Homemade Brownies

1/2 c. (1 stick) softened butter or margarine
1 1/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract*
3/4 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 c. cocoa
1/2 c. nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Stir in flour, salt, cocoa, and nuts, and mix until ingredients are completely blended.

Pour into greased 9x9 or 8x8 baking pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until brownies test for doneness.

*You can substitute other flavorings for the vanilla: almond, coconut, etc.

**You can add 1/2 c. chocolate chips instead of nuts for a little extra chocolatey-ness.

Chocolate Lava Cake

This microwave cake is quick, easy, and delicious - and it's good left over!

1 pkg. chocolate cake mix + ingredients listed on box for cake
1 can chocolate frosting

Mix cake as directed on box. Pour into 4-quart microwave-safe glass measuring cup. (The Pampered Chef's Classic Batter Bowl is great for this!)

Drop 5 scoops of icing on top of batter. Do NOT mix in.

Microwave on HIGH, uncovered, for 9 minutes (longer if you have a smaller-watt microwave).

Remove from microwave and turn out onto cake plate or large platter. Cake and measuring cup will be extremely hot, so use caution!

Slice and serve with ice cream.

Serves 12.

Note: I tried this with a yellow cake and a different flavor of frosting, but it wasn't as good - and it looked even worse. The dark color of the chocolate hides the cake's "ugliness".

Mint Chocolate Fudge Cake

5 oz. Andes Creme de Menthe baking chips (about half a bag)
1 chocolate fudge cake mix (+ ingredients needed for cake)
1 can chocolate fudge frosting

Preheat oven according to package directions. Grease and flour Bundt pan or 2 round cake pans.

Mix cake as directed on package. Fold in baking chips and pour into cake pan(s). Bake as directed on package.

Cool 15 minutes, then carefully remove from pan(s). Cool completely before frosting.

*I used a stoneware fluted pan and drizzled heated frosting over the cake instead of frosting it completely. Then I sprinkled a few mint chips on top.

mint chocolate fudge cake with mint chocolate chip ice cream
Tip: When flouring a cake pan, you can use dry cake mix instead of flour. This is especially helpful when baking chocolate cakes, as it prevents white spots on the outside of the cake.