The "Best Homemade Brownies"

When I came upon this recipe, I thought the name was just another creative title to convince people to make these brownies. Somehow, though, I fell for it and made them. Listen to the name: they are definitely the BEST homemade brownies I have ever tasted before! Every other brownie I've made has always had something a little off about it, maybe there was too much butter, not enough sugar, or even just the gooeyness of it. These brownies, however, definitely deserve the title "best homemade brownies". I hope you enjoy them just as much as I did!

For these brownies you will need:

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and then melt the butter in a large saucepan. You will use this pan to mix together the brownie batter, which I thought was weird, but it worked. 

Then, remove the pan from the heat and add in the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. 

Next, beat in the cocoa, salt, flour, and baking powder. I would recommend using a whisk because an electric mixer will ruin the pan and the mixer. 

Last but not least, gently fold in the chocolate chips. 

The batter should look a little thin, but also not too thin, like water. 

Pour the batter into a greased 8x8 pan, or, if you chose to half it, a bread loaf pan is just about the right size. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until you can stick a toothpick into the brownies and it comes out clean. 

After they're done, let them cool in the pan until cutting and serving. These brownies truly deserve the title "best homemade brownies" because they not only taste like home, but they also consist of a creamy and chewy texture and chocolate flavor that keeps the baker wanting more. :) Enjoy!

Best Homemade Brownie Recipe: https://www.somewhatsimple.com/the-best-homemade-brownie-recipe/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+somewhatsimpleonline+(somewhat+simple)

Cookie Dough Truffles

This may be the most delicious dessert I have ever made in my life; cookie dough inside of a thick, chocolate outer shell. When I first came upon this recipe, I was a bit skeptical because I'm not a big fan of cookie dough myself. Raw cookie dough inside of chocolate? The recipe consisted of no eggs, which is why it is safe to eat. After considering all of this, I decided to make it anyways. They weren't the prettiest things on earth, but they did taste delicious!

This cookie dough recipe seemed really simple, and it only used 8 ingredients. I halved the recipe so it only made 10 truffles, so feel free to do that as well. 

For these truffles, you will need:

• 1/2 cup unsalted room temperature butter (1 stick)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons cream/milk (I used milk)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• chocolate chips for the chocolate outer shell

First, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. 

Mix in the milk and vanilla extract. 

Then, slowly stir in the flour and salt, either by hand or on the low speed. 

The mixture won't be very dough-like; it'll be sort of smooth but still able to form into cookie dough balls. After mixing in the flour, fold in the chocolate chips. 

Cover the dough and let it chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes, until it's ready to handle. It should look like this: 

Then, after the dough is chilled, roll them into 1-inch balls and spread them out on parchment paper. After doing this, set the tray in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Then, melt your chocolate in 15 second intervals until ready for dipping, 

Dip the cookie dough balls into the chocolate and set them back on the parchment paper. Set them in the freezer for about 15 more minutes, and garnish with whatever you'd like! 

Don't worry if the cookie dough seems soft; it may slightly flatten if it is too warm. As I said earlier, don't be discouraged if they don't turn out super pretty. They taste amazing though! It consists of the perfect blend of cookie dough and chocolate. 

I hope you enjoy them! :)

Cookie Dough Truffles: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-truffles 

Simple And Delicious Banana Bread

Banana bread is a perfect dessert for people who enjoy healthy snacks, but also for people who have a sweet tooth. In addition to this, most recipes only use one bowl, which is a lot easier to clean up after. :) After searching for the perfect recipe, I found one from Simply Recipes that was flexible with the amount of sugar, only used one bowl, and looked delicious. I figured I'd give it a try, and it turned out super tasty and delectable! As an extra plus, there are only 8 ingredients and they're all very common. So without further ado, let's get started!

First,  collect all the ingredients, which are:

• 2-3 ripe bananas (I used 3)
• 1/3 cup melted butter or oil (I used oil a healthier option)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• a pinch of salt
• 3/4 cups sugar (if you would like it less sweet, use 1/2 cup and if you like it sweeter, feel free to use 1 cup of sugar)
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, in a large mixing bowl, mash up the bananas. 

Don't worry if there are lumps; the bananas will never be completely smooth. 

Next, mix the melted butter or oil into the bananas. 

Add the baking soda and salt into the mixture. 

In a separate bowl, beat an egg lightly. 

After that, mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and sugar. 

Last but not least, fold in the flour. 

Transfer the batter into a 4x8 loaf pan, and bake for 50 minutes to an hour. 

Let the banana bread cool before cutting it and serving it. I hope you enjoy this recipe! In my opinion, the banana bread would've tasted better with chocolate chips or nuts, so feel free to add those in accordance with your taste buds. :D

Banana Bread Recipe: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/banana_bread/

Perfect Cake Pops

Cake pops consist of the perfect blend of cake and icing. After looking for an easy, simple, delicious vanilla cake recipe, I found a recipe that tasty and not too hard, and a separate how-to of using a cake pop maker. This is very simple and perfect for beginner bakers, but also fun and easy for a baker of any age.  

The vanilla cake recipe is made for either 2 9-inch round pans, 3 8-inch pans, or 2 12-pan cupcakes, so feel free to cut it in half if needed. So without further ado, let's get started!

Start by gathering the ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter 

• 1 and 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 4 eggs, or 6 egg whites

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 2 and 3/4 cups cake flour*

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup milk (preferably whole milk)

*You can make cake flour at home by following this simple method. For every 1 cup of flour, remove two tablespoons of flour and replace it with two tablespoons of cornstarch. 

The first step is to preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, in a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing in between. 

Beat in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, mix together the cake flour, salt, and baking powder. 

Then, alternating between the milk and flour mixture, add them to the butter mixture slowly, mixing thoroughly.

If the batter seems thick, feel free to add in extra milk, and if it seems thin, add in more flour.

Next, grab a large ziplock bag and spoon the batter into it. Cut a hole in the corner so you can pipe the batter into the cake pop maker.

Pipe the batter mixture into the unheated cake pop maker carefully. You should fill it up to the top of the bottom indents; it will rise and fill the top half when it bakes.

Close the cake pop maker and plug it in. When it beeps, letting you know it is hot enough, set a timer for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. After it is done, let the cake pops cool in the pan before removing.

Transfer to a cooling rack, or if you're in a rush, you can put it in either the fridge or the freezer.

I topped my cake pops with chocolate ganache, which didn't give them a too rich flavor, and it complemented the vanilla flavor well. To make the ganache, you will need

• 1 part chocolate chips
• 1 part half and half

This recipe is very simple; just pour the half and half into a saucepan until it simmers and then pour it into a heatproof bowl with chocolate in it. Mix them until smooth, and then let it sit for 20 minutes. It may seem a bit liquidy but it tastes amazing, and works as a great icing for cake pops :)

I hope you enjoy these cake pops! :D

Vanilla Cake Recipe: https://www.bakedbyanintrovert.com/basic-vanilla-cake-recipe/

Cake Pop How To: https://snapguide.com/guides/cakepops-with-a-cakepop-maker/

Chocolate Ganache Recipe: http://www.cakespy.com/blog/2015/6/10/can-you-make-ganache-with-half-and-half-instead-of-cream

Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes - A Dream Come True!

       These Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes are a dream come true - creamy, hazelnut chocolates inside a moist chocolate cupcake, iced with a delicious Nutella frosting. If you're looking for a simple yet delicious alternative to your everyday chocolate cupcake, then this recipe is perfect for you. These cupcakes will provide a delicious snack for you and your family, anytime and anywhere.
                                                                 

        I came across this recipe while I was searching for a dessert that everyone would like; I was in charge of baking for Chinese New Year. I looked through Oreo cupcakes, coconut cake, and even french macaroons, but none of them seemed to fit the criteria; either they were too plain or too elegant. When I came across this recipe, I thought it was a perfect fit. It was easy, delicious, and an original idea!
                                                                   
        These cupcakes are unlike any other cupcakes you have tasted, they are rich, scrumptious, and easy to make. Freezing the Ferrero Rochers beforehand plays a huge role later on in the recipe because otherwise, when you bake the cupcakes, they will melt and explode in the cupcakes. It takes around 10-15 minutes to freeze them; I advise you to not wait until you are ready to start mixing and prepare them ahead of time.

       So without further ado, let's get started! Before you do anything else, preheat your oven to 350° F, or 177° C.The next step is to gather all the ingredients: 

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cups sugar 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 cups vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 12 frozen Ferrero Rochers. 

 I know buttermilk is an uncommon ingredient, so if you don't have it at home, you can create an alternative by mixing one cup of milk with one tablespoon of lemon juice. Here is the link for how to make buttermilk: How to make Buttermilk

 The next step of the recipe calls for whisking together all the dry ingredients, which are flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.

In another bowl, mix the buttermilk, egg, oil, and vanilla extract together on medium speed until well mixed. 

The mix will be watery.

After that, mix all the dry ingredients in with the wet ingredients. If you feel the batter is too thin, feel free to add more flour, and if you feel it is too thick, add a teaspoon of buttermilk in at a time. 

There may be a few lumps in the batter; but don't worry, it'll even out when it bakes.

The next step is to line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners (if you haven't already) and fill them with about one tablespoon of the batter. Then, place a frozen Ferrero Rocher in each liner.

Then, using the remaining batter, fill the liners until all of them are around 2/3 full. Don't worry if the batter doesn't cover the whole Ferrero Rocher; it will when it bakes. When done with this step, the next step is to bake them at 350 degrees for about 16-20 minutes. 

Let them cool until you start the frosting. 

        Once the cupcakes have cooled off, it's time to start the frosting! This frosting is like a Nutella frosting, with cream cheese in it. I chose to not use the cream cheese, so if you decide to do that too, make sure you add a few tablespoons of milk to it. The ingredients you need are: 

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup cream cheese (you can replace with milk as I have stated above) 
• 1/3 cup Nutella
• 4 oz. (about 1/2 cup) melted chocolate
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• a pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.

       So once you've gathered all your ingredients, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy. Then, slowly add in the powdered sugar. After you've mixed that in, add the cream cheese or milk in and mix.

  Once you've mixed all of that together, just mix in the remaining ingredients, vanilla, salt, Nutella, cocoa powder, and melted chocolate.

Let the frosting cool in the fridge for about 15 minutes before you frost your cupcakes. 

The frosting should be creamy and a little thick. Once you're done with mixing it, just put the frosting into a frosting pump or bag and frost the cupcakes however you'd like! 

And there you have it! Ferrero Rocher cupcakes - a dream come true.

The link to the recipe is here: Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes

I hope you like them! :D