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Friday, December 11, 2009

Shortcut to Brownie Bliss

It is Foodie Friday (go visit Designs By Gollum if you don't believe me!)
and I actually remembered to take pictures of something I made this week.


It's chocolate-y and mint-y and warm and squish-i-ly . . . and it's also crazy easy.

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Sometimes, you realize there is only one way to quiet your husband's own special vintage whine:
"There's no dessert in this house!"
You make something.



I used what I had on hand in the pantry:
A small box of brownie mix (Duncan Hines is my steady guy)
The stuff to make the brownies: egg, oil, water
A long skinny box of chocolate covered thin mints
And -- a missing 8-inch square cake pan

Yes, you read that right.

Santa, if you are listening. . .


I have lost my square cake pans and need new ones.

Not having the right pan being of necessity the Mother Of Invention, I hauled out a muffin tin, a 6-holer.
Why not make Individual Buckets Of Brownie Bliss? Why not, indeed?

Mix up the brownie glop, following package directions:


I love things that I can just whisk in a bowl, because then I don't have to clean a mixer.


Spray the muffin tins with Pam, and cover their little bottoms with brownie mix:


On top of the brownie mix, put those chocolate thin mints:


Then smother the mints with more brownie mix:


And stick them in the oven, set a timer, and go play. (Shave a few minutes
off the recommended bake time; they cook faster than a whole pan.)

Don't fall asleep or you may end up with Individual Buckets of Brownie Bricks.


At the DING! take them out and admire their dark and handsome good looks:


But wait! What is happening? Your brownie buckets are collapsing!


Holy Crater, Batman!


But it's all good. Yes, indeed it is. The crater is just begging for a bit of
vanilla ice cream. Together they make a nice, and we're talking nice, dessert!

The edges of the brownie are a little crusty, a little chewy, while inside is a warm and soft mingling
of brownie and chocolate mint, the perfect cozy counterpoint to that cold smooth ice cream.

Howard likes his Individual Buckets of Brownie Bliss.
He is a happy lad.


Now go visit Designs By Gollum for more yummmmmmm.....
because it's Foodie Friday and there's a whole weekend ahead to cook! -- Cass

31 comments:

  1. These look fantastic , I ll make them tomorrow , no brownie mix in the cupboard--cottonreel

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  2. They look very tasty to me. You've made me hungry :-). Have a great Foodie Friday.

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  3. Who wouldn't love those! I have a feeling that The Great Dane will have a special chocolate-mint reward this evening for tidying up the front porch.

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  4. Oh, these look wonderful--the taste must be out of this world good. I hope Santa is listening and brings your pans!

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  5. Howard looks a little different. Did he do something with his hair?

    Oh my goodness those look good. I don't eat a lot of chocolate but this with the ice cream will be on my table sometime soon.

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  6. These are AWESOME!!!... making them this weekend. Thanks!

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  7. This looks delicious but I am not sure what size you mean. Is it the regular box?

    Charla

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  8. Those look good -- sometimes a girl just has to take the easy way out! I'm knee deep in Christmas baking-- no time for brownie bliss!

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  9. Oh my!!! I need my brownie chocolate fix right now! What a great recipe and your photos are sooooo enticing! Thanks for sharing and have a happy FOODIE FRIDAY! Coralie

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  10. Thin mints in brownies....that is awesome! The kids (and Tony) are going to love this! I love the cupcake pan idea! No fighting over who's brownie is bigger!!
    Thanks for the great ideas!!!

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  11. I'm glad you popped in to see the boys shaking their booties. (I've been reading your blog from Wendy's, and I really enjoy it.) I have to tell you that Tony's Espresso Panna Cotta was every bit as impressive in person and the consistency was dreamy.

    Your brownies look amazing. I can no longer use eggs in our house (due to the little dancer's allergies), and chewy, gooey brownies are the one thing I can't seem to make without eggs. Your minty Brownie Bliss makes me miss the good old days.

    Have a great weekend.

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  12. I bought some darling holly-patterned mini-muffin cups a couple weeks ago...I'm thinking these would be perfect for using some of them up! What kind of thin mints are those?

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  13. Way to think on your toes, and the individual servings turned out great. Thanks for sharing!

    We just want to let you know that Duncan Hines has started a Facebook page and Twitter feed where we share our love for baking, recipes, and deals. If you're interested, you should join us!
    Facebook: http://bit.ly/1XUM0f
    Twitter: http://bit.ly/IDxOy

    Don't forget to check out our Birthday Cake Contest. We want to help you celebrate, so submit your best birthday cake idea to be eligible for awesome prizes. http://bit.ly/25vKGJ

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  14. Okay, the other day you had me crying (but the good kind of cry) and today you have me salivating!

    Sorry, but I'm changing the name to Shortcut to Brownie Blitz. Why? Because as I was reading your post the words to the song Ballroom Blitz started running through my brain. You know, kinda like this:

    Oh yeah, it was like lightning, everybody was frightening
    And the music was soothing, and they all started grooving

    It's it's a brownie blitz, it's it's a brownie blitz
    It's it's a brownie blitz, yeah, it's a brownie blitz

    I know, but ever trust a chocoholic around these types of pictures.

    Okay, I'll go quietly now.

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  15. It's dinner time but I'd rather have one of those.
    A great idea!

    Melinda

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  16. Oh my!!! I just gained 10 pounds just looking at that! :) Now off to eat my soup and salad.

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  17. Oh, do those brownies look good! Too bad I don't have any brownie mix.

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  18. Those look great. They look so good I am getting a milk craving too.

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  19. Ooey-gooey chocolate, minty goodness, Batmadam! Seriously, they look so good and what a great idea to use the mint wafers.

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  20. See how ice cream can solve everything? :0)

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  21. I have a square pan. Is this another case of you thinking you've lost something but really you gave to to me when I moved because you're the best Mom ever and fully stocked my kitchen whilst barely depleting yours?
    I think it might be.

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  22. I am going to have to try that one. The vanilla ice cream is brilliant!
    Kat

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  23. Mmmmm, gotta get some brownie mix!!! They look delicious :)

    P.S. Thank you for your lovely comment, it means so much to me. I don't feel so alone now :)

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  24. hmm..when my kitchen is finished and you come over for dinner, i want those brownies!

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  25. YUMMY......I am so happy to have a few hours to catch up on blogs...I am finally finished with trees. New pictures are up on the Christmas blog!
    http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com/ then

    read about a miracle and forward on to anyone that is feeling hopeless....Christmas is the season of miracles..

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  26. Okay... first I'm crying and now I'm drooling. You've turned me into a moron LOL

    hugs,
    rue

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  27. These look so good. what a great idea. Im going to try it for sure. Thanks. I also like the idea of making the brownies in a muffin tin.

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  28. MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm......... I love those chocolate mints!
    Mum buys me a box every christmas!

    I learned to crochet then to knit but the knitting didn't stay with me........
    Glad you came by to visit! Come again soon!

    Hugz,
    Dolly

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  29. Morning, Dear Cass! Oh, tell me you have just one of these brownie muffins left and I'll be right over. The look soooooo good!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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