Tag: brownies

Brookies and Kitchen Creativity

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date June 15, 2018

This past week I had my first experience with brookies. In case you don’t know, a brookie is part brownie, part cookie. The recipe I used had a layer of brownie topped with a layer of sugar cookie. I add in some mini M&Ms and rainbow sprinkles. People loved them! This experience got me to thinking of all the different kinds of brookies you could make.

The recipe I used is based on cookie mixes, so I’ll start there.

Brookie Layer 1: The Brownie

I used a dark chocolate brownie mix with miniature M&Ms mixed in, but you could use any brownie mix and any mix-ins (or none) you desire. In fact, it could be fun to experiment with blondies or other-than-chocolate-flavored brownies.

Follow the instructions for the brownie mix.
Add mix-ins (see list below for suggestions) if you wish
Spread over the bottom of a 13×9-inch pan that has been coated with cooking spray.

Brookie Layer 2: The Cookie

I used a sugar cookie mix with miniature M&Ms and rainbow sprinkles mixed in, but you could use any cookie mix and any mix-ins (or none) you desire. In fact, see notes below for some other cookie mixes that could be fun.

Follow the instructions for the cookie mix.
Add mix-ins (see list below for suggestions) if you wish
Drop by spoonfuls on top of the brownie batter.

Bake about 40 minutes or until the brownies are set and the exposed cookies are lightly golden brown. Cool for an hour and a half before serving. Cut into five by four rows.

Suggested Mix-Ins

These are just suggestions. Feel free to be as creative as your taste buds will let you be.

Mini M&Ms
Chopped nuts
Shredded coconut
Rainbow sprinkles
Chocolate jimmies
White chocolate chips
Chocolate chips
Peanut butter chips
Butterscotch chips
Toffee bits
Miniature peanut butter cups
Caramel bits
Butterfinger candy bits
Crushed Oreo cookies
Craisins

Suggested Cookie Mixes

I’m listing cookie mixes because that is the easy way to go, but you could just as easily use from scratch brownie and cookie mixes and get even more creative.

Chocolate chip cookie mix
Double chocolate chip cookie mix
Oatmeal cookie mix
Snicker Doodle cookie mix
Gingerbread cookie mix
Lemon cookie mix
Chocolate crinkle cookie mix
Peanut butter cookie mix
White chip macadamia nut cookie mix
Molasses cookie mix
Salted caramel

Unleash Your Kitchen Creativity

Not only can you get creative with your brownie and cookie base, as well as your mix-ins, you can get creative with how you form these brookies. Traditionally, they are a sheet cookie. But you could layer them in muffin or mini-muffin tins, as well.

The possibilities are mind-boggling. I’m definitely going to give some of these ideas a try! How about you?

Tags brownies, Cookies, Desserts

Creative Cookery Product Reviews Taste Tests Video Podcast

August 2017 Foodstirs Kit – Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 16, 2018

Carma’s Cookery Foodstirs Series, Part 1

August 2017 Kit – Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes

I’ve had my eyes on Foodstirs for awhile for three reasons:

One of the founders is Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy from the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The kits are very creative, which I believe helps home cooks unleash their kitchen creativity easily and safely
The kits use organic ingredients

I purchased a three-month subscription. Today’s post is for the first kit I received, which were Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes. I made them for a house-warming party I hosted and they were a hit.

Extra Ingredients You’ll Need

The kit comes with all the non-perishable ingredients you’ll need to make the brownies. What you’ll need to add to the list are these perishable ingredients:

Butter
Eggs
Oil
Yogurt

Unboxing Video + Baking and Display Images

What I Liked About Foodstirs Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes Kit

The kit comes with pretty much everything you’ll need, including a frosting dispenser and cupcake liners. The frosting mix is da bomb. I pretty much could just eat that (and I did with the leftovers!). The brownies were tasty, as well.

What I Didn’t Like About Foodstirs Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes Kit

The kit made eight cupcakes, which turned out to be just the right number for my party. However, under normal circumstances, I probably would have wanted to make more.

I’m not sure if it because the mix is organic, but I found the brownies to be a bit heavier than I like them. I like my brownies to be a little more cake-like in density.

Overall Thoughts on Foodstirs Campfire S’mores Brownie Cupcakes Kit

This was a fun kit to make and resulted in a tasty treat that my company loved. Although the assembly was a bit trickier than it looked, so I probably wouldn’t buy another kit. That said, it certainly was fun the first time!

Who Is This Kit Suitable for?

I think that this kit would be good for parents to make with their kids, as well as adults who want to present a different kind of treat at a potluck, but don’t have a lot of time to get creative on their own.

Score: 4 out of 5

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Tags baking, brownies, food delivery service, Foodstirs

Taste Tests Video Podcast

Product Review: Ready to Bake, Part 2, Brownies

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 9, 2016

This is the second in a three-part series demonstrating and reviewing Ready to Bake’s liquid batter product line. In this post, I bake the brownies. In my last post, I baked blueberry muffins.

Ready to Bake Brownies Batter Overview

Summary
Inspired by a French recipe for brownies, this Ready to Bake Liquid Batter comes in a convenient pouch and can keep in your cupboard for up to a year. The Brownies batter makes about nine brownies in an 8″ x 8″ pan and requires no additional ingredients.

Price: $3.99 and is available on Amazon.com

Who is Ready to Bake Brownies Liquid Batter suitable for?

Not a baker? Not a problem! This brownie batter is ready to go. Just grease your pan, open the pouch and pour in the batter. Pop it in the oven and you’ve got fresh-baked brownies in under 30 minutes. This product is good for chocolate lovers who are uber-busy, don’t like or know how to bake, or have limited kitchen resources.

Video Demo & Review

Overall Thoughts

The initial taste of these brownies, as mentioned in the video, is very chocolate-y. However, I (and my fiance) found that there was a strange aftertaste not to our liking. However, the folks at my work didn’t seem to have a problem with them at all.

The product was quick and easy to use (even easier than the blueberry muffins), so if you like brownies, and don’t like to bake from scratch, you might want to give this batter a try to see if you like their flavor.

Tags baking, brownies, liquid batter, Ready to Bake