Chocolate Ganache Filled Brownies

They say the way to a person's heart is through their stomach.  If that's true, one of the best expressions of love is to cook something special for your loved ones.  Food is my love language so I naturally gravitate towards expressing my love for others with food and I don't think there's any better day to show some love through food, than on Valentine's Day. 💘

There is a longstanding tradition of giving your Valentine a box of chocolates carefully packaged into a red heart shaped box on February 14th.  But if you're feeling like you want to show your love with a homemade sweet this year instead of a store bought Valentine, there's actually a whole lot treats that you can make in your very own kitchen.  Just remember that your edible Valentine doesn't have to be fancy or elegant.  #itsthethoughtthatcounts  A simple brownie or rice crispy treat cut into a heart with a cookie cutter can make the perfect sweet treat for your favorites. 

If you're looking for a little Valentine culinary inspiration, I've rounded up some of the sweet treats that I've made for my valentines in years past.  ​

​So for a couple who loves to dessert almost as much as we love each other, you better believe that we celebrate Valentine's Day and all the other holidays with sweet-tooth satisfying treats.  😂 Doesn't everyone eat green ice cream on St. Patrick's Day, monkey bread for breakfast on birthdays and cereal treats shaped into tiny pumpkins on Halloween? 🎃😅 

We even celebrate Chinese New Year with homemade fortune cookies, so you better believe that we celebrate big on Valentine's Day.  It doesn't matter how old my kids get, I will always make them homemade treats for Valentine's Day.  I get it honestly - My mom still mails us a box of Valentine goodies every year.   #thanksmom

Our plans for V-Day are still up in the air for this year but I know that whether we end up dining in our own kitchen or going out for a meal, there will be deliciously decadent ganache filled brownies waiting for us at the end of the day.  I can't think of a more perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day.  

Chocolate Ganache Brownies
Brownies
1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Chocolate Ganache
1 1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream
​1 teaspoon sea salt

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache
1 1/3 cup chocolate chips (milk, dark or semi sweet)
1/2 cup peanut butter

Place chocolate and cocoa in large bowl. 

Pour boiling water over chocolate and whisk until melted. 

Whisk in sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla. 

Gently stir in flour and salt.  

Scoop 1/4 cup batter into 12 paper lined muffin cups.  

Bake 40 minutes at 350.

Let cool in pan 10 minutes.  Spray bottom of a shot glass with cooking spray.  Press into center of each brownie while still in pan.

Remove brownies from pan and let cool completely.  

​Microwave chocolate and cream until melted for chocolate ganache.  ​chocolate and peanut butter for peanut butter ganache

Spoon 1 Tablespoon of ganache into center of each brownie.

I made two different fillings for these brownies - a dark chocolate ganache and a chocolate peanut butter ganache.  Choose which one you like best OR make a half batch of each, like me,  so your Valentine's can choose own their filling.  

​Ciao!

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