Special Treat Crust - Cocoa, Coconut, and Pecans

The dreaded heat of summer has more or less moved on. This means, of course, that baking season is back. I’m thinking about focusing on cookies this year if only because I haven’t done too much with them. I’m not even sure there’s that much I *can* do with them, so we’ll see.

Recently I made some no-bake squares out of The Cookie Bible. I’m not going to get too much into them because they weren’t baked and I didn’t take pictures. Anyway, there’s a recipe called the Special Treat No-Bake Squares. They were tasty, and apart from a Ziploc bag meltdown they went smoothly. What I most enjoyed was the crust. Even though there’s coconut in there, which I’m not a fan of, I still find it very good. So here’s that:

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Special Treat No-Bake Squares Crust

1/2 c butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder

1 egg

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs

3/4 c flaked coconut

1/2 c chopped pecans

Combine butter, sugar, cocoa, egg and salt in medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly about 2 minutes, until mixture begins to thicken (I nearly overcooked it and it started to turn into a fudge). Remove from heat; stir in graham cracker crumbs, coconut and pecans. Press evenly into bottom of 9 inch x 9 inch pan.  

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In cupcake news, brandi.poff left me a comment waaay back in April about a recipe that sounds just about perfect for autumn:

Hello. I came across your site today by accident, but loved it immediately. I have a suggestion for your next batch of cupcakes. My mother-in-law makes these and we all think they are really great... first off, you need a box spice cake mix, 1 can of pumpkin (I think the 16 oz size or whatever the small size can is)... and right now pumpkin isn't always readily available... so it tastes just as good using about 12 oz. of apple sauce instead... and one package of cinnamon chips (they are just like chocolate chips, only cinnamon and are kind of difficult to find... usually I find them at Kroger), but they are a must for this recipe... you mix the cake mix, pumpkin or applesauce, and cinnamon chips together and it will form a thick gooey batter that you drop into muffin cups and bake at 350* for about 20 minutes or so. They aren't always the prettiest muffins, but they are definitely verrry tasty. Happy baking. 

I have never, ever seen cinnamon chips. I’m very intrigued by the idea. Now, I don’t know if I’ll be able to find them (it’s slim pickins for baking supplies in this area) but if I do I hope to make these and all sorts of future goodies with them.