Valentine's Treats

I don't go overboard on smaller holidays. 

I really don't even mind if we celebrate Valentine's Day. 

However, I got into baking some sweet treats that could fall into the Valentine's Day treats category.

I really love making treats for any holiday, and here are three that I've enjoyed in the past week. 

First up, 

Mix and Match Mama's Red Velvet M&M Brownies

If you're pressed for time and want something quick and easy, this is for you!

Side note, I had leftover Christmas M&M's, so I just used them. Don't mind the green.

You Need:

1 Box Red Velvet Cake Mix

2 eggs

1/2 C. Vegetable Oil

1 Cup M&M's

Preheat oven to 350. 

Now, Shay calls to grease your pan, but I felt like greasing it made my brownies soggy, so I wouldn't grease it or not much if you do. 

Combine cake mix, eggs and vegetable oil. 

I advise using a mixer as the batter is super thick. 

Add in M&M's. 

Spread into pan. 

Sprinkle some more M&M's on top. 

Bake 14 minutes or longer.

*I took my brownies out when a toothpick inserted in the middle came out clean. 

After cooling, I still felt like they weren't done enough. 

At the last minute we got a call to head over to a friend's house. 

I put the whole brownie pan back in the oven for 5 more minutes and baked them more. 

I liked them better after that.

Next, 

Mix and Match Mama's Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake

This was easy and tasty, but I'm not sure if I would love it just as much without the raspberry jam.

You Need:

1 Box Chocolate Cake mix

 2 Small Boxes Instant Chocolate Pudding

1/2 C. Vegetable Oil

1 1/4 C. Water

 4 Eggs

1 C. Chocolate Chips

1 1.2 C. Raspberry Jam

Icing:

2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1/4 C. Butter, softened

1 1/2 T. Cocoa Powder 

2 Splashes of Milk

1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Fresh Raspberries to garnish

Preheat oven to 350. Grease bundt cake pan really well.

Mix cake mix, chocolate pudding, vegetable oil, water and eggs.

Add chocolate chips. 

Pour half of mixture into pan. 

Top with raspberry jam. 

Add the rest of the batter. 

Bake 45 minutes. 

Let sit in pan 10 minutes. 

Flip cake onto pan. 

*This cake made me very nervous because of the jam being in the middle. 

I let it bake a little longer than normal and used the toothpick trick again. 

Icing:

I've been halfing Shay's icing recipes because it was just too much icing for us, and it was super runny. 

Mix together the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and cocoa. 

Barely add 2 splashes of milk. 

Add more if you see fit. 

Ice the cake. 

Top with raspberries.

This is definitely a tasty treat; however, I don't know that I love the jam in the middle.
The cake is moist and tasty, and then boom a texture change.
Maybe I don't love different textures in foods, but I almost wish the jam was somehow on top of the cake and not in the middle. 

Finally,

V-Day Trail Chow

I really pieced together a lot of recipes to make my own.

You Need:
8 Cups of Chex Mix-- I used a combination of Vanilla, Corn and Rice
1/2 C. Peanut Butter
4 T. Butter
1 C. White Chocolate Chips
1 C. Powdered Sugar
1 C. M&M's
1 C. Marshmallows

Pour your desired cereal into a large bowl.
Mix together the peanut butter, butter and white chocolate chips until smooth.
Pour over the cereal.
Add Powdered Sugar.
Add M&M's.
Add Marshmallows.
Let sit in bowl until dried.
Enjoy!

I hope you've something yummy that you can make for you or your family to celebrate Valentine's Day!

Enjoy!