Hi! This is Andrea from Cooking with a Wallflower, and I’m back on Ask Anna this month to share with you a brand new recipe. The last recipe of the year!

It’s already halfway through December! Can you believe that we’re just a couple weeks away from a new year? A new decade? Time really does move fast, doesn’t it?

December is the season for all sorts of holiday cookies. They’re great as desserts for all those holiday parties. Or as homemade gifts. So of course, for the last recipe of the year, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite cookies.

These cranberry dark chocolate chunk cookies are so perfect for the holidays. I love that they’re simple to make with ingredients that are easy to find. Soft and chewy, these cookies have the perfect consistency and texture. But even better? These cookies are filled with cranberries and dark chocolate chunks. They have the perfect balance between sweet and bitter. Sooo good.

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until combined. Add egg and vanilla extract, then whisk until combined.

In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together all purpose flour and baking soda.

Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix the ingredients until combined.

Fold in the dark chocolate chunks and dried cranberries.

Refrigerate the cookie dough for about an hour.

When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside for now.

Use a cookie scooper or a tablespoon to measure out the cookie doughs and roll them into balls. Place them evenly apart, about 12 cookie dough balls on a baking sheet.

Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes until the edges are slightly browned. Remove the cookies from the oven. Drop the baking sheet with the cookies on a sturdy surface a few times. By banging the cookies, the melted chocolate will fall into the crevices of the cookies.

Let the cookies cool for several minutes before transferring over to a cooling rack.

Serve these cranberry dark chocolate chunk cookies warm topped with vanilla sea salt if desired.

Enjoy!

I’ll be back in the new year to share more recipes!

Andrea

Cooking with a Wallflower

Cranberry Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

 

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Soft and chewy dark chocolate chunk cookies filled with dried cranberries. These cranberry dark chocolate chunk cookies are so delicious and perfect for the holidays.

Author: Andrea Giang

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 20 cookies

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter at room temperature
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1¾ cup all purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup dark chocolate chunks or chocolate chips
• ¾ cup dried cranberries
• Vanilla sea salt (optional)

Instructions

1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until combined. Add egg and vanilla extract, then whisk until combined.
2. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together all purpose flour and baking soda.
3. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix the ingredients until combined.
4. Fold in the dark chocolate chunks and dried cranberries.
5. Refrigerate the cookie dough for about an hour.
6. When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside for now.
7. Use a cookie scooper or a tablespoon to measure out the cookie doughs and roll them into balls. Place them evenly apart, about 12 cookie dough balls on a baking sheet.
8. Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes until the edges are slightly browned. Remove the cookies from the oven. Drop the baking sheet with the cookies on a sturdy surface a few times. By banging the cookies, the melted chocolate will fall into the crevices of the cookies.
9. Let the cookies cool for several minutes before transferring over to a cooling rack.
10. Serve these cranberry dark chocolate chunk cookies warm topped with vanilla sea salt if desired.
11. Enjoy!

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Here are some more great Christmas posts!

Sea Salt Caramels

Elf on the Shelf – 24 Days of Kindness

Easy White Hot Chocolate

The post Cranberry Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies appeared first on Ask Anna.

Happy early Valentine’s Day!

As you know by now, I’m Andrea from the blog, Cooking with a Wallflower, and I’m so excited to share with you this brand new Valentine’s Day inspired rice crispy treats.

This month is all about strawberries and chocolate. At least to me, anyways. So I wanted to share a dessert that is a combination of both. Rice crispy treats are simple to make with just a few ingredients. They take little effort so it’s perfect as a snack or dessert for the holidays.

What will you be making for Valentine’s Day?

Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside for now.

In a large pot, melt butter over low heat. Once the butter has melted, add mini marshmallows to the pot. Use a wooden spoon or a heat resistant spatula to stir until the marshmallows have melted. Remove the pot from heat.

Pour the chocolate crispy rice cereal to the pot, one cup at a time. Stirring in between each addition until all the cereal is covered in the melted marshmallow.

Add the freeze dried strawberries. I used freeze dried strawberries for the strawberry flavor. Fresh strawberries would have been too soggy. Stir to incorporate all the ingredients.

Transfer the marshmallow cereal mixture over to the baking pan. Use the spatula or wooden spoon to smooth out the surface and press down against the pan. Press extra freeze dried strawberries over the top the rice crispy treats if desired. Press down to make them stick.

Let the rice crispy treats sit on the counter for at least a half hour before slicing into 16 bars.

Make these strawberry chocolate rice crispy treats for Valentine’s Day!

Enjoy!

Andrea

Cooking With a Wallflower

Strawberry Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats

 

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Author: Anna

Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 10 ounce mini marshmallows
• 5 cups chocolate rice crisp cereal
• 2 cups freeze dried strawberries

Instructions

1. Line a 9x9 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside for now.
2. In a large pot, melt butter over low heat. Once the butter has melted, add mini marshmallows to the pot. Use a wooden spoon or a heat resistant spatula to stir until the marshmallows have melted. Remove the pot from heat.
3. Pour the chocolate crispy rice cereal to the pot, one cup at a time. Stirring in between each addition until all the cereal is covered in the melted marshmallow.
4. Add the freeze dried strawberries. Stir to incorporate all the ingredients.
5. Transfer the marshmallow cereal mixture over to the baking pan. Use the spatula or wooden spoon to smooth out the surface and press down against the pan. Press extra freeze dried strawberries over the top the rice crispy treats if desired. Press down to make them stick.
6. Let the rice crispy treats sit on the counter for at least a half hour before slicing into 16 bars.

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The post Strawberry Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats appeared first on Ask Anna.

Years ago we were in Seattle, one of our favorite cities, and stopped in for a drink at a Restaurant named Purple. We sat at the bar and ordered a glass of wine, and checking out their dessert menu I noticed they had sea salt caramels on there, so of course I had to order them. They were incredible. So incredible that I couldn’t stop thinking about them so I came home and immediately looked for a similar recipe. I found this one on About.com and was very excited with how good it was. I would venture to say these caramels are even better than the ones we had in Seattle, but that’s just my opinion.

These caramels have truly become a favorite over the years. I have friends that started a tradition of getting together and making them for teachers and neighbors every year, I’ve made them several times for holiday parties, and this year my best friend even won a Christmas treats competition with them! If you love salted caramel, if you love chocolate, if you love sweets, then you are going to LOVE these caramels! I promise you, you will not be disappointed!!!

Enjoy!

Sea Salt Caramels

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

45 mins

Total time

50 mins

 

The combination of sweet caramel, crunchy sea salt crystals, and dark chocolate make these sea salt caramels impossible to put down and the perfect treat for any occasion.

Author: Ask Anna Moseley

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

• 1⅓ cup heavy cream
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• ½ cup light corn syrup
• ⅓ cup honey
• 6 TBPS butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tsp sea salt
• 1 lb bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Instructions

1. Prepare an 8-inch baking pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Place the cream in a large saucepan over medium-high heat and bring it to a boil. Stir in the sugar, corn syrup and honey and stir until it begins to boil. Periodically wipe down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent sugar crystals from forming.
3. Cook the candy, stirring occasionally, until it reaches 257 degrees on a candy thermometer.
4. Remove the pan from the heat immediately and stir in the butter, vanilla, and 2 teaspoons of salt.
5. Pour into prepared pan and place it in the refrigerator, or freezer, until firm enough to cut.
6. Cut the caramel into small squares or strips with a chef's knife.
7. Temper the chocolate and dip the caramels in the chocolate one at a time. Place them on a baking sheet covered with waxed paper or foil to set.
8. While chocolate is still wet, sprinkle on the remaining salt and allow to set completely. Store them in the freezer and take them out about 15 minutes before serving.

3.5.3251

The post Sea Salt Caramels appeared first on Ask Anna.

In today’s post, I’m sharing a few ways to get ready for a fun and organized summer! I’ll include a few of my top summer organizing tips, ideas for things you can do together as a family, and some sunny decor ideas too. Let’s go!

7 Tips to Reduce your Energy Bill in the Summer Heat

Do you live in a part of the world where the summers can get insanely hot? If you have trouble saving money on your summer energy bills, my friend Leah is here to help you out. In this post, she shares some of the cost-cutting measures she has taken to reduce her electricity bills in hopes that whatever climate you are in, you can do some of them to see savings on YOUR bills. Read her tips here!

Organize a Summer Grab-n-Go Kit

Summer means we’ll be spending lots of time outdoors. Taking a few minutes to organize a summer grab-n-go kit means that you’ll always be ready for whatever outdoor fun the season might bring! No matter how busy your day is, you’ll always be ready to take care of your family. Find out how to make your busy summer days just a little bit easier.

Free Printable Summer Bucket List

Do you have any big plans this summer? Whether it’s time you’ll be spending at home as a family or having adventures elsewhere, you should print out this colorful summer bucket list to help you make sure you don’t miss out on any fun this season! You can’t have a fun AND organized summer without a checklist, right?! Get the printable here.

Organized Family Camping Trips

A couple of years ago, we started a new summer tradition with our kids and friends: annual family camping trips! The plan was for this to become a fun family tradition that our kids and all our friends’ kids look forward to each summer. So in this post, I’m sharing how I plan for our trips and how planning ahead for an organized camping trip is the way to go! There’s even a free printable for you.

How to Plan for an Outdoor Party and Summer Get-togethers

Now that summer is here, it’s time to start thinking about pool parties, BBQs and lots of impromptu outdoor get-togethers! In this post, I give you 8 tips on how to plan for an outdoor party, and what to always have on hand for when your friends drop by. Host the most organized party ever!

Tips & Tricks for Organizing Outdoor Toys

I don’t know about your house but here, the kids are running around enjoying summer, we’re swimming every day and filling the sidewalk with chalk drawings. I’m sharing a few tips for how to organize outdoor items from pool toys, towels, outdoor games, etc. These tips have all come from experience; I’ve tried lots of different things but these are the ones that have worked the best and stood the test of time! ?

DIY Birdhouse Wreath Tutorial

The warm spring and summer seasons bring two great things: bursts of colorful flower blooms, and chirping birds. In this short tutorial, my good friend Bev will show you how to use these timeless accents to make a DIY burlap mesh wreath for your door that will wow the neighbors! Not only is it quick to make, but it’ll last the entire summer. Here’s how to make it!

How to Get Rid of Green Pool Hair

My family lives in the pool during the hot summer months! The only downside to hanging out in the pool all summer is that being a blonde, my hair always ends up turning an off shade of green. If you’re a blonde, you know what I’m talking about. ? Last year my daughter fell in love with swimming too and I noticed her hair was doing the same thing! Instead of spending a ton of money on expensive shampoos, use this super cheap trick instead!

Kitchen Organization Ideas for an Outdoor Kitchen

After our outdoor kitchen construction was finished, I was eager to stock it and organize it. I remember ages ago, when I moved out into my first apartment, my dad took me to Walmart and helped me pick out everything I’d need in my new kitchen. I did the same thing when it was time to stock our outdoor kitchen. We were starting from scratch so I needed all the necessities, including silverware, napkins, plates, bowls, cups, scrub brushes for the dishes, etc. In this post, I share how I organized it all!

Over to You…

I hope you find all of these tips helpful for you when you’re planning your super fun and organized summer! Do you have anything big planned, like a vacation or a family (or solo!) adventure? I’d love you to let me know in the comments so we can all be excited for summer together!

The post 9 Tips for a Fun and Organized Summer appeared first on Ask Anna.

The problem is, it’s so easy to struggle with motivation – especially when it comes to cleaning and decluttering. The idea of getting up to clean or throw out clutter definitely doesn’t beat doing something more fun! That’s why I’m here: to help you with your spring cleaning motivation!

Here are some of my favorite spring cleaning checklists and printables to get you up and moving. If you’re not sure where to start, just choose a checklist, start from the top, and away you go! Your home will be sparkly clean in no time!

6 Spring Cleaning Checklists to Help Get You Motivated

This handy checklist breaks down every single one of your spring cleaning chores into rooms, to make it less daunting. This way, you can choose to focus on one or two rooms at once, instead of doing it all in one go! Download it here.

Prefer something more fun and colorful? Try this one instead, lovingly created by my friend Jennifer! Again, this one is split into rooms, giving you a handy overview of everything that needs to be done. There’s also a blank section at the end to add things that might not be included already. Jennifer has also included some extra tips to help you when you get down to work, so go and have a look!

Now for the bathroom! The bathroom is one of the areas that should definitely be kept clean all the time, but when you’re spring cleaning the rest of the house, it’s a good opportunity to give it a real deep clean. Here’s a useful list of everything you should clean, including some areas you’re likely to miss. As well as the list, I’ve also shared some tips on how to clean some of these areas, so you’re good to go! See the full list here.

Don’t forget the dining room! When you think about spring cleaning I’m sure you don’t immediately think of the dining room but there’s quite a lot to be done in there. It’s the room where a lot of us have guests over for dinner, so it’s a good idea to give it a thorough clean. With this checklist, it’ll be ready for a dinner party in no time!

Decluttering is important, too. It’s difficult to spring clean when you have clutter everywhere, so decluttering while you clean is the most proactive way to a spotless home. My friend Krista has put together this awesome checklist filled with tons of ideas, so you can work your way through and get rid of some of that junk! Download your decluttering checklist here.

If those weren’t enough, how about 25 more?! In this huge post, I’ve shared 25+ spring cleaning checklists, tasks, and other free printables that I know will be so helpful for you! I’ve also included some handy tips and tutorials to help you along the way. This post has everything you need to tackle your spring cleaning!

It’s Time to Spring Clean!

Now it’s over to you. I hope all of these spring cleaning checklists make tackling your home feel a little bit easier. Just choose a printable or two, print them out, and get started. If you need any more help, I have loads more spring cleaning tips and tricks for you on the blog.

It might feel difficult to get started, but imagine how amazing it’ll feel when you have a beautiful, sparkling, home! Good luck!

The post 6 Spring Cleaning Checklists to Get You Motivated! appeared first on Ask Anna.