If you’re Texan, you know Shiner. Shiner, Texas, that is. Famous for one thing: Shiner Bock beer. Spoetzl Brewery, where Shiner Bock is brewed, has been in business since 1909, and is the oldest independent brewery in Texas.

Shiner Bock is Spoetzl’s flagship beer. Brewed since 1913, this dark and dangerous brew was originally considered a lent beer. Only about 30 years ago did Spoetzl start making Shiner Bock year round.

Now, we’ve discussed before that I’m not a beer drinker. But I sure can use it in a baked good. It makes me a very proud Texan to say just how amazingly diet-crash-worthy these cupcakes are.
(...)
Read the rest of Shiner Bock Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting (646 words)

© admin for Bluebonnets & Brownies, 2012. | Permalink | 21 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baking, beer, Booze, chocolate, cupcakes, Desserts, Shiner Bock

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

I may be in the minority here, but I love hot chocolate any time of year. There’s just something so alluring about that drinkable chocolate goodness.. I can’t help myself!

I think maybe my Keurig may have something to do with this. Ever since we first got our Keurig, I’ve been a huge fan of the Cafe Escapes line.
(...)
Read the rest of Giveaway: Cafe Escapes and BirchBox (680 words)

© admin for Bluebonnets & Brownies, 2012. | Permalink | 314 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Cafe Escapes, chocolate, Keurig, Keurig K-Cup Ambassador, sponsored posts

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

If you’ve never heard of Chuao Chocolatier, you’re in for a treat. I had a chance to sample some of their chocolates last year, quite randomly, around Easter.

At the time, their hazelnut praline Easter Bunny with popping candy was flat out the best piece of chocolate I’d ever eaten. It was like fireworks of hazelnut and chocolate goodness going off in my mouth.

Chuao Chocolatier contacted me last week regarding their Valentine’s Day plans, and I just knew I had to share them with all of you.
(...)
Read the rest of Chuao Chocolatiers Contest (307 words)

© admin for Bluebonnets & Brownies, 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: chocolate, Chuao Chocolate, contest, reviews

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

This is it, y’all. Crunch time. Normally I count myself in the few that has Christmas shopping done by October. This year? Not so much.

In fact, I’ll fully admit that not four hours ago, I purchased the last of the gifts we’ll give this Christmas, and I really hope it reaches my brother-in-law in time. But, since we sent him a bottle of booze, I’m pretty sure he’ll appreciate it, even if it arrives late.

I may have just spoiled the surprise, but something tells me my 21-year-old car-obsessed baby bro-in-law doesn’t read this blog too often.

So today and Friday, I’m going to give you guys some quick and easy recipes that you can make an hour or two before the guests arrive, and still look like a superstar cooking diva that’s kicking backside and taking names.
(...)
Read the rest of Chocolate Candy Cane Cupcakes (477 words)

© admin for Bluebonnets & Brownies, 2011. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baking, chocolate, Christmas, cupcakes, Desserts, King Arthur Flour, peppermint

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Mexican Chocolate Chewies have got to be the easiest cookie I’ve ever made. They were also one of those cookies that, once the batter was done, I kind of worried I’d done it wrong. Would this soupy mixture really come together into a chewy cookie?

I put my trust and faith in Lisa Fain, and she did not let me down. The resulting cookies are crisp at first, but give way to a chewiness that rivals any caramel I’ve eaten.

With just a slight bit of heat from the cayenne, you’ll have friends saying “Oooh, what is that?”
(...)
Read the rest of Mexican Chocolate Chewy Cookies (411 words)

© admin for Bluebonnets & Brownies, 2011. | Permalink | 19 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baking, chipotle, chocolate, cookies, Tex-Mex

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

It’s time for another Secret Recipe Club post! I’ll tell you, I really love how being part of the club forces you to get to know someone’s blog, writing style, and photography style. It can be too easy to hit the StumbleUpon button, like what you see, but then move on in your everlasting quest to get to the end of the Internet.

This month I was assigned Savvy Eats – All About Smart Food & Fitness. Written by Julie, she is passionate about living savvy – being smart about what you eat, how you exercise, and about continuing to learn. That’s something I can definitely get down with – I’m a firm believer that you should never stop learning!
(...)
Read the rest of Secret Recipe Club – Malt Chocolate Cupcakes (811 words)

© admin for Bluebonnets & Brownies, 2011. | Permalink | 54 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: chocolate, cupcakes, dessert, malt, Secret Recipe Club

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Tres Leches Cake is a long standing Tex-Mex favorite. The name literally means “three milks”. The three milks we use are evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and half & half. I’ve also heard rumors that some people swap out the evaporated milk for goat’s milk.

The idea behind Tres Leches is that the three milks are combined and allowed to soak into white vanilla cake for a day or two to make an extremely luscious dessert. The resulting texture is somewhere between custard and bread pudding, and intensely sweet – in a great way.

I’ve never been able to eat a whole slice of Tres Leches Cake on my own. I always thought it would be cool to make some sort of mini version that I would be able to finish. When Donsuemor came to me and asked if I’d like to participate in their Dessert A Day promotion, my wheels started turning. The madeleines made by Donsuemor are cakey cookie perfection. Surely they’d be awesome soaked in Tres Leches.
(...)
Read the rest of Donsuemor Tres Leches Tasting Cups (250 words)

© admin for Bluebonnets & Brownies, 2011. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Blogging Events, chocolate, Desserts, Donsuemor, madeleines, Tex-Mex, Tres Leches Cake

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Casey tells it better than I do, so I’ll let her tell you how we met. Every piece that I read on her blog blows me away. She’s an excellent, articulate and thought provoking writer – who just happens to write about food. It makes me happy to read Good. Food. Stories. because of just how well written it is, but luckily there’s also really great recipes and, well, good food stories! Thank you, Casey, for guest posting. I hope you guys enjoy her journey into Southern Decadence. - Amber

Agreeing to carpool for five hours with someone you’ve just met is a risky proposition. You’re either going to have slumber party-level bonding on wheels or suffer through the most mind-crippling 300 minutes of your life. So let’s take a moment to pity poor Amber, who was stuck playing passenger/navigator to my talkative speed-demon self on our way from New Jersey to Blog & Bake in Norwich, VT.
(...)
Read the rest of Guest Post: Pecan, Bourbon and Bacon Brownies (856 words)

© casey for Bluebonnets & Brownies, 2011. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: bacon, bourbon, brittle, brownies, chocolate, Desserts, pecans

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Hey y’all! Today my fantastically funny and sparkly friend Kristan from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen is guest posting. Every time Kristan posts, I make sure I don’t have a drink in my hand, because I’m sure to be howling with laughter as I read, and it’s not ideal to spray the monitor with Diet Coke (not that I know from experience or anything). Kristan is one of the kindest bloggers I know. She’s always helping other people, and I’m so grateful she agreed to help me while I’m on vacation! She’s just that kind of wonderful. And now I need a brownie.
(...)
Read the rest of Guest Post – Cookies and Cream Brownies (407 words)

© kristan for Bluebonnets & Brownies, 2011. | Permalink | 24 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: brownies, chocolate, dessert

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Jamie and I “met” on twitter a long long time ago, and got to emailing when she needed a bunch of signs and business cards made in a hurry for a charity event. Being the graphic design guru that I am (well.. I can get around alright, anyway), I was happy to help her out in the name of charity. She sent me a box of her famous Candy Corn Bark as a thank you, and the rest is, as they say, history. She has one of my favorite blogs on the web, and I honestly can’t think of a better friend to have than her. Thanks, Jamie, for filling in while I work on my tan (which she has grossly over exaggerated – I will most like be lobster red when I come home, and fade straight back to pasty white before the next blog post).
(...)
Read the rest of Guest Post – Butter Pecan Bars (653 words)

© jamie for Bluebonnets & Brownies, 2011. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baking, chocolate, cinnamon, cookies, dessert, Desserts

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh