Gingerbread Blondie S’mores Panini

It started with thoughts of gingerbread…

Could I make dessert panini with gingerbread?

Nice, semi-thick, cake-like gingerbread might really work on the grill. It would get all crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

I should do blondies. Is there a recipe for gingerbread blondies? Oh, thank God – Martha’s got one. Perfect.

Now I’m thinking s’mores. But s’mores with what?

Martha’s recipe calls for white chocolate, but if I put white chocolate next to marshmallow cream they’ll be indistinguishable in the photos. Plus, I kind of overdid white chocolate during that major Nestlé Alpine White kick of mine back in the ’80s.

The Flavor Bible says dark chocolate is also great with ginger. As is citrus.

Didn’t I just buy a whole palette of Cuties?

Thick, cakey gingerbread blondies filled with dark chocolate, marshmallow cream and clementine zest, grilled on the panini press…and cut into gingerbread men shapes!

I’m so doing this.

Gingerbread Blondies S'mores Panini

I’m sure you can imagine how these tasted – sweet and spicy, chewy and gooey, over-the-top and decadent. I loved them!

I never know where I’ll end up once I start concocting some of these ideas in my head. But it’s definitely fun to sample the results once they become a reality on the panini grill. 🙂

Gingerbread Blondie S'mores Panini

Gingerbread Blondie S’mores Panini
Adapted from Martha Stewart’s White Chocolate-Gingerbread Blondies

Brownie recipe makes about 4 dozen 2-inch squares – yield will vary if you cut out gingerbread people shapes

INGREDIENTS:

Vegetable-oil cooking spray
2 3/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 1/2 sticks (20 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
1 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsulfured molasses

Marshmallow cream
Dark chocolate (70% cacao), grated
Clementine or orange zest

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 17-by-12-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment cut to fit, and coat parchment. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.

Beat butter and brown and granulated sugars with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs and yolk, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Gradually add flour mixture, and beat until just combined.

Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake until edges are golden, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 2-inch squares or desired shape. Blondies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat.

For each sandwich: Spread marshmallow cream inside one blondie. Top with clementine or orange zest and a generous amount of chocolate. Close the sandwich with another blondie.

Grill for about 3 minutes until the chocolate is melted and the outer surface of the blondies are crisp (watch closely to ensure they don’t burn). Serve immediately and enjoy!

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KathyPanini Happy, online since 2008, is more than just a sandwich blog. Here, you'll find hundreds of my original panini recipes, my guide to choosing a panini press and a whole lot of other creative uses for the panini press.
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27 Comments

  1. Wouldn’t these be perfect to serve for breakfast over the holidays. I know several kids and “kids at heart” that would get a kick out of them.

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  2. Natashya wrote:

    You are a genius!
    So cute and tasty.
    You’ll be happy to know that we got a new panini press. With ridges!
    .-= Natashya´s last blog ..I Love Canadian Chefs! Cookbook Review – Fresh with Anna Olson =-.

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
    • Kathy wrote:

      Awesome – congrats on the new grill!

      Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  3. Maria wrote:

    That is the cutest panini I have ever seen!
    .-= Maria´s last blog ..White Chocolate Holiday Bark =-.

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  4. And I thought nothing beat fresh gingerbread right out of the oven! This is clever, cute and oh-so adorable.

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  5. you are a genius, can’t wait to catch this one!
    .-= foodwithstye´s last blog .. =-.

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  6. Jenn wrote:

    Just discovered your blog…so many great recipes! This one is so clever…can’t wait to try with the kids!

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  7. tia wrote:

    those are so adorable, so precious. AWESOME , i love it. 🙂

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  8. Yummmmm!!!! I love the addition of dark chocolate, my favorite.
    .-= Dawn Hutchins´s last blog ..Grilled Chicken with Sun Dried Tomato-Goat Cheese Sauce and Sautéed Mushrooms =-.

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  9. Esi wrote:

    Oh my goodness Kathy, these are so freaking CUTE!!!
    .-= Esi´s last blog ..Garlic Soup with Shrimp =-.

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  10. Esi wrote:

    And PS, you win for the most creative idea I have seen in a while.
    .-= Esi´s last blog ..Garlic Soup with Shrimp =-.

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
    • Kathy wrote:

      Awww…thanks a lot, Esi 🙂

      Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  11. S’mores are my favorite food in the world (well, second only to avocados). So clever! Love the recipe.

    Posted 12.9.09 Reply
  12. Intense!!! So cute though. Makes it fun to bite the heads off!
    .-= The Duo Dishes´s last blog ..The Fusion Confusion =-.

    Posted 12.10.09 Reply
    • Kathy wrote:

      Now that you mention it, I think I’ve always felt just a touch apologetic whenever I’ve bitten the heads off of gingerbread people! 🙂

      Posted 12.10.09 Reply
  13. They are so cute!
    .-= The Food Hunter´s last blog ..I’m Having an Affair… =-.

    Posted 12.11.09 Reply
  14. kellypea wrote:

    You are so creative! I love this idea. It just may get me to blow the dust off my panini pan. Yum ; )
    .-= kellypea´s last blog ..Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies =-.

    Posted 12.12.09 Reply
  15. LOVE everything about these and I appreciate the slight changes you made because I am NOT a fan of white chocolate (for some reason it always upsets my stomach). On top of the delicious flavor these must have, it’s always fun to eat something so darn cute! Good job 🙂
    .-= Sandie (Inn Cuisine)´s last blog ..Holiday Celebration Pies (Recipe: Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Streusel) =-.

    Posted 12.14.09 Reply
  16. Sagan wrote:

    You are my hero.
    .-= Sagan´s last blog ..Life Lessons: The Case of the Cookie Calling My Name =-.

    Posted 12.14.09 Reply
  17. Sylvia wrote:

    I love dark chocolate with ginger– I think the two tastes compliment each other perfectly. And this marshmallow filling is my FAVORITE! My daughter loves it too, and it’s super easy to make!
    -Sylvia
    Seiko Space Walk

    Posted 1.1.10 Reply
  18. Ashley wrote:

    SO cute!!
    .-= Ashley´s last blog ..Sun-Dried Tomato Cottage Cheese Muffins =-.

    Posted 1.2.10 Reply
  19. Ingrid wrote:

    The kids will love this one! 🙂

    Posted 7.20.10 Reply
  20. Ivana wrote:

    OMG I am so going to make this at the Christmas party!

    Posted 12.5.11 Reply