Sinfully Addicting Red Velvet Brownies

I want to write about how just how amazing these brownies are, but the words cannot do these little guys justice. It's definitely the most requested recipe by friends and family, and they have been huge hits when i've given them as gifts. With Valentines day right around the corner, this could be a good recipe to perfect!

I will give fair warning about experimenting with the recipe though. I tried to double a batch and it was a failure. I haven't decided if it's because the ingredients don't work well doubled or if it just made them two thick. I used the same size pan as a single batch, so perhaps if I had switched to a rectangle they would have cooked more evenly. That being said, if any of you try to alter the recipe and succeed (or fail ;) ) please let me know!

Another helpful tip about this recipe is in the parchment paper. I HATE trying to get parchment paper to stay or to keep it's shape when pouring in batter. To do so is an art form...one i am still trying to perfect. But  I have found it helpful to fold the sides to help it keep its shape, and just tape it to the outer edge of the pan until you pour in the batter (just don't forget to remove the tape!) It really does make a huge difference.

But without further ado.......drum roll please!!!!

***I forgot to take a picture when they were done!!!! WHOOPS!

Red Velvet Brownies

1/2 C. of room temperature butter

1 1/2 C. Sugar

2 Eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla

1 1/4 C. Flour

1/4 tsp. salt

3 Tbs. Cocoa Powder

2 Tbs. Red Food Coloring

White Chocolate Icing (optional...but necessary)

1/2 C. Room Temperature Butter

2 1/2 C. Powdered Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

4 Oz. White Chocolate

1-2 Tbs. milk

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and either line a baking pan with parchment paper or grease and flour it. (**If bringing to a party I recommend the parchment paper it makes it easier to cut clean squares)

Step 2: In a small bowl mix the cocoa powder, food coloring, and 1 tsp. of vanilla to form a paste like mixture. 

Step 3: In a larger bowl cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy!!! (**"IT'S SO FLUFFFFYYYYYYY" - I love Despicable Me, what a great movie!) Add the eggs one at at time and then the rest of the vanilla. Beat in your paste mixture, and then SLOWLY add the flour and salt.

Step 4: Pour into your prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. DO NOT ICE THEM UNTIL COMPLETELY COOLED!!!!

Step 5: Melt the white chocolate (**You can find instructions on the package or ask me!) then set it aside. Then cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy again. add the vanilla, and then slowly start adding the powdered sugar. When mixed in add the white chocolate. Finally add just tiny bits of milk a time until you reach the desired consistency. (**If you over do it just add more powdered sugar) Then you can ice them and eat up!

If you gain 20 pounds because you can't stop eating this...don't blame me! I tried to warn you

Eggnog Fudge

Need a way to use up any leftover eggnog? Try this fudge it's relatively easy and tastes amazing. Even though a fudge recipe is short and doesn't take much time it still can be a little bit of an art form. Before starting this recipe make sure you have a candy thermometer!!!!! One of the steps requires you to boil some of the ingredients, and they MUST reach a certain temperature or it will never give you the right consistency; leaving you with a gooey mess.

I quadrupled my recipe for the holidays and it made far too much. If you make it for a party I would suggest making a batch and a half, but pouring it into the same pan so you get thicker squares of fudge. A single batch is plenty though!!!

Fair warning this stuff is incredibly addicting.

Eggnog Fudge Recipe

2 C. sugar

1/2 C. salted butter

3/4 C. Eggnog

10.5 Oz. White Chocolate bars - chopped

**(Note: I just use a bag of white chocolate chips)

1/2 tsp. Nutmeg + a little extra to sprinkle on top

7 Oz. jar of Marshmallow creme

1 tsp. Rum or Rum extract

Step 1: Line a pan (you can use square or rectangle - if you double it use a rectangle or 2 squares!) with aluminum foil and lightly butter it.

Step 2: In a large sauce pan boil the sugar butter and eggnog until a candy thermometer reads 234 degrees. This will take about 10 minutes, and make sure you are stirring constantly. Take it off the heat.

Step 3: Use a wooden spoon, and QUICKLY add the white chocolate and stir until smooth. Then add the nutmeg, marshmallow creme and rum. When well blended you can pour it in the pan and sprinkle some nutmeg on top to make it pretty!

Step 4: Let it cool at room temperature or put it in the refrigerator until hard. (**I recommend the refrigerator if you have the extra space, it is SIGNIFICANTLY faster)

Step 5: Cut into squares and enjoy!

Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls

Who doesn't love Cinnamon Rolls?

Fair warning! If you want to do this you have to start them on christmas eve, and give yourself a little bit of time in the morning. But they are SO worth it! They have been really popular with my friends, and aside from the time letting things rise they aren't too too difficult.

They will make your house smell delicious, and make everyone in your family both big and small so happy. If it doesn't....you can blame me! I did make some notes (they are in purple) of specific things that have worked for me when using this recipe

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

For the Dough:

1 Tbs. active dry yeast (one package)

1/2 c. warm water

4 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

4 large eggs

1/4 c. sugar

2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 c. unsalted butter (at room temp.)

For Filling:

1/2 c. unsalted butter melted 

1/2 c. sugar mixed with 1 tbs. ground cinnamon 

***I would make a little extra of this

For the Icing:

1 c. confectioner's sugar

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

2 tbs. unsalted butter (melted)

2 Tbs. whole milk

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Instructions!

Step 1 - Making the Dough

     *Note: they use a stand mixer  with the dough hook, but I just use my hands or a spoon. It's just as easy and you get less messy. Anyway, sprinkle the yeast over the water and allow to bloom for a few minutes then whisk until smooth.

      Whisk in 1/2 c. of the flour. Cover with plastic wrap and let it stand in a warm spot about 30 minutes. (I always put it on top of the dryer and let it run)

       Add the eggs, sugar, salt and remaining flour to the mixture. Knead it on a medium speed until smooth, Again I just use my hands (put a little flour on your hands first it helps counteract the stickiness)

      Add the room temperature butter and continue to knead adding flour to reduce stickiness as needed. Do this until the dough is smooth again. **If you are using your hands make sure you really work in the butter so it doesn't get clumpy. 

      Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about 2 hours. 

Step 2 - Making the Rolls

     Butter a 9 by 13 inch baking dish

      Roll out the dough into a huge rectangle (about 15 by 10 inches - if the dough keeps pulling backwards rest a damp towel on top of the dough for a couple of minutes and try again). 

   

      Brush half of the melted butter over the rectangle, but leave about a 1-2 inch strip butter free. 

     Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the butter (I'd press it into the dough just a little bit).

     Starting with the side that has butter to the edge...roll up the rectangle. The snugger the better!

     Cut your giant roll into 10 pieces and place them cut side up in the dish. 

     Brush with the remaining butter, cover with plastic wrap and let them rise in the refrigerator overnight.

Step 3 - Baking the Rolls

     The next morning, remove them and let them rise until half again as high (about an hour - but I am normally too anxious to wait this long and it's been ok)

  

      Preheat oven to 350 degrees and Bake until golden brown (about 30 minutes)

      Let cool and brush with the glaze

Step 4 - The Glaze

    In a small bowl sift together confectioner's sugar and salt

    In a different bowl whisk together butter, milk, and vanilla.

    Stir into the sugar to form a smooth paste and spread over rolls

THEY ARE SOOOOOOOOO YUMMY!!!!!!

Elf Letters!!!!!!

Imagine yourself back as a little kid and how badly you wanted your heros to write you a letter? Or at least receive a response to yours...Now imagine actually getting one!!! The happiness would be overwhelming. Even if you were quickly distracted by bigger better things as most kids are.

A couple of years ago I started writing letters to my younger cousins from "Bernard the elf." I'm not really sure where the idea came from but the name Bernard totally came from the Santa Claus, which has recently posed a problem, but I'll talk about that in a minute. Bernard writes to the kids every year in early december telling them stories of the North Pole reminding them to be good and some tid bits about himself and Santa. I probably have more fun coming up with the stories than the kids do reading the letters. But there is nothing I love more than watching their animated faces as they tell me the latest story from Bernard or them pointing out similarities with the North Pole in everyone's favorite Christmas movies.

Here are some examples of ones i've written....

The older of the cousins finally put two and two together that Bernard might be the same Bernard from the "Santa Claus" movie with Tim Allen. I can't decide if I really want them to think that or not because I don't want them to think movies aren't real and thus Bernard isn't real. I don't know my aunt just stared at them wide eyed haha they can come to their own conclusions. 

With the letter writing we have come across a few issues though. First of all, think through what you are sending!!! This year I sent an application to a reindeer completely ignoring the fact that if they responded I would have to REJECT them!!! Clearly I can't let them be reindeer, when they can't actually go to the North Pole. I rectified this situation, by naming her an official Representative of the North Pole instead. It seemed to be at least a semi-acceptable alternative. But don't worry Santa was plenty impressed with her application, that's why he offered her the "better" job.

Another issue this year was that 3 children got letters but one never made it. They explained to him that the boy letters were mailed separately from the girl letters. Haha again this seemed to work ok, but i'd try to make sure they get there altogether! I made up another story about messenger penguins and a norwhale eating the mail...if you want to know the story you'll have to ask. :)

Anyway, I think the elf letter writing is such a fun way to get involved with younger relatives or even a fun thing to do with your own children.