It's out tomorrow!!! Whee!
From Daryl:
WREATH BETWEEN THE LINES is the 7th in the Cookbook NookMysteries, and as any fan knows, there are recipes in the book. I thought I’dshare one with you today. *You can read more about the book below.
Today, I’ll share a recipe for BrownieChristmas Trees. I saw pictures of these trees on Pinterest and knew I had to haveJenna, the owner of the Cookbook Nook and Nook Café, serve these to childrenwho visit her establishments during the holidays. They are so darling. I’m sureyour little darlings will want to help make them.
But first….the brownies. This is the bestdarned brownie recipe I’ve ever concocted, and it’s gluten-free!! Sochocolate-y, so moist. By the way, “whey” powder helps keep gluten-free bakedgoods moister longer. *Note about usingregular flour at end of post.
Reindeer brownies
*Use the brownie recipe, but bake it in two 9-inch cake pansfor half the time so they are ultra thin (or you can split the cake after it's cooked, which is what I did the first time).
(Makes 12-16)
For decoration:
Peppermint candy canes with hooked tops
Chocolate frosting (*see recipe following)
Tootsie Rolls
Small marshmallows
Tiny chocolate chips
Vanilla wafers (*not gluten-free; see below)
Red M and Ms
HOW TO CONSTRUCT:
Cut brownies into wedge shapes (6-8 per cake pan). Set on decorativeflat plate.
Carefully insert candy canes for antlers at the top of thelong edge of the wedge.
Paint the brownie with a thin coat of brownie frosting (*recipe below).
Cut Tootsie Roll on a diagonal. Set a Tootsie Roll on eachside of long edge of the wedge for ears.
Snip marshmallows in half and set in the upper middle of thebrownie face. Using a teensy amount of icing, affix tiny chocolate chips to themarshmallows for eyes.
Add a vanilla wafer to the pointed end of the wedge. Then,using a small amount of icing, affix a red M and M on top for the nose. (Note: Vanillawafers are not gluten-free. If you need to eat gluten-free—the brownie recipeis—then omit this cookie and only use the M and Ms.)
Brownies
(Gluten-free)
(Makes 12-16)
1/2 cup unsaltedbutter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoonsalt
1 teaspoongluten-free vanilla extract
3/4 cupDutch-process cocoa (I like Penzey’s but Hershey’s is quite good, too.)
3 large eggs
3/4 cupgluten-free flour (I like a combo of sweet rice flour and tapioca flour.)
1 teaspoonbaking powder
1 teaspoon wheypowder
1 cup chocolatechips
Preheat oven to350 degrees F, and line a round 9-inch pan with parchment paper and rubbed withbutter.
In a mediumsaucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add sugar and salt and stir until the mixturelightens in color. Just a pale yellow is fine.
Transfer themixture to a large mixing bowl. Blend inthe vanilla and cocoa, and then add the eggs. Mix until shiny, about 1 minute.
Add in theflour, baking powder, and whey powder.Stir in the chocolate chips.
Pour the batterinto the prepared pan. Make sure youspread it to the edges.
Bake for 32-36minutes until the top of the brownie is set.Insert a toothpick in the center to make sure it’s cooked through. A tad of chocolate at the tip is fine.
Remove from ovenand cool 15-20 minutes before cutting.For the prettiest brownies, wait until they are completely cool. No crumbs!
Once cool, coverany that you’re not eating tightly with plastic or store in sealed glasscontainers.
*If you’d like to make this using regularflour, just swap out the flour and you may use any vanilla extract. I’d stilluse the whey powder.
BROWNIE FROSTING
(makes 1 to 1 ½ cups)
6 tablespoons butter, softened
2-2/3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 to 1/4 cup milk
In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners'sugar until combined. Beat in cocoa and vanilla. Add 1/8 cup milk, adding moreif necessary, until the frosting achieves spreading consistency. If you add toomuch milk at first, it will be runny, so remember, less is more.
What's Wreath Between the Lines about?
Worried that Jake was the intended victim, Jennamakes a list of suspects and checks it twice. Swapping her Santa’s hat for asleuthing cap, she gets busy investigating Jake’s long-lost sister, his Grinchof a neighbor, and a stamp collector who covets Jake’s most treasured piece.When Jake himself is poisoned and nearly dies, Jenna knows she’ll have to dowhatever it takes to corner the culprit before it’s lights out for Jake . . .
The holidays are JennaHart’s favorite time of year, but just as she’s decorating the Cookbook Nookfor all the festive events, her imperious older sister makes a surprise visit,anxious that her husband has been more naughty than nice. To make matters worse,her father’s good friend Jake shows up on her doorstep with a frantic reportthat his friend has been murdered—trussed with Christmas lights and impaledwith a tree star.
GIVEAWAY
One commenter will win a copy of WREATH BETWEEN THE LINES. Winner picked late Thursday. Tell me what is your all-time favorite Christmas dessert? Leave your email so I can contact you if you win.
To do this CLICK COMMENTS BELOW, at the end of the post. It's a little word. All Caps. See it down and to the right of the Pin In button?
Next book: Wreath between the Lines BUY LINK
*E-book available right now.
* Paperback is available for pre-order on Barnes and Noble righ tnow. It won't be available on Amazon until the day of release, tomorrow. You will not SEE a link for paper on Amazon until that date, but it WILL BE AVAILABLE! PROMISE.
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