Labor Day weekend is the unofficial close out of the summer. Meant to be spent on the water with friends, cooking out, and enjoying every second of the hot temps and the feeling of freedom summer has to offer. Although here in North Carolina we have quite a few weeks left of summer there was no way this weekend wasn’t going to be a celebration!

Starting with Friday night of right by seeing Blake Shelton in concert for the first time (woohoo!) and lots of dancing with Josh. Then Saturday it was off to Lake Bowen where we met 18 other people and spent the day pontooning, lounging on the biggest raft I’ve ever seen, basking in the sun, and eating massive amount of food. This includes one of my favorite desserts I’ve ever whipped up, Red Velvet Brownies with Cookies and Cream Frosting and Chocolate Ganache…yummm! (Recipe below) Monday we headed to Lake Norman to Josh’s lake house and spent the last day completely baking in the sun meaning we’re both a little (a lot) fried. It was the perfect weekend to close out the summer and I mean who doesn’t want a little burn to keep the feel of summer on your skin just a little longer 🙂 How was your weekend? How did you close out summer?

p.s. the black and white photo of me + the amazing brownie picture were taken by my friend Nathan, how great are these photos y’all?!

Red Velvet Brownies with Cookies & Cream Frosting plus Chocolate Ganache 

Ingredients – Brownies
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 special dark chocolate cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon red food coloring
3/4 teaspoon white vinegar
3/4 cup flour

Cookies & Cream Frosting
1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temp
1 & 3/4 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
6-8 crushed Oreos

Chocolate Ganache 
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temp

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Use an 8×8 baking dish – spray with Pam or line with aluminum foil
Set out butter for frosting and ganache

Red Velvet Brownies – beat the 2 eggs together in a small bowl, set aside. Melt butter in a large bowl. Mix in sugar, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, salt, food coloring, and vinegar. Place into the bowl and mix in that order then whisk in the two eggs from the small bowl. Pour brownie batter into baking dish. Bake 21-23 minutes. Place on cooling rack for 30-45 minutes then place in fridge to completely cool.

Cookies & Cream Frosting – beat butter (can use mixer) until light and creamy. Mix in powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream. Once mixture is of spreadable texture stir in crushed Oreos. Frost brownies (make sure they are completely cooled) then place back in the fridge.

Chocolate Ganache – heat the whipping cream in the microwave. Pour boiling cream over chocolate chips and stir. Once the mixture is smooth stir butter in one piece at a time. Pour and spread over brownies. Chill again for 20-30 minutes. Enjoy!!