Bars n' Brownies | Just About Baked

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The Perfect Brownie Base

February 16, 2016
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
34 Comments

Finding The One isn’t always that easy.

Sure, finding Kenny wasn’t too bad. I was only 25 when we started dating, so I can’t pretend that I had a huge struggle to meet the man of my dreams. But when it comes to recipes, life can be a bit more complicated.

After several years of baking, I’ve honed my go-to recipes. I have my favorite chocolate cake recipe (thanks, back of the Hershey cocoa container!), my favorite chocolate chip recipe, my favorite blondie base, my favorite cheesecake base, and my favorite peanut butter cookie. But let’s not forget the most important one of them all: the perfect brownie base.

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Brownie Heart Cutouts

February 4, 2016
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
24 Comments

This is as simple as it gets, but those are the best recipes sometimes!

A lot of people make adorable sugar cookies iced beautifully for holidays, but I prefer a brownie to a cookie. So why not do these cutouts instead? Plus, you can eat all the brownie scraps that are leftover from the heart cutouts. It’s a perfect snack!

Has anyone else thought about how ironic it is that a month dedicated to eating healthfully is followed by a month all about chocolate? But hey, I’m not complaining.

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Mocha Mousse Brownie Bites

January 24, 2016
Mir
Bars n' Brownies, Elegant Desserts, No Bake
22 Comments

There’s something romantic about mousse, dontcha think?

There used to be something romantic about snowstorms too, but now that I’m watching Kenny dig us out from two-plus feet of snow while my children destroy the house, I’m not really that into it. I’d much rather have clean streets and be at work, thank you very much.

The good news is, I’ve got these mocha mousse brownie bites to keep me company as the snow refuses to melt and the winds die down. These are pretty much my idea of a perfect Valentine’s dessert. These rich, fudgy brownie bites are topped with a mocha mousse and drizzled with chocolate. If you think it’s rich, you’re right! That’s how I do.

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Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

January 21, 2016
Mir
Bars n' Brownies, Cupcakes and Cheesecakes
24 Comments

Okay, Valentine’s Day. I’m ready for ya!

Who am I kidding? I’m ready all year long! Nothing is more fun than the hearts and flowers and chocolate. Especially the chocolate. And the treats! I really can’t get enough. Too bad Kenny hates Valentine’s Day. More on that some other time.

These red velvet cheesecake bars should get your holiday going. The bottom is a super-easy cake mix cookie bar, and the top a simple layer of cheesecake. And let’s not forget the heart sprinkle bling.

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl Bars

January 8, 2016
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
14 Comments

No healthy recipe today! Not for you. It’s Friday. You dig?

The problem is, if you only eat healthy foods all the time, sooner or later you’ll face-dive right into a vat of Reese’s and just not be able to stop. It’s human nature. Deprivation is not the way. Take that, Hollywood celebrities who pay people to whip up healthy cuisine 24/7!

If you want chocolate, eat it. If you want kale, eat it. See how that works? And eat when you’re hungry, and stop when you’re not. Pretty basic philosophy, and it allows you to eat bars like this when the mood strikes. These are phenomenal.

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Champagne Brownies (Video Tutorial, Too!)

I love champagne. I love chocolate. Let’s put them together so they can get married and have the best kid of all time, champagne brownies!

Bubbly is pretty popular this time of year, but as I explain in my newest video below, I also like to eat my champagne. Why not get really festive with one of the coolest brownie recipes ever?

These are full of champagne and chocolate, and the bubbly is what makes them stand so tall. I never cease to love how carbonated beverages aerate baked goods, making for even more fun and games!

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Mint Madness Brownies

December 17, 2015
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
32 Comments

Okay, mint fanatics, this one’s for you. You’re welcome.

In case you’re wondering why you should be grateful, it’s because I’m not all that fond of mint. Never have been. It reminds me of toothpaste, so every time I eat mint, it acts as an appetite suppressant. Very useful if I’m trying to give up food (um, never), but not if I’m trying to enjoy my dessert.

So consider these brownies the ultimate selfless act. I gave them to my mint-loving brother, and he ate them all up. They work, ya know? This recipe is fairly traditional, but I made some tweaks of my own.

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Butterscotch Toffee Bars

December 13, 2015
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
38 Comments

Yay for beautiful bars. Yay for holidays to bake them for. And yay for toffee most of all!

Everyone’s busy making holiday toffee, but I didn’t feel like taking out my candy thermometer and dusting it off. Dusting is boring. Instead, I cheated with these amazing cookie bars. You will not want to stop eating them, but that’s not really a problem.

Covered in butterscotch goodness and crushed toffee, I can’t imagine a better holiday cookie offering. I mean, I’ve made a lot of different bars this season, but this one is above the ordinary bar.

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M&M’s® Holiday Caramel Oat Bars

December 7, 2015
Mir
Bars n' Brownies, C is for COOKIE!, Candyland
36 Comments

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, bar cookies are my absolute, all-time favorite treat.

Think about it: they’re delicious, easy, and very packable. Someone who bakes as much as I do needs to be able to transport baked goods without an epic fail, and bars are conducive to that. Whether I’m headed to holiday potlucks and parties or just to the office, bars are my jam.

And these bars are the best. Two layers of oatmeal cookie dough sandwich a luscious caramel filling, all filled and topped with holiday M&M’s® bling. Who could ask for anything more?

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Cherry 7UP® Pound Cake

December 4, 2015
Mir
Bars n' Brownies
26 Comments

Whoo boy. This cake will make your holiday season merry and bright! And then some.

In case I’ve never made it blatantly clear enough, pound cake is the happiest of all cakes. It’s fluffy, buttery, and makes a perfect canvas for any flavor.

Do you know what happens if you add 7UP® to pound cake? It gets even lighter and fluffier. And when you add Cherry 7UP® and almond extract, your mouth is in for quite the party.