25 Days of Baking: Day 25

Can you believe it. I made it 25 days! I have too many treats to imagine and have gained a few pounds I'm sure! But the fact that I kept up with it, makes me happy.

On a side note, Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to ME!!! Yup it's my birthday! In honor of that and the fact that Santa came I opted for an easy out today.

Santa Brownie Hats

• Boxed brownie mix (whichever one floats your boat)
• Strawberries
• Buttercream frosting (I posted this yesterday)

Directions

1. Mix brownie mix as directed on the box.
2. Scoop into mini muffin tins. You will have extra, so you can either make another batch or like me, just put the remainder of the mix into a 9x9 pan and bake.
3. When baking the mini muffin tin, set the oven to the temp on the box, but then only cook for half the time. I believe mine cooked for about 18 min. and they were perfect.
4. Once cooled, pipe frosting onto the top of the brownie cup.
5. Cut the top off of a strawberry and stick into the frosting.
6. Pipe a small dot of frosting onto the top of the strawberry and you are done!

Easy peasy and great treat for Christmas Day. Thanks for following along these last 25 days. I plan to keep up with this blog by adding crafts, recipes and random things I think up!

25 Days of Baking: Day 17

Today's recipe is one that I have wanted to make for quite some time. I even went as far as to print it out, not just pin it. But alas it has yet to be made...until today! My print out actual has April 2013 on it, yikes!

 I got this recipe from one of my favorite scrapbookers Becky Higgins. I searched her site www.beckyhiggins.com for the link to the original post, got sucked in like I do and spent to much time looking through her blog. I ended up not being able to find the link. So when you have a few minutes, hop on over and see what she is up to, it's an awesome read and you won't be disappointed!

Mint Brownies

~ 2 cups butter

~ 3/4 cup cocoa

~ 2 1/4 cups sugar

~ 6 eggs

~ 2 cups flour

~ 1/8 tsp. salt

~ 2 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Combine the top 4 ingredients and mix well. Next add the last 3 to the mixture. Bake this brownie layer at 350 for 15 min. in a texas sheet cake pan or for 8-10 min. longer in two 9x13 pans. Cool completely.

 Mint Frosting

~ 4 cups powdered sugar

~ 1/2 cup butter

~ 5 Tbsp. milk

~ food coloring

~ 2 tsp. mint or peppermint extract

~ 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (these will be melted for the top)

 Directions

 Mix all frosting ingredients, except choc. chips. Spread frosting on chilled cake and then chill again. Melt a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips and spread for top layer. Chill.

I ended up baking my brownie mixture in a texas sheet cake pan for 21 min. After 15 it was still soupy in the middle. This smelled so wonderful while it was cooking! I also know that there is a fine line when heating chocolate chips in the microwave. Unfortunately I crossed that line, so my chocolate didn't spread smoothly on the  frosting, but it still tastes AMAZING!