Vampire Brownies Frightfully Fun Halloween Treat

Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire #Halloween

 

Frightfully Fun Vampire Brownies

Halloween Treat Recipe

Halloween can be so much fun! There are loads of easy ideas to make any Halloween party a spooktacular success. These Vampire Brownies hit the top mark on the easy spooky foods meter. Plus, your family and friends will love them! Get your kids to help bake these yummy goodies.

Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire Click To Tweet

Let’s Get Baking

Ingredients:

  • 1 Box – Brownie Mix
  • Needed additions for your Brownie Mix
  • 1 Bag – Peppermint Patties
  • Candy Eyes
  • White Frosting
  • Red Frosting
FB Vampire Brownies Halloween Treat 2
Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire
FB Vampire Brownies Halloween Treat 3
Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire
FB Vampire Brownies Halloween Treat 4
Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire
FB Vampire Brownies Halloween Treat 5
Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire
FB Vampire Brownies Halloween Treat 6
Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire
FB Vampire Brownies Halloween Treat 7
Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire
FB Vampire Brownies Halloween Treat 8
Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire
FB Vampire Brownies Halloween Treat 9
Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire
FB Vampire Brownies Halloween Treat 10
Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire
FB Vampire Brownies Halloween Treat 11
Enjoy a spooky treat this Halloween with these easy-to-make Vampire Brownies! A frightfully fun idea for any #Halloween party. #recipe #brownies #vampire

Directions:

  1. Prepare Brownie Mix and baking pan according to the box directions.
  2. Unwrap Peppermint Patties. You will use 9 to 15 patties to top the brownies in a 13″ x 9″ pan.
  3. Optional – additional patties may be added to the brownie mix batter (whole or chopped). Cover these pieces with batter before baking.
  4. Bake brownies following the box directions.
  5. Once brownies are baked, remove from oven and let stand for 30 minutes. Then, top the brownies with Peppermint Patties. These will be the ones you decorate as vampires. Space the patties out so there will be one vampire per serving.
  6. Let the patties sit atop the warm brownies for 20 minutes. Then, add the Candy Eyes. You will be able to move them around a bit as the chocolate will be soft/melty. The chocolate will “glue” the eyes in place.
  7. Pipe a Red Frosting line for the mouth.
  8. Add White Frosting for the fangs. You can pipe or use toothpicks to achieve your fangs.
  9. Place the pan of decorated brownies in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set.
  10. Remove from refrigerator and let brownies return to room temperature. Cover lightly.

 

 

Minty fudge Vampire Brownies are delicious Halloween goodies with and without the pappermint patties mixed into the batter. Make them how you will enjoy them best.

Print the Spooktacular Recipe!

5 from 1 reviews
Vampire Brownies Frightfully Fun Halloween Treat
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
from:
Type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients:
  • 1 Box - Brownie Mix
  • Needed additions for your Brownie Mix
  • 1 Bag - Peppermint Patties
  • Candy Eyes
  • White Frosting
  • Red Frosting
Directions:
  1. Prepare Brownie Mix and baking pan according to the box directions.
  2. Unwrap Peppermint Patties. You will use 9 to 15 patties to top the brownies in a 13" x 9" pan.
  3. Optional - additional patties may be added to the brownie mix batter (whole or chopped). Cover these pieces with batter before baking.
  4. Bake brownies following the box directions.
  5. Once brownies are baked, remove from oven and let stand for 30 minutes. Then, top the brownies with Peppermint Patties. These will be the ones you decorate as vampires. Space the patties out so there will be one vampire per serving.
  6. Let the patties sit atop the warm brownies for 20 minutes. Then, add the Candy Eyes. You will be able to move them around a bit as the chocolate will be soft/melty. The chocolate will "glue" the eyes in place.
  7. Pipe a Red Frosting line for the mouth.
  8. Add White Frosting for the fangs. You can pipe or use toothpicks to achieve your fangs.
  9. Place the pan of decorated brownies in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set.
  10. Remove from refrigerator and let brownies return to room temperature. Cover lightly.
3.5.3226

 

You may also want to try my Vampire Cupcakes. Have a Happy Halloween!!!

 

 

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Slenderizing Recipes – Brownies And Baked Donuts

Find two slenderizing recipes that will help you shed weight while tasting great. You will love these Double Chocolate Brownies and Baked Donuts. #SlenderizingRecipes #GlutenFree

Please welcome Lucy Clark as she brings us two secretly skinny recipes that will rock your world, but not your waistline!

2 Tasty and Slenderizing Recipes

Going Beyond Your Imagination

Everyone is conscious about their health these days, and no one wants to eat food that may undermine that. That has resulted in the canceling of certain foods from people’s diets for fear of the health risks they pose especially on weight increase. However, with the right recipe, you do not have to limit what you eat. Instead of going food shopping and asking every vendor whether a particular snack is gluten free, how about you make the gluten free meals yourself for a change. Read on and get full recipes of two of the tastiest snacks that you would never expect to help you shed weight.

 

Secretly Skinny Double Chocolate Brownies

It does sound impossible that chocolate brownies could be delicious yet gluten free and refined, sugar-free at the same time. Well, it is not impossible with the right recipe. One aspect that makes it gluten-free is the use of oatmeal as a replacement for flour. Yogurt and applesauce instead of oil and powdered stevia and coconut sugar instead of white sugar. So as you can see it is not a mystery as it may seem, making a healthy, tasty, weight shedding chocolate brownie. This is how you do it:

Chocolate brownies with nuts and mint leaves.

Double Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Ingredients

  • ½ a cup old fashioned oatmeal
  • ½ a cup cocoa powder
  • ½ a cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ a cup coconut sugar
  • ¼ a cup almond milk (preferably cashew milk)
  • 3 table spoons of egg whites
  • 2 table spoons of unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tea spoon baking powder
  • ½ a tea spoon of baking soda
  • 1 tea spoon of vanilla extract
  • 1/8 a tea spoon of stevia powder
  • 4 table spoons of Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray an 8×8 glass pan with non-stick cooking spray. Then set the pan aside.
  2. Add all ingredients except the chocolate chips to your food processor and blend until all ingredients are incorporated. Then add in 2 table spoons of your chocolate chips and pulse just until chips are incorporated into the batter.
  3. Pour batter into the greased glass pan. Smooth out the batter and top with the remaining 2 table spoons of mini chocolate chips.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes or until top has cracked. The brownies should be set, but an inserted toothpick should not come out completely clean. If it does, they are over baked.

Secretly Skinny Double Chocolate Brownie recipe from Grounded & Surrounded.

Printable Recipe – Double Chocolate Brownies

5 from 1 reviews
Double Chocolate Brownies
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Double Chocolate Brownies - a slenderizing and healthy recipe that will help you shed weight while tasting great.
from:
Type: Dessert
Ingredients:
  • ½ a cup old fashioned oatmeal
  • ½ a cup cocoa powder
  • ½ a cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ a cup coconut sugar
  • ¼ a cup almond milk (preferably cashew milk)
  • 3 of egg whites
  • 2 of unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 baking powder
  • ½ a of baking soda
  • 1 of vanilla extract
  • 1/8 a of stevia powder
  • 4 of Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips
Directions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray an 8x8 glass pan with non-stick cooking spray. Then set the pan aside.
  2. Add all ingredients except the chocolate chips to your food processor and blend until all ingredients are incorporated. Then add in 2 of your chocolate chips and pulse just until chips are incorporated into the batter.
  3. Pour batter into the greased glass pan. Smooth out the batter and top with the remaining 2 of mini chocolate chips.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes or until top has cracked. The brownies should be set, but an inserted toothpick should not come out completely clean. If it does, they are over baked.
3.5.3226

 

Baked Donuts

You could search the world to find gluten-free donuts that are also low in calories or better yet you can bake some within the confines of your home. With the right ingredients and following the instructions as given you would not miss a thing. Plus your kids will just love these donuts; it is a guarantee that they will not get enough of them. And the best part is that you would not have to worry about them adding weight or any other health issues from these donuts. Though organic raw apples, blue grapes, and grape fruits do not make it on many people’s shopping list due to their availability and cost, they taste better when taken with these yummy donuts as juice while sitting in your lawn grass. That has been taken care of by this recipe for six.

Various colored fresh baked donuts.

Baked Donuts Recipe

Ingredients

Donut Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup gluten-free flour blend G&S GF Flour Blend Recipe
  • 3/4 tea spoon Xanthan gum
  • 1/4 tea spoon baking powder
  • 1/2 tea spoon baking soda
  • 1/4 tea spoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tea spoon stevia powder
  • 2 table spoons egg whites or 1 egg white
  • ¼ cup of applesauce
  • ¼ cup of plain almond milk
  • 1/2 tea spoon vanilla extract
  • 2 table spoons of water

Glaze Ingredients

  • 1 table spoon of plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tea spoon of plain unsweetened almond milk
  • ½ a tea spoon of vanilla extract

Topping

  • 3 table spoons of coconut sugar
  • 1 table spoon of sprinkles which is optional, but it makes it extra special for kids

Instructions

  1. Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl.
  2. You can taste test the batter.
  3. Grease donut pan with extra-virgin olive oil spray. Of course, it is a non-stick pan, but grease it anyhow, or the donuts will be a stinker to remove!
  4. Scoop batter into greased donut pan or put the mixture in a Ziploc bag.
  5. Cut the corner off of the bag and pipe into the donut pan wells.
  6. Bake @ 375F for 30-32 minutes or until donuts are fairly hard to the touch and golden brown. They may seem over baked, but the inside will be just right.

Topping

  1. Mix together glaze ingredients and pour onto a small plate.
  2. Dip one side of the donut into the glaze and then dip that same side in coconut sugar or top with colored sprinkles for the kiddos instead. Enjoy!

Baked Donuts recipe from Grounded & Surrounded.

Printable Recipe – Baked Donuts

5 from 1 reviews
Baked Donuts
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Baked Donuts - a slenderizing and healthy recipe that will help you shed weight while tasting great.
from:
Type: Breakfast
Ingredients:
  • 3/4 cup gluten-free flour blend G&S GF Flour Blend Recipe
  • 3/4 tea spoon Xanthan gum
  • 1/4 tea spoon baking powder
  • 1/2 tea spoon baking soda
  • 1/4 tea spoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tea spoon stevia powder
  • 2 table spoons egg whites or 1 egg white
  • ¼ cup of applesauce
  • ¼ cup of plain almond milk
  • 1/2 tea spoon vanilla extract
  • 2 table spoons of water
  • Glaze Ingredients
  • 1 table spoon of plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tea spoon of plain unsweetened almond milk
  • ½ a tea spoon of vanilla extract
  • Topping
  • 3 table spoons of coconut sugar
  • 1 table spoon of sprinkles which is optional, but it makes it extra special for kids
Directions:
  1. Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl.
  2. You can taste test the batter.
  3. Grease donut pan with extra-virgin olive oil spray. Of course, it is a non-stick pan, but grease it anyhow, or the donuts will be a stinker to remove!
  4. Scoop batter into greased donut pan or put the mixture in a Ziploc bag.
  5. Cut the corner off of the bag and pipe into the donut pan wells.
  6. Bake @ 375F for 30-32 minutes or until donuts are fairly hard to the touch and golden brown. They may seem over baked, but the inside will be just right.
  7. Topping
  8. Mix together glaze ingredients and pour onto a small plate.
  9. Dip one side of the donut into the glaze and then dip that same side in coconut sugar or top with colored sprinkles for the kiddos instead. Enjoy!
3.5.3226

 

So, whether it is for dessert, snacks for a picnic or your kids’ birthday party you do not have to worry about gluten content anymore. With these recipes, you can rest assured that the tastiest of them are all here, and you now have the power to make them in your kitchen. Instead of digging deeper in your pockets to purchase other available fat burning foods to complement these tasty snacks, why don’t you start a small kitchen garden where you can grow a variety that becomes handy anytime.

Visit Lucy at her blog, Garden Ambitions, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

 

Looking for other healthy recipes? Try these Breakfast Recipes Packed With Protein, Coconut, and Blueberries, Spinach, Strawberry & Pine Nuts Salad, or Peanut Butter Raspberry Smoothie Recipe.

 

 

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9 Easter Cocktails Every Bunny Will Love

A collection of 9 recipes for festive Easter Cocktails that every bunny will love. Celebrate in style this spring with these fun holiday themed drinks.

9 Easter Cocktails

Every Bunny Will Love

 

I love celebrating holidays and making them special. Decorations, great food, and family traditions are always fun. But sometimes, it seems, the holiday focus is more geared around children. So, today, I am putting some adult into Easter with some fun and tasty Easter Cocktails for those who are 21 and over.

You will be amazed at how clever and simple these recipes are. I can’t wait to wow my guests.

Bunny up to the bar and give these holiday cocktails a try!

Click on the Cocktail name below the photo to get the recipes.

Cottontail Martini from Michael at Inspired by Charm

Buzzed Peeps Easter Cocktail from Melissa at The Farm Girl Gabs

Cotton Candy Margarita from Darcie at Such The Spot

Speckled Egg Mimosas from Erin at Style Me Pretty

Chocolate Creme Egg Easter Cocktail Shots from Laura at Little Stuff

Cotton Candy Champagne Cocktails from Kirbie at Kirbie’s Cravings

Peeptini Easter Cocktails from April at April Golightly

Easy Chocolate Creme Egg Martini Recipe from Katie at A Fork’s Tale

Carrot Mimosas from Kare at Kitchen Treaty

 

There is a recipe for every bunny, whether you are looking for something elegant and stunning or sweet and adorable, we’ve got the Easter Cocktails for you. I hope you have a lovely Easter celebration!

Are looking for some other fun ideas or maybe even new traditions for your family this Easter? You will definitely want to check out these awesome Easter Ideas…

Easter Jelly Bean Prayer Poem

 Sidewalk Chalk Tutorial

What every you do, have a Happy Easter!

 

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S’mores Cookies Recipe

Turn a traditional summer treat into a cookie you can’t resist with this S’mores Cookies Recipe! These were a big hit at our mini family reunion a couple of weeks ago.

 

S’mores Cookies Recipe

You know you’ll want s’more…

 

A couple weeks ago, Luke’s cousin and his family drove down from Idaho for a visit, and of course, Disneyland. Will has two kids, 7 and 4. It was so much fun meeting Will and his family, and listening to the remembered stories they shared. Luke hadn’t seen his cousin, Will, in decades.

In fact, the last Luke and his brother had spent time with Will was a road trip, when Will was 12-years-old. They were all heading to Luke’s aunt’s house (Will’s grandma). It was the typical kids stuff on the trip–the picky eater stopping at dive diners on the road, and having to be convinced it was the only food for miles and miles. The highlight of the trip was when Luke and his older brother let Will drive on the open roads of Kansas, with a promise of silence. Of course, the first thing out of Will’s mouth when they arrived… “They let me DRIVE!”

There were loads of laughs and plenty of great food. All us local family’s brought tasty dishes. I took my Spinach, Strawberry & Pine Nuts Salad with Strawberry-Jalapeño Vinaigrette, and I was also in charge of cookies. My thoughts turned to the flavors of summer, bright refreshing citrus and one of my childhood favorites, S’mores. (My sister and I used to stick a marshmallow on the end of a fork and toast it over the electric stovetop burner, to make these yummy treats at home. Mmm…so good. LOL)

I decided to make Lemon Ricotta Cookies, S’mores Cookies, and good old-fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies. Nobody could walk by the cookie display without grabbing at least one, if not more.

Today, I’m sharing my recipe for S’mores Cookies. I know you will love them, because one isn’t enough!

S’mores Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

All-purpose Flour, Granulated Sugar, light Brown Sugar, Butter, Graham Crackers, Eggs, Vanilla Extract, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt, Marshmallows, Chocolate Candies.

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350° F.
  • Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper.

  • Grind or Crush Graham Crackers into fine crumbs. (Start with one package,  8 rectangles. You may need a few more).
  • Unwrap and / or break Chocolate Candies, if needed.
  • In a bowl, add Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, and Salt. Whisk to mix well.
  • In a large bowl, or stand mixer, cream softened Butter, Granulated Sugar, and Brown Sugar.
  • Add 3/4 Cup fine Graham Cracker crumbs, mix well.
  • Crack Eggs open and add one at a time, stirring slightly after each.
  • Pour in Vanilla Extract, and mix.
  • Add Flour mixture a little at a time, and mix until combined.
  • Spoon out about 1-1/2 to 2 Tablespoons of dough. Roll into a ball.
  • Roll the dough ball in the remaining graham cracker crumbs, until lightly coated.
  • Place coated cookie dough on prepared baking sheet, 1 to 1-1/2 inches apart.
  • Bake ONE sheet at a time!
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, until cookies are just starting to crack a bit. They should still be soft.

  • While the cookies are baking, cut Marshmallows in half using kitchen shears. You will need one half per cookie.
  • When cookies come out of the oven, you will need to work fast.

  • Turn off the oven, and set it to Broil, make sure the oven rack is close, but not too close.
  • Top each cookie with marshmallow, cut-side down.
  • Place the marshmallow-topped cookies under the broiler. WATCH carefully. Let the marshmallows toast to golden brown.
  • Take the cookies out of the oven, and IMMEDIATELY push chocolate candy into the center of the hot toasted marshmallow.
  • Switch oven back to Bake, and repeat with the next cookie sheet.
  • Allow cookies to cool, and chocolate candy to set-up again on wire racks.

 

Will’s 4-year-old daughter, Abigail, LOVED these S’mores Cookies! Luke’s brother snapped this photo after all the kids and their parents returned from spending a little time at the beach. Isn’t it a great shot? He even caught cookie crumbs in Abigail’s teeth. LOL

 

You’ll want s’more… better grab the Printable Recipe!

 

5 from 1 reviews
S'mores Cookies Recipe
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Traditional summer treat turned cookie! You're going to love these S'mores Cookies.
from:
Type: Dessert
Serves: 24 cookies
Ingredients:
  • 1-1/4 Cup - All-purpose Flour
  • 1/4 Cup - Granulated Sugar
  • 1/4 Cup - Light Brown Sugar
  • 2 Sticks - Butter (softened to room temperature)
  • 8 Rectangular Graham Crackers - about 1 Cup. (Grind or Crush into fine crumbs)
  • 2 - Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon - Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon - Baking Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon - Baking Soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon - Salt
  • 12 large - Marshmallows (cut in half) may need a few more.
  • 24 - Chocolate Candies (unwrapped and / or broken) may need a few more.
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
  2. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  3. Grind or Crush Graham Crackers into fine crumbs. (Start with one package, 8 rectangles. You may need a few more).
  4. Unwrap and / or break Chocolate Candies, if needed.
  5. In a bowl, add Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, and Salt. Whisk to mix well.
  6. In a large bowl, or stand mixer, cream softened Butter, Granulated Sugar, and Brown Sugar.
  7. Add 3/4 Cup fine Graham Cracker crumbs, mix well.
  8. Crack Eggs open and add one at a time, stirring slightly after each.
  9. Pour in Vanilla, and mix.
  10. Add Flour mixture a little at a time, and mix until combined.
  11. Spoon out about 1-1/2 to 2 Tablespoons of dough. Roll into a ball.
  12. Roll the dough ball in the remaining graham cracker crumbs, until lightly coated.
  13. Place coated cookie dough on prepared baking sheet, 1 to 1-1/2 inches apart.
  14. Bake ONE sheet at a time!
  15. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until cookies are just starting to crack a bit. They should still be soft.
  16. While the cookies are baking, cut Marshmallows in half using kitchen shears. You will need one half per cookie.
  17. When cookies come out of the oven, you will need to work fast.
  18. Turn off the oven, and set it to Broil, make sure the oven rack is close, but not too close.
  19. Top each cookie with marshmallow, cut-side down.
  20. Place the marshmallow-topped cookies under the broiler. WATCH carefully. Let the marshmallows toast to golden brown.
  21. Take the cookies out of the oven, and IMMEDIATELY push chocolate candy into the center of the hot toasted marshmallow.
  22. Switch oven back to Bake, and repeat with the next cookie sheet.
  23. Allow cookies to cool, and chocolate candy to set-up again on wire racks.
3.5.3208

 

 

Make these amazing cookies for your next get-together or just beacuse… enjoy!

 

 

 

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Wine & Chocolate Gift Jar

Regular contributor, Michelle James, is sharing a quick and easy DIY gift jar that’s perfect for any occasion. You are going to love this project.

 

Two of my very best friends’ parents are having some major health issues right now, and it is so hard to watch them struggle through this difficult time. I wanted to give them something so they could relax and de-stress a bit. So, I came up with a wine and chocolate gift jar!

Wine and Chocolate Gift Jar

They both like wine and who doesn’t like chocolate? Well, I guess I know a few people who don’t like chocolate but it is not these two. You should definitely substitute the chocolate for something else if your recipient doesn’t like it.

Supplies needed:

  • Large jar
  • Sticker Paper
  • Free Printable (download link at the end of this post)
  • Printer
  • Kraft Card Stock paper
  • Small piece of fabric – I used a piece of drop cloth
  • Scissors/paper trimmer
  • 4 Small bottles of wine
  • Twine
  • Hole Punch
  • Chocolate/Candy of your choice

First you will want to download the free printable. This includes the tag and the wine bottle labels. Cute right? I love how they turned out.

Here’s what to do:

  • Print out the labels and tag onto sticker paper.
  • Trim each label and the tag with scissors or a paper trimmer
  • Peel off the sticker backing and place directly over the current label. (if you don’t want to cover the label you can place it directly opposite on the other side of the bottle.

  • Peel off the sticker backing of the tag and place it onto the kraft card stock. Trim around the edges to create a border around the sticker. You can see this in the photo below. Punch a hole at the top left. I punched it about an inch and a half in from the corner. I also wrote a little bit on the back of the tag before attaching it to the jar.

  • Wrap the neck of the jar several times around with the twine leaving a bit of length at the beginning and the end. Tie a knot. Then thread the tag onto the twine and tie another knot.
  • Place the piece of fabric at the bottom of the jar. This looks nice but also keeps them from banging and clanking too much. We don’t want to break good bottles of wine.
  • Place the 4 wine bottles into the jar so the label faces out.
  • Fill in with chocolate or candy all around the wine bottles.

You are done. Now…surprise your friend!

Download your free labels and tag here

I can’t wait to deliver these.

Have a great couple of weeks!

~Michelle

 

Visit Michelle at her blog, Michelle James Designs!

Do you  have any quick and easy Gift Ideas?

 


 

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Caramel Creme Pie Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Kraft. All opinions are mine alone. #SweetenTheSeason #CollectiveBias

Caramel Creme Pie

Inspired by the Movie

Christmas With the Kranks

I am so excited to bring you this delicious Caramel Creme Pie recipe. I love the holidays, Christmas and Halloween being my favorites. Part of my every year traditions is watching as many of the wonderful Christmas movies as I can. One of my most loved Christmas movies is Christmas With the Kranks, starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. If you haven’t watched it, put it on your MUST SEE list for this season!

In the movie, the daughter, Blair, is coming home unexpectedly for Christmas, and her parents have to throw together a fabulous Christmas Eve party in a few short hours. Unaware of what has been going on at the house while she has been away, Blair, makes a request for her favorite Caramel Creme Pie, and that is the inspiration for this scrumptious recipe.

So, I made a quick trip to the Holiday Bake Center at my local Walmart, and picked up the few items I needed. This is such an easy and inexpensive recipe–only 6 ingredients, plus one optional.

I already had a pie crust at home along with some milk and heavy cream, so I grabbed these items off the shelves…

… Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding & Pie Filling, Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme, Kraft Caramel Bits, and a Baker’s Premium White Chocolate Bar. Now, all that was left was to make my pie!

Caramel Creme Pie — easy as can be!

The Ingredients:

1- 5.1 oz. box Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding, 1- 11 oz. bag (approx. 1-1/2 cups) Kraft Caramel Bits, 1/4 cup Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme, 2 teaspoons Heavy Cream, 1-1/2 cups Milk (cold), and 1- Pie Crust (baked or ready-to-eat).

NOTES: Save out a few Kraft Caramel Bits for garnishing the finished pie. You will use the rest of the Heavy Cream to make whipping cream for pie decoration and / or serving. Use whatever type of pie crust you desire.

OPTIONAL: Shave some Baker’s Premium White Chocolate to garnish the finished pie.

 

The How-To:

  • Melt Kraft Caramel Bits with 2 teaspoons Heavy Cream in a double boiler
  • Pour melted caramel into a bowl
  • Add Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme and combine (leaving some streaks is just fine)

  • Add Pudding Mix to a large bowl
  • Add cold Milk
  • Whisk briskly for 2 minutes
  • Add Caramel Mixture to the Pudding
  • Mix well. (If caramel has cooled too much, heat in microwave for 15 seconds at a time, until it is soft enough to combine).

 

  • Pour pie filling into baked or ready-to-eat Pie Crust
  • Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours
  • Whip Heavy Cream into Whipping Cream
  • Pipe Whipped Cream onto pie as desired for decoration. (I used a zippered plastic bag with a hole cut in one corner as my piping bag).
  • Top whipped cream with the set aside Kraft Caramel Bits
  • Top pie with strips and curls of Baker’s Premium White Chocolate

 

Here’s a Holiday Baking Hack just for you…

We all know just how beautiful strips or curls of chocolate look atop your favorite desserts–not to mention tasty too. So, make easy work of stripping and curling your Baker’s Premium White Chocolate or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bars by using your handy-dandy Vegetable Peeler! Now, that’s a great Holiday Baking Hack!

See how lovely the Caramel Creme Pie looks on a Christmas table. This would be the perfect dessert for your next holiday party, Sunday Dinner with the family, or anytime.

 

Here’s a Printable Recipe for the Caramel Creme Pie:

5 from 1 reviews
Caramel Creme Pie Recipe
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Caramel Creme Pie inspired by the movie Christmas With the Kranks. A delicious, easy, and budget friendly dessert for your Holiday Parties, Sunday Dinner with the family, or anytime.
from:
Type: Dessert
Ingredients:
  • 1- 5.1 oz. box Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding
  • 1- 11 oz. bag (approx. 1-1/2 cups) Kraft Caramel Bits
  • 1/4 cup Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
  • 2 teaspoons Heavy Cream
  • 1-1/2 cups Milk (cold)
  • 1- Pie Crust (baked or ready-to-eat).
  • NOTES: Save out a few Kraft Caramel Bits for garnishing the finished pie. You will use the rest of the Heavy Cream to make whipping cream for pie decoration and / or serving. Use whatever type of pie crust you desire.
  • OPTIONAL: Shave some Baker's Premium White Chocolate to garnish the finished pie.
Directions:
  1. Melt Kraft Caramel Bits with 2 teaspoons Heavy Cream in a double boiler
  2. Pour melted caramel into a bowl
  3. Add Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme and combine (leaving some streaks is just fine)
  4. Add Pudding Mix to a large bowl
  5. Add cold Milk
  6. Whisk briskly for 2 minutes
  7. Add Caramel Mixture to the Pudding
  8. Mix well. (If caramel has cooled too much, heat in microwave for 15 seconds at a time, until it is soft enough to combine).
  9. Pour pie filling into baked or ready-to-eat Pie Crust
  10. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours
  11. Whip Heavy Cream into Whipping Cream
  12. Pipe Whipped Cream onto pie as desired for decoration. (I used a zippered plastic bag with a whole cut in one corner as my piping bag).
  13. Top whipped cream with the set aside Kraft Caramel Bits
  14. Top pie with strips and curls of Baker's Premium White Chocolate
Notes
Holiday Baking Hack!
Use a Vegetable Peeler to shave Chocolate Bars into Strips and Curls.

This recipe is inspired by the movie Christmas With the Kranks -- a MUST SEE for any holiday movie watch list.

#SweetenTheSeason
3.5.3208

 

Be sure to check out more yummy Recipes and Holiday Hacks at Kraft. How do you like to use Kraft Caramel Bits and Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme?

 

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Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

A Low Fat Recipe

 

Last week I needed just a little something as a treat for a birthday gift. I wanted to bake something, but I didn’t want to make a trip to the store. I could have made some yummy Mexican Wedding Cakes, but I was looking for something super fast. Checking my cupboards, I found a box of Krusteaz Fat Free Cranberry Orange Muffin Mix and a partial bag of Chocolate Chips. So, I decided to create these wonderful Low Fat Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins!

 

 

This recipe is quick and easy, and bonus, it uses up those leftover chocolate chips that keep tempting you. All you have to do is follow the directions on the muffin box, toss in your chocolate chips (I had about 3 tablespoons of chocolate chips), mix well, and load up your mini muffin tin.

 

 

Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Once out of the oven, I turn my mini muffins out of the pan and onto tea towels in the middle of the table. This was always my kids favorite part when they were young. They’d sit down and pluck the muffins right off the table for breakfast. Serve the muffins with some eggs and yogurt, and you have a healthy and nutritious start to your day.

 

Now, even though a few of these muffins were devoured in our traditional manor. I had to keep it to a minimum–these tiny treats had another future to meet. They were a birthday gift.

So, I grabbed a clear cellophane bag along with some sparkly starred twisty cord and package my Low Fat Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins in festive style.

 

 

Here’s a Printable Recipe, so you don’t forget this fantastic idea!

5 from 1 reviews
Cranberry Orange Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
from:
Type: Low Fat Muffins
Cuisine: Breakfast, Brunch, Snacks
Serves: 3 - 4 dozen
Ingredients:
  • 1 Box - Krusteaz Fat Free Cranberry Orange Muffin Mix
  • Chocolate Chips - whatever you have leftover in the bag. (I had about 3 Tbs)
  • 1 Cup - Water
Directions:
  1. Follow the instructions from the Muffin Mix Box for Mixing the Batter.
  2. Add Chocolate Chips
  3. Mix well
  4. Spoon into prepared Mini Muffin Tin
  5. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes
Notes
Package these mini muffins to make great little gifts.
3.3.3077

 

 

Do you have any fun Baked Treats you use for Gift Ideas?

What flavor of Muffins is your favorite?

 

 

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S’More Disappointed…

Remember roasting marshmallows over the fire? You put the soft white lump of marshmallow on the stick and hold it over the flames and wait while the insides get all warm and gooey, and the outside caramelizes and chars to just the perfect, mouthwatering deliciousness. Then you slide them off the stick onto your impatiently awaiting graham cracker topped with a chocolate bar. Oh, the wondrous S’More!

We were so looking forward to this amazing treat last night after our BBQ dinner. Rory had wanted these for her birthday, but when her plans changed last minute for the night of her birthday, the S’Mores were put on hold. I had already purchased the supplies: graham crackers, Hershey’s chocolate bars, and a new limited edition bag of Kraft Jet-Puffed S’MoreMallows (it was the only marshmallow choice on the shelf over the 4th of July weekend besides mini marshmallows).

I was not pleased with the marshmallow purchase, but was determined to give these new-fangled, flat rectangles a fair try. The marshmallow was so skinny, we had to use the barbecue fork as a skewer. We held our mallow over the flames to no avail. This little bit of fluff was not going to puff and get gooey, nor was it going to brown and toast. We abandoned the BBQ and headed indoors to the gas stovetop. We had a tiny bit better success there. At least the marshmallow browned when it caught fire, but there was still no puffing to be had…so much for “jet-puffed”.

We slid our somewhat-toasted marshmallow on to the cracker and chocolate and bit in to a very disappointing S’More. The toasted marshmallow gooey-ness ratio was very low, it lacked the warmth, the flavor, it lacked the fun…it was just not the same tasty treat of bygone memories. Sad faces…

On my shopping list for this week: regular, old-fashioned marshmallows! Sorry Kraft, your S’MoreMallows are a flop in my house. We are all dreaming of…

REAL S’Mores… I personally like my marshmallows toastier than this picture, but these still look good. I am a catch-it-on-fire-and-blow-it-out kind of a girl. How about you? How do you like your marshmallows?

On another Note…

Life With Lorelai has received it’s very first blog award. Look for more information on the Epically Awesome Award of Epic Awesomeness tomorrow.

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