Walnut Blondie with Maple Butter Sauce

Have you ever had that awesome dessert at Applebees! Well here is an exact replica of it! The blondie is nice and chewy with the sticky, creamy, warm sauce over top.  Don't forget the ice cream to complete this treat!

Here are the ingredients needed!  I decided to make a double batch after I took the picture, but the recipe below will be for the double batch!

Ingredients:
Blondie:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
2/3 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 cup white chocolate chips

Maple Butter Sauce:
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and walnuts

In another bowl, melt the butter in the microwave.

Stir in the brown sugar and mix until almost dissolved.

Beat the egg and add the vanilla extract.  Then pour into the butter and brown sugar mixture and mix until smooth.

Slowly pour in the flour mixture into the butter mixture and stir until everything is combined.  Then stir in the white chocolate chips.

Prepare a 13 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray and spread the dough into the bottom of the pan.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

While the blondies are baking, make the sauce.

In a small sauce pan, melt the butter and maple syrup together on medium heat while slowly whisking.

Once it begins to bubble, slowly stir in the brown sugar until sauce thickens slightly.

Once blondies are finished baking, allow to cool slightly and cut.  Pour the sauce over and serve plain or with ice cream.  Enjoy!

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Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups chocolate chips

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time to the butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Serve warm and enjoy!

 

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Cream Puffs

Ingredients:
Dough:
1 stick butter
1 cup water
4 eggs
1 cup flour

Filling:
2 boxes instant vanilla pudding
2 pints heavy whipping cream

Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. 

In a small pot on the stove, boil the water and butter until the butter melts and begins to bubble.  Once it boils, shut off the heat and stir in the 1 cup of flour.  Once it begins to pull away from the sides, add one egg at a time, stirring vigorously in between each egg.  Once the dough has formed, drop tablespoons on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.  Then turn the oven down to 350 and bake for another 15 minutes or until brown. 

In a large bowl, beat the whipping cream until peaks begin to form.  Then beat in the two boxes of vanilla pudding until they become fully incorporated. 

Once the cream puffs have completely cooled, cut them in half and stuff the inside with a tablespoon of filling into each one and put the top back on.  Some of the cream puffs I filled with lemon curd instead of the vanilla filling.  Serve with a sprinkling of powdered sugar and enjoy!

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Mini Raspberry Cheesecakes

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups finely ground graham crackers (about 12)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

½ cups plus 3 tablespoons of sugar

4 8-ounce packages of cream cheese

Pinch salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 large eggs

1 pint raspberries for garnish

½ cup raspberry jam

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line standard muffin wins with paper liners.  Stir together the crushed graham crackers (I crush mine in a ziplock bag with a rolling pin), butter, and 3 tablespoons sugar.  Press 1 tablespoon into bottom of each cup.  Bake about 10 minutes or until set and beginning to color.  Let cool.

With mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy.  On low, add remaining 1 ½ cups sugar in a slow stream.  Mix in salt and vanilla until well combined.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined after each.  Spoon 3 tablespoons of filling into each muffin tin over the crust. 

In a small bowl, put the raspberry jam and microwave for 30 seconds.  Stir.  Then put a teaspoon on top of the filling of each muffin tin.  Using a tooth pick, swirl the raspberry jam through the filling, without completely mixing it in.  Bake in oven for 30-35 minutes.  Cool completely and refrigerate for 4 hours.  If you want, put one raspberry on the top of each cheesecake for decoration.  Enjoy!

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Mocha Fudge Brownies

Ingredients:

1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate

¾ cup sugar

1 stick butter, softened

2 eggs

2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup all purpose flour

½ cup chopped toasted almonds

1 cup milk chocolate chips, divided

1 cup heath chips or toffee chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 8 inch baking pan. 

Melt semi sweet chocolate in top of double boiler or in the microwave.  In the microwave, put it in intervals of 30 seconds to be sure not to burn.  After each 30 seconds stir the chocolate for another 30 seconds. 

Beat sugar and butter in bowl and beat with an electric mixer.  Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy.  Add melted chocolate, espresso powder, vanilla and beat until well blended.  Stir in flour, almonds, ½ cup chocolate chips, and heath chips.  Spread the batter evenly into the greased pan.

Bake 25 minutes or until just firm.  Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup of chocolate chips. Let stand until chips melt.  Then spread it evenly over the brownies.  Cut into squares and cool completely. Enjoy!

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Blueberry Lemon Scones

Ingredients:
2 c. unsifted flour
3 tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. buttermilk or milk
1 lg. egg
1 lemon

1 cup blueberries

1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

Grease baking sheet. In large bowl combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Cut in butter with pastry cutter or a fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

 

In small bowl combine milk, egg and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and stir until combined.  Then add in the blueberries. Zest the entire lemon and add the zest to the batter, reserving the rest of the lemon for later.  Dough will be sticky and elastic.  Using a large tablespoons, drop spoonfulls onto the baking sheet. Bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown.

While the scones are baking, you can make the glaze, in a bowl stir the juice of one lemon and gradually add powdered sugar to it until it becomes a little runny, but not too liquidy.  If it is too liquidy add more powdered sugar.  Once the scones have come out of the oven let them cool completely before drizzing the glaze on.  Once they are cool spoon the glaze over the top and allow to set a little before serving.  Serve and enjoy!

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Lemon Whoopie Pies

Ingredients:
Cake batter:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

Lemon Cream Cheese Filling:

• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 3/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or foil

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the egg, lemon juice and vanilla, mixing until blended, about 1 minute. Reduce the mixer to low speed and add half of the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Mix in the buttermilk. Mix in the remaining flour mixture just until just combined.

Drop heaping tablespoons of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 3-inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cookie comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely. 

Once cool, make the filling. In a large bowl, on low speed beat the butter, cream cheese, vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice until thoroughly blended and smooth, about 1 minute. Add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth. (If the filling is too soft to hold its shape, chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.)

Turn half of the cooled cookies upside down, flat side facing up. Drop a large dollop of filling onto the flat side of the cookie,  leaving a 1/4-inch plain edge. Place another cookie, flat side down, on top of the filling. Press down slightly so that the filling spreads to the edges of the cookie. Repeat until all cookies are used. Place whoopie pies into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up before serving. Serve and Enjoy!

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Brookies

These are the ultimate dessert, a combination of cookies and brownies.  What's better than that?  If you are short on time use your favorite brownie mix and your favorite store-bought cookie dough.  Don't forget to serve them hot with vanilla ice cream.

Brownies:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla.  Beat in eggs one by one until the ingredients are completely combined.  In a separate bowl combined the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.  Add a little bit at a time and stir after each addition until all has been completely combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Line a 13 by 9 inch pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.  Then pour the batter in and set aside while you make the cookie batter.

Cookies:
Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips until evenly distributed.

Using your hands, drop little dollops of cookie dough all along the top of the brownie batter.

Bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes or until set.  Allow to cool for 15 minutes and remove them using the aluminum foil.  Then cut the bars and serve with vanilla ice cream.  Enjoy!

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Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake

This recipe is not only easy but healthy.  1/9 of this pudding cake is only 3 points on Weight Watchers.  For those that aren't on a diet serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 sugar
1/3 cup + 1/4 unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup low fat milk (1%)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 2/3 cups boiling water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9 inch square baking pan with non-stick spray.

Combine the flour, sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, instant-coffee, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.  Make a well in the center, and pour the milk, melted butter, and vanilla into the well.  Stir just until blended.  Spoon the batter evenly into the pan.

Combine the brown sugar and the 1/4 cup cocoa powder in a small bowl.  Sprinkle over the top of the batter.  Gently pour boiling water in  zigzag fashion over the top, but do not stir.  Bake until the top of the pudding is set, about 35 minutes.  Cool at least 30 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

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Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting

I also made this cake for my brother's graduation party.  I made it in the shape of a graduation cap by using a pan in that shape.  This cake is very classic and is very easy to make too.  Enjoy!

Vanilla Cake:
Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup  milk
3/4 cup  vegetable oil
2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  You can make this cake with 2-9 inch pans or a 13 by 9 pan.  I used the graduation cap pan here.  Grease the pan of your choice very well.  For pans without grooves I would even line it with parchment paper, but I couldn't do that with the graduation cap pan. 

In a large mixing bowl, with an electricmixer, beat sugar and eggs together until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Add flour, milk, oil, baking powder, and vanilla and beat for another minute, just until the batter is smooth and creamy. Don't overbeat. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the tops are golden and a toothpick poked into the center of the layer comes out clean. Allow to cool for an hour before removing from the pan . Loosen the sides of the cake from the pan with a thin knife, then turn out onto a rack and peel off the paper. Let cool completely before covering with frosting, if desired.

Chocolate Fudge Frosting:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter

3-1 ounce squares unsweetened chocolate

1 pound confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup milk

Directions:

Melt chocolate and butter in the microwave, or in the top of a double boiler.  In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, vanilla and 1/2 cup of the milk. Blend in the melted chocolate mixture. Add remaining milk, a little at a time, until desired consistency is achieved.

Once the frosting is made and the cake is completely cooled you can frost the cake.  Enjoy!

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Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I made this cake for my brother's Graduation Party and it was a big hit.  The cream cheese frosting isn't too sweet and will become your staple cream cheese frosting.  Enjoy this delicious cake!

Cake:
Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease two 13 by 9 baking dishes. 

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the two pans. Bake in oven for about 28-32 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cake with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
Ingredients:

1 pound cream cheese, softened

2 sticks butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

To decorate put one cake down on the platter.  Put 1/3 of the frosting and coat the top layer of that cake.  Then put the other cake on upside down, in order to have a flat surface on top.  Frost the top of the cake and then go around all of the sides of the cake.  Enjoy!

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Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Cheesecake

It took me a long time to figure out the best recipe to mock the Cheesecake Factory's.  I tried a lot of fancy techniques that people say make a best cheesecake.  I searched all over the internet and I found the best recipe was actually the simplest and most like my Mom's recipe for cheesecake.  I made this recipe on Thanksgiving and it was a crowd favorite! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon of sugar

Filling:
1 cup sugar
3-8 ounce packages of cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
Whipped cream for top if desired

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the graham cracker crumbs and sugar together.  Then add the melted butter and stir until a slightly moist mixture forms.  Press the crust into the bottom and 2/3 of the sides of a springform pan.  I use a metal measuring cup to press the crumbs in, but your hand will work just fine.  Bake for 5 minutes and then put into fridge to chill. 

Combine the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add the pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg and beat again until very creamy and there are no lumps.  Pour into the graham cracker crust.  Bake in the oven for 60-70 minutes.  Many professionals recommend to use a water bath which is just a roasting an full of hot water that the springform pan is immersed in for even cooking and to prevent cracking.  I personally don't do this step because I like the crack on my cheesecake.  It makes it look homemade.  After it is finished baking, chill in the fridge.  Preferably let chill for 24 hours, but 6-8 hours will do if you can't wait that long.  You can decorate with whipped cream if you want like they do at the cheesecake factory, but I prefer to leave mine plain.  Cut and Enjoy!

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