Chocolatier Max Brenner joined Paula for the episode of Paula’s Best Dishes, and though pecan pie is usually too rich for me this is one I might have a hard time pushing away from! Paula adds about four ounces of chopped chocolate and a couple tablespoons of bourbon as well.

Chocolate Pecan Pie
from Paula Deen

1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell
2 cups pecan halves
3 large eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons good-quality bourbon
3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

~ Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cover bottom of pie crust with pecans.

~ In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and melted butter. Add the corn syrup, sugar, bourbon and the chopped chocolate. Stir until all ingredients are combined. Pour mixture into the pie shell over the pecans and place on a heavy-duty cookie sheet.

~ Bake for 10 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue to bake for an additional 25 minutes or until pie is set. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

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Paula Deen is one of the few cooks/chefs on the Food Network that I bother to watch anymore. I don’t make a lot of her recipes (I like my arteries) but the ones I have made have always turned out well.

This one is her Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies which is a take-off from her Gooey Butter Cake. I like it with a Devil’s Food cake mix, it gives the cookies and extra rich chocolate flavor. They’re a lot like Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, but a little bit chewier.

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature
1 stick butter, at room temperature
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (18-ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix.

Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner’s sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and “gooey.” Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

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Did you know that? I didn’t!

Following is a recipe that I’ve used several times. Keep in mind, this is in no way any kind of gourmet doughnut. Don’t look at the can of biscuits and go “pshaw!” because that just means you haven’t tried it! I’ve made doughnuts from scratch before and they’ve turned out great as well, but when I want a quick treat for the family this is the way to do it.

I snagged this one from watching a Paula Deen episode and was thrilled to find I had everything already in the cupboard!

Chocolate Dipped Doughnuts

Peanut oil
1 can store-bought biscuits
1 (4-ounce) bar sweet chocolate (recommended: Baker’s German’s)
1/2-ounce (1/2 square) unsweetened chocolate
1 stick unsalted butter
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Heat peanut oil to 350 degrees F.

Separate pre-cut biscuits. Make a hole in the middle with your hand and sculpt dough into a doughnut shape. Place doughnuts into fryer and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, flipping to fry both sides. Place doughnuts aside onto a paper towel lined plate to remove excess oil.

Melt the chocolate and butter in a saucepan over very low heat. Stir in the sugar, alternating with the evaporated milk, blending well. Raise the heat to medium and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat and cook, stirring, until the mixture becomes thick and creamy, about 8 minutes. Stir in the vanilla then remove the pan from the heat.

Stick a fork through the doughnut holes and dip the doughnuts immediately into the chocolate mixture before the chocolate starts to cool. Place the doughnuts on a plate and serve when the chocolate on the doughnuts sets, about 5 minutes.

…

While the chocolate is still somewhat wet on the doughnut, sprinkle with flaked coconut, chopped peanut, sprinkles, etc. A plain doughnut with just powdered sugar sprinkled over the top is yummy too!

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Don’t those look amazing? I don’t make a lot of Paula Deen’s recipes (though I love her show) but the ones I have tried are always fantastic.

Paula Deen’s Creme De Menthe Brownies

Brownies:
1 cups (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 (10-ounce) package Creme de Menthe baking chips (recommended: Andes)
Shaved Creme de Menthe thins (recommended: Andes)
Chocolate frosting

Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1/3 cup cocoa
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan.

Using an electric mixer, combine butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, mixing well.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Gradually stir into butter mixture. Fold in mint chips. Spoon into greased pan. Bake for 35 minutes.

While brownies are baking, prepare frosting. Combine butter, cocoa, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and milk in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until dry ingredients are moistened. Beat at high speed until spreading consistency.

Remove pan from the oven and allow brownies to cool in pan on wire rack. Spread with chocolate frosting. Top with shaved mint thins.

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Chocolate Bundles with Chocolate Sauce

Bundles:
1 sheet puff pastry
2 eggs
1 teaspoon whipping cream
8 chocolate kisses
8 miniature chocolate candy bars

Chocolate Sauce:
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 ounces milk chocolate, broken into small pieces
Sweetened whipped cream, optional
Fresh strawberries, sliced, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

To make the bundles, allow the puff pastry to thaw, covered, for 30 minutes at room temperature. When it is pliable, unfold puff pastry and cut the sheet into 4 (4 by 4-inch squares).

Beat the eggs and cream together to create an egg wash. Brush the entire surface of each pastry square with egg wash. In the center of each pastry square, place 2 chocolate kisses and 2 mini candy bars. Pull the corners of each square up around the chocolate, and twist the top of the dough clockwise to complete the “bundle.” Brush the exteriors of the chocolate bundles with more egg wash. Place the bundles on the cookie sheet. Bake for about 35 minutes, until golden brown.

To make the chocolate sauce: in a small saucepan bring the heavy cream to a boil. Place the chocolate pieces in a bowl and pour hot cream over the top. Whisk until the sauce is smooth.

Puddle the chocolate sauce on a plate and place a bundle on top. Top with whipped cream and additional chocolate sauce, if desired. Serve the bundles garnished with strawberry slices.

It only makes four so if you need more make sure you adjust accordingly!

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