Easy Peasy Desserts

Butterscotch Blondies (or Chocolate Chip Blondies)

from Cooking Light "Butterscotch Bars", January 2000, as told on Me, Myself and Pie


1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, softened
2 large egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
cooking spray
1/2 cup butterscotch morsels (or chocolate)

Preheat oven to 350° F. Beat sugars and butter at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 4 minutes).

Add egg whites and vanilla; beat well. Lightly spoon the flour into measuring cups and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder and salt and stir well with a whisk.

Add flour mixture to sugar mixture; beat at a low speed until just blended.

Spread evenly into a 8x8 square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with morsels.

Bake for 28 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

YUMMMM. I drizzled mine with caramel because I'm a sugar junkie. I still think butterscotch would have been better and plan on trying them again when I get some butterscotch morsels. And maybe some ice cream :)

Cinnamon Mocha-Fudge Bars
from BettyCrocker.com

Bars
1 tsp instant coffee granules*
2 Tb. hot water
1 pouch Betty Crocker double chocolate chip cookie mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 egg

Frosting
1 tsp instant coffee granules*
2 Tb. hot water
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tb. baking cocoa
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp vanilla
(This reflects half of the frosting used on BC, I ran out of powdered sugar and could only do half but I'm glad. I wouldn't have wanted more frosting.)

Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, dissolve 1 tsp instant coffee granules in 2 Tb. hot water. *I didn't have instant coffee granules. I just used our regular mocha flavored ground coffee and loved it!

Add remaining bar ingredients and stir until a soft dough forms. Spread in pan.

Bake 15 minutes. Cool completely, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, dissolve 1 tsp instant coffee in 2 Tb. hot water. Add remaining frosting ingredients, stir until smooth. (Such an EASY icing!!)

Spread over bars. Refrigerate 30 minutes, or until set.

Cut into bars and enjoy!

Yummm! These were soo addictive! And not just because of the coffee ;) I loove the speckled look that my dissoluble coffee gave these bars. Betty Crocker does denote that these can be made without coffee; just be sure to use the hot water still.

While all of these desserts were more than delicious, I saved the best for last.

Chocolate Mint Bars
adapted from Me, Myself and Pie 

Bars
used Ghiradelli brownie mix (I fully intend on following the original recipe when I make these again soon because they look to die for as well!)

Mint Layer
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 Tb. fat-free milk (we use 1%)
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
2 drops green food coloring

Glaze
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 Tb. butter

Prepare brownies according to box directions or follow bottom layer directions on the original recipe. Cool completely on a wire rack.

To prepare mint layer, combine powdered sugar, melted butter and next 3 ingredients (through food coloring) in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer until smooth.

Spread mint mixture over cooled brownies.

To prepare the glaze, combine the chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir and return to the microwave for an additional 30 seconds. On a side note, can you tell that I'm obsessed with Ghiradelli? :) They are fabulous. I think quality chocolate is important in making good desserts. Plus, when I was at the store last, Ghiradelli chocolate chips were $0.04 more than Nestle. Seriously? I'll hand over a nickel for the best chocolate chips ever.

Stir and let stand 2 minutes.

Spread chocolate mixture evenly over top. I swirled the layers a bit because I already got some mint and chocolate mixed up so it looked better, as if it was on purpose ;) Cover and refrigerate until set. This was the cruel part. I had to go to bed without even trying one. LAME. But the next morning....

In my chocolate-mint obsessed brain, these had the perfect proportions. Cut into bars and enjoy!

F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S. I'm not even exaggerating. I can't wait to make these again!