Nutella Monkey Muffins

 

 

So I need to make a confession to y'all.  I am soooo not a breakfast eater.  My breakfast consists of a really big glass of sweet tea most mornings.  But I do have this little precious 2 year old that likes to eat before noon so I am always on the lookout for healthy, kid-friendly breakfast options!  This muffin ~ or cupcake as she calls it ~ has been a big hit!
 

NUTELLA MONKEY MUFFINS

YIELD: 6 dozen

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 bananas
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/3 cup Nutella
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

COOKING DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter & brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until well incorporated after each one. Beat in the bananas, peanut butter, Nutella, milk & vanilla. Combine the flour & baking soda; add to the creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in the chocolate chips.
2. Fill paper-lined mini muffin cups 3/4 of the way full ~ I used a 1/2 tablespoon measuring spoon. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for about 5 minutes in the pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cupcakes are freezer friendly: to freeze simply wrap the muffins in foil & freeze for up to 3 months. To use frozen muffins: thaw at room temperature

 

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies #SurpriseRecipeSwap

Welcome to another round of the Surprise Recipe Swap!!  This month I was honored to get to pick a recipe from Jessica over at Simple, Clean & Homemade. 



I was actually torn between two of Jessica's recipes ~ she has so many great ones to pick from!  I finally decided to try out her Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies.  Y'all know how bad of a sweet tooth I have, it's impossible for me to pass up a good dessert!  These cookies had a great flavor, the only thing that I wasn't a huge fan of was that the cookies were crispy.  I'm a soft & chewy cookie lover.  But I still ate them! ;)

The chocolate frosting, now that was awesome!  The Mister thought it tasted like chocolate mousse & he kept sticking his finger in the bowl while I was frosting the cookies!  For someone who doesn't have a sweet tooth, him eating straight from the bowl is a huge sign of approval!! :)

 

CHOCOLATE THUMBPRINT COOKIES

YIELD: about 3 dozen

 

INGREDIENTS FOR COOKIES:

• 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 2 cups flour
• sprinkles (optional)

 

INGREDIENTS FOR FROSTING:

• 4 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 & 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup milk

COOKING DIRECTIONS:

1. Cream the butter and vanilla together in a large bowl. Slowly add the powdered sugar and salt. When combined, add the cornstarch and flour.
2. Place the dough in to the refrigerator for at least two hours.
3. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll the dough into 1/2 tablespoon sized balls. {OPTIONAL} Roll all but the top of the dough ball in the sprinkles.
4. Bake at 350 degrees on an ungreased baking sheet for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes, make an indentation in each cookie ~ I used my 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon. Continue baking for another 5-8 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack. Frost when cooled.
6. FOR THE FROSTING ~ In a large bowl, add the butter and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.  Add the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla & salt. With the electric mixer on low, add the milk a little at a time until the frosting is the desired consistency.  Mix on high 2-3 minutes.   

 

 

Just in case y'all were wondering, Jessica's Garlic Naan Bread was the runner up recipe I was deciding between!  I'm pretty confident that it will still be making an appearance in the Test Kitchen soon! :)

 

 

Interested in joining the Surprise Recipe Swap?  We'd love to have you!!  Find out more here:

Southwestern Pasta Casserole

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING Y'ALL!!!

Today I am over at Love Bakes Good Cakes sharing a wonderfully tasty & easy dinner option!  My friend Jamie is in the middle of moving cross country so myself & a few friends have hi-jacked her blog while she's on the road!! ;)

Head on over & check out the recipe!  Here's a sneaky peek for ya!!