Grandma's Chocolate and Peanut Butter Treats

December 28, 2009 By
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Treats

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Treats

These treats come straight from my childhood as my Grandma made them for the holidays as far back as I can remember.  She’d make a double batch and freeze the finished treats so we’d have them well into the new year.

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup grated paraffin wax
  • 8 ounces milk chocolate chips
  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 cups puffed rice cereal

Directions:

  1. Melt paraffin and chocolate in a glass or metal bowl placed over a pot of simmering water over medium-low heat.  Don’t allow the bowl to touch the simmering water.
  2. Add peanut butter to the melted chocolate and blend well until fully incorporated.
  3. Stir the powdered sugar into the mixture.  Remove from heat and add the puffed rice cereal, making certain that the cereal is fully coated with the chocolate mixture.
  4. Drop spoonful of the mixture on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet and cool.  Refrigerate cooled treats.

Makes approximately 24 treats.

Notes: Paraffin wax can be found at most grocery stores in the canning section where Mason Jars are found.  Only use consumable wax such as Gulf Paraffin Wax.  Grate the paraffin using a box grater or microplane.

Filed Under: Canadian, Chocolate, Desserts Tagged With: , , ,

Cherry Blossom Treats

December 15, 2009 By

I’m Canadian and one of the candy bars I loved as a kid was the Cherry Blossom.  This treat features a thick chocolate, peanut butter and coconut shell with a tasty cherry syrup and maraschino cherry center.  The Cherry Blossom is a treat I always look forward to having when I go visit my folks in Quebec, and my mother shared the recipe we’d made when I was a kid.

Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom

For the chocolate treat:

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup grated paraffin wax
  • 1 cup confectioner sugar
  • 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup grated coconut
  • 12 whole, red maraschino cherries

Chocolate treat directions:

Combine all the chocolate treat ingredients in a microwaveable dish and microwave in 1 minute increments, stirring after each minute, until the mixture is nearly completely melted, 2-4 minutes.  Stir mixture thoroughly to ensure any un-melted bits are completely melted.

Cherry syrup:

  • 1/2 cup cherry liquid from a red maraschino cherry jar
  • 1 cup confectioner sugar

Cherry syrup directions:

In a small bowl, combine the liquid and the confectioner sugar, stirring until a thick syrup is created.

Assembly directions:

  1. Wash and dry a Styrofoam egg container, cut off the lid with scissors then oil each egg compartment well.
  2. Take melted chocolate mixture and cover each egg compartment with a thick coating using a spoon.  Work fast as the mixture will harden quickly.  If the mixture gets too hard, microwave it for 30 seconds.
  3. Add a cherry and about 1 tablespoon of cherry syrup to each egg compartment, then use additional chocolate to create a ‘lid’ for each treat.  Ensure the chocolate ‘lids’ seal in the syrup completely to avoid leaks.  Cover the egg container with cling wrap.
  4. Refrigerate overnight or at least 12 hours.  Unmold each treat carefully, then wrap each treat with aluminum foil.  Keep refrigerated.

Yields 12 treats.

Notes: You could use a cardboard egg container, but you’d need to line it with cling wrap that you’d then oil thoroughly.  Paraffin wax can be found at most grocery stores in the canning section where Mason Jars are found.  Only use consumable wax such as Gulf Paraffin Wax.  Instead of using oil on the egg container, you could also use cooking spray.

Filed Under: Canadian, Chocolate, Desserts Tagged With: , ,

Hazelnut Chocolate Spread

October 29, 2009 By

As someone who grew up with a sister addicted to Nutella, I find interesting the idea of being able to whip up a batch of the decadent chocolate-hazelnut spread within just a few minutes.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups raw hazelnuts
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Scharffen Berger or Ghirardelli
  • 3 tbs hazelnut oil, more as needed (could be vegetable oil, but flavor will be less intense)
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Directions:

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.  Spread the hazelnuts evenly over a cookie sheet;  roast until they become aromatic, 8-10 minutes.  Transfer the nuts to a damp towel; rub to remove the skins.  Grind the hazelnuts to a smooth butter in a food processor, scraping the sides as needed, about 5 minutes.

Add the sugar, cocoa, oil, vanilla and salt to the food processor;  process until blended to the consistency of creamy peanut butter, about 1 minute.  If it is too dry, process in a little extra hazelnut oil.  Remove to a container;  cover. Refrigerate until needed.  Let come to room temperature before using.  It will keep for at least a week.

Makes: 1 ½ cups

Source: Chicago Tribune

Filed Under: Chocolate, Desserts, Italian, Sides Tagged With: , ,

5-Minute Chocolate & Peanut Butter Sandwiches

October 24, 2009 By

Chocolate craving getting the better of you? Try these fast and simple treats!

Ingredients:

  • 48 Ritz Crackers
  • 1 cup chocolate chips, milk or dark
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
  • 1/2 cup (approximately), creamy peanut butter

Directions:

  1. Spread peanut butter on a cracker and top with another cracker, making 24 ‘sandwiches’.
  2. Melt chocolate and peanut butter chips in a medium bowl placed over a pot of simmering water on medium-low heat.
  3. Dip filled crackers in the chocolate mixture, turning to coat thoroughly. Place coated sandwiches on wax paper and let stand until coating is firm.
  4. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Makes 24 sandwiches.

Filed Under: Chocolate, Desserts Tagged With: , , , ,

Five Minute Chocolate Cake in a Mug

September 27, 2009 By
5-Minute Cake

5-Minute Cake

I won’t claim this is one of my original recipes, but it’s certainly original. Don’t curse me for giving you a chocolate outlet this simple and quick. Ingredients 4 Tablespoons flour 4 Tablespoons sugar 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder, preferable Dutch-processed 1 Egg 3 Tablespoons milk 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil Purchased chocolate syrup (optional) 1 Teaspoon mini chocolate chips (optional) 1 Large mug Instructions Stir flour, sugar and cocoa powder in the mug:

Dry ingredients

Dry ingredients

Add egg to the dry mixture, stirring to combine:

Add egg

Add egg

Pour in milk and oil, and mix well (add chocolate chips if using):

Wet ingredients and chips

Wet ingredients and chips

Place mug in microwave and ‘bake’ for 3 minutes on high (cake will rise above the rim of the mug):

Baking

Baking

Flip the contents of the mug onto a plate (add chocolate syrup if using) and enjoy!

Filed Under: Chocolate, Desserts Tagged With: , , ,
13 September 2009 Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bar

Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bar

September 13, 2009 By

These Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars are the bomb. They’re perfect for summer parties, hostess gift or to bring to potlucks. The bars are rich with a shortbread-like crust and a rich, chewy, chocolate center. They can easily be made the day before you need to serve them as they keep well covered in foil at room temperature. 

This simple recipe requires no eggs, which is oftentimes an ingredient I don’t keep on hand. Don’t want nuts in the recipe, simply skip them, the bars are delectable without them.  

Shortcut: Chocolate chips and condensed milk can be microwaved for 2 minutes instead of cooked on the stovetop.

Chocolate Crumb Bars

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup ( 2 sticks ) butter, softened
  • 2 cups flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 2 cups ( 12-ounce package ) semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
  • 1 ¼ cups ( 14-ounce can ) condensed milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
Chocolate Crumb Bars
Shortbread Crust
Chocolate Layer
Baked Bars

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. 
  3. Add the flour, sugar and salt and mix until the butter is completely incorporated and the mixture is crumbly, about 1 minute – don’t overmix. 
  4. With floured fingers, press 2 cups of the crumb mixture onto bottom of greased 13′ x 9′ x 2′ pan (I use glass); reserve remaining crumb mixture for the topping. Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden.
  5. Warm 1 ½ cups chips and condensed milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until smooth, about 3 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Spread the chocolate mixture over the crust.
  6. Add the remaining 1/2 cup chips and the walnuts into reserved crumb mixture. Sprinkle over chocolate mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen bars.

Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars
Serves 24
This simple recipe can be prepared as a last minute dessert, hostess gift or party treat.
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
1 hr
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
1 hr
Ingredients
  1. 1 cup ( 2 sticks ) butter, softened
  2. 2 cups flour
  3. ½ cup sugar
  4. ¼ tsp. salt
  5. 2 cups ( 12-ounce package ) semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
  6. 1 ¼ cups ( 14-ounce can ) condensed milk
  7. 1 tsp. vanilla
  8. 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the flour, sugar and salt and mix until the butter is completely incorporated and the mixture is crumbly, about 1 minute - don't overmix.
  4. With floured fingers, press 2 cups of the crumb mixture onto bottom of greased 13' x 9' x 2' pan (I use glass); reserve remaining crumb mixture for the topping. Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden.
  5. Warm 1 ½ cups chips and condensed milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until smooth, about 3 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Spread the chocolate mixture over the crust.
  6. Add the remaining 1/2 cup chips and the walnuts into reserved crumb mixture. Sprinkle over chocolate mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
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Filed Under: Chocolate, Desserts Tagged With: , ,
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