I’m so happy to have Lizzie Shane, author of The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, on the blog today to celebrate A Bookish Little Christmas with me! I have a major sweet tooth, so this was the perfect post for me. Who doesn’t love brownies?? Read more about Lizzie and her book below, and enter to win one of five copies of the book!
Tis the season for holiday treats! I love making special goodies for the holidays, but I’m also a big believer in simple, time-saving recipes that feel special while still being super easy. Enter Brownie Toppers.
In my new release, The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, town Scrooge Ben is overwhelmed by his Christmas obligations and isn’t much of a baker – but he’s still determined to make something special for his niece’s holiday bake sale. So, of course, our heroine Ally saves the day by helping him dress up some brownies so they become the hit of the holiday fair. (And then they fall madly in love, of course.)
In college I was addicted to the fancy brownies at a sweet shop in town (I still think back fondly on the M&M brownie…) and when I started playing at replicating them, they became one of my favorite holiday hacks.
S’mores Brownies, Peppermint Bark Brownies, “Dirt” Brownies, Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownies and more. Seriously, these are so easy.
- Start with your favorite BROWNIE MIX – or you can make them from scratch if you’re fancy. I like Ghirardelli Double Chocolate mix (and I can get it in bulk at Costco!).
- PREPARE the brownies like you usually would and let them cool completely. While they are cooling you can start assembling your toppings.
(photo by Lizzie Shane)
For the S’mores Brownies, you’ll want:
- Marshmallow fluff (or lightly warmed/softened marshmallows to make your own – 10 seconds in the microwave and a quick stir usually does the trick)
- Crumbled graham crackers
- Hershey squares
After the brownies have cooled, cut them into squares FIRST (otherwise you’ll never get them to cut cleanly because the marshmallow will be everywhere). Spread the marshmallow fluff on each brownie, then sprinkle graham cracker crumbles on top and set a single Hershey square in the center. Super fast. Super easy. Super delicious. (If you’re wrapping them individually, make sure you really cover the fluff with graham crumbles or it will stick to the saran wrap forever.)
For the Peppermint Bark Brownies, you’ll need:
- White Chocolate Chips
- Crumbled Candy Canes (or Peppermint Bark)
- Shortening (or vegetable oil)
- Peppermint Extract or Peppermint Schnapps (optional)
After the brownies have cooled, you can either cut them into squares if you want the white chocolate dripping down the sides (I like it that way) or leave them in the pan if you’d like a clean white chocolate layer on top of the brownies. In a microwave-safe dish, combine the white chocolate chips, shortening (for 1.5 cups chips, I add 1.5 tablespoons of shortening), and a splash of peppermint schnapps or ½ tsp of peppermint extract if you want extra minty-ness. Melt for 30 seconds in the microwave, stir, melt for another 30, another stir, and you should have smooth, liquid, pourable chocolate.
Pour the white chocolate on top of the fully cooled brownies and sprinkle crushed candy canes on top while the chocolate is still warm and soft. Let cool and harden completely. If the brownies are still in the pan, be sure to score the chocolate with a knife as it is cooling, otherwise the chocolate topping will crack when you try to cut your squares.
For “Dirt” Brownies, you’ll need:
- Chocolate frosting
- Gummy worms
- Crumbled Oreos (optional)
Once the brownies have cooled, cut them into squares (since the gummy worms are very difficult to cut after the fact). You can cover the brownie squares with melted chocolate by replicating the steps above in the Peppermint Bark recipe, only with milk chocolate morsels instead of white chocolate, or you can simply cover them with a thin layer of frosting and a light dusting of Oreo crumbs before pressing the gummy worms on top. And then you’re done. Easy peasy.
For Caramel Pretzel Brownies, you’ll need:
- Soft caramels
- Salted Pretzels
- Sea Salt (optional)
Cut the cooled brownies into squares again (because like the marshmallow, the caramel does not cut cleanly). Melt the caramels in the microwave – I tend to do this ten seconds at a time, stirring as I check them, because the caramel burns easily. You can drizzle lightly on top, but I like to slather it on with a knife because I like a lot of caramel. Then, while the caramel is still warm, press the pretzels into the top. You can either crumble them into pieces or press them on whole. I also like to sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top, for that extra salty kick. Then just let cool completely and enjoy!
That’s it! “Fancy” brownies with very little effort.
You can always mix and match your favorite toppings too. I love white chocolate with Oreo crumbs (like Cookies n Cream), or a dollop of peanut butter with a Hershey square, or marshmallow fluff with M&Ms.
These are all very sweet, but they are a perfect holiday sugar rush. And hopefully they make you as much the hit of the holidays as they did Ben and Ally. Happy baking and happy reading!
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Lizzie Shane
Series: Pine Hollow #1
Published by Forever on September 29, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance — Christmas
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A delightful holiday romance about a small-town single dad and an animal rescue owner as they try to find forever homes for a dozen lovable pups before Christmas.
Pine Hollow has everything Ally Gilmore could wish for in a holiday break: gently falling snow in a charming small town and time with her family. Then she learns some Grinch has pulled the funding for her family’s rescue shelter, and now she has only four weeks to find new homes for a dozen dogs! But when she confronts her Scroogey councilman nemesis, Ally finds he’s far more reasonable — and handsome — than she ever expected.
As the guardian of his dog-obsessed ten-year-old niece, Ben West doesn’t have time to build a cuddly reputation. But he does feel guilty about the shelter closing. So he proposes a truce with Ally, agreeing to help her adopt out the pups. As the two spend more time together, the town’s gossip is spreading faster than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. And soon Ben is hoping he can convince Ally that Pine Hollow is her home for the holidays. . . and the whole year through.
About Lizzie Shane
Contemporary romance author Lizzie Shane was born in Alaska and still calls the frozen north home, though she can frequently be found indulging her travel addiction. Thankfully, her laptop travels with her and she has written her way through all fifty states and over fifty countries.
Lizzie has been honored to win the Golden Heart Award and HOLT Medallion, and has been named a finalist three times for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Award®, but her main claim to fame is that she lost on Jeopardy! For more about Lizzie and her books, please visit http://www.lizzieshane.com.
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