Snack Archives - Busy Moms Helper

15+ tasty and healthy Chinese snacks

May 11, 2020 by Lyra Almoite Leave a Comment

Are you craving some delicious Chinese snacks? China is renowned for its unique cuisine that will make your taste buds go wild and there is a good reason for that. The meals that you can find in China are rich in spices and flavor. Not just that, but there is also tradition behind each meal and their flavor is rooted in the beliefs of the natives.

Fortunately, you don’t have to visit Asia in order to taste these amazing snacks. You can order them online and have the same experience as if you were dining in Hong Kong. If you don’t know where to buy Chinese snacks online, then you should be happy to know Amazon has your back. Now, let’s go ahead and check out what are the top 20 tasty and healthy Chinese snacks that you can order online.

Top 20 Chinese Snacks

#1 The Stinky Tofu

We are going to start our list with something that is truly unique to the Chinese people. We are talking about the famous Stinky Tofu. The powerful smell usually scares people away, but the taste is going to drive your taste buds nuts. A fun fact about this snack is that the tofu needs more than 300 years to stay in fermentation. Isn’t that incredible?

#2 Pocky

If you ever visit China, then you will quickly notice that all kids are eating Pocky. This is one of the most popular Chines snacks and this is all thanks to the fact the Pocky is sweet. Pocky is mad from biscuits that are covered in a delicious layer of cream that comes in various flavors.

#3 Haw Flakes

The Haw Flakes are your “go-to” snack when you want to show to someone how unique and delicious Chinese food can be. This snack is made from the fruit that grows in the hawthorn tree and therefore, it is very healthy. What’s great about Haw Flakes is that you can use this snack as an ingredient for your fruit salads.

#4 Youtiao

Another amazing Chinese snack that will make you feel like you are walking on the streets of Hong Kong is called Youtiao. These are fried breadsticks that go great with soymilk and porridge.

#5 Rice Crackers

Since this is China that we are talking about, then it should come as no surprise that Rice Crackers are featured on our list. The most popular brand of Rice Crackers in Asia is called MSG.

#6 Yan Yan

Do you want something that will satisfy your sweet tooth? If that is the case, then you can’t go wrong with the Yan Yan. This package contains crunchy biscuits and cream that will put a smile on your face right from the very first time that you taste them.

#7 Pop Pan

Pop Pan is another popular Chinese snack that is known for its unique taste. These are buttery crackers and what makes them stand out is the fact that they have scallion flavor.

#8 French Biscuits

Despite being called French Biscuits, this snack originates from China and the biscuits are covered in a thick layer of cream. They go great with tea and Chinese people love serving them to their guests.

#9 Wung Wang Snow Cookies

Chinese people make great cookies and the Wung Wang Snow Cookies are the perfect example of that. A single pack of Wung Wang Snow Cookies contains two delicious cookies that feature a mix of salty and sweet flavor.

#10 Turnip Cake

The Turnip Cake is commonly known as “Io bak go” in China and it can be found in all Chinese supermarkets. The Turnip Cake features turnip that is seasoned and mixed with corn-starch, onions, and sausages. The flavor is amazing!!

#11 Steamed Bao Buns

If there is one snack that you are guaranteed to see in all pop-up shops around China, then Steamed Bao Buns is definitely the one. Just like all donuts, the Steamed Bao Buns are available in various fillings and all of them are mouth-watery.

#12 Fried Dough Twist

The Chinese love taking simple dough and turning it into delicious dishes. The Fried Dough Twist is the perfect example of that. This snack doesn’t only look amazing, but it’s also sweet and savory.

#13 Shrimp Chips

Are you looking for a quick snack that you can enjoy while watching your favorite TV show or movie on Netflix? If that is the case, then Shrimp Chimps are your best choice. They come in various flavors and you will always find at least one bag open at Chinese parties.

#14 Gummy Candies

Gummy Candies are known for being the “unofficial” Chinese New Year snack. You can find Gummy Candies in various flavors starting with peach and ending with mango. However, we want to warn you that this snack is a bit expensive.

#15 Kasugai Roasted Green Peas

If you like having peas in your food, then you are going to love the Kasugai Roasted Green Peas. This snack is not only healthy, but it’s also incredibly tasty. The peas are covered in wasabi and they will set your mouth on fire if you are not used to spicy food!

#16 Egg Rolls

You knew that we are going to present Egg Rolls ever since you clicked on our article, right? After all, everyone who visits China will have the opportunity to eat Egg Rolls since they are so tasty and popular. On the downside of things, the crumbs will make a mess!

#17 Prawn Crackers

Another snack that is super popular among Chinese kids is called Pawn Crackers. These deep-fried chips that are flavored with shrimp. To make things even better, you will also feel a tingling sensation when eating the chips. This is what Chinese snacks are all about!

#18 Curry Fish Balls

Even though Curry Fish Balls might not sound like a delicious dish for Europeans and Americans, all the street vendors in China are selling them. The deep-fried fish balls are cooked in a special curry sauce that is not only delicious but also spicy!

#19 Pineapple Buns

While Americans are arguing if pineapples should be put on pizza or not, the Chinese are taking it to the next level and they are making Pineapple Buns. We are kidding! These buns are just called pineapple because of how they look, they don’t actually have pineapples in them. Nonetheless, they are crunchy and flavorful.

#20 Dried Squid

We are going to end our list with a snack that is so unique that it can’t be found anywhere than China. We are talking about Dried Squid. This snack is chewy and it’s seasoned with salt and spicy chilly. You can also find Dried Squid that has a creamy finish. This is one of the tastiest Chinese snacks!

The Best Dairy-Free Coconut Ice Cream You’ll Ever Try

March 9, 2020 by Lyra Almoite Leave a Comment

You love ice-cream, we love ice-cream, everyone loves ice-cream. That’s a fact. The most popular dessert comes in many shapes and sizes including standard ones like chocolate and some rare variants such as coconut ice-cream. Doesn’t sound too appealing? Wait until you try our recipe.

Dairy-free desserts aren’t something many people are willing to try, but that’s just because they haven’t found the right recipe. These things are great if you know how to prepare them. Such a coconut ice-cream is a perfect dessert thanks to the rich saturated fat content. It’s great for vegans as well, so why not try it?

Dairy-Free Coconut Ice-Cream

Ingredients

3 cans coconut milk
¾ cup coconut sugar (maple syrup and honey are good alternatives)
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin

Preparation

Mix a can of coconut milk and sugar in a large saucepan, then cook the mix on medium heat for 10 minutes while stirring. It should reduce by half. Let the mix cool down completely. In the meantime, scoop the coconut out of the remaining cans of coconut milk and put it in a bowl. Use a mixer to whip it for several minutes – you’ll want a fluffy and light texture. Let the whipped coconut milk in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.

In another bowl, mix the gelatin with 2 tablespoons of the condensed coconut milk. Let the gelatin melt on steam after, then mix this with the condensed milk from before and the whipped cream from the fridge.

Transfer the mixture into an ice-cream container and leave it in the freeze for 6 hours. You can add some vanilla, matcha powder or coconut extract to sweeten things up. Bon appetite!

Healthiest Snacks You Can Eat

March 8, 2020 by Lyra Almoite Leave a Comment

Everyone knows that the three main meals are highly important in our diet, but what about snacks? You should have 3 hearty meals starting with your breakfast. We’re not just talking about calories – these meals should be nutritious and cover your daily vitamins/minerals needs. However, a proper diet isn’t focused on main courses only – it involves a lot of snacks.

Are There Healthy Snacks?

When we talk about snacks, we’re not talking about chips or flips. You should stay as far away from this junk food as possible. There are, however, many healthy snacks you can nibble on all day long to keep your energy levels up. Snacks will also fight off hunger until the next meal so you won’t be tempted to reach for chips.

Of course, just like the three meals, snacks should be nutritious and healthy. And, although many believe there are no such snacks, we’ll provide a few below you can have every day.

Vegetables

Broccoli, baby carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, peas, carrot sticks, and peppers are just some snacks you can eat as much as you want. They can be easily prepared and can be consumed fresh or baked. Just try salty baked carrot sticks and you’ll see how great they are.

Popcorn

Craving something to nibble on? Popcorn is the ideal snack. Low in calories and fat, popcorn is almost an ideal snack, especially for those trying to lose weight. Always keep a bag of popcorn in your kitchen. Whenever you crave a salty snack, make some and enjoy. Remember – microwave popcorn is nothing like the real thing.

Dry Fruit

You can find dry (dehydrated) fruit almost anywhere today. Cranberries, apricots, apples, raisins, pineapples, and papaya are all on offer with no added sugar and great taste. Eat as much of these as you want or get a dehydrator and make your own at home.

Trail Mix

Trail mixes have grown very popular these days and can be easily prepared. Simply mix some sunflower seeds, peanuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, and some dry fruits and put them in a sealed bag. They taste great, will keep your energy up, and won’t make you gain weight.

Simple Curly Zucchini Fries with Baked Parmesan You Will Fall in Love With

February 18, 2020 by Lyra Almoite Leave a Comment

Everyone loves French fries. They taste sooooo good and are among the easiest meals you can prepare. The crunchy and salty flavor goes excellent with burgers, but you can also eat them on their own. There’s only one problem with fries – the deep-fried version isn’t actually very healthy.

Sure, you can have them once in a while, but eating fries often isn’t great for your health. The good news is that there is a healthier version of fries based on zucchinis.

When compared to potatoes, zucchinis are much healthier. They’re loaded on vitamins and minerals and are pretty low in calories as well. Fried zucchinis are just as crunchy as fried potatoes, but when you compare both, zucchinis are a superfood.

As it turns out, you can use this superfood to create a healthy version of fries that taste just as good but don’t have the calories.

Zucchini Nutritional Profile

Zucchinis are full of essential vitamins and minerals. An average zucchini (medium-sized) has only 31 calories. It contains a low amount of carbs and its nutritional profile contains fat, fiber, protein, vitamins B and C, folate, riboflavin, potassium, and so on. Zucchinis are the perfect weight loss food and they’re also a great base for fries.

Check out how to make them:

Ingredients

12 oz. spiralized zucchinis
4 egg whites
1 cup bread crumbs
Avocado oil cooking spray
¼ cup cornstarch
¼ cup ranch dressing
¼ cup marinara sauce
¾ oz. grated Parmesan
Salt, pepper, and oregano to taste

Instructions

Before you start preparing the zucchini curly fries, line two baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat the oven at 425 F. Coat them with the avocado cooking spray.

Once you’ve chopped the zucchini noodles into 5-6 inch pieces, dredge them in cornstarch first, beaten egg (with oregano and pepper) whites second, and panko crumbs in the end. Bake the fries for just over 10 minutes, then season with salt. Mix the marinara sauce with the ranch dressing and serve them with the fries. Bon appetite!

Cute and Healthy Bug Snacks that Will Give Your Child All the Nutrients it Needs

February 18, 2020 by Lyra Almoite Leave a Comment

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you see the word bugs? Nothing pleasant, we’re sure. Bugs are nasty little critters that can make our skin crawl and we’d never associate them with snacks. Well, until you see these lovely pieces of sweet heaven. Healthy snacks are vital for children – according to studies, they contribute to over 20% of their daily energy intake. Of course, we’re talking about proper, homemade healthy snacks – not chocolate bars. The fruit and veggie bug snacks you can see below not only look cute – they will give your child all the nutrients and energy it needs during the day.

Cute Fruit and Veggie Bug Snacks

This is a great way to make your kid eat all the vegetables and fruits it needs. We all know how hard it is to make them eat broccoli or celery, but with these bug snacks, it’s effortless. They’re easy to prepare, taste great, and contains all the nutrients your child needs per day.

Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

Veggie Bugs

5-7 black olives
½ cup cream cheese
10 cucumber slices
2-3 celery stalks
1-2 small cucumbers
Chives
A cup of cherry tomatoes
10 cashews

Fruity Bugs

A few strawberries
2-3 celery stalks
1 apple
A cup of green grapes
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup blueberries
½ cup cereal
¼ cup dairy-free chocolate chips

Instructions

Veggie Bugs

Use a straw to cut out tiny eyes from the olives. Put small dots of cream cheese on a plate and decorate with the olive ‘pupils’. Leave the ‘eyes’ to chill in a freezer for a while.

Fruit Bugs

It’s the same process for the eyes except this time you’re using the chocolate chips for pupils. The chips should also be glued to the cereal with a bit of cream cheese or peanut butter. The process is the same for the body. Use the pic to do your best and get creative. You don’t have to stick to your bugs – you’re very welcome to create your own bug kingdom.

Free Printable Chalkboard Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

September 6, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux Leave a Comment

Who doesn’t love a good chocolate chip cookie recipe? It’s like a classic treat that everybody knows and can count on. Now it can also decorate your kitchen with this stylish Free Printable Chalkboard Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe! You can have a fun, framed print in your kitchen AND always have a tasty cookie recipe on hand – it’s a win-win!

I love the look of chalkboard styles, so that’s what we’ve been doing with several of our printable recipes – such as our Banana Bread, Brownie and Sugar Cookie ones. It’s just a lot of fun, plus looks amazing! Like the others, this one is designed for 8.5×11 size. I recommend printing onto cardstock for durability, then just frame it and use it to add something different to your kitchen decor.

Download the printable chalkboard chocolate chip cookie recipe HERE

50+ Cool Summer Snacks

July 29, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux 6 Comments

School’s out for the summer – excuse me while I feel a bit crazy with both excitement AND worry! I’m looking forward to more time with them, less rushed mornings, creating our OWN schedules, and plenty of family adventures. I’m also a bit nervous about the ‘I’m bored’ phrase that I know will occur far too often. That, along with ‘I’m hungry’, of course! Luckily we’ve got plenty of delicious recipes for kids with these 50+ Cool Summer Snacks!

Whether you’re a fan of popsicles or ice cream, slushies or lemonade, we’ve got plenty of great summer treat recipes for you to try out! They’re also really ‘cool’, so your kids will happily enjoy them 🙂

Cool Summer Snacks

Rainbow Popsicles from The First Year Blog

Banana Split Ice Cream Cake Loaf from Life, Love and Sugar

Frosty S’mores Brownie Bars from Busy Mom’s Helper

DIY Gogurts from Art From My Table

Strawberry Julius from Busy Mom’s Helper

Kansas City Dirt Cake from Lil’ Luna

Creamy Watermelon Coconut Milkshake from Cook Nourish Bliss

No Churn Brownie Bite Ice Cream from Juggling Act Mama

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie via Busy Mom’s Helper

Cherry Cheesecake Popsicles from The Busy Baker

No Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream from Fearlessly Creative Mammas

Jello Shaved Ice from Tips From A Typical Mom

Fresh Strawberry Lemonade with Honey from Art From My Table

Popsicle Brownies from Somewhat Simple

Strawberry Mango Popsicles from Busy Mom’s Helper

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Banana Bites from Not Enough Cinnamon

Healthy Orange Julius from Busy Mom’s Helper

Strawberry Lemonade Bars from The Baker Upstairs

Melon Ice Cubes from No Biggie

Homemade Fruit & Yogurt Popsicles from Busy Mom’s Helper

Cotton Candy Ice Cream from Home and Plate

Lava Flow Popsicles by One Lovely Life

Individual Frozen Key Lime Pies from This Silly Girl’s Life

Watermelon Pudding Pops from Clean and Scentsible

Chocolate Chip Mint Greek Yogurt Pops from Country Cleaver

Fruit Pizza from Bakers Royale

Two-Ingredient Banana Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bites from The Baker Mama

Fruit Infused Water from I Heart Naptime

Pomegranate Coconut Popsicles from My Fussy Eater

Milk & Cereal Breakfast Popsicles from In Katrina’s Kitchen

Choco-Taco from Love Bakes Good Cakes

Watermelon Popsicles from Cooking Classy

Easy Frozen Yogurt Bites from Eating on a Dime

4-Ingredient Watermelon Sorbet from Cincy Shopper

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

Fresh Watermelon Cake from Sprinkle Bakes

Strawberry Mojito Mocktail from Art From My Table

Coconut Creme Ice Pops from Simply Stacie

Sand Pudding Cups from Food Fun Family

Watermelon Lemonade from The Recipe Critic

Berry Pomegranate Smoothie Pops from Juggling Act Mama

Banana Split Bites from Our Family of Seven

Watermelon Coconut Ice Cream from Baking Ginger

Blueberry Lemonade from Art From My Table

7 Insanely Delicious Ice Cream Sundaes via Buzzfeed

Cake Batter Popsicles from Just Add Sprinkles

No Bake Ice Cream Cupcakes from Juggling Act Mama

Frozen Hot Chocolate from One She Two She

Watermelon Pie from Make and Takes

Pomegranate Ice Cream from Art From My Table

Back to School Snack Dips: S’mores Dip & Cookie Dough Dip

July 5, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PackSnacksTheyLove #CollectiveBias

We started school this week – crazy! It’s such a mad-dash to get them all ready and out the door in time in the mornings, and I’m eager for when we get it to a smoother routine. After school isn’t much better yet, as we need to find a good groove for homework, rinsing out lunch boxes, signing their folders and hopefully some play time. Luckily, I have some awesome recipes I can rely on to make the afternoon a little easier, like these Back to School Snack Dips: S’mores Dip & Cookie Dough Dip! I just whip them up when I have time, then store them in the fridge so they’re ready to go when the kids are. originally shared August 2016

These snack dips are perfect to go with crackers, cookies, even fruits for a variety of tasty things! I made sure to stock up on our favorite snack packs from Kroger when I was doing our weekly grocery shopping there – I can rely on them to have the variety I need, and do well to keep their shelves full so I’m not missing anything from my list. I found some awesome (and convenient – yay!) snacks for the kids’ lunches and after school snacks – NABISCO Multipacks like RITZ, Teddy Grahams, OREO, Chips Ahoy, Nutter Butter, Barnum’s Animal Crackers and even Honey Maid crackers are perfect! Not only do my kids love the taste, but the portable packs make it SUPER easy to just toss in a lunch bag, or pull out when they get home from school. Even when we’re racing to dance lessons, we just grab some packs and go.

As I was filling my cart with these, determined to stay prepared for several weeks of back-to-school adjustment ahead, one of their friendly workers asked if I wanted him to grab more from the back. We laughed a bit (you should’ve seen how many I already had in my cart) and he totally understood how crazy this time of year is. I was tempted to say ‘yes’ to his offer just to see if his eyes would get big 🙂

Another great benefit of these snacks are that they’re easy for my kiddos to open, plus bite-sized. Definitely a bonus for my younger ones! They go great with our snack dip recipes, which are already REALLY simple to whip up! Just grab your ingredients next time you’re at Kroger, mix them together, and you’re all set for snacks!

S’mores Dip

Ingredients

1 cup Marshmallow Creme
1 cup Chocolate Pudding
8 oz. Whipped Topping
1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
1/4 cup Mini Marshmallows
1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

Directions

Beat the marshmallow creme, chocolate pudding and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in the remaining ingredients and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Cookie Dough Dip

Ingredients

1 cup Butter, softened
1 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 – 2 cups Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 cup Milk
Chocolate Chips, as desired

Directions

Beat the butter, brown sugar, salt and vanilla until creamy. Whip in the milk until smooth.
Slowly add in the flour until desired consistency (I did about 1 1/2 cups). Stir in chocolate chips and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

It was a mix in our family as to which of these dips were the favorite. Personally, I prefer the cookie dough dip – but really enjoyed the s’mores one, too. Dang, can’t really choose!

Which snack packs and dip would YOUR kids enjoy the most?

21+ Ways to Make Box Brownies Seem Gourmet!

March 11, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Let’s face it, sometimes we just want a delicious dessert recipe that’s special – but we don’t always have time for homemade. Or you just HAVE boxed brownies, but want to spruce them up a bit instead of let them collect dust in your pantry. While brownies from a box may seem boring, here are 21+ Ways to Make Box Brownies Seem Gourmet! A few small tweaks or additions here and there can take a simple treat and turn it into the most popular brownie recipe at the party!

All of these recipes use a boxed brownie mix as the base, but then through either additions or swaps make them seem like a unique, fancy – and definitely delicious – brownie that’s perfect for any party, get-together, or just a night in!

Slow Cooker Brownie Pudding – Crazy for Crust

Cookies ‘N Cream Oreo Fudge Brownies – Kevin and Amanda

(also see their Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie n’ Oreo Fudge Brownie Bars)

Chocolate Coconut Brownies – Celebrating Sweets

Fully Loaded Reese’s Brownies – Buns in My Oven

French Silk Brownies – Crazy for Crust

Samoa Brownies – Southern Plate

Chocolate Mint Pudding Brownies – Busy Mom’s Helper

Buckeye Brownies – Shugary Sweets

Ultimate S’mores Brownies – A Latte Food

OMGEEEE! Brownies – Southern Bite

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Pizza – Mostly Homemade Mom

S’mores Brownies – Pip and Ebby

Mounds Brownies – In Katrina’s Kitchen

German Chocolate Brownies – Julies Eats & Treats

Brownie Marshmallow Crunch Bars – From Valerie’s Kitchen

Brownie Gooey Bars – Crazy for Crust

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownie Bars – A Savory Feast

Crockpot Turtle Brownies – Passion for Savings

Neopolitan Cheesecake Brownies – Frugal Coupon Living

Red, White & Blue Brownie Pizza – Jo Cooks

Dreamy Oreo Brownies – Cookies and Cups

Salted Caramel Pretzel Crust Brownies – Living Well Spending Less

And if you’re feeling really ambitious….

Snickers Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake – Life, Love and Sugar

Brownie Recipes from Busy Mom’s Helper

Nestle Tollhouse VS. Dad’s Recipe: The Healthier Cookie

February 1, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Today I’m sharing you one of our absolute FAVORITE cookie recipes, and it isn’t even my own! My Dad, who loves to experiment with recipes to make them more healthy, came up with this one and was kind enough to share it (and gave me permission to pass it on to y’all)! For a bit more fun, we’re even comparing it so you can see the nutritional difference between Nestle Tollhouse VS. Dad’s Recipe: The Healthier Cookie!

I know that the Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip recipe is many people’s ‘go-to’ for cookies, but now you’ll think twice once you not only see the healthy difference, but also TASTE the amazing deliciousness of my Dad’s Cookies!

This is comparing based on Cookie-to-Cookie of the same size, 1 tbsp scoop of dough size to be exact. It took a bit for me to go through everything, then divide appropriately, to find the correct nutritional values….but this is as close as I could get.

Nestle Tollhouse

110 Calories (60 from Fat)
7g Fat
3.5g Saturated Fat
85mg Sodium
14g Carbs
1g Fiber
10g Sugar
2g Protien

Dad’s Cookies

107 Calories (49 from Fat)
6g Fat
4g Saturated Fat
85mg Sodium
9g Carbs
.25g Fiber
8g Sugar
4g Protien

So for even more flavorful cookies, you get slightly less calories and fat, fewer carbs, little less sugar and double the protien. Woot woot!

Ingredients

1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
1 cup Coconut Oil (just scoop, don’t melt)
3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
3/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 Large Eggs
1 cup Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Dried Oats
1 cup Vanilla Protein Powder
1 1/4 cup All-Purpose flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 Degrees F. Spray some cookie sheets, set aside.
Combine the first 7 ingredients together until well mixed. Mix in the protein powder, dried oats and flour slowly. Lastly, stir in the chocolate chips.
Scoop about 1 tbsp. sized dough per cookie onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are BARELY brown. When you take them out, they’ll still look slightly undone, but that’s fine. Allow to cool just 2 minutes on the sheet, then remove to a cooling rack (carefully).

These cookies do AMAZING in the freezer! Make a big batch, toss some in a ziplock baggie into your freezer, then just pull them out whenever you need some cookies! My Dad likes to keep some on-hand in the freezer so he can grab a bag before a road trip. Fresh cookies during a long drive? Yes, please!

You can, of course, adjust the ingredients to fit YOUR preferred tastes! Want to try another flavor protein powder? Then go for it! I’m curious what Strawberry flavored would end up like, with maybe some white chocolate chips? Yumm-o!

Thin Mint Pudding Cookies

January 25, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Thank you Girl Scouts of North Texas for the complimentary cookies to assist this recipe!

It’s that time of year again, when troops of young ladies and their leaders await, table full of delicious goodness, for you to exit the grocery store or drive by, hoping that you’ll stop and buy a box (or a dozen). I love seeing the girls get excited as they work hard to sell their cookies, not just to raise money but also to learn great leadership and entrepreneurship skills. If you’re looking to do something a little different with your box of tastiness this year, try a new twist to one of the favorite Girl Scout Cookies with this amazing and super easy to make Thin Mint Pudding Cookies recipe!

The Girl Scout Cookie Program runs January 11th – February 24th, so be on the lookout for your local troop so you can nab some boxes (or check out TexasCookieTime.org to order some) and give this new recipe a try. And I totally won’t judge if you eat a Thin Mint or two while these bake, because life’s about enjoyment, right? 😉

Yield: about 3 dozen Thin Mint Pudding Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks Butter, softened
3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/4 cup Sugar
1 small pack INSTANT Vanilla Pudding (3.4 oz)
2 Large Eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2-1 tsp. Mint Extract
2 1/4 cup All-purpose Flour
1 cup (about 1 sleeve) Thin Mints, crushed

Note: to really get my Thin Mints crushed, I put them into my blender.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray or line 2-3 baking sheets, set aside.
Mix the butter, eggs, light brown sugar, regular sugar and pudding mix until smooth. Add in the vanilla, baking soda, and mint extract and mix again until smooth.
Mix in the flour until everything is well combined, then gently fold in the crushed Thin Mints until evenly incorporated.
Roll into 1″ balls, then place on cookie sheet, flattening just a bit.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, then remove and allow to cool 2 minutes on the cookie sheet before removing to cooling rack. Do not overbake.

These taste amazing – soft and chewy, with a great flavor just like Thin Mints! Now, I had my Thin Mints crushed to a fine powder (because the blender), but you can do larger pieces if you want it more like chunks instead of all throughout your cookie.

Next to Samoa’s, Thin Mints are my absolute favorite Girl Scout Cookie – and I love enjoying them as-is and also in these delish pudding cookies. Plus, it makes them go further, so you can take them to a party or get-together without having to use ALL your Thin Mints!

What’s your favorite Girl Scout Cookie?

Mint Hot Chocolate Brownies

January 4, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Y’all know my love for chocolate, right? With all of the holiday parties the kids (and us adults, as well) had over the holidays that involved bringing a treat to share, I just knew I wanted to whip up something good. I wanted them to be a little festive, but not JUST a holiday-themed dessert. These Mint Hot Chocolate Brownies were just the ticket, with that amazing chocolaty flavor mixed with the perfect hint of mint, topped off with some marshmallowy goodness. We had to make extra just to enjoy here by ourselves!

Instead of making these brownies in a regular pan, I thought it’d be more fun (and cute) to bake them in a muffin tin so they’re more like individual little brownie bites. So fun! Plus, it’s easier to know where to place the marshmallow – and I’m all for easy recipes 🙂

You can switch up the sprinkles on top (or leave them off entirely, totally up to you) to match whatever theme or event you have, which makes them really flexible and fun. I wanted a bit more simple on this batch, but still ‘winter holiday’, so added some white pearl sprinkles. Another batch that the girls will take to their church youth party have red crystal ones on top. I love mixing things up!

Makes: 24 Muffin-sized Brownies

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup Sugar
1 1/3 cup Butter, very soft
1 cup Brown Sugar, loosely packed
2 tsp. Vanilla
4 Large Eggs
1 cup Cocoa Powder (unsweetened)
3 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 cup Chocolate Chips
6 Large Marshmallows
1/2-1 cup Andes Mint pieces
Sprinkles, as desired

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray or line two muffin tins, set aside.
In a large bowl (or mixer) mix the butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs until creamy.
Add the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda and mix until well combined.
Mix in the chocolate chips, then divide into the muffin tins.
Bake for 8-9 minutes. While baking, cut the marshmallows in half.
Remove the brownies (should not be done yet) and place a half marshmallow (with sticky cut side down)into the middle of each brownie bite and press it down.
Bake for another 2-4 minutes or until the marshmallows are puffy and the brownies are fully baked (insert a toothpick next to the marshmallow to see if the center is done). Allow to cool, then remove from muffin tin.
Melt the Andes mint pieces in the microwave at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds until they’re all melted and smooth. Drizzle over the brownies, topping with sprinkles while still melted so they stick better.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-6 days. Enjoy!

See, they’re super easy to whip up – and the taste is amazing! It’s like a nice, chewy cup of hot chocolate with just the right amount of mint to really add to the flavor. I warmed up my brownie for about 5 seconds in the microwave to give it that bit of warmth, really making the perfect afternoon treat.

These were a HUGE hit at our holiday events, and I had quite a few friends ask me for the recipe. I love being able to share tasty treats (especially chocolate ones) and knowing people truly enjoyed them.

I think next time I’ll do a white chocolate drizzle, add a bit of mint extract and a little green food coloring, for more coloring to these little desserts. Heck, red or blue would be great for holiday time, too! Really, just have fun with it and enjoy your delicious hot chocolate brownies with mint topping!

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