triple-chocolate surprise brownies

The surprise? Pureed black beans replace some of the butter, cutting the fat from 11g to only 7g!

the goods:

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan

1/4 cup black beans, rinsed, drained, and pureed until completely smooth

3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (1/2 cup)

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped (1/3 cup)

1 and 1/3 cups sugar

2 large eggs, plus 1 large egg white

1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9-inch square baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine butter, bean puree, and chocolates and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring each time, until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Whisk in sugar, eggs and egg white, and vanilla until smooth.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Stir into chocolate mixture until just combined. Pour batter into pan; smooth top. Bake until top is cracked and toothpick inserted in center has moist crumbs attached, about 25 minutes (center will seem undercooked but will set further as it cools). Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Using parchment, lift brownie from pan and cut into 16 squares.

chocolate-peppermint thumbprint cookies

the goods:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 and 1/4 cups (2 and 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

5 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (3/4 cup)

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

Hershey Kisses or Hugs (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat 1 cup each butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla; beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat to combine.

Place 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl. Roll dough into 1-inch balls, then roll in sugar to coat. Place balls, 1 inch apart, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 5 minutes. Remove sheet from oven; with the small end of a melon baller or the bottom of a small round measuring spoon, make an indentation in center of each cookie.

Bake until cookies are just set but still look moist, 4 minutes (do not overbake). Let cool on sheet on wire rack.

In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate chips and 1/4 cup butter in 10-second increments until melted; stir in peppermint extract. Let cool until thick enough to pipe, 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a medium Ziploc bag; snip 1/4-inch hole in one corner. Pipe chocolate into cookie indentations. Add Hugs or Kisses if desired (I did half with and half without).

peanut butter and jelly bars

I was a little distracted with an alternative project in the kitchen (Aj's graduation cake disaster), and didn't snap a picture of my finished bars...oops!

the goods:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan

2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 jar (12 ounces) grape jelly

3/4 cup chopped roasted salted peanuts

1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush a 9-inch square baking pan with butter, and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. Butter parchment.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. With a pastry cutter or your hands, work in butter, until mixture resembles coarse meal with a few pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. Add egg and vanilla; stir until dough just comes together. Set aside 1 cup dough and firmly press remaining dough into pan in an even layer. Using a small offset spatula, spread jelly over top.

Combine reserved dough, peanuts, and peanut butter chips; crumble over jam layer. Bake until topping is deep golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on wire rack. Run a sharp knife around edges, then, using parchment, lift cake from pan and cut into 12 squares.

vanilla sheet cake with malted-milk-chocolate frosting

the goods:

3 and 3/4 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan

3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan

1 and 1/2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 and 1/4 cups buttermilk

1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup boiling water

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 and 1/2 cups malted milk powder

3/4 pound milk chocolate, melted and cooled

sprinkles (optional), for serving

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat 1 and 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) butter and sugar on high until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. With mixer on low, add flour mixture to butter mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions buttermilk, and beat to combine, scraping down bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Transfer batter to pan and smooth top.

Bake until cake is golden, puffed, and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Let cool completely in pan on wire rack. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa and malted milk powders. Add boiling water, whisk until smooth, and let cool. Using mixer, beat 2 sticks (1 cup) plus 2 tablespoons butter on high until smooth. Add cocoa mixture; beat until combined. Add chocolate and pinch of salt. With mixer on medium-high, beat until frosting is smooth and peaks form, 3 minutes.

Frost cake; top with sprinkles if desired.

Slice (or just grab a bunch of forks) and dig in!