Brownie Cupcakes A La Mode Food

SPROUTING BROWNIE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350˚. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Combine the butter, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa powder and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk in the sugar, eggs and vanilla until well combined. Whisk in the flour and salt until smooth. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling them about three-quarters full.
• Bake until the tops of the brownies spring back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out with moist crumbs, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes in the pan, then remove the brownies to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the topping: Combine the semisweet chocolate and heavy cream in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth and melted. Let stand until thickened slightly, 10 to 30 minutes (it should look like pudding). Spoon over the brownies and gently spread to the edges. Top with the cookie crumbs, gently pressing them into the chocolate.
• Tint the vanilla frosting green with food coloring; transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip and pipe onto the brownies to make sprouting grass.

BROWNIE CUPCAKES A LA MODE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line one 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
• In a large bowl, combine the butter, cocoa powder and chocolate. Pour the boiling water over and let stand 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth, and then whisk in the sugar, vanilla and eggs. Whisk in the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda until just combined. Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chips. Divide the batter among the prepared liners so they are about three-quarters full.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, 22 to 24 minutes. Cool in the tins 5 minutes, and then cool completely on a wire rack.
• While the cupcakes bake and cool, scoop 12 small scoops of ice cream onto a large plate or baking sheet and place in the freezer until hard.
• To assemble, scoop off a small piece of the cupcake to make a concave top, and then top each cupcake with a scoop of ice cream. Drizzle the ice cream with hot fudge, and top with some sprinkles and a cherry.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BROWNIE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line one 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
• Put the butter, cocoa powder and chocolate in a large bowl. Pour the boiling water over and let stand 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth, and then whisk in the sugar, vanilla and eggs. Whisk in the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Divide the batter among the prepared liners so they are about three-quarters full.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, 22 to 24 minutes. Cool in the tins 5 minutes, then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.
• For the frosting: Beat the peanut butter, cream cheese and butter in a large bowl, using an electric mixer, on medium speed until smooth. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the confectioners? sugar until smooth and incorporated. Pipe or spread the frosting on the tops of the cupcakes. Sprinkle with peanuts for garnish if using.

BAKED POTATOES A LA MODE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Scrub the potatoes with a scrub brush. Prick them with a fork, then wrap tightly in foil, and bake for about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a wok or frying pan, add the oil, then add the broccoli and stir-fry over high heat for about 5 minutes, sprinkling with salt and crushed garlic as you go. Remove from the heat and spoon into a bowl.
• Cook red bell pepper in a little water until tender. Place in a blender with a few shakes of salt and a small clove of garlic. Puree the pepper until smooth and strain it into a small bowl so the skins are left behind in the strainer.
• Melt butter in the wok or frying pan. Add the mushrooms and salt lightly. Saute over medium heat for about 10 minutes, then spoon into a bowl.
• Assemble the toppings in bowls: the stir-fried broccoli, pepper puree, stir fried mushrooms, olives, tomato, scallions, pesto, grated cheese, and sour cream or cottage cheese.
• Slit each potato and use a fork to mash the insides with a little butter and/or milk to make them creamy (so the toppings will blend in more easily). Top as desired with various accompaniments.

BROWNIES A LA MODE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line a 13x9-in. baking pan with foil, letting ends extend up sides; grease foil. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in oil and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and cocoa; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Spread into prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack., For fudge sauce, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in sugar, cocoa, water, corn syrup, vanilla and salt until blended. Bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, 3-5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and sauce is smooth, stirring frequently., Lifting with foil, remove brownies from pan. Cut into eighteen 3x2-in. rectangles. Top each brownie with ice cream, fudge sauce and a cherry. Freeze option: Securely wrap and freeze cooled brownies in plastic wrap and foil. To use, thaw at room temperature.

BLOND BROWNIES A LA MODE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in pecans. , Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., For the sauce, combine syrup and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in milk. Cut brownies into squares; cut in half if desired. , Place on dessert plates with a scoop of ice cream. Top with sauce; sprinkle with pecans.