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Chocolate Chipotle Brownies

Let’s start December out on the right foot. Chocolate Chipotle Brownies! These are chocolaty and the perfect amount of heat that will leave you wanting the whole pan. A chef at Traeger put these out the other night and they were gone in a second. 1 box 20 oz brownie mix (like Costco) with added egg, oil, and water 2 tsp adobo sauce from canned chipotle chilis in adobo sauce 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon Prepare brownies according to package directions including adobo sauce and cinnamon. Even better if cooked on your

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Because it’s Friday, and I’m not cooking, and so you won’t have to scroll through my whole @kristinandrus feed of my kids to find the recipe! 1 C butter- barely softened 1/2 C white sugar 1 C brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 3 C flour 3/4 tsp salt 3/4 tsp baking soda 10 oz really good chocolate chips *I suggest doubling the recipe and adding one bag of milk chocolate, one bag of semi sweet and some butterscotch chips if you’re feeling crazy! Cream butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla together really well. Add flour, salt, baking soda to creamed mixture and blend together only until combined (don’t overbeat). Hand stir chocolate chips into dough. Put balls of dough onto baking sheet and bake at 375 for about 7 to 9 minutes. They are done when starting to get golden brown on the outside but still pretty gooey on the inside. (My secret to the gooey inside, is to refrigerate the balls of dough before they go in the oven).

Christmas S’mores

These Christmas smores were a big hit on a rainy day! Melt white chocolate and dip each side of graham cracker in the white chocolate then into crushed candy canes. Once you’ve finished dipping put in fridge to chill and let chocolate form. Roast marshmallows and add chocolate as usual. These were yummy! *Another favorite was using Pretzel crisps instead of Graham crackers. The salty, sweet, and chocolate were the perfect combo.

Peanut Butter Balls

Nothing says the holidays like a Sunday full of Peanut Butter Ball making at my house. Another family tradition I’ve carried on, and the only homemade item I’ll be serving for my Christmas Soiree this weekend (for 200). These are easy and delicious and I get in big trouble if I don’t have them around over the next couple of weeks. 2 C creamy peanut butter 4 C powdered sugar 1 C softened butter 2 tsp vanilla 2 bags of milk or semi sweet chocolate chips 1 Tb canola oil Take first four ingredients and beat until creamy. Form one inch balls and place in freezer. Melt chocolate chips and oil until melted in sauté pan. Turn off heat and with your hands dip frozen balls in chocolate. Once chocolate starts to thicken, turn heat on for another minute until warmed through. Continue dipping until all are done. Lay on parchment paper and stick back in fridge or freezer to set. They keep well in freezer or fridge but trust me they won’t be there for long!

Indoor S’mores

A cold dreary day calls for Indoor S’mores for dessert tonight! In an oven proof dish bake chocolate chips or Hershey bars at 300 until melted. Top with Marshmallows and chopped up Heath bars and broil or set at 500 for one minute.

Grilled Nutella and Banana sandwiches

I love things like #nationalnutelladay so I can make ooey gooey after school snacks like this! Think grilled cheese just fill with Nutella and bananas instead. Peanut Butter was pretty darn good too! My kids were in heaven!

Grilled Dessert Pizza

Bribing my kids to NOT help in the kitchen. Grilled pizza dough -Pillsbury dough would work too- with butter instead of EVOO (stretch room temperature dough into desired shape and brush both sides with butter. Grill on high for 2-3 minutes then flip sides for 1 minute). You can also bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes (one side). Layer with: Bananas Cinnamon sugar mixture Chocolate chips Powdered sugar Broil for 1 minute

Dessert Waffles

And then this happened! Thick and Fluffy Eggo Waffles (best ones out there) Banana Natural Peanut Butter Nutella Strawberries Powdered sugar

Chocolate and Butterscotch Baklava

1 package frozen phyllo dough, thawed 3 cubes butter, melted 16 oz nuts (almonds and pistachios) 1 package semisweet chocolate chips 1 package butterscotch chips 2 cups shredded coconut SYRUP: 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1 cup honey Butter your baking pan. Unroll one package of phyllo dough; cut stack into a rectangle that fits your pan. Line bottom of prepared pan with two sheets of phyllo dough (sheets will overlap slightly). Brush with butter. Repeat layers 8 times. (Keep dough covered with a damp towel until ready to use to prevent it from drying out.) It does not have to be perfect! In a blender combine the nuts and chocolate/butterscotch chips. Sprinkle 2 cups over top layer of phyllo. Top with four layers phyllo dough, buttering each layer. Top with 2 or more cups nut mixture. Top with four layers phyllo dough, buttering each layer; top with remaining nut mixture. Top with the remaining phyllo dough, brushing each layer with butter. Drizzle any remaining butter over top. Once again, this does not need to be perfect…

Patriotic Ice Cream Sandwich

Jazz up your “Fat Boy” or favorite ice cream sandwich with frozen or fresh raspberries and blueberries!