CHOCOROONS: Retro Ad with Recipe

I came across this recipe from 1964 recently and knew I had to share. I love Retro Ads with Recipes. This recipe for Chocoroons was the Pillsbury Bake-off prize winner from Mrs. Oscar Carlson of Elm Creek, NE. Notice it's a very old ad and contest since we don't have Mrs Carlson's first name, but that of her husband. Hmmm... Nevertheless it's a good recipe. Scroll down for Ad with Recipe.

A few notes:

1. Instead of Nestle's Quick Chocolate Mix, use your favorite cocoa (not too dark)

2. Sadly you can't enter the 16th Bake-off where you could win $25,000 (longtime passed)

From the Pillsbury website: HOW THE BAKE-OFF® CONTEST BEGAN

Before there was “Top Chef,” before there was “Cupcake Wars” or “Hell’s Kitchen,” there was the Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest. The legendary baking competition was introduced in 1949 in honor of Pillsbury’s 80th birthday and as an effort to promote Pillsbury™ Best® flour. At the heart of the Bake-Off was the desire to create an opportunity for American homemakers to not only share their beloved recipes, but to also share the stories that go along with them.

Originally called the “Grand National Recipe and Baking Contest,” 1949’s inaugural Bake-Off received thousands of entries from across the country. As we mentioned, Pillsbury Best flour was a required ingredient in all recipe submissions and there were six categories that participants could enter: breads, cakes, pies, cookies, entrees and desserts. If participants submitted a seal from the Pillsbury Best flour they used in the recipe, their prize money could be doubled.

A panel of Pillsbury home economists eventually narrowed the entries down to 100 finalists. Each finalist was invited to the live competition at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City to make their recipe in hopes of winning the $25,000 grand prize.

And the guest of honor at the very first Bake-Off? None other than First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who was personally invited by Philip W. Pillsbury to attend the event and assist in awarding prizes. 

PULL-APART CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE CRESCENT CHRISTMAS TREE

I love this Crescent (Croissant) Christmas Tree. Recipe from Pillsbury. It's perfect for Christmas Morning or Christmas Eve..or make it now! It's delicious. Of course you can use your own croissant dough, but this recipe using Crescents in a Can, is so quick and easy! Simply roll sweetened cream cheese and chocolate chips inside pieces of Pillsbury crescent dough, and then shape the whole thing into a pull apart Christmas tree and bake. Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar for the finishing touch. 

PULL-APART CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE CRESCENT CHRISTMAS TREE

Ingredients

2 cans (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count) 

6 oz (from 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened 

1/2 cup powdered sugar 

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

 

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F. Line large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Separate dough into 16 triangles. Use pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut each triangle in half lengthwise to get 32 triangles. 

In medium bowl, mix cream cheese and powdered sugar with spoon until well blended. Spoon a generous teaspoon of the cheese mixture on shortest side of each triangle; add a rounded 1/2 teaspoon chocolate chips. 

Roll up each crescent, starting at shortest side of triangle and rolling to opposite point. Using photo as a guide, place crescents next to each other in tree-shaped pattern on parchment lined cookie sheet, starting with top and working way to bottom trunk. 

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until deep golden brown. Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar, if desired. 

Tips:

Line your pan with parchment paper to catch any filling that may spill out of crescents while baking. 

Use a pizza cutter to cut crescent dough. 

Use a fine-mesh sieve to sprinkle crescent tree with additional powdered sugar.

EXTRA NUTTY PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE BROWNIES: National Peanut Butter Day

Today is National Peanut Butter Day! Here's a great and easy recipe for Extra Nutty Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies adapted from a Pillsbury recipe. I don't usually use boxed mixes, but this is a great recipe. Of course you can make your own brownies and just add the layer of peanut butter fudge and 1/2 cup chopped peanuts. I really like the clean salty taste of plain roasted peanuts, rather than the recommended honey-roasted peanuts in the original recipe. I also add chocolate chips to the recipe and cut down on the peanut butter chips. You can never have enough chocolate!

Have a Peanut Buttery Day!

EXTRA NUTTY PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE BROWNIES!

Ingredients
2 (15.8 oz) package fudge brownie mix with chocolate syrup
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
2 eggs
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
7 ounces peanut butter chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray with nonstick cooking spray or grease bottom only of 13x9-inch pan.
In large bowl, combine brownie mixes, chocolate pouches from mixes, oil, water and eggs; beat 50 strokes with spoon. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour about half of batter into sprayed pan.
In large saucepan, combine condensed milk, peanut butter chips, and peanut butter; cook over low heat for 5 minutes or until chips and peanut butter are melted, stirring constantly.
Spoon and spread peanut butter mixture over batter.
Drop remaining half of batter over peanut butter layer.
Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.
Bake at 350°F. for 35 to 40 minutes or until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan. DO NOT OVERBAKE. 
Cool 2 hours.
Cut into bars.

COFFEE ICE CREAM PIE: National Coffee Ice Cream Day!

Warm where you are today? Here's an easy (20 minutes to make - and then freeze) no-bake recipe that has a great chocolate cookie crust that includes coconut and chopped nuts along with the chocolate wafers. It's a very versatile crust and would also be great with a key lime filling, as well as any other ice cream flavor. This recipe is adapted  slightly from Pillsbury. As I've mentioned many times, the big 'food product' sites often have fabulous recipes. You can adapt and update as you like, and they're a springboard for ideas, so be sure and check them out!

COFFEE ICE CREAM PIE

Ingredients
30 chocolate wafers, crushed (about 1-1/2 cups)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup coconut  (I like toasted coconut)
3 Tbsp finely chopped macadamia nuts (or cashews)

Filling 
1 quart coffee ice cream, slightly softened

Topping 
1 cup hot fudge sauce, warmed
Whole macadamia nuts (or cashews), if desired

Directions
In medium bowl, mix crushed chocolate wafers, butter, coconut, and finely chopped macadamia nuts.
Press mixture in bottom and side of 9-inch glass pie plate; refrigerate 15 minutes.
Carefully spoon softened ice cream into chilled crust.
Cover and freeze about 2 hours or until firm.
Top individual servings with fudge sauce, chopped macadamia nuts, and chopped chocolate covered coffee beans.
Cover and freeze any remaining pie.

To make cutting the pie easier, remove it from the freezer about 10 to 15 minutes before serving. 

GOLDEN FUDGE FANCIFULS: Retro Ad with Recipe

Here's a great Retro Ad with Recipe from Pillsbury for Golden Fudge Fancifuls. As always, you can use this recipe as a springboard for your own 'from scratch' recipes.

 

COCOA-MINT CHOCOLATE CAKE: Retro Ad & Recipe

It's snowy and blustery in much of the U.S. today, so this is the perfect cake to make! Pillsbury used to have a product called Sno Sheen Cake Flour (super-light...for higher, finer cakes). This Retro Advertisement is for Cocoa-Mint Cake.

MILK CHOCOLATE QUEEN'S CAKE: Retro Ad & Recipe

I love Retro Ads with Recipes, and here's a really good one for Milk Chocolate Queen's Cake from Pillsbury's Best Flour. I'm a dark chocolate afficiando, but this a great cake! The recipe was a Grand National Pillsbury Bake-Off Favorite.

Chocolate Candy Cane Cake: Retro Ad & Recipe

Here's a fun Retro Ad & Recipe from Pillsbury for Chocolate Candy Cane Cake. Of course, you can always make your own cake and frosting from scratch. Love these Retro Ads. The Snowman Layer Cake isn't chocolate, but it's so Retro cute with its marshmallow snowmen.