Deliciously Simple Desserts

Perhaps its the pregnancy, but lately I've been very interested in desserts. I'm always looking for new desserts to try and easy recipes that I can whip up in less than an hour. On one of my searches I found four recipes that made my mouth water. They each are about an hour or less to make and they taste divine! They're quite unique and very simple to make. My favorites are the Chocolate Cake Cookies and the Brownie Cupcakes Surprise. But then anything chocolate suits my tastes.

Below you'll find four deliciously simple recipes that will make dessert a heavenly experience. Tickle your taste buds with lots of chocolatey goodness, extravagant caramel and yummy banana flavors.

A delicious combination of Chocolate cake and cookies!

Prep Time: 15 Min.
Bake Time: 10 Min. per batch
Servings: 48

What You'll Need:

• 1 Package of cream cheese, softened.
• 1/2 Cup of butter, softened
• 1 Egg
• 1 Tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 Package of chocolate cake mix
• 1 Cup of chocolate chips, semisweet
• 1 Cup of peanut butter chips

Directions for Chcoolate Cake Cookies

1. Grease at least two baking sheets.
   
2. Beat the cream cheese and butter, in a large bowl, until it's smooth.
3. Then beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
4. Add the cake mix and beat until it's all well blended.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips and the peanut butter chips.
6. Drop tablespoonfuls of the mixture on the greased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
7. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 to 12 minutes.
8. Cool for 3 minutes before removing the cookies from the sheets.

The deliciousness of caramel in a candy bar!

Prep Time: 20 Min.
Bake Time: 15 Min.
Servings: 24

What You'll Need:
Crust Layer

• 1/2 Cup of butter, softened
• 1/2 Cup of brown sugar, packed
• 1 1/3 Cups of all purpose flour

Caramel Layer

• 1 Package of caramels
• 1/3 Cup of butter, cubed
  
• 1/3 Cup of evaporated milk
• 1 2/3 Cups of confectioners sugar

Chocolate Drizzle

• 1/4 Cup of semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 Tsp of shortening

Direction for Caramel Candy Bars

1. Grease a 13x9 In. baking pan.
   
2. Mix the butter and brown sugar, in a large bowl, until it's fluffy and light.
3. Beat in the flour until the mixture is well blended.
4. Press into the greased pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes (until it's golden brown).
6. Over a low heat, melt the caramels and butter with the milk, in a small saucepan, until smooth (stirring occasionally).
7. Remove the melted caramel from the heat.
8. Stir in the confectioners sugar.
9. Spread over the crust layer.
10. Melt the chocolate chips and shortening in the microwave.
11. Stir until it's smooth.
12. Drizzle the chocolate over the caramel layer.
13. Now refrigerate the dessert until it's firm.
14. Cut it into bars.

A healthy AND tasty treat made with sweet and yummy bananas!

Prep Time: 15 Min
Bake Time: 45 Min.
Servings: 12 to 16

What You'll Need:

• 2 Eggs, separated
• 2/3 Cup of shortening
• 1 1/2 Cups of sugar
• 2 or 3 ripe or over-ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 1/2 Cups of all purpose flour
• 1 Tsp of baking soda
• 1/4 Cup of buttermilk
• 1/2 Tsp of vanilla extract
• 1/2 Cup of walnuts, chopped, optional
  
• Whipped cream, optional
• Sliced bananas, optional

Directions for Banana Squares

1. Grease a 13x9 In. baking pan.
   
2. Beat the egg whites, in a large bowl, until soft peaks form. Then set it aside.
3. Beat the shortening and sugar, in another large bowl, until creamy.
4. Beat in the egg yolks with the creamy mixture until mixed well.
5. Add the mashed bananas.
6. Combine the flour and baking soda and add it to the creamy mixture.
7. Mix in the buttermilk.
8. Add the vanilla.
9. Fold in the egg whites.
10. Optional: Fold in the chopped walnuts.
11. Pour the mixture into the greased baking pan.
12. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.
13. Let it cool.
14. Cut it into squares.
    
15. Optional: Decorate with whipped cream and banana slices.

Brownies meet cupcakes, with a chocolatey surprise in the middle!

Prep Time: 10 Min.
Bake Time: 20 Min.
Servings: 9

What You'll Need:

• 1/3 Cup of butter, softened
• 1 Cup of sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Tsp of vanilla extract
• 3/4 Cup of all purpose flour
• 1/2 Cup of baking cocoa
• 1/4 Tsp of baking powder
• 1/4 Tsp of salt
• Milk chocolate kisses

Directions for Brownie Cupcake Surprise

1. Prepare cupcake pans with foil or paper linings.
   
2. Cream the butter and sugar, in a large bowl, until it's fluffy and light.
3. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
4. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt then add it to the creamy mixture.
5. Mix well.
6. Fill foil or paper-lined cupcake pans until it's 2/3 full.
7. Put a chocolate kiss in the center of each cupcake, tip down.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes (when done, the top of the brownie should spring back when touched).
9. Let it cool.

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