Brownie Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches

One of our family's favorite summertime treats is a brownie waffle ice cream sandwich.  They are so easy to make and you can customize them with your favorite ice cream.  Let me show you how I make mine.

You will need:
1 chocolate cake mix, (without the pudding in the mix)
2 large eggs
6 Tabs. softened butter
3/4 cup water

Baking spray
waffle maker
Your favorite flavor ice cream
Any optional add-ins for the batter, or to add around the outside of the ice cream sandwich.

In a large sized bowl add the dry cake mix, softened butter, eggs, and water.

Stir until smooth and well blended.

If you like, you can add chocolate chips to the batter for an extra chocolate flavor.

Now place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.  This will allow the batter to sit up well for baking in the waffle maker.

After 30 minutes, remove the cake mix from the refrigerator.

As per your waffle maker's instructions, make sure to spray the waffle iron with baking spray and preheat the waffle iron.

As per your waffle maker's instructions, add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of cake mix into the center of the waffle maker.  Close the lid and cook, (as per your waffle maker's instructions).

When the waffle maker signals the batter is done, lift the lid and remove the chocolate waffles, (carefully), to a plate.   Continue cooking the cake mix until you have cooked all the batter.

I usually get 6 double waffles, (12 singles), from one batch of cake mix.

 I just stack them on a plate as I cook them, so they can cool.

Sometimes, we just use these waffles like this.  We add a scoop of ice cream on top, some chocolate syrup, (or caramel syrup), and enjoy.  But, today I kept everyone away until I get the ice cream sandwiches made.

Once they have cooled, place your favorite ice cream in the center of one waffle (I like to use vanilla).  Make sure to spread the ice cream from crust to crust.

Top with a 2nd waffle and gently press down, so the ice cream starts to ooze out the sides.

I then cut my waffles in half.  This gives me 12 sandwiches.

You will then want to place them in a container with a tight fitting lid and place in the freezer for a couple of hours.  After that, you can enjoy.

In our house, the family likes to roll the waffle sandwiches in sprinkles before freezing.  You can use so many different options, (i.e.: chocolate chips, berries, chopped fruit, chopped nuts, crushed toffee pieces, coconut, etc.), whatever goes with the type of ice cream you use in your sandwich.

For the little ones, I cut the sandwiches in fourths which makes them easier for the kids to handle.

So, while the hot days of summer are upon us, give these brownie waffle ice cream sandwiches a try.  Your family will thank you.

Enjoy!

Tart Cherry Crisp

It's cherry season here where we live.  This week I was lucky enough to get 2 bags of fresh picked "Pie Cherries" from my friend's tree.  As I was deciding what to make...cherry pie, cherry cobbler, cherry rolls, or cherry bread, (of course my husband always votes for the cherry rolls), I knew that I had to at least freeze half or more for later use.
Finally, I decided to do a quick and easy tart cherry crisp, for dinner dessert.  Let me show you.

You will need:
4 cups pitted tart cherries
2 Tabs. sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teas. nutmeg
1 1/2 teas cinnamon
1/4 teas salt
1/4 cup cold butter, cubed

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Wash, pit and place 4 cups tart cherries in a 9-inch pie plate.

This is the hardest part of the whole recipe, (cleaning and pitting the cherries), but once you have this done, it's all downhill from here.


Note:  if you don't have fresh tart cherries, you can always substitute 2 cans, (14 1/2 ounces) of pitted cherries from your grocery store).

Sprinkle the top of the cherries with
sugar
only 1/2 teas. ground cinnamon
only 1/2 teas. ground nutmeg

In a small bowl combine
flour
brown sugar
remaining 1 teas. ground cinnamon
remaining1/2 teas ground nutmeg
salt

Add in the cubed butter, and cut into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

 Your crumble topping will look like this.

Sprinkle crumb mixture over top of the cherries.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes, or until the top is bubbly, and nicely browned.

Allow to cool for a few minutes.  Then you can serve it warm or at room temperature.

If you are a purist, (like I am), I love to eat it plain.

The cherries are slightly sweet, but not overly sweet.  The crumble has a nice flavor, due to the addition of just a small amount of spices.  So good, and summery.

My family like to top their crisp with a couple scoops of ice cream.  And they like their crisp warm, so the ice cream will melt down over the crisp.  Also, very favorable.

Try to get your hands on some tart cherries, and give this recipe a try.


Enjoy.

Chocolate Cinnamon Cake (Quick and Easy)

There are times when you want a quick dessert, but not a large amount.  Maybe just enough for 2, 4, or even 6 people.  This is one of our favorites.  It's just enough for a small family, especially when there are only 2 or 4.  It comes together quick, and you probably have the ingredients in your pantry.

You will need:
2/3 cup baking mix, (such as Bisquick or Jiffy)
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tabs. cocoa
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 Tabs. softened butter
1/2 cup chocolate flavored syrup

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a small / medium bowl, combine baking mix, sugar, cocoa, and 1/2 teas cinnamon.  Whisk together to remove any lumps in the baking mix and cocoa.

Add in milk, egg, and softened butter.  With a hand mixer on low, mix for 30 seconds, then with the hand mixer on medium mix for 3 minutes.  Be sure to scrape the bowl often.

Pour into an 8 X 4 inch loaf pan that has been sprayed with baking spray.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven, and allow to cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes.

Gently remove cake from pan, and allow to cool.

While the cake is cooling, in a small microwaveable bowl combine the chocolate syrup and the remaining 1/4 teas. cinnamon.  Microwave on high for 1 minute.  Remove and stir.

Drizzle the topping over the top of the cake.

Your quick and easy chocolate cinnamon cake is now ready to serve.

The cinnamon adds a nice touch to the chocolate.  My husband likes to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of his cake, which is also very delicious.

So, the next time, you're in a hurry to get a dessert for your dinner - give this chocolate cinnamon cake a try.

Enjoy !!

Cranberry Crumble bars

During the winter, when the cranberries are on sale, I like to stock up and and buy several bags and freeze them.  Then later when I'm in the mood for the wonderful taste of cranberries, I can easily pull out a bag, thaw the berries, and make something wonderful.  One of our households favorite treats is cranberry crumble bars.  It's a dessert that has just the right amount of tartness from the cranberries, and not too much sweetness.  This desert will easily feed 8 people for very little money, and is quick to make.

You will need:
1/2 cup sugar
1 large orange
1/4 cup water
2 cups cranberries
1/2 teas ground cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, (or margarine), softened
1 1/2 cup quick-cooking, (or old fashioned), oats
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teas salt

Zest the orange, (you will need 1 Tablespoon of orange zest).
Then, squeeze the juice from the orange, (you will need 1/4 cup of orange juice).

In a medium, (1 1/2 quart size), saucepan, mix the sugar, orange juice and water together, until sugar is dissolved.  Heat to boiling over medium heat. 

Add in the salt.

 Add in the orange zest.

Add in the cranberries.

(note:  make sure to wash your cranberries before using).

 Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened.

After about 10 minutes, this is what the sauce will look like.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.  This smells wonderful.

Pre heat oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium bowl, stir together the softened butter and brown sugar.

Add in the oats, flour and salt.

Mix together until the mixture is crumbly.

Press 1/2 of crumb mixture into the bottom of an 8 X 8 inch ungreased baking dish.

Pour the cooled cranberry sauce onto the crumb mixture.

Spread the cranberry sauce filling out over the crumb mixture, evenly.

Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture evenly over the top of the cranberry sauce.

Lightly pat the crumb mixture topping.

Bake in 400 degree oven for 25 minutes, or until light brown.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.

Cut into 8 bars, (4 rows across, 2 rows down).  Allow to cool until 15 minutes, (or even completely), before eating.

And you can now enjoy your cranberry crumble bars.  Notice how you have a nice thick filling between the oatmeal crust and top.

It holds it's shape, and it taste wonderful.  Not to sweet, and not overly tart.  A glass of milk is great with it.  Or with a scoop of ice cream on top, (my husband's favorite way), is wonderful.


Enjoy !