brownies

Caramel-Filled Brownies

Aug 21, 2020

Caramel-Filled Brownies – rich chocolate brownied filled with a layer of caramel and topped with pecans and chocolate chips! These are a must make for caramel lovers!

Originally published April 17, 2011. Updated August 21, 2020.

Years ago, when this post was first published and this blog was just a fun little hobby for me, I was in a group of bloggers that baked and cooked our way through the Project Pastry Queen cookbook. These Caramel-Filled Brownies were one of my favorite recipes from that book!

I mean, can you really go wrong with dark chocolate brownies with a layer of caramel in the middle and nuts and more chocolate on top?!

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Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies

Apr 13, 2017

Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies are perfect for all of your sweet and salty cravings! Rich brownies with crunchy peanut butter and chopped pretzels on top!

Hi guys!

Can I complain about the weather?

I know, totally shocking that I’m not satisfied with the weather in Texas, right?

But y’all, all of Fort Hood has been flooded this week and it’s ruining my life. It took me an hour to find my way home the other night because all the roads to my neighborhood had rivers flowing over them or were already blocked by cops. And it was midnight and my poor babysitter was stuck at my house and all I wanted to do was eat nachos in bed while rewatching last week’s Survivor.

Ugh, Texas. Whyyyyy?!

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M&M’S® Brownie Cookies

Dec 07, 2016

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, MARS Incorporated. All opinions are mine alone. #BakeInTheFun #CollectiveBias

Hey guys! Are you shocked that I have more cookies for you?

I’m all cookies, all the time right now.

We have a bunch of new neighbors moving in right now (military community) and I have never been more excited for new people. They’re not even out of their moving trucks before I’m trying to hand tins of cookies to them.

I think baking is officially my favorite thing about the holidays.

I picked up ingredients for these yummy M&M’S® Brownie Cookies recently from the baking aisle at my local Walmart. The Walmart baking aisle has become my home in recent weeks – they have literally everything I need for my holiday baking.

Anyway, so what you need for these cookies is a box of Pillsbury™ Family Size Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix, Pillsbury™ Creamy Supreme® Vanilla Flavored Frosting, and M&M’S® Brand Minis Milk Chocolate Baking Bits.

And then you need some vegetable oil, eggs, a tiny bit of flour, but that’s it!

Super simple and fuss free!

These cookies are so delicious. The taste of brownies with frosting and M&M’S®? I’m all about them!

Plus, they’re easy enough for my kids to do the bulk of the work. So we got the gift of family time by baking together and then we were able to gift the cookies to our newest neighbors. Sweet treats are definitely two gifts in one!

Are you giving any goodies away as gifts this year? I think everyone in my life is getting cookies and fudge!

If you’re planning to stock up on Pillsbury™ and M&M’S®, make sure you take advantage of the Ibotta offer at Walmart!

(Sidenote: I insist that you download Ibotta immediately if you don’t already have it. I’ve been using it for years and my lifetime earnings is at $224.85!)

M&M’S® Brownie Cookies

Ingredients

1 box Pillsbury™ Family Size Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix
2 eggs
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water
1 cup M&M’S® Brand Minis Milk Chocolate Baking Bits divided
1 can Pillsbury™ Creamy Supreme® Vanilla Flavored Frosting

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a bowl, beat together brownie mix, eggs, flour, vegetable oil, and water until combined. Fold in about 1/2 of the M&M'S®. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake 9 - 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until the tops are crackly. Cool completely.
Spread generously with the frosting and sprinkle with reserved M&M'S®.

Gluten-Free Caramel Brownie Sundae

Aug 30, 2016

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DairyFree4All #CollectiveBias

Sad news, guys.

I put the top on my Jeep the other day.

It’s been off since sometime in early July and I’ve finally given into the fact that it’s very hot outside.

It’s been so hot that my phone was overheating on a 5 minute drive to the grocery store.

So yeah, the top is on and I am very much anticipating some sort of cooler weather next month.

Until then, I will just have to indulge in my favorite frozen treats to make up for it.

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Candy Bar Brownies

Apr 22, 2016

Candy Bar Brownies – start with a boxed brownie mix and add your favorite candy bars! Perfect for Halloween candy!

Let’s talk brownies.

I’m obsessed with brownies.

I could eat brownies for every meal and not get tired of them.

I don’t. (Usually.) But I could.

Brownies are my go-to for gatherings. They’re easier to transport than cupcakes, they’re always popular, and there are so many ways to jazz up a regular brownie.

Like these Candy Bar Brownies that I made the other day!

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Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies

Feb 11, 2016

This post sponsored by The J.M. Smucker Company.

Okay, we’re only days away from Valentine’s Day.

I’ve bought myself more stuffed animals holding hearts than I’d like to admit.

I’ve forced my kids to sit down and scribble their name on 20 cartoon-themed cards.

I’ve made my Valentine’s Day date with some takeout sushi and my DVR.

I am ready.

I even made brownies. Topped with cheesecake because cheesecake is perfect for a romantic dinner for two or if you’re all alone.

I mean, cheesecake solves every problem. Right?

But then I swirled some raspberry jam into the cheesecake to make it extra festive.

I used my fave Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Brownies so it came together really quick and easily. I stocked up on the Pillsbury brownie mixes at Walmart last week when I did those cute football brownies and they’ve come in really handy. Sometimes you just need fast brownies! Or fast brownies with cheesecake on top!

Once these brownies are baked, you just top them with a quick cheesecake mixture and swirl some raspberry jam into the cheesecake.

They turned out so delicious and how pretty would they be for Valentine’s Day?

If you plan on stocking up on Pillsbury items, download the Ibotta app to save $.75 on your purchase! And for more ideas on how to #MixUpAMoment, check out the Pinterest board!

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Avocado Brownies

Nov 12, 2015

Avocado Brownies – no butter, no oil! These are so rich and delicious and no one will guess that the secret is avocado!

Good morning guys!

I feel we could all use some chocolate today.

Buuuuut, it’s chocolate you can feel good about! There’s no butter, no oil, none of that!

The secret ingredient is avocado!

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Nutella Brownies

Aug 24, 2015

Nutella Brownies – fudgy brownies with hazelnuts and a rich Nutella frosting! A chocolate lovers dream!

Happy Monday!

Happy first day of school for my kids!

You guys, this is the first year that all three of my kids are off to school.

I’m going to be ALONE. All by myself.

With no one asking questions.

All day long.

I have so much to do but I really just want to lie on the couch and watch everything on my DVR. Just because I can.

And let’s be real, I’ll probably stress eat some of these Nutella Brownies, too. My youngest hasn’t even been to daycare since he was a year old so this is kind of a big deal and I’m a little nervous that the first day will be rough.

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Classic Brownies

Jul 15, 2015

Classic Brownies – rich and fudgy classic brownies with pecans! These will fix all of your chocolate cravings!

Pin this recipe for later!

In typical me form, I’ve allowed Big Brother to take over my life.

I am watching the feeds for hours every day (although I’m currently marathoning the Heroes vs Villains season of Survivor – random, much?), I listen to Big Brother podcasts while I cook, I watch and rewatch the episodes.

In other words, I have a problem.

I didn’t think it was a big deal until the other day. Clementine woke me up in the middle of the night to go outside and as we’re going down the stairs, I say to her, “See Clem! This is why no one wants to be in an alliance with you! You wake everyone up 30 minutes after they fall asleep!”

I mean. What? Where did that even come from?

So if I’m not cooking or blogging much this summer, it’s because I’m too busy yelling at my dogs that I’m not taking them to the final 2 with me and even if I do, no one’s going to vote for them.

It’s probably time to back away from the Big Brother, huh?

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Paleo Mocha-Bacon Brownies

Jan 27, 2015

First up, I hope everyone in that gigantic storm’s path is safe and warm and hopefully just hanging out at home enjoying a day off.

Second, I turned my a/c on yesterday. Because it’s ridiculously warm plus you know I always have the oven on. It was 80 degrees in my house. Penelope (the husky) was just following me around, panting loudly. She’s not a fan.

My husband had some sort of tire flip competition yesterday morning which I didn’t know was a real thing but apparently they have to go back this morning because they made it into the finals of the bizarre tire flip competition. But anyway, he came home all muddy and hungry so I quickly made him some chicken and some Paleo Mocha-Bacon Brownies!

All my favorites! Coffee and bacon and brownies!

I have to warn you though: these are super Paleo. And by that, I mean you’ll probably only like them if you’re super Paleo. Like, if you’re used to Quest bars and Justin’s peanut butter cups (like me), you probably won’t like these. Buuuut, if you’ve managed to somehow give up sugar and be real Paleo (not like me), you will love them. They’re not bad, they’re just not super sweet like the Betty Crocker brownies that I know and love. My husband is obsessed and wouldn’t shut up about how good they are.

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Butterfinger Brownie Pizza (Halloween Candy Recipe)

Oct 06, 2014

This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

My level of Halloween excitement is so high that I cannot even tell you where it is. My best estimate is that it’s somewhere near “OMGGGG I MAY DIE OF ANTICIPATION BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GETS HERE” on the scale.

We’ve had costumes for at least a month now. Even the dogs. My house has been decorated since September 1. I’m even stocking up on candy – but only the kind I don’t like so that I’m not tempted.

Today we’re talking about a candy that I do like, though. I really, really, really like this one. Which means that bag that I just bought from Walmart the other day won’t last long enough to see Halloween. (Let’s be real, it’s already gone. Oops.)

Have you tried the Butterfinger Cups? This was my first time trying them and I don’t want to be dramatic but… life changing. I had seen them around and assumed that they were just regular Butterfingers in a different shape. But totally not. They taste like the regular ones but have a completely different texture. I’m obsessed and will be buying more for trick-or-treaters and then accidentally putting them on the bottom of our candy bowl in hopes that there will be lots left for me.

I used those Butterfinger Cups to make Butterfinger Brownie Pizza! You guys know I’m absolutely crazy about sweet pizzas and typically I use cookie dough as the crust. But for this one, I used a brownie mix (from a box – super simple!) and I think I like it more than the cookie crusts. I mean, what’s better than a brownie? And then for the sauce, I made a peanut butter whipped cream that takes just minutes to whip up. I chopped up a few of the Butterfinger Cups and sprinkled those around and then topped it all off with fun Halloween sprinkles.

And speaking of pizza, we all need good fuel before heading out the door for trick-or-treating and Tombstone pizza is perfect for that! And I just love their spooky Halloween packaging!

Let me know in the comments which #Treats4All you’ll be handing out on Halloween. Or what you’ll be eating fuel up for the big night!

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Slow Cooker Chocolate Chip Brownie Cake

Mar 17, 2014

Slow Cooker Chocolate Chip Brownie Cake – chocolate chip cookie dough and brownie batter baked together in the crockpot!

I hope you guys are ready for slow cooker recipes because I’m about to have a lot of them for you!

I told you guys last week that two of the boys are playing soccer now and since my husband deployed about a week and a half ago, I’m on my own when it comes to practices and games.

Their practices don’t let out until late and there is no way I’m coming home at 8 pm and cooking dinner.

So yeah, if you have any tried and true slow cooker recipes, send ’em over!

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Tahini Swirl Brownies

Mar 03, 2014

I don’t think I’ve told you guys about my tahini obsession.

I used to always keep a jar of tahini on hand just in case I got the urge to make hummus – which never happened because… it’s just easier to buy hummus. But I made this Coconut Semolina Cake a little over a year ago and in that recipe the baking pan is actually greased with tahini. You guys, that changed my life. I started using tahini where I would’ve previously used my first love, sunflower butter. Like protein pancakes or in my oatmeal. I have been obsessed ever since.

These brownies are a lot like the classic peanut butter swirl brownies but it’s tahini instead of the peanut butter. And they are amazing! This was one of those recipes that I had to wait until my husband tried a brownie before telling him it was tahini – he loved them!

If you love tahini like me, definitely make these. Or if you have a peanut allergy and aren’t a fan of sunflower butter, these are perfect for you!

Three years ago: Bacon Pierogi Bake
Four years ago: Pain a l’Ancienne
Five years ago: Pork Cutlets with Smothered Parmesan Green Beans

Tahini Swirl Brownies

adapted from Cooking Light

Servings: 16 brownies

Ingredients

1/4 cup canola oil
3 tablespoons butter cut into small chunks
4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs divided
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup flour
1/4 cup tahini at room temperature
1 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper and spray with oil.
Combine canola oil, butter, and chocolate in the top of a double boiler. Heat over simmering water until chocolate is almost full melted, stirring with a rubber spatula. Remove from heat and continue stirring until completely melted.
Pour chocolate mixture into a large bowl, add sugar and stir until combined. Add 2 eggs, stirring. Stir in vanilla and salt. Fold in flour in two or three batches. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
In a separate bowl, combine tahini, brown sugar, and remaining egg. Drop spoonfuls of tahini mixture onto brownie batter and swirl with the tip of a knife.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Marbled Brownies

Nov 19, 2013

I haven’t made brownies since February. That is way too long to go without a brownie.

I remedied that whole situation recently when I made these marbled brownies that are topped with M&M’S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies before baking to add a little something special to them. I make a bunch of goodies with these candies but there’s something about the M&M’S® Holiday Blend that speaks to me. I swear they taste better when they’re green and red.

This recipe comes from BrightIdeas.com which has tons of fun recipes, featuring M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies like these Reindeer Antlers and even craft ideas like these Festive Reindeer Favors.

I think it goes without saying that these brownies are spectacular. Brownies + cheesecake = perfection.

It starts with a boxed mix which is always a plus since it cuts down significantly on the prep time. Then the cheesecake mixture is swirled into the brownie batter. And then it’s all topped with festive M&M’S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies.

Don’t forget to check out BrightIdeas.com to get all sorts of holiday baking inspiration!

One year ago: Pizza Sauce
Two years ago: Dinner Rolls
Four years ago: Blueberry French Toast Bake
Five years ago: Black and White Arborio Rice Pudding

Marbled Brownies

Ingredients

1 box 8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/8 cup milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package brownie mix choose directions for the cake-style brownies
1 cup M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with the sugar. Add the egg, milk and vanilla extract. Set aside.
Prepare the brownie mix according to the package directions. Spoon 2/3 of the brownie batter into a parchment-lined 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Spoon the reserved cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter. Now scrape the remaining brownie batter over the cream cheese mixture. Swirl the tip of a knife through the batter to make a marbled effect. Press M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies into the batter.
Bake for 45-50 minutes in a preheated, 350-degree oven until slightly moist in the center. Cool completely before cutting 8x4 into 1½-inch squares.

Holiday’s are better with M. Go to Brightideas.com for recipes using M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies Holiday Blend. Click. Create. Celebrate.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of MARS®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Samoa Brownies

Feb 21, 2013

Last year when Girl Scout cookies started showing up in grocery store parking lots around here, we were doing last minute preparations for deployment. I cannot tell you how many boxes we went through during that time. We were literally eating them for dinner because everything was so hectic. Plus we had a constant stream of soldiers in our house and they, like everyone else in the world, love some Girl Scout cookies. I probably bought 30 boxes.

This year? I bought 2. And they’re still sitting in the pantry. Apparently we burned ourselves out last year.

I couldn’t resist an excuse to make these Samoas Brownies though. And they’re super simple because they start with a boxed mix (or your favorite homemade recipe!) and then they’re topped with a caramel and coconut topping. After all that sets, you drizzle a teeny bit of chocolate on top.

Nicole made a Samoa Cocktail! No lie.

One year ago: Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Pie
Three years ago: Marbled Rye Bread
Four years ago: Sticky Chinese Chicken Wings

Samoa Brownies

from Six Sisters' Stuff

Ingredients

1 box of brownie mix prepared and cooled (or your favorite recipe prepared)
3 1/2 cups shredded coconut
2 14 ounce package of caramels, unwrapped
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons milk
3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400F and place coconut on baking pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir coconut and cook for another 2-3 minutes until toasted. Watch closely so it doesn't burn.
In a large, microwaveable bowl, add unwrapped caramel, salt, and milk and cook on high for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally (about every 45-60 seconds). Microwave until all the caramel is melted and smooth.
Add coconut to the caramel and stir together. Spread over cooled brownies. Refrigerate 4-5 hours or overnight. Remove at least 1 hour from the fridge before cutting.
Put chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 second increments, stirring after each one, until melted and smooth. Drizzle over cut bars.