Peppermint Bon Bon

A childhood favorite, this peppermint bon bon is sure to bring back many happy memories!  And eating it in a cone really put this one over the top!  Yum!

2 cups soy vanilla frozen dessert
2 tbsp peppermint syrup
1 tsp vanilla soy milk
green/neon green food coloring

3 tbsp Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

Optional: Cake cone

Makes: four large cones

1: Blend all ingredients together (except chocolate chips) until smooth.  I blended half of the ingredients, then added the other half in so as not to overheat my blender. 

2: Add chocolate chips and pulse a few times, but don't blend too long because you don't want the ice cream to turn brown!

Note: I noticed the longer I blended, the warmer the mixture became until it was the consistency of a shake.  I chose to put this treat into the freezer (in an air-tight container) for a few hours to harden it up again before I scooped it.  Also, the food coloring is optional, but I added it in for visual appeal... looks so minty!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Wafer Cookies

Super, super sweet... like, toothache sweet!  Delicious with a glass of vanilla soy milk!

3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup Earth Balance
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg replacer (1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 water)
1 tbsp soymilk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup chocolate chips

1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2: Cream together Earth Balance and peanut butter

3: Add in both sugars, egg replacer, soymilk and vanilla

4: Next, add in flour, baking powder and salt, then fold in chocolate chips

5: Form into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet

6: Use a fork to press cookies and bake for 10-12 minutes

7: Let cookies cool for up to 20 minutes to allow them to harden a bit

Red Velvet Chocolate Brownie

 Loooooooooooooooove!!  I honestly may go into a sugar coma... so chewy delicious! 
★★★★!

Dry ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup cocoa
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Wet ingredients:
1 cup vanilla soy milk
2 egg replacers (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water = 1 egg)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp vanilla extract
20 drops red food coloring
1 cup boiling water

1: Preheat oven to 350°F
2: Mix all Dry Ingredients together in a medium bowl
3: Add all wet ingredients (except the boiling water) and beat until completely smooth, about 2 minutes
4: Slowly stir in boiling water... the batter will be extremely thin, that's okay!
5: Pour into a greased, floured pan
6: Bake for 30-35 minutes

Cool completely and frost.

Chocolate Hazelnut Snowballs

Dough ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 package of Rapid Rise Yeast
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup Soy Milk
1/2-3/4 cup water
1 tbsp Earth Balance
1 tsp nutmeg

Additional ingredients:
powdered sugar
Divine Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle bar

1/2 quart vegetable oil

1: Mix Rapid Rise Yeast with sugar and 1/2 cup warm water.  Set aside for 20 minutes to rise
2: Add all remaining ingredients and mix completely
3: Knead and add flour until dough is no longer sticky
4: Cover and set aside for 15 minutes, allowing dough to rise a bit more

 5: Roll dough into one-inch balls

6: Cut up several bars of the chocolate truffle

 7: Add one piece to each dough ball and roll until covered

8: Fry the dough balls on medium heat in a small saucepan, turning until lightly browned

9: Pour about 1/2 cup-1 cup powdered sugar into a bowl

10: Roll balls immediately while hot into the powdered sugar and cover completely

11: Serve warm

 These treats can be stored in an airtight container until ready to serve.  Simply warm them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

Definitely an experiment this was!  Next time I think I may try to make it a bit thicker.  Very delicious... a treat!

1 cup soy vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup Silk very vanilla soy milk
1/4 cup peanut butter
8 ice cubes
six crushed chocolate covered peanut butter sticks
-or-
1/4 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1/2 cup broken Chick-O-Sticks
-or-
1/4 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1/3 cup peanuts

1: Blend all ingredients together... add more ice if you like your smoothie thicker

Chocolate Peppermint Malt

1 cup So Delicious Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
1/2 cup Silk Very Vanilla Soy Milk
1 tsp peppermint syrup

1: Add all ingredients into a blender (I like to chop up the "ice cream" so it blends easier)

2: ...and blend!

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Sticks

"Nobody better lay a finger on my..." chocolate covered peanut butter stick!  ;)

1 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tbsp Earth Balance
1 tbsp vanilla extract
8-10 mini Chick-O-Sticks

Makes 8-10 candies

1: In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, Earth Balance and vanilla on low until completely mixed

2: While hot, pour a spoonful of the chocolate mixture on a plate or flat surface and roll each Chick-O-Stick in it until they are completely covered

3: Place on wax paper or aluminum foil until chocolate has completely hardened
4: Wrap each piece in wax/foil individually.  I put mine in the freezer and take one out for a treat every now and then.  Very sugary,  but satisfies the sweet tooth!

Chocolate Chip Frappe

So it was midnight and my Bear challenged me to make a frappe in the style of the Java Chip flavor at my favorite coffee chain...and I gladly accepted!  It's a work in progress, but I'd say it turned out delightful for a first try!

1 6oz cup of coffee
1/2 cup Silk Very Vanilla soy milk
1 tbsp hot cocoa
10-12 ice cubes
2 tbsp Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

Optional: Hershey

Tools: Blender & Coffee Maker (or use instant, if you'd like)

Makes: 1 beverage

1: Make a 6 oz cup of coffee.  I like to use my own coffee with the Ekobrew (highly recommend!!!):

2: Put everything (minus the chocolate chips) in the blender.  If you have the time to think about this in advance, cool the coffee in the refrigerator for a bit before you make this... it's essential for having more of a slushy drink

3: When ice is completely blended, add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times so as to keep some of the chocolate chips chunky

4: If you really like chocolate, add a bit of Hershey's syrup on top for fun!

Note: Get creative!  Add some vanilla, peppermint or any other flavors that you might like with chocolate (peanut butter?)...  :)

S'mores

Not going to lie, I ate four squares of these... and I'm not even that into sweets!  So much fun watching the marshmallows balloon up in the microwave!  This is a perfect mini "cooking" project to do with the kiddies.

2 Honey Maid honey grahams (generic brands have dairy in them)
2 small scoops of Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
a few Dandies (or Sweet & Sara) vegan marshmallows

Makes: 2 smores squares

1: Break grahams in half and put one scoop of chocolate chips and two marshmallows on each square
2: Place top cracker on and lightly push down

3: Microwave for about 15 seconds and there you have it!

Note: The marshmallow gets huge in the microwave, so if you try to "radiate" (heh heh) this without a top cracker on it, the marshmallow will balloon all over the plate!

*This recipe contains honey.

Double Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa

Oh my yum!  If you're into chocolate, this is perfect for you!  I, myself, am only fond of chocolate at certain times of the month *wink* and this treat fills the bill.  

mug of Silk soy chocolate milk
1 scoop Starbucks Hot Cocoa mix
1 tsp peppermint syrup
bunch of Dandie's marshmallows

Heat soy chocolate milk in microwave or on stovetop until hot (maybe 2 minutes).  Add one scoop cocoa and peppermint and mix thoroughly.  Top with marshmallows!

Vanilla Hot Cocoa

Just another reason to dust that old bag of marshmallows off...  *wink*

1 cup Silk Very Vanilla Soy Milk

2 scoops Starbucks hot cocoa

a bunch of Dandie's marshmallows

Heat very vanilla soy milk in microwave or on stovetop until hot (maybe 2 minutes).  I prefer to heat it on the stovetop and whip it until frothy.  Add two scoops cocoa and mix thoroughly.  Top with marshmallows!

Chocolate Vanilla Float

1/2 cup So Delicious Coconut Milk Chocolate Ice Cream
1/2 cup A&W Cream Soda

You know what to do!  :)

Vanilla Mocha; Keurig-Style

 

1 K-cup sized coffee (I use Ekobrew and fill it with my own coffee!)
1/2 cup very vanilla Silk soy milk
1 tbsp Hershey's syrup

Optional: 1 tsp peppermint or vanilla syrup

1: Add Hershey's syrup (and optional syrups) to the bottom of coffee cup
2: Brew one 8 oz. or 10 oz. cup of coffee

3: Separately, in a pot, add soy milk on medium heat

 4: Whisk the soy milk until it is very foamy.

5: Add to coffee/syrup mix and enjoy!