For the Love of Chocolate

I never used to be a chocolate person, or really a sweets person for that matter.  I enjoyed a candy bar now and then and chocolate chip cookies made me swoon, but I have never really craved chocolate.  Until now.  I fully blame my fourth baby for forever changing my taste buds and cravings.  Sweets are now a necessity for me.  Most meals don’t seem “complete” until after I have at least a taste of chocolate. Brownies and chocolate chips cookies disappear at alarming speeds and I am constantly looking for treats that will satisfy my cravings.

So, for today’s the UN-digi, I want to give you some great chocolate recipes and treats.  Most of these are great for Valentine’s Day or just any day.  It is good to have a list of things to choose from when the chocolate cravings hit. And homemade goodies can always look like we are trying to be sweet to the people we love when really, we just can’t wait to take a bite

Here are a few of our personal family favorites:

Chocolate Hearts:  I tried these sometime last week.  We can’t get Reeses Peanut butter cups where I live and so my peanut butter and chocolate cravings are in full force.  I found some heart shaped ice cube trays and figured I could just make my own peanut butter cups.  They turned out great!

There is no real recipe, but this is what I did.  I first sprayed the ice cube trays with cooking spray so that the hearts would come out.  Then, I melted down some chocolate in a double boiler (milk chocolate chips or almond bark would work well).  I added a bit to the bottom of each cup.  Be sure not to put too much in because they will be hard to bite into. I took a spoon and smeared some chocolate up the sides of each cup.  I then put these in the freezer while I mixed the peanut butter.

I mixed in 1/3 cup powdered sugar with 1 cup of creamy peanut butter and then chilled. Then I added the PB mixture to each of the cups, filling almost to the top. I pressed it down to make it as flat as possible.  I then topped each cup with more melted chocolate and chilled. When cold, I just turned the trays over and gave them a good tap and out they came.  YUMMY!

Another favorite of ours is BROWNIE BALLS. This is a recipe adapted from the original which I heard about on this thread at DST a few years ago.  After trying the cake balls once, I adapted the recipe and made BROWNIE BALLS! They are quite similar but I like the richness of the brownies more than the cake. PLUS, they are super easy and the kids LOVE to help with them! As you can see from the photo above, sprinkling stuff on is my daughter’s favorite part!

Bake up a batch of brownies.  When they are cool, smoosh ‘em up, leaving out the crispy edges.  Mix in 1/3 can chocolate frosting (about 1/2 cup) and then roll into one inch balls.  Dip in melted chocolate (white or dark) and place on waxed paper. Sprinkle with colored sugar, decorator sprinkles, or  mini chocolate chips. I have also used peanut butter instead of frosting which I LOVE.

CHOCOLATE CHIP OAT SNACKIN’ CAKE
(I think this is supposed to be a cake but we like to eat it for breakfast

CAKE:

1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
3 egg whites
1 cup milk
2 1/4 cups oats (quick or regular)
2 cups chocolate chips (regular or mini)
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt

GLAZE:
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp milk

• Heat oven to 350F. Spray 9×13 pan with cooking spray.
• Mix brown sugar, butter, and egg whites.  Stir in milk.
• Mix in flour, oats, baking soda, salt, and chocolate chips.
• Spread in pan
• Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown and center feels firm when lightly touched.  Do not over bake.
• While cooking, mix all glaze ingredients together
• When the cake is done, immediately spread glaze over the warm cake.

PEANUT BUTTER ICE CREAM PIE

CRUST:
1 1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted

PIE
1 liter vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup peanut butter

Chocolate Syrup
Peanut Butter cups

• Mix together the cookie crumbs, butter, and sugar.  Press firmly into a 9 inch pie plate.
• Let ice cream soften on counter for 10-15 minutes.
• Mix in peanut butter.
• Spread ice cream over crust
• Crumble peanut butter cups and sprinkle in top
• Freeze until firm.
• Drizzle with chocolate syrup before serving.

Here are some other fun recipes you can try:

Fudge Brownie Pie
Chocolate Strawberry Cake Squares
Chocolate French Toast
Homemade Girl Scout Cookies:

• Samoas
• Tagalongs
• Thin Mints

If you want a really cool chocolate gift idea, check this out!  You can personalize a box of chocolates with a photo (or layout!) What a great gift for a chocolate loving person!

And, if you just want to laugh about some chocolate, don’t miss the CAKE WRECK blog “When professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong.”  The first time I saw this site I literally laughed for HOURS reading through the cake disasters and witty commentary.

Hope you have a yummy, chocolaty Sunday (or Sundae if you would prefer )

P.S. Jana Grunberg and Jennier Brogran: I have tried to contact you via email about your winnings from the DIGI FILES giveaway, but your emails bounced. Please contact me janet[AT]thedailydigi[DOT]com before Wednesday.  If I don’t hear from you I will have to pick some new winners.  I really want you to get your prizes!