Archive for the ‘chocolate’ Category

chocolate & peanut butter cupcakes with chocolate pb ganache

Posted on: March 8th, 2013 by Two Tiny Kitchens 5 Comments

When a dear friend requested that I bring something peanut butter-chocolate to her baby shower, I immediately thought of this recipe. Anna and I made it last year as an 8-inch triple-layer cake, and I adapted the recipe to make two dozen cupcakes. I was a little concerned that these might be too rich for some people, but they ended up being a big hit at the shower! Every component of these cupcakes is delicious–the cake is moist, the peanut butter frosting I could eat by the spoonful (and did, for breakfast the next day), and the chocolate-peanut butter ganache ties it all together. Whether as a cake or as cupcakes, this recipe is great for a crowd!

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cherry chocolate kisses (& a valentine’s round-up)

Posted on: February 12th, 2013 by Two Tiny Kitchens No Comments

Two treats my husband loves – peanut butter kiss cookies (which, ok, just about everyone loves, but also, everyone knows how to make) AND chocolate covered cherries. So, see how romantic I am, whipping out this recipe for my man just in time for Valentine’s Day? He’d better enjoy them, or I’m gonna be quite disappointed. I know I thought they were tasty (and pretty, too)!  (more…)

triple choclate cupcakes

Posted on: November 29th, 2012 by Two Tiny Kitchens 8 Comments

I can’t believe it has taken me an entire year to post these cupcakes. I made these last Christmas for a fancy tapas dinner party thrown by my sister-in-law, Linsey.  The party was seriously magical! (I posted a picture below, taken by my friend Mara.) Guests were asked to bring small plate dishes, so I brought these cupcakes in mini version. Obviously these cupcakes are a chocolate lover’s dream, but if you’re not so into rich desserts, you might prefer to make them as mini cupcakes too.  (more…)

monster cookies (with brown butter)

Posted on: October 29th, 2012 by Two Tiny Kitchens 5 Comments

Never, ever, ever, let me buy my trick-or-treating candy ahead of time again.  Because it’s half-way gone.  And it’s only been three days.  I can see the way the scales are turning this week.  So, I’ve surrendered to the inevitable.  It’s better just to finish the bag off quickly, right?  The faster you eat, the fewer the calories?

Well, as long as we’re stuck inside waiting for this big storm to come and go, I thought I’d get rid of some of the candy by baking and sharing these monster cookies.  They are really just a fabulously rich and chewy recipe for brown butter chocolate chip cookies, one of my new favorites!  (Brown butter should be added to the ranks of chocolate and bacon, it can make almost anything better.)  So, throw in some Kraft caramels and some orange m&ms and you’ve got a real, bona fide Halloween treat!   (more…)

chocolate oreo (birthday) cake with cream filling

Posted on: August 21st, 2012 by Two Tiny Kitchens 9 Comments

Happy Birthday, Sam! My little boy turned 9-years-old last week, can’t believe how time flies. Naturally, I love every family birthday!  I am always excited for an excuse to bake the most fabulous cake my loved one can possibly imagine. We spend lots of time during the year dreaming up complicated, exotic, and decadent variations. So what did my sweet little Sammy request this year? My most creative child, with the seemingly limitless palate? “The white bread cake with white frosting, please.” Yup, that translates to white cake with whip cream on top.  Hmmmmm… not so exciting. Especially since Ashley, along with other long-lost family members, was coming to visit for the week. We had the chance to bake together in the very same tiny kitchen, and he requests white.   (more…)

ice box cake

Posted on: July 20th, 2012 by Two Tiny Kitchens 12 Comments

Once it gets hot outside, I’ll do anything to satisfy my baking itch without turning on the oven–our tiny NY apartment heats up so fast that it’s just not worth it to bake cookies. I may never have tried this classic if not for my mother-in-law, who loves to order it at Magnolia Bakery. I’m so glad I did: It totally satisfied my baking itch and my sweet tooth.

One more thing: If you’re skeptical that four ingredients can magically turn into something rich and delicious overnight, I hear you. I was skeptical too. But I shouldn’t have been! Let’s just say my skepticism vanished when I ate my first piece for breakfast. And another for lunch. And then maybe at 2 a.m. for a late night snack . . . and then for brunch the next afternoon.
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chocolate caramel oatmeal squares

Posted on: June 19th, 2012 by Two Tiny Kitchens 9 Comments

Ashley and I both made these bars independently.  When I asked her how she liked them, she said it perfectly, “This is what a cookie bar should be!” We’ve both noticed that all too often the cookie bars at bakeries, delis, etc, just don’t match the expectation we have in our heads. Could be a hidden and unwelcome fruitiness, maybe not enough chocolate, just plain dry, or outright bland. Well these chocolate caramel bars will NOT disappoint. They have plenty of caramel, chocolate,  butter and gooey goodness, along with just the right amount of crunch. See? Everything a cookie bar should be.    (more…)

german chocolate cake cookies

Posted on: May 9th, 2012 by Two Tiny Kitchens 1 Comment

Have you ever noticed how how polarizing nuts can be!?  Seriously, I feel as though everyone I ask either LOVES the nuts in baked goods, or HATES the nuts.  A personal example – my 8-year-old Sam is the LEAST picky eater I’ve ever met.  Seriously, when  he was home last week with pneumonia I wanted to baby him and asked what he’d like to eat – ice cream, chicken soup, anything his heart desired.  What does he request? Brussel sprouts!  Honestly, when we lived in Japan he’d try every strange smelling/looking food that the rest of us backed away from.  We’d all watch in awe while he sampled raw octopus, fermented soybean, and pickled plums, just to name a few.  The one thing Sam absolutely refuses to eat?  Baked goods with nuts!  Is there anyone who is feels lukewarm on this issue?  (more…)

chocolate peanut butter pie with cookie crust

Posted on: May 1st, 2012 by Two Tiny Kitchens 7 Comments

Baked was one of the first bakeries I tried when we moved to Brooklyn, and it remains a favorite, from their Deep Dark Brownie to their Sweet & Salty Cake. They come up with the best flavor combos, so it’s no surprise that this peanut butter & cream cheese & hot fudge pie was thought up by Baked. For me, making this pie was a no-brainer: Whenever peanut butter and cream cheese come together, it’s a winning combo (like these peanut butter banana cupcakes). Be forewarned, this pie is pretty decadent. Personally, that’s what drew me in, but if you tend to be easily overwhelmed by rich desserts, you may want to try skipping the chocolate layer between the crust and the peanut butter, or halving the recipe and making it in a tart pan.   (more…)

snickers cake

Posted on: March 28th, 2012 by Two Tiny Kitchens 7 Comments

So, let me just tell you right up front, there are no snickers in this cake.  BUT, there are are nuts, chocolate, and ooey, gooey caramel.  All the good stuff, so… close enough!?  The kids love this cake with the surprise inside.  No frosting necessary, so it would make a good birthday cake.  (I think that sometimes the ice cream and the frosting fight each other, am I alone?)   But whether it’s for a birthday, or just for satisfying your sweet tooth, I do recommend serving with a healthy dollop of ice cream or whipping cream.  Quick, easy, delicious!   (more…)