Chocolate Hazelnut Frosted Brownies

Chocolaty and nutty goodness - that's what this brownie is all about. Adapted from an old Pillsbury recipe from 1985, this recipe is simple to prepare and enjoyable to eat. The special dark cocoa is what really makes this brownie rich and smooth. Butter and the vegan buttery sticks are interchangeable - I've used both with the same results so it's a good non-dairy alternative. 

Chocolate Hazelnut Frosted Brownies

Recipe adapted by: Rising Wolf Kitchen

Yield: 36 brownies

• 5 oz unsweetened chocolate, cut into pieces
• 3/4 cup Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks, softened
• 1 Tbs pure vanilla extract
• 1 Tbs hazelnut flavored syrup
• 2 1/4 cups organic granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temp
• 1 1/3 cups unbleached flour
• 1 1/2 cups hazelnuts, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 
2. Using baking spray, coat a 13x9 inch metal baking pan.
3. In small saucepan, melt butter and chocolate; remove from heat and add vanilla and hazelnut; set aside. 
4. Using a mixer with the whip attachment, beat the sugar and 4 eggs about 7 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. 
5. Combine chocolate and eggs mixtures; blend well. 
6. Fold in flour until combined; fold in hazelnuts (do not over mix). 
7. Pour into prepared pan and bake for approx 25 minutes or until done (do not over bake). 
8. Cool in pan on racks for 30 minutes. 

For the Frosting: 

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tbs Special Dark unsweetened cocoa
• 1/4 cup Earth Balance Vegan Butter Sticks, softened
• 1 large egg, room temp
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp hazelnut flavored syrup

Frosting:

1. Combine all frosting ingredients and beat until smooth. 
2. Spread over bars and refrigerate for 1 hour; cut into bars. 
3. Keep stored in the refrigerator. Bars freeze and heat well.

Allergy Warning: this recipe contains nuts (in posted version). Though no dairy ingredients are listed, other ingredients may be manufactured in a place that handles dairy.

Healthy Whole-Grain and Flax Pancake and Waffle Mix

1980 version

My mother began using the More-Make-A-Mix Cookery book when I was very young. I remember always seeing it on the cookbook shelf-worn out and well used. Published in 1980, they've since republished an updated version, but that worn out copy is still on the shelf. Simple, easy to follow and inexpensive recipes for homemade pantry mixes and recipes using the mixes. Certainly one can purchase mixes already made and packaged, but that can be expensive and to get the variety of mixes found in this book, well, you'd be spending quite a bit.

During a time when it may not always be affordable to feed large families, this book helps to simplify that dilemma by offering recipes that go a long way. Personally I enjoy creating my own mixes simply because I don't care for what I would find on the grocer's shelf, and I feel better knowing that I'm consuming foods from scratch (meaning I know exactly what's going into what I eat). Another plus is having mixes prepared ahead of time to save time during the week.

This healthy whole-grain mix is a great way to jump-start your morning with healthy nutrients and energy producing grains.

Healthy Whole-Grain and Flax Pancake and Waffle Mix

By Rising Wolf Eats 

• 3 cups 100% stone ground whole wheat flour 
• 3 cup buckwheat flour (use only 100% buckwheat grains)
• 1/2 cup pure oats, ground (I use McCann's Irish Oats in all recipes) 
• 1/4 cup ground organic flax
• 3/4 cup organic granulated sugar
• 1 Tbs baking soda
• 1 Tbs sea salt

1. Using a food processor or blender (or mortar and pestle if you don't have either electronic devices), grind the oats until a course powder. 
2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl with the ground oats. Sift using a whisk until well incorporated. 
3. Pour into a 10-cup container with a tight-fitting lid (or use large freezer bags with tight seal). 
4. Label with date and contents and use withing 6 months. 

Whole-Grain Waffles

by Make-A-Mix

• 3 cups Whole-Grain Mix (may use mix above)
• 3 cups buttermilk
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1/4 cup melted butter or vegetable oil for dairy-free
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries (not in original recipe)

1. In a large bowl, combine Whole-Grain Mix, buttermilk, egg yolks and melted butter or oil. 
2. Beat with a wire whisk until just blended. 
3. If using blueberries, gently fold just until incorporated.
4. In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into mixture.
5. Bake in preheated waffle baker. 
6. Serve with fruit and/or pure maple syrup if desired.

Notes: 

• Why Buckwheat? This whole grain is low in calories but high in riboflavin, vitamins B2 (riobflavin), B3 (niacin), and B5 (pantothenic acid), magnesium, potassium, and copper. It is high in all 8 amino-acids (B vitamins). In this regard, it is more nutritious than all other cereal grains and a super food for increasing energy levels. Its protein is especially rich in lysine which is needed for proper growth and bone development, conserving calcium, and managing and preventing cold sores.
• Blueberries: I love adding blueberries to pancakes and waffles not only because they are delicious, but because they are packed full of super nutrients. 
• Buttermilk, a Dairy-Free Alternative-Click Here. 
• Sugar Alternative: Mama Healthy^® Organic Honey Crystals is a dried organic honey sugar sweetener that provides you with all the benefits of a healthy natural dry sweetener with a taste of honey that is not sticky and does not leave an aftertaste in your mouth. It replaces sugar 1:1 (sugar substitute) and it contains no Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), no artificial colors or flavors and no preservatives...completely natural and organic.
• Egg Alternatives:Instead of 1 egg, you can use...
  1 tbsp gram (chick pea) or soya flour and 1 tbsp water
  1 tbsp arrowroot, 1 tbsp soya flour and 2 tbsp water
  50g tofu blended with the liquid portion of the recipe
  1/2 large banana, mashed
  
  
  Allergy Warning: If using original Whole-Grain Waffle recipe - contains dairy and eggs. 

This is the current version of Make-A-Mix.

 

Photo Credits: The cookbooks are my own, however the photos are from Amazon.com.