Living La Vida Holoka


Mini Reindeer Brownie Bites

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Turn a box of brownies into adorable red-nosed reindeer with this Mini Reindeer Brownie Bites recipe! Chocolate frosting, candy eyes, cinnamon drops, and pretzels transform brownies into the cutest Christmas treats!

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My husband can take a box of brownies and turn them into the most magical brownies you’ve ever tasted in your life (no, not like those brownies)!  They’ve got a perfect outer edge and a deliciously chewy inside!  And somehow, he manages to be consistent every single time!  So I’ve basically left brownie duty to the master.  That was until about a week ago when I finally learned some of his tricks!

I had a craving for brownies, but I wanted to make them festive for the holidays (and to get me in the mood to start my long list of holiday baking).  Thankfully, the brownie master just happened to be home from work the day I made these!

When I asked my husband how he makes his perfect brownies, he told me to bake them for the longest time on the box.  Basically, bake the brownies for the longest recommended time for the type of pan you’re using. 

Make sense?  No? 

Say, you’re using a standard, non-stick brownie pan and the box of brownies says to bake them at 325º for 30-35 minutes.  Bake the brownies for the full 35 minutes and don’t open the door while they’re baking!  There’s definitely something to that!  Because after 35 minutes in the oven, the brownies had a perfect crust on the top and chewy bottoms!  It was hard not to eat any before decorating them!


But instead of using a regular brownie pan, I made these brownies in a mini muffin pan to create small, brownie bites.  I used the same time and temperature as a regular brownie pan.  Then, I turned them into reindeer with chocolate frosting, candy eyes and cinnamon drops to create the face and broken pretzels for antlers.  So stinkin’ cute!  And my husband said they were really good, too!

Moms, if your little ones want to get in on the baking action, these are an easy Christmas treat they can help you make!  Just frost the brownie bites with chocolate frosting.  Then, let the kids decorate them with the candy eyes and cinnamon drops.  They might need a little help pushing in the pretzel antlers, but they’ll love turning brownies into reindeer!

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Mini Reindeer Brownie Bites

Mini Reindeer Brownie Bites

Ingredients

  • Non-stick cooking spray
  • 1 box brownie mix
  • Chocolate frosting
  • Candy eyes
  • Red cinnamon drops
  • Pretzels

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Prepare brownie mix according to package. Spoon the brownie batter into the mini muffin pan, filling the pan almost to the top.
  3. Bake the brownies for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the brownies.
  4. Allow the brownies to cool completely. Then, carefully remove them from the pan. You might have to use a knife to loosen the sides and lift the bottom, but they should come out easily after that.
  5. Frost the top of the brownies. Then, add two candy eyes and a red cinnamon drop to make a face.
  6. Break up a pretzel and stick two pieces into the brownie to create antlers.
  7. Enjoy with a big glass of milk or eggnog!
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I’m really only a baker around the holidays.  The rest of the year….not so much.  That’s why I usually stick to box mixes and premade cookie dough.  But if you have a favorite homemade brownie mix recipe, I’m sure it would make these brownie bites taste even better than they already do! 

These reindeer brownies would be adorable for a class party or make an easy treat to enjoy during a holiday movie marathon!  Add them to your holiday cookie trays or leave a couple out for Santa! Who could possibly resist an adorable red-nosed reindeer?  Especially when it’s made out of brownies! 


Did you make these Mini Reindeer Brownie Bites? Share it on social media using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!  Merry Christmas! 

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If you like this holiday recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

Gooey Halloween Candy Cookie Bars

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Have leftover Halloween candy from trick-or-treating?  Chop it up and turn it into these Gooey Halloween Candy Cookie Bars that are oozing with chocolate, caramel, nougat, and nuts!

This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.


Happy Halloween!  You can’t deny that there’s a sense of playfulness in the air today!  It’s going to be a fun day of Halloween parades, kids in costumes, and of course, candy!  Lots and lots of candy!  Man, I miss the days of coming home from school, scarfing down dinner, and heading out to trick-or-treat with my friends.

I remember ditching my cute pumpkin pal for a pillowcase.  Some years, we’d even have to go home and dump out the candy we got to head out into the neighborhood again!  We always knew which houses gave out full-size candy bars, extra handfuls of candy, money, and we even got some comic books in our bags! We had candy for days (more like enough to last until next Halloween) tucked away in large bowls on the top of the fridge!


These days, it seems like trunk-or-treat and organized Halloween events have taken over trick-or-treating.  We probably get less than handful of trick-or-treaters each year.  Instead of stocking up on bulk bags of candy, I opt for one assorted bag of mini chocolate bars.  And, most of the time, we end up with leftovers!

I try to stay away from sweets as much as possible, but I ended up buying a bag of assorted chocolate candy this year with Snickers and Twix bars in it this year.  Big mistake!  Those are two of my favorite chocolate candies!

A tasty way to use up leftover Halloween candy!

 
Whether you have leftover candy or you’re stealing it from your kids (don’t deny it – you know you do it!), I figured out a sweet way to use some of it up!  Gooey Halloween Candy Cookie Bars!  I basically tweaked the recipe for my Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie, removed the chocolate chips and pecans, and added chopped Halloween candies, and ditched the cast iron skillet for a 9″ x 9″ baking pan.

The result is a thick, cookie-like bar.  As the bars bake, the chopped up candies melt down into it.  You get a gooey mixture of chocolate, caramel, nougat, and nuts in each delicious bar!  If you’re like me and kind of bummed that spooky season is coming to an end, this is a delicious way to keep it going a little longer!

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Gooey Halloween Candy Cookie Bars

Gooey Halloween Candy Cookie Bars

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 cups mini Halloween candy bars, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350º. Grease a 9" x 9" pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. In a mixing bowl, add softened butter and sugars. Beat until fluffy.
  3. Add the eggs and vanilla to the sugar mixture and beat until combined.
  4. In a medium bowl, add flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  5. Gradually beat in dry ingredients to wet ingredients.
  6. Fold in chopped Halloween candy bars.
  7. Spoon cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared pan and evenly spread it out.
  8. Bake for 45 minutes or until edges of the cookie are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
  9. Optional: while the cookie bars are warm, press more chopped Halloween candy into the top of the cookie bars.
  10. Allow bars to cool completely before cutting and serving.
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What a sweet way to end spooky season!  Seriously.  These have been so good with a tall glass of milk at night.  I need someone to come and take these away from me!  Happy Halloween, indeed!

Did you make these Gooey Halloween Candy Cookie Bars with your leftover Halloween candy? Make sure to share your pics on Instagram using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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If you like this Halloween recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

Spiked Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

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This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

This Spiked Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate is a cozy cup of deliciousness made with Baileys Pumpkin Spice, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, and rich chocolate!


PSL lovers, meet your new favorite hot beverage!  I’ve never tried pumpkin hot chocolate before, but it’s been on my list!  Since we had planned to paint pumpkins this past weekend, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to mix up this recipe.  We painted our pumpkins.  Then, I sipped my cocoa while watching Psycho.  It was the perfect drink for a Friday night during spooky season!

Now, this isn’t just any homemade hot chocolate – which, on its own, is pretty tasty.  This homemade hot chocolate has pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice mixed into it.  You could stop right there and have an amazing, hot, fall beverage!  But I went one step better and finished it off with Baileys Pumpkin Spice.  Say what?!!


Baileys is probably one of my favorite adult beverages!  It’s creamy, it’s delicious, and it’s perfect to mix into hot drinks!  While I was at my parents’ house a couple weekends ago, I noticed a bottle of Baileys Pumpkin Spice sitting on the kitchen counter.  PUMPKIN SPICE!  I had to try it, so I poured a sip’s worth into a glass.  

I immediately knew I needed my own bottle!  So while I was hanging out in the kitchen, enjoying my sip of Baileys Pumpkin Spice, I asked my Mom,”How would you drink this?”  She suggested over ice or in hot chocolate.  YES!  I had already planned on making a pumpkin hot chocolate recipe, but my mom’s suggestion was a game changer!


This recipe made two large and delicious mugfuls of pumpkin spice hot chocolate.   Start by heating milk in a saucepan.  Then, stir in pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, sugar, and vanilla.  Once that’s all mixed up, add a chopped up bar of chocolate (oh yeah!) and stir it until it melts.


Pour the hot chocolate into mugs, then stir in the Baileys Pumpkin Spice.  It’s creamy, pumpkin goodness that adds just the right amount of extra pumpkin flavor to this drink. It’s also just enough booze to give you that cozy, relaxed feeling!


Last, but not least, I topped off the hot chocolate with whipped cream and a sprinkle of shaved chocolate (save a tiny piece of the chocolate bar and use a grater to create shavings)!  It’s a rich, decadent drink that’ll keep you warm and toasty! 

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Spiked Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Spiked Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups milk
  • 5 tbsp. pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. pumpkin spice
  • 4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate bar, chopped
  • 2 oz. Baileys Pumpkin Spice, per mug
  • Toppings: whipped cream, chocolate shavings

Instructions

  1. Heat milk over medium heat in a small saucepan. Stir occasionally until it starts to simmer.
  2. Lower heat. Then, add the pumpkin puree, vanilla, sugar, and pumpkin spice. Continue stirring until ingredients are incorporated.
  3. Add the semi-sweet chocolate, stirring until all of the chocolate has melted.
  4. Pour the hot chocolate into mugs. Then, stir in 2 oz. Baileys Pumpkin Spice per mug.
  5. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, then enjoy!
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The gorgeous, glazed mug that I used was as big as my head! As soon as I squirted whipped cream on top, it puddled out into a creamy foam.  It was kind of perfect to have a touch of cream in every sip.  It’s a very rich drink, though, so sip slowly and enjoy!  


Did you make this Spiked Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate? Make sure to share your pics on Instagram using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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If you like this pumpkin recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

Chocolate Hazelnut & Strawberry Grilled Dessert Pizza

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This Chocolate Hazelnut & Strawberry Grilled Dessert Pizza is topped with chocolate hazelnut spread, fresh strawberries, chopped hazelnuts, and mint!  It’s sure to become your new favorite summertime dessert!

grilled dessert pizza
It’s officially grilled pizza season again and our Friday night pizza nights have made a comeback!  This year, we plan on laying off the heavier sauces and cheeses and opting for lighter pizzas (like this Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza).  But pizza night is back, baby!  It’s time to fire up the charcoal grill and make good use out of our outdoor cooking station! 

We’ve been grilling our pizzas outside during the summer for years now.  When our garden is bursting with herbs, tomatoes, and peppers, the topping combinations become endless for us!  But one thing I really wanted to try was a grilled dessert pizza made with chocolate hazelnut spread and strawberries.

grilled dessert pizza
I had some pizza dough to use up in our freezer. My sister and I had grilled pizza for lunch one day.  I decided to experiment with the other and made an incredibly delicious dessert pizza that will make an amazing summer dessert! 

Just like making traditional pizza on the grill, I stretched and oiled the dough first.  Then, I heated the grill to medium and placed the oiled dough on the grates.  You’ll know when it’s time to flip when the dough bubbles and you get nice grill marks.

grilled dessert pizza

The perfect grilled dessert pizza for pizza night!

 
Flip your dough and continue cooking. Now, if you were making a traditional grilled pizza, this is where you would add your sauce, cheese, and toppings. But since we’re making a dessert pizza, we’re going to add everything right before we slice and serve it.

Instead of sauce, I spread chocolate hazelnut spread on the dough.  Then, I topped it with sliced strawberries, chopped hazelnuts, fresh mint, and a dusting of powdered sugar.

It’s entirely optional, but I also sprinkled the warm dough with Flavor God’s Buttery Cinnamon Roll seasoning (you could also use cinnamon sugar).  It kind of made the crust taste like a doughnut!

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Chocolate Hazelnut & Strawberry Grilled Dessert Pizza

Chocolate Hazelnut & Strawberry Grilled Dessert Pizza

Ingredients

  • 1 store bought pizza dough, brought to room temperature and cut into two pieces
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
  • 1 cup sliced strawberries
  • 2-3 tbsp. chopped hazelnuts
  • Fresh mint, chopped
  • Optional: cinnamon sugar seasoning, powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
  2. Divide the dough into two equal pieces. Stretch the dough (it doesn't need to be a perfect circle) and brush each side with oil.
  3. Place the dough on the grill and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the dough begins to bubble and you have nice grill marks.
  4. Flip the dough and continue cooking the other side. When the dough is fully cooked, remove from heat.
  5. If desired, sprinkle the warm dough with cinnamon sugar. Then, spread each piece of dough with chocolate hazelnut spread.
  6. Follow with the sliced strawberries, chopped hazelnuts, and fresh mint.
  7. Finish the dessert pizza with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, if desired.
  8. Cut the pizza into slices and serve immediately.
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grilled dessert pizza
This dessert pizza is best when it’s enjoyed the same day.  Serve it with a nice rosé for a delicious outdoor brunch or romantic evening on the patio!  If you really want to get extra with this recipe, add a dollop of homemade whipped cream on top!  

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If you like this dessert recipe, you might enjoy these as well:


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