Blueberry Lemon Shortcakes with Lemon Whipped Cream

If I was asked which baked breakfast good I would not want to live without, I think it would be a tie between cinnamon buns and scones.
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And that’s serious business because I love breakfast and all of its choices so very much. But…scones. They are just perfect little breakfast packages, whether made sweet or savory. You can eat them as is, slather them with butter or jam, or sandwich them around eggs and cheese and bacon. Scones are just a breakfast dream, waiting to happen.
And if you want to make a scone decidely breakfast-inappropriate, you could serve it alongside a cloud of freshly whipped cream and a pile of berries. (Although I totally wouldn’t judge you if you ate it for breakfast. In fact, I’d probably high-five you).
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Last week I had a bunch of blueberries that were about to go past their prime. I had also bought a giant bag of lemons the week before. Sidenote: I never seem to have a lemon on hand when I really need one, so I decided that it would be a great idea to buy a huge bag of them and use lemon in everything (fresh lemon water, homemade salad dressings, etc.). And of course, once I had a copious amount of lemons I failed to use them in all the ways I had imagined. Why does the world work this way? Anyways…so there I was with blueberries and lemons that needed a good home. The idea of fresh blueberry scones with a little lemon zip got me started. As the scones were baking in the oven, I got an invite to dinner that evening and offered to bring dessert. It was divine intervention, really. The only solution was to make the scones even better by turning them into shortcakes!
And dang, they did not disappoint. I added a little more lemon zest to the freshly whipped cream, which really brought out the lemon flavor in the scones themselves. These little shortcakes were the perfect summer evening dessert and were so easy to put together. They’re pretty too! I am envisioning many blueberry shortcakes in my future this summer! Maybe even for breakfast.
Blueberry Lemon Shortcakes with Lemon Whipped Cream 
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These scones are lovely on their own with a cup of coffee or tea, but the whipped cream and extra blueberries take them to a whole other level. Either way, try to enjoy them on the same day that they are made. Makes 9 scones/shortcakes.
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For the Blueberry Lemon Scones (adapted from Kitchen Trial and Error):
1 3/4 cup flour
2 TBSP. sugar
1 1/2 TBSP. baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold
1 1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Zest from one lemon
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For the glaze:
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup icing sugar, sifted
1 TBSP. unsalted butter, melted
Zest from one lemon
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Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and zest. Cut the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Add the blueberries. Add the milk and vanilla and bring the dough together. Turn out onto a floured surface and shape it into a square. Cut into 9 pieces. One thing I did not do here but will the next time I make these is to brush to the tops of the scones with more milk (to help the tops brown a little bit more in the oven). Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Whisk the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl and drizzle over the scones while they are still warm. Cool completely on a wire rack.
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To make the shortcakes:
1 cup whipping cream
1 TBSP. sugar
Zest from two lemons
1-2 cups fresh blueberries
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Whip the cream until soft peaks form. Fold in the sugar and zest. Slice each scone in half. Top the bottom half with a couple spoonfuls of the whipped cream, sprinkle with blueberries, and top with the other half.

Mango Coconut Chia Pudding Pops (Vegan)

Mango Coconut Chia Pudding Pops | Once Upon a Recipe

Frrrrrriiiiiieeeeennnnnddddssss!

Oh, how I’ve missed you! I had not intended to be gone this long, but despite the fact that I jetted home from Thailand over two weeks ago, it’s taken just as long for my brain to return from vacation mode. Plus I was rather preoccupied with ridding myself of wicked jet lag, seeing all of the faces I’d missed while I was away, catching up on Game of Thrones, and getting my froyo fix (obvi). But I’ve finally returned to the kitchen and I couldn’t be happier. I bought a wok and some fun spices in Thailand and I took a cooking class there, so expect some Thai recipes very soon.

Mango Coconut Chia Pudding Pops | Once Upon a Recipe

Thailand was amazing! However, I’m going to save those stories for another post. Right now it’s time for popsicles!

When I left for my trip, Spring was just starting to make its presence known, and Summer still seemed to be eons away. But over a month later, I think we’re getting there. The weather may not be epic and wonderful (yet), but I am craving all the Summer things. BBQ. Watermelon. Ice cream. Picnics. Corn on the cob. Cherries. And popsicles!

Mango Coconut Chia Pudding Pops | Once Upon a Recipe

These popsicles were a bit of an experiment. I wanted to create a frozen treat that would take care of my sweet cravings, yet still remain somewhat healthy. And these little gems are just that. Chia seeds are a great source of healthy omega-3 fats and are very high in fibre, and they can help boost your energy, stabilize blood sugar, help with digestion, and lower cholesterol. Why wouldn’t you want all of those things? Better yet, these pops are so easy to throw together, and are customizable depending on your favorite fruit. I think strawberries, peaches, or raspberries would be delicious substitutions for the mango.

These pudding pops are creamy and satisfying, with just the right amount of sweet. Let’s jump into Summer, shall we? Mango coconut chia pudding pops for all!

Mango Coconut Chia Pudding Pops | Once Upon a Recipe

Mango Coconut Chia Pudding Pops

These vegan pops are extremely customizable, fruit-wise. Just sub in your favorite! Makes about 10 popsicles, depending on the size of your popsicle molds. 

1 can light coconut milk, well shaken

1/4 cup chia seeds

2 TBSP. organic cane sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 large ripe mangoes, chopped small

Mix together the coconut milk, chia seeds, sugar, and vanilla. Cover and allow to chill in the fridge for 4 hours to allow the chia seeds to expand. Layer the chia pudding and the chopped mangoes in popsicle molds, and freeze until firm (overnight).

Mango Coconut Chia Pudding Pops | Once Upon a Recipe

Lemon White Chocolate Crème Brûlée

Lemon White Chocolate Crème Brûlée | Once Upon a Recipe

My love affair with crème brûlée started a few years ago. I was visiting my friend Sam, and her husband – Josh, being the dear (and very talented chef) that he is, had whipped us up a couple of pots of crème brûlée to enjoy with our wine. At the time, I wasn’t so sure that I liked crème brûlée, having only eaten it a few times before, and feeling less than impressed with what I had tried. But being one who rarely (if ever) turns down a sweet treat, I dug right into that pot of creamy goodness. It was insanely delicious, what with the perfectly torched sugar crust on top that gave way to the luscious perfection below. I distinctly remember saying to Josh that very night – “You must teach me how to make this.”

Lemon White Chocolate Crème Brûlée | Once Upon a Recipe

For I had tried to make crème brûlée once or twice before, but had encountered difficulty with getting everything to set up properly (crème brûlée soup, anyone?) and had never mastered that perfectly torched sugar topping. I didn’t have the tools or the know-how, and had ended up with an unevenly burnt top, courtesy of my oven’s broiler. It was never a pretty scenario.

Fast forward to several years later, and Josh and I finally made that lesson happen. I have made this recipe a few times since then, and it has turned out perfect every time. The recipe provides a great base for a variety of flavor combinations. Josh also made a dark chocolate raspberry version that was incredible. However, the lemon lover in me had to share this lemon white chocolate version.

Lemon White Chocolate Crème Brûlée | Once Upon a Recipe

Thank you Josh for sharing your crème brûlée know-how! Now, onto the recipe…

I’ve written the recipe in detail, just to ensure that it’s clear. Forgive me if this information or technique is not new to you. I’ve seen a variety of crème brûlée recipes out there, but this is my go-to. It’s foolproof!

Lemon White Chocolate Crème Brûlée | Once Upon a Recipe

Lemon White Chocolate Crème Brûlée

This recipe makes enough to fill 4 small ramekins. It can easily be doubled or tripled, according to the number you require. Just remember to stick to the ratio of 5 egg yolks for every cup of whipping cream. As I mentioned before, this recipe is a great base for other flavor combinations. For example, for a dark chocolate raspberry version, sub in dark chocolate for the white chocolate and omit the lemon. Drop spoonfuls of smashed raspberries into the ramekins pre-bake. Also, the most important step is the chilling process. Be sure to prepare this recipe the night before you wish to serve it, so that the crème brûlée has about 24 hours to chill thoroughly and properly set. 

1 cup whipping cream

5 egg yolks

1/4 cup granulated sugar + more for topping

1 TBSP. vanilla

1/2 cup white chocolate pieces

4 lemons, divided

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the four ramekins (or shallow jars) into a baking dish.

In a small saucepan, add the whipping cream, white chocolate pieces, 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice, and the rind* of two lemons. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir regularly, and remove from the heat just when the mixture begins to bubble around the edges. In the meantime, in a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla until pale. Very gradually, add the cream mixture to the eggs, stirring constantly. Do not add the cream too quickly, as you are trying to temper the eggs (not scramble them!). Strain the mixture into a bowl (or a large measuring cup with a spout, for ease of pouring) and discard the pieces of lemon rind. Zest the remaining two lemons and add the zest to the cream, stirring to combine. Divide the mixture evenly between the four ramekins.

Place into the oven and then very carefully pour boiling water into the baking dish, until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Be careful not to splash any water into the ramekins. Place a cookie sheet over top of the baking dish (to cover). This is optional, but will prevent the tops of the crème brûlée from browning. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the ramekins are almost set, and only a wee bit jiggly in the center. Cool on the counter, and then cover and refrigerate overnight (about 24 hours).

Just before serving, sprinkle the top of each ramekin with about 1 tsp. of granulated sugar. Use a blow torch to carefully melt and brown the sugar on top. Enjoy!

*Using a sharp knife, remove the skin of the lemon in large pieces, avoiding the pith (the white part, which is bitter) as much as possible.

Lemon White Chocolate Crème Brûlée | Once Upon a Recipe

Hope you’re having a great week, friends!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana & Cookie Chunk Ice Cream

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana & Cookie Chunk Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

Friends! Hello! How are you?

Please forgive me for my absence over the past few weeks. Things got a little hectic there for a while, I got a little tired, and this ol’ blog was forced to the back burner for a wee time. But, I spent the weekend in the kitchen and I have a batch of recipes to share with you, so let’s get to it!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana & Cookie Chunk Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

http://www.onceuponarecipeblog.com/2013/12/the-great-food-blogger-cookie-swap-nutella-and-rolo-stuffed-double-chocolate-chip-cookies/

This ice cream. Oh, this ice cream.

I’m no purist when it comes to ice cream. I like my ice cream trashy. Full of different flavors and textures, especially big chunks of chewy cookie. I may or may not dig around in the container in search of the chunky bits. Except that I totally do. This ice cream has a creamy chocolate base that gets all trashed up with swirls of peanut butter and chunks of banana and chocolate cookies. I mean?!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana & Cookie Chunk Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana & Cookie Chunk Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

Let’s just say that after having my first taste of this ice cream, I promptly shared it with anyone who was willing to eat it, simply so that I wouldn’t devour the whole thing myself.

Despite the fact that we’re dealing with more cold temperatures and another round of snow, I know that Spring is around the corner somewhere. So I’m just going to keep making ice cream and margaritas and pretend that it’s already here. If we believe it, it will come!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana & Cookie Chunk Ice Cream

Chocolate ice cream base from The Kitchn, which was adapted from Jeni Britton. Makes just over 1 quart.

8 oz. good-quality semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
3 1/2 cups half and half
1 TBSP. plus 1 tsp. cornstarch
2 ounces cream cheese, softened (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup sugar
pinch salt

Mix-ins: 1 banana (chopped small), 1/2 cup chocolate cookies* (chopped), and about 1/2 cup peanut butter

*I used these cookies (minus the centers) because I had some left over, but you can use any homemade or storebought chewy chocolate cookies.

In a small bowl, mix 2 TBSP. of the half and half with the cornstarch. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, combine the remaining half and half with the sugar. Bring the milk mixture to a boil and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and gradually whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Return to heat, bring to a boil and cook over medium high heat until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 1 minute.

In a separate bowl, combine the chocolate and cream cheese. Pour just enough of the hot milk over the chopped chocolate and cream cheese to cover it. Whisk until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Add the salt. Gradually add the remaining hot milk mixture and whisk well. Cover the mixture and chill completely, preferably overnight.

Pour the ice cream base into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Stir in the banana and cookie chunks. Layer in a container, along with spoonfuls of the peanut butter (I microwaved my peanut butter for about 20 seconds to make it thinner and easier to work with), then swirl with a knife. Freeze for an additional four hours (or more) in an airtight container. Scoop and serve!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana & Cookie Chunk Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

Super Easy Velvety Chocolate Pots

Velvety Chocolate Pots | Once Upon a Recipe

Happy Love Day, lovers!

Here we are again, February 14, Valentine’s Day, the day of L-O-V-E! As promised, I’m sharing another chocolate recipe today. Behold these velvety chocolate pots! They taste just like they sound: rich and chocolate-y and oh. so. smooth. Like buttah, baby!

Velvety Chocolate Pots | Once Upon a Recipe

Velvety Chocolate Pots | Once Upon a Recipe   Velvety Chocolate Pots | Once Upon a Recipe

Maybe you’re still undecided about your Valentine’s Day menu with your honey. Maybe you’re a big procrastinator (like me) and waited until the big day to pick a sweet and decadent treat to celebrate the occasion. Or maybe you don’t give a flying fart about Valentine’s Day, but you have a chocolate craving that you just can’t curb. Whatever the reason, or even if there is no reason at all, let’s all enjoy these velvety chocolate pots together, mmmk? They’re super easy to whip up – we’re talking less than 5 minutes – and mega delicious.

Velvety Chocolate Pots | Once Upon a Recipe   Velvety Chocolate Pots | Once Upon a Recipe

I’ll bring the chocolate, you bring the wine, and let’s all just celebrate the wonderful thing that is love. I’m grateful to call you all my valentines. Now go tell your favorites how much you love them! <3

Super Easy Velvety Chocolate Pots (adapted from The Pioneer Woman)

Makes 4. This recipe is easy to halve or double, depending on the number of servings you require. You can also switch up the flavor by using flavored coffee, different liqueurs, and different kinds of chocolate (ie. milk vs. dark). I used Madeira wine for my liqueur and vanilla macadamia nut coffee. Experiment away!

6 ounces dark chocolate (~70% cocoa), chopped

2 eggs

A pinch of salt

1 TBSP. liqueur (optional)

1/2 cup very hot coffee

In a food processor or blender, combine the chocolate, eggs, salt, and liqueur (if using). Blend until well mixed. With the food processor or blender still running, slowly add the coffee and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into four 4-ounce ramekins (or tea cups, if you want to get fancy), and refrigerate until cold and set (about 4 hours). Top with whipped cream and more chopped chocolate. Dive in!

Velvety Chocolate Pots | Once Upon a Recipe

Vegan Double Chocolate Banana Espresso Muffins

Vegan Double Chocolate Banana Espresso Muffins | Once Upon a Recipe

Hey friends! There are a couple of chocolate recipes comin’ atcha this week, I hope you don’t mind. And if you don’t like chocolate, well…you can show yourself out. Just kidding. (But really, why don’t you like chocolate and are you seeking help?)

The holiday of love is quickly approaching. The big V-day doesn’t hold much meaning for me, although I do use it as an excuse to eat lots of chocolate and those little cinnamon hearts. And of course, it’s a great reminder to tell those we love just how much they mean to us.  (But really, do that everyday, ok?)

Vegan Double Chocolate Banana Espresso Muffins | Once Upon a Recipe

Whether you love Valentine’s Day or not, you should really make these muffins. They might just be my new favorite. First of all, they’re vegan. Second, they’re packed with good for you ingredients like whole wheat flour, flax, bananas, and coconut oil. But most importantly, they taste like a fudgey chocolate cupcake. And if I can get away with eating a relatively healthy muffin that tastes like a fudgey chocolate cupcake for breakfast, you better believe I’m totally going to do just that.

Vegan Double Chocolate Banana Espresso Muffins | Once Upon a Recipe

Vegan Double Chocolate Banana Espresso Muffins | Once Upon a Recipe   Vegan Double Chocolate Banana Espresso Muffins | Once Upon a Recipe

Vegan Double Chocolate Banana Espresso Muffins (adapted from Minimalist Baker)

These muffins taste even better the next day. My favorite way to enjoy them was actually right out of the fridge, when they were chilled. I kind of felt like I was in that McCain Deep’n Delicious chocolate cake commercial from back in the day. You know the one, right?

2 flax eggs (2 TBSP. ground flax seed + 5 TBSP. water)

1 cup mashed bananas (~3 large)

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

1 tsp. espresso powder

1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1/2 cup good-quality cocoa powder

1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips/chunks (dairy-free)

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Prepare a 12-count muffin tin with paper liners or spray with non-stick spray.

Prepare the flax eggs in a large mixing bowl and let rest for 5 minutes. Add the mashed bananas through to the espresso powder and whisk for 45 seconds. Add the almond milk and whisk again. Add the cocoa powder, flour, and chocolate, and mix until just combined. Divide the batter evenly between the muffin tins. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool for a few minutes in the pan, then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container. These muffins also freeze really well.

http://minimalistbaker.com/fudgy-vegan-double-chocolate-beet-muffins/

Guest Post: Lemon Yogurt Baked Donuts

Lemon Yogurt Baked Donuts | Once Upon a Recipe

Lemon Yogurt Baked Donuts | Once Upon a Recipe

Lemon Yogurt Baked Donuts | Once Upon a Recipe

Lemon Yogurt Baked Donuts | Once Upon a Recipe

Lemon Yogurt Baked Donuts | Once Upon a Recipe

Lemon Yogurt Baked Donuts | Once Upon a Recipe

Happy Friday friends! We made it!

This week has been a bit of a wild one, and I am looking forward to unwinding and letting loose for a couple of days. I foresee a weekend filled with wine and good food! What are you up to this weekend? Please share!

But first! The lovely Renee over at Re: Creative asked me to do a guest post this week! Renee also featured me as her Weekly Crush a few weeks ago and had me blushing big time. Renee is super sweet, stylish, and is a fellow Canadian. You should totally check out her blog for all things fashion, design, art, food, party decor, and fun DIY projects!

And you’ll also find out a little bit more about those cute little donuts up there – Lemon Yogurt Baked Donuts to be exact. Hop on over to Re: Creative to check out the recipe! And have yourselves a lovely weekend! xo

Brown Butter Blondies with Macadamia Nuts, Caramel, and Dark Chocolate

Brown Butter Blondies with Macadamia Nuts, Caramel, and Dark Chocolate | Once Upon a Recipe

Alright alright, so I’ve been real well-behaved over the past month, sharing healthy recipes and all that jazz. But it’s time to get back to the good stuff. The sweet, buttery, chocolate-laden stuff.

And I’m not sure that there are words for these little squares of delight. At least, no words that will do them justice.

Brown Butter Blondies with Macadamia Nuts, Caramel, and Dark Chocolate | Once Upon a Recipe

Every so often, I try to do a clean-out of my cupboard. I always seem to have half-bags of a variety of chocolate, nuts, and other baking mix-ins hanging around. I had leftover dark chocolate and caramel left over from making my salted caramel bark over the holidays. I was very tempted to make another batch of the bark, but the previous batch had been a little too hard to resist, even from the depths of my freezer. I tend to lack willpower around frozen chocolate, what can I say?

Brown Butter Blondies with Macadamia Nuts, Caramel, and Dark Chocolate | Once Upon a Recipe

Therefore, I was on the hunt for a new recipe. When I came across Deb’s recipe for blondies and realized that I’d never made blondies before, it was a no-brainer. The base recipe is great, and provides lots of room for switching up the flavors and mix-ins.

Brown Butter Blondies with Macadamia Nuts, Caramel, and Dark Chocolate | Once Upon a Recipe

Brown Butter Blondies with Macadamia Nuts, Caramel, and Dark Chocolate | Once Upon a Recipe

Friends, I have not been this excited about a cookie in a while. But these little things are AMAZING. First of all, we’ve got brown butter, which just seems to make everything a little bit better. Then we add in some toasted macadamia nuts for a little buttery crunch, chunks of caramel for a little chew, and some dark chocolate, just because. Oh, and then we add a sprinkle of coarse sea salt on top, just because I’m obsessed with that sweet/salty combo. #cantstopwontstop

Brown Butter Blondies with Macadamia Nuts, Caramel, and Dark Chocolate | Once Upon a Recipe

Brown Butter Blondies with Macadamia Nuts, Caramel, and Dark Chocolate | Once Upon a Recipe

It’s true what they say, blondies have more fun! But don’t take my word for it!

Brown Butter Blondies with Macadamia Nuts, Caramel, and Dark Chocolate (adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

These blondies are so adaptable to whatever mix-ins you’ve got on hand. Basically, you need one cup of mix-ins, so change it up and try out different combinations. Please note that I’ve also added the metric measurements for some of the ingredients. I have been using my kitchen scale more often in baking, simply because I find that it helps me to produce more consistent results. I recommend using a scale if you have one. 

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter

1 cup (238 grams) dark brown sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla

Pinch of sea salt

1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour

1/3 cup toasted macadamia nuts, chopped

1/3 cup caramel pieces (I used 8 Kraft caramels, chopped)

1/3 cup dark chocolate, chopped

Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8 x 8 pan with non-stick spray.

Toast your macadamia nuts – spread the nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for about 5 minutes. Check frequently to ensure they don’t burn.

Brown your butter! Combine brown butter and brown sugar and beat together. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. Stir in the sea salt, flour, and mix-ins. Press the cookie dough into the pan. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt (I used about half a teaspoon). Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to brown and the center is set. Do not overbake! Allow the blondies to cool in the pan, then slice into squares. Nosh!

Brown Butter Blondies with Macadamia Nuts, Caramel, and Dark Chocolate | Once Upon a Recipe

And if you want to be downright gluttonous, do what I did, and add a little drizzle of salted caramel. This is living, friends!

Guest Post: Kitchen Sink Breakfast Cookies

Kitchen Sink Breakfast Cookies | Once Upon a Recipe

Kitchen Sink Breakfast Cookies | Once Upon a Recipe   Kitchen Sink Breakfast Cookies | Once Upon a Recipe

Kitchen Sink Breakfast Cookies | Once Upon a Recipe

Kitchen Sink Breakfast Cookies | Once Upon a Recipe   Kitchen Sink Breakfast Cookies | Once Upon a Recipe

T to the G to the I to the F! It’s Friiiiiiiiiiiiday!

And today I’m sharing a recipe for healthy and wholesome breakfast cookies over on my lovely blogging friend Stefanie’s site, Sarcastic Cooking! Stefanie just birthed theeeee cutest little dude, and is adjusting to motherhood. I was so excited when she asked me to do a guest post for her.

Yep, I did say breakfast cookies, meaning they are indeed filled with things that you can feel good about putting into your body before noon! Aside from checking out this particular recipe, be sure to peruse through Stefanie’s other recipes. They will most often leave you with a grumbling stomach and a craving for whatever she’s cooking up. So head on over there and let’s end this week with cookies!

Enjoy your weekend friends!

May it be filled with wonderful things (and hopefully, warmer temperatures if you’ve been hit with cold this past week)!

Salted Caramel Bark

Salted Caramel Bark | Once Upon a Recipe

Bonjour friends!

The Christmas Countdown is on! Only two more days to go until the big day is here.

Salted Caramel Bark | Once Upon a Recipe

Are you ready? Is your house all decorated nice? Have all of your presents been wrapped and placed under the tree with care? Do you have your Christmas menu planned? Is your holiday baking finished? Are you sitting by the fire relaxing with a rum and ‘nog, basking in relaxation? Or are you scrambling around trying to buy and wrap and bake all the things?

Never fear, I’m here to help! I’ve got a last minute gift idea for you. And it can be made and wrapped up in less than an hour.

Salted Caramel Bark | Once Upon a Recipe

Salted Caramel Bark | Once Upon a Recipe   Salted Caramel Bark | Once Upon a Recipe

Three ingredients. Chocolate. Caramel. Sea salt. Boom! Delicious.

Chocolate gets melted and spread on a cookie sheet. Caramel gets drizzled on top. A little sea salt sprinkle, 15 minutes in the freezer to set, and salted caramel bark is born! Break it up, tie it up with ribbon in little gift bags and it’s ready for gifting! Or you can totes just eat it yourself. It will be extremely difficult not to.

Salted Caramel Bark | Once Upon a Recipe

Salted Caramel Bark

You can use the chocolate of your choice in this recipe. I used chocolate wafers found in the bulk section of my local grocery store. Feel free to use higher quality chocolate; however, it tastes pretty darn good when you use the cheap stuff. 

12 oz. (~2 heaping cups) dark chocolate

12 oz. (~2 heaping cups) milk chocolate

12 oz. Kraft caramels

Coarse ground sea salt (~2 tsp.)

Cover a 9 x 13″ baking sheet with wax paper. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Place the caramels in a microwave safe bowl with 2 TBSP. water. Microwave for 1 minute, stir, then microwave in 30-second intervals until fully melted and smooth. Spread the chocolate onto the baking sheet evenly. Drop spoonfuls of the caramel over the chocolate and then swirl with a knife. Sprinkle liberally with the coarse ground sea salt. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes, or until set. Break up into pieces.

Salted Caramel Bark | Once Upon a Recipe

If you’re looking for other easy homemade gift ideas, look no further! Check out Christmas Crack, Lemon Butter, or this long-ago post with other last-minute holiday gift ideas.