Dark Chocolate Avocado Cookies

Just a note to say that I made these Dark Chocolate Avocado Cookies  this week and they were rich, fudgy perfection - with no butter! So they're, like, healthy. I'm fairly certain. 

That's all. 

peppermint and chocolate and all that is good

Okay, so Christmas is over. But it's still cold. And you still want chocolate. And you have about a thousand candy canes left over  that you're probably a day away from throwing in the trash. And I've been craving a mug of decadent peppermint hot chocolate all month. So here are a few ways I tweaked classic recipes to use up your candy cane supply while you stay cozy in the cold month of January:

1. Martha Stewart's Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Rich, dense, and beautifully bittersweet. I followed the recipe exactly, but then added a dash of vanilla extract in with the salt at the end. Then, I added even more peppermint with a healthy dose of Candy Cane Whipped Cream.

2. Candy Cane Whipped Cream: Mix one cup heavy whipping cream with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar. Mix until cream forms stiff peaks. Add 3-4 crushed candy canes & several drops of peppermint extract, and mix until just blended.

3.  Chocolate Peppermint Cookies: Again, just a twist on a classic. I followed this Double Chocolate Dream Cookies recipe by Very Best Baking, doubling the salt & vanilla as usual. Along with the chocolate chips I added three crushed candy canes, and crushed a few more to sprinkle on top. These are fudgy & dense with the perfect added crunch of candy cane. And probably not great for your January diet. (#worthit)