FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE 4 WAYS! (Non-Alcoholic OR Alcoholic!)

Oh my friends. Finally a recipe to please everyone.

Today is all about Frozen Hot Chocolate! So who should you make it for?

Make it for your kids! It's a fun winter treat that they can dress up with sprinkles and marshmallows.

Make it for your significant other! It's super easy to make, but it'll show 'em you care.

Make it for your girlfriends! Why not host a party with a Frozen Hot Chocolate Bar? Just add booze if you're over 21, and you've got a dangerously delicious party in the making.

Make it for yourself! Because you deserve it :)

What you need to make it happen(NON Alcoholic):

- Ice

-Milk

- Instant Hot Cocoa Mix

- Chocolate Syrup

- Whipped Cream

- Straws

- Sprinkles, Marshmallows, Chocolate Chips, Candy Canes

- Grenadine & Cherries

Boozy Additions to make them a little more fun:

Cherry Vodka // Creme de Cacao // Peppermint Schnapps 

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Start with your base- Blend 1 packet of cocoa mix, 2 cups ice, 1/2 cup milk, squeeze of chocolate sauce  *mixture should be icy- not watery- start with less milk and add more as needed.

Step 2: Start adding in different flavors or alcohol as desired (recipes below)

Step 3: Top with whipped cream and garnishes

Step 4: Enjoy!

To make the 4 you see above:

Classic: BASE - top Whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate jimmies

Chocolate Peppermint: BASE + crushed candy cane- top with whipped cream and more crushed candy cane. (optional 1 ounce peppermint schnapps)

Chocolate Lovers: BASE + mug drizzled with chocolate sauce- top with whipped cream, chocolate chips, chocolate jimmies (optional 1 ounce creme de cacao)

Chocolate Covered Cherry: BASE + 1 1/2 tsp grenadine - top with whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate jimmies & a cherry (optional 1/2 ounce cherry vodka + 1/2 ounce creme de cacao)

Other great options:

Mocha: Just add Kahlua, Espresso Vodka, and Chocolate Shavings

Salted Caramel Chocolate: Drizzle Salted Caramel sauce in the mug first, top with more sauce & Chocolate Shavings

Chocolate Covered Strawberry: Strawberry Vodka + Creme de Cacao- top with chopped strawberries!

Alright- raise your hand if you're going to do a Frozen Hot Chocolate Bar for Galentine's Day now...

(if you don't know what Galentine's Day is...we can't be friends. kidding! (sort of))

xo, lp

PSST: If you end up making this recipe I'd love to see it! Post a picture on Instagram or Twitter and tag me @lpodlich so I can see what awesome version you made!

REESE'S + NUTELLA CAKE (yeah, that's right!)

I know you're thinking, "ummm Reese's + Nutella? isn't that a little over-indulgent?"

Well your answer is yes, it is. But don't deny it- you're intrigued! 

I made this cake for our friend Josh's birthday last month, and it was a hit! Truthfully, I wasn't quite sure what to make him for dessert, until his wife Dani said "well, he likes Reese's and Nutella." I figured, why not combine the two??

What you'll need to make it happen:

Cake:

-Either Devil's Food Cake Mix or this recipe (yes, i cheated and used a mix. oops)

Frosting:

- 14 Reese's peanut butter cups (10 cut in half, the rest chopped up)

- 1/2 cup Nutella

- 4 ounces cream cheese

- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

- 2 cups powdered sugar

- 4 ounces sugar

(or, Nutella + tub of cream cheese frosting!)

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Bake yo' cake in two 8 inch round cake pans.

Step 2: Let cool FULLY. No for real. Keep your hands off!

Step 3: Beat your cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add in powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in Nutella.

Step 4: Set your first round down and put a layer of frosting down, and sprinkle chopped Reese's over it.

Step 5: Add your next layer of cake, and frost cake completely.

Step 6: Use your Reese's halves to place around the top and sides of the cake, covering the rest of the top of the cake with the crumbled pieces!

Step 7: Keep in fridge until ready to serve, and enjoy with a big glass of milk :)

nom.

There you have it. Nutella + Reese's Cake. It's as good as it looks, I promise.

You guys have any fun cake recipes up your sleeve?

Share a link in the comments, I'd love to see them! 

xo, lp

**love reese's? try my reese's cupcakes

**love nutella? try my nutella puppy chow or nutella krispy bars!

(award winning) SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

No, I'm not lying, they really are award winning!

I mean, sure, it's not some fancy culinary award, but still. I work at a super great place- and for it's 50th anniversary as a company they held a version of Cupcake Wars. I entered this recipe and won one of the three awards. Boom. 

These cupcakes are insanely rich and sweet- with just the perfect amount of salt. The sour cream makes them extra-dense, and the salted caramel filling keeps them from drying out. Gahh. So good.

What you'll need to make it happen:

Cupcake:

This recipe is one I've made a ton of times, and it's a version of Martha Stewart's basic chocolate cupcakes (click for recipe). The only things I change is add an extra teaspoon of vanilla extract & a little extra sour cream!

Salted Caramel Sauce:

Oh, you missed the recipe? I just shared it on the blog recently!

You can find the recipe HERE

Caramel Frosting:

2 cups powdered sugar

1 stick unsalted butter

1/2 cup salted caramel sauce

1. Cube room temperature butter and beat in mixer for 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy.

2. Add in your sugar, mixing lightly to keep contained. Once well mixed, add in caramel sauce and beat for another 4 minutes or so until light and fluffy!

3. Refrigerate your frosting until you're ready to use it. Just leave out to get to room temp and you'll be good to go!

--------------------

Tips for the cupcakes, now that you have the recipes:

1. Unless you have a fancy frosting set, all you need is a glass, a ziplock bag, and a scissors! Insert the bag into your glass, folding the edges over & filling the bag. 

2. An easy way to hollow out the center of cupcakes for filling is to take a sharp paring knife, and cut out a square in the center of the cake. Fill with caramel sauce and top with frosting!

3. This caramel sauce is too good just to fill the cupcakes with, drizzle it on top too, and cover with sprinkles!

 The finished product:

 And of course, the best part of the cupcake is when you cut it open and all the salted caramel ooooozes out:

So what are you waiting for? I mean, they're award winning people! Get to it!

What cupcake would be your award winner?

Share away so I can try them for myself!

xo, lp

Love cupcakes? Try out my chocolate peanut butter cupcakes or my rainbow cupcakes!

For instagram fabulousness, go here!

ALLOW ME TO REMIND YOU TO MAKE THESE

So here's what's up.

This weekend I shared this picture on Instagram:

Since then I have gotten comments and tweets to send them in the mail, or allow for drop by guests to enjoy them. I don't blame you all. My knock-off Reese's PB Eggs rock. It's just a fact. 

Now, for those of you who are B&B lifers, you may say WAIT. LAURA. You made these last Easter. Gold stars and brownie points to you, rockstars!!! I did indeed. 

So why am I bringing them up again? A few reasons:

1. This is the only Easter recipe I have up my sleeve

2. These are delicious and everyone needs to make them

3. I had enough people ask for the recipe that I thought I'd remind you all of it!

So...
CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE & HOW TO!

This year I made a ton of tiny eggs too. Partially because they're cute, and partially because everyone I work with is a health nut and I knew if I made only big ones, they'd never  get eaten. 

 I promise by next Easter I'll have a new recipe! 

What's your go-to Easter treat?

If you like Reeses, you MUST make these!

xo, lp

really like peanut butter? you've gotta try my chocolate peanut butter cupcakes & my peanut butter chocolate oreo pops!