CHUNKY MONKEY BROWNIES

Ingredients



Prep time 15 mins
Cook time 30 mins
Total time 45 mins
You will swoon over these rich, decadent brownies filled with chocolate baking melts, chocolate chips and bananas. Ooey, gooey and delicious!
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from Culinary Mamas; source adapted from Mark Bittman Recipe type: Cookies, Brownies and Bars Cuisine: American Serves: 24



Ingredients



2 cups Gold medal UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)
1 ½ cups brown sugar, packed
½ cup white sugar
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
¼ tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
½ cup banana, mashed with a fork (about one medium-large banana)
10-oz. Hershey’s semi-sweet chocolate baking melts (or 12-oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips)
¼ cup Nestle's chocolate chips for the top
Instructions
Mix butter, eggs, sugars, salt and vanilla with an electric mixer until well mixed.
Add flour, mashed banana and baking melts (or chocolate chips).
Stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
Spray a 9x13” glass baking dish with cooking spray.
Spread brownie mixture into prepared pan.
Smooth the top with a knife or rubber spatula.
Sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes just until lightly golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Death by Chocolate Icebox Cake

Ingredients



Chocolate Mousse
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp milk
1/2 cup cocoa
8 oz cool whip (or homemade whipped cream*)
Chocolate Ganache
11 oz semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips (about 2 cups)
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Chocolate Whipped Cream and Toppings
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 tbsp cocoa
1/4 cup powdered sugar
Chocolate sauce (I used this one)
Mini chocolate chips



Instructions



To Make the Chocolate Mousse
1. Combine cream cheese, sugar and milk together in the bowl of a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer. Mix until completely combined.
2. Add cocoa and mix until smooth.
3. Fold in the cool whip.
To make the chocolate ganache
1. Place chocolate chips in a metal bowl.
2. Microwave the heavy cream until it starts to boil. Remove from microwave and pour over chocolate chips.
3. Cover bowl with saran wrap for 5-7 minutes.
4. Whisk chocolate and cream until smooth.
To make the chocolate whipped cream
1. Freeze metal bowl and whisk for 15-20 minutes to get them good and cold.
2. Remove bowl from freezer and add whipping cream.
3. Whip on medium speed for a few minutes. Cream will initially bubble a little bit, then start to thicken.
4. As the cream starts to thicken, add the cocoa and powdered sugar.
5. Whip until stiff peaks form.
Putting it all together
1. Place a single layer of graham crackers in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
2. Top graham crackers with half of the mousse mixture and spread evenly.
3. Spread half of the chocolate ganache on top of the mousse mixture and spread evenly.
4. Place another layer of graham crackers on top of the chocolate ganache
5. Spread remaining mousse mixture on top of graham crackers.
6. Pour remaining ganache on top of mousse mixture and spread evenly.
7. Top ganache with one more layer of graham crackers.
8. Top cake with chocolate whipped cream and spread into an even layer.
9. Finish cake off with chocolate sauce and mini chocolate chips, if desired.
*If making homemade whipped cream, I recommend 1 1/4 cups whipping cream and 1/2 cup powdered sugar.

Chocolate Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Filling and Chocolate Buttercream

Ingredients



Chocolate Layer Cake
Adapted from Hershey's
2 cups sugar
1 & 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup natural cocoa powder (such as Hershey's)
1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup boiling water



Directions:



1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat three 8-inch cake pans with nonstick spray. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Spray each pan again and coat with a thin layer of flour.
2. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until everything is thoroughly incorporated. Stir in the boiling water; the batter will be very thin.
3. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each layer comes out clean. Cool the layers in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Wrap each layer in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Make the cream cheese filling and chocolate buttercream (see recipes below). When you're ready to assemble the cake, remove the layers from the refrigerator. If needed, level each layer with a serrated knife or cake leveler.
5. Place the bottom layer on a cake plate. Evenly spread about 3/4 cup of the cream cheese filling over the cake, leaving about 1/2 inch margin around the edges. Top with the second layer and repeat. Finally, top with the third layer. Apply a thin layer of chocolate buttercream over the top and sides of the cake. This is only a crumb coat, so it doesn't need to be perfect. Refrigerate the cake for about 30 minutes.
6. Remove the cake from the refrigerator and apply a final layer of chocolate buttercream, as well as any desired embellishments.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 cup (8 oz) cream cheese
3/4 cup (6 oz) butter
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
6 cups (24 oz) powdered sugar
Beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer at medium speed for about one minute. Add the vanilla and beat one minute more. Reduce the mixing speed to low, and add the powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time. Once the sugar is completely incorporated, beat at medium speed for about two minutes or until fluffy.
Chocolate Buttercream
1 cup (8 oz) butter
1 & 3/4 cups (5 oz) natural or dutch-processed cocoa powder
6 cups (24 oz) powdered sugar
1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
In a large bowl, combine the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Beat the butter with an electric mixer at medium speed for about one minute. Reduce the mixing speed to low, and add the sugar/cocoa mixture about 1/2 cup at a time. Halfway through this process, add the milk and vanilla. Once all of the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated, beat at medium speed for about two minutes or until fluffy.
Note: Each of these recipes makes quite a bit of frosting! You could probably get away with half the amount of each (just halve all of the ingredients, and follow the same process), but I usually err on the side of having too much rather than too little. You can always freeze any leftover frosting in an airtight container!