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sweets

FUN/DIY/ Homemade Gifts/ RECIPES/ Sweets

Fudgy Buttons Homemade Gift

 

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These little Fudgy Buttons make an easy and thoughtful homemade gift that can be put together in minutes.

Fudgy Buttons are delicious little morsels of peanut butter and chocolate, and are perfect as a gift because—who doesn’t love peanut butter and chocolate? They use just 5 ingredients most people will have on hand. Although far from healthy, they are so much better for you than buying the typical peanut butter and chocolate candy.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudgy Button Homemade Gift

Case in point? Let’s compare ingredients:

 

Ingredients list for homemade Fudgy Buttons:

Peanut Butter, Cocoa, Powdered Sugar, Milk, Vanilla

 

Ingredient list for a popular chocolate peanut butter cup candy:

Peanuts, Milk Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, (Chocolate, Nonfat Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, and Soy Lecithin, and PGPR, Emulsifiers)Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Cottonseed, Soybean, Palm Kernel, and Palm Oil)Sorbitol, Dextrose, Chocolate, Nonfat Milk, High Maltose Corn Syrup, Refined Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa Butter, Salt, Corn Syrup, Whey, Whey Protein Concentrate, Caseinate, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Flavor, Glycerin, Lactose, Mono and Diglycerides, and TBHQ.

See what I mean?  Simple recipes like these Fudgy Buttons are a great way to have sweets without ingesting a bunch of preservatives and ingredients, some that are impossible to pronounce!

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My Colsie is a big fan of these Fudgy Buttons and of her Grandpa, so making them for him as a homemade birthday gift was the perfect idea.  This recipe is one of the few recipes that will get her in the kitchen, especially when she has a sweet craving. My youngest, Avery, makes them, too, especially when there are no sweets to be found in our kitchen cupboards. The recipe has been a family favorite for a while, and was even part of our “Head Shaving Party” food back in 2010 when I was going through chemo. Chocolate and peanut butter truly DO make everything a bit better!

Colsie is very close to her Grandpa and loves him so much. He is an amazingly generous man, but is not a big fan of receiving gifts. He always loved homemade cards from the kids when they were younger, but now Colsie is 15 she wanted to do something a bit more.

I had supplies on hand to package them cute, which is key to making homemade goodies into a meaningful gift.

Fudgy Buttons in a tin.

You can purchase the tins here on Amazon, and can buy these fun little mini baking cups, or just separate layers of fudgy buttons with parchment paper. I love raiding the dollar bins at Michael’s craft stores for different ribbon and tags to have on hand for homemade gifts.

This is the perfect gift not just for Grandpas, but for teachers or friends, young or old. You may want to do what Colsie did —double the recipe and keep some for yourself!

 

Fudgy Buttons

4 Tablespoons butter
3 teaspoons baking cocoa
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoons milk
4 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter

In a small saucepan, melt the butter; remove from heat.  Add cocoa and mix well.  Stir in sugar, the mixture will be quite thick. Add milk and stir until smooth (you will feel like you should add more milk but don’t. The peanut butter will make it creamy and perfect.) Add peanut butter and mix well.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Roll into balls and flatten with your thumb.
{For Your Pinning Pleasure}

Fudgy Buttons Homemade Gift

 

 

GF, Vegan & Raw/ RECIPES/ Sponsored/ Sweets

Dreamy Coconut Bites

Dreamy coconut bites
 

Once a month, the first Sunday of every month, my in laws have the whole family over for what we call “Pizza Sunday.”  There are usually at least 6 adult couples, who all have at least 3 children whose ages range from 3-21.  It is a day my family looks forward to every month.  The family fellowship is sweet and my in-laws have made their home an absolute haven for the grand kids.  They have a pool, basket ball hoops, tether ball, volleyball, a play set & a nice big yard.  Inside they have a pool table, pinball machine, arcade game, video games and a play room.  My kids never want to leave Grandma’s house!
The adults sit around and have great conversation while we eat.  We then enjoy watching the kids play and swim, sit around and relax with magazines, chatting in between pages.  It is so awesome. I can’t tell you how blessed I feel to truly love and enjoy all of my in-laws.
My Mother-in-Law orders a bunch of pizzas, makes a big healthy salad, and puts out some fruit and a few appetizers.  She usually has a couple different desserts, and sometimes asks us if we would mind bringing desserts. This last pizza Sunday she asked a few of us to bring a dessert to share.  I know she is a huge fan of coconut, so I searched my pinboards for something sweet with coconut in it.  I found the perfect recipe.
The recipe is originally called Coconut Crack Bars via Chocolate Covered Katie.  I can see why…they are addicting.  But I decided to name them something a little less harsh, especially since they are made with pretty wholesome ingredients.  I also took the liberty to add chocolate chips to the recipe.  Yum!
These are no-bake and take just minutes to whip up in your food processor.  They are vegan, but were very well- received by both vegans and non-vegans in the family.  If you are a coconut lover, you must try them! I will be making this recipe again and again. 
Enjoy!
Dreamy Coconut Bites
  • 1 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened) (80g)
  • 1/4 cup honey (or agave nectar if want to keep vegan)
  • 2 tbsp virgin coconut oil 
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (my fav vegan brand, dairy, nut and soy free – click here)
Combine all ingredients in a food processor. (Perhaps you can mix by hand if you don’t have a food processor, but I haven’t tried.) Squish into any small container (I used a 7×5) and fridge for an hour before trying to cut. (Or freeze for 15 minutes.) Can be stored in the fridge or freezer, for at least a few weeks.

Dreamy coconut bites and chocolate chips
 

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Are you a coconut lover?  Here are a few more recipes from NN with coconut in them!

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RECIPES/ Sweets

10 Very Naughty Desserts

I volunteered to bring a dessert to a family gathering we are having tomorrow. I love it when I am asked to bring a dessert to a gathering, because it gives me the excuse to make something very, very naughty.  I like that I can leave any leftovers at the gathering, so it doesn’t sit around here.  I also like that I can search all my Recipe Pins and look for something I normal would not make to have here at home.

I thought I would share some of my options with you!  Hmm…how to choose?

Chocolate cupcakes topped with ganache & caramel drizzled Ruffles.  Oh WOW!

Recipe for Caramel Slice-“best food ever created” says a Pinner.

Yellow Cake Mix + Peanut Butter + Chocolate = Easy Dessert…Yum!

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Smoosh pre-made cookie dough into muffin tin.  Place Reeses peanut butter cup or oreo on top.  Top with boxed or pre- made brownie mix. Fill 3/4 full.  Bake 18 minutes. (no link)

Brownie Batter Dip-serve with pretzels.  Can you tell I love chocolate + salty +sweet?

Pretzel cookies with chocolate & peanut butter chips, for my salty/sweet tooth!

Source: food.com via New on Pinterest

6 minute microwave caramels.  Literally just measure ingredients and stir.  Add some sea salt to the top and  you have fancy salted caramels.

Source: myrecipes.com via New on Pinterest

Lemonade Cake.  Another Pinner says “this is my favorite cake in the whole world…my Aunt Catherine introduced it and now the whole family loves it.  Great summer recipe!”

Cinnamon Roll cake.  Pinner says “it literally melts in your mouth. Great for breakfast or dessert.”

Better Than Crack Brownies.  I’ve made these.  They are amazing.


{wanna follow me there? Click here.}

So which one would you choose?  I’m gonna go for something chocolate and easy!

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Healthy Eating/ RECIPES/ Sweets

Chocolate Mudballs

Well, Laura at “Heavenly Homemakers” has done it again.  She has taken a simple recipe, used whole ingredients, and provided my recipe box with one more “make often” recipe.

These chocolate mudballs just hit the spot!  They are great when you are wanting a bit of a chocolate treat, but use ingredients like wheat germ and oats to make them a treat that has some health benefits.  Love that!

I whipped them up in literally minutes, right before I left for my Tuesday Night Women’s Bible study group.  These women are often my taste testers with new recipes, I love their honesty and can count of the variety of tastes in the room to know whether or not a recipe is blog worthy! (I made bars that resembled bird seed one week and we all wondered if the birds would even eat them…they were NOT good:) These little mudballs received rave reviews, so here they are!

 

Mudballs
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup chocolate chips 
1/4 cup sesame seeds
Cook the peanut butter on honey over low heat until melted. Add remaining ingredients. When cool enough to handle roll into oohey gooey mud balls.
This batch made 12 balls, next time I will double the recipe.
My girls loved these.  They felt like they were eating cookie dough, and were disappointed that we had to share with my group!  I made them yesterday, and plan on going to the store for more sesame seeds so I can make them again today.  
I had a reader send me a recipe she thought I would like (how sweet is that?) and she was right on.  They are balls that are just like these, with just a couple ingredients switched up- they use ground flax seed instead of wheat germ, so it would be a great way to get those Omega 3’s!  Here is the link to that recipe if you want to check it out, the link will take you to a Disney website.  I will let you know when I make them how they turn out.
This post linked to:
Food On Fridays @ann kroeker. writer.
Recipe Swap Wednesdays @ Remodelaholic
Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays @ Blessed With Grace
Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative
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RECIPES/ Seasonal/ Sweets

Christmas Cranberry Recipes/ Christmas Carnival

Today I am participating in “Healthy Holiday Eats and Sweets Carnival”, hosted by “Keeper Of The Home.”(check out this blog, its a good one!  I have learned so much from it!)  I am very excited to find some new, healthy holiday recipes for years to come.  I plan on making a Healthy Holiday Recipe Journal with the carnival recipes, as I know there will be lots of great ones!!

I love all things cranberry, especially around the holiday season.  I thought for the carnival, I would share a couple of my favorites with you!

Hot Buttered Cranberry Apple Cider
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup rapadura or brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
pinch of cloves
pinch of salt
cranberry juice
apple cider

In a bowl, cream all ingredients except the juice and cider together.
Place on a piece of waxed paper, wrap up and put in a ziplock bag.
Freeze.  Slice pieces off as needed.

Heat 1/2 cup cranberry juice and 1/2 cup apple cider.  In the bottom of a mug, add at least a Tbls of the spiced butter.  Pour heated juice/cider mixture over the butter, stir and enjoy!

This next recipe is one that is pretty addicting.  I may make a large batch for Christmas gifts this year.  It is a recipe from FamiyFun.com, but I substituted almonds for walnuts.

Tree-Trim Cranberry Trail Mix
8 cups freshly popped corn (see this post for easy popping instructions!)
1 cup almonds
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp kosher salt
pinch of baking soda
1 cup dried cranberries

Heat the oven to 300 degrees.  Grease a large, rimmed baking sheet.  Mix the popcorn and nuts in a large, well -oiled bowl.  Bring the syrup, cinnamon, and salt to a boil in a small pan on med heat.  Let the mixture boil for 4 minutes, swirling the pan once in awhile.  Turn off heat and add the baking soda, stirring until the mixture is creamy.  Pour the mixture over popcorn and stir well.  Spread the popcorn on the baking sheet and bake until it is dry to the touch, about 15 minutes.  Let the popcorn cool for 20 minutes, then mix in the cranberries and serve or put in jars for yummy gifts!

photo from FamilyFun.com

 

6
RECIPES/ Sweets

Fudgy Buttons

Tonight I wanted something sweet, and there was NOTHING in the house (I need to grocery shop!).

I knew it was time to pull out my recipe for Fudgy Buttons once again.  I found the recipe in a magazine, given by a grandma who said she stirred up a batch for her grandkids every time they visited. I’ve made these many times, and I am sure I will still be stirring them up when I am a grandma.

I like them for a few reasons.  I always have the ingredients on hand,  I don’t have to turn the oven on,  I can make them in 5 minutes, my girls can help roll the balls and make them into buttons, they are round and cute, and they satisfy even the most intense craving for chocolate and peanut butter.

They are not the healthiest thing we could choose to eat, but when compared to the ingredients in some of the most popular chocolate and peanut butter candies:

Peanuts, Milk Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Nonfat Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, and Soy Lecithin, and PGPR, Emulsifiers)Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Cottonseed, Soybean, Palm Kernel, and Palm Oil)Sorbitol, Dextrose, Chocolate, Nonfat Milk, High Maltose Corn Syrup, Refined Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa Butter, Salt, Corn Syrup, Whey, Whey Protein Concentrate, Caseinate, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Flavor, Glycerin, Lactose, Mono and Diglycerides, and TBHQ.

I feel pretty good about my 5 ingredient, (ones I can pronounce!) cute, little Fudgy Buttons.

 

Print
Fudgy Buttons
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

An easy, 5-ingredient snack for when you need a quick sweet.

Recipe Type: Sweets
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
  • 4 Tbls butter or margarine
  • 3 tsp baking cocoa
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tsp milk
  • 4 Tbls creamy peanut butter
Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan, melt the butter; remove from heat. 

  2. Add cocoa and mix well. 

  3. Stir in sugar. (Will be quite thick) 

  4. Add milk and stir until smooth. (You will feel like you should add more milk- don't. The peanut butter will make it creamy and perfect) 

  5. Add peanut butter and mix well. 

  6. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper; roll into balls and flatten with your thumb.

 

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