Brownies, Crescents, Krispie Cremes

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PEPPERMINT BROWNIES

Crushed peppermint candy and a drizzle of frosting make these fudgy rich

brownies especially good for the holidays.

1 1/4 cups LAND O LAKES® Butter

6 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate

3 cups sugar

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting Ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened*

1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract

1 to 2 tablespoons milk

1 drop red food color, if desired

Garnish Ingredients:

1/4 cup crushed peppermint candy

Heat oven to 350°F.

Grease bottom only of 13x9-inch baking pan.

Set aside.

Melt 1 1/4 cups butter & chocolate in 3-quart saucepan on low heat, stirring

occasionally, until smooth (6 to 10 minutes).

Remove from heat; stir in sugar.

Add eggs and 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract; beat just until mixed.

Stir in flour and salt; mix just until all ingredients are moistened and brownie

mixture is smooth.

Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until brownie just begins to pull away from sides

of pan.

(DO NOT OVER BAKE.)

Cool completely.

Combine all frosting ingredients except milk in small bowl.

Beat at low speed, gradually adding milk and scraping bowl often, until desired

spreading consistency.

Stir in food color, if desired, until well mixed.

Drizzle frosting over brownies.

Sprinkle with candy; gently press into frosting.

Cover; refrigerate to set frosting (30 minutes).

Cut into bars.

*Substitute LAND O LAKES® Soft Baking Butter with Canola Oil right from the

refrigerator.

Yield: 36 brownies

CHOCOLATE DIPPED CRESCENTS

These buttery crescent cookies are an extra special holiday cookie and very

easy to make.

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened*

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

Glaze Ingredients:

1 (12-ounce) package (2 cups) real semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons shortening

Finely chopped pecans, if desired

Heat oven to 375°F.

Combine powdered sugar, butter, egg and vanilla in large bowl.

Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy.

Reduce speed to low; add flour, cream of tartar and baking soda.

Beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into quarters.

Cover; refrigerate 1 hour.

Roll each quarter (keeping remaining dough refrigerated) into 4 (10-inch) ropes.

Cut each rope into 4 (2 1/2-inch) pieces.

Shape each piece into crescent.

Place onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until set.

Cookies do not brown.

Cool completely.

Combine chocolate chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave on HIGH for 1 to 2 minutes or until melted.

Dip half of each cookie into chocolate.

Sprinkle with chopped pecans, if desired.

Let stand until set.

*Substitute LAND O LAKES® Soft Baking Butter with Canola Oil right from the

refrigerator.

VARIATIONS:

• Roll cooled cookies in powdered sugar.

• Dip cooled cookies in melted almond bark (vanilla-flavored candy coating);

sprinkle with decorator candies.

Yield: 5 dozen cookies

Krispie Cremes

2-1/2 c. Rice Krispies

1 c. Coconut

1/2 c. Chopped nuts

1 c. Brown sugar

1/2 c. Melted butter

1/2 gallon Vanilla ice cream

Mix together Rice Krispies, coconut, nuts, and brown sugar. Blend in butter. Pat

1/2 of the mixture into

the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan. Cut ice cream into 1 "

slices and place on top of Krispies layer. Let sit

5-10 minutes so you can smooth the top. Gently pat the

remaining Krispies mixture on top. Freeze about 8

hours before serving. Cut into squares.

Note: Pecans or walnuts are best.

2-1/2 c. Rice Krispies

1 c. Coconut

1/2 c. Chopped nuts

1 c. Brown sugar

1/2 c. Melted butter

1/2 gallon Vanilla ice cream

Mix together Rice Krispies, coconut, nuts, and brown sugar.

Blend in butter.

Pat 1/2 of the mixture into the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan.

Cut ice cream into 1 " slices and place on top of Krispies layer.

Let sit 5-10 minutes so you can smooth the top.

Gently pat the remaining Krispies mixture on top.

Freeze about 8 hours before serving.

Cut into squares.

Note: Pecans or walnuts are best.

~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

little of each other everywhere. " ~

~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the

entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "