Brownies

I love chocolate! Have I said that before? These brownies come together so quickly and easily, you’ll be saying ‘why have I ever even bothered with boxed brownie mix?’   

These brownies are fudgey and ever so chocolatey! The {optional} coffee in them are the perfect match and help enhance the rich chocolate flavor I love!

What you will need
Brownies:
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ cup canola oil (or 1 stick softened butter)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
Optional: 2 tsp instant espresso powder 

¼ cup dark chocolate chips

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tbsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp canola oil (or unsalted butter, melted)
1 tbsp hot water (optional-¼ tsp espresso powder added to the water)
1 tbsp honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sprinkles, for topping

Directions
For the brownies:
Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Grease an 8” square pan with cooking spray.

Whisk together the granulated sugar, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together the oil, vanilla and eggs in a medium bowl. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir to combine.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes before glazing.

For the glaze:
Whisk together the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, oil, coffee, honey, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl until smooth.

Pour the glaze on the cooled brownie, spread it around and top with sprinkles. Let dry, then cut into squares.

Enjoy!

{Secret Ingredient} Chocolate Mousse

I love my sweets, dessert, and anything chocolate! This recipe is all of that, but none of the guilt. It is vegan, and the banana and avocado help imitate the creamy consistency you would get in a traditional mousse.  

What you will need:

1 ripe banana sliced

1 ripe avocado diced

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tbsp pure maple syrup

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. 

Divide among 2 glass jars and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. 

Enjoy!

Chocolate Lava Filled Babka

Ingredients for Dough
1 cup warm water (no hotter than 115°F)
1 Tablespoon instant dry yeast
½ cup sugar
½ Tablespoon vanilla sugar
¾ cup canola oil
2 eggs, lightly beaten
4 cups bread flour, plus more as needed
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Ingredients for Chocolate Powder Filling
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup dark cocoa powder (preferably Dutch process)
2 cups sugar
½ package Jell-O chocolate pudding powder

Ingredients for Chocolate Lava Filling
1 cup of dry filling from above
¼ cup canola oil
4-5 Tablespoons boiling water
The filling will have a thick, syrupy consistency. If needed, add 1 additional tablespoon boiling water. Filling will thicken and set as it sits.

Ingredients for Babka Crumbs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup powdered sugar or granulated white sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla sugar, optional
6 Tablespoons canola oil

Directions:

For the Babka:
Parve — yields 3 loaves — freezer friendly
1. Combine water, yeast, and sugars in a large bowl; proof for 5 minutes, until foaming.
2. In a small bowl, combine oil with eggs; add to yeast mixture.
3. 1 cup at a time, add flour to the yeast mixture, followed by salt. Knead to combine. Turn dough out onto floured work surface; knead for 3-5 minutes until flour is well blended and a dough ball forms. The dough should be soft but not oily.
4. Sprinkle a bowl with 2 tablespoons flour. Transfer dough to the bowl; cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm place for an hour.
5. Prepare the babka crumbs: Mix crumb ingredients together until crumbs form. The consistency should be similar to wet sand. If desired, add cookie pieces, chocolate chips, sprinkles, or nuts.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 3 (2-pound) loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Divide dough into 3 portions. Roll 1 portion into a 13x10x¼-inch rectangle. Spread on wet chocolate lava filling, then dust an even layer of the dry chocolate powder filling, and sprinkle with desired mix-in* {optional.}
*I sometimes mix in chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, crushed up cookies or cake.

8. Roll dough over filling to form a log. Twist log; fold in half. Place into prepared pan. Cut a shallow slit across the length of the log. Repeat with remaining portions. Top loaves with babka crumbs and toppings.

9. Place loaf pans onto a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes; rotate pans. Bake additional 15 minutes; babka crumb topping should be golden brown.
10. Cool on cooling racks. Do not cut into babka until it has cooled, as dough continues to bake even after being removed from oven.

Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake

Who doesn't love chocolate cake? I love chocolate cake, but whenever I get a chocolate cake craving, I am not going to make myself a giant cake! That's why I love this microwave chocolate mug cake. It's instant satisfaction for my chocolate craving and I don't need to share with anyone!

What you will need:
¼ cup flour
5 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 egg
3 Tbsp. milk
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Dash of vanilla extract
Dash of salt


Spray the mug generously with cooking spray and whisk all ingredients in a large mug until smooth. Microwave until puffed, about 2 minutes.

Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Swap Box

First off, Happy Valentine's Day blog world!  This is my first Valentine's Day as a blogger, and my first swap box!

I was matched up with Tabitha from A Hundred Tiny Wishes.  As we emailed back and forth I was able to learn a lot about her, and I have made a new friend in blogland!
Some things I learned about Tabitha:

• She was born and raised in Indiana and still lives there
• She has been married for 4 years and has a 3 year old boy, oh and he was born in the same hospital that she was!
• She has lots of pets- a dog, cat, and a tortoise
• She loves owls and moose
• Her favorite color is pink
• She loves Starbucks, pink moscato, scented candles, and Benefits mascara

What Tabitha got me:

 I love owls as well, coffee and chocolate!

 These fuzzy socks are so cozy!  And the lotion and spray smell so girly!  
Cannot forget my own personalized wine glass!