Home Baked Happiness

I think brownies are supposed to be a fairly simple thing to make. But I have always found them to be a little complicated. It's hard to figure out exactly when they have been baked just perfectly. And until now, I have not found a from scratch recipe that I liked better than the boxed brownie mixes you can buy in the store. But this recipe does it for me!  These brownies are moist and fudgy and decadent. Here's what you need to get started : 1/2 cup butter 2 cups chocolate chips (dark or milk) 3/4 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup granulated sugar 4 eggs 3/4 tsp vanilla extract 3/4 tsp peppermint extract 1 cup flour 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup of mint chocolate chips Here's how to put it all together: Use a 9x13 inch pan.  Line the pan with foil and grease it with shortening or vegetable oil. Start by melting the butter in a saucepan over low heat, then add the chocolate chips until melted stirring all the while. Remove from Heat and stir in both of the

 Decorating sugar cookies is like therapy for me. Sometimes I just get so focused and into it, and I forget about everything else for a while. In the end I have something that is a cute and edible piece of art that makes others smile.  Experimenting with different flavors for the sugar cookies is half the fun. Peppermint flavored sugar cookies are delicious any time of year. Here's what you'll need: 2 sticks butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 cups flour 1 tbsp baking powder 3/4 cup crushed peppermint  Here's how to put it all together: Cream butter and sugar together in mixer, then add egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix together flour and baking powder. Add flour mixture to the other ingredients and mix until well combined. Lastly, add crushed peppermint until just combined.  Next, I like to chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes so that it rolls out easier and sticks less to the surface when you go to pick it

My goal for this year, while I'm on the "all things peppermint" journey: 50 peppermint recipes in 50 weeks,  is to create  a wide variety of peppermint baked goodies. But as occasions come up I am making things that are most suitable for the celebration or event.  This week we celebrated Megan's birthday.  Megan is part of our awesome Dragon Intervention Team at work.  She is such a delightful person to work with!  In honor of Megan's birthday I made these super yummy Peppermint Mocha cupcakes.  Here's what you need For cupcakes: 1 Devils Food box cake mix 1 cup brewed coffee, the stronger the better 3 eggs 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 packet dry instant hot chocolate drink  mix 1 tsp peppermint extract Filling: 1/2 pint heavy whipping cream 1/3 cup powdered sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla extract  Frosting: 1 cup butter 4 cups powdered sugar 1 cup powdered cocoa 2/3 cup melted milk chocolate chips ( you can also use semi sweet