Campfire S'mores Brownies

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Campfire S'mores Brownies

Campfire S'mores Brownies

Digging through the pantry cupboards this weekend, I spotted exactly three boxes of graham crackers and two bags of marshmallows (one mini and one full-size). S'mores, I reminisced. Sweet, sticky s'mores. In my home, these ingredients are rarely used for another purpose. Certainly the graham crackers are used for a lovely tart crust now and then, and the marshmallows fit perfectly atop a mug of steaming cocoa, but these ingredients will always be two components in what should be a trio of three.

With summer's heat long gone, it seemed a shame to keep these ingredients safe until the next warm summer's eve. I pulled them off the pantry shelf and set to work.

Campfire S'mores Brownies Campfire S'mores Brownies

If you've been with me for a short while, you might imagine that I love the occasional s'more now and again. However, if you've been with me for some time, you know the sticky, messy truth. The word love may be not be enough to describe how I feel. I've shared S'mores Pie and S'mores Sundaes with you. I've even entered my original S'mores Cupcakes into a cupcake baking competition.

There may have been even more recipes, but I didn't want to scare you off. There is a fine line between fun and fanatic.

Campfire S'mores Brownies

It's true that my love for s'mores lies partly in the unique flavor combination of chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers, but the majority of it is rooted in memories. Sweet, sweet, memories of hot summer nights. Of blazing campfires, folk songs, and sticky fingers. Of deep conversation, giggling, and cool summer breezes. Of warm faces, crackling logs, and marshmallows lost to the flames.

In the midst of winter's wind and ice, dreams of summer feel just right.

Campfire S'mores Brownies

These Campfire S'mores Brownies are ooey gooey, sticky, and unbelievably fudgy. A pound of chocolate is melted, graham crackers are mixed in the batter, and mini marshmallows are broiled on top. The key to delicious brownies is knowing when to take them out of the oven. Leaving them in too long can result in dry, crumbling brownies, while taking them out at just the right moment produces thick and fudgy results. I drizzled my brownies with extra chocolate because, well, it just tastes better that way.

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Roasted Cherry Dark Chocolate Brownies

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Roasted Cherry Dark Chocolate Brownies

Roasted Cherry Bittersweet Brownies

Inspiration can arrive without a moment's notice. Like a lighting bolt illuminating the sky and racing towards the ground, inspiration strikes equally. When I am inspired with a new and unique idea, it hits like a punch to the gut, all-encompassing and demanding attention. True inspiration isn't just a light bulb switching on above your head. It is too powerful. If true inspiration struck, the light bulb would burst into a fireworks display that would light up the night sky.

These brownies were my inspiration.

Roasted Cherry Bittersweet Brownies

Rarely am I struck out of the blue with unique and delicious ideas. Chances are you've already eaten most of the recipes I feature on this blog, or a variation thereof. You may not have set out to make them yourself, but I find that it's hard to surprise people with a new take on an old recipe or idea. That's not to say I certainly don't try to keep you on your toes and surprise you once in awhile. I'm just saying it's difficult to re-invent the chocolate chip cookie.

When I got the idea for these brownies, I immediately went to the internet to see if it had been done before and with any luck. There are recipes for dark chocolate brownies, brownies with dried cherries, and brownies with cherry preserves. Combining cherry and dark chocolate certainly isn't a new idea, but no one, as far as I can tell, has ever put roasted cherries in a brownie and decided to share the tale.

Let me tell you, this needs to be remedied as soon as possible.

Roasted Cherry Bittersweet Brownies

Roasted Cherry Dark Chocolate Brownies are like brownies sent down from the dessert gods themselves. The dark chocolate base of these brownies is so unbelievably moist and decadent. As soon as the brownie hits your tongue, it melts into a gooey, chocolaty mess that sticks to the roof of your mouth like a spoonful of peanut butter. When combined with the rich sweetness of caramelized roasted cherries (like in this ice cream), you might feel tears come to your eyes. These really are that good. I would never lie to you about something so serious as a good, quality dessert. These are the best brownies I have ever eaten (and I've eaten some good ones).

No one in my house can get these brownies off of their minds and, several times a day, someone will sneak up with a fork to subtly steal a bite (or ten). You will want a tall glass of milk with these. Oh, and another brownie.

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Thin Mint Brownies

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Thin Mint Brownies

Thin Mint Brownies

I have a confession to make. Not too long ago, I was the little girl at your doorstep. You know her. She was the shy little girl dressed in a uniform, hair braided down the sides, nervously clutching a sheet of paper. She looked up at you with big eyes and had an even bigger question to ask.

Would you like to buy some Girl Scout Cookies?

Thin Mint BrowniesThin Mint Brownies

I was a Girl Scout for many years and loved every minute of it. I sold cookies because it was a good fundraiser for the Girl Scouts. Buying a box of cookies from me would help send me to camp over the summer and pay for the activities I participated in, opening up a world of new opportunities. Or, at least this is what I told my cookie customers. More honestly, I just wanted to sell enough cookies to win a free giant stuffed duck. Somehow I don't think this pitch would have gone over as well.

Hi! Buy cookies from me because I want a free duck! It doesn't quack, but its squishy and bigger than my head!

Luckily, my pitch didn't matter because when it comes to selling Girl Scout cookies, I wouldn't even have to utter a word to sell a few boxes. No one can say no to these cookies. These cookies have been popular so long that by now everyone has their own favorite. My favorite happens to be the Samoas (those delicious chocolate caramel cookies), but the Thin Mints come in a close second.

Because Girl Scout cookies are so loved this time of year, I thought I'd share something else you can do with them besides eating the entire box in one sitting (which has been known to accidentally happen).

Thin Mint Brownies

These Thin Mint brownies are just fun. The brownies are fudgy and moist with an undeniable chocolate mint flavor. The Thin Mints are crushed and folded into the brownie batter to give the brownies that full Thin Mint flavor. The cookies may lose their crunch, but they certainly do not lose their characteristic taste. Make these if you have Girl Scout cookies laying around. Make them even if you don't—any chocolate mint cookie will do.

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