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Blondies and Bars

Baby, you’re a firework

Over the years, the task of “dessert-maker” for our annual neighborhood 4th-of-July party has somehow fallen to me. I think it all started when I was still in high school and brought a vegan coconut cream pie recipe I’d adapted from one of my very-first vegan cookbooks: How it all Vegan.

After that, I was put in charge of desserts permanently. You won’t be hearing me complain about this any time soon!

12

One year, I brought vegan vanilla cupcakes.

No cupcakes this year. Just lots of bars. My neighbor asked me to make my white-bean blondies for their party today, but I also wanted to try something new. I figured they wouldn’t protest if I brought two desserts. So I also made a modified version of my Raspberry Cobbler Bars. But I changed the recipe to get a more buttery, crumbly bar, reminiscent of berry crumble. If everyone at the party likes it, I’ll get the recipe up tomorrow!

Upcoming Posts:

  • Peanut Butter and Jelly Fudge (!)
  • My go-to chocolate cupcake recipe
  • Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes
  • A new oatmeal technique

And I want to make a new cookie pie recipe… would you rather see a peanut butter cookie pie or a sugar cookie pie?

Or another flavor entirely?

Finally, I wanted to apologize for being a tease on Twitter.

It really wasn’t my intent to be a tease, bringing up my big decision before I was ready to elaborate.  I will tell y’all my news in a few weeks. Honestly, I meant to write about it earlier, but last-minute travel plans got in the way!

Happy Fourth of July! (Now if only I could get that Katy Perry song out of my head…)

Published on July 4, 2011

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Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been 
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ABC's 5 O’Clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

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80 Comments

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  1. Sarahishealthy says

    That is SUCH a pretty picture of you, Katie :). And my vote goes to peanut butter pie!!! Plus, I really wanna hear your news! 🙂

  2. Lisa Fine says

    Those look delicious! I’m guessing they’ll be a big hit, making them blog-worthy this week.

    And I’m very curious about this news you’re going to share…

    Happy 4th!

  3. Jennifer JCD says

    Happy Fourth of July! We celebrated Canada Day with a big party on the first. 🙂 Do you have any special fourth of July traditions? I hear fireworks are pretty popular in America.

    As for pie… definitely Sugar Cookie!! Have a great day and enjoy the party.

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Yeah, firweorks are big… sadly, because they’re not very environmentally-friendly, especially here in Texas where it’s super-dry. I’ve heard that parts of Tx cancelled fireworks this year, but not Dallas. (Also, poor Henry hates fireworks!)

      Barbecues are big too, but I guess that’s true of any summer holiday!

  4. tea-bag says

    peanut butter cookie pie!
    ps – i’m always the dessert baker, too! i used to be a baker and my specialty was pies. you can guess what i spend every thanksgiving and christmas making … yup. pies.

  5. Ragnhild says

    Gah, you are so beautiful Katie!! Not jealous at all … 😉
    Im sure they will love your desserts! You are the dessert queen for a reason!
    I vote Peanut butter cookie pie 😀

  6. Lisa says

    peanut butter cookie pie, hands down 🙂
    you know me and peanut butter have a special bond 😉
    those cupcakes look so cute! im checking out your recipe right now!
    happy 4th!

  7. Tricia says

    What I think you should is layer your cookie cake- peanut butter cookie, fruit, peanut butter cookie and call it pb and j pie 😛

  8. Anonymous says

    Sugar cookie please 🙂 Also, you’ve mentioned making healthy sugar cookies before and I was wondering if you could post that recipe? Or maybe it’s already on here and I can’t find it?

  9. shannonmarie says

    My kids would definitely love those. Hayden is still upset that I didn’t have any leftover raw neapolitan blondie/brownies to give her. I’ll post about them soon.

  10. Green Groats says

    Everyone attending your neighbor’s party is pretty lucky to get to enjoy all your delicious treats!! I wish I was invited….too bad I live about 1000 miles away. Have fun today, Katie!!

  11. Holly @ The Runny Egg says

    Sugar cookie pie for sure! And I’m super interested in PB&J fudge — that sounds delicious.

    Happy 4th Katie!

  12. A Tablespoon of Liz says

    ooo sugar cookie pie! I love sugar cookies. And your cupcakes look amazing. I just love sprinkles. I hope you have a good fourth!

  13. VEGirl says

    Oh no now I have that song stuck in my head, too. DANG! I am making a dessert to take to an independance day party, too– peanut crusted chocolate-crusted frozen bananas, with a spinkle of sea salt. YUMMMMMMMM. Speaking of yum, PB&J fudge? Sign me up (or send me a batch, whichever is fine)!

  14. Alexandra says

    hi katie! your cupcakes are so cute! i love them! i am kind of the family-designated dessert maker as well, because i have loved baking and cooking since i was a little girl. 🙂 i hope you have loads of fun at your party, and i also hope that your fruit bars turn out, as i am looking for a healthy fruit-crumble thing as well. i love your recipes and your blog, you are so cool! you’re also super genuine and honest and really nice. i just thought I’d throw that in there. 🙂

    happy holidays!
    xxx alexandra

  15. Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says

    I’m making a sugar-free, raw dessert for out block party! Chocolate Banana cream pie…and I’m putting strawberries and blueberries on top to look like the flag.

    And….definitely peanut butter. Because I am sugar-free, a sugar cookie doesn’t really sounds appetizing 😛 Plus, I’m like addicted to pb!

  16. Amanda Jewell says

    It’s because you’re like the Godfather (mother?) of desserts!
    Coconut Chocolate Chip with (vegan) Marshmellow and Sea Salt cookie pie please! (–> ugh, I think I just turned myself on.. buwahahaha)

    • chocolate-katie says

      LOL! I would love to be the godmother of desserts, because I’ve kinda been in love with Michael ever since I first saw that movie. (Shhh don’t tell!) I’m really not sure why, considering he kills people and all… 😕

  17. Tara says

    Oh katie, you’ll give us the recipe IF they like them… of course your neighbors will like them! I don’t think you could possibly do a bad dessert!

    I would like to see a snickerdoodle pie! That could just be a variation on sugar cookie, but still. Or maybe white chocolate macadmia!? That would be AWESOME!

  18. Elise says

    PB cookie pie definitely! Your cupcakes look amazing, did you ever do that post on decorating cupcakes? Did I miss it?

    Can’t wait to hear your news 🙂

  19. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says

    You’re the queen of mystery. Good for you! I posted last week in one of my blogging how to’s posts (called blogging 105…i think it’s my last one from my blogging 101 series) but anyway, said that a little mystery is good, we dont need to explain or reveal every last thing about ourselves. And boy, after some major life bombs I’ve had dropped on me, I took my own advice and although I blogged about it, I confess I was a tease too. All in good time when things are more finalized, then I’ll blog about it.

    I cant wait to see your dessert recipes…I love cobblers, crumbles, cookie pies, whatever you make, I am sure I will drool 🙂

  20. Jess says

    those are cute; happy holidays. my neighbors are so uncouth, unfortunately, so i can’t focus on a decent message right now. my patriotic food was pancakes; strawberries, blueberries, and plain yogurt topping. would make them tomorrow to eat if i hadn’t made brownies. i want to finish most of the brownies before i go on vacation.

  21. Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says

    I am soo excited for the upcoming posts ( ALL of them!)
    🙂 I think a peanut butter pie fo sure though!

  22. Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) says

    HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY KATIE!! Man your friends are SO lucky to have you as the dessert bringer!! I am one too, and guess whose desserts I always make? 😉

    I vote…PB COOKIE of course! 😀

  23. Serena (Green Beans & Jam) says

    Did you just say Peanut Butter n Jelly … fudge!? Sounds AMAZING. Can’t wait for the recipe.
    The task of dessert maker is an admirable one 🙂 and sounds like a ton of fun!

  24. kaila @ healthy helper! says

    I certainly wouldn’t protest if you brought two deserts!!! I would love to see an oatmeal raisin cookie pie….or possibly ginger snap!! Thats a fave of mine and I feel like that flavor is always neglected 🙁

  25. Nicole says

    Desserts are my favorite things to make too… 🙂 Although my cupcakes don’t come out as cute as yours! Ha, ha. Practice makes perfect, I suppose. 😉

  26. Claudia says

    I would love a peanut butter cookie pie (because I am addicted to PB), but my friend is gluten free and I would love to make her a fruit pizza…so SUGAR COOKIE for me.

  27. Aine @ Something to Chew Over says

    Ooohh I can’t wait to see the new oatmeal technique!

    Hope you had a great 4th 🙂

  28. Marissa says

    My favorite non-ice cream dessert (because I think of ice cream more of as its own food group, anyways…) are these huge, thick, cakey sugar cookies that the local bakery makes–so my vote is for the sugar cookie pie!

  29. Lexi says

    I made your fudge dadies for the 4th of July and topped it with your coconut banana butter, blueberries, and grapes. My parents and I loved it! Thanks again!

  30. Lorin says

    Peanut butter cookie pie please! 🙂 I’m addicted to peanut butter, moreso than chocolate. I eat it at least once, if not twice a day.

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