Chocolate Archives - Page 2 of 9

Brown Sugar Cookie Dough and Cone Ice Cream

I’m told summer doesn’t technically start until June 20th, but honestly, who is even following that calendar? If school’s out, the sun is shining, and brown sugar cookie dough and cone ice cream is in my freezer, we’re calling it summer. So today, grab your shades, your sunblocks, and your ice cream cones, because it’s officially time for a summer deep dive!

What’s your most favorite part of summer? The beach? Fishing? Popsicles around the clock? When I was growing up, summer meant fireflies and s’mores and hours of jumping into the pool with my best friends, but as I get older, I’m finding that June through July looks a heck of a lot different. As a work-from-home Mom, summer is less of a reprieve from the work of the school year and more of a shift in job description. Instead of chauffeuring to and from school, car rides are taken to day camps, the pool, and grandparents’ houses. Instead of packing lunchboxes, we’re packing picnics and snacks to eat at the ball field. Where we once nagged over homework and bedtimes, we’re now reapplying sunscreen, hosing sand off of stick little feet, and attempting to comb through salt-matted hair. Momming during the summer is hardly a vacation, but y’all, it is really good.

Brown Sugar Cookie Dough and Cone Ice Cream

Today marks the official first day of summer in our house. All of my kids are out of their normal school routine and we are officially commencing operation summer bucket list. For the next 82 days, I’ll be the ringleader to one small band of sun-tanned popsicle eaters, and I can report, at least as of day one, that I’m truly looking forward to it. So to get the summer game started on this site as well, we’re making a brown sugar cookie dough and cone ice cream, and guys, I think you’re really going to like it.

This brown sugar cookie dough and cone ice cream has a brown sugar ice cream base. It’s loaded with eggless cookie dough chunks and chocolate-coated waffle cone pieces. The end result is a frozen dessert absolutely brimming with flavor, texture, and, of course, chocolate. The ice cream base recipe is adapted from Joy the Baker; the cookie dough is the same one you might have seen in this coffee cookie dough ice cream. The cone pieces, though, are new and potentially one of my current favorite additions to ice cream. Big pieces of waffle cone coated in a dairy-free chocolate magic shell coating keeps swirl into the ice cream. Truly, they’re so yummy.

Making the Ice Cream

To make this brown sugar cookie dough and cone ice cream, we start by prepping the mix-ins. Butter, sugar, and flour come together with mini chocolate chips to make the little balls of cookie dough. I like to mix the dough just until it begins to come together into clumps, so as to cut back on any extra work it might take to roll individual balls. The chocolate waffle cone pieces are next. Use your hands to crush a few waffle cones into 1/2″-sized pieces and set aside. Next, melt semisweet chocolate chips and coconut oil together until the mixture is smooth and glassy. Toss in the cone pieces, being sure to coat them thoroughly, and then spread the chocolatey pieces out on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. You can speed up the process by popping them into the fridge to set. Finally, the cream cheese and brown sugar ice cream base comes together with a little half and half in an ice cream machine. Process the mixture until it has thickened to a frozen yogurt consistency and then stir in the mix-ins. Allow the ice cream to freeze until fully set.

I hope you guys are well on your way to an enjoyable summer and that you consider including this brown sugar cookie dough and cone ice cream in your dessert lineup in the coming weeks! In the meantime, happy Thursday, happy summer, and happy baking!

If you like this recipe you should try:

No-Churn Coffee Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Oatmeal Cookie Chunk Ice Cream
No-Churn Peanut Butter Caramel Ice Cream
Turtle Ice Cream
No-Churn Sugar Cookie Ice Cream

Brown Sugar Cookie Dough and Cone Ice Cream

Print Recipe

This brown sugar ice cream is loaded with cookie dough chunks and chocolate dipped waffle cone pieces!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 20
Total Time: 360
Yield: 1 Quart
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the cookie dough:

½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup (130 gm) brown sugar
1/3 cup (65 gm) sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup (100 gm) flour
1 cup (150 gm) mini chocolate chips

For the chocolate-covered cone pieces:

¼ cup semisweet chocolate (chips or chopped)
½ teaspoon coconut oil
¾ cup waffle or sugar cones pieces (about ½” size)

For the brown sugar cream cheese ice cream, adapted from “Homemade Decadence” by Joy Wilson

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese at room temp
2 1/2 cups of cold half-and-half
1 cup pack light brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tablespoons bourbon (Optional)

Instructions

To prepare the cookie dough:

Beat the butter on medium speed in a medium sized bowl until smooth. Add the brown sugar and sugar and continue beating on medium to cream together, about 1 minute. Add the salt, vanilla, and flour and beat on low just until all of the ingredients are combined. Add the chocolate chips and beat to combine. Place the cookie dough in the fridge to cool if desired. Once chilled, the dough should easily crumble into 1/8” dough balls. Set aside in the fridge while you make the ice cream

To prepare the cone pieces:

Melt the chocolate and coconut oil gently in the microwave in 20 seconds intervals until they can be stirred and combined to smooth. Toss in the cone pieces and stir to coat completely. Spread out on a baking sheet lined with wax or parchment paper and allow to cool completely prior to using.

To prepare the ice cream base:

Combine the cream cheese, brown sugar, and salt in a stand mixer. Once combined, add the half-and-half and bourbon. Blend on high speed until smooth.
Transfer ice cream mixture to an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When the ice cream is done churning, add the cookie dough and cone pieces and stir to combine. Spread into a metal loaf pan or freezer-safe Tupperware and freeze until firm, about 6 hours or overnight.

Double Chocolate Pop-Tarts

Is being a baseball mom a sport too?

Already, I can see how parents get so into their kid’s sports. It’s thrilling to watch them learn and improve and do things you didn’t even know they could do, like slide into the plate or nail a triple, and at the same time, it’s equally fun to watch them do all sorts of stuff you did know they could do: draw pictures in the dirt of the outfield, trip over their shoelaces on the way to the dugout, or scream, “I GOTTA PEE!” as they cross home plate. And while the kids are learning and getting better with each game, we Moms are too. We’re yelling louder, cheering for the other kids by name, and even participating in passive aggressive banter with the umpire who is clearly friends with the Dads coaching the other team. What could be better than that?

Double Chocolate Pop-Tarts by Wood and Spoon. These are cocoa powder pie dough pieces stuffed with more chocolate, crimped, baked, a drizzled with a cocoa icing. For faster pop-tarts, you can stuff these with any of your other favorite fillings too: marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, Nutella, or even jam! Learn how simple homemade chocolate pop-tarts are here on thewoodandspoon.com

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. It’s always a tiny bit painful to watch your kid on days when everything seems to fall apart. It’s uncomfortable to hear the other parents be hard on their kids (or others parents, for that matter). And don’t even get me started on my new seasonal allergy regimen; between the pollen and the dirt, I don’t even know what’s in my eyes anymore. But all these things, hard days and messy relationships and runny noses included, are stretching points for my kid and me, and I think, ultimately, it’s really healthy to learn to work through those things.

Homemade Double Chocolate Pop-Tarts!

Before we move on to the double chocolate pop-tarts, I’ll leave you with this *adorable* picture of George. He’s the youngest and second smallest kid on the team, but I can also say he’s the most happy and smiliest kid too, win or lose. Watching him play makes me so proud to be his parent, not because he’s the best player, but because I can see how big his heart is… even from my nosebleed seat on the sticky bleachers.

So why these double chocolate pop-tarts? Well, for one, my kids LOVE pop-tarts. I’ve been making them homemade ones for years, but more recently, they tried the OG store-bought ones, and they went nuts. Apparently all those preservatives and articifical flavors really add something special. But when I made these chocoetely homemade ones for the first time, the kids were all in. “Are those for us, Mom? Cant we eat them… for breakfast?!?” True story: any breakfast food that looks suspiciously like dessert is bound to be a winner in any toddler’s book.

How to Make Homemade Pop-Tarts

To make these double chocolate pop-tarts we start with a homemade pie dough. I altered my favorite pie dough recipe, adding a smidge of cocoa powder to create a chocolate pie dough. It’s the perfect offset for the sweetened filling and icing that is to come. After a quick chill in the fridge, we are ready to roll out the pie dough and prepare the filling. The filling for these double chocolate pop-tarts is a melted concoction of butter, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar. Small dollops of the cooled filling is added to the rolled out pastry squares before they’re topped with more dough, crimped, and popped in the freezer for a final chill. After baking, the pop-tarts are frosted with a simple powdered sugar and cocoa powder frosting. Bon Appetit!

Give these double chocolate pop-tarts a try in the coming days and let me know what you think! And feel free to try out your own alternatives fillings: Nutella, marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, or even homemade jam! Happy Thursday and Happy Baking!

If you like these double chocolate pop-tarts you should try:

Chocolate Pudding Pie
Blueberry Lemon Pop-Tarts
Chocolate Espresso Tarts
Raspberry Champagne Pop-tarts
Chocolate Chess Pie

Double Chocolate Pop-Tarts

Print Recipe

These double chocolate pop-tarts feature a cocoa powder pie dough, a double chocolate filling, and a simple chocolate sugar glaze!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 25
Total Time: 240
Yield: 6 Large Pop-tarts
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the dough:

1–2/3 cups (230 gm) all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
¼ cup (50 gm) vegetable shortening
6 tablespoons (85 gm) unsalted butter, cold
Approximately 6 tablespoons ice water

For the filling:

½ cup (85 gm) semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, chopped
¼ cup (30 gm) powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder

For the icing:

½ cup (60 gm) powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder (regular or dark is fine. See notes)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1–1/2 tablespoons water

Instructions

To prepare the pop-tarts, begin with the dough. In a large bowl, stir to combine the flour, cocoa powder, and sugar. Using a pastry cutter or the backs of two forks, cut the shortening and butter into the dry ingredients until integrated evenly with pea-sized clumps throughout. Spoon in about 5 tablespoons of ice cold water and begin to gently stir the mixture into a shaggy dough. I usually end up adding about 7 tablespoons of ice water, but add as you go until the dough can be worked together into a ball. Pat out into a flat round disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until chilled.
In the meantime, make the filling. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the chocolate chips and butter. Stir regularly until the chips and butter have melted down into a smooth mixture. Do not overheat or the chocolate will seize. Whisk in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder and place in the fridge to cool to a thick, spreadable peanut butter consistency. If it gets too thick you can gently reheat. We basically just need it thick enough to dollop into the pop-tarts. Don’t let it firm up completely though or you may break your dough.
When ready to assemble your pop-tarts, use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface into an 8” wide rectangle that is about 1/8” thick. Use a ruler and a sharp knife to trim out pieces that are 3-1/2” x 4-1/2”. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Gather up dough scraps and work them into a ball to roll out again. Trim any additional pieces if you can. You should wind up with about 12 rectangles of dough. Dollop 2 tablespoons of the thickened filling into the center of half of the pieces and then use the back of a spoon to spread it out slightly, leaving a 1” border around the perimeter of the tarts. Use a pastry brush or a wet finger to trace an outline of water around the edges of those pieces- this will help the second piece of dough to stick well. Place a second piece of dough on top of each of the filled pieces and use the back of a floured fork to crimp the edges. Place the pan in the freezer to firm up for at least an hour.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and use your crimping fork to vent the tarts on top. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until the top and edges of the pastries are set. Set aside to cool completely while you make your glaze.
To prepare the glaze, combine all of the ingredients and whisk together. The icing should be thick enough to stay on top of the pop-tart. Add additional sugar to thicken or water to thin. Pipe or spoon the glaze on top.

Notes

I used dark cocoa powder for my glaze and made a second batch of lighter glaze with regularly cocoa powder for the drizzle. Both work great and this is totally optional!

Brownie Shortbread Bars

9 Comments / Cookies and Bars

Growing up, I remember hearing the phrase, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” Even now as a 33-year-old woman, I can honestly tell you that I still don’t have a clue what that saying means. Sure, we can’t always get what we want and there will certainly be circumstances in which we’re forced to choose between two desires, but when it comes to dessert, I think it can sometimes be both. Maybe we can have our cake (or in today’s case, brownie shortbread bars) and eat it too.

Like with these brownie bars. Why should we have to choose between cookies and brownies? Isn’t it plausible to think that, every once in a while, we can indulge in two wonderful things simultaneously? I would argue YES. Absolutely. So today, I’m going to tell you all about how to make these brownie shortbread bars in hopes that when the craving strikes for both buttery soft shortbread and gooey fudge brownies, you don’t have to choose. You can have the best of both worlds.

These brownie shortbread bars have two layers. The bottom layer is a simple shortbread crust made from little more than butter, sugar, and flour. The crumbly mixture comes together in a single bowl before being patted out in an 8″ square pan. While the crust bakes slightly in the oven, we begin to mix up our brownie batter. On the stovetop, butter, sugar and chocolate are melted together until smooth. Eggs come next followed by the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, and just a smidge of salt. After a quick bake, the brownies are fragrant crackly-topped, and ready for absolutely devouring.
I hope you’ll give these brownie shortbread bars a try and let me know what you think! Have a terrific weekend and happy baking!

If you like these brownie shortbread bars you should try:

Shortbread Cookies
Peppermint Brookies
White Chocolate Ganache Shortbread
Pretzel Shortbread Peanut Butter Brownies
Caramel Ganache Brownies

Brownie Shortbread Bars

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

These brownie shortbread bars feature a vanilla bean shortbread crust and a gooey crackled brownie top!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 45
Total Time: 60
Yield: 16
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the crust:

¾ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1–1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the brownie:

¾ cup unsalted butter
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1–1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

To prepare the bars:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line an 8 or 9” square baking pan with foil. Lightly grease with cooking spray and set aside.
Begin by preparing the crust. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Stir in the vanilla bean paste. Add the flour and salt and stir just until combined to crumbs. Gently press the mixture down flat into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until set. In the meantime, begin making the brownie filling.
In a medium saucepan over low heat, gently melt together the butter, chocolate chips, and sugar, stirring regularly to melt evenly and prevent scorching the chocolate. Once melted and smooth, set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the eggs on medium speed with a mixer until they lighten in color and fluff up, about 2-3 minutes. Gently stir in the chocolate mixture. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, stirring just until combined. Pour the batter on top of the prepared shortbread and smooth. Increase the oven heat to 350 and bake for an additional 30-33 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out only with a couple of small brownie crumbs. Do not overbake. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely prior to slicing.

Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake

5 Comments / Cakes

Can you even believe it’s been a year?

We’ve spent so much of these past 365 days talking about the pandemic; it almost seems redundant for me to spend even another second mentioning it here. The truth is, what we’ve experienced has been life changing. I think it’s really healthy to consider how far we’ve come and what we need moving forward. While it would be easy to look at the past 12 months and try to wish it away or shove it all into the darkest corners of our past, I don’t want to waste this experience; I’d love for each of us to walk away from the pain and trouble of this pandemic as better, more resilient and loving versions of the selves that entered into it. So here’s what I’ve been chewing on.

Chocolate Mascarpone Cheese by Wood and Spoon blog. This is a creamy chocolate cheesecake made with mascarpone cheese, a chocolate sandwich cookie Oreo crust, and a rich caramel topping. The crust is scented with espresso powder and lends a buttery crunch to the otherwise smooth dessert. This is a decadent treat for chocolate lovers and a great alternative to a cream cheese cheesecake. Learn how to make it on thewoodandspoon.com

“Relationship means everything.”

The single greatest take-away I have from this past year is that relationships mean everything. Most of us, prior to 2020, took even the smallest interactions and gestures of kindness for granted. A smile at the grocery store, a lazy coffee date with a friend, sharing a bucket of popcorn at the movies or a bottle of wine around a crowded dining table. The encouragement and solidarity we find in those interactions have the potential to nourish our souls in deep ways. For me, it wasn’t until those interactions were deemed unsafe that I began to realize how much I needed them. Texting, phone calls, and waves from a distant aren’t always enough; sometimes we need that face-t0-face talk with our best friend. We need to hug our grandparents and our little sisters. We need to care for one another with laughter and kindness and touch because we were created for relationship. The isolation of this year hasn’t just been a bummer for our social calendars. It’s left a wanting hole in most of us.

Weeks ago, I met my grandparents in a drive-thru COVID vaccine line to give them their paperwork. The parking lot was filled with maybe a hundred cars, most of which were occupied by elderly people. I’m not sure if it was just me (#hormones), but the energy was almost palpable, and I teared up thinking of all the families who were going to be safely reunited with their grandparents soon. I took a lot of those relationships for granted, and I’m eager to learn from this experience by loving the people around me a little more generously.

“Less really is more.”

Another big take-away I have from this past year is that, in some cases, less really is more. I had the privilege of staying home with my kids those first couple of months of quarantine. Although I complained some about in our scaled-back life, I was grateful for what I found in its place. Where there was once busyness and rushing in our normal day to day life, I found time. A pace of life I hadn’t walked out in years. I’m really grateful to have had those opportunities with my children, and, looking back, I realize that a lot of the “stuff” that filled our calendars before wasn’t really what my heart desired. What I wanted deep down and had the luxury of experiencing during quarantine was intentional relationship with my family. Moving forward, I hope I’ll remember some of that, particularly when the urge to do more (and all too much) sneaks in.

Grace.

The final big thing that this past year has reinforced in my mind is that we all need to show one another a whole bunch of grace. Each of our stories has read completely different these past 365 days. It’s helpful for me to remember that my version of this experience has likely been vastly different from yours. We will all process the challenges and loss of this past year in our own way but we can offer one another grace in the midst of it all, particularly when it comes to areas where we don’t see eye to eye. My hope is that, after living through a year that pruned away a lot of the comforts and certainties and facades that many of us (raises hand!) clung to, we find that all that cutting back and stripping away made room for growth that our previous selves wouldn’t have made room for.

There’s been lots of learning this past year, and this is just a small glimpse into mine. It may have been overkill to share allllll of that, but my hope is that you’ll have the opportunity to reflect on your own story and pick out a few things you want to take with you from here on out. I’d love to here from you about this in the future, but, for now, let’s get to this chocolate mascarpone cheesecake.

Mascarpone Cheesecake

I love cheesecake, particularly when it comes to ones that are made extra with comforting toppings. This chocolate mascarpone cheesecake is all the yummy, creaminess of a traditional cheesecake with the added taste and texture of mascarpone cheese. Add that to a chocolate cookie crust and gooey caramel, and you have yourself a winning combination.

The directions for this chocolate mascarpone cheesecake are pretty thorough, mostly because I know a lot of people struggle with making cheesecakes. There always seems to be sunken centers, fault line cracks, and soggy crusts, right? So, while the instructions may be over-the-top, I find the juice is worth the squeeze here, and that extra attention to detail yields a really fantastic end product. While the star of this show is definitely the cheesecake center, there is room to take some liberties when it comes to the topping. I used a cup of my favorite homemade caramel sauce for this cake, but you are welcome to sub in your favorite store-bought variety or recipe of your own. Or perhaps you want more chocolate? Try a ganache topping, a homemade fudge sauce, or maybe even just some fresh fruit. Make the cheesecake your own here.

Phew. That was a lot of conversation today, but to sum things up– this past year has been a lot, love your people well, and don’t forget to make this chocolate mascarpone cheesecake. Happy Tuesday and happy baking!

If you like this chocolate mascarpone cheesecake you should try:

Simple Cheesecake Bars
Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake
Brown Sugar Cheesecake
Peppermint White Chocolate Cheesecake
Honey Mascarpone Tart with Salty Graham Cracker Crust

Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

This chocolate mascarpone cheesecake is a rich and fluffy dessert with an espresso scented chocolate cookie crust and a thick caramel topping.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 30
Cook Time: 60
Total Time: 180
Yield: 9 Servings
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the crust:

12 ounces (about 31 cookies) chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreo’s)
½ teaspoon espresso powder
5 tablespoons (70 gm) unsalted butter, melted

For the cheesecake:

1 pound/ 2 blocks (450 gm) of cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 pound mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
1 cup (200 gm) sugar
¼ cup (20 gm) cocoa powder
3 large eggs (170 gm), room temperature
¾ cup (180 ml) heavy cream, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup caramel sauce (follow the link in the text of my post for my favorite recipe or use your own favorite recipe or store-bought variety here)

Instructions

To prepare the crust:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare a 9″ springform pan by wrapping it in sheets of aluminum foil. I use 3 layers of extra wide, heavy duty foil wrapped to the top lip of the pan. Spray the inside walls and bottom of the pan with cooking spray.
Process your chocolate sandwich cookies in the blender on medium speed until they have been reduced to crumbs. Combine the crumbs with the espresso powder and melted butter in a small bowl until the crumbs are well moistened. Gently pat out your mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes.

To prepare the cheesecake:

Begin boiling some water in a kettle or saucepan for your water bath.
Place the softened cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Cream on medium speed until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the cocoa powder and eggs. Stir on medium until integrated. Add the cream and vanilla extract and stir to combine.
Strain the cheesecake batter through a mesh strainer (if desired) into a reserved bowl. Pour the strained batter on top of the crust. Gently rap the pan on the counter to help any air bubbles escape.
Place your springform pan into a slightly larger baking dish/pan and fill the larger pan with the boiling water you prepared for the water bath until the water reaches about halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Carefully place both pans in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour. After an hour of baking, the edges and top of the cheesecake should be set but still slightly jiggle in the center. Turn the oven off and allow the cheesecake to rest in the oven for an additional hour. Remove from oven and aluminum foil, discard the water bath, and then place the cheesecake in the fridge to chill for several hours or overnight. The cheesecake can be stored in the fridge for several days.
When ready to serve, top with warmed caramel sauce, slice and serve.

Chocolate Tiramisu (and announcing MY FIRST BOOK!)

12 Comments / Cakes, Confections and Candies

Chocolate Tiramisu by Wood and Spoon blog. This is a small batch tiramisu recipe made in a loaf pan, switched up with the addition of a chocolate ganache. Mascarpone cheese keeps this dessert true to the Italian classic and crisp ladyfingers soak in kahlua and coffee. Learn how to prepare make-ahead tiramisu on thewoodandspoon.com

Grab a fork and settle in, because we are CELEBRATING all sorts of things with a little chocolate tiramisu today.

First off, it’s my FIVE YEAR BLOG ANNIVERSARY. Yep, five years. It blows my mind in every possible way that this site has existed for that long. Together, we’ve made ____ recipes, welcomed two new babies, built a house, had a couple website refreshers, and shared wayyyy too much personal information. If you’ve stuck around with me since the beginning (Hi, Mom), thank you. Your support and emails and kindness have meant the world to me. To have a job that feels more like a hobby is such a blessing, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Although a lot has changed since day one of this site, my love of food and writing remains the same, and I’m thrilled to keep on keeping on here. Which brings me to celebratory item number two:

Drumroll, please…

I WROTE A BOOK. A real life book (!!!!) It’s been a long road, so I wanted to share a little about the process.

I started this blog in 2016 in hopes of becoming a cookbook author. At the time, I was following other bloggers who had been around a while and were finally landing cookbook deals of their own. I wanted in! So after lots of nervous back-and-forth with my husband, friends, and mother (Hi again, Mom!), I decided to dive in and start this site with the end-goal of writing a book.

Less than two years later, I had established a relationship with a publishing company and was writing a cookbook proposal with one of their senior editors. This was it! My dreams were coming true! We worked hard for months, but the day before my proposal was to be approved for contract, the publishing company was bought out by a giant media company. Immediately, all projects not under contract were suspended, and after another 6 months of back and forth, they were completely dissolved. I was crushed. It had been over a year of time and work and vulnerability with that company, and I was so disappointed to start over.

My editor for the project was incredibly kind, and at her last day on the job, she connected me with a book agent out of New York. After some conversation and brainstorming, we began working together to iron out the existing proposal. We got a few nibbles from a couple of publishing companies, but ultimately, the project fell flat. By now, it’s January of 2020. It had been two years of proposal writing with no signs of success on the horizon, and here we were, back at square one.

Thank goodness we didn’t give up.

Over the next couple of months, I wrote a new cookbook proposal from scratch, and the day after I submitted it to my agent, I began writing a second proposal. This one was different: a 365-day devotional for women. The Word document on my computer basically filled itself with 56 pages of stories and scripture and thoughts and questions, and less than a month later, it was ready to submit to my agent. We decided to move forward with the devotional, and within no time, I was negotiating offers from multiple publishers. Ultimately, my little project found a home at HarperOne, an imprint of Harper Collins, and in July, I dove head first into writing my very first book. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more about the project, but for now, I’ll end with this:

Don’t give up.
Take a chance on your ambitions.
Work hard.
Ignore the pessimists and self-doubt that tell you you’ll never reach the desires in your heart, and if there’s something in there worth going after, do it. When I take inventory of the most beautiful and life-giving things in my story, I’m reminded that absolutely none of it happened overnight, and so much of the deferred hope, perseverance, and effort that I experienced allows me to treasure those gifts for what they are. A closed door or setback in your story doesn’t mean the end of your story, and I really believe that when we push through the barriers and unbelief, we often find breakthrough and joy on the other side.

Chocolate Tiramisu

I’ve never actually had chocolate tiramisu until I prepared this particular recipe. Truly, I’m wondering why it’s not made more frequently. I mean, we all love classic tiramisu, right? This is no different, just a little extra chocolate. Here, a chocolate ganache, mascarpone, and whipped cream come together to make an espresso-scented treat that is altogether rich and creamy and comforting. The tall slices make for an elegant dessert that requires very little time and effort. If you’re looking for a simple yet impressive make-ahead dessert, I hope you’ll take a chance on this chocolate tiramisu. Truly, it’s delightful.

There’s another delicious recipe and more on the book coming next week. In the meantime, if you get an opportunity to make this chocolate tiramisu, tell me about it! Happy Saturday to you and HAPPY BAKING!

If you like this chocolate tiramisu, you should try:

Classic Tiramisu
Tiramisu Cream Puffs
Tiramisu Cake
Kentucky Coffee
Toffee Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Tiramisu

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This chocolate tiramisu is a small-batch recipe made in a loaf pan and flavored with the addition of chocolate ganache.

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 15
Total Time: 360
Yield: 6 Servings
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

½ cup (85 gm) semisweet chocolate, chips or chopped
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, divided
1 cup (240 gm) warm espresso or strong-brewed coffee
2 tablespoons Kahlua or rum/coffee liquor
2 large egg yolks
¼ cup (50 gm) granulated sugar
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
18–20 ladyfinger cookies (hard or soft is fine)

Instructions

Prepare an 8”x4” loaf pan by lining it both ways with plastic wrap, extending the plastic beyond the sides. Set aside.
In a small saucepan over low heat, gently heat the chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of whipping cream, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth. Do not overheat. Once chips are completely melted, remove from heat to a bowl and set in the fridge while you prepare the rest of the elements.
Combine the espresso and kahlua in a small bowl. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, beat the egg yolks and sugar together until thickened and pale, about 2-3 minutes. When a beater or spatula dipped into the mixture is removed it should gradually pour off in a thin, viscous ribbon. Add the mascarpone and beat on low till combined. Stir in the slightly cooled chocolate and cream mixture. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat the remaining heavy whipping cream and vanilla on medium speed to stiff peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the egg yolk mixture until smooth and fluffy, being careful not to overwork. Set it aside.
When you’re ready to assemble the tiramisu, dust the bottom of your prepared pan with a thin layer of cocoa powder. Working quickly and carefully, dip both sides of your lady fingers into the coffee/kahlua mixture and arrange them in a single layer in the bottom of your dusted dish. You want to fill in any larger holes but don’t worry about breaking up your ladyfingers to squeeze them into tiny holes. Spread 1/3 of the cream mixture on top of the lady fingers and dust the cream with another layer of cocoa powder. Repeat your process twice with another layer of ladyfingers, cream, and cocoa powder for a total of three layers. Allow to set up in the fridge for 6 hours for cool removal from the pan. Alternatively, you can prepare this up to a day or two in advance, keeping covered and stored in the fridge. When ready to serve, invert the pan onto a serving platter and peel back the plastic wrap. Dust with additional cocoa powder or grated chocolate if desired and serve slices.

Banana Nutella Muffins

19 Comments / Breakfast

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I’m feeling pretty lucky to be writing to you all this morning. We made it through a lot in 2021, and even though we don’t need to wait until January 1st to do a new thing, a new year is always a great reminder that fresh starts exist. After a year like 2020, doesn’t that thrill you? A new year offers us the opportunity to take inventory of our lives and hearts and relationships and be honest with ourselves: what do we need more of in this coming year? Where can we cut back? What are the desires of our hearts and how can we pursue those desires with intentionality in the coming months?

I spent this past weekend at my favorite place on planet earth with my dear friends, and one afternoon, we spent a chunk of time talking about our priorities. I’m not one for new year’s resolutions, but I like the idea of setting goals that tend to the priorities in my life. I found that writing down the things that were important to me offered an opportunity to see where I could better use my time, resources, and energy. Unsurprisingly, a lot of the things I call “priorities” were things I haven’t been giving much heart or thought, and it was useful to identify places where I could do better. My hope is that small bits of intentionality like this will yield a year loaded with direction and purpose and joy, and not just for me- for you too.

Banana Nutella Muffins

In the coming weeks, I’ll be spending some time seeking out direction and assessing how to move forward in 2021. Baking, writing, and connecting with readers is still a priority, but I want to do it in a way that serves everyone. I owe you all lots of gratitude and smiles for the ways this site has fed my heart (and belly!) since 2016, and I know there are really great things in store for the future too. We’ll talk more on that soon, but I do want to get to the recipe before I lose you completely. Without further ado, here’s banana nutella muffins!

I’ve been making these muffins for a couple of months, and for me, they’ve been a lifesaver. Surely I’m not the only one with a perpetual pile of brown bananas on their counter? These muffins are a terrific use for those leftover bits of produce, and the added chocolate hazelnut swirl is divine.

To make these banana nutella muffins, we combine the sugars, oil, milk, eggs, and mashed bananas in a single bowl. Stir with a hand mixer (or a wooden spoon and a sturdy bicep!) until combined. Add in the dry ingredients of flour, leavening, cinnamon, and salt. Stir just until combined and then spoon into a prepared muffin tin. Gently heat the nutella spread just until smooth and swirl small dollops on top of each round of batter. I like to use a toothpick, but a butter knife works well too! Bake in the preheated oven just shy of 20 minutes and enjoy!

These banana nutella muffins are a great use for old bananas and will make a yummy addition to breakfasts in the coming months. I hope you’ll give them a try and let me know what you think! Truly, I’m excited and hopeful for the coming year, and I hope you are too. Happy New Year and happy baking!

If you like these muffins you should try:

Banana Bread Cake
Raspberry Muffins
Banana Crumb Cake
Java Chip Muffins
Banana Cream Pie Cake
Coffee Cake Muffins
Hummingbird Muffins

Banana Nutella Muffins

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

These banana nutella muffins feature a moist and tender cake with a swirled chocolate hazelnut filling!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 20
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 16
Category: Muffins

Ingredients

3/4 cups light brown sugar
½ cup sugar
½ cup canola oil
¼ cup milk
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed over-ripe bananas (from about 2 extra-large bananas)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup Nutella, gently melted in the microwave for about 15 seconds

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line two muffins pans with 16 liners. Set aside.
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the light brown sugar, sugar, oil, milk, eggs, and mashed banana. Stir on medium just to combine. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and stir. Once combined, scrape the sides of the bowl to stir in any unincorporated bits.
Use a large cookie scoop or a spoon to fill the muffin tins ¾ of the way full. Spoon 1 heaing teaspoon of Nutella into each banana muffin and use a knife or a toothpick to swirl it in, stirring in one direction gently until the top is swirled. Bake in the preheated oven for about 18-20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through as needed to ensure they bake evenly. Once a toothpick inserted comes out clean, remove from oven and allow to cool slightly for a couple of minutes before removing them from the tins.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Leave a Comment / Cookies, Cookies and Bars

Do we have time for one more recipe before the new year? How about something comforting and familiar to wind out the period-of-exhaustion-and-calamity-formally-known-as-2020? These chocolate chip cookie bars are nothing fancy, not too tricky to make or sophisticated in flavor profile, but what they lack in bells and whistles they make up for in flavor, chewy texture, and crispy, caramelized edges. Let’s talk about them.

I’ll be honest: I’m not really sure what makes a blondie a blondie. I think these chocolate chip cookie bars are close. I almost chose “blondie” as a name but decided they would need a glossy top and gooey insides to qualify. Instead, I landed on cookie bars, because that’s exactly what they are: cookie flavored, cookie texture, and even a cookie technique involved to make them. All that’s missing is the cookie shape!

So why make make these chocolate chip cookie bars over a regular chocolate chip cookie? One word: EASE. Here, we have no scooping, no rolling of dough, no spacing dough balls out on a sheet pan and praying they don’t roll around, spread out, or burn in the oven. Instead, we have a single dough that is smoothed into a small pan and baked in one batch in the oven until the edges are crisp and the insides are barely done. This recipe makes over 20 bars, closer to 40 if you cut them in manageable portions, and they’re crazy simple to make. So, all in all, that’s why these bars might suit you over a classic cookie.

Even though we’re saying goodbye to 2020, I’m hoping to see more of you in the coming year. I’m currently wrapping up some heavy duty projects that will hopefully allow for more time spent on this site- more chatting, more recipes, more stories, etc. In the meantime, know that it’s been my pleasure to write and bake with you all this year, and I can’t wait to do it more in the future. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

If you like these chocolate chip cookie bars you should try:

Butterscotch Blondies
Brown Butter Blondies
Pecan Toffee Blondies
Brown Butter Muscovado Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Brookies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Print Recipe

These chewy chocolate chip cookie bars feature warm brown sugar flavors, a hint of espresso powder, and loads of sweet and salty goodness throughout.

Author: Kate
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 20
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1–1/2 cups brown sugar
½ cup sugar
2–1/2 teaspoons of espresso powder or instant coffee
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2–1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1–1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1–1/2 teaspoons salt
2–1/2 cups semisweet/dark chocolate chunks (depending on your preference)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13” pan (or line it with foil and then grease for easy removal). Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter, brown sugar, and sugar with the paddle attachment until fluffy, about 2 minutes.. Scrape the sides of the bowl, add the espresso powder followed by the eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition until each are incorporated. Add the vanilla, flour, baking soda, and salt and stir until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks and press the dough into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes or until the center is set and no longer jiggling. Bake time may differ depending on the type of pan used. Allow to cool and then slice and enjoy!

Ghirardelli Chocolate Espresso Tarts

1 Comment / Pies and Tarts

We’re coming out of that time of year when people go nuts for all the cozy fall flavors: pumpkin, apple, maple, pecan, and more. Don’t get me wrong- I love a traditional Thanksgiving dessert as much as the average bird, but you know what’s always in season? CHOCOLATE. That single ingredient has gotten me through more breakups, celebrations, hard days, and more, and today, chocolate is the ingredient that will shine in our newest recipe: Ghirardelli Chocolate espresso tarts. Let me tell you all about them.

These chocolate espresso tarts are not for the faint of heart. These rich treats are for the chocolate lovers who aren’t afraid of a little indulgence and want to celebrate the coming weeks with a dessert special enough for the occasion. Here, a simple press-in cocoa and espresso powder-scented shortbread crust is baked in individual tart forms and filled with a silky semisweet chocolate ganache. Each serving is finished with a dollop of espresso whipped cream which complements each chocolatey bite both with flavor and texture. Here’s how to make them.

Espresso Chocolate Tarts by Wood and Spoon blogs. These tarts have a cocoa powder and espresso shortbread crust and a rich and buttery semisweet chocolate ganache filling. To top them, a simple espresso whipped cream is added! These tarts make a great festive individual dessert but each one can easily serve as a dessert for two as well! Learn how to make homemade chocolate tarts on thewoodandspoon.com

How to Make Them:

First, we start with the crust. Flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and espresso come together with a pool of melted butter. The crumbly aftermath gets pressed into the bottoms of 5 individual fluted tart pans and baked in a preheated oven. In the meantime, we can make the ganache. The Chocolate Chips combine with whipping cream and unsalted butter to make a ganache that sets up as it cools . Finally, we top each with espresso-scented cream and any extra crumbles of the chocolate crust you may have on hand. Voila!

The holidays may look different this year, but we can make them sweeter with celebratory treats like these. Many thanks to Ghiradelli for sponsoring this #GhirardelliBaking post; check out their site and your local stores for both their bittersweet and semi-sweet baking chip options that make our efforts in the kitchen rewarding and delicious. Happy Baking!

If you like these Chocolate espresso tarts tarts you should try:

Double Chocolate Ganache Tart
Homemade Chocolate Truffles
Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tarts
Brownie Petit Fours
White Chocolate Ganache Shortbread

Ghirardelli Chocolate Espresso Tarts

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

These chocolate espresso tarts have an espresso and cocoa powder shortbread crust and are filled with a buttery semisweet chocolate ganache. Each one is topped with a dollop of espresso whipped cream!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 10
Total Time: 180
Yield: 5 Tarts
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the crust:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup Ghirardelli cocoa powder
1 teaspoon espresso powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

2 cups Ghiradelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup heavy whipping cream
¼ cup unsalted butter
Pinch of salt

For the espresso whipped cream:

1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons espresso powder
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

To prepare the crust:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt to combine. Add the melted butter and stir with a spatula to just barely combine into large moist clumps. Pat the mixture between 5- 4” fluted tart pans with removable bottoms. Gently press up the sides first and then pat the remaining crust into the bottom. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 or until the crust is set. Set aside to cool while you prepare the filling and whipped cream.

To prepare the filling:

Place the chocolate chips in a large heat-safe bowl. Gently heat the cream in the microwave or over a stovetop until barely bubbling. Pour over the chocolate chips and cover the bowl with a piece of plastic wrap. Allow to sit for 5 minutes and then use a whisk to stir to combine. Add the butter and salt and stir or beat to combine. Divide the mixture between the prepared tart pans and allow to set up at room temperature. When ready to serve, spoon on dollops of espresso whipped cream and enjoy!
To prepare the whipped cream: Dissolve he espresso powder in the whipping cream in a large bowl. Whip at medium speed until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and continue whipping until fluffy to your liking.

Peppermint Mocha Macarons

1 Comment / Cookies and Bars

I always get to December ready to experience the lights, the decor, and the holiday movies, but do you know what I stay for? Mint chocolate desserts. Yep, give me all the brownies and cakes and pies laden with rich and refreshing bites of mint and cocoa. No other time of year does peppermint and chocolate marry together quite as merrily as it does at Christmas, and today’s recipe is an ode to that love affair with these peppermint mocha macarons. I’ve been waiting all year to bake up something like this, and thankfully, today is the day! Let’s chat all about them.

I won’t lie- macarons can be tricky. They require precision, and some of us (raises hand!) don’t always have the patience for that kind of dessert. If this time of year finds you with a little extra time and creativity, these peppermint mocha macarons are the perfect thing to make for friends, family, and cookie trays alike. With a coffee and cocoa-scented macaron shell and a mint chocolate buttercream in the middle, these little guys are as delicious as they are lovely!

Making Homemade Macarons

To make them, we start with the shells. First, the dry ingredients are sifted together before being folded into whipped egg whites. You can check out this post for how-to’s on macaron making or this post for info on how to make meringue. Both will be helpful for troubleshooting any troubles you might have. Next, once the batter has rested, it can be piped onto parchment paper and baked in the oven! Helpful hint: download a macaron shell template to keep your cookies the same size. Here’s one I like to use.

The buttercream here is simple. Butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and peppermint extract come together into a light and fluffy mixture that pairs well with the mocha shells. Pair up the cookies and sandwich a dollop of buttercream in between each one. Finally, I like to finish these peppermint mocha macarons with an extra drizzle of chocolate and candy cane bits, but you can choose your own route here! Maybe you’d prefer a drizzle of melted Andes mints or a sprinkle of chopped peppermint bark. Either way, don’t forget to garnish- it makes for an adorable topping!

I have one more peppermint dessert to offer before the month is up, but these peppermint mocha macarons are definitely the cutest! Give them a try and let me know what you think! Happy Hump Day and happy baking!

If you like these peppermint mocha macarons you should try:

Peppermint Bark Brownies
White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Peppermint White Chocolate Cheesecake
Chocolate Peppermint Olive Oil Cookies
Peppermint Bark Icebox Cake

Peppermint Mocha Macarons

Print Recipe

These peppermint mocha macarons have a coffee and cocoa scented shell and are filled with a mint chocolate buttercream. Extra drizzled chocolate and candy cane bits make these festive!

Author: Kate Wood
Prep Time: 45
Cook Time: 15
Total Time: 120
Yield: 25 cookies
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the macaron shells:

150 gm almond flour
158 gm powdered sugar
15 gm cocoa powder
1–1/2 teaspoons instant coffee
115 gm room temperature egg whites (from about 3–4 large eggs)
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ cup plus 1-1/2 tablespoons (120 gm) sugar

For the chocolate peppermint filling:

1/4 cup (55 gm) unsalted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
Semisweet Chocolate chips (about 1/3 cup), if desired
1/3 cup Peppermint Candies, crushed

Instructions

To prepare the macarons:

Line two of three baking sheets with parchment paper templates or silicone baking mats set over the templates and fit a large piping bag with a plain round tip.
In a food processor, combine the almond flour, confectioner’s sugar, cocoa powder, and instant coffee and process the mixture for 1-2 minutes, stopping once to scrape down the bowl, until the almond flour is finely ground. Sift the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. Discard any large chunks left in the sieve or grind again until fine.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitter with a whisk attachment (make sure both are clean and grease-free!), whisk the room temperature egg whites and cream of tartar on low speed until they begin to foam, form small tight bubbles, and turn opaque. Over the course of a couple of minutes, very gradually increase the speed to medium while slowly adding the granulated sugar. Mix on medium-high until stiff peaks form.
Using a flexible rubber spatula, scrape the meringue off the whisk attachment into the bowl with the almond mixture. Begin folding the meringue and almond mixture together, five to ten folds. Scrape in the meringue from the mixer bowl and continue to fold the mixture until incorporated, rotating the bowl as your go. Every so often, gently deflate the meringue by smearing the batter around the side of the bowl. Stop folding once the correct consistency is achieved: the batter should flow very slowly like lava.
Fill the prepared piping bag with the macaron batter. Holding the bag straight down, pipe the macarons. I prefer to use a stencil to ensure the macarons are the same size. Once one baking sheet is full, tap the bottom of the sheet a few times in each corner with the palm of your hang. Set aside and repeat with the remaining prepared baking sheet(s). Set the piped macaron shells aside to rest for 20 to 40 minutes, until a skin forms over the shells and the tops feel dry and not tacky to the touch.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees with a rack in the center position.
Bake the macaron shells once sheet at a time for 12 to 14 minutes, until the tops feel secured to the feet but wiggle very slightly when nudged.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Let the macaron shells cool on the baking sheets for at least 5 minutes. Repeat to bake and cool the remaining shells.

To prepare and use the filling:

Cream the butter using a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and extract and stir on low to combine. Add water a teaspoon at a time until the buttercream comes to the preferred consistency. It should be soft and spreadable but not runny.
Fit a piping bag with a round tip and squeeze 1-2 teaspoon sized dollops into the center of half of the macaron shells.
Top with an additional macaron shell and allow to set up. In the meantime, feel free to gently warm and melt a small about (about 1/3 cup) of chocolate and drizzle or piping decorative stripes on top of the sandwich cookies. Sprinkle on the crushed peppermints and place in the fridge to set up. Enjoy!

Notes

Using a macaron stencil is helpful in making sure your macaron shells are uniform in size.

Caramel Ganache Brownies

6 Comments / Cookies and Bars

Are we celebrating back to school? Back to work? End of summer? I’ll be honest, I don’t have the faintest pulse on how everyone in America is doing right now, but it’s my sincerest hope that you’re all happy and settling into the changes we’re facing. If you, like me, are looking for a yummy weekend pick-me-up, look no further than these caramel ganache brownies. They’re sweet, salty, and entirely rich and delicious, and I can’t wait to tell you how to make them!

Aimee started Kindergarten this week, and it had me in all kinds of emotions. The thought occurred to me that we’ve already had her in our home about 1/3 of the time she will likely live under our roof, and the sadness absolutely paralyzed me. How can it be that my little girl is growing up so fast? Of course the boys aren’t far behind her, and while every parent loves to see their child learn and grow, there’s also this pit in my stomach that just wishes we could keep them forever. I don’t know- check back in with me in a few years. Maybe I’ll be singing a different tune.

Anyways, this time of year I love the idea of having back to school treats around the house. We always have breakfast pancakes and some kind of cookie, but this year I also added in some brownies. I’ve been making these, a rendition of Alice Medrich’s famous recipe, for a while now, and the caramel ganache makes for a fun kind of spin. These caramel ganache brownies are intensely rich and chocolatey without being the slightest bit bitter, and the soft ganache on top makes for a the absolute yummiest glue for all that flaked salt. Let’s talk about how to make them!

To make these caramel ganache brownies, we start by melting butter, sugar and cocoa powder over a double boiler. Once the mixture is smooth and the sugar has melted, we remove it from heat and stir in eggs, flour, and chocolate chips. Bake the brownies in a square pan until a toothpick inserted just barely comes out clean. In the meantime, we can start on the ganache. We first make a simple caramel (for help on that click here!) and the stir the mixture into a bowl of chocolate chips. Allow it to set up slightly in the fridge or on the counter until it’s thickened into a spoonable consistency. From here, you have the option of spreading it directly on the brownies or whipping it until pale and fluffy. The consistency will change slightly, but both ways are entirely delicious. Your choice! Slice the caramel ganache brownies and serve!

I hope you guys will make time for these brownies in the coming weeks! They are so super yummy, and the perfect treat to take us into these back to school days. Happy baking to you guys and see you next week!

If you like these caramel ganache brownies you should check out:

Brownie Petit Fours
Brown Butter Bourbon Madeleines
Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tarts
Peppermint Bark Brownies
Pretzel Shortbread Peanut Butter Brownies

Caramel Ganache Brownies

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

These rich chocolate brownies have chocolate chunks throughout and a whipped caramel ganache topping that makes these an indulgent sweet and salty dessert.

Author: Kate Wood, adapted from Alice Medrich
Prep Time: 20
Cook Time: 30
Total Time: 90
Yield: 16
Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the brownies:

10 tablespoons unsalted butter
1–1/4 cups sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa or Dutch-processed cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
½ cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips

For the ganache:

¾ cup (4 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon water
½ cup heavy cream
Fleur de Sel, if desired

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease an 8” pan and set aside. For easy removal from the pan, feel free to line your pan with a large sheet of foil prior to greasing.
In a double boiler over simmering water, combine the butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir regularly to prevent scorching until butter has melted and the mixture is slightly heated. Remove from heat and use a hand mixer or whisk to stir in the vanilla and eggs and then fold in the flour and chocolate chips. Spread the batter into the pan and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 22-25 minutes.
In the meantime, begin to prep your ganache. Place the chocolate chips in a small mixing bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and water and stir just until the mixture begins to bubble. Stop stirring and allow the mixture to cook. You can gently swirl the pan occasionally to encourage even browning. Once the mixture turns to an amber golden color, remove the pan from heat and carefully whisk in small bits of the cream at a time until it is all incorporated. Be careful- the mixture will bubble and sputter. Put back on heat to stir until the mixture is smooth and then pour the caramel mixture over top of the chocolate chips. Gently stir with a whisk until the mixture is smooth. Pop the ganache into the fridge and stir it every 10 minutes for about 30 minutes until it thickens to a spoonable mixture. It will feel about as loose as Nutella. Go ahead and spread the mixture onto the cooled brownies, or, if desired, whip the mixture with beaters until it lightens and fluffs up. Spread the whipped mixture onto the brownies and sprinkle with a small bit of the fleur de sel. You can refrigerate prior to cutting for neat slices or just dive right in!