Some of you may know, but I recently got a new “grown-up” job. It’s the most adult-y job I’ve had in ever. I’m getting my own cubicle. And phone line (!!!) and business email. And OMG, it’s the kinda job that asks you to wear “business casual.” In other words, I have made it to the adult world, people.*
*not really
And while I really enjoy the job so far, I feel like a complete fish who’s out of water, on Mars and wearing a Richard Simmons face mask, like WHUTTTT THE HELLLL IS GOING ONNNN. Tooooootally out of my element, y’all.
First of all, it’s set in an office building where there is no music playing, no sounds being made except for the low hum of a printer in the distance which basically goes against my religion. No music? No sounds? I mean, people literally type so softly that the sound is undetectable by the human ear. And seriously, you can’t even hear anyone breathe.
So you can imagine my general embarrassment when I walk down the hallways wearing clinking jewelry, combat boots thumping, swishy skirt swishing, and my typical-human breathing patterns clambering along like a bull in a china shop. Or in the Matrix. Whatever’s quieter.
And I get all these stares from the workers like WHY IS SHE BREATHING IN MY SPACE? and I look at them all self-conscious like, I’m sorry I’m breathing, y’all! I’ll try to keep my lungs silent as to not disrupt your delicate workflow!
So basically I’ve become REALLY good at holding my breath.
And second of all, I have been taking the business casual thing as “wear what I usually do except with slightly less sparkle.” That still hasn’t stopped me from wearing a tutu and combat boots, or from dressing up as a cowgirl one day. Oh yes I did. And I’m kinda getting the impression they’re not taking the girl wearing costumes seriously. But honestly, just because I’m working in an office doesn’t mean I need to dress so drab. Plus, slacks and loafers are against my moral codes. Do I look like I own a pair of khakis? No. So let me wear my damn peplums and sky-high booties in peace!!
It’s taking me quite some time to adjust to holding my breath and reign in my craziness. I just can’t wait until cubicle day so I can string up some Christmas lights, hang a beaded curtain as my door, and maybe install a stationary bike in the corner by my bonzai garden.
Until then, I’m trying to win over these folks with my craziness, and a good way to do that is with food. Crazy good food that will make you scream and dance and dress up like a cowgirl to work on Thursdays. Just do it, people.
Awhile ago, a sweetie pie friend of The Domestic Rebel suggested through Facebook that I make a brownie bomb featuring carrot cake. I experimented a little with my Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownie Bombs, and finally found a recipe for the carrot cake version that’s sweet, spicy, tangy, and totally explosively awesome.
But mainly I just want you to make it so you’ll dress up like a cowgirl, too. Yeehaw!!
- 1 box carrot cake mix
- 2 eggs
- ⅔ cup oil
- 1 small cheesecake, baked and cooled (about 6" in size)*
- 1 pkg vanilla Candiquik
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Carrot Cake M&M's** (or any other flavor M&M's)
- *For this recipe, I used cheesecake bites I picked up from my local yogurt shop. Most yogurt shops have them in the cold part of their toppings, so pick some up to use if you can't find a prebaked cheesecake in the store!
- **The carrot cake M&M's were a seasonal item this past spring, so if you have some on hand still, use them! If not, these would taste awesome with almond M&M's, pretzel M&M's, white chocolate, or even regular!
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Liberally grease a 13x9 inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs and oil with a rubber spatula until a soft dough forms. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan and bake for approx. 12-14 minutes or until it just barely looks set and is barely golden. Cool completely.
- IF USING ROUND CHEESECAKE, scoop rounded Tablespoons of the cheesecake out with a cookie dough scoop and place them on a foil-rimmed baking sheet. IF USING CHEESECAKE BITES, scoop the bites out of the container and gently compress in the cookie dough scoop; drop by rounded Tablespoonfuls onto the foil-rimmed baking sheet. Freeze the cheesecake balls for about 2 hours or until firm.
- Once the bars have cooled, cut them into about 1" sized squares. Take a square in your hand and gently press it with the heel of your hand to flatten it slightly. Wrap the carrot cake brownie around the cheesecake ball, enclosing the cheesecake ball inside. If it doesn't completely cover the cheesecake, that's okay; just cover as much as you can. Return the coated cheesecake bombs to the sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes to set.
- Prepare the Candiquik according to package directions. Stir in the cinnamon. Dip each bomb into the chocolate, coating completely and allowing excess to drip off. Top with a carrot cake M&M, or regular-flavored M&M. Serve immediately, or store leftovers in the fridge or freezer.
- **I noticed that the carrot cake brownie was not as fudgy as an actual brownie (naturally). If your carrot cake brownies are not as moist as they should be, consider crumbling them slightly into a large bowl and adding a Tablespoon or two of canned frosting or softened cream cheese, then combine the two like you would a cake pop. The frosting will add some added moisture and tackiness to the brownie so it will better adhere.**
My coworkers FLIPPED for these fantastic carrot cake bombs! The creamy cheesecake filling, the spicy carrot cake blanket around it, and the smooth and warm cinnamon white chocolate all made for a delectable little bite of delicious carrot cake. As I mentioned in the recipe notes, I used the cheesecake bites most commonly found at frozen yogurt shops and they worked out great (and were a little cheaper than buying a whole premade cheesecake!) Either way you bite it, anything stuffed with cheesecake, smothered in brownie and coated in chocolate is going to be awesome!!
Have a delicious day!!
xo, Hayley
Faith @ Pixie Dust Kitchen says
Food is totally the way to win over people. It’s how I won over my boyfriend’s friends and it’s how I plan on winning over all my new coworkers once I switch work locations this fall!
These look fantastic! Cheesecake and brownies (/carrot cake) in bite sizes can do no wrong.
Pam says
I love that you’re shaking up the cubicle world. You go, girl!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks Pam!
Tieghan says
Oh man, all your brownie bombs are killing me!! They all look and sound so stickin good!! Plus, I have had brownies on the brain lately, so I am thinking these are perfect!
Lisa @ Wine & Glue says
I totally imagined everything in your office in black and white and you in COLOR!! These look delish Hayley!!
Kathleen Miller says
Hey, Happy Friday! The brownie bombs look so delish! Have you considered that maybe the reason you can’t hear them breathing is that they’re vampires? Not trying to start anything, just sayin’. 😉
thedomesticrebel says
OMG THEY PROBABLY ARE.
Erin @ Adventures of a Hungry Redhead says
CARROT CAKE!! You evil temptress! I’ve found that offices are a lot like high school. There are cliques, there are unspoken social rules, there are bullies, there are class clowns and people are bound to stare if you’re not dressed straight out of a J Crew catalog.
PocDesastre says
I just laughed so hard–THANK YOU. And I am pretty sure that if you keep bringing delicious goodness in the form of treats AND your wardrobe you will win them over before you (or they) know it. Good luck 😉
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Your brownie bombs bring new meaning to my life, Hayley. Carrot cake?! I mean, really. That’s my all time favorite and you just made it even better. I just hope you didn’t bake these too LOUDLY, you being your new silent self and all, lol.
Stephanie @ Back For Seconds says
You are on a roll with all these bombs. Love them!!
You know everyone in your office is wishing they were as cool as you, and could get away with wearing tutu’s and cowgirl outfits. Obvi.
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
First Dorothy goes and makes my favorite cake in an ice cream cake and now you go and turn my favorite cake into brownie bombs! Just know that my weekend will now be full of eating! 🙂
Emily @ Life on Food says
I have never understood business casual but it does mean adultness!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
A drab office environment needs your fabulous self to shake things up! But winning your co-works over with these brownie bombs was a good idea. Who can resist carrot cake + cheesecake?
Gintare @Gourmantine says
The carrot cheesecake sound marvelous and look pretty! Good luck with shaking up office environment, from experience I can tell that some are pretty hard change.
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen says
The benefit of work (in my opinion) is pawning off all of our baked goods, so we don’t become obnoxiously obese. Because if I didn’t have work, you would find me in the corner stuffing my face with these!!!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Hayley, I’m loving this Carrot Cake version of your Brownie Bombs! As you may know, I just adore carrot cake. (I even have a paleo version on my blog.) Sounds like you’ve got your own Office Space situation going on with work. Be yourself. Bribing co-workers with treats is always a good thing, LOL. 😉 Sorry I missed you last Friday. My hosting company was down all day (on and off) and I was frustrated trying to get my post up. Grrr. Hope your weekend has been a good one! xo
Jenifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
I think as long as you’re bringing in AMAZING treats like these, no one will mind the eclectic attire! 😉
Miss Messy says
I know I keep saying this .. but I am moving to the USA.. Carrot cake M&M’s are you freaking joking me!?! I can#’t get boxed mixes either and whats candiquick? I’m going to have to try and make a British version 🙂
Heather @ French Press says
your bombs are the BOMB…how did I miss that you got J O B…congrats
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
These are the BOMB.COM! These would be the perfect way to show your awesomeness to those co-workers!
Heather @ Sugar Dish Me says
I love that you are OWNING a cubicle kinda office space. Yeah! I clunk around too. And type very loudly. No worries. But here’s the thing about these cheesecake bombs: I made carrot cake truffles back in December (?) and they tasted AMAZING but they looked really fugly. Also I was not smart enough to include cheesecake. Do OVER!!! I haven’t seen the carrot cake M & M’s since Easter– do you have a secret stash?
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Can I go to work with you one day? I swear, when I worked in an office I would have killed for some awesome like you!
And if you bring them these bombs, I bet they’ll looooooooooove you forever!
Winnie says
These are simply fantastic!!
Such a wonderful and cute idea 🙂
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks Winnie! 🙂
Melanie @ Just Some Salt and Pepper says
These look soooo good. I wish I could have some now!
Cheryl says
These are so cute & cool! I would be thrilled if you would hop over to my Easter/Passover Recipe Roundup and share this awesome recipe with us! You can find it here:http://mommasangelbaby.com/?p=2132. Hope to see you there! HUGS & Happy Easter!