Tag: Desserts 4 Today

Baking, Dessert, Sweets

Toffee Shortbread Bites

by Wendi13 Comments on Toffee Shortbread Bites

I find it somewhat ironic that for someone who has a hobby devoted to stringing together words into sentences and stories, I am sometimes completely unable to find the right words to express the thoughts in my head.  Usually, this bit of irony rears its head when I am trying to convey my gratitude to someone.  Too often the words “thank you” just don’t seem enough.  Thank you is what I say when someone holds a door open for me or tells me to have a nice day.  It’s what I say without even thinking.  90% of the time, it’s enough.  But there are moments, the other 10%, when it falls short.

Because expressing my gratitude, especially when someone’s kindness has touched me beyond words, is an affirmation. An affirmation that I am not alone.  An affirmation that I am worthy.  An affirmation that no matter what the challenge may be, there is grace and compassion in the world.  But Hallmark hasn’t come out with that line of cards yet.  So until they do, I fall back on a tried and true trick….I wrap my thanks in butter, sugar, and flour.

In my experience, the language of baked goods is universal.

Toffee Shortbread Bites

Adapted from Desserts 4 Today, Abby Dodge

BAH Note: These shortbready cookies have a crumbly dough that should come together in your hands.  If you go to form the dough and it will not hold together, add more butter 1 tablespoon at a time, until it will.  Because of this diversion from Abby Dodge’s ratio, and some smaller portioning on my part, I squeezed nearly 48 of these beauties out of what should have been a batch of 24 (below).

  • 10 tablespoons room temperature butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 8 ounces chocolate covered toffee candy bar, chopped

Heat the oven to 350 degrees and line a mini muffin pan with paper liners.

On low speed, beat together the butter and sugar in the workbowl of stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment for approximately 1 minute or until combined.

Add the flour and mix on low for another minute or just until all the flour is combined with the butter and sugar.  Stir in the chopped candy bar bits on low just until t hey are mixed into the dough.

Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and place into the prepared pan.  Work quickly so that the buttery dough does not start to get soft and melty in your hands.  Bake for 15 – 19 minutes, turning the pan halfway through, until the cookies have puffed and the tops look cracked and just a little dry.

Cool on a rack completely before serving or storing in an airtight container.

{printable recipe}

Dessert, Sweets

Killer Chocolate Sauce

by Wendi18 Comments on Killer Chocolate Sauce

Did you happen to notice in the picture of the Mini Bittersweet Chocolate Cheesecake that the serving plate was gently kissed with chocolate sauce?  No?  Click that link above and take a look.  There, did you see it in the corners?  That, my friends, is Killer Chocolate Sauce.  What the picture didn’t show is how we spooned that sauce on the top of our cheesecakes for a D4T Double Threat.  Ok, maybe it was more like piled on top.

And that chocolate streaked dish up there?  That’s what happens when you leave a batch of Killer Chocolate Sauce on the table and three good friends spend an hour, or two, dipping spoons, forks, and fingers in for just one more taste.  That’s all that was left. Do you need any more evidence that this is some seriously good stuff?  I can sum it up in two little words – Abby Dodge.

You’ve heard me talk about Abby here.  Or if you’re new to BAH thanks for stopping by and you should ask the Googly about Abby.  This is another Desserts 4 Today recipe with which you need to acquaint yourself…stat.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I can get just one more taste out of that bowl before it hits the dishwasher.

Killer Chocolate Sauce

Adapted from Desserts 4 Today by Abby Dodge

BAH Note: I scaled the recipe down by half because exposure to mass quantities of Killer Chocolate Sauce is hazardous to my relationship with the skinnier jeans.  I call this 3 Minute Killer Chocolate Sauce because that’s how quick it is to make…just in case you needed still one more reason why this recipe rocks.

  • 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped or chips
  • 2 ounces butter
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

Combine the chocolate, butter, and corn syrup in a small nonstick sauce pan.  Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted.  Whisk until the sauce is completely smooth.  Serve warm or at room temperature.  If the sauce sets up and thickens, or if you cover and refrigerate it, reheat it in the microwave in 30 second intervals on low power.

{printable recipe}

Dessert, Sweets

Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes

by Wendi19 Comments on Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes

I know that the blogosphere is jam packed with every imaginable treat this time of year.  Bloggers have never made butter, sugar, and eggs look so damn good.  So I apologize in advance for the gratuitous posting of this Weapon of (M)ass Destruction.  But stick with me.  Because I don’t want you to make Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes right now.  No.  I want you to wait until after the holidays when all the blogs are posting lighter, healthier recipes for the New Year.

Deep in the heart of January or February when you can’t look at another recipe extolling the praises of kale or chard, when it’s too cold for you to venture out and it’s too cold for rational people to come to you, that’s when you pull out this gem.  In those dark days when you’re all alone with the Lifetime Movie Marathon, Mini Chocolate Cheesecake will be your friend.  Your velvety chocolate, light as a dream friend.

You’re welcome.

Mini Bittersweet Chocolate Cheesecakes

Adapted from Desserts 4 Today by Abby Dodge

BAH Note: I chose to add some of the optional flavorings to the basic recipe.  If you want to strip it down, omit the orange zest, vanilla, and espresso powder.  According to D4T, this recipe serves six.  I say that what you do with those six servings is between you and your conscience.  Those dark days of winter can be a lonely place. Just in case you want to get a jump start and have some of these stashed away, Abby says that these can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month.

  • 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped or chips
  • 1 egg
  • zest of 1 orange, approximately 1 teaspoon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon espresso powder

Heat your oven to 300 degrees, line a muffin tin with  6 foil baking cups leaving the rest of the tin empty, and spray the liners lightly with cooking spray.

Place the chocolate and espresso powder in a small bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals on low power, stirring in between, until the chocolate is completely melted.  Set aside to cool.

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, orange zest, and vanilla with an electric hand mixer for approximately 2 minutes or until smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed.

Add the sugar and melted chocolate and beat on medium low for about a minute or until blended, scraping down the bowl as needed.  Add the egg and mix until just incorporated.  Use a spatula to give the batter one or two final folds to make sure all ingredients are mixed.

Spoon the better into the foil liners and use the back of a spoon to smooth out the tops.  Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the centers of the cheesecakes barely wobble when you move the pan.  Set the muffin tin on a cooling rack to cool completely before serving.

{printable recipe}

Dessert, Sweets

Desserts 4 Today Just Peachy Ice Cream

by Wendi14 Comments on Desserts 4 Today Just Peachy Ice Cream

Dear Abby Dodge,

Thank you for giving some less than pretty, late in the season peaches a chance to shine.

xoxox,

Me

What happens when what’s left of your last flat of peaches from Trader Joe’s don’t age well? You can either take the loss or get creative.  With the help of Abby Dodge, and her recipe for Just Peachy Ice Cream in Desserts 4 Today, I got creative.

Do yourself a favor, ask my friend Googley about Abby Dodge and how you can get your hands on Desserts 4 Today.  Because it’s pretty crazy what you can do with just 4 ingredients.  Go.  Ask. Googley.

Sweets

Abby Dodge’s S’mores Bars

by Wendi28 Comments on Abby Dodge’s S’mores Bars

So remember how I gushed about the people I met at the Big Summer Potluck, how warm and welcoming they were, how genuine and down to earth everyone was? None of that has changed.  They are all lovely people.  What I didn’t realize going into the event was exactly WHO some of these folks were.  At the risk of having BAH shut down by the food blog police for gross ignorance, I am oblivious to the vast majority of the food world. Continue reading “Abby Dodge’s S’mores Bars” →