quality dark chocolate (I like using something 65% cocoa or higher)
  • 227g good quality milk chocolate
  • 42g (3 tablespoons) unsalted butter or shortening, separated
Instructions
  1. Combine the sugar, water, corn syrup and peppermint extract in the large bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment on low speed for several minutes, until it forms large clumps
  2. Remove bowl from mixer and use your hands to knead the dough together
  3. Place a sheet of parchment paper (about the size of a baking sheet) on counter and dust with powdered sugar; place dough on top and sprinkle additional powdered sugar on top; top with another piece of parchment paper and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough out to be about ¼ inch thick; freeze dough (still between parchment paper) for at thirty minutes
  4. Remove dough from freezer and use a round cookie cutter or small glass (I used a shot glass!) to cut circles ~1 ½ inches in diameter; roll out remaining dough scraps and cut out additional circles until almost no dough remains
  5. Chill cut dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in freezer for one hour or up to one day
  6. When ready, take out a clean piece of parchment
  7. Melt dark chocolate and half of butter or shortening in microwave of a double boiler; once completely melted, remove peppermints from freezer and dunk each one and then place on clean parchment paper
  8. Chill peppermint patties in freezer for one hour and repeat dipping process with milk chocolate and remaining butter or shortening; freeze again until completely cooled
  9. Store in an airtight container or ziplock bag in freezer up to one month
Notes
Recipe for peppermint patties from Dessert for Two
Inspired by my favorite chocolate candy store

Double Dip Mints - basically chocolate covered peppermint patties!

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Peanut Butter S’mores Parfaits

Mini dessert parfaits layered with graham cracker crumble, peanut butter marshmallow mousse, milk chocolate ganache and toasted marshmallows!

No-Bake Peanut Butter S’mores Parfaits - so much fun for summer entertaining!

I haven’t posted any s’mores recipes for you this summer, I was waiting until I had something extra special.  These little parfaits… they certainly are that!  Peanut butter and milk chocolate play starring rolls, but the other classic s’mores components are here and prominent.  There is marshmallow infused into the peanut butter mousse (gotta love marshmallow fluff!) and then toasted marshmallows top each adorable shot-glass dessert.

Peanut Butter S'mores Parfaits OMG

I couldn’t resist digging into one for… you know, the good of the photo shoot.  Ha, who am I kidding?  I just couldn’t resist.

Peanut Butter S'mores Parfaits OMG these are good

Peanut Butter S’mores Parfaits
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1 dozen mini parfaits
Ingredients
  • Graham Cracker Crumble (recipe below)
  • Peanut Butter Marshmallow Mousse (recipe below)
  • Milk Chocolate Ganache (recipe below)
  • 28g (~1/2 cup) mini marshmallows
Instructions
  1. Put about one teaspoon of graham cracker crumble on the bottom of each shot glass
  2. Pipe peanut butter mousse into each parfait glass so that they are ⅓ of the way full (you can also use a spoon but I find that this helps for a “cleaner” look)
  3. Layer each parfait with about one teaspoon of chocolate ganache
  4. Repeat layers and top each parfait with mini marshmallows; chill in refrigerator until ready to eat
  5. When ready to serve, use a blow torch to gently char the marshmallows right before serving
Notes
You will need 12 tall shot glasses (alternatively, you can use four larger sized glasses of choice for full-sized desserts, just scale up the size of each layer when putting them together)
I recommend making the components below around the same time, the mousse can be made earlier in the day if needed
Parfaits are best enjoyed immediately but leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator and enjoyed for up to five days
If making for someone who is gluten-intolerant, make sure all ingredients are labeled “gluten-free”
Inspired by these No-Bake S’mores Cheesecakes

Graham Cracker Crumble
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • 85g (3/4 cups) finely ground graham cracker crumbs (~5 full sheets)
  • 42g (3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
  1. Stir together graham cracker crumbs and butter;  set aside until ready to use
Notes
Use gluten-free graham crackers if making gluten-free

Peanut Butter Marshmallow Mousse
 
Ingredients
  • 155g (~1/2 cup) creamy peanut butter, do not use a natural version
  • 70g (~1/3 cup) marshmallow fluff
  • 175 milliliters (3/4 cup) heavy whipping cream, cold
Instructions
  1. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, combine peanut butter and fluff on low to medium speed until well combined; set aside
  2. In a separate large bowl for the electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on medium-high speed just until stiff peaks form (will take a few minutes); mix in the peanut butter mixture on medium speed until smooth and creamy

Milk Chocolate Ganache
 
Ingredients
  • 113g milk chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 120 milliliters ( ½ cup) heavy cream
Instructions
  1. Place chocolate in a medium heat-safe bowl and set aside
  2. Pour cream into a medium heavy duty sauce-pan and place over medium heat; bring to boil and remove from heat immediately
  3. Pour hot cream over chocolate and let stand for 5 minutes; whisk mixture until smooth; use before ganache is set and hard

 

Peanut Butter S'mores Parfaits - they will disappear in minutes!

Creamy and Refreshing Lemon Ice Cream (No Churn)

Another ice cream recipe that doesn’t require an ice cream maker!  This Lemon Ice Cream is super creamy and quite refreshing, a wonderful summer treat!

Creamy and Refreshing Lemon Ice Cream (No Churn)

Sometimes when I enjoy a lemon dessert, I feel like a traitor to my former self.  I was so sworn against lemon anything forever and now I feel like such a hypocrite.  But you know what, I’ll get over that, because now is the time to embrace new tastes and delicious, refreshing summer flavors.

Super Creamy Lemon Ice Cream - no eggs, no ice cream maker... so easy!

That isn’t to say that I’m not ultra picky about lemon sweets (even more picky than I am about all sweets, hard to believe).  Lemon bars still kind of gross me out, as does lemon meringue pie.  But when lemon desserts are done right, they can be quite delicious.  Not too sweet and not too tart are the most important factors.  And then there is texture.  This ice cream for example, has just enough lemon flavor to make it a refreshing treat, but it is also ultra creamy and has the potential to fulfill all of your ice cream loving needs.  Have a small scoop on a hot night or use it in an ice cream sundae.  This blueberry sauce would probably be perfect for that.  If you are really smart, you will make this ice cream right now so it’s ready for my recipe that’s coming on Thursday.  Hint, hint!

This Lemon Ice Cream is SO good and SO easy to make!

5.0 from 3 reviews
No Churn Lemon Ice Cream
 
Another ice cream recipe that doesn’t require an ice cream maker! This Lemon Ice Cream is super creamy and quite refreshing, a wonderful summer treat!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1½ quarts
Ingredients
  • (2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6g (~2 tablespoons) lemon zest (from ~2 lemons)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from ~1 lemon)
Instructions
  1. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  2. While whipping cream, in a separate large bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice
  3. Once cream is ready, fold it into sweetened condensed milk mixture
  4. Pour ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan or ice cream storage container
  5. Freeze for 6 hours or overnight before serving
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart

I can't wait to make this Lemon Ice Cream again, especially since you don't need an ice cream maker

 

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No Bake Blueberry Pie

No need to turn on the oven for this pie!  The no-bake pie includes a thick graham cracker crust, luscious cream cheese layer and homemade blueberry pie filling.

No-Bake Blueberry Pie - such a great way to enjoy pie in the summer!

I don’t really think of myself as a pie person.  My sister?  She loves pie.  My dad, too.  I like pies a lot, but don’t get all that excited about them too often.  However, I have a history with this blueberry pie (it pretty much blows every other pie out of the water).  This summer I decided to make a no-bake version.  It simplifies things and adds a nice item to the “don’t-have-to-turn-on-your-oven” repertoire.  Traditional pie crust fans, I’m sorry.  But to the rest of us who are all about the filling anyway, the graham cracker crust is still a great compliment to this perfect specimen of a fruit filling.

No-Bake Blueberry Pie - 3 delicious layers and the filling is perfection

No Bake Blueberry Pie
 
No need to turn on the oven for this pie! The no-bake pie includes a thick graham cracker crust, luscious cream cheese layer and homemade blueberry pie filling.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 8 servings
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
  • 180g (1 ½ cups) finely ground graham cracker crumbs (10-11 full sheets)
  • 55g (¼ cup) granulated sugar
  • 85g (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
Cream Cheese Layer
  • 113g light or regular cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 41g (3 tablespoons) granulated sugar
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) heavy cream
  • 2 milliliters (½ teaspoon) vanilla extract
Blueberry Pie Filling
  • 165g (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • 25g (3 tablespoons) cornstarch
  • 1g (1/4 teaspoon) salt
  • 570g (4 cups) blueberries, separated in half (if you can, group the best looking blueberries together, you will want to cook the blueberries that aren’t “perfect”)
  • 60 milliliters (¼ cup) water
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice (from ~1/2 lemon)
  • 14g (1 tablespoon) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
Instructions
  1. Prepare pie crust; in a medium bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter
  2. Press crust ingredients down with your hands into a 9-inch pie plate
  3. Place crust in refrigerator and make cream cheese layer and filling
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer use whisk attachment to combine ingredients until creamy, light and smooth; set aside and prepare blueberry pie filling
  5. In a medium heavy duty pot, combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt; add half of the blueberries and water
  6. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until blueberry mixture turns thickens and turns a very dark purple; this will take several minutes
  7. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and butter
  8. Fold in remaining blueberries
  9. Assemble the pie; remove crust from refrigerator and spread cream cheese layer evenly over top; gently spread blueberry filling into pie, making sure to keep cream cheese layer intact
  10. Chill in refrigerator at least one hour before serving and store leftovers in refrigerator; serve at room temperature
Notes
Slightly adapted from this pie which I blogged about here
Crust can be made up to 24 hours before filling, just cover it in seran and keep refrigerated
Pie should be enjoyed within three days of making

No-Bake Blueberry Pie - perfect for the amazing summer blueberries

 

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No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream with Salty Candied Peanuts

Creamy chocolate ice cream filled with crunchy sweet and salty candied peanuts.  No ice cream maker needed!

No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream with Salty Candied Peanuts - the ice cream is SO creamy

I was hesitant to make an ice cream that Matt wouldn’t like (ahem, peanut hater), but ultimately I couldn’t resist.  Besides, he’d choose a vanilla base any day while I am a sucker for chocolate.  Especially when that chocolate has something fun in it.  These crunchy chunks of candied peanuts are the perfect compliment to the creamy chocolate base.  Again, this ice cream is so easy to make.  It’s joining my ever-growing list of no-churn obsessions.

No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream with Salty Candied Peanuts - love that you don't need an ice cream maker

No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream with Salty Candied Peanuts
 
Creamy chocolate ice cream filled with crunchy sweet and salty candied peanuts. No ice cream maker needed!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
  • 473 milliliters (2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 50g (½ cup + 2 tablespoons) unsweetened cocoa powder (any kind will work, I used a lighter cocoa powder for a more milk-chocolatey flavor)
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) vanilla extract
  • 1¼ cups Salty Candied Peanuts (recipe below)
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, cocoa and vanilla; mixture will be very thick; set aside
  2. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  3. Once cream is ready, gently fold ⅓ of it into sweetened condensed milk mixture; gently fold in remaining cream until fully combined; fold in candied peanuts
  4. Pour ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan or ice cream storage container; wrap well with seran warp or tin foil and freeze for 6 hours or overnight
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart

 
Salty Candied Peanuts
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 2½ cups
Ingredients
  • 150g (1 cup) chopped peanuts, roasted and unsalted
  • 110g (~1/2 cup) granulated sugar
  • 20 milliliters 4 teaspoons water
  • 2½g (1/2 teaspoon) table or kosher salt
Instructions
  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside
  2. Cook peanuts, sugar and water in a small heavy duty sauce pan over medium high heat, stirring regularly until sugar begins to caramelize
  3. When mixture begins to bubble, stir quickly until sugar is completely crystalized (it will appear very sandy and dry), about 3 minutes
  4. Continue to cook while stirring constantly until sugar re-melts and turns a dark golden brown (~3 minutes); be careful not to burn
  5. Remove from heat and stir in salt
  6. Spread nuts out onto prepared baking sheet and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes; break peanuts up into small chunks and place in an airtight container until ready to use (up to two weeks)
Notes

 

I hope you aren’t sick of the ice cream recipes yet…

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Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream (No Churn)

Super creamy pumpkin ice cream with a cinnamon brown sugar swirl.  No ice cream maker needed for this recipe!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream - you don't need an ice cream maker for this!

It was so much fun reconnecting with my best friends from childhood this weekend.  I was only with them for one night but we had such a good time.  We had dinner at Amada and then a few of us were up talking for a couple of hours in the room.  I stayed up to the record hour of 1am (well, I didn’t really sleep much so it was practically an all-nighter for me).  Only someone you know from the age of seven can get away with trying to wake up a baby in your belly.  Ha!  And only someone you’ve been best friends with since fourth grade knows that all you want after a night out is to get back to the room, change into PJs and have the options of many snacks.

Super Creamy Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream

But this ice cream… I made it a few weeks ago, shared a little bit, and then ate most of it myself.  Matt doesn’t love pumpkin but did admit that it was pretty darn good.  Pretty darn good is an understatement.  The flavor was fantastic, the texture was so creamy and the cinnamon bun swirl… well, what do you think?!  Make this immediately so that you can enjoy it later.  Trust me.

NO CHURN Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream - so many good things in one place

Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream (No Churn)
 
Super creamy pumpkin ice cream with a cinnamon brown sugar swirl. No ice cream maker needed for this recipe!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
  • 475 milliliters (2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 160g (2/3 cup) canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
  • 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) vanilla extract
  • 2g (3/4 teaspoon) ground cinnamon
  • ½g (1/4 teaspoon) ground nutmeg
  • 120g (~1/2 cup tightly packed) light brown sugar
  • 28g (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
  • 6g (2 teaspoons) ground cinnamon
Instructions
  1. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  2. While whipping cream, in a separate large bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg
  3. In a separate small bowl, combine brown sugar, melted butter, cinnamon; set aside
  4. Once cream is ready, fold it into sweetened condensed milk mixture
  5. Pour half of ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan and drop half of brown sugar mixture over top; top with remaining ice cream and top with remaining brown sugar mixture; wrap well with seran wrap or tin foil
  6. Freeze for 10 hours or overnight before serving
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream - incredible and no ice cream maker needed

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Chocolate Chunk Banana Ice Cream with Chocolate Fudge Ripple

This healthy version of ice cream is naturally vegan and gluten-free.
Healthy Banana Ice Cream full of Chocolate Fudge Chunks!

I’ve got another ice cream recipe for you that doesn’t require an ice cream maker!  Although, this one is a little different.  When I was in the midst of a baking rampage a few weeks ago, Matt asked if I could try to make something healthy.  Well, wish granted!  This isn’t your typical ice cream, and I’m not going to lie, it’s not as creamy as the fat-filled regular version.  But when you want a sweet frozen treat that is on the healthier side, this banana ice cream is perfect.

I’m not the first person to make banana ice cream in a blender, I’ve seen it done about four million times before.  But for my purposes, I wanted a flavor that felt a little more indulgent and didn’t leave my sweet tooth and cravings completely unsatisfied.  The fudge ripple and chocolate chunks through definitely do the trick!

Healthy Banana Ice Cream loaded with chocolate, no ice cream maker needed!

 

2.0 from 1 reviews
Chocolate Chunk Banana Ice Cream with Chocolate Fudge Ripple
 
Fudge Ripple Makes ½ cup Recipe from David Lebovitz via Epicurious
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~3/4 quart (3-6 servings)
Ingredients
  • 610g (~4 large) frozen bananas, sliced
  • 60 milliliters (1/4 cup) almond milk
  • 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
  • 65g dark chocolate, chopped (check to make sure dairy-free if Vegan)
  • ¼ cup chocolate ripple (see below)
Instructions
  1. In a high-speed blender (I used a Vitamix) combine frozen bananas, almond milk and vanilla for several minutes or until completely combined; should be the consistency of soft serve yogurt
  2. Fold in chopped chocolate and pour into a regular sized loaf pan
  3. Drizzle with fudge ripple; cover with seran wrap or tin foil and freeze for at least 6 hours before serving

 
2.0 from 1 reviews
Chocolate Chunk Banana Ice Cream with Chocolate Fudge Ripple
 
Fudge Ripple Makes ½ cup Recipe from David Lebovitz via Epicurious
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ½ cup
Ingredients
  • 50g (~1/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • 50 milliliters (2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons) light corn syrup
  • 60 milliliters (1/4 cup) water
  • 25g (~1/4 cup) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
  • 1 milliliter (1/4 teaspoon) vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, whisk together sugar, corn syrup, water and cocoa powder; whisk constantly until mixture comes to a low boil
  2. Cook for one additional minute, still whisking and then remove from heat
  3. Stir in vanilla
  4. Chill in refrigerator for at least one hour or until ready to use (up to two weeks)
Notes

 

Vegan Banana Ice Cream with Chocolate Fudge Ripple and Chocolate Chunks!

No guilt necessary!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

No Churn Oreo Fudge Swirl Ice Cream

This easy no-churn Vanilla bean ice cream is full of Oreo chunks and a delicious ribbon of fudge.

No Churn Oreo Fudge Swirl Ice Cream - vanilla beam ice cream, loaded with oreos and homemade fudge

Other than the part where my tripod fell over and knocked my camera directly into the ice cream, I loved this.  After a slight moment of panic, I gently wiped the mess off of my lens and then used some windex on a soft cloth.  Phew!  So even though I’m not completely thrilled with the resulting photos, I think they will suffice because this ice cream is so good it shouldn’t even matter what it looks like.  Besides, I couldn’t wait another 24 hours for a new photo shoot, this ice cream needed to be eaten (Matt could barely wait the first night for the freezing process!).

No Churn Oreo Fudge Swirl Ice Cream - make it easily without an ice cream maker!

This has officially become the summer of “how much ice cream can I possibly eat?”  This is only the third ice cream I’ve made, but I’ve been enjoying my fair share of store bought and specialty shop ice creams as well.  And I don’t know if there will be an official ice cream tour this summer, but I do have a few new places that I’m dying to try.  So between the collection of other flavors floating through my head and all of the above, this summer is already one of my favorites.  <—– I wonder how I’ll feel about that statement at the end of Summer when I’m 8 months pregnant and huge.

Anyway, I digress, back to this  Oreo Fudge Swirl Ice Cream.  Matt had originally requested Cookies and Cream, but I didn’t want to do an old standard, hence the addition of a fudge ripple.  It is just enough to really satisfy a chocolate craving but doesn’t take over the entire ice cream flavor.  That’s a very good thing because the vanilla base is vanilla bean all the way.  Those two factors plus the big Oreo cookie chunks… this is an ice cream that is worth waiting for (even if six hours does feel forever).

No Churn Oreo Fudge Swirl Ice Cream - no ice cream maker needed, one of the best flavors ever

No Churn Oreo Fudge Swirl Ice Cream
 
This easy no-churn Vanilla bean ice cream is full of Oreo chunks and a delicious ribbon of fudge.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
  • 475 milliliters ( 2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • Inside of one vanilla bean
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) vanilla extract
  • 110g (~1 cup) roughly chopped Oreos (about 10 cookies)
  • 1 recipe for fudge ripple, chilled (see below)
Instructions
  1. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  2. While whipping cream, in a separate large bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk, vanilla bean, vanilla extract and Oreos
  3. Once cream is ready, fold it into sweetened condensed milk mixture
  4. Pour half of ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan; drizzle with half of fudge ripple and carefully use a knife to cut through the fudge for a light swirl effect; repeat with remaining ice cream mixture and fudge ripple
  5. Wrap well with seran warp or tin foil and freeze for 6 hours or overnight
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart

Fudge Ripple
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ½ cup
Ingredients
  • 50g (~1/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • 40 milliliters (2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons) light corn syrup
  • 60 milliliters (1/4 cup) water
  • 25g (~1/4 cup) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
  • 1 milliliter (1/4 teaspoon) vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, whisk together sugar, corn syrup, water and cocoa powder; whisk constantly until mixture comes to a low boil
  2. Cook for one additional minute, still whisking and then remove from heat
  3. Stir in vanilla
  4. Chill in refrigerator for at least one hour or until ready to use (up to two weeks)
Notes

 

Oreo Fudge Swirl Ice Cream - you don't even need an ice cream maker!!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it onInstagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

This post contains affiliate links.

Speculoos Sundae with Warm Blueberry Sauce

Homemade speculoos (or Cookie Butter) ice cream layered with crushed speculoos cookies and a warm homemade blueberry sauce.

Speculoos Sundaes with Warm Blueberry Sauce - everything about these is amazing

This ice cream is now a serious obsession.  In case you couldn’t tell in Monday’s post.

Cookie Butter Ice Cream with Warm Blueberry Sauce - my new favorite sundae!

The thing is, despite the fact that it has so much flavor you can most definitely enjoy it thoroughly on its own, I couldn’t leave well enough alone.  So I dressed it up with a sauce made from my favorite summer fruit (seriously, I might turn blue this summer) and some cookie crumbs for extra texture.  The blueberry sauce is so pretty that this sundae will brighten up your summer table.  You can even make a few sundaes ahead of time for entertaining (just wrap and freeze), though, I definitely prefer the blueberry sauce warmed up before serving.  It’s sweet but definitely not too sweet (you wouldn’t want an ultra sweet sauce for the cookie butter ice cream) and since you are adding a fruit so high in antioxidants to your ice cream, an extra-large sundae is perfectly acceptable.

Homemade Cookie Butter Ice Cream, Crushed Speculoos Cookies and Warm Blueberry Sauce Make for Your New Favorite Sundae!

 

Speculoos Sundae with Warm Blueberry Sauce
 
Homemade speculoos (or Cookie Butter) ice cream layered with crushed speculoos cookies and a warm homemade blueberry sauce.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1 sundae
Ingredients
  • 2 scoops Cookie Butter Ice Cream
  • 2-3 tablespoons Blueberry Sauce (see below)
  • 1-2 speculoos cookies broken into small pieces
Instructions
  1. Layer ice cream, warmed blueberry sauce, and broken cookies; serve and enjoy!

Speculoos Sundae with Warm Blueberry Sauce
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • 285g (~2 cups) fresh blueberries (frozen can be substituted for slightly longer cooking time)
  • 70g (~1/3 cup) granulated sugar
  • 15 milliliters (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice (about ½ lemon)
  • 10g (~1 tablespoon) cornstarch
Instructions
  1. Place blueberries, sugar and lemon juice in a medium pot stove with medium heat
  2. Stir occasionally until some of the berries begin to break down and juice begins to form (~4 minutes)
  3. Turn the heat to high, add cornstarch and stir quickly until sauce reaches desired thickness (1-2 minutes)
  4. Serve immediately or reheat gently before using; store leftovers covered or in an airtight container up to one week

 

Speculoos Sundaes with Warm Blueberry Sauce

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

You might also like:

No Churn Cookie Butter Ice Cream

No Churn Cookie Butter Ice Cream

Extra Dark Chocolate Cake with Cookie Butter Buttercream

Extra Dark Chocolate Cake with Cookie Butter Buttercream

Cookie Butter Pumpkin Bites

Cookie Butter Pumpkin Bites

No-Churn Cookie Butter Ice Cream

You don’t need an ice cream maker to churn a batch of this delicious ice cream!  Packed with Cookie Butter, rich and creamy, this is an ice cram that you will love.

Super Creamy Cookie Butter Ice Cream - NO ice cream maker needed! So easy and so delicious!

Apparently no-churn ice cream is a thing, a big thing.  This might be the most dangerous fact I’ve ever learned.  In the past I’ve nearly broken an old ice cream maker in frustration.  I had no idea how easy it would be to make the real deal sans fancy machine.   Seriously, you whip some cream, combine it with a sweetened condensed milk / flavor mixture and freeze for a few hours.  I actually stopped myself from buying more than one large container of heavy whipping cream at Costco on Saturday for fear of my baby turning into a giant ice cream cone.

Super Creamy Cookie Butter Ice Cream - Don't even need an ice cream maker. Seriously easy and delicious!

Luckily I did have some help from Matt in eating this batch of Cookie Butter Ice Cream.  Infused with cookie butter AND speculoos crumbs, it is heavy on the cookie butter flavor in a very good way.  I used it for ice cream sundaes (recipe coming later this week), a fruit crumble (recipe also coming soon) and Matt made a couple of milkshakes (just some skim milk and ice cream blended together).  Part of me wants to make this recipe over and over again throughout the summer, but I have too many other flavors I’m dying to try.  Although, I would love to have a giant scoop of this ice cream stuffed into these cookies.  Um, how many weeks away is my glucose test?

Super Creamy Cookie Butter Ice Cream - If you like cookie butter, you will LOVE this

No-Churn Cookie Butter Ice Cream
 
You don’t need an ice cream maker to churn a batch of this delicious ice cream! Packed with Cookie Butter, rich and creamy, this is an ice cram that you will love.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: ~1½ quarts
Ingredients
  • 475 milliliters (2 cups) heavy cream
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free, but any type would work)
  • 200g (~1/2 cup) Cookie Butter (or other speculoos of choice)
  • 84g (~2/3 cup) finely ground speculoos cookies (approximately 10 cookies)
  • 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. In the large bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream on high speed for several minutes, just until stiff peaks form
  2. While whipping cream, in a separate large bowl, stir together remaining ingredients
  3. Once cream is ready, fold it into Cookie Butter mixture
  4. Pour ice cream into a regular-sized loaf pan and wrap well with seran wrap or tin foil
  5. Freeze for 6 hours or overnight
Notes
Base from Martha Stewart

Super Creamy Cookie Butter Ice Cream - NO ice cream maker needed! Almost too good to be true.

If you love Cookie Butter as much as I do, be sure to check out my growing list of speculoos-based recipes!

Oh, and I also spotted this version of Cookie Butter s’more ice cream last week on Baheaholic Mama, I’ll take both!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

You might also like:

Speculoos Sundaes

Speculoos Sundaes with Warm Blueberry Sauce

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Cookie Butter and Salted Caramel Cookie Sandwiches

Cookie Butter and Salted Caramel Cookie Sandwiches

BLUEberry Buttercream Cups

These Blueberry Buttercream Cups are the perfect no-bake chocolate treats.  They are so easy to make.

Blueberry Buttercream Cups - the perfect no-bake chocolate treats (gluten-free)

I think I might be a little obsessed with buttercream candy cups now.  First there were the Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups and then I made these Pretty in Pink Buttercream Cups.  The thing is, this is such an easy dessert to make.  I was able to do all of the work and clean up in the time it took Matt to go to the driving range.  I could have eaten them all and he wouldn’t even have had a clue.  Sometimes that is the best kind of dessert.

Blueberry Buttercream Cups - the perfect no-bake chocolate treats (gluten-free)

So when I was thinking endlessly of some sort of fancy gender reveal post, I’m glad that it finally occurred to me to make some buttercream cups again.  I still don’t have high energy levels so it’s hard to motivate myself to make anything overly complicated.  Besides, blueberry buttercream plus chocolate – it’s like a gourmet truffle on crack.

Blueberry Buttercream Cups - the perfect no-bake chocolate treats (gluten-free)

 

Wait, what? Did I say gender reveal?  The filling might not be super blue (I’m trying to stay away from artificial coloring right now), but it is blue!  And that’s pretty much my favorite color since we found out that we are having a boy a couple of weeks ago! It actually wasn’t a shock, everyone seemed convinced of that a couple of months ago.  If I had been told anything else, I wouldn’t have believed the doctor anyway.  I grew up with a sister so this whole boy world is new and exciting for me.  And besides that, finding out the sex made things feel SO much more real.  We’ve even started looking at furniture and all of the cute room decorations out there.  Seriously, how is everything baby so darn cute?  And Matt?  I don’t think I’ve seen him this happy in the entire 10+ years we’ve been together.  That might be the best part!

BLUEberry Buttercream Cups
 
These Blueberry Buttercream Cups are the perfect no-bake chocolate treats. They are so easy to make.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 candy cups
Ingredients
  • 227g good quality dark chocolate (I used 72%), roughly chopped
  • 7g (1/2 tablespoon) unsalted butter
  • 1½ cups Blueberry Buttercream (see below)
Instructions
  1. Line a mini muffin pan with 12 tin foil cupcake wrappers and set aside
  2. Place chocolate and butter in a medium microwave safe bowl; melt by microwaving the chocolate and butter in 30-second increments and stirring in-between
  3. Use a teaspoon to coat the bottom of each cup with melted chocolate; place muffin pan in fridge
  4. Remove pan from fridge and pipe buttercream into center of each cup (about 1 tablespoon)
  5. Spoon melted chocolate over buttercream and around edges so that coated on all sides
  6. Chill for one hour in refrigerator before serving; store in refrigerator up to one week

Blueberry Buttercream
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • 113g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter,  at room temperature
  • 240g (1½ cups) powdered sugar
  • ⅛ cup blueberry puree (made from ¼ cup of fresh or frozen blueberries)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
  1. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter on high speed for several minutes until light and creamy
  2. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add powdered sugar; beat on high speed until combined
  3. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add blueberry puree, vanilla and salt; mix on medium speed for one minute;  beat on high speed for at least five minutes and until frosting is light and creamy; if it appears too thick, continue to beat for another couple of minutes or until it reaches desired consistency

Blueberry Buttercream Cups - the perfect no-bake chocolate treats (gluten-free)

Dear Pottery Barn Kids – you might just be the end of my bank account.

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups

Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups

 

Pretty in Pink Buttercream Cups

Pretty in Pink Buttercream Cups

 

Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups

Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups

Pretty in Pink Buttercream Cups

These dark chocolate candy cups are filled with a delicious creamy buttercream. They are a gluten-free, no-bake treat for any occasion.

Steph's Baby Shower

Today’s post is exciting because I’m part of a huge group of blogging ladies celebrating Steph’s virtual baby shower! This sweet and talented blogger is due to have a baby girl in just a few weeks and I am so excited for her. I’ve never met Steph in real life, but through talking online I already know what a kind, friendly and lovely person she is. Not to mention she is writing a delicious looking e-cookbook!

For the virtual shower, I went with one of my favorite party staples, a bite-size pickup dessert. I love small desserts at parties because they give guests the chance to try a little bit of everything. These candy cups are a new variation of the Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups I shared a few weeks ago. This version swaps the filling for a simple vanilla buttercream tinted in pink and perfect for a (girl) baby shower. Of course you could make them blue for a boy as well. I also left out the Oreos this time to keep them gluten-free and Passover appropriate (just in time!). I think this will be a nice treat to share at our seder on Tuesday night. Scroll down to see what treats everyone else is sharing!

Pretty in Pink Buttercream Cups

 

Pretty in Pink Buttercream Cups
 
These dark chocolate candy cups are filled with a delicious creamy buttercream. They are a gluten-free, no-bake treat for any occasion.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 candy cups
Ingredients
  • 227g good quality dark chocolate (I used 72%), roughly chopped
  • 7g (1/2 tablespoon) unsalted butter
  • 1½ cups Vanilla Buttercream (replace food coloring with just 2 drops red food coloring); optional
Instructions
  1. Line a mini muffin pan with 12 tin foil cupcake wrappers and set aside
  2. Place chocolate and butter in a medium microwave safe bowl; melt by microwaving the chocolate and butter in 30-second increments and stirring in-between
  3. Use a teaspoon to coat the bottom of each cup with melted chocolate; place muffin pan in fridge
  4. Remove pan from fridge and pipe buttercream into center of each cup (about 1 tablespoon)
  5. Spoon melted chocolate over buttercream and around edges so that coated on all sides
  6. Chill for one hour in refrigerator before serving; store in refrigerator up to one week

 

Pretty in Pink Buttercream Cups
Don’t forget to take a look at what the other bloggers are bringing to the shower!

Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes from Sarcastic Cooking

Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake with Lemon Drizzle from Greens & Chocolate

Super Chewy M&M Blondies from The Realistic Nutritionist

Strawberry Cinnamon Twist Knots from A Kitchen Addiction

Lemon Shortbread with Salted Chocolate Drizzle from The Lemon Bowl

Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream from A Zesty Bite

Blackberry and Mango Curd Pie from Joanne Eats Well With Others

Pecan Sticky Buns from Warm Vanilla Sugar

Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins from Garnish with Lemon

Chocolate Chip Pancakes from Susie Freaking Homemaker

Super Simple Sugar Cookies from Espresso and Cream

Raspberry Acai Frozen Margarita from Nutmeg Nanny

Berry Coconut Frozen Yogurt from The Law Student’s Wife

Pretty in Pink Buttercream Cups from Keep it Sweet Desserts

Broccoli Salad with Honey Toasted Walnuts from The Roasted Root

Neapolitan Baked Doughnuts from Climbing Grier Mountain

Giant Pink M&M and Raisinette Cookies from Steph’s Bite by Bite

No-Bake Rhubarb Cheesecake Parfait Cups from Hungry Girl Por Vida

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp from A Cedar Spoon

Freckled Strawberry Rhubarb Lemonade from Take a Megabite

Vanilla Anise Cupcakes from Blahnik Baker

Mini Vanilla Bean Layer Cakes from The Baker Chick

Mini Blackberry Hazelnut Meringue Cakes from Eat Your Heart Out

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Baby Shower Chocolate Clusters

Baby Shower Chocolate Clusters

 

Pink Champagne Pops

Pink Champagne Pops

 

Mini Chip Brownie Bites with Pink Marshmallow Buttercream

Mini Chip Brownie Bites with Pink Marshmallow Buttercream

Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups

Rich dark chocolate candy cups filled with crème de menthe buttercream and crushed oreos.

Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups

I’m not feeling all that great today so I’m going to keep this short.  These candy cups will kind of win over anyone who loves a little 2-bite treat.  My mom, while a buttercream lover, isn’t usually a fan of mint desserts and loved these.  I’m currently coming up with many excuses to make other versions and flavors.

Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups

Plus, I actually had some extra buttercream in the freezer so these were super easy to make.  Plus they are cute.  Plus you can pop one in your mouth whenever you have a sweet tooth.  Plus they are killer for chocolate cravings.

Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups

Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups
 
Rich dark chocolate candy cups filled with crème de menthe buttercream and crushed oreos.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 candy cups
Ingredients
  • 227 ounces good quality dark chocolate (I used 72%), roughly chopped
  • 7g (1/2 tablespoon) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup Crème de Menthe Buttercream
  • ¾ cup finely crushed Oreos (from 6 Oreos)
Instructions
  1. Line a mini muffin pan with 12 tin foil cupcake wrappers and set aside
  2. Place chocolate and butter in a medium microwave safe bowl; melt by microwaving the chocolate and butter in 30-second increments and stirring in-between
  3. Use a teaspoon to coat the bottom of each cup with melted chocolate; place muffin pan in fridge
  4. Combine buttercream with Oreo crumbs in an electric mixer with paddle attachment or with a spoon
  5. Remove pan from fridge and pipe buttercream into center of each cup (about 1 tablespoon)
  6. Spoon melted chocolate over buttercream and around edges so that coated on all sides
  7. Chill for one hour in refrigerator before serving; store in refrigerator up to one week

 

Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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No-Bake Cookie Dough Oreo Cheesecakes

Individual no-bake cheesecakes full of edible cookie dough chunks and sitting on top of a cookie dough Oreo crust

No-Bake Cookie Dough Oreo Cheesecakes

I don’t have a lot of pictures for you today (this dessert was not photogenic, but it was tasty!) and I am having major writer’s block.  I’ll just blame the winter, it seems to be the cause of most problems lately.

I’ll tell you this much, though, these mini cheesecakes are pretty fantastic.  Maybe I would put them in a parfait form next time just to make them a little prettier.  I do have some extra cookie dough in my freezer so that might not be the worst idea…

No-Bake Cookie Dough Oreo Cheesecakes

 

No-Bake Cookie Dough Oreo Cheesecakes
 
Individual no-bake cheesecakes full of edible cookie dough chunks and sitting on top of a cookie dough Oreo crust
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 mini cheesecakes
Ingredients
  • ½ batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls (see below)
  • 12 Cookie Dough Oreos
  • 454g (2 8-ounce packages) cream cheese (light or regular), at room temperature
  • 177 milliliters (3/4 cup) sweetened condensed milk (fat free is okay)
  • 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners; place a an Oreo on the bottom of each
  2. Make cheesecake filling; in the large bowl of an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, beat cream cheese for several minutes until smooth and creamy
  3. Add sweetened condensed milk and vanilla; mix until combined
  4. Remove bowl from mixer and use a spatula to fold in cookie dough balls
  5. Use a ladle or large cookie dough scoop to distribute filling over each Oreo
  6. Cover with seran wrap and chill in overnight
Notes
Enjoy within one week
Cheesecakes might be a little messy, just be careful when you unwrap them

 
No-Bake Cookie Dough Oreo Cheesecakes
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • 113g (1/2 cup / 1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 117g (~1/2 cup) light brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 53g (~1/4 cup) granulated sugar
  • 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) milk
  • 130g (~1 cup) all-purpose flour
  • 1g (1/4 teaspoon) table salt
  • 65g (~1/3 cup) mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy; stir in milk
  2. Gradually stir in flour and salt just until combined
  3. Stir in chocolate chips
  4. Use a teaspoon to scoop dough and roll into balls (1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon in size); Place in an airtight container and chill in freezer until ready for use

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Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache

Rice Krispie treats are all grown up with the addition of salted caramel and a rich mocha ganache.  Make this special treat for Super Bowl or your next gathering and watch the Rice Krispie treats disappear!

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache

Last Monday we talked the how-tos on making salted caramel.  Just a few ingredients and no thermometer; the basics really aren’t that hard.  Now that we have that covered, I figured you could use some new recipes for the salted caramel that you won’t want to stop making (and eating).

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache

These sweet and salty rice krispie treats are a fun and easy no-bake treat to make.  They might be the perfect pick-up treat for the Super Bowl in a few weeks.  The salted caramel krispie treat base is slightly gooey so they are best stored in the refrigerator.  The mocha ganache is rich and really makes them something special.  I liked them with and without the ganache topping, though.

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache
 
Rice Krispie treats are all grown up with the addition of salted caramel and a rich mocha ganache. Make this special treat for Super Bowl or your next gathering and watch the Rice Krispie treats disappear!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 24 servings
Ingredients
Mocha Ganache
  • 10 ounces dark chocolate (I used 70%), coarsely chopped
  • 4 fluid ounces cup extra-strong brewed coffee (4 fluid ounces hot water + 1 heaping
  • teaspoon + of instant coffee)
  • 5 ounces (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature and sliced
Rice Krispie Treats
  • 1½ ounces (3 tablespoons) unsalted butter
  • 1 10-ounce bag mini marshmallows
  • 6 fluid ounces (3/4 cup) salted caramel sauce
  • 7 cups Rice Krispies cereal
  • Flaky sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
Mocha Ganache
  1. Set up a double boiler; bring water to a simmer in medium pot over
  2. low-medium heat
  3. Place heat-proof bowl of chocolate over the pot
  4. Pour the coffee over chocolate
  5. Continuously stir until chocolate is melted and smooth
  6. Remove bowl from heat and whisk in the butter until creamy
  7. Set ganache aside to cool, stirring occasionally
Rice Krispie Treats
  1. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray; set aside
  2. In a large saucepan over low heat, melt butter
  3. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted
  4. Remove from heat and stir in caramel sauce until well combined
  5. Stir in Rice Krispies
  6. Use a greased spatula to press mixture down into prepared baking dish
  7. Spread mocha ganache evenly over top of treats and sprinkle with flaky sea salt
  8. Chill in refrigerator for one hour or until set
  9. Cut and serve; leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in refrigerator up to one week
Notes
Heavily adapted from Brown Eyed Baker

 

Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it onInstagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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How to Make Salted Caramel Without a Candy Thermometer

This basic recipe for salted caramel is all you need for the perfect sauce or dessert component.

How to Make Salted Caramel Without a Candy Thermometer

I’ve decided that January will be salted caramel month on the blog.  There are a few recipes that I’ll be sharing over the next few weeks that incorporate one of my favorite dessert components, but I didn’t want to dive into them without going over the basics.  This salted caramel sauce recipe is easy to make, even if you don’t have a candy thermometer!  It only requires a few basic ingredients, your stove, a heavy duty pot and a whisk.   The sauce is perfect for topping ice cream, fruit crisps, pies and other desserts but it also is great for enhancing things like cookies and cakes.  After you try it once, you might never go back to store-bought caramel!

How to Make Caramel Sauce

How to Make Salted Caramel Without a Candy Thermometer
 
This basic recipe for salted caramel is all you need for the perfect sauce or dessert component.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1 cup
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons milk (any type)
  • ½ tablespoon coarse or flaky sea salt*
Instructions
  1. Combine the sugar and water in a medium** heavy-duty saucepan and cook over high heat, whisking until the sugar dissolves
  2. Let boil for several minutes without stirring until the mixture becomes a deep amber color, watching closely so it doesn't burn; Once the caramel begins to darken, the rest of the process happens very quickly (see photos above for caramelization process)
  3. As soon as most of the sugar water mixture is a deep amber, whisk in the cream (be careful as mixture will bubble up) and remove from heat immediately
  4. Whisk in milk and sea salt; serve warm or store covered in refrigerator up to two weeks***
Notes
*If looking to make a basic caramel sauce without the extra salt flair, reduce to ½ teaspoon
**If doubling, use a large pot and allow extra time for caramelization
***For thicker sauce, chill in refrigerator for a few hours before using or serving; re-heat gently if desired

 

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Key Lime Crispy Bars with Toasted Marshmallow Cream {Gluten Free} (Guest Post)

A refreshing no-bake gluten-free marshmallow treat that is easy to make and perfect for a summer sweet tooth!  Topped off with a toasted marshmallow cream, these aren’t your typical marshmallow treats!

Key Lime Krispie Bars 2

Well, we are off to Hawaii tomorrow for our vacation.  I couldn’t be more excited!  This is the longest vacation I’ve taken since starting Keep It Sweet Desserts, and that is giving me a little anxiety.  However, my plan is to zone out as much of the real-life stress as possible and just soak up the Hawaii sunshine and relax for 8 days.  In all of the pre-vacation craze, my awesome sister offered to take a little work off my hands and guest blog for me today!  The soon-to-be Harvard student made a twist on one of her favorite no-bake treats that I think you will enjoy!  Thanks, Jess!!!

Key Lime Krispie Bars 1

I’m not a big dessert person. Chocolate-y things don’t really do it for me, and I don’t ever “crave” sugar. Having said that, though, there are a couple of sweets that I LOVE. 1) Anything to do with marshmallows and 2) Anything to do with Key Lime. Since I am gluten free, S’MORES are a no-go and key lime pie just isn’t the same when you take away the crust. So when I found these key lime marshmallows in my local Walmart, and the new gluten free Vanilla Chex Cereal, I knew what I had to do. I had to make key lime rice crispy treats. And so I did.

Key Lime Krispie Bars 3

Like all rice crispy treat recipes, this is super simple, and all I did was substitute Rice Krispies cereal for Vanilla Chex.

I wasn’t happy with the slime-green color of my crispy bars, so I decided to make a marshmallow cream to drizzle over it. Enter: toasted marshmallow cream.

The best part about these is that there is no waiting involved. Enjoy and happy eating.

 

Key Lime Crispy Bars with Toasted Marshmallow Cream {Gluten Free}

Serves 24

Ingredients:

4 Tablespoons of butter (or margarine), divided
2 cups plain marshmallows
2 cups key lime marshmallows
6 cups gluten-free Vanilla Chex Cereal
1 ½ cups Marshmallow Fluff

Directions:

Spray a 13 x 9 pan with baking spray and set aside
Melt 3  tablespoons of butter in large saucepan over low heat; add Marshmallows and stir until completely melted; remove from heat
Add Chex and stir until coated
Press cereal and marshmallow mixture into prepared baking pan
In the same saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter with Marshmallow Fluff; stir until thin and creamy
Pour Fluff mixture over cereal
Cut and serve
20130803_123424

Don’t forget to enter the fun Keep it Sweet Desserts giveaway!

 

Baby Shower Chocolate Clusters for a Virtual Shower!

Baby Shower Chocolate Clusters for a Virtual Shower!

SURPRISE!!  A few of us are hosting an intimate blogger baby shower for sweet Rachel at The Avid Appetite!  Rachel is having a baby girl and I am so thrilled for her and Sean!  Rachel is one of my favorite blog friends, we’ve actually had dinner together a couple of times.  I’m excited for her and her family and can’t wait to hear/read all about it!

For Rachel’s shower, I did what any person who about negative ten minutes of free time would do, I made a no-bake treat.  To make it festive, I topped my little chocolate clusters with some cute little pink candy cane sprinkles.  Lucky for Rachel, some of the other bloggers made even more delicious sounding treats, be sure to check them out!

Garlic Mini Monkey Bread from Yums and Loves

Candy Stuffed Peanut Butter Bars from the Lean Green Bean

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple-Marshmallow Filling from Eats Well with Others

Baby Shower Chocolate Clusters from Keep It Sweet Desserts

Congratulations, Rachel! I hope I get to meet your baby girl in person soon:-)

Baby Shower Chocolate Clusters for a Virtual Shower!

Baby Shower Chocolate Clusters for a Virtual Shower!
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 12 servings
Ingredients
  • 12 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  • 4 sheets graham crackers, broken into small pieces
  • Pink sprinkles (or blue for a boy!)
Instructions
  1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside
  2. Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and melt by heating in 30-second increments and stirring chocolate in between
  3. Once chocolate is melted, fold in marshmallows and graham crackers
  4. Use a large spoon to place clusters on wax paper
  5. Drop sprinkles over clusters as desired

In case you haven’t seen my Twitter or Facebook rants, things are a little nuts with holiday at Keep It Sweet Desserts!   I’ll be back tomorrow with a great cookie recipe and hopefully coherent post!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

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Pretty in Pink Buttercream Cups

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Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups

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Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Ritz Sandwiches

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No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars

No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars

1 week. 7 days.  Some amount of hours that does not feel like enough.

No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars

That’s how much time there is until Thanksgiving.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m so excited for the holiday, but boy did things get crazy really fast!  It seems like just yesterday I was in the summer lull and just like that I’m organizing and delegating (SO thankful for family members who like to help!) for Thanksgiving dinner all the while coordinating hundreds of corporate orders to go out over the next 30 or so days.

My current mantra: do anything and everything possible ahead of time. If I had the space, I’d have all of my UPS boxes made and piled for the mass exodus that will be taking place in the form of Fudgy Caramel Pecan Brownies.  I’ve even started chopping the gazillion pounds of chocolate that will be transformed into Peppermint Mocha Cookies, Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Triple Chocolate Cookies and so on. I actually thought I was so smart to pull out the food processor to help but when it started to smell like fire I decided that chopping would be my arm workout for the day.  If there is one added benefit to being super busy that I didn’t expect, it would be the fact that I don’t actually have to workout because this job can be extremely physically demanding.

No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars

Anyway, back to my main point, getting ahead.  I have a gazillion amazing desserts planned for our Thanksgiving dinner (between my mom and I there might be more desserts than people), but I’m definitely trying to get some done in advance and sneak them into my day when I have a few free moments.  That is where these No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars come in!  They took almost no time to make (oh, except for that chopped chocolate that you know I love…), and once they are done you can stick them in the freezer until the day you want to eat them.  Not all holiday desserts have to be complicated!

5.0 from 1 reviews
No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 24-48 servings depending on desired size (I cut them into small pieces to compliment the rest of the dessert spread!)
Ingredients
  • 6½ ounces milk chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 1½ ounces bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 5 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced
  • 5½ cups Rice Krispies
  • ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup toffee bits
Instructions
  1. Line a 13x9 baking pan with tin foil and set aside
  2. Pour Rice Krispies into a large bowl and set aside
  3. In a medium saucepan, melt together chopped chocolates (not chips), corn syrup and butter, stirring constantly until combined
  4. Remove from heat and pour over Rice Krispies; use a spatula to combine
  5. Add chocolate chips and toffee bits and combine
  6. Spread mixture into lined pan and pack down using the back of the spatula
  7. Cover pan and place in refrigerator to chill for at least four hours
  8. Once chilled, remove foil from pan and slice into squares to serve
  9. Store tightly in a cool place up to two days or wrap and freeze until the day of
Notes
Slightly adapted from Nigella Kitchen
If making these gluten-free, check that all of your ingredients are specifically marked as such.

 

No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it onInstagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

Looking for other EASY desserts to add to your holiday menu?

Easy Low Fat Pumpkin Sheet Cake

Apple Cinnamon Blondies

Chewy Ginger Cookies {Gluten-Free}

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Six Fun and Easy Ice Cream Desserts

White Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Rice Krispie Treats

22 Easy Desserts That Make You Seem Like a Pro

Chewy Gooey Cinnamon Toffee Blondies

And of course, that is where I can help!

No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars

Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt

Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt

Well, I think I am officially old.

Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt

My 28th birthday is on Tuesday and while I know that in the big picture that really isn’t old, I certainly feel it.  After a late night out in the city last night, my body is just begging for a day of rest.  A big difference from when I moved to New York six years ago.

cooking bananas for Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt

In fact, a lot of things have changed in those six years.  Jobs, twice.  Boyfriend turned fiance turned husband.  Sister turned real life best friend.* Studio turned one bedroom then into two.  Jean size.  Insecurities faded**.  Passions realized.  Parents seen more as equals.  Views on life.  Priorities.  Dislike of goat cheese to love of goat cheese.  Suits to chef coats.

*Well, that wasn’t exactly a change, just more of a realization

**Some

brownies for Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt

It is actually amazing how much has changed but then again there is a lot that stayed the same.  Love of dessert.  Partner in life.  Balance of health and pleasure.  Love of family.  Drive, motivation, determination.  Heart. Morals.  Devotion to peanut butter, pumpkin, and fresh baked cookies.  Joy in baking for others.  Desire to eat only worth-it foods.  And of course, a love of frozen yogurt.

making Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt

You knew I’d tie this recipe in somehow.  I’ve actually been meaning to make this recipe since the last frozen yogurt I made.  It just took most of the summer for me to remember to put the ice cream maker bowl back in the freezer.  Matt gets credit for that reminder.

Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt

This frozen yogurt is creamy and full of fudgy brownie chunks to add the perfect indulgent touch.  The only thing missing is a little peanut butter swirl but I figured I’d be better off if I made a dessert my husband would also eat.

Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt

Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt
 
Caramelized bananas and fudgy brownies make the best frozen yogurt!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Makes: 1 quart
Ingredients
  • 3 large brown bananas cut into slices (about ¼ inch thick)
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, tightly packed
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
  • 1½ cups fat free plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup fudgy brownie pieces, size based on preference
Instructions
  1. Place banana slices, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter in a heavy duty saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until bananas and sauce are very thick, stirring occasionally; remove from heat
  2. Place two thirds of the banana mixture in a food processor or blender and puree
  3. In a large bowl, combine yogurt, sugar and pureed bananas; fold in remaining banana mixture and brownies
  4. Place in refrigerator for one hour or until mixture has cooled
  5. Once cooled, freeze yogurt in ice cream maker as directed by manufacturer's instructions
  6. Serve immediately or store prepared frozen yogurt in freezer until ready to eat (allow to defrost and soften a few minutes before serving)
Notes
Already frozen ripe bananas will work just as well as fresh
This frozen yogurt isn't overly sweet making it the perfect base for a touch of hot fudge or peanut butter sauce and whipped cream

Oh, and beware.  This yogurt barely lasted a full day in my house.

Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

You might also like:

Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt

Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt

Gingersnap Peach Crumble Ice Cream

Gingersnap Peach Crumble Ice Cream

Fudgy Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Fudgy Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

I may be on vacation this week eating and drinking my way through Napa, but I’d still stop everything if I had more of these ice cream bars to eat.  These Salted Caramel and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars were an upgrade or shall I say “how can I make an amazing dessert the best it can be?” to the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars I made last summer.  By adding a layer of gooey salted caramel and swapping a hard chocolate shell for a soft layer of chocolate ganache I made something that I find myself craving again and again.

This recipe is actually one that I developed months ago and have been dying to share.  To make this heavenly dessert yourself, flip through the beautiful new Foodie Crush Magazine!

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Yes, I’m still alive.  I’ve just been buried in butter, sugar and chocolate… especially in the form of blondies over the last few weeks.  Keep It Sweet Desserts was lucky enough to get a very flattering mention in Star Magazine and readers have been calling, emailing and placing orders like crazy.  It is amazing.

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Some highlights include: “What makes your black and white blondies black and white?” (that would be the dark and white chocolate chips) as well as “Can I order over the phone? I don’t have an email address… or a computer.”  Can’t make this stuff up.

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

And if I told you how much someone was willing to pay for overnight shipping for a rush delivery you might choke so I won’t mention that (ahem, over $100).  Hey, when you need brownies, you really need brownies.

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

But last week in-between a college friend’s wedding hangover, a late night rush to the eye doctor for a scratched cornea, celebrating our 2nd anniversary and a list minute trip to Philadelphia to see my 94-year old grandfather (highlight: his reaction to the cost of college today, low: having to remind him that my grandmother died five years ago), I managed to get back into the kitchen for some actual recipe creation.

Let me pause to tell you that I absolutely love what I am doing.  But on weeks when I am busy processing orders for my regular cookies, brownies and bars, I miss my moments of creativity.  That is part of why I love the Cookie of the Month Club and a huge reason why I won’t stop blogging.  There is always something new and fun to do in the kitchen and I don’t want to lose those opportunities.  So when I finally had a few minutes of “play” time, I did something that I’ve wanted to do for a while.  I dipped pretzels in cookie butter and then in chocolate and sprinkled some sea salt in top.  Addicting snack? Father’s Day gift?  Party dessert?

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels
Makes 2 dozen

Ingredients:
2 dozen short salted pretzel rods
2/3 cup cookie butter (or any version of creamy speculoos)
6 ounces dark chocolate, roughly chopped
Sea salt, to taste

Directions:
Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside
Dip pretzels into cookie butter and place on lined baking sheet; freeze for thirty minutes or until cookie butter is firm
Melt chocolate in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in-between
Dip pretzels in chocolate and immediately sprinkle wish sea salt
Allow pretzels to cool before serving (I put them in the refrigerator to speed up the process)

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels

Margarita Frosting Shots

Margarita Frosting Shots

Happy Hour never tasted so good.

Margarita Frosting Shots

What’s that? You don’t usually take shots of frosting to unwind after a hard day?  Pretty sure that needs to change now.  Cheers to to butter, sugar, cream cheese and… tequila!

Margarita Frosting Shots

You might remember these margarita cookie bars I made for Cinco de Mayo?  The dessert that turned me lime-dessert-hating self around?  Well, ever since, I’ve been thinking about my love of tequila frosting.  And let’s face it.  Sometimes the cookie/cupcake/brownie we bake is really just an excuse to eat copious amounts of frosting.  So I decided it was time to do something about that.

Margarita Frosting Shots

These frosting shots are perfectly portioned so that you get enough for your frosting fix, but not so much that you’ve devoured an entire bowl of cream cheese icing… because face it, it can happen.

Margarita Frosting ShotsMargarita Frosting Shots

I hope my friends don’t mind if I never make cupcakes again.

Margarita Frosting Shots

Margarita Frosting Shots
Serves 12

Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1 tablespoon fresh lime zest (1 lime)
2 tablespoons good quality tequila
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups powdered sugar*
1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup salted pretzel crumbs

Directions:
Use the whisk attachment of an electric mixer to beat butter and cream cheese on high speed until light and creamy
Mix in tequila, lime zest and salt; add in sugar ½ a cup at a time or until at desired consistency (*2 cups was the perfect amount for me but i;f you want a thicker texture you may want to add up to another ½ cup)
Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs and pretzel crumbs on the bottom of 12 tall shot glasses
Pipe frosting so that each shot glass is half full
Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs and pretzel crumbs over each frosting layer
Pipe remaining frosting to fill each glass
Serve with small spoons

Margarita Frosting Shots

The winner of the Nestle Drumstick giveaway is Kayle.

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29

Timestamp: 2012-05-29 00:22:50 UTC

Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt

Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt - low fat but delicious

This week has been full of ice cream but I’m sending you off on a long weekend with a real bang – I made something frozen and delicious and dare I say it…. healthy!  This frozen yogurt is full of great things like nonfat greek yogurt and blueberries, but even better than that it is full of flavor.  In an effort to kick off summer eating dessert while having clothes that fit I’ll be filling up on lots of this yogurt over the next few weeks.  While blueberry and chocolate are one of my favorite combinations, I see many more flavors happening very soon.

Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt - low fat but delicious

So many of you have left me extremely supportive comments, facebook messages, tweets and Instagram notes over the last few weeks and it is just so overwhelming.  I know a lot of you are curious as to what is going on behind the scenes with my business.  I’m thinking about posting a “day in the life” if that interests you.

Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt - low fat but delicious

As for how things are going… I am pleased to say that I couldn’t be happier.  The site launched just over two months ago and already I’ve processed over 100 online orders, catered several events, provided favors and gift fillers to a few different people and delivered desserts to a TV show’s cast and crew.  In the few moments that I’m not baking, I’m networking and  and strategizing ways to grow the business.  When I’m not doing either of those things, I’m brainstorming new recipes for the blog, Seasonal Desserts and Cookie of the Month Club.

Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt - low fat but delicious

The best part of everything has been the feedback that Keep It Sweet Desserts has received thus far.  It seems a bit silly that I am still nervous every time I send a package or deliver an order, because people are really loving my sweets.  While there has been a little bit of PR, most of the business so far is word of mouth.  Many customers are those who have received a box of cookies as a gift and are now passing on the sweets to someone else.  I could not ask for much more satisfaction than that.

Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt - low fat but delicious

Thank you again for being there for me through all of this!

Get the recipe for Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt here!

White Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Krispie Treats

White Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Krispie Treats

Rice Krispies = Breakfast

Cinnamon Buns = Breakfast

-> By the transitive property of food, Cinnamon Bun Rice Krispie Treats = Breakfast

White Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Krispie Treats

Obviously.

Last weekend I wanted to add an (almost) gluten-free treat to our Mother’s Day brunch spread for my sister to enjoy.  I’d been looking for a good way to use these fun marshmallows that my mom picked up for me a couple of months ago and this finally seemed like a good time to use them.  I always end up saving products like this as long as possible.  Kind of like the special eggs I’ve had in my fridge for a couple of months (hmm, that probably isn’t a good thing).

White Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Krispie Treats

Anyway, these treats ended up being the perfect way to use those marshmallows- they are extra cinnamon-y from the added cinnamon chips and the white chocolate drizzle adds a bit of creaminess to each bite.  What could be better for breakfast, brunch or… ahem, dessert?

White Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Krispie Treats

Head over to Fox for the recipe!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls for Earth Day

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls 12a

How has everyone’s week been?  My days have just flown by and every night as soon as I finished in the kitchen I practically collapsed in exhaustion.  Working more hours lately has meant less time in the gym but my legs have never been so sore.  I wear sneakers in the kitchen most of the time but would love tips on how to not feel like I’ve run a marathon every day.  Because the days when I do get a workout in, boy is it tough.  I think I need to bring yoga back into my life!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls 10c (2)

So in celebration of Earth Day, I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes from the blog again – These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls make me so happy because:

1)  Peanut butter and chocolate, enough said

2)  [Mostly] healthy ingredients = cookie dough for snacking

3)  No-bake super easy recipes are exactly what I need these days

So if you missed them the first time around do not miss them this time!  What better way to celebrate Earth Day than with a healthy dessert (or snack) that doesn’t require the oven?  Head over to Fox for the recipe.

Spring Cleaning Chocolate & Peanut Butter Lover’s Bark

Spring Cleaning Chocolate & Peanut Butter Lover's Bark

One week down and I’m feeling really good about this working from home thing.  I’m sure that some of the beginner’s high will die down after a while, but I’m glad to be off to such a productive start!  Sure, I might have left out half of the baking soda in a cookie recipe and taken a batch of brownies out of the pan when they were still warm and too fragile to move, but it can’t all be perfect.  The upside (or downside?) of baking mistakes is that I get to eat those batches.  Hmm, maybe I need to be a bit more careful or I’m going to have to start doing INSANITY multiple times a day!

Spring Cleaning Chocolate & Peanut Butter Lover's Bark

Speaking of baking mistakes, it seems that any time I make anything that requires melted chocolate for dipping I melt double or triple the chocolate I need.  A couple of weeks ago I found myself with a big bowl of melted chocolate and didn’t want it to go to waste.  I quickly flipped through my drawers and found a few bags of candy that were due to be used up.  Lots of chocolate and lots of peanut butter but not too much for some candy fun!  You can find the recipe for this highly addictive Chocolate & Peanut Butter Lover’s Bark on Fox!

Spring Cleaning Chocolate & Peanut Butter Lover's Bark

Oh, and an exciting heads up!  The new website should be up by Monday so keep an eye out for the blog move.  I’ll be keeping everyone updated via Twitter and Facebook, but any RSS or e-mail subscribers are going to have to re-subscribe once the move is complete.

M&M Cookie Dough Cups

MandM Cookie Dough Cups (egg-free!)

Some things are too delicious not to share.

These M&M Cookie Dough Cups had the potential to be perfectly done and pretty, but my impatience got the best of me and most of the cups ended up jagged and a little funny looking.  Luckily they tasted so good I forgot how funky looking they were while I was eating them!  Next time I’ll take my time to get a prettier productSmile

MandM Cookie Dough Cups (egg-free!)

M&M Cookie Dough Cups
Makes ~16 cups

Ingredients:
16 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup M&Ms

Directions:
Prepare chocolate cups: Line muffin tins with paper cup holders and set aside.  Melt chocolate in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in-between
Once chocolate is completely melted, paint a layer on the inside of each paper cup holder with a paintbrush or the back of a spoon; the thicker the chocolate layer, the easier it will be to peel your paper
Set chocolate cups aside to cool in fridge and prepare cookie dough
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and salt; set aside
Beat butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for a few minutes or until light and fluffy; add vanilla and beat for another minute
Scrape the sides of the bowl and stir in flour on low speed until combined; stir in M&Ms
Set cookie dough aside
Carefully remove paper liners from chocolate cups; scoop cookie dough into each cup using an ice cream scoop
Store cookie dough cups in fridge until ready to serve

 

MandM Cookie Dough Cups (egg-free!)

Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats {Gluten-Free}

Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats {Gluten-Free}

I decided to start this working from home thing with a bang.

Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats {Gluten-Free}

5:15am wake-up

6 am INSANITY workout

6:45 try not to die while writing my blog post

Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats {Gluten-Free}

I feel the 3pm exhaustion coming on already.  Luckily, in a time like that, there are super easy desserts to make that have everyone falling in love.  Seriously.  I brought these Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats to my sister’s birthday party and her friends all thought I was a culinary genius.  I tried to explain to them that they took about 15 minutes of work from start to finish but they just wouldn’t believe me.  Guess I’ll just have to continue to look like a kitchen rockstar even when I’m unable to move.

Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats {Gluten-Free}

Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats {Gluten-Free}
Serves 20

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 10.5 -ounce bag marshmallows
3 cups gluten-free rice krispies
3 cups roughly chopped gluten-free vanilla sandwich cookies (about 20 cookies)

Directions:
Spray a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray
In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat
Stir in marshmallows until melted (will take several minutes)
Remove from heat and stir in cereal and cookies until completely coated
Press into prepared baking dish; wax paper helps to press the mixture down minimal sticking
Allow to cool before cutting into squares and serving; store in an air-tight container for up to a 5 days

Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats {Gluten-Free}

St. Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

St. Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

I’m usually so bad about coming up with holiday-themed desserts.  But today, in honor of my LAST DAY OF WORK and tomorrow being St. Patrick’s Day, I’m sharing something so easy that you won’t mind making it last minute.

St. Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

The secret to these sandwiches is a pre-made wafer cookie.  Shhh, I won’t tell.  Stuff them with homemade mint buttercream and dip them in chocolate then no one will care.  Sometimes it is all about the buttercream anyway.

St. Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

On another note, after today I’ll be starting my sort-of-new life where I generally work from home, create my own schedule and have to self-motivate.  My plan is to create a schedule for myself every Sunday night, get up early every morning for the gym (my usual) and then get dressed and work all day.  I’d love any tips you have on staying motivated and being efficient when you work from home!

St. Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

Oh and suggestions on how to not end up in the kitchen eating cookies all day would probably be helpful too.

St. Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

Oh wait, you want to know how to make these?  Head on over to Fox for the recipe!

St. Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches

Chewy No-Bake “Thin Mint” Bars

Chewy No-Bake “Thin Mint” Bars

Sometimes I have a million recipe ideas going through my head at a time and can’t get into the kitchen fast enough.

And sometimes I have baker’s block.

Chewy No-Bake “Thin Mint” Bars

Every cookie or brownie variation will feel overdone and the creative section of my brain goes into freeze mode.

Sometimes I really get stuck and just need a day or two out of the kitchen, and sometimes all I need is a visit down unused ingredients lane.

Chewy No-Bake “Thin Mint” Bars

Half a bag of marshmallows that are living on the edge of stale? Check.  An open package of Oreos that I need to bake with before Matt eats the last sleeve? Got that.   A half-used package of chocolate mint candies that was hidden in the back of the drawer for months? Don’t mind if I do.  Oh yeah, and butter.  I always have butter.

Chewy No-Bake “Thin Mint” Bars

I’m so glad I took advantage of what I had on hand because these bars came together quickly, with minimal dish washing and no oven time.  Sometimes the best baking is no baking at all!  Especially when the end result tastes like a Thin Mint.

Take that Girl Scouts.

Head over to Fox to get the recipe for my Chewy No-Bake “Thin Mint” Bars!

Spiced Cookie Butter Truffles

Spiced Cookie Butter Truffles

I think my husband/mother/co-workers/sister/friends/Twitter followers/neighbors/strangers are getting sick of me.  To be honest, I’m getting a little sick of me too.

Spiced Cookie Butter Truffles

No one wants to constantly hear about stress/anxiety/weight gain/impatience and any other complaints that seem to be incessantly on my mind these days.  If I didn’t have a constant supply of cookies/cupcakes/brownies/truffles/blondies to share I’d probably be completely deserted already.  But I’m pretty sure that the sweets I make can only get me so far and I better start looking at the positive or keeping my mouth shut.

Spiced Cookie Butter Truffles

So to make up for driving everyone I know crazy lately, here are some good things you should know:

  • Last night I got a gorgeous cookbook in the mail from this talented lady.  Everything looks good but her recipe for crab cakes is definitely calling my name
  • In addition to that delivery, my doorwoman (is that a term?) presented me with a big box of an upcoming product from here
  • After testing what feels like a million brownie recipes, my husband finally approved of the latest version and in fact said they were “ridiculous”
  • Friday night I have a date with this lady who I haven’t seen in over a month, thank g-d because I don’t think I could have lasted much longer
  • I finally get to meet the sweet veggie dreamgirl today!
  • Sometime soon you will find my recipes on a very.big.website.
  • And lastly, I got something over email that I can NOT wait to share and to be honest, all of this sketchy secret keeping is driving me nuts… I promise to share my news and plans soon!

Spiced Cookie Butter Truffles

Oh, and did I mention truffles?  If you haven’t heard about this speculoos/cookie butter/biscoff spread phenomenon you are five pounds thinner than me missing out.  These truffles may actually melt in your hands a little bit, but sometimes a messy dessert is worth it.

Spiced Cookie Butter Truffles
Yield: Makes ~30 truffles

Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1 cup Speculoos Cookie Butter or Biscoff Spread
2/3 cup finely ground gingersnap crumbs (~11 cookies)
4 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate finely chopped

Cooking Directions
Beat butter and cookie butter with an electric mixer on high speed until light and creamy
Add cookie crumbs and combine on high speed until thoroughly mixed
Refrigerate mixture for at least two hours
Scoop mixture by the teaspoon and roll each scoop into the ball; keep dough in refrigerator while scooping individual truffles
Once all balls are rolled, place them back in refrigerator or freezer
Melt chocolate; place chocolate in a microwaveable bowl and place in microwave for thirty second increments stirring in-between until chocolate is melted and smooth
Drizzle melted chocolate over chilled balls and freeze until ready to serve

Spiced Cookie Butter Truffles

What’s putting a smile on your face today?

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Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Truffle Pops

Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Truffle Pops 2

We are just a few days away from Thanksgiving and although I’ve been putting pumpkin in my oatmeal since the end of August (I have no shame), I’m not even close to sick of it.  It is actually a miracle that my skin isn’t orange given the fact that I go through the cans of Libby’s (no other brand can compete) like it is going out of style.  I used to think the big cans were too much to open up, but now those puny 15-ounce cans are like a tease.

Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Truffle Pops 1

Hopefully you are also still on the pumpkin bandwagon, unlike my husband who seems to have missed the memo on winter squash (Which, lucky for me, means I get to eat an entire pan of roasted Costco butternut squash by myself.  Seriously, how am I not orange?).

Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Truffle Pops 7

Although Matt doesn’t hate pumpkin like he does peanut butter (nope, eight years together and I’m still not over that), he just isn’t a huge fan.  So when I gave him one of these Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Truffle Pops to taste and said, “just pretend it isn’t pumpkin,” he said, “these are amazing!”  Don’t worry, I did enough cookie dough sampling yesterday to tell you these are seriously good shit delicious.  The pumpkin flavor in the creamy cookie dough plus the hard chocolate shell and crunchy spicy gingersnap crumbs is an incredible combination.

Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Truffle Pops 17

Oh and worried that you can’t make these after Thanksgiving?  I, for one, will be consuming pumpkin desserts for the next few months.  But for the normal people out there, who don’t have to worry about their skin turning a strange color because they only eat pumpkin in the fall, these can completely pass for a special holiday dessert thanks to the gingersnaps.

So if you can make these and keep from eating them yourself, serve them at a party.  No utensils necessary.

Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Truffle Pops 15

 

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Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Truffle Pops

Makes 30 pops

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
  • ¼ cup milk (any type)
  • 1 1/4 pound chocolate (I used white and dark chocolates)
  • 3/4 cup gingersnap crumbs (about 12 cookies)

Directions:

Prepare cookie dough filling
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice and salt; set aside
Beat butter and sugars on high speed until light and fluffy
Add pumpkin and milk and mix on medium speed until well combined
Stir in flour
Refrigerate dough for two hours or until cold enough to roll into balls
While chilling dough, line two jelly roll pans with wax paper
When ready, mold cookie dough balls by hand, about 1 1/2 tablespoons each (I used a cookie dough scoop to measure) and place one of the sheets of wax paper
Stick lollipop sticks into each ball so that the stick comes out of the top and goes almost all the way through the dough ball
Place prepared cookie dough in freezer and chill for two hours or until hardened
When dough is frozen, melt chocolate for dipping
Place chocolate of choice into a microwaveable bowl; melt by heating in 30-second increments and stirring in-between
Dip cookie dough pops one-at-a-time into chocolate and coat each entire dough ball; use a spoon to shape the chocolate around the cookie dough and form a thin layer
Place dough ball down onto unused sheet of wax paper and sprinkle pop with gingersnap crumbs; repeat for remaining dough balls
Once finished, chill pops in refrigerator until ready to serve
Store in refrigerator up to three days or freezer up to four weeks

Notes:

You will need to chill the dough between each step to make sure your pops keep a round form

When dipping pops in chocolate, I recommend keeping some dough balls in freezer and working with about 10 at a time; this will keep dough from getting too soft before dipping in chocolate

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Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Truffle Pops 19

Are you pumpkined out yet?

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops 19

I told you I’d come back with these cookie dough balls.  Actually, the only thing that kept me from eating the entire batch at once was all of the ideas brewing in my head.  Some of the ideas that you all suggested were kabobs, frozen yogurt/ice cream topping and mix-in, cheesecake, and cupcakes.  I can’t wait to try them!  This week, I wanted to keep it simple.  Between apartment hunting, preparing for a week away from the office, and just the normal summer craziness I didn’t have a ton of time in the kitchen.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops 24

Hence, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops were formed!  So easy, but so delicious.  The hard chocolate shell on the outside and chewy cookie dough on the inside compliment a salty crunchy pretzel stick.  How fun would these be at a party?

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops 29

Speaking of party, I’m going to start a monthly blog party!  The next one will be on  Tuesday, August 30th with sweet and salty desserts.  Send your favorite links to me by Sunday, August 28th (keepitsweetlcl at gmail dot com).

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops 23

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Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops

Ingredients (Makes 16 pops)

  • 1 batch Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls
  • 2 cups semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
  • 16 salted pretzel sticks
  • Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls:
  • 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup salted natural creamy peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Prepare cookie dough balls as directed without freezing
  • Push each pretzel halfway into a cookie dough ball
  • Freeze pops for about thirty minutes or until cookie dough is firm
  • Once pops are frozen, melt chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments
  • Dip cookie dough pops into chocolate and place on a jelly roll pan covered with wax paper
  • Chill pops in freezer until ready to serve
  • Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls:
  • Line a jelly roll pan with wax paper and set aside
  • Whisk together flour and oats in a medium bowl and set aside
  • Use an electric mixer to beat together all of the wet ingredients until well-combined
  • Stir in flour mixture until just combined
  • Stir in chocolate chips
  • Use a cookie dough scoop or spoon to scoop about two tablespoons of dough; roll dough into a ball with hands; repeat
  • Freeze or refrigerate until balls are firm

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Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls can be found here.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Pops 10

Any exciting weekend plans?

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls 5

I had a couple options for tonight’s post, but it seems my Facebook fans and Twitter followers are huge peanut butter lovers like I am. For all the years before my blog, I thought I was alone in my peanut butter addiction.  What a relief to know there is a support group! So, in honor of peanut butter lovers and addicts around the world, I’ll be holding a peanut butter party on the blog Sunday night. Email me (KeepItSweetLCL at gmail dot com) your links and I’ll include them in the post. And for those of you who don’t love peanut butter, who are you? I have a delicious frozen mocha dessert coming soon.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls 12

Now onto tonight’s recipe: A recipe that brings my love of peanut butter, cookie dough and chocolate all into one dessert. A recipe that is easy to make and relatively healthy enough to sub in for a mid-day snack (don’t you love sweets like that?). A recipe that I almost shouldn’t have because I’m officially addicted.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls 18

These may just become your favorite food.  I’ve been eating dough balls individually straight out of the freezer but I can’t stop thinking about ways to incorporate them into other desserts. This could get dangerous.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls 10

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Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls

Makes 16 dough balls

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup salted natural creamy peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Line a jelly roll pan with wax paper and set aside
Whisk together flour and oats in a medium bowl and set aside
Use an electric mixer to beat together all of the wet ingredients until well-combined
Stir in flour mixture until just combined
Stir in chocolate chips
Use a cookie dough scoop or spoon to scoop about two tablespoons of dough; roll dough into a ball with hands; repeat
Freeze or refrigerate until balls are firm

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Adapted from Never Home Maker 

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls 17

What kind of dessert should I make with these cookie dough balls?

Chewy Chocolate Covered Pretzel Bars

chewy chocolate covered pretzel bars 16

This has been one of those weeks so far:

  • Our bedroom A/C has been broken since last Monday but won’t be fixed until next Monday, never mind the 100 degree weather
  • I thought I figured out the source of my daily stomach pains but was proved wrong, the mystery continues
  • As a result of the two items listed above, I’ve barely been sleeping and my stress-relieving gym trips are suffering/barely happening

Okay, is my whining enough already?

chewy chocolate covered pretzel bars 5

On the other hand, I found a delicious and easy no-bake (ie no hot oven) treat to make!  These Chewy Chocolate Covered Pretzel Bars are kind of perfect for drowning my summer sorrows.  They are chewy and crunchy at the same time with more of that salty and sweet combo that we all seem to know and love.  The bars are actually quite addicting if you ask me!

chewy chocolate covered pretzel bars 10

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Chewy Chocolate Covered Pretzel Bars

Yield: Serves 24

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 10.5-ounce bag mini marshmallows
  • 1 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • 6 cups salted pretzel pieces

Cooking Directions

  1. Melting butter over low-medium heat in a large pot
  2. Add the marshmallows and stir until they are completely melted
  3. Remove pot from heat, and stir in chocolate
  4. Add pretzels to the mixture and stir
  5. Once everything is combined, press the ingredients into a 13X9 pan lined with foil and allow to cool
  6. Once cool, remove bars from the pan; the easiest way to do this is to flip the pan upside down and peel off the foil
  7. Cut the bars in to large pieces (I made slices in a 6X4 matrix) and serve or store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days

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chewy chocolate covered pretzel bars 19

What are you whining about this week? Vent in the comments!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

What a whirlwind couple of weeks it has been!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

I skipped my Sunday post this week and haven’t done a real recipe post in almost 2 weeks! Since then, we spent a weekend celebrating our anniversary (think lots of delicious food, including top tier of our cake!) and this past weekend we celebrated Adam and Sara’s wedding. It has been a fun year from their engagement, to the bachelorette party, and then the shower. The weekend was perfect night for the two of them and it was wonderful to see how in love they are.

Sara Adam 1

Keeping up with baking has been a little tough given everything going on, but I managed to squeeze in this delicious no-bake dessert. Plus, I have baking to do almost every night this week. I’m especially excited about something I made last night, but you will have to wait a few days for that one;-)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

But I digress… tonight’s dessert is the perfect way to honor the official start of summer! These bars are a play on cookie dough ice cream. I’ve always loved cookie dough ice cream, but there is just never enough cookie dough to go around. I may be known to pick all the cookie dough out of the carton only to be left with a melted mess of vanilla ice cream. The beauty of these bars is that you get all the good stuff in every bite, chocolate chip cookie dough, vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate.Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

Yield: 12-16

Ingredients

  • 1 batch prepared chocolate chip cookie dough (recipe below)
  • 3 cups vanilla bean ice cream
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cooking Directions

  1. Cover prepared cookie dough layer with vanilla ice cream; cover and freeze for an hour
  2. Once ice cream is frozen, place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl
  3. Melt chocolate in microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in-between
  4. When chocolate is melted, spread evenly over ice cream layer, cover and re-freeze for an hour or until ready to serve
  5. Cut into bars and enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 2 tablespoons milk (I use skim)
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Cooking Directions

  1. To Make the Cookie Dough:
  2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy
  3. Mix in milk
  4. Gradually mix in flour and salt
  5. Stir in chocolate chips
  6. Press into a 9×9 pan lined with wax paper

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Cookie Dough recipe adapted from these brownies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

I have to admit, these busy summer days away from the computer are refreshing. What’s keeping you busy this summer?

*There is still time to donate baked goods for next week’s online bake sale*

Double Chocolate Mint Krispie Treats

Double Chocolate Mint Crispy Treats 9

First of all, a huge thank you for all of your inspiring comments on Sunday’s post!  I was actually a little nervous to hit publish but I’m so glad I did.  I love this community:-)

Now, let’s get back to the desserts!  For the shower, I made some of my old favorites and a couple of new recipes.  Additionally, I made cookie brownie layer bars, a strawberry birthday cake (recipe to come!) and these Double Chocolate Minty Treats.

Double Chocolate Mint Crispy Treats 3

Coming up with the menu for an event like this is so much fun.  Just like with my Thanksgiving dinner party, I wanted to have a variety of delicious and fun pick-up desserts.  After accounting for chocolate, caramel, peanut butter and sweet and salty, I knew I needed to fill the hole for Sara’s love of chocolate with mint.  Madison’s rice krispie treat pops immediately caught my eye, but I knew I didn’t have time to make individual pops for a big crowd.  Instead, I made the rice krispie treats in their regular form and dipped them in chocolate to keep them special, fun and delicious.  It turns out these were the favorite for quite a few people so I think the recipe was definitely a success!

Double Chocolate Mint Crispy Treats 10

Start by melting butter in a large pot

Butter in pot 1 Butter in pot 2 Butter in pot 3

Add the marshmallows and stir until they are completely meltedmarshmallows melting marshmallows 2 melting marshmallows 3melting marshmallows 5

Remove pot from heat, and stir in Andes

adding andes 1adding andes 3 adding andes 4

Add rice krispies to the mixture and stir

adding rice crispieseverything mixed

Once everything is combined, press the ingredients into a 13X9 pan lined with foil and allow to cool

put in pan 1 in pan

Once cool, remove the rice krispie treats from the pan; the easiest way to do this is to flip the pan upside down and peel off the foil

on cutting board 1

Cut the treats in to small cubes (I made slices in a 9X7 matrix)

on cutting board 4

Now set up a space to dip your treats in chocolate; I suggest lining 2 jelly roll pans with wax paper for the chocolate to harden

chocolate 2

Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring in-between each until chocolate is smooth

chocolate 3

One at a time, dip rice krispie treats in the chocolate to cover half of each bar

dipped in chocolate 1 dipped in chocolate 2

Allow to cool for 1-2 hours[print_this]

Double Chocolate Mint Krispie Treats 

Adapted from Espresso and Cream

 

Makes ~60 rice krispie bites

Ingredients:

  • ½ stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
  • 1 10.5-ounce bag mini marshmallows
  • 1 heaping cup Andes (or mint chocolate candy of choice)
  • 7 cups rice krispies
  • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate for melting

Directions:

  • Melting butter over low-medium heat in a large pot
  • Add the marshmallows and stir until they are completely melted
  • Remove pot from heat, and stir in Andes
  • Add rice krispies to the mixture and stir
  • Once everything is combined, press the ingredients into a 13X9 pan lined with foil and allow to cool
  • Once cool, remove the rice krispie treats from the pan; the easiest way to do this is to flip the pan upside down and peel off the foil
  • Cut the treats in to small cubes (I made slices in a 9X7 matrix)
  • Now set up a space to dip your treats in chocolate; I suggest lining 2 jelly roll pans with wax paper for the chocolate to harden
  • Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring in-between each until chocolate is smooth
  • One at a time, dip rice krispie treats in the chocolate to cover half of each bar
  • Allow to cool for 1-2 hours

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Double Chocolate Mint Crispy Treats 6

Have you taken any big risks in your career? Are there risks you wish you had taken?

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

There is a place at the Jersey Shore (not that Jersey Shore) that sells the most amazing chocolates.  Every summer I look forward to a few trips for chocolate clusters filled with high quality fillings like caramel, nuts and marshmallows.  On a good day, my grandfather will leave a box of them out in the kitchen with a knife.  (Calories don’t count when you cut off a little piece each time you walk by)  Without a doubt, by the end of the day, the box would be empty.

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

Jagielky’s has an incredible variety of chocolates with unique items like Double Dip Mints, essentially peppermint patties dipped in ANOTHER layer of chocolate – milk on dark or dark on milk.  A couple of summers ago they started selling chocolate covered blueberries.  These were large clusters of blueberries coated with a wonderful rich dark chocolate.  It is heaven biting into the creamy dark chocolate and then having a huge blueberry burst in your mouth.  Unfortunately, the chocolate covered blueberries are so popular that they are often sold out by the afternoon.

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

A few times I considered making my own but didn’t get around to it until now.  And rather than stick with just the basic chocolate and blueberry mix, I added pretzel pieces to mine.  These Blueberry Pretzel Clusters have a wonderful balance of sweet and salty flavors in addition to the contrast in textures from the crunchy pretzels, the juicy berries and the creamy chocolate.  With the right dark chocolate, you can create a rich high quality candy.

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

Put these clusters out for your friends but make a secret stash for yourself because you will crave them once they disappear.  Just be sure to refrigerate the chocolates so that the berries don’t spoil.

Start with some of your favorite dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl (I used Trader Joe’s 72%)

dark chocolate

Gently melt the chocolate in 30 second increments, stirring in-between; once chocolate is completely melted, add blueberries and pretzel pieces

add blueberries and pretzels

Stir to coat berries and pretzels completely

blueberries and pretzels mixed in 1

Use a tablespoon to drop large clusters of the mix on a baking sheet lined with wax paper

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

Chill chocolates in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until candy is completely firm

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

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Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

Makes 14 clusters

Ingredients:

  • 9 ounces high-quality dark chocolate
  • 3/4 cup salted pretzel pieces
  • 1 1/4 cup fresh blueberries, rinsed and dried

Instructions

  • Gently melt the chocolate in 30 second increments in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring in-between
  • Once chocolate is completely melted, add blueberries and pretzel pieces and stir until completely coated
  • Use a tablespoon to drop large clusters of the mix on a baking sheet lined with wax paper
  • Chill chocolates in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until candy is completely firm

Notes:
Store chocolates in refrigerator for up to 3 days[/print_this]

Blueberry Pretzel Clusters

What is your favorite chocolate candy?

Salted Caramel Buttercream

I’m kind of obsessed with caramel lately, especially when there is salt involved.

frosted cupcake 3

Ever since I made these bars a few months ago, caramel has been on the top of my list for delicious dessert ingredients.  There is something about the rich flavor and silkiness that keeps you going back for more.  After seeing this Caramel Sauce at Trader Joes so many times, I finally gave in and bought a jar.  In order to keep myself from eating the entire thing with a spoon, I figured I should use it in a recipe.

caramel sauce

What better way to use the sauce than in buttercream?  It creates a delicious icing that has the perfect hint of salt and caramel flavors, but not in an overwhelming way.  To keep the buttercream from being too sweet, I used cream cheese as a thickening agent.  That way, I didn’t have to use too much extra sugar.

frosted cupcake 12

This Salted Caramel Buttercream would go well on top chocolate or vanilla cake, maybe with some sort of peanut butter filling.  I used it to ice some low fat vegan chocolate cupcakes.  It’s all about balance;-)

Start with room temperature butter and cream cheese

butter and cream chs

Beat them in a mixer on high for a few minutes, until light and fluffybutter cream cheese creamed

Add confectioners’ sugar carefully, when mixed in turn mixer back to high speed

add sugar

Beat in vanilla

add vanilla

Then add the caramel sauce

add caramel

Beat on high speed until all ingredients are well combined; if frosting is too liquidly, add extra sugar

caramel buttercream

Use to top cake, cupcakes or eat with a spoon

frosted cupcake 8

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Salted Caramel Buttercream

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened (I used reduced fat)
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar*
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce

Cooking Directions

  1. Beat butter and cream cheese in a mixer on high for a few minutes, until light and fluffy
  2. Add powdered sugar carefully, when mixed in turn mixer back to high speed
  3. Beat in vanilla
  4. Then add the caramel sauce; beat on high speed until all ingredients are well combined
  5. *If frosting is not firm enough at this point, add more powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time

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frosted cupcake 6

Have you found any new products for baking recently?

frosted cupcake 13

Mix and Match Chocolate Candy Bars

Often in the blog world, I find really exciting new foods that are much more expensive than their regular counterparts.  Sometimes I give in, but usually I remind myself that spending $15 plus for nut butter is a little bit insane.   Ahem, unless they come to me as gifts:-) However, there are occasions when I realize I can make the same item myself at a fraction of the cost.

Have you seen these websites where you can build your own chocolate bar?  The companies have all sorts of fun ingredients from dried fruit and nuts to cereals and spices.  I’ve checked out this website and this one too, but the high cost has kept me from ordering anything.  Lucky for me, and you, this is something fairly easy to do on your own!    Here is a very easy recipe for Mix and Match Chocolate Bars.

toppings on choc

 

Step 1: Pick out your ingredients.

The most important part is to pick a good tasting chocolate.  If the chocolate you start with doesn’t melt in your mouth and give you that rich satisfying flavor, the final result isn’t going to either.  I found Pound Plus 72% Belgium dark chocolate at Trader Joes for just a few dollars!  Note that you could make almost a dozen large chocolate bars for this amount of chocolate!  You could use white or milk chocolate as well.

TJs choc

As for toppings, feel free to use those websites for inspiration.  Go with whatever flavors you like.  I knew I wanted to have contrasting flavors and textures so I went with pretzels and peanuts for a crunchy and salty as well as a selection of dried fruits for chewy, tart and sweet.  You probably only need about 3 cups total of toppings per pound of chocolate.

all ingred

Step 2: Set up your space.

You will need 1 medium pot or microwavable bowl for melting your chocolate and a jelly roll pan lined with parchment paper.

For ease of working, you will want to lay out your toppings so that they are easy to access once the chocolate is ready to decorate.

toppings 1 toppings 2

Step 3: Melt the chocolate.

choc in pot

melting choc

If you do this via microwave, take it slow.  Once the chocolate is about 75% melted stir it to eliminate any remaining clumps.

On the stovetop, work with low heat and stir constantly.  Again, remove the pot from heat a little before the chocolate is completely melted and stir the rest.

Step 4: Make your chocolate bar!

Spread the melted chocolate out on parchment paper to be about ¼ inch thick.

choc spread in pan

As soon as it is smoothed out, decorate it with your toppings.  Lightly push the nuts/candies/cereal pieces, etc. into the chocolate so that they will stay when it gets hard.  Imagine what you want to get in one bite and let that be your inspiration for how dense you want your toppings to be.

toppings on choc 2

Once you finish, let the chocolate cool and harden.  Cut bars to desired size.  I actually made mine more like bark because I thought it would be better for serving.

pieces 1

pieces 4

pieces 5

Store finished product in an airtight container (5 days) or refrigerator (up to 2 weeks).

Oh, and buy yourself something nice because you saved money on fancy candy bars!

Notes:

Don’t let the chocolate get wet at any point.  Your chocolate will discolor.

You can customize this recipe to do as much or as little as you want at a time.

This could make a great gift for the holidays .  Use crushed candy cane or ginger snaps for a festive theme.

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Mix and Match Chocolate Bars

Ingredients:

1 pound of chocolate of your choice

3 cups of fun toppings

Directions:

Line jelly roll pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Layout toppings to be easily accessible.

Melt the chocolate on stovetop or in microwave, being careful not to burn.

Spread the melted chocolate out on parchment paper to be about ¼ inch thick.

As soon as it is smoothed out, decorate it with your toppings.  Lightly push the nuts/candies/cereal pieces, etc. into the chocolate so that they will stay when it gets hard.  Imagine what you want to get in one bite and let that be your inspiration for how dense you want your toppings to be.

Let the chocolate cool and harden.  Cut bars to desired size.

Store finished product in an airtight container (5 days) or refrigerator (up to 2 weeks).

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What is an expensive food product that you refuse to buy even though you REALLY REALLY want it?