Living La Vida Holoka


You’ll Think You’ve Struck Gold with These St. Patrick’s Day Desserts

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You’ll feel lucky to have these 20 St. Patrick’s Day Desserts on hand to keep your St. Patrick’s Day pinch-free!  Your Irish celebration just got a whole lot sweeter! 


Is St. Patrick’s Day a big deal in your house?  For as long as I can remember, I have always had corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day.  What I can’t remember is having a St. Patrick’s Day inspired dessert to follow.  Our St. Patrick’s Day sweets never really went beyond a slice of Irish Soda Bread toasted with a little butter.  That’s all well and good, but after finding these recipes, I feel like I’ve been seriously missing out! 

For as long as my husband and I have been together, we’ve always had corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day, too.  Occasionally, a nice loaf of rye bread has shown up on the table, too, to make sandwiches.  My husband’s not much of corned beef and cabbage guy.  He thinks eating it once a year is enough.  I, on the other hand, could eat corned beef sandwiches all throughout the year. 

So maybe this year I’ll figure out a way to make our St. Patrick’s Day dinner tradition a little sweeter for him!  After all, I love spoiling him with homemade goodies!  I’ll definitely have enough inspiration to work off of with these 20 St. Patrick’s Day dessert recipes!    

You’ll Think You’ve Struck Gold with these St. Patrick’s Day Desserts
  1. Green Velvet Cheesecake Bars – About A Mom
  2. St. Patrick’s Day Marshmallow Pops – Simply Stacie
  3. Mint Chocolate Cookie Cups – Live Well Bake Often
  4. Shamrock Pretzel Pops – Mommy’s Bundle
  5. Baileys Irish Cream Cupcakes (Non- Alcoholic) – Living Sweet Moments
  6. St. Patrick’s Day Rice Krispie Treats – Barbara Bakes
  7. Peppermint Patty Stuffed Chocolate Cookies – Tastes of Lizzy T
  8. Mint Brookies – Two in the Kitchen
  9. St. Patrick’s Day Mint Brownies – Yesterday On Tuesday
  10. Homemade Andes Mint Chocolate Fudge Recipe – Midwest Modern Momma
  11. St. Patty’s Day Parfait – Sincerely Jean
  12. Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes with Baileys Frosting – Homemade Hooplah
  13. St. Patrick’s Day Jell-o Parfait – Life Love Liz
  14. Leprechaun Balls – Mom Foodie
  15. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie – Barbara Bakes
  16. Sandwich Cookies – Thirty Handmade Days
  17. St. Patrick’s Day Brownie Trifle – The Cookin Chicks
  18. Mint Brownie Ice Cream Push Up Pops – A Pumpkin and a Princess
  19. St. Patrick’s Day Irish Dirt Cakes Recipe – Outnumbered 3 to 1
  20. Grasshopper Marshmallow Pops – Hoosier Homemade

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What’s your favorite St. Patrick’s Day dessert?

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

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Skip the box of chocolate this Valentine’s Day and bake up a batch of these Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts instead!


It seems like I can’t go grocery shopping without seeing an entire aisle devoted to Valentine’s Day this time of year.  But there’s only one reason I keep venturing down these aisles – my husband.  Every year for Valentine’s Day, I buy him the same small box of chocolates.  It’s become a yearly joke between us. 

My husband loves Blue Nose Pitbulls.  So five years ago, when I stumbled across a box of chocolates with a couple of blue pits on it, I knew I had to get it for him.  He ended up loving it so much that he kept the cover of the box.  

Year after year, I kept seeing the same box of chocolates.  So every year, I’ve bought it for him.  This year, I haven’t seen that box of chocolates yet, but I’m determined to find it!  In the meantime, my permanent Valentine gets to help me test out recipes for Heart Day – you know, just in case that box of chocolates doesn’t show up this year!


These chocolate dipped meringue hearts are better than a box of chocolates!

 
During the holidays, I did a lot of baking! Most of it was semi-homemade from cookie mixes, but I did manage to bake a batch of homemade meringues.  I had misplaced my star tip, so I affectionately called my holiday meringues “snowman poop.”  They were vanilla meringue cookies decorated with a snow inspired sprinkle mix.  The cookies turned out so good that I decided to make them again for Valentine’s Day.  This time, I made them into pink hearts and dipped them into dark chocolate.

I figure these cookies will easily keep me from nosing around those Valentine’s Day aisles for myself, as tempting as they may be.  My sweet tooth will stick to meringue.  After all, a plain meringue cookie is only 10 calories.  It might be a little more dipped in dark chocolate, but it’s so worth it.  Especially when you compare it to the candy hanging out in those seasonal aisles in the store!


These cookies are light, crispy, and have a subtle vanilla flavor. You could definitely swap out the vanilla extract for a strawberry or raspberry extract.  I dipped them in dark chocolate because that’s what I had on hand.  Plus, dark chocolate is basically the healthiest chocolate you can consume.  Despite the sweet temptation of the Valentine’s Day season, I’m still trying to keep my healthy eating habits in check. 

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Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

Ingredients

  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
  • Dash of salt
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • Red food coloring
  • 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • Valentine's Day sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Add egg whites to a small bowl and let them come to room temperature, at least 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. In a bowl of a stand mixer, add the egg whites, vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat with a whisk attachment until the eggs become foamy.
  4. Gradually add the sugar. Once the sugar is incorporated, add a couple drops of red food coloring.
  5. Continue mixing on high until glossy and stiff peaks form.
  6. Add the mixture to a piping bag with a round tip. Pipe heart shapes onto the prepared baking sheets.
  7. Bake the meringue cookies in the oven for 45 minutes. Then, turn off the oven and let the meringues sit in the oven for an hour.
  8. Once the meringues are baked, melt the dark chocolate over low heat, stirring continuously until the chocolate is smooth and melted completely.
  9. Dip half of each cookie into the melted chocolate. Then, sprinkle with Valentine's Day sprinkles.
  10. Let the chocolate set in the fridge (or at room temperature) and enjoy!
  11. Store the cookies in a sealed bag or container in a cool, dry place.
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Have a Galentine’s Day gathering coming up or want a special treat for your Valentine?  Whip up a batch of these cookies!  As long as you make sure that your egg whites come to room temperature before whipping up these meringues, you’ll be good to go! 

Don’t forget to share your meringue hearts by tagging me @lavidaholoka and using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats! 

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If you like this Valentine’s Day recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars

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These No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars are the perfect snack for when you’re trying to stay on track with your healthy eating goals, but crave the occasional chocolate treat!


We’re halfway into January and I’ve been doing pretty well with making healthy switches in my diet.  But the one thing I can’t manage to shake is the craving for a snack before bed.  If you’re like me and have read an abundance of diet/healthy lifestyle books, then you know that the debate about snacking before bed hasn’t quite been settled.  Some dietitians say you should cut off eating before a certain time eat night.  Other diets have said you should be eating right up until you go to bed to keep your metabolism lit like a fat burning fire. 

Now, I’m no expert when it comes to dieting, but I hate going to bed hungry.  There’s nothing worse than your growling stomach keeping you awake at night.  So I’m all about that “everything in moderation” business.  If your stomach is still begging you for a bite after dinner, eat something.  Obviously not a full dinner, but a little something-something to stave off the hunger and keep you satisfied.  

I feel the same way about cravings.  Want pizza?  Eat a slice of a pizza (not half a pie).  Want chocolate?  Eat some damn chocolate!  That’s where this recipe comes in.


Okay.  Let me just preface this recipe by saying that it’s health-ish.  I’m not going to tell you that you can scarf down half a baking dish of these bars just because they’re made with almond butter, coconut flour, and dark chocolate.  It goes back to that “everything in moderation” thing.  However, these Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars are made with simple ingredients that definitely have a few added benefits.

Almond butter

Almond butter has healthy fats in it, which is good for heart health.  It’s also full of vitamins and minerals. 

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate may actually have higher amounts of antioxidants than some fruits!  It’s also another heart-healthy food and may lower cholesterol levels. It’s also pretty good for the brain! 

Coconut flour

Coconut flour is a great, gluten-free substitute.  It also may aid in fueling your metabolism and keeping your blood sugar a healthy level.  Coconut flour is also high in fiber, so it’s good for digestion. 

Oh, and have I mentioned that they’re no-bake?  So when that craving for something sweet hits, you can whip up a batch of these bars in no time!

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No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars

Ingredients

  • 1 cup creamy almond butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 12 oz. dark chocolate chunks, 1/2 cup set aside
  • Optional: 1/4 cup almonds, chopped
  • Coconut oil, to grease the pan

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, add the almond butter, coconut flour, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium until well combined.
  2. Stir in 1/2 cup of the dark chocolate chunks.
  3. Grease an 8x8 square baking dish with coconut oil.
  4. Then, spread the almond butter mixture evenly into the pan.
  5. Add the rest of the dark chocolate chocolate into a small saucepan.
  6. Heat the chocolate over low and continuously stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
  7. Remove from heat and pour over the almond butter.
  8. Sprinkle chopped almonds on top, if desired, and let the chocolate set in the fridge for at least an hour.
  9. Once the chocolate is completely solid, you can cut into bars and enjoy!
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A few other things about this recipe:

  • If you want perfectly cut square bars, you’re probably not going to get it.  If you do somehow manage – well, you’re a wizard, Harry.  That was not happening for me!
  • The almond butter may separate a little from the chocolate while you’re cutting this recipe into bars.  Not a big deal.  You can easily press it back into place and let them harden up in the fridge again.
  • I definitely recommend wrapping these bars up individually after cutting them and keeping them in a baggie or container in the fridge. 
  • If you want to make tinier portions, grease a mini muffin pan and make them like homemade almond butter cups instead!

Next time your craving for something sweet and chocolaty hits, make a batch of these No-Bake Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Bars!  They’re pretty much guilt-free, have no added sugar, and taste just like an almond butter cup! 

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

30 Brownie Recipes You Need to Try

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Ditch the boxed mix and try one of these 30 homemade brownie recipes including classic fudge brownies and brownies with outrageous flavor combinations! 


It’s a new year and I know that we’re all trying to get back into those healthy eating habits after the holidays, but let’s be real – Valentine’s Day is a month away and I’ve already got chocolate on the brain.  And one of my favorite ways to indulge in a little chocolate decadence is through a brownie.  I mean, is there really anything better than a warm brownie from the oven?  Actually, yes – the sight of my husband in the kitchen whipping up a batch of brownies for us to enjoy! 

In our house, my husband is the brownie master!  They’re perfect every single time!  He manages to get that crispy corner on the brownies while keeping the inside soft and chewy.  I’ve tried making brownies like him, per his instructions, but they never turn out the same.  Anytime I want a perfect brownie square, I leave it up to the master!

After browsing through this list of homemade brownie recipes, we might have to branch out from the box!  There are so many delicious looking brownie combinations to try!  There are flavor combinations that I never would have thought of making before!  Next time I want a brownie from the master, I might be choosing a recipe from this list instead!

30 HOMEMADE BROWNIE RECIPES FOR EVERY BROWNIE LOVER TO TRY!
  1. Peppermint Brownie Pops – Home Cooking Memories
  2. Reese’s Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies – The Slow Roasted Italian
  3. Caramelised White Chocolate Brownies – Delicious Everyday
  4. Thin Mints Brownie – Everyday Savvy
  5. Chunky Peanut Butter Stuffed Brownies – Snappy Gourmet
  6. Rich and Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies – Southern Kissed
  7. Vegan Black Bean Brownies – You Brew My Tea
  8. 3-Ingredient Chocolate Pudding Brownies – Simple Sweet Recipes
  9. Gooey Triple Chocolate Marshmallow Caramel Brownies – Busy Creating Memories
  10. Recipe for Nutella Oreo Brownie Bites – This Worthey Life
  11. Peanut Butter Banana Brownies – Mashup Mom
  12. Reese’s Stuffed Brownies – Simply Stacie
  13. Fun & Festive Fudge Brownie Popsicles – The Soccer Mom Blog
  14. Mini M&M’s Blondie Brownie – Happiness is Homemade
  15. Instant Pot Brownies – My Crazy Good Life
  16. Brownie Blooms – Dancing Through the Rain
  17. Rocky Road Brownies – Savory Sweet Life
  18. Strawberry Chocolate Brownies – Upstate Ramblings
  19. Snickers Cheesecake Brownies – Delicious Everyday
  20. Peppermint Brownies – CincyShopper
  21. Blackberry Cheesecake OREO Brownies – Domestically Blissful
  22. Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies – The Slow Roasted Italian
  23. Fudgy Double Chocolate Keto Brownies – Peace Love and Low Carb
  24. Fudgy Cosmic Brownies – Baking Beauty
  25. Double Chocolate Skillet Brownie – Strength & Sunshine
  26. Mint Chip Brownies – Snappy Gourmet
  27. Salted Nutella Brownies – Basil and Bubbly
  28. Skinny Mug Brownies – Living Sweet Moments
  29. Chocolate Avocado Brownies – The Shirley Journey
  30. Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies – Simply Stacie

PIN FOR LATER

What’s your favorite kind of brownie?



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