Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Miniature Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes

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What do you get when you combine creamy cheesecake with rich and decadent homemade peanut butter cup bars? You get these Miniature Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes.

What do you get when you combine creamy cheesecake with rich and decadent homemade peanut butter cup bars? You get these Miniature Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes.

J has two favorite desserts: cheesecake and homemade peanut butter cup bars. Last year for his birthday, I tried to combine those two using a springform pan and a no-bake cheesecake recipe. The resulting dessert was certainly tasty, but it was super messy and it just wasn’t what I had hoped it would be.

This year, I vowed to get things right.

What do you get when you combine creamy cheesecake with rich and decadent homemade peanut butter cup bars? You get these Miniature Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes.

I began by making miniature cheesecakes with graham cracker crusts. These little guys, on their own, are delicious. They’d be perfect as is, or topped with fruit. I didn’t stop there, though. I added a layer of chocolate, then a layer of peanut butter, and then another layer of chocolate, to top the cheesecakes with a homemade peanut butter cup.

Y’all, I totally nailed it with this recipe. The cheesecake is creamy and smooth, while the peanut butter cup layer is rich and not too thick. These little threats are perfectly sized for sharing, too!

What do you get when you combine creamy cheesecake with rich and decadent homemade peanut butter cup bars? You get these Miniature Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes.

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Brownie Batter Cupcakes

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If you’ve ever used your fingers to scrape the last bit of brownie batter from the bowl, these to-die-for Brownie Batter Cupcakes are as close to dessert heaven as you can get.

If you've ever used your fingers to scrape the last bit of brownie batter from the bowl, these to-die-for Brownie Batter Cupcakes are as close to dessert heaven as you can get.

A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to make a birthday cake for a friend’s daughter’s surprise sweet 16 party. The daughter also happens to be a former student, one of my kids’ favorite people, and a great babysitter, so I knew I had to make a cake worthy of her awesomeness.

If you've ever used your fingers to scrape the last bit of brownie batter from the bowl, these to-die-for Brownie Batter Cupcakes are as close to dessert heaven as you can get.

I was pretty proud of the strawberry layer cake with chocolate ganache, but as a lifelong chocolate-lover, the Brownie Batter Cupcakes I made to supplement the cake were, to me, the real star.

I know I’m not the only person who puts an inordinate amount of effort into scraping every.last.bit of batter from the bowl when I make brownies. It’s just irresistible, and it was my inspiration for these Brownie Batter Cupcakes. With brownie mix in both the cupcakes and the frosting, these cupcakes are every chocoholic brownie-lover’s dream.

If you've ever used your fingers to scrape the last bit of brownie batter from the bowl, these to-die-for Brownie Batter Cupcakes are as close to dessert heaven as you can get.

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S’mores Cookie Pie

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This S’mores Cookie Pie is perfectly gooey and rich, and it serves a crowd. Forget the charred marshmallows and the sticky fingers; dig in!

This S'mores Cookie Pie is perfectly gooey and rich, and it serves a crowd. Forget the charred marshmallows and the sticky fingers; dig in!

Every June J’s extended family hosts a reunion, and every June (when we’re home to attend) I take the opportunity to test one of my dessert recipes with the crowd. This year I went with S’mores Cookie Pie, and it just might be the most popular recipe I’ve ever made for the reunion. It might even beat the Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Caramel Icing, but I think that race is too close to call.

This S'mores Cookie Pie is perfectly gooey and rich, and it serves a crowd. Forget the charred marshmallows and the sticky fingers; dig in!

Regardless, this recipe was insanely popular. It was a hit with even the pickier folks, and it’s not difficult to see why. The base of my S’mores Cookie Pie is just half of my chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I added graham cracker chunks for that classic s’mores flavor. Instead of using marshmallows or marshmallow fluff, I used both for maximum gooey goodness. There are plenty of chocolate chips, of course, and they get wonderfully gooey during baking.

This S'mores Cookie Pie is perfectly gooey and rich, and it serves a crowd. Forget the charred marshmallows and the sticky fingers; dig in!

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Salted Caramel Cupcakes

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With a rich brownie-like cupcake, smooth caramel filling, and a decadent from-scratch salted caramel frosting, these Salted Caramel Cupcakes will quickly become your new favorite treat.

With a rich brownie-like cupcake, smooth caramel filling, and a decadent from-scratch salted caramel frosting, these Salted Caramel Cupcakes will quickly become your new favorite treat.

I recently heard someone mention her aversion to the salted caramel “trend.” Maybe it is, in fact, just a trend or a fad, I will say that I am 100 percent in favor of it. I’m a huge fan of the combination of salty and sweet, especially when it’s delivered to me in cupcake form.

These particular Salted Caramel Cupcakes are an amalgamation of a few of my favorite recipes. The cupcake itself is the same one I use for my Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes and my Triple Chocolate Cupcakes. While it’s wonderfully moist and tender, it also forms a slightly chewy top that’s reminiscent of a brownie. The filling is the recipe I used to top my popular Salted Caramel Cookie Bars, and the frosting can be found on my Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes.

Basically, I took a bunch of separate tried-and-true recipes and combined them into one super recipe. The result is perfectly satisfying Salted Caramel Cupcakes that just might be enough to convert even the most reluctant salted caramel eaters.

With a rich brownie-like cupcake, smooth caramel filling, and a decadent from-scratch salted caramel frosting, these Salted Caramel Cupcakes will quickly become your new favorite treat.

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Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie for Two

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Made in one bowl and ready in under twenty minutes, this Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie for Two recipe is gooey, rich, and irresistibly decadent.

Made in one bowl and ready in under twenty minutes, this Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie for Two recipe is gooey, rich, and irresistibly decadent.

 

I’ve mentioned before that I don’t usually keep pre-made desserts in the house. You’ll rarely find a box of cookies in the pantry or a pint of ice cream in the freezer. Mostly, I do this because J and I both have pretty insatiable sweet tooths (teeth?). Those cookies and that ice cream wouldn’t last long at all in our presence. In order to avoid weighing 300 pounds, I just don’t buy the stuff.

The problem lies in my love of baking. I don’t mind heading to the kitchen in the evening, after the kids are in bed, to whip up something sweet. That’s actually the story behind Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Dessert Quesadillas, Mug Brownies, and Chocolate Caramel Lava Cakes. And now, it’s the story behind my Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie for Two.

This recipe is exactly what it sounds like: a perfectly-portioned cookie made for sharing. It’s got all the must-have qualities of a good chocolate chip cookie, plus the delightfully crunchy edges that are courtesy of the adorable mini skillet. J and I prefer to enjoy ours with a glass of cold milk, but it’s also wonderful topped with ice cream, chocolate syrup, or fresh fruit.

Made in one bowl and ready in under twenty minutes, this Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie for Two recipe is gooey, rich, and irresistibly decadent.

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Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Add a whole bunch of chopped berries to a classic dessert recipe and you get these sweet, chewy, tart, and decadent Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Add a whole bunch of chopped berries to a classic dessert recipe and you get these sweet, chewy, tart, and decadent Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies.

On Wednesday nights, I cook with the youth group at church. The idea is to teach them some basic kitchen skills while also preparing meals that can be given to church members who need them. It’s often the highlight of my week, partly because I have a ton of fun and partly because the kids are constantly cracking me up with their lack of kitchen common sense.

One night we were making brownies and I noticed one senior student reaching over to plug in the electric hand mixer. “Don’t bother with it,” I told him. “Just mix them by hand.” I stepped out of the kitchen to check on Q and returned a few minutes later to find the student wrists-deep in the bowl of brownie batter. After I caught by breath from laughing so hard, I explained to the group the vital distinction between the phrases, “mix by hand,” and, “mix using your hands.”

What does that have to do with Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies? Nothing, really, but that’s okay. We can take a sec to talk about the recipe. I’m a chocolate-covered strawberry junkie, so making these cookies was a no-brainer. They turned out to be perfectly chewy and sweet, and the berries, after baking, were just a touch sour. The combination is an addictive cookie that I ate way too many of.

Add a whole bunch of chopped berries to a classic dessert recipe and you get these sweet, chewy, tart, and decadent Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

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Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

I hosted some family at our house several weeks ago and, as I’m sure is typical with most foodies, I spent an inordinate amount of time determining the menu. It was an early afternoon event, so I put together a small menu of appetizers and finger foods. It took some finagling to get what I considered to be the perfect balance of sweet and savory, light and heavy, but every dish was a hit, including this Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip.

Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

Fruit dips, in my opinion, tend to have a bad reputation. A lot of people think of the sickeningly sweet store-bought version. You know the kind I’m talking about: the little tub that’s nearly grainy in texture? There’s nothing wrong with choosing that option in a pinch, but it can’t begin to compare to my Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip. This stuff is rich — duh, it’s got cream cheese and heavy cream in it — but the unsweetened cocoa powder provides a hint of bitterness that is offset by the sweet fruit. This recipe is perfect for making in advance to lighten your day-of load.

Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

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Homemade Hostess Cupcakes

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No more of those dry, flavorless, prepackaged desserts. Homemade Hostess Cupcakes are moist, sweet, and perfect for any special occasion.

No more of those dry, flavorless, prepackaged desserts. Homemade Hostess Cupcakes are moist, sweet, and perfect for any special occasion.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I made Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting for G’s birthday party. When it came to bringing cupcakes to his classroom, though, I went with these Homemade Hostess Cupcakes.

Every few years I fool myself into thinking a real Hostess cupcake will taste good. In my head, I know that isn’t true; they’re dry and flavorless, and that chocolate “frosting” is just gross. But every once in a while, I find myself standing in a convenience store in the middle of a road trip, and that cupcake calls to me. And every time, I swear I won’t waste my money on one again.

The concept behind Hostess Cupcakes is solid. Chocolate cupcake: yum. Sweet filling: yes, please. Smooth and rich chocolate frosting: definitely. Even the curlicue on top is charming. Hostess just doesn’t pull it off, and that’s where this recipe comes in. These Homemade Hostess Cupcakes are everything the original should be, and more. I don’t mean to brag, but more than one of G’s classmates deemed it, “the best cupcake I’ve ever had.”

No more of those dry, flavorless, prepackaged desserts. Homemade Hostess Cupcakes are moist, sweet, and perfect for any special occasion.

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German Chocolate Cake Cookies

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A fun twist on a classic dessert, these German Chocolate Cake Cookies are everything you love about the cake in a rich, gooey, single-serving cookie.

A fun twist on a classic dessert, these German Chocolate Cake Cookies are everything you love about the cake in a rich, gooey, single-serving cookie.

German chocolate cake is my dad’s favorite dessert so, when he and my stepmom came for a visit a few weeks ago, I knew I wanted to make a recipe that was a twist on that. Since I’m all about individual servings — have you seen how many cupcake recipes I have? — I decided to transform my regular chocolate chip cookie recipe and my Granny’s German chocolate frosting recipe into German Chocolate Cake Cookies.

Needless to say, these guys were a hit. I served them at a family gathering and was asked several times for the recipe. I sent the leftovers with J to school for his coworkers, and I later received a few texts raving about them. One of my favorite things about these cookies is that the various parts can be made ahead. I made the chocolate cookies a few days before the get-together, and the frosting can sit in the fridge for a couple days, too. Then assembly is pretty much a breeze.

A fun twist on a classic dessert, these German Chocolate Cake Cookies are everything you love about the cake in a rich, gooey, single-serving cookie.

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Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting

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For an adorable treat that’s the perfect combination of salty and sweet, bake up these rich and decadent Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting.

For an adorable treat that's the perfect combination of salty and sweet, bake up these rich and decadent Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting.

We had a birthday party a few weeks ago for my oldest, G, who turned seven. This is the part where I do that trite, “They grow up so fast! Where did my baby go?! I can’t handle this!” thing. But really, y’all, every word of that is true. Like, it seems that only a few weeks ago he was sneaking into the kitchen to eat from the dog food bowl and referring to himself in the third person as “shwee -shwee.” No, we don’t know how he got that from “Griffin.”

But, alas, he’s another year older, which means another year of dinosaur obsession, another year of being the best big brother ever. I didn’t ask G what kind of cupcakes he wanted because I knew that, with the dinosaur cupcake toppers I bought, he wouldn’t care about the aesthetics of the cupcakes. Plus, I know the kid loves chocolate and salty/sweet as much as his mom does. With that in mind, I couldn’t go wrong with Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting.

For an adorable treat that's the perfect combination of salty and sweet, bake up these rich and decadent Chocolate Cupcakes with Pretzel Frosting.

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