Busy Brunette Bakerista

Happy National S'mores Day!  S'mores on a stick? Why didn't I think of this earlier? No more long sticks, messy graham crackers, and marshmallow everywhere  over a bonfire. You can make these any time of year and enjoy them during a festive winter party, neighborhood potluck, or team dinner. HOBO* S'mores 36 large marshmallows  1 container (16 oz.) of dark chocolate frosting 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs  2 cups of semi-sweet mini chocolate chips 36 lollipop/cake pop sticks (find them at any craft store or baking supply store) First, line cookie sheets with wax paper. Insert one stick into one marshmallow at a time and place on cookie sheet.  If you can't find graham cracker crumbs, take whole graham crackers, break into quarter pieces, place into a food processor and blend until it turns into crumbs. Then, scoop out frosting from the container into a glass bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds or until frosting fe...

I've seen this type of recipe several times and finally tried it out for myself. You can make it with a cake mix too but I think a brownie mix is more moist with the ice cream cone. Very fun to make and great for parties! Brownie Cone Dessert Cups 1 box of brownie mix (18 oz.) 12 - 18 ice cream cones 1 can of prepared frosting - I used vanilla  sprinkles or cake decoration toppings Prepare brownie mix according the instructions on the back of the box using milk instead of water. For my easy brownie mix recipe click here . Set batter aside. Preheat oven to 325 or 350 degrees according to directions on brownie box. Take a 9" x 13" casserole dish, or rimmed baking dish, and lay a sheet of tin foil across the top securing at the ends. Using a small knife, cut an "X" at 12 spots across the foil. Place one ice cream cone in each "X" so it can stand up by itself. If you want to make another dish for more cones, you can do it with a smalle...

Year-Round Holiday Cookie Bars *I will be taking a break for a while so look for my next post in April or May 2018* Happy Baking Everyone!! Sometimes the best cookie recipe is the easiest. Bake these for any special occasion, holiday, or birthday and I bet they’ll be a family favorite. You can use different colored sprinkles, sugar, or cupcake toppers too. 2 eggs (1 cup) two sticks of butter, softened 2 bags of sugar cookie mix {17.5 oz. bag} 1 can of vanilla frosting (or homemade frosting of your choice) sugar sprinkles (holiday colors) Follow instructions on bag of cookie mix. Heat 350 degrees for nonstick or 375 degrees for regular cookie sheet. Using a large spatula or wooden spoon stir two bags of cookie mixes, two eggs, and two sticks of softened butter in a large mixing bowl.  Spread dough into a large baking pan with a rim (you can use a sheet cake pan, jelly roll pan, etc.).  Bake for 15 min. Cool.  ...

It's been three years to the day since I shared this recipe on my blog and I still make it all the time! My sweet sister-in-law, Maria, gave me this personalized rolling pin that says “baked by pam”. For it’s inaugural use I had to make my grandmother’s sugar cookie recipe that she wrote on a plain piece of stationery. You make the dough, put it in the fridge, or “ice box” as she called it, roll out, cut, and bake. Ice Box Sugar Cookies   1 ½ cups of butter (softened to room temperature) 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white granulated sugar 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla pinch of salt 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour {1 cup chopped pecans – optional} Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter and both sugars in a large bowl with a mixer.  Slowly add eggs, one at a time, mixing as you go. Add in vanilla and salt and mix again. Add flour slowly in ½ cup increments mixing on low speed until all flour is incorporated. Mix for 30 seconds on ...

There is a bakery. A little bakery in a red barn. I think it’s the closest place to cookie heaven in the world. Santa Claus should think about having his elves work here and learn a few things or two. It’s called the Brown Butter Cookie Company. A few years ago we took a family vacation and drove up the coast of California to visit Hearst Castle in San Simeon. On the way, we stopped at a bakery known for brown butter cookies in the moist quaint little beach town called Cayucos. When we walked in I was hit with the most amazing smell of butter and warmth. I was in love. BBCC After tasting samples for 10 minutes we walked out with $80 worth of cookies. No joke.   Seeing I had to have more, I searched for recipes on how to make these secret cookies. I came up with this version.  O.K. seriously the best cookies I’ve ever made.  Brown Butter Sugar Cookies makes 42 cookies 1 cup salted butter 2/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed 1 Tablespoon...