Every year I try to bake some treat with the kids for Christmas. Some are traditional recipes like Hello Dollies or Peanut Butter Fudge, but I also like to throw in a fresh, new one now and again.
One year the kids and I made a green Rice Krispie tree with gumdrops set on it with icing to mimic ornaments. Some years we have made sugar cookies or gingerbread men. This year we made gingerbread men and reindeer cookies. Now we are on to Christmas brownies.
Oh, delicious brownies. Who can resist them? It is even better when they are Mocha Brownies. I have posted my mocha recipe before. Today I made my Mocha Brownies 3 different ways for Christmas. Lauren even helped! Here is the recipe for the Mocha Brownies.
Mocha Brownie Recipe
3 1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter (I use salted butter.)
4 TB water
4 eggs
4 tsp. vanilla extract
2 2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. instant coffee
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. water
Stir together sugar, butter and water. Add in eggs and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt to the wet mixture. In a separate small bowl or ramekin, combine coffee, cinnamon and 1 Tbsp water. Mix well and add to the brownie mixture.
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| Reindeer Brownie Wedges
To make the Reindeer Brownie Wedges, make the Mocha Brownie recipe according to the directions. Grease two 8-inch cake pans. Fill pans 1/2 way full with brownie mixture. Bake at 350 degree for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
 Run knife around the edge of the the brownies when they come out of the oven. Let cool for 10 minutes before gently popping brownies out on a counter or cutting board. Cut each 8-inch circle of brownies into 8 wedges.
Using icing to help them stick, place red hots for a nose, candy pieces for eyes and pretzels for antlers. I used regular Pillsbury icing from a can.
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| M & M Brownies |
Make these festively colored brownies by making the Mocha Brownies recipe as directed. Spray mini-muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray. Fill muffin tins 3/4 of the way full. Gently press green and red M & Ms on the top of each brownie. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
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| Brownie Bite Surprise
To make these brownie bites, make the Mocha Brownie recipe according to the directions. Spray mini-muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray. Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full. Press a Hershey’s Kiss, Hug or Peppermint Kiss gently into the center of each brownie. Cover the Hershey’s Kiss with a small amount of additional batter. Bake at 350 degree for 18-20 minutes or until cooked through. Cool completely before removing from tins.
I hope you all enjoy these treats as well as your family and friends as we celebrate the birth of our Savior this week! Merry Christmas everyone!
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