Pumpkin Pancakes
Between the pumpkin, hazelnuts, walnuts, and maple, this is a perfect autumn breakfast. Beating the egg whites separately from the yolks makes for fluffier pancakes — almost like a soufflé.
Ingredients
1 1/4 coup flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 cup canned pumpkin
4 large eggs-separated
1/2 stick butter-melted
1 t vanilla extract
Syrup 2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons butter
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Orange and Chocolate Brownie Bites
Two classic flavors combine in one decadent little bite. These are so delicious and easy to prepare that nobody will know you didn’t slave away in the kitchen for hours.
Hands-On Time: 5 minutes
Ready In: 30 minutes
Makes: 24 bites
Ingredients
Bites:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup flour – rounded
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 Tablespoon orange zest
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Multicolored Meringues
Choose any colors you like, but use food coloring sparingly. One drop at a time.
To make: 50 minutes
To bake: 30-35 minutes (+ 45 minutes cooling in oven)
You Will Need:
3 egg whites (medium)
3/4 cups superfine sugar
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp lemon juice
Food coloring — red, green, yellow. Use a toothpick to add one drop at a time.
Makes 30 meringues. Bake at 250˚F
Peanut Butter Bears
Great for a Teddy Bear’s picnic, tea time treat, or birthday party.
To make: 20 minutes
To chill: 30 minutes
You Will Need:
1 1/3 cups Rice Krispies
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
3 tbsp unsalted butter
To Decorate:
16 chocolate buttons or nonpareils
Mini colored candies
Black writing icing
Makes 8 bears
Add and stir. Put the puff-rice cereal in a large bowl and stir in the confectioners’ sugar and sesame seeds.
Melt and mix. Melt the peanut butter and butter in a pan over a low heat. Pour the mixture into the bowl and stir until everything is well mixed together.
- Make the patties. Divide the mixture into 8 parts (roughly 2 tbsp each). Squish each one together with your hands, then roll each into a ball. Put the balls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment. Squish down slightly to flatten.
Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes or until firm.
- Decorate. Put chocolate buttons or nonpareils into the sides for ears and push in small colorful candies for eyes and noses. Use the writing icing to draw mouths and pupils on the eyes.
Gingerbread Men
These are the classic gingerbread cookies–crunchy, spicy, friendly–but the dough is extra-easy, since you stir it together and you don’t even need to chill it. If you prefer it to the icing-and-candy version, you can decorate the cookies with currants and dried cranberries, pressing the fruit in before baking.
Yield: About two dozen cookies
Total Time: 1 hour
Cookie Ingredients:
Rolled Sugar Cookies
No holiday is complete without rolled and cut sugar cookies and these thicker, softer version are easy to roll and just the right amount of sugar makes them the perfect backdrop for icing and sprinkles.
Hands-On Time: 20 minutes
Ready In: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Yield: 2-3 dozen cookies
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter – softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
icings, sprinkles and decors as desired
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Peanut butter and chocolate is a favorite combination around the globe and tucked into a tasty little no-bake bar makes it all the more yummy. Serve these up as a snack for the after-school-munchies or with a cup of coffee when a guest stops by.
Hands-On Time: 10 minutes
Ready In: 40 minutes
Yield: 30 bars
Ingredients
6 Tablespoons butter
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
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Double Chocolate Biscotti
Biscotti is one of those gifts that everyone loves to receive. Streamlining preparation with a boxed mix makes this faster and the results are more reliable. You can use just about any flavor of boxed cake or muffin mix and add in nuts to chocolate chips to dried fruit. The possibilities are endless and the recipients of your delicious gift will truly appreciate you.
Hands-On Time: 15 minutes
Ready In: 1 hour 55 minutes
Yield: Makes 24 biscotti
Ingredients
1 box (18 ounces) chocolate chocolate chip muffin mix
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter – melted
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chocolate coating – melted
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Hot Fudge Cake
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar, divided
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups boiling water
Directions
- Coat CROCK-POT® slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Mix 1 cup brown sugar, flour, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl. Stir in milk, butter and vanilla. Mix until well-blended. Pour into CROCK-POT® slow cooker.
- Blend remaining 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa powder in small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over mixture in CROCK-POT® slow cooker.
- Pour in boiling water. Do not stir. Cover; cook on HIGH 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Allow cake to rest 10 minutes, then invert onto serving platter or scoop into serving dishes. Serve warm.
Rich Fudgy Brownies
There are times when life requires chocolate — not just any chocolate, but the rich, fudgy kind that almost puts you in a food coma. These brownies certainly fit the bill, and what’s more, they are so quick to prepare that they’re perfect for when you must have chocolate right now. The crisp top shatters pleasingly when pierced with a fork, and the interior is so moist and utterly decadent. They hold their shape better when they are at room temperature, but I think they taste best hot and right out of the pan… with a scoop of vanilla ice cream of course. Cut them small because a little bit goes a long way.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, good quality
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules, optional
- 1 stick or 1/2 cup butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 extra large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
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