No Bake

Fudgy chocolate brownie bites layered in cool, creamy peanut butter mousse. You won't believe how good this is and how easy it is to make!!

Peanut Butter Brownie Trifles Recipe

Fudgy chocolate brownie bites layered in cool, creamy peanut butter mousse. You won’t believe how good this is and how easy it is to make!!

Fudgy chocolate brownie bites layered in cool, creamy peanut butter mousse. You won't believe how good this is and how easy it is to make!!

I’m all about the easy in the summer time, let me tell you.

Part of me kind of thought that summer might be a little easier than the school year. I mean, I knew it would be challenging having both kids home all day every day. But I guess I still thought that just maybe I would feel like I had more hours in the day to get stuff done.

Since I figured the days would feel longer and all.

Turns out, I was part right. And part so, so, so very wrong. I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this… the days are NEVER ENDING. Never, ever ending. And yet somehow, there don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done.

WTH? If someone figures that math out, let me know.

Fudgy chocolate brownie bites layered in cool, creamy peanut butter mousse. You won't believe how good this is and how easy it is to make!!

In the meantime, I’m doing lots of quick-and-easy around here. I average cooking a real meal about once a week. Cleaning just doesn’t get done. And I let the kids pretty much rule the roost all day.

Seriously. As I sit here and type, I can see a (LARGE) milk puddle in the carpet that I haven’t sponged up since lunch time (that’s gonna be fun), CJ is rubbing in applesauce on the rug at my feet, clothes and knick knacks and what nots litter every inch of living space as far as the eye can see, my empty fast food cup of soda is leaving a water ring on the table to my left, and there’s a sticky bottle of infant’s Ibuprofen stuck to a book on my right. I still don’t know what we’re having for dinner, Chris will be home in about 15 minutes, and then I’m leaving for a baby shower.

I’m not complaining. But at some point… the situation does become comical.

So when it comes to prepping recipes for the blog? It’s gotta be EASY. We’re talking the minimum amount of effort here.

Fudgy chocolate brownie bites layered in cool, creamy peanut butter mousse. You won't believe how good this is and how easy it is to make!!

And friends, it does NOT get any easier than this recipe for Peanut Butter Brownie Parfaits.

You’ll need pudding mix, peanut butter, Cool Whip, and milk for the mousse part. And you’ll layer that with brownie bites (home baked or store bought, box mix or from scratch, my recipe or yours, WHATEVER) and chocolate chips.

Guys, this recipe is the very definitely of minimal effort. And it’s SO GOOD. And it looks so fancy too. People will never know that you whipped this up whilst standing in a pile of smushed grapes and animal crackers in your yoga pants!

…not that I did that or anything. ????

Creamy, sweet, unbelievably honey butter with a heavy touch of cinnamon. Just like the stuff you'll find at Texas Roadhouse!

Texas Roadhouse Cinnamon Honey Butter Copycat Recipe

Creamy, sweet, unbelievably honey butter with a heavy touch of cinnamon. Just like the stuff you’ll find at Texas Roadhouse!

Creamy, sweet, unbelievably honey butter with a heavy touch of cinnamon. Just like the stuff you'll find at Texas Roadhouse!

You’ve been to Texas Roadhouse right?

And you’ve inhaled a basket of their rolls smothered in this ridiculous cinnamon honey butter right?

If you haven’t, stop what you’re doing right now, and GO. It’s ok. I’m not going anywhere. I can wait.

Creamy, sweet, unbelievably honey butter with a heavy touch of cinnamon. Just like the stuff you'll find at Texas Roadhouse!

Ok, AH-mazing, right?! Like, the best thing that’s happened to fresh, warm, yeasty bread E-V-E-R.

And the best part is (who am I kidding?! the best part is how good it tastes!! But the NEXT best part is…) how easy this copycat version is to make at home. It tastes EXACTLY the same. And you get a whole lot more than the tiny little scoop they give you at the restaurant.

Because we obviously need more butter than that. ????

First, you’ll need softened butter. Whip it into oblivion. Then add honey, cinnamon, and powdered sugar.

Creamy, sweet, unbelievably honey butter with a heavy touch of cinnamon. Just like the stuff you'll find at Texas Roadhouse!

And I like a little pinch of sea salt too, just to cut through all that sweet.

Creamy, sweet, unbelievably honey butter with a heavy touch of cinnamon. Just like the stuff you'll find at Texas Roadhouse!

Creamy, sweet, unbelievably honey butter with a heavy touch of cinnamon. Just like the stuff you'll find at Texas Roadhouse!

Your waistline isn’t going to thank me for this, I won’t lie. But your tastebuds most certainly will!

Enjoy responsibly ????.

Four simple ingredients and 10 minutes at the stove is all that stands between you and this creamy, dreamy homemade lemon curd!

Homemade Lemon Curd Recipe

Four simple ingredients and 10 minutes at the stove is all that stands between you and this creamy, dreamy homemade lemon curd!

Four simple ingredients and 10 minutes at the stove is all that stands between you and this creamy, dreamy homemade lemon curd!

You guys. Is there seriously a less appetizing word out there than CURD? I mean, really. ????

But rest assured, for a word that so closely resembles curdled and cheese curds, this dreamy lemon dessert is nothing of the sort.

If lemon is your thang and you’ve already made Ina’s Lemon Bars, Lemon Poke Cake, Lemon Berry Scones, Lemon Blueberry Sweet Rolls, and Lemon Poppyseed Banana Bread… then it is time to make your own lemon curd, my friends.

Four simple ingredients and 10 minutes at the stove is all that stands between you and this creamy, dreamy homemade lemon curd!

This recipe is so ridiculously easy. Four simple ingredients is all you’ll need:

  • sugar
  • lemon juice
  • egg yolks
  • butter

Now, a lot of recipes will have you making this over a double boiler. This supposedly prevents any egg lumps in the mixture. I don’t own a double boiler, and frankly, I don’t have room for anything else in the pots and pans and bowl department in my little kitchen. So, I didn’t use a double boiler.

And it was just fine.

I cooked my curd over medium-high heat and stirred it constantly (just like you would have to do with a double boiler anyway). I did end up with a few little lumps, but nothing that wasn’t easily strained through a small sieve.

Four simple ingredients and 10 minutes at the stove is all that stands between you and this creamy, dreamy homemade lemon curd!

I feel like I’ve read a million times, “no straining required!” “no sieve needed!” like it’s such a hassle to strain the curd. But really, it’s just not a big deal at all.

Pour the mixture through the sieve over the container you plan to store it in. The curd passes through, and the lumps stay out. Easy peasy. And you can buy a small sieve for less than ten bucks at any superstore.

Seriously. Just buy the sieve. Use it. Save yourself a headache. It’s not a big deal. And it makes this process so much easier and keeps that lemon curd smooth and creamy!

Four simple ingredients and 10 minutes at the stove is all that stands between you and this creamy, dreamy homemade lemon curd!

Ok, so now that we’ve talked about how to make it… what exactly is lemon curd? And how do you use it??

Lemon curd is sort of like the filling in a lemon meringue pie. It’s sweet and tart and creamy.

And what to use it on? How about everything.

Spread over Pancakes.

Fill donuts.

With crepes.

Mix it with granola and yogurt.

On strawberry shortcake.

Or, my personal favorite, serve spoon it over angel food cake and top with berries and whipped cream! This is such a yummy summertime treat. And the berries compliment the sweet of the curd, while the whipped cream balances the tart, and the cake soaks it all up.

Four simple ingredients and 10 minutes at the stove is all that stands between you and this creamy, dreamy homemade lemon curd!
Four simple ingredients and 10 minutes at the stove is all that stands between you and this creamy, dreamy homemade lemon curd!

No matter how you use it, you really can’t go wrong with homemade lemon curd! Enjoy 🙂

This quick and easy mousse looks fancy, but it's actually SO quick and easy to make!

White Chocolate Snickerdoodle Pudding Mousse Recipe

This quick and easy mousse looks fancy, but it’s actually SO quick and easy to make!

This quick and easy mousse looks fancy, but it's actually SO quick and easy to make!

This easy version of mousse has long since been one of my favorite go-to desserts. Not only is it delicious, but it’s super duper quick and easy, cheap, fairly diet friendly, and really versatile. There are so many different ways to make it! Plus, I almost always have all the ingredients on hand, so it’s a great recipe to keep in your back pocket for dessert in a pinch.

If that’s not a win all over, then I don’t know what is!

This quick and easy mousse looks fancy, but it's actually SO quick and easy to make!

The ingredient list is pretty simple. And really short.

Instant pudding mix (white chocolate flavored for this snickerdoodle variation).

Fat free milk.

8 ounces Cool Whip.

And for this version you’ll also need cinnamon, white chocolate, and (optional) snickerdoodle cookies.

This quick and easy mousse looks fancy, but it's actually SO quick and easy to make!

White chocolate and cinnamon is one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations. If you love it as much as I do, you MUST make these White Chocolate Snickerdoodle Pudding Cookies and these White Chocolate Covered Pretzel Snickerdoodles. They’re both ah-mazing!

But when you don’t have time for cookies, this mousse will do the trick ????.

This quick and easy mousse looks fancy, but it's actually SO quick and easy to make!

Enjoy!

And PS- if you want an easy way to make sweet chocolate curls like I did, use this tutorial from I Am Baker. It made chocolate curling a breeze!

Easy chocolate bark filled with marshmallow cream swirls and Thin Mint cookies.

Marshmallow Swirl Thin Mint Bark Recipe

Easy chocolate bark filled with marshmallow cream swirls and Thin Mint cookies.

Easy chocolate bark filled with marshmallow cream swirls and Thin Mint cookies.

Bark is one of my favorite candies to make. It’s so easy, looks beautiful, packages nicely, and is so versatile. There are so many yummy versions you could make!

I’m especially in love with this Cowboy Bark (copycat) I posted just last week. It’s as gorgeous as it is delicious, and everyone knows that pretty food just tastes better!

Easy chocolate bark filled with marshmallow cream swirls and Thin Mint cookies.

This Marshmallow Swirl Thin Mint Bark combines some of my very favorite textures and flavors: rich semi-sweet chocolate, crunchy Thin Mint cookies, and creamy marshmallow fluff. You get a little bit of each in every bite, and it’s such a darn good combination!

I guarantee you won’t be able to stop at just one bite.

Single Serve Chocolate Molten Lava Mug Cakes made in a minute in the microwave

Peanut Butter Chocolate Lava Mug Cake Recipe

This single serve recipe is perfect for when you need a little chocolate fix but don’t want to make an entire cake!

Single Serve Chocolate Molten Lava Mug Cakes made in a minute in the microwave

WARNING: this is where diets come to die… in a rich, fudgy pool of decadent melty chocolate and peanut butter enveloped in a thick, fluffy cake.

I’m just saying.

Single Serve Chocolate Molten Lava Mug Cakes made in a minute in the microwave

Sometimes you just need chocolate cake rightnowrightnow. Right?

And when that craving strikes, you don’t want spend the time (and dirty dishes) slaving away over a full sized cake. And you really don’t want an entire cake sitting around, tempting you for days after the craving has passed (because, omg, I can eat an entire chocolate cake in one afternoon without even really wanting to– please tell me that’s not just me?!).

Enter: mug cakes. They are simple and easy, warm and fresh, and they’re ready RIGHT NOW.

It’s brilliant.

Single Serve Chocolate Molten Lava Mug Cakes made in a minute in the microwave

These little cakes are a little different from typical molten lava cakes. Because instead of slightly underbaking the cakes to create the lava center, I’m actually adding a brick of chocolate and a teaspoon of creamy peanut butter (!!!!!) to get all warm and melty in the center of this cake.

I prefer this method over the underbaking for a couple of reasons.

One, for some reason the uncooked cake batter “lava” has always kind of weirded me out. I don’t know why– it’s not like I don’t lick the bowl after I make a cake! But something about uncooked batter masquerading as melted chocolate… it just never seemed right to me. So there’s that.

Second of all… since we are microwaving these cakes rather than baking them, the heating method is kind of wonky. We’re dealing with cooking time in terms of seconds rather than minutes, so it’s nearly impossible to be as precise as we would need to be in underbaking the cake the exactly right amount of time. By using actual chocolate in the center, we eliminate the headache of trying to figure out how to keep the center unbaked while nuking the rest of the cake just enough. Fabulous.

Single Serve Chocolate Molten Lava Mug Cakes made in a minute in the microwave

I desperately wish that I had some ice cream on hand when I was photographing this. Wouldn’t a big scoop of vanilla plopped in this warm mug of melted chocolate and peanut butter just be divine?

All I had at the time was whipped cream, and that was pretty good too 🙂

Just a few simple ingredients and about 60 seconds is all you have standing between you and this cake. Enjoy!!

This recipe for Peanut Butter Popcorn is so good! It has Oreos, peanut butter, and Reese's Pieces. Quick and easy treat!

Ultimate Peanut Butter Popcorn Recipe

Crunchy, creamy, sweet and peanut butter-y popcorn. Ready in under 30 minutes, and you won’t be able to put it down!

This recipe for Peanut Butter Popcorn is so good! It has Oreos, peanut butter, and Reese's Pieces. Quick and easy treat!

I’ve obviously been in the mood for snacking lately. I don’t know if it’s me trying to prepare lots of Super Bowl recipes, or if it’s just the fact that I’ve been dieting for 19 days a billion years.

(How are your New Year’s eating resolutions going? Still going strong?)

Either way, munchies have been on the brain, because the past two weeks of recipes have included 2 snack mixes and 2 dips, plus today’s popcorn and yet another dip recipe tomorrow. ????

This recipe for Peanut Butter Popcorn is so good! It has Oreos, peanut butter, and Reese's Pieces. Quick and easy treat!

Today’s popcorn is one of my favorites from the book, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Popcorn (on page 75)! This is one of my most used go-to recipes for a quick and easy popcorn treat that can be packaged for giving away or for entertaining guests.

This Ultimate Peanut Butter Popcorn recipe is a slight variation on the chocolate chip version in my book. Beyond creamy peanut butter and white chocolate, this version is also stuffed with lots of Oreos (is there a more heavenly combination than Oreos and PB?), Reese’s Pieces, and a chocolate-y drizzle.

This recipe for Peanut Butter Popcorn is so good! It has Oreos, peanut butter, and Reese's Pieces. Quick and easy treat!

As I always do when making any sort of chocolate-coated confection that will be eaten with hands, I used Ghirardelli Candy Melts (NOT white chocolate chips). I’ve sang the praises of this much loved ingredient over and over again. But in case you’ve missed my soap box spiel on candy melts, here’s the gist:

Yes, I know we all love REAL chocolate chips the best. But candy melts will work SO MUCH BETTER in candy making and coating, because they are made specifically to melt well. They melt smoothly and quickly without seizing, they coat better than normal chocolate, they cool and harden quickly, and the hardened coating won’t melt all over your hands when handling.

Just use the melts please (available at Target, Walmart, Michaels, and other stores).

Rant over. ????

This recipe for Peanut Butter Popcorn is so good! It has Oreos, peanut butter, and Reese's Pieces. Quick and easy treat!

And you might also remember me saying this before, but it bears repeating: I LOVE this Boom Chicka Pop (found at Target) for my popcorn munch mixes!

It’s sweet and crunchy, with a sugary shell that protects the kernels from any sort of moisture from the chocolate. And it’s just overall perfection.

Of course, you can always use microwave popcorn or air popped (which has always been my preferred method in the past, I melted through TWO poppers when I was writing the book!). Your choice. But if you can get your hands on some bagged kettle corn, you’ll save a little time plus add some sweet crunch to every delectable bite.

This recipe for Peanut Butter Popcorn is so good! It has Oreos, peanut butter, and Reese's Pieces. Quick and easy treat!

So… wanna see how easy it is to make this??? (Say yes! Say yes!)

I made another video for you!!! I’m brand new to the video-making thing, so I don’t have many under my belt yet. But I’d say this one is already a big improvement from the first, and I’ve been SO excited to share it with you.

I hope you like it!

What did you think? My brother and I have been working so hard on making more videos for you, and I can’t wait for you guys to see them.

For now, I hope you fall in love with the Peanut Butter Popcorn as much as I have. It’s perfect for a quick, last minute treat and completely addictive. For a fun variation, try adding M&Ms, PB cups, Nutter Butter cookies, or miniature marshmallows! Just to name a few ????.