Thursday, June 28, 2012

Peanut Butter Fudge Brownie Trifle

From How Sweet It Is: http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/09/peanut-butter-fudge-brownie-trifle/

1 batch of your favorite brownies, boxed or from scratch, cooled and cut into cubes
1 large box (5-ounce) of instant chocolate pudding, prepared and chilled (this will most likely call for 3 cups of milk, nothing else)
1 bag of peanut butter cups, chopped
2 cups heavy cream
3-4 tablespoons granulated sugar, depending on your desired level of sweetness
1 cup of creamy peanut butter
1 cup of powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
8 ounces of whipped cream cheese, at room temperature

In the bowl of an electric mixer (or using a hand mixer), beat heavy cream and sugar on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Transfer the whipped cream to an separate bowl and stick in the fridge until ready to use. I did not even clean the bowl of my electric mixer and just began mixing the peanut butter mixture.

Add the peanut butter and cream cheese to the bowl and beat at medium speed, scraping down the sides a few times until mixture is creamy. Add in powdered sugar and mix until combined, then mix in 2 tablespoons of milk. Remove the whipped cream from the fridge and add 1 cup of it to the peanut butter, folding it in until the mixture turns lighter in color and is mostly combined.

Grab your trifle dish and begin to layer your ingredients however you’d like. I did a layer of brownies, then peanut butter, then a handful of chopped peanut butter cups, chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and so on. I repeated it until I got to the top, then piped the remaining whipped cream on top and sprinkled the candy on. You really can’t go wrong with layering – just use a long spoon to serve!

Monday, June 25, 2012

English Toffee Sandwich Cookies



Ingredients:
1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups English toffee bits or 1 1/2 cups almond brickle chips (I used toffee bits)

Frosting Ingredients:
2/3 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 -5 tablespoons half-and-half cream or 3 -5 tablespoons milk

Directions:
1.     Cream butter and sugars; add eggs and vanilla.
2.     Combine dry ingredients and mix into butter/sugar mixture.
3.     Stir in toffee bits.
4.     Drop by teaspoon onto parchment-lined baking sheet.
5.     Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until firm (do not brown).
6.     Cool on a rack and make little cookie sandwiches with the frosting.

Frosting Directions:
1.     Cream butter and add sugar and vanilla.
2.     Add milk to reach spreading consistency.

recipe and pic from: http://www.food.com/recipe/toffee-sandwich-cookies-113949#ixzz1yq9q5ZA4

Baked Brie Bites



Recipe and pic from plainchicken.com
mini phyllo cups
brie, cubed
brown sugar
chopped pecans
honey

Preheat oven to 350.

Place a cube of brie in each phyllo tart.  Sprinkle each tart with approximately 1/2 tsp brown sugar.  Top with approximately 1/2 tsp chopped pecans and a dollop of honey.  Bake for 15-20 minutes, until brie is melted. (use more or less of each ingredient according to your preference)