~*~*~*~ Final Post of 2012 ~*~*~*~

I hope each of you have a very

Merry Christmas! 

Be back bloggin' in ...

God Bless you & your family.

~ Chef ~

~ Nutella Peanut Butter Bars ~

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter, softened
12 sheets of graham crackers, crumbled in a food processor
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup Nutella, divided into 1/4 cup and 3/4 cups

DIRECTIONS: Mix together the butter, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners sugar, vanilla and peanut butter until blended and smooth. Pour the mixture into a 9″ x 9″ square pan with a removable bottom (or line a standard pan with parchment paper). Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. In a metal bowl over simmering water, melt the chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of Nutella, stirring until smooth. Spread over the prepared crust, and refrigerate for another hour or until firm. Spread the additional 3/4 cup of Nutella over the chocolate layer and refrigerate again. When the bars are firm, cut into squares. Yields: 16 bars. ~ Chef ~

~ Nutella Cookies ~

Ingredients:

1 (18 ounce) package of refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1/2 cup Nutella spread

3 Tbsp. white chocolate chips

3 Tbsp. chocolate chips

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350F. Roll out cookie dough to about a 1/4 inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter or a glass dipped in flour, cut out rounds. Using a piping bag or plastic bag with the end snipped off, pipe about 1/2 teaspoon of Nutella into the center of each round. Fold rounds over to create half moon shapes and gently seal edges. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 9-10 minutes. Remove to racks and cool completely. When cookies are completely cooled, melt chocolate chips in microwave (about 1 minute). Remove and using a fork, drizzle chocolate over cookies. Repeat with white chocolate chips. ~ Chef ~

~ Nutella Cupcakes ~

Ingredients:
10 Tbsp. butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
Nutella, approx. 1/3 cup
 

Directions:  Preheat oven to 325F. Line 12 muffin tins with liners.  Cream together butter and sugar 2 minutes.  Add in eggs one at a time, until fully incorporated.  Add vanilla. Stir in flour, salt and baking powder until batter is uniform and no flour remains.  Using an ice cream scoop, fill each muffin liner with batter 3/4 full.  Top each with 1 1/2 tsp Nutella.  Swirl Nutella in with a toothpick, making sure to fold a bit of batter up over the nutella.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Makes 12  ~ Chef ~

~ Nutella Bites ~

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix
(plus ingredients required on the box)

1 large jar of Nutella
1 package chocolate chips

Directions: Bake the cake according to instructions on the box. Let cake cool completely, then crumble into a large bowl. Mix in the Nutella thoroughly. Shape the mixture into little balls (size of ping pong balls) with your hands. Chill overnight. Then melt the chocolate chips in the microwave (stirring every 30 seconds). Dip each ball in the melted chocolate to coat completely and lay on parchment paper until firm. Serve as finger foods or yes you can put a stick in them. ~ Chef ~