Sweet Baked Life

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Tag Archives: M&M’s


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Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies

Send an arrow straight through your loved one’s heart with these enticing Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies!

Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies | Sweet Baked Life

With Valentines’ Day right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what wonderful homemade goodies to make your sweetheart, friends, co-workers or family.

And for me, these Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies are the perfect treat make for my boys. They love anything they can have and call “their own”, meaning if I make these cookies in mini cast-iron skillets, they each get their own pan full of soft, sweet, buttery cookies, dotted with rich chocolate M&M’s — all to themselves.

You see, around my home, we each have our favorites when it comes to treats and snacks. For some reason, we never can agree on one thing to buy and share. So when I go shopping, my list can get a bit overwhelming! My husband will ask for his favorite chocolate candy, ice cream, or salty potato chips and the like, and my son does the same thing. Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies | Sweet Baked Life

If I happen to get a special treat for myself, I have to hide it as it will be gobbled up in no time flat. My husband will say something like, “Don’t worry, if I eat all of your {fill in the blank here with my special treat}, I will just go to the store and buy you more”.

Well, that does not work for me. The point is, I like to eat my sweets a little at a time, and savor each and every bite. If I buy a bag of candy, it can literally last me the entire month. Whereas with my hubby and son, well that bag would be gone in one day!

But I can’t really blame them for their love sweets. These guys are my loves and no matter what, I adore spoiling them with my baking adventures as much as I can! This time of year is no exception — time to bring on as many pink, pretty and delicious sweet treats as possible! Or as many as my boys will eat!

Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies | Sweet Baked Life

This is why I like using mini cast-iron skillets to make desserts — we each have our very own skillet filled with goodness! No reason to fight over how many cookies we each get. The only fighting is when the boys have to decide who gets the extra skillet  — and for the most part, they end up sharing it!

My guys loved these Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies. The base is not too sweet – fluffy on the inside with a bit of crunch on the top and sides (just the way we like our cookies!) and the pretty pink milk chocolate M&M’s give the cookies an angelic feel and a blissful taste!

You will send your loved ones over-the-moon with these freshly baked skillet cookies — they will love you forever, and probably ask you for more!

Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies | Sweet Baked Life

VALENTINE MINI SKILLET COOKIES

  • Servings: 4-8
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

By: Sheila | Sweet Baked Life Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies | Sweet Baked Life

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup Valentine Milk Chocolate M&M’s

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray 4 mini cast iron skillets with non-stick spray and set aside. If you skillets are well seasoned, you can skip this step.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.  In a large bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars together until combined and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add vanilla and mix until combined. With the mixer on low-speed, gradually add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Dough will be thick.

Remove the bowl from the mixer. Add the M&M’s and stir with a spoon until incorporated. Evenly divide the dough between 4 small mini cast iron skillets and press down gently to make an even layer. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Cool on a rack. Serve warm or room temperature in either the skillet or remove and cut each cookie into 4 pieces.

Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies | Sweet Baked Life

I hope your day is filled with love and a batch of these Valentine Mini Skillet Cookies!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

xxoo

Sheila


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Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Blondie Pie

What’s your favorite kind of pie? Can I tempt you with a Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Blondie Pie? It’s fun and delicious and definitely my kinda pie! It has a wonderfully soft buttery base sprinkled with pretty peanut butter eggs and dotted with white chocolate chips! And perfect for any springtime celebration!

Peanut Butter White Chocolate Blondie Pie

Turns out my boys were away this past weekend, and when I ventured to the grocery store to pick up a few things to make for myself, I wandered around until I eventually ended up in the Easter aisle (no surprise there!). I spotted these adorable Spec-tacular Eggs — Peanut Butter M&M’s. Now mind you I have had my fair share of M&M’s whether they’re the plain, peanut, almond or pretzel, but I have never had the peanut butter kind before. And I love peanut butter!

Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Blondie Pie

This was my lucky day. You see I usually don’t bake with peanut butter as they guys don’t like it, but I saw a sweet and rare opportunity! I instantly picked up a bag and decided I would make a special treat that included these yummy morsels. Blondies. These would be great tossed into my basic blondie recipe. And I couldn’t wait to get home to make them! After getting all the ingredients ready, I reached for my baking pan. But at that instant something came over me, instead of baking my blondies in rectangular pan and slicing them into squares, I decided to change things up a bit and turn my blondies into a pie. And I’m so glad I did!Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Blondie Pie Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Blondie Pie

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 (9.9 oz) bag M&M Peanut Butter Spec-tacular Eggs candy
1 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Generously spray a 8 or 9-inch glass pie plate with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.

Then, in a large bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugars on medium speed until well combined, about 2 minutes.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition then add the vanilla and mix until well combined. With the mixer on low-speed, gradually add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.  Remove bowl from mixer and add the peanut butter candy eggs and white chocolate chips and stir with a spoon until just combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pie plate and spread evenly with a spatula.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until top is golden brown and set.  Cool on a rack before cutting.

Get ready to grab a slice of this Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Blondie Pie and enjoy the sweet tastes of the season!

Sheila


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Valentine M&M Cookie Bars

Love is in the air this time of year! So get some sweet love baking in your oven with these decadent Valentine M&M Cookie Bars. You see, I decided to give those traditional magic cookie bars a pink and pretty makeover to celebrate the month of love. As these bake, the amazing aromas will fill your home and heart and make you wish it was Valentine’s Day all year ’round!

Valentine M&M Cookie Bars

You definitely won’t be able to resist this layered goodness of a buttery graham cracker crust, layered with sweetened condensed milk, covered with mini marshmallows and pretty chocolate valentine colored M&M’s and topped off with a handful of coconut; then they’re baked until golden browned and gooey!

Valentine M&M Cookie Bars

Valentine M&M Cookie Bars
(recipe adapted from Eagle Brand)

1/2 cup butter, melted
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups mini marshmallows
2 cups (12 oz. pkg.) Valentine M&M’s Chocolate Candy
1/2 cup flaked coconut

Heat your oven to 350 degrees.

In the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan add melted butter. Make sure the butter is distributed evenly in pan. Gently pour graham cracker crumbs over the top and press down lightly with your hands. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs. Layer with half of the marshmallows, M&M’s, the remaining marshmallows and top with the coconut. Press down firmly with your hands.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until the marshmallows and coconut are lightly browned. Cool on wire rack then cut into bars.

Valentine M&M Cookie Bars

Spread the love today with these simply irresistible Valentine M&M Cookie Bars!

Sheila


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Halloween Candy Fudge

Can you believe that Halloween is just around the corner? Not me! At least it’s finally feeling like fall around here! Even though the sun is still shining brightly during the day, there is a definite chill in the air, the leaves are beginning to fall from the trees, and the wind is starting to pick up speed! So now is the perfect time to embrace the season — decorate your home, buy lots of your favorite candy, and whip up a batch of this fun Halloween Candy Fudge! You’ll be in the spirit in no time!

HalloweenFudge1

This fudge is quick, easy and quite tasty! Since I could not find a large bag of the Halloween/Fall colored M&M’s, I purchased the standard plain milk chocolate ones and had my son separate out the M&M’s that were yellow, orange and brown. And to make the fudge a bit more festive, I added some much-loved, ok not by all, Candy Corn. The end result is a smooth creamy chocolate base with a bit of crunch and texture from the candy.

HalloweenFudge2

Halloween Candy Fudge
(recipe adapted from Martha Stewart)

2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
3 cups milk chocolate chips
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups M&M milk chocolate pieces (yellow, orange and brown colored ones)
1/2 cup Candy Corn (optional)

Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Set aside.

Place butter, chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in a medium heat proof bowl set over (not in) a pot of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until chocolate just melts and mixture is combined and warm but not hot, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1-1/4 cup of M&M candy pieces and 1/4 cup of Candy Corn (optional). Transfer mixture to pan and smooth top. Then sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of M&M’s and 1/4 cup of Candy Corn (optional) on top, press down slightly.

HalloweenFudge3

Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours (or you can wrap up and chill overnight). Grab the ends of the parchment paper to lift the fudge out of the pan, then cut into 25 squares. The fudge can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 weeks (in my home, there is no way that it would last that long).

These sweet bite sized Halloween Candy Fudge squares are perfect for nibbling on and a great way to welcome the season!

Sheila