Everyone I know loves chocolate (except my husband) and when put together like these are—wonderful! So yummy!
- Pam spray
- 3/4 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- pinch of coarse salt
- 3/4 cup rolled oats (not instant)
- 1 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cup pistachios, chopped and toasted
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 1 – 14 oz. can condensed milk
- 2 cups shredded coconut
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 cookie sheet with parchment paper, leaving a bit of an overhang on the short ends. Spray a light coating of Pam over the paper.
In a processor, pulse together the butter, icing sugar, flour and salt until it resembles a coarse meal. Add the oats and pulse until just combined. Press the dough into the baking pan and bake for about 20 minutes. Should be lightly browned and firm.
Now, scatter the chips, nuts amd cranberries on top of the crust. Drizzle with condensed milk and top with coconut. Bake until the coconut is golden, about 18-20 minutes. Let cool completely then cut into 18 squares.
These will keep (get this) for about 3 days in an airtight container. As if! They won’t last 10 minutes. Guaranteed.
Sticky Bun Cake
If you like sticky buns/cinnamon buns, then you will love this version of a coffee cake with the ooey-gooey sticky topping.
This cake has a super topping, a streusel middle and the texture of a coffee cake. Now, all you need is a pot of coffee and the day is, once again, wonderful.
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3/4 tsp. baking soda
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 2/3 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 tp. good quality vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a round cake pan (9 inch) with at least 2 inch high sides. Line the base with parchment paper.
Combine the yogurt and baking soda and set aside. In another bowl sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. In the electric mixer bowl cream the butter, sugar and eggs, beating well with each addition. Add the vanilla and now turn the speed to low. Add the flour and yogurt in alternating additions, ending with the flour.
Streusel
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into pieces
In a bowl, combine the sugars, flour and cinnamon. Using a pastry blender cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.
Topping
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 1/3 cup corn syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup chopped pecans
In a saucepan melt the butter, add corn syrup and sugar, whisking until smooth.
Spread the topping over the prepared cake pan base. Sprinkle the pecans evenly. Spread one half of the cake mixture over the base and sprinkle one half of the streusel evenly over that. Spread remaining batter over the streusel and sprinkle the remaining streusel mixture over the top.
Bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick, when tested, comes out clean. Co0l on a rack for about 4 minutes and run a small knife round the edges of the cake and remove cake from the pan.
Yum!
Chocolate Scones
This would be a great breakfast addition instead of the same old toast. Or it could be a tasty treat for the girls arriving for a morning coffee visit. They are yummy and not too sweet, so everyone would enjoy them.
- 3/4 cup whipping cream (of course)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp. really good vanilla (Mexican is THE best)
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 4 tsp. baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup cold, unsalted butter, cubed
- 8 oz. (generous) of good quality milk chocolate*, chopped
- 1 egg yolk
Whisk together the cream, eggs and vanilla and set aside.
In a large bowl whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender (or fingers) until you have pea sized crumbs. Stir in the chocolate. Now with a large fork, stir in the cream mixture until a soft dough forms.
On a lightly floured surface, turn out the dough and knead a couple of times until it comes together. With your fingers, pat the dough into a 9 inch square. Cut into 9 squares and then cut each square on the diagonal. Brush the tops with a mixture of egg yolk and 1 tsp. water (well mixed).
Turn out on parchment lined baking sheets and bake in a 450 oven for about 12-14 minutes until the tops are a golden colour. For the best flavours….serve warm. Fresh coffee, latest news….WOW! What a day.
*If you use a lesser quality chocolate, it will be gritty and I hate that. Always use the best you can and you will never fail.