Peanut Butter-Toffee Cheesecake Brownies

Peanut Butter-Toffee Cheesecake Brownies 
Originally uploaded by Pillsbury.com

Serve this recipe December 8th in honor of National Brownie Day. Serve in November for Peanut Butter Lovers Month. February for Chocolate lovers Month and the 3rd week in March for American Chocolate Week.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 box (19.5 oz) Pillsbury® Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix
• 1/2 cup Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 EGGLAND’S BEST eggs
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1 can (14 oz) Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1/2 cup Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1 bag (8 oz) Heath® milk chocolate toffee bits
• 1 cup Hershey's® milk chocolate baking chips
• 3 tablespoons whipping cream

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray 13x9-inch pan with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray.
2. In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, oil, water and eggs 50 strokes with spoon. Spread batter in pan; set aside.
3. In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add milk and peanut butter; beat until smooth. Stir in 1 cup of the toffee bits. Spoon mixture over batter; spread evenly.
4. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until cheesecake layer is set and edges are light golden brown. Cool on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate 40 minutes.
5. In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and cream uncovered on High 40 to 60 seconds or until chips are melted; stir until smooth. Spread over cheesecake layer. Sprinkle with remaining toffee bits. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For brownies, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Cherry-Topped Brownie Dessert Squares

Cherry-Topped Brownie Dessert Squares 
Originally uploaded by Pillsbury.com

Like most people; during the many holidays throughout the year, I like to find as many recipes that I can- that let's me serve the colors of the observance. Colors like green for St. Patrick's Day, orange for Halloween, red for Valentines Day and red & green for Christmas.  Well these cherry topped brownies have been added to my list for red foods for sure.  This recipe has also been added to my list of brownie recipes found on the bottom of this post under "labels.

Note: This is very easy dessert to make. Also remember this recipe for National Brownie Day which is celebrated December 8th and National Cream Cheese Brownie Day too.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 box (1 lb 2.3 oz) fudge brownie mix
• 2/3 cup oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 eggs
• Filling
• 2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 container (1 lb) vanilla ready-to-spread frosting
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• Topping
• 1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling, chilled

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with shortening. In large bowl, stir brownie ingredients until well blended with spoon. Spread in pan.
2. Bake 24 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
3. In large bowl, beat filling ingredients until smooth. Spread over cooled brownies. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours or until set.
4. To serve, spoon pie filling over top. Cut into squares.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake brownies following High Altitude directions on box for 13x9-inch pan.

Oatmeal Raisin Cheesecake Crumble

Oatmeal Raisin Cheesecake Crumble 
Originally uploaded by Pillsbury.com

Keep an eye out guys. This is just one of the recipes you'll find in my blog for a great sweet treat for the holiday season. This recipe is one of the prettiest bar desserts you'll ever make too.


2 or 3 years ago... a friend of mine made these (what she called brownies) and we ate them for lunch. I thought it was the best thing I ever put in my mouth. So in honor of National Brownie Day which is celebrated on December 8- I'm passing on this wonderful pillsbury recipe. I know your going to love it like I do. :)


I think this recipe is considered a bar cookie. Bar cookies consist of batter or other ingredients that are poured or pressed into a pan (sometimes in multiple layers), and cut into cookie-sized pieces after baking. In British England, bar cookies are known as "tray bakes". This is truly a beautiful holiday recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package (16 oz) Pillsbury® Big Deluxe™ refrigerated oatmeal raisin cookies (12 cookies)
• 2 cups Fisher® Chef's Naturals® Chopped Pecans
• 2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 can (14 oz) Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 EGGLAND’S BEST eggs
• 1 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cold LAND O LAKES® Unsalted or Salted Butter
• 3/4 cup Hershey’s® cinnamon chips
• 1 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F. In bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan, press cookie dough rounds evenly for crust. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the pecans; press firmly into dough. Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until golden brown.
2. Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add milk, vanilla and eggs; beat until well blended. On low speed, beat in 1/2 cup of the flour. Pour over crust; spread evenly.
3. In medium bowl, mix brown sugar and remaining 1/2 cup flour. Cut in butter, using pastry blender or fork, until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in cinnamon chips, raisins, oats and remaining 1 cup pecans. Sprinkle over cheese mixture.
4. Bake 35 to 45 minutes longer or until set. Cool completely, about 2 hours. To serve, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store in refrigerator.

National Brownie Day

Heads Up! National Brownie Day is December 8th so get ready. That means brownie lovers will be baking brownies on this day. Will you be doing it too?

Source: google.co.uk via Jen on Pinterest

Food Facts:
A chocolate brownie is a flat, baked square or bar introduced in the United States at the end of the nineteenth century and popularized in both the U.S. and Canada during the first half of the twentieth century.

The brownie...
is sliced from a type of dense, rich chocolate cake, which is, in texture, like a cross between a cake and a cookie.

Brownies come in a variety...
of forms. They are either fudgy or cakey, depending on their density, and they may include nuts, frosting, whipped cream, chocolate chips, or other ingredients. A variation that is made with brown sugar and no chocolate is called a blondie.

Brownies are common lunchbox fare, typically eaten by hand, and often accompanied by milk or coffee. They are sometimes served warm with ice cream (a la mode), topped with whipped cream, or sprinkled with powdered sugar, especially in restaurants.
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Did you know Brownies are called "Chocolate Bar Cookies" too? Yep! They usually have a dry and somewhat crispy top layer with a soft and sometimes gooey body. You mostly find chocolate chips and nuts added to the main recipe, depending upon taste.

There are several recipes for brownies available in this wikibook:

• Cake Brownies
• Rich Brownies
• Fudge Brownies
• Almond Fudge Brownies
• Cherry Brownies
• Magic Brownie
• Double Chocolate Brownies

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Check back-We will be posting other brownie recipes in honor of this holiday. :)

The Last Day of National Cookie Cutter Week

We've reached the last day of National Cookie Cutter Week and although we say goodbye to cookie cutters we definitely do not say goodbye to cookies the month of December.

Source: bhg.com via Sybil on Pinterest

A cookie cutter in American English and biscuit cutter in Commonwealth English is a tool to cut out cookie/biscuit dough in a particular shape. They are often used for seasonal occasions when well-known decorative shapes are desired, or for large batches of cookies where simplicity and uniformity are required. Cookie cutters have also been used for, among other uses, cutting and shaping tea sandwiches.

Skipping the food relating aspects of cookie cutters..., let's look at the crafty side of cookie cutters. Look at this cute photo of a wreath made with cookie cutters. What a fantastic idea for Christmas wreath or even a all year round wreath hung on the kitchen door.

Several years ago I was given a small version of a cookie cutter wreath as a gift. I thought it was homemade but to my surprise it had a retail label attached to it. Wow I thought! I loved it so much that I dug out my collection of cookie cutters and separated all the duplicates. I don't think I have to tell you what I did next do I? Yep you guessed it. I had to try my hand at making myself a larger version of a cookie cutter wreath. I kept that wreath for years and the more the cookie cutters rusted, the prettier the wreath got. I changed out the color of the bow according to the season and admired it winter, spring, summer and fall.


Thank you: bhg.com / wikipedia.com / gone-ta-pott.com  / merriam-webster.com/dictionary / Pinterest