Chocolate Covered German Chocolate Brownie Bites

So, remember when I moved from the sticks to the not sticks over the Summer?

Well.  It has been a learning experience for sure.

I already told you all about how I learned that the nice neighbor myth is a lie.  But the other thing I learned is that I am not a Big House Person.

When we moved, our house we were living in hadn’t sold yet, but I wanted to get Jon David enrolled in school before Summer was over.  So we decided to just rent a place until our house sold, at which point we would start looking to buy.

Rentals, it turns out, are not so plentiful.

There were basically two options:  a tiny house/apartment or a very big house.  We decided to go with the big house because we were all, “yay!! I always wanted a big house!!  It has stairs and everything!!  We are fancy now!!”  Plus, when you’re used to living in the country and having a huge yard, the thought of a tiny apartment is scary.  How do you practice shooting if you don’t have a yard?  Where do you park your trailer?  (yes, country people always worry about having a spot to park their trailer–not the living in kind, the kind for hauling stuff or helping a neighbor move a washing machine or sofa)

Six months later, I have decided that stairs are from the Devil.

Also, big houses are too much to clean and confusing.  I don’t even know where people are half the time.  I’m always shouting like a crazy person, just to ask like one simple thing.

And our house isn’t even THAT big!!  I mean, how do people in mansions do it?  This whole big house with stairs thing has really changed my whole outlook on life, if you want to know the truth.  I used to look at big fancy houses and be all jealous.  Nowadays, I just shake my head and wonder what their electric bill runs in the Summer.

Anyways, now I’ve been forced to totally rethink all my childhood dreams of having a giant house with secret passageways and my own library.  Because with my new perspective, passageways are just a secret living area for hobo squatters and a library is a major dust magnet.  No thank you, I think I’ll do without.

I’m a small house person. In small houses, you can hear an axe murderer if he’s creeping around AND get to your ninja sword quickly, since everything is nearby.  Pretty ideal, if you ask me.   Also, there isn’t much dusting to do, no stairs to climb, and everyone is close enough to grab for a hug whenever you want.

Small houses win!!

Another thing that wins is German Chocolate anything.  People love it.  They just do.  So I decided to top some brownies with German Chocolate (Coconut Pecan) Frosting and cover it all in chocolate.

If you’ve never made your own Coconut Pecan Frosting, you’re missing out.  The canned stuff is okay, but making it yourself is really the way to go.  I’ve tried several homemade recipes, some that use egg yolks or evaporated milk and brown sugar, but the King Arthur Flour recipe, using melted caramels is my favorite.

Wouldn’t these be the perfect gift to give for Valentines Day?

Chocolate Covered German Chocolate Brownie Bites

INGREDIENTS

•  Pan of your favorite brownies, baked and cooled
• 1 lb chocolate candy coating or almond bark (I like Candiquik)
• Frosting:
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 2 (11 oz) bags Caramel bits
• 2 1/2 cups chopped pecans
• 2 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  In a medium sized saucepan, heat evaporated milk until it starts to simmer.  Add caramel and stir until it melts.  Stirring frequently, bring the caramel to a boil and remove from heat.  Immediately stir in coconut and pecans.  Spread frosting over pan of brownies.

2.  Place pan of brownies in the refrigerator for several hours.  Once chilled and firm, remove from pan and cut into small squares.  Place squares in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

3.  Line a baking sheet with wax paper.  Melt candy coating according to package directions.  Place brownie bites in the melted chocolate, a few at a time.  Spoon chocolate over the brownies, then slide a fork underneath and remove, allowing excess chocolate to drip off.  Place brownies on wax paper lined sheet to set (since they are cold,they should set fairly quickly).  Drizzle additional chocolate over tops of finished brownies.

Notes:

I used Ghirardelli Brownie Mix and baked it in a 7×10 inch pan.  If you have a 9×13 pan of brownies, this recipe will still work and you will have plenty of frosting, although you may need a bit more candy coating.

**Frosting recipe adapted from The King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion (a book EVERYONE should have, if you ask me)

These are so easy and impressive!! Enjoy.
Have a happy Tuesday!!