Runs on Coffee and Cream

In the spirit of Jurassic World being released this month, I decided to make another dinosaur-themed recipe. Not long ago I spotted adorable dinosaur sprinkles at The Bulk Barn and I knew they had chocolate rocks there too.

So for something different than cake or cookies, I decided to make a pan of brownies. The recipe I used turned out OK but honestly, brownie box mix is always so good in comparison to from scratch recipes. I was actually planning on buying a brownie mix to achieve the ooey-gooey brownies they make but I forgot to buy a box while at the store. So I made brownies from scratch, which Adam calls chocolate brownie-cake because it's very cakey.

I whipped up some easy chocolate buttercream - butter, cocoa powder, icing sugar and a bit of water. Then onto the decorations! I'm not going to lie, these brownies are almost gone. They've been the perfect sweet treat this week.




I hope you're having a great weekend!
xo Jen

Last week, over at IGGPPC, we had a bake-along to make heart brownies. It was a ton of fun and made me realize how badly I need a new laptop that I can use in the kitchen for google hangouts. Having the only working webcam on our desktop computer makes the hangouts less flexible for me.


We ended up following this recipe we found online. The only adjustment I made was I baked it for 30 minutes since it looked too wet at 25 minutes. But they were really good and super fudgy. I would definitely use this recipe again for brownies.

After barely letting the brownies cool, I used my metal heart cookie cutter to cut the brownies. A bit of advice... a metal cookie cutter gets super hot when you place it in a still warm pan of brownies! I was able to cut out a few brownies successfully however.

Once they cooled completely, I frosted them and melted butterscotch chips to drizzle over the top. Adam and I inhaled the brownies which makes me a little sad because I'd like some right now.
 

As usual, I haven't been baking too much this summer. July was so hot and besides cookies for Adam's lunches, we just haven't been craving baked treats. I've consumed more popsicles, iced coffees and McDonald's frappes this summer.

As I've stated before, we tend not to buy cookies. I usually make a batch every other week and I substitute part of the butter or oil for applesauce. Homemade cookies are so much chewier than store bought cookies too! One of my favourite batches of cookies I made this summer was Chocolate Butterscotch Chip Cookies. They were so delicious and soft!

Chocolate Butterscotch Chip Cookies

1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
(You can omit applesauce and add in another 1/2 cup of butter or margarine)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups butterscotch chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat butter, applesauce, and sugar in large bowl. Add eggs and vanilla extract and beat until fluffy. 

Stir together flour, cocoa, and baking soda in separate bowl and gradually add it to butter mixture.


Stir in butterscotch chips and drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-9 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks and cool completely.  
 


I also whipped up a batch of brownies when my Mom came up to visit in July. I then decided to add some toppings to it... When the pan came out of the oven I stabbed the brownies randomly with a butter knife. I then poured a can of sweetened condensed milk over the brownies. Then I spread out mini marshmallows over it. After that I drizzled caramel sauce all over. Have a tooth ache yet?!? As you can imagine, it was delicious! Like my Mom said after eating her first piece though, it's not as sweet as you expect. I think it's because the brownies were from scratch and I just don't find them as sweet as boxed brownies.



Mmmmm.... Caramel....


I did make up a pie and a delicious dump cake recently for some guests. I'll share those recipes soon!

Have you made anything really yummy and sweet this summer?

xo Jen