Valentine Red Velvet Brownies

When I first made this recipe a couple weeks ago, it felt like I would have to wait forever before posting it...and now all of the sudden Valentine's Day is so close. Where does the time go?!

Valentine's Day treats are some of my favorite things to make. I love the pretty pinks and reds, the sparkles and sprinkles, the dainty sizes and of course the heart shapes.

And of course I'm a sucker for anything red velvet.

To make these brownies extra special, I added chocolate chips, cut them into heart shapes and frosted them with cream cheese frosting.

Valentine Red Velvet Brownies
Slightly adapted from How Sweet It Is

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 1/2 c. sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 c. all purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

3 tbsp. cocoa powder

3 tbsp. red food coloring

1 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8 x 8 pan and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine cocoa powder, red food coloring, and 1 teaspoon vanilla and stir until smooth.

With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar then add eggs and the remaining teaspoon of vanilla. Next mix in the cocoa powder mixture. Beat until the batter is completely red. Add flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Finally,fold in the chocolate chips.

Spread in the 8 x 8 pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes (I like mine to be a bit more gooey so I only baked them for 25 minutes) or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool completely before cutting and frosting.

For the frosting, I used this recipe with an added splash (about 2 tablespoons) of milk. For a variation in flavor add a splash of orange juice instead.

Double Nutella Donuts

I know it's kind of cruel of me to show you things like this....and then give you a recipe for donuts.

What can I say?

I was just trying to get you all prepared so you could obviously have some cute new workout clothes to wear while you eat one of these treats. Duh!

Oh and then I guess maybe go workout.

Or don't. Either way you should make these scrumptious little treats. They are super easy, super moist, super chocolatey and super delicious!

Double Nutella Donuts
Inspired by the recipe on the back of the pan

1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. cocoa powder
2/3 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2/3 c. nutella

Glaze
2 tbsp. nutella
2 tbsp. heavy cream
2 tbsp. milk

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease the donut pan and set aside.

In a mixing bowl combine all the dry ingredients. Beat in the remaining ingredients until well blended.

Fill each donut cup about 3/4 full. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the donuts spring back to your touch. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

Meanwhile make the glaze by beating together the nutella,cream and milk until smooth. Dip the donuts in the glaze right before serving. Top with toasted and chopped hazelnuts if desired.

Makes 12 donuts.

Samoa Cookie Bars

Yeah, I said Samoa Cookie Bars.

Ohhhhh...did you go stock up on fruits and veggies...and join a gym..and throw out all remaining holiday goodies??

Leave it to me to ruin all your hard work.

Actually, you can thank Pinterest for this one. Of course I had to browse through the recipes and of course I had to see Samoa Cupcakes so of course I had to think up a Samoa concoction. Who can say no to Girl Scout cookies??

These are very easy, require simple ingredients (no lengthy Carmel sauce making here), are ridiculously delicious (let's just say you will never have to spend $5 on a box of cookies again) and, just in case we haven't established this already, very much a sabatoger (I'm not sure if this is a word....but it is now!) of all things diet.

Happy...dieting??

Samoa Bars

1 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter,softened
A pinch of salt
3/4 c. condensed milk
3/4 c. butterscotch chips

1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. coconut, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 x 8 pan and set aside.

In a mixing bowl (or kitchen aid) beat together first four ingredients until well combined. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 12 minutes (it will not be completely baked). Remove from oven and pour on the condensed milk, then the butterscotch chips followed by the coconut and lastly the chocolate chips. Continue baking until set,about 20 more minutes. Cool and cut into squares.



(This can easily be doubled and baked in a 9 x 13 pan for about 10 minutes longer)

2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse

 Wednesdays always need a little something extra to help get you through the last part of the week.

And what better than a chocolate recipe...a chocolate recipe with 2 ingredients none the less?

Don't let the amount of ingredients fool you...this is nothing but pure heaven!

Again, I say don't be fooled by the number of ingredients...unfortunately, having only 2 ingredients does not equate into taking only 2 minutes to make.

Now before you go complaining and wanting to hate me because you think dessert is hours away, try to resist! You can whip this up, refrigerate it well you prepare dinner and then when you're all done eating, this bowl full of chocolaty fluffy peaks will be waiting for you. You will no longer hate me....in fact you will want to shower me with gifts (*cough*Chanel*cough*) for gifting you with such a simple dessert recipe.

2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse

1 c. chopped chocolate (I used the milk chocolate bar from Trader Joe's...chocolate chips also work)
2 c. heavy whipping cream

Over low heat (or a double boiler), melt together the chocolate and one cup of cream, stirring constantly. Place in the fridge until cool, about 30 minutes. Mean while, beat the other cup of cream until stiff peaks form. Take the cooled chocolate mixture and beat that separately until thick. Fold in the plain cream. Serve with a dollop of whip cream on top and/or berries.

Nutella Truffles

You heard me...nutella and truffles... combined.... in the same sentence....in the same recipe?!!

My only word to describes these yummy little bites: Heaven! Thank you to one of my good friends, Danielle, for giving me the idea/recipe :)

There could not be a more appropriate way to get through the rest of the work week (why is it ONLY Wednesday??!WHY???!!!)

Nutella Truffles

Adapted from several recipes, mostly this one Half Baked

1 (12-oz.) package semisweet chocolate morsels
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup Nutella
3/4 cup finely chopped, toasted hazelnuts
Wax paper 

Microwave everything except the nuts together in a medium-size microwave-safe bowl for 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Let cool 10 minutes.

Beat chocolate mixture at medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, until whipped and smooth. Cover and chill 2 hours or until firm.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop hazelnuts (I place mine in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin to "roll"them into pieces) and place them on a baking sheet and toast in oven for about 5 minutes or until the nuts start to turn a golden brown.  Remove from oven and allow them to cool completely.

Shape chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls (I used a teaspoon and shaped them by hand...you can use a melon ball scooper or a small ice-cream scoop). Roll in hazelnuts. (If chocolate mixture becomes too soft to shape, refrigerate until firm.) Place on wax/parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Chill 1 hour before serving. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.