Triple C Treats

Brownie Cream Cheese mini-Cupcakes

These delectable bites are tiny enough to gulp down in one bite. They're not too sweet and the cream cheese adds a little bit of saltiness so if you like sweet and salty, this is the cupcake for you.

The recipe said it makes 5 dozen but I was only able to squeeze out 4 dozen of these little beauties. 

I found this recipe in a Fine Cooking magazine.

Ingredients:

For Brownies

1/2 cup unsalted butter

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate

4 large eggs, room temperature

1/4 tsp table salt

2 cups granulated sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 & 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Cream Cheese Topping

6 oz cream cheese at room temperature

3 tbsp granulate sugar

1 large egg yolk, room temperature

1/2 cup semi-sweet mini-chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350˚F
Line your mini cupcake pans with paper liners


Brownie Batter

Combine the butter and chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over simmering water or in a microwave and heat, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula, until the butter and chocolate are melted and smooth. Set aside.

With a stand mixer (use the whisk attachment) or a hand mixer, beat the eggs and salt in a large bowl on medium speed until very foamy, about 2 minutes. Continue beating while gradually adding the sugar. Beat until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. With a large rubber spatula, scrape the chocolate mixture into the eggs, add the vanilla, and fold until the two mixtures are just barely incorporated. Add the flour and continue folding until just incorporated. 

Scrape the batter into a 1-gallon heavy-duty zip-top bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible and seal.

Cream Cheese Topping

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar with a wooden spoon until smooth and creamy. Add the egg yolk and mix until blended. Pour in the chips and mix until blended. Scrape into a 1-quart zip-top bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible and seal.

Assemble and Bake

Snip off 1/2 inch from one corner of each bag. Fill each lined muffin cup about two-thirds full with the brownie batter and then top with about 1 tsp. of the cream cheese mixture.

Bake the three trays in the center of the oven until the brownies are puffed and a pick inserted in the brownie comes out just barely clean, about 20 minutes. Let the brownies cool in trays on racks for 5 minutes before carefully lifting the liners out of the tins and transferring them to racks to cool completely. Be sure the tins are completely cool before lining and filling them with the remaining batters.

Store at room temperature or freeze in an airtight container, separating the layers with waxed paper.

The Best Things Come in Small Packages

Macarons

There is a lot of appeal in small desserts. Cupcakes are à la mode and the new cookies that everyone is craving are macarons. I don't know what it is... Maybe the delicate decorations and the cuteness of the bite-size portions, or maybe it's just because you don't feel as guilty eating them. Whatever the reason, no one can resist these tiny sweets... including me.

Not only can we make miniature cakes and colorful cookies, we can also make small pies :) 

Nom nom nom...

Bite-Size pecan sugar pies:

I got this recipe from a book called Petite Sweets: Bite-Size Desserts to Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth. These pies were delicious! The crust was made with cream cheese, butter and flour so it just flaked and melted in your mouth. The filling has chunks of roasted pecans which adds a nice crunch to the whole ensemble. The filling is also made with maple syrup! Mmmmm.

The best thing about this recipe is that you don't have to cook the crust before you add the filling like a normal sized pie. 

Before going into the oven

The recipe I used makes 24 of these mini pies. They are about 2cm in diameter and you can eat one in one bite. I think I ate 5 of them at once. That's how good they are!

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