Mocha Chocolate Chip Pancakes

This may sound odd... But I kinda have a strong love of making pancakes for my sweet boyfriend. I just think of him, and pancakes, and I have to make them for him! Maybe it's because pancakes are such a warm comforting food. And they always make me happy when I eat them, so I want them to make him happy too? I don't know! I don't really feel this way about pancakes and anyone else... Lol. I also know that I cannot make them for him, or myself, TOO often. They aren't the healthiest food. I must resist! But they're definitely worth the splurge on occasion :) Our last splurge consisted of these mocha chocolate chip pancakes. They are SO good! I was weirded out by the idea of using ground coffee instead of instant coffee, but it worked great! The chocolate chips add the perfect touch to break up the coffee flavor and make them rich. These are easy to make, satisfying, and definitely a treat. Enjoy!

Mocha Chip Pancakes with Espresso Syrup

For the Espresso Syrup:

1 cup corn syrup

2 oz. (a double shot) hot espresso

For the Mocha Chip Pancakes:

1 cup flour

1/3 cup malted milk powder

3 Tb. ground coffee (not instant)

3/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup milk

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 Tb. melted butter

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Heat a griddle, or non-stick skillet, to medium-high.

In a large bowl, add all the dry ingredients and whisk to blend.

In a smaller bowl, whisk the milk, egg, and vanilla until frothy.

Add the milk mixture to the dry mix and whisk until smooth. Last whisk in the melted butter.

Allow the pancake batter to rest for 3-5 minutes before cooking, to thicken. It should be so thick that it barely pours.

Once the griddle is hot, stir in the chocolate chips.

Make one pancake as a test-batch to ensure your heat in accurate. Use a 1/4 cup scoop to ladle the batter onto the griddle. Spread into a circle. Cook for 1-3 minutes per side. Flip when small bubbles rise to the top of the batter. If the pancake turns dark too quickly, lower the heat.

Makes 8-10 pancakes.

Source: http://www.rachelcooks.com/2012/07/22/mocha-chip-pancakes-with-espresso-syrup/

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

I love granola bars. I eat them quite often, almost daily! They're chewy and satisfying, and can even cure my sweet tooth cravings! I've eaten almost every granola bar out there. Chewy brand bars are great, but they're so tiny. I love Clif bars, but they can get quite expensive... Sometimes, all you need are some simple homemade granola bars. These turned out awesome. I used whole wheat flour in place of the white flour, though in the future I will only use half, as it has quite a distinct flavor. I can only imagine how much more delicious these will be next time! My dad went crazy for these, ate three within ~10 minutes! I don't blame him. They are sweet, but most of that sweetness comes from the wonderful bursts of chocolate from within. This recipe is SO EASY. And it bakes within 18 minutes! These also hold their shape, unlike some granola bars that crumble as you eat them. I will definitely make these again and again and again :) Enjoy!

Homemade Granola Bars

2 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 chocolate chips

1/2 cup wheat germ (I used flax meal. Great source of fiber!)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup honey

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, raisins,  salt, and cinnamon in a bowl, making sure to beat the brown sugar lumps into submission. Combine egg, oil, honey, and vanilla in a small bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mix it all up, and dump it into a greased 9×13 inch pan. Using a greased spatula, or a wet spoon, spread it into an even layer.

 Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges. Cool pan on a wire rack, and when it’s all cooled off, you can cut it into whatever size bars you like. 

Source: http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/06/homemade-granola-bars/ 

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cake

I really, really love making cakes. The baking, layering, and decorating. It's all so fun! Part of me is actually sad every time I finish a cake because it's all over so quick, lol. This cake was so awesome. It has two chocolate cake layers, and a chocolate chip cheesecake layer! Woah, right? It's absolutely delicious. The whole thing goes together so well, it's actually surprising. I made this for my father's birthday and he loved it :) Well, everyone at the party loved it! It's definitely a crowd-pleaser and I don't think there are many who wouldn't like it. 

This cake was not hard to make, you may just have to space it out a bit. I made the cheesecake layer and the cake layers the day before, and stored them in the fridge. The day of the party, I made the icing and assembled and decorated the cake. I tried to write with melted chocolate, and I don't recommend that method... It was much trickier than I thought it would be! I garnished it with gold chunky sprinkles that added a beautiful touch and a nice crunch. I love this cake I will definitely be making it again :)

Beautiful layers!

Amazing.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

• 3 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese (room temperature)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan with wax paper. Grease the sides.

Use an electric mixer to beat cream cheese and sugar together. Mixing by hand, add eggs one at time. Blend in vanilla. Fold in chocolate chips and pour in to pan.

Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 250 degrees and continue baking for 35 more minutes. Remove from oven and run a sharp knife around the edge of the pan to release the cheesecake. Cool completely in the pan, then chill in the refrigerator.

Chocolate Cake

• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk (OR add 1 T. vinegar to 1 c. milk, let sit for 5 minutes)
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of two 9 inch round pans with wax paper. Grease the sides. Bring some water to a boil and keep it simmering while you mix the other ingredients.

In a large mixing bowl combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Beat with mixer until combined.

Add 1 cup of the boiling water and carefully stir until it is mixed in. Beat for 1 1/2 minutes with mixer. Pour the batter into pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes (until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean).

  Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 6 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• 1/2 c. milk (may use less)

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar on low speed. Add chocolate and vanilla, mix well. Gradually add milk until you reach the desired consistency. Keep covered.

Chocolate Ganache

• 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 c. heavy cream
• 1 t. vanilla extract

Place the chocolate chips in a metal bowl. Heat cream over medium heat. Watch it closely and immediately remove from heat when it starts to boil. Pour over chocolate chips. Let sit for 1 or 2 minutes. Then slowly stir the mixture. Continue to stir until all the chips have completely melted. Stir in the vanilla.

Assembling Your Cake:
Level the tops of your chocolate cake layers. Place one of the cake layers on top of the cheesecake in the springform pan. Invert the pan onto a cake stand, release the spring and remove the pan and wax paper. Top with the second layer of cake and spread buttercream frosting over the entire cake.

Press mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (approx. 2 cups) onto the sides of the cake. Put the cake in the fridge for an hour, then pour ganache on the top and smooth with a spatula. I used melted white chocolate in a piping bag to make the design on the top of my cake.

Here's a picture of the brick oven our family friend built himself! We went to his house for the party. So awesome. And he makes the BEST pizza.

Source: http://birdonacake.blogspot.com/2012/03/chocolate-chip-cheesecake-cake.html