Soft & Chewy Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

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12 Days of Christmas Cookies: Day 2

Eating extreme amounts of peppermint flavored things is one of my favorite things about the holidays.  Everything from a peppermint mocha at Starbucks,  to Dove peppermint bark chocolates, to plain old candy canes, I just cant get enough.  I think that might put me on the naughty list, or might just mean I need to wear my fat pants for a month or two...

These cookies were on the top of my "To-Bake List" due to the Andes peppermint crunch thins in them.  They have a rich chocolate cookies base that is perfectly soft and chewy and then they are loaded with peppermint crunch.  Doesn't get much better then that!

If you are going to make these, which I highly recommend you do, make sure you have enough time to chill the dough.  Its a very important step and you cannot skip it.  I know time is tight around the holidays, everyone has a million things to do, just plan to make the dough, wrap some presents, then finish off the cookies in the oven!

Happy Baking & Happy Holidays!

Adapted from Mom on time out
Yield - 3 Dozen
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Baking Cocoa
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, room temp or even slightly melted
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Egg, room temperature
2 Tablespoons Water
1 Cup Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips plus more for sprinkling on top - I couldn't find the baking chips so I just cut  up the peppermint thins

Directions:

1. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. Cream sugars and butter together until light and fluffy.
3. Add in egg, vanilla and water and beat until well blended.
4. Gradually add in dry ingredients.
5. Fold in baking chips.
6. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
8. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
9. Scoop out rounded tablespoons of cookie dough onto prepared cookie sheet. Dough is very thick.
10. Bake for 7-8 minutes or until they are set. Do not over bake!
11. Remove from oven, sprinkle with additional Andes chips if desired, and let cool on a rack. Store in an airtight container.
12. Enjoy!

Turtle Thumbprint Cookies

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12 Day of Christmas Cookies: Day 1

Here we go, jumping into the holiday season.

 I committed to doing 12 days of Christmas cookies and its already been tough.  I spent all weekend making cookies so I would be caught up during the week but yet I still feel behind.  Oh well, who needs sleep when you can be baking and blogging.

I also got a new camera this weekend, Nikon D3300 which I love so far.  It was a steal on black Friday at Costco so I couldn't resist.  No more Iphone photos on this blog!

On to the cookies, they are delicious and are perfect for any holiday party.  I have never made or even ever tried a turtle cookies but they turned out amazing.  These are definitely going on a rotation in my holiday baking.  I handed some around to neighbors and friends and they were a huge hit.  People were saying they were too pretty to eat, but I don't they that lasted long.  I made my cookies on the big side and the recipe only yielded 15, so be sure to scoop your dough small if you want more then that.

Happy Holidays!

Turtle Cookies - Adapted from Tastes Better From Scratch
Yield: 16-20 cookies

Ingredients:
1 Cup Flour
1/3 Cup Cocoa Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
½ Cup (1 stick) Butter, unsalted and room temp
2/3 Cup Sugar
1 Large Egg, separated
2 Tablespoon Milk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Pecans, finely chopped

For the Caramel:
2/3 Cup Kraft Caramel Bits (or regular caramels, melted)
1/2 Teaspoon Water

1/4 Cup Dark Chocolate for Drizzle

Directions:

1. Combine flour, cocoa and salt. 
2. In a separate bowl cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg yolk, milk and vanilla. 
3.  Stir in flour mixture, just until combined. 
4. Chill dough in the refrigerator for one hour.
5. Whisk egg whites in a bowl until frothy. Place chopped pecans in another shallow bowl. 
6. Remove dough from fridge and roll into small balls (however many cookies you want–I made 20 small ones).
7. Roll each dough ball in the frothy egg whites, and then roll and press in the chopped pecans.
8. Use the back of a small measuring spoon to make an indentation in the center of each dough ball.
9. Bake at 350 Degrees F for about 10-12 minutes, or until set.
10. As the cookies come out of the oven, gently re-press the indentations with a small spoon.
11. In a microwavable bowl mix the caramel bits and water. Microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until caramel is melted (1-2 minutes). Pour small spoonfuls of caramel into the indented cookies. 
12. Drizzle with melted chocolate.
13. Enjoy!

The Perfect Fudgy Brownie

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Last week it was birthday time again at my work.  We had 3 more birthdays to celebrate this month and I wanted to bring something in to work to share with everyone.  

This brownie recipe has been going around social media like crazy so I had to jump on the band wagon and try it for myself.  The brownies have great flavor, very rich, but I was bummed because I think I over cooked my batch.  My co-workers told me to feel free to keep testing out the recipe, and they will keep eating all the test batches,  haha but I think I just cooked them for a few minutes too long.  I was hoping for a more "fudgy" brownie and I think it would have been achieved if I had just taken them out of the oven a little sooner.  

Oh well, next time they will be perfect and I will be sure to post an update!

Happy Birthday Gina!

Fudgy Brownies - Adapted from Buns In My Oven

Yield: 24 Brownies
Ingredients:
1 Cup Butter, unsalted
2 1/4 Cups Sugar
4 Large Eggs, room temp
1 1/4 Cups Cocoa Powder, unsweetened
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon espresso powder, optional (I used 1 packet of Starbucks VIA and dissolved it into the vanilla)
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 Cups Flour
2 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9x13 baking dish.
2. In small saucepan over low heat, melt butter completely. Stir in sugar and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not allow sugar mixture to boil.
3. Pour butter mixture into the bowl of a kitchen Aid mixer or a large bowl and let it cool for 5 minutes.
4. Beat in cocoa powder, eggs, salt, baking powder, espresso powder, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
5. Stir in the flour and chocolate chips until well combined.
6. Spread into prepared pan (batter will be very thick and sticky) and bake for about 25 minutes, until a tester comes out mostly clean. The edges should be set and the center should still look slightly moist, but not uncooked. Cool on a wire rack.
7. Enjoy with a glass of cold milk!

recipe from King Arthur Flour

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Extravaganza Cupcake

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Today we have a guest blogger.  I hope you enjoy it!

Hi everyone,  my name is Ireland and I am Merlot's neighbor.  I am a 4th grader at San Elijo Hills Elementary school.  I really wanted to learn how to make buttercream and swirl it on cupcakes.  I am asking Santa for my own Kitchen Aid Mixer so I can do this at my house.

Today I came over to make to make these cupcakes.  They have a surprise peanut butter cup in the middle.   We picked this recipe because we had a lot of Halloween candy left over.  We put one Reese's on the bottom and covered them with chocolate cupcake batter.   While they were cooling, we made the buttercream.  We whipped the butter super duper fast and then added a ton of powdered sugar and peanut butter.  We swirled it up high and drizzled the cupcakes with chocolate.  We cut up Reese peanut butter cups into pizza slices and placed them right on top to finish them off.

We brought the cupcakes around to all our neighbors and they LOVED them!  My little brother was like "yum, yum, yum, yum!"

Hope you enjoy these cupcakes as much as we did!

Chocolate Cupcakes - Adapted from Glorious Treats

Yield: 24 standard sized cupcakes

Ingredients:

2 Cups Sugar
1 3/4 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa (best quality available)
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Salt
3 Eggs, room temp
1 Cup Milk - We used 2%
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1 Cup Boiling Water

24 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (small size, not mini)

Directions-

1. Line muffin tin with paper liners and put one peanut butter cup in the middle of each liner. Heat oven to 350.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for one minute.
4. Stir in boiling water (the batter will be thin, don’t worry, this is right).
5. Fill liners 2/3 full with batter.  About 1/4 cup per cupcake.
6. Bake cupcakes for approximately 20-22 minutes.
7. Cool completely on wire rack before frosting.

Peanut Butter Buttercream - Goddess of Baking
Ingredients:
3 Sticks Butter, unsalted and room temperature
1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
2 Tablespoons Vanilla
5 1/2 Cups Confectioners' Sugar, sifted
6-8 Tablespoons Heavy Cream - I used about 4 tablespoons milk

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, cream butter and peanut butter on medium speed until fluffy. 
2. Turn your mixer down to low speed and slowly add in the confectioner’s sugar, and continue mixing until well blended.
3. Add vanilla and 4 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk. Blend on low speed until moistened. 
4. Add an additional 1 to 4 tablespoons of heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency. Beat at high speed until frosting is smooth and fluffy
5. Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
6. We also drizzled the cupcakes with chocolate.
7. ENJOY!!

Chocolate Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

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Yesterday I went to a farewell lunch for one of my good friends who is moving to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.   I have worked for her coordinating weddings for the last five years and we became great friends.   I knew that I had to make her something delicious so I decided to make her these cookies.  We had a nice lunch by the beach with some of her other girlfriends and we all enjoyed these cookies.  We will miss you Andrea!!

In all honestly, I started out making another type of peanut butter cookie but had a little kitchen mishap.  I started out making Reese's overload cookies from Crazy for Crust.  I was using my brand new mixer and forgot to wash the bowl before putting in all the ingredients.  It wasn't until the end that I noticed the dough had turned black in some places.  After rubbing the inside of the bowl and my finger turning black, I realized the bowl had a thin layer of grease that was now mixed into my cookie dough.  Whoooops!  I had to throw away this batch and find a new recipe to make.  I washed the bowl twice, just to make sure all the grease was gone and started on this recipe.  

I was already running late to this lunch and didn't realized you were suppose to refrigerate the dough for an hour.  I only had about 10 minutes max to refrigerate the dough so that what I did.  The cookies still turned our great, even without refrigeration.  I hope you enjoy these cookies as much as we did!

Big thank you to my good friend Reese Foster who took some of these photos for me!  I had so much with the photo shoot and thanks for helping me in the kitchen!!  

Chocolate Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies - Adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction

Yield: 2 Dozen
Directions:

1 1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (1 stick)
1/2 Cup Light brown sugar, packed
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Creamy (or chunky peanut butter - I used creamy)
1 Large Egg - room temperature
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Tablespoons Milk
1 1/2 cups Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, chopped (about 8 Reese’s Cups)

Drizzle: 1/4 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter


Directions:

1. Mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until creamy, about 2 minute. Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl as needed. 
3. Switch the mixer to medium speed and beat in the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and peanut butter until combined. 
4. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
5. Turn the mixer off and pour the dry ingredients. Turn the mixer on low and slowly beat until a soft dough is formed. 
6. Beat in the milk on medium speed. Once mixed, beat in the peanut butter cups until evenly disbursed. The dough will be very thick and sticky. 
7. Cover the dough tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.  (This is ideal but if you are in a rush like I was, you can skip this step, or refrigerate for as long as you have)
8. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats, or use an AirBake pan. Set aside.
9. Drop rounded balls of dough, about 1 Tablespoons of dough each, onto prepared baking sheets. Bake each batch for 10-12 minutes. 
10. The cookies will not have spread much, so gently press down on them with the back of a fork or spoon. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. As the cookies are cooling, melt the peanut butter. Drizzle over cookies. Allow peanut butter to set for about 10 minutes. 
12. Enjoy with a cold glass of milk!

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

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While walking the isles of the grocery store, I came across the new Toll House Delightfulls - chocolate chips filled with different flavors.  I decided I would buy a bag of the caramel filled chocolate chips and use them in a recipe.  When I stumbled across the recipe for these cookies I wanted to make them with caramel bits like it calls for but after an unsuccessful shopping trip, I figured I would substitute some of the caramel bits for the caramel Delightful chocolate chips along with a few caramels cut up into small pieces.   

These cookies turned out amazing.  I am always nervous about sprinkling too much salt on top but I am getting better at it.  I passed these out to the neighbors and they were gobbled up immediately.  One of the neighbor kids tried to pay me a dollar for the cookies I gave to this family.  I just ran away...

The Toll House Delightfulls are bigger chocolate chips then normal, but I didn't think they added much flavor to the cookie and I didn't see any caramel in the middle when it bit into it.  If you are going to make these cookies I would recommend trying to find the Kraft caramel bits - I think you can get them at target, not 100% sure on that though.  If not, cutting up caramels work too.  About 10 or 12 caramels (made for baking) is about all you need.

Hope you enjoy these cookies as much as we all did!  

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies - Adapted from Two Peas And Their Pod

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
2 Cups Flour
2 Teaspoons Cornstarch
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt
3/4 Cup Unsalted Butter - room temperature
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 Large Egg - room temperature
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Chocolate Chips - I used 1/2 Cup Semi Sweet Chocolate chips and 1/2 Cup Toll House DelightFulls - Milk Chocolate filled with caramel

1/2 Cup Kraft Caramel Bits - I could not find these so I cut up about 6 caramels into little squares

Sea salt, for sprinkling on cookies

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a large baking sheet with a Silpat baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.   I like to use my AirBake pans that do NOT need a baking mat or parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, baking soda and sea salt together. Set aside.
3.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients.
4. Stir in the chocolate chips and caramel bits. Form cookie dough into tablespoon balls and place on prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Sprinkle each cookie with sea salt.
5. Bake cookies for 10 minutes, or until slightly golden brown around the edges. 
6. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for two minutes. Transfer to a wire cooling rack and cool completely.
7. Enjoy!!

Perfect Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

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Fall is finally in the air in Southern California.  It was a pretty hot summer and I am glad to be back to wearing boots and sweaters, sipping hot cocoa on a cool night, and cuddling with my new husband under a blanket.  Well its not that cold yet, but a girl can dream (the high temp today is still 78 degrees). Anyway, I made these granola bars to get into the fall spirit, but I was too anxious and I did not read the recipe all the through.  I only baked mine for 20 minutes, instead of the full 40 minutes.  The flavor is delicious but my bars were falling apart.  I will definitely make these again soon and I will post an update.  I brought some of these to work with me and made everyone try them.  My husband brought them to his work too and shared them with his coworkers.  Everyone loved them even though they were pretty crumbly.  I am a cinnamon fanatic so I added more cinnamon to the recipe, and when I make these next time I am going to add nuts and white chocolate chips.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Granola Bars - Adapted from Hip2save
Yield: 16-18
Ingredients:
4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup ground Flaxseed (optional but if you have it in your pantry it adds great nutritional value to the bar, then you don't feel so guilty when you cannot stop eating these...)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup honey (I like to buy local organic honey from the farmers market)
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Optional Additions/Substitutions:

White Chocolate Chips

Nuts - Almonds, walnuts, pecans

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. 
2. In a large bowl, mix together oats and flaxseed and set aside. 
3. In a separate bowl, mix honey, pumpkin, coconut oil, brown sugar, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. 
4. Add wet ingredients to the oatmeal and stir. Add in chocolate chips. 
5.  Press the mixture into the pan and flatten it really well with a spatula. Bake for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and press down with a spatula again. 
6. Bake for another 20-25 minutes until brown.  (I was too excited and forgot this second bake time... Whoooops!)
7. Let cool for at least 2 hours before cutting. Makes about 16-18 bars. I like to cut them and store in a Tupperware container with parchment paper to keep the bars separated.
8. Enjoy for breakfast or a snack!

Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Stuffed Cookies

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I AM BACK!!

After about a 6 month hiatus, I am back baking and blogging.  I started a new job in July, got married in August then went on a two week honeymoon to Thailand & Cambodia in September.  Now that we are back and things have calmed down, I finally have time to blog again.  I made these cookies way back in April but I am just getting around to posting them.  They were such a hit that I actually made them twice in about a weeks time.  My husband's family said these were the best cookies I have ever made.  I am a sucker for anything dark chocolate, and salted caramel is one of my new favorite flavors.  This recipe combines both of those delicious flavors into my dream cookie.   I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!!

Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Stuffed Cookies - Adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction

Yield: 14 - 16 big cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1/2  Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Large Egg, room temperature
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Flour
2/3 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Milk
1 1/2 Cups Nestlé® Toll House® Dark Chocolate Morsels - or store brand
16-17 Rolos - about two rolls
Coarse Sea Salt

Directions:

1. Using a handheld or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter on medium speed for about 30 seconds. 
2. Add the sugars with the mixer running on medium speed. Cream it all together until light and fluffy. 
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. In a separate medium size bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together. 
5. Slowly add to the wet ingredients. Stir in the milk, then fold in the dark chocolate morsels. The dough will be thick and very sticky. 
6. Chill for at least 1-2 hours.
7. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Set aside.
8. Take 2 Tablespoons of chilled dough and split in half and roll each into a ball with your hands. Stick a caramel into 1 ball of dough. Top the caramel with the other ball of dough and seal down the sides so that the caramel is securely stuffed inside. Repeat with the rest of the dough and 18 caramel candies. 
9. Sprinkle each with sea salt before putting into the oven.
10. Bake for 12-13 minutes. Cookies will appear undone and very soft. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Enjoy!

Loaded M&M Cookie Pie

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The spring holidays are officially over but (if you're like me) the sweet tooth is here to stay. All of the left over Reese's, M&M's, Cadbury eggs and so on are beginning to get tiresome, so I found a quick and easy way to use up unnecessary candy. This Loaded M&M Cookie Pie is the perfect answer to my/your "problem."

This recipe is great for any left over holiday candy - not just Easter - but Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day as well! The best thing about it is that it only takes 30 minutes to make (including prep AND bake time!). It's very quick and easy and was (as usual) a huge hit. 

Adapted from: Averiecooks.com
Yield: One Pie - about 8 slices
Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter (1 stick), melted
1 Egg, room temperature
3/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1 1/3 Cups Flour
pinch salt, optional and to taste
1/2 Cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips - I used mini chocolate chips
1/2- 1 Cup M&Ms, divided (I used peanut and peanut butter but all flavors are ok!)
6 or more individually wrapped small Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (or whatever candy you have laying around)
6 or more Rolo (or other mini/bite-size candy bar) - I didn't add these

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9-inch pie dish very well with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large, microwave-safe bowl melt the butter, about 1 minute on high power.
3. Wait about 5 minutes before adding the egg so you don't cook it. Add the egg, sugars, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
4. Add the flour, optional salt, and stir until just combined; do not overmix.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Add about 1/4 cup M&Ms and stir to combine; reserve remainder.
7. Turn batter out into prepared pie dish, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
8. Evenly add the remaining M&Ms to the top of the batter, pushing them down slightly to anchor.
9. Evenly insert the peanut butter cups and Rolos (or candy of your choice) into the batter, pushing them down so the top is almost flush with the surface of the dough.
10. Bake for about 24 to 26 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. If your pie has risen in the center, it will deflate as it cools. Allow pie to cool in dish for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. Pie is meant to be on the soft and under baked side in the center while edges are crisper.  In general, if you prefer more well-done cookies, bake a few minutes longer. Pie will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week.
11. Enjoy!

Chocolate Fudge Caramel Brownies

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This Valentine's Day, surprise your loved ones with these simple and delicious chocolate fudge brownies with a gooey caramel center. This exquisite treat is perfect for anyone with a BIG sweet tooth.  I was busy running around on Saturday so I went with a box mix brownie this time.  We had friends coming over for dinner so I made these to spoil them afterwards! After dinner, we walked over to my neighbor's house for game night and I brought the rest of the batch with me. Instantly, my brownies were a hit! No one could tell that these brownies were made from a box because they were super moist and gooey.  

Chocolate Fudge Caramel Brownies

Adapted from I Heart Nap Time
Ingredients:
Fudge Brownie Mix (+ ingredients the box calls for) - I used Ghirardelli Supreme
1/4 Cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 Cup Chocolate Chips - I used semi-sweet ones
1 (11oz) Package Caramel Bits or Wrapped Caramels
1/2 Cup Sweetened Condensed Milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9x13 or 8x8 pan with foil and set aside. I made mine in an 8x8 for thicker brownies.
2. In a large bowl combine the brownie mix and the ingredients that the box calls for. Then mix in 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk and the chocolate chips.
3. Then, combine your caramels and 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk in a small pan over medium heat.  Keep an eye on the caramel so it doesn't burn and stir constantly.
4. While the caramel is warming up, pour half of the batter into the pan and bake for 8-10 minutes.
5. Stir the caramel mixture until smooth (about 10 min) and then pull out the brownie pan and drizzle the caramel over the bottom layer. Then pour the remaining brownie batter over top. Continue to bake the brownies for approximately 25-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean.
6. Remove pan from oven and allow to cool. Then lift the foil and brownies out of the pan for easy cutting. - I stupidly skipped the foil step and boy was I sorry.  I lost lots of precious brownie that stuck to the pan and was too hard to eat.
7. Enjoy!

Cookies & Cream Cookie Bars

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These Cookies & Cream Cookie Bars are always the first thing to go when I bring them to a party. Everyone loves them, and when you cut them into smaller servings, there is more to go around (and you don't feel as guilty)! If your stumped on what to bring to a party for New Year's Eve, these cookie bars are great as either an appetizer or a dessert or both! The pictures show the Halloween Edition of these cookie bars, but as the seasons change, so do the editions of Oreos, so these practically go with any holiday or occasion!

Oreo Cookie Bars - Adapted from Skinny Not Skinny

Yield: 16 - 24 bars depending on the size

Ingredients:
1½ cup all-purpose flour
1½ cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup brown sugar
¾ cup butter, softened
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
½ cup white chocolate chips
20 Halloween Oreos (chopped) - Or Red Holiday Oreos for Christmas - or regular oreos for an everyday treat!

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, brown sugar and butter in large bowl; mix well. This mixture will be crumbly.
2. Line a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the paper with shortening. This is VERY important to do or your bars are going to stick to the bottom of the pan. Reserve 1 cup oat mixture and press remainder onto bottom of the baking pan.
3. Bake 10 minutes.
4. While the crust is cooking, chop the Halloween Oreos into pieces.
5. After removing from oven, immediately pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crust.
6. Sprinkle with chocolate and white chocolate chips and top with Oreo pieces.
7. Top with reserved oat mixture; press down firmly.
8. Bake an additional 25 minutes. Topping will be lightly browned.
9. Cool bars for at least 15 minutes and then cut into bars.
10. ENJOY!

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake

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Its that time of year again where I have to think of a good cake to make for my Fiance's birthday.  This year I decided to hoard all the Reese's I could find around Halloween time and save them to make this cake.  This cake was a huge hit with him, his family, and all our neighbors.  My future brother-in-law requested it for his birthday as well.  The frosting is what makes the cake, its perfectly rich and creamy. I got the idea for this cake from Make Bake Celebrate but I used a different recipe.   If you know a peanut butter lover, I am sure they will love this cake!

Happy Birthday Joe!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes - Adapted from My Baking Addiction

Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
1 Box Devil’s Food Cake Mix
1 4oz Package Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix
1 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

1/2 Cup Water
4 Eggs, room temperature

1 Bag of Reese's Mini - (I used a combination of Reese's regular size and some of the small ones)

Peanut Butter Buttercream
Ingredients:
3 Sticks Butter, unsalted and room temperature
1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
2 Tablespoons Vanilla
5 1/2 Cups Confectioners' Sugar, sifted
6-8 Tablespoons Heavy Cream - I used about 4 tablespoons milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare your cake pans, I used 2 8in round pans.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, water, and eggs. Beat for about two minutes on medium speed until well combined.
3. Divide the batter between your two pans.
4. Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the tops of the cakes spring back when lightly touched. 
5. Allow cake to cool for about 10 minutes.
6. Remove cakes from pans and allow to fully cool on a wire rack. Once cakes are cool, you can either freeze them or frost them right away.  I would reccomend you freeze them becuase it makes it easier to frost them.    
7. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, cream butter and peanut butter on medium speed until fluffy. 
8. Turn your mixer down to low speed and slowly add in the confectioner’s sugar, and continue mixing until well blended.
9. Add vanilla and 4 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk. Blend on low speed until moistened. Add an additional 1 to 4 tablespoons of heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency. Beat at high speed until frosting is smooth and fluffy
10. To assemble the cake, I spread one later of frosting on the bottom layer of cake and then put a layer of chopped Reese's.  Put the second layer of cake on top and then cover the whole cake with frosting.  I then melted some chocolate and poured that over the top.  I then put the remaining Reese's on top.
11. ENJOY!!

Chocolate Espresso Cupcake

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www.goddessofbaking.com

Its that time of year again, my mom's birthday.  This year she requested these.  I brought them to her party and they were gone before the birthday girl could even get one.  But she told me that everyone was raving about them.  My mom not getting one is just a good excuse for me to make these again. So good!

Happy Birthday Mamma!

Chocolate Espresso Cupcake - Adapted from The Baker Chick

Yield: 24 Cupcakes

Ingredients:
3/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
3/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
3/4 Teaspoon Salt
2 Large Eggs - room temp
3/4 Cup Freshly Brewed Strong Coffee
3/4 Cup Buttermilk - I made my own buttermilk with vinegar and milk, it worked great!
3 Tablespoons Canola Oil
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Tablespoon Instant Espresso Powder - I used 2 packets of Starbucks Cafe Via Blonde Roast

Espresso Buttercream
2 Sticks Unsalted Butter, softened
4 Cups Powdered Sugar
2 Tablespoons Instant Espresso Powder - I used 4 packets of Starbucks Cafe Via Blonde Roast

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2-6 Tablespoons of Milk or Cream

24 Chocolate Espresso Beans + some for snacking on (optional)


Cupcake Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside.
2. Sift together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl.
3. Stir the espresso powder into the hot coffee until dissolved. Let the coffee cool for at least 20 minutes.
4. Add the eggs into the bowl with the flour, along with the coffee/espresso mixture, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed.  The batter will be liquidy, not thick.
5. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 18 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. 
6. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

Frosting Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine the espresso powder, vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk or cream. Stir together until powder has dissolved.  I let this sit for about an hour and it made for a strong coffee flavor!
2. Put the softened butter into a large bowl, and using an electric mixer, beat the butter until pale and creamy.
3. Gradually add the powdered sugar and continue to beat until thick. Add the espresso/vanilla mixture and continue to beat frosting well.
4. Add a teaspoon at a time of milk/cream until frosting is creamy and pipe-able. 
5. Frost cupcakes as desired, and top with a chocolate covered espresso bean. 
6. Enjoy!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

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So remember the Super Bowl a few weeks ago, well we were invited to a party and it can be considered rude to show up at a party empty handed, so I made these.   They were a huge hit and everyone loved them!  If only the 49ers would have won, it would have made these taste even better.   Although, they did taste pretty good with a few beers in my belly.  I thought it would be fun to make football themed cupcakes so I found these cupcake toppers online somewhere and glued them to toothpicks.  I hope you like them!

  

This chocolate cake recipe comes out perfect every time!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes - Adapted from My Baking Addiction

Chocolate Cupcake

Yield: 24 Cupcakes
Ingredients
1 Box Devil’s Food Cake Mix
1 5.9 Ounce Package Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix - I used Chocolate Fudge Pudding
1 Cup Sour Cream
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
4 Eggs, room temperature
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1 Tablespoon Instant Espresso granules dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water - I use a Starbucks VIA packet
24 Reese’s Miniatures, FROZEN - this prevents them from disappearing into the batter

Peanut Butter Buttercream
Ingredients:
3 Sticks Butter, unsalted and room temperature
1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
2 Tablespoons Vanilla
5 1/2 Cups Confectioners' Sugar, sifted
6-8 Tablespoons Heavy Cream - I used about 4 tablespoons milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tin with paper liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, eggs, vanilla and espresso water mixture. Beat for about two minutes on medium speed until well combined.
3. Using a large cookie scoop, distribute the batter between 24 muffin wells; about 3 tablespoons of batter per well. Press one frozen Reese’s Miniature into the center of each cupcake.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes or until the tops of the cakes spring back when lightly touched. 
5. Allow cupcakes to cool inside muffin tins for about 10 minutes.
6. Remove cupcakes from muffin tins and allow to fully cool on a wire rack. Once cupcakes are cool, prepare your frosting.
7. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, cream butter and peanut butter on medium speed until fluffy. 
8. Turn your mixer down to low speed and slowly add in the confectioner’s sugar, and continue mixing until well blended.
9. Add vanilla and 4 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk. Blend on low speed until moistened. Add an additional 1 to 4 tablespoons of heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency. Beat at high speed until frosting is smooth and fluffy
10. Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
11. ENJOY!!

Two Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies are a bite of heaven in your mouth.  The original name for these cookies was "I want to marry you cookies"  but I made they and well I am still not married so I figured I would change the name.  They are made a little differently then most cookies and in the beginning I was a little worried but in the end they came out perfect!  You melt the butter and then add lots of brown sugar which give the cookie a caramel flavored base.  Then with the oatmeal and both white chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips you get a delicious cookie.  The real kicker here is the hint of cinnamon.  My boss told me they taste like Christmas and she wants to have me make some for her Christmas party this year.  You cannot go wrong adding these cookies to your holiday baking list.

I Want To Marry You Cookies - Adapted from Cookingchanneltv.com
1 Cup Butter, unsalted
1 1/4 cups Dark Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Egg, room temperature is best
1 Egg Yolk, room temperature is best
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Rolled Oats
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
3/4 Cup White Chocolate Chips
3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until melted. Remove from the heat.
2. Add the dark brown sugar and white sugar and stir until sugars are incorporated and smooth. Chill the mixture for 10 minutes or more.
3. Remove from the refrigerator and stir in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.
4. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cinnamon and mix together.
5. Stir in the white chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips.  At this point it will look pretty oily, so I chilled the dough for the 30 minutes and then formed the balls and chilled a little more.  
6. Roll by hand into about 30 medium-size balls or use a cookie scoop, and place on a light-colored cookie sheet.
7. Chill for 30 minutes.
8. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Remove the cookies from the refrigerator and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

Choco-nilla Birthday Cake

Its that time of year again, my boyfriends birthday.  Every year I make him a cake and this year I was struggling with an idea.  He is pretty laid back and will eat whatever so that makes it even harder.  I found this cake (a cake for "fence-sitters") and I figured it would be perfect for everybody.  A little chocolate and a little vanilla, nobody can complain.  It was a huge hit and was gone in about 2 days.  I made the banner on the computer from a blank word document because I couldn't find any templates I liked.  It was easy enough, and then I used a needle and double thread to hang it all together.   I am very happy with how it all came out and I hope my boyfriend loved it too!

Happy Birthday Joe!

Idea adapted from Kingarthurflour.com

Chocolate Cake - 

1 Box Devils Food Cake Mix
1 4oz Box of Instant Chocolate Pudding
1 Cup Sour Cream
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup Canola Oil
1/2 Cup Water or Milk

Vanilla Cake

1 Box Vanilla Cake Mix
1 4oz Box of Instant Vanilla Pudding
1 Cup Sour Cream
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup Canola Oil
1/2 Cup Water or Milk

Chocolate Buttercream - MY NEW FAVORITE!
1 Cup (2 Sticks) Butter, Unsalted and Room temp
5 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, sifted
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2/3 Cup Milk

Directions:

1. For the cake, follow directions on box but with the listed ingredients. Bake according to the box. I did 4 - 8in pans and it was about 30 minutes each.
2. For the buttercream, cream the butter with the whisk attachment of your kitchen aid until light and fluffy. Alternate adding the wet ingredients and the dry until everything is in the bowl. Whip up until desired consistency, add more milk if needed. 
3. Frost you cake, and ENJOY!

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream

Its my cousin's birthday and every year my aunt calls me to make him a cake.  He loves chocolate so I search for a new super chocolaty recipe every year.  This year wins!  This cake is so moist and very rich!  I feel like I am cheating using a box mix, but of all the chocolate cake recipes I have tried, the box mix is always better and never disappoints.  Chocolate buttercream has been a challenge too.  I have found that most recipes are not very fudgey or are too sweet.  This recipe was perfectly chocolaty and a great consistency for the cake.  So stop your endless chocolate cake search like I have and try this recipe!  The best part is its super EASY!

It says "Happy Birthday" but its kinda hard to read...

Chocolate Cake - Adapted from kevinandamanda.com
1 Box Devils Food Cake Mix
1 4oz Box of Instant Chocolate Pudding
1 Cup Sour Cream
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup Canola Oil
1/2 Cup Water or Milk
For additional chocolate you can add chocolate chips to the batter

Chocolate Buttercream
1 Cup (2 Sticks) Butter, Unsalted and Room temp
5 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, sifted
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2/3 Cup Milk

Directions:

1. For the cake, follow directions on box but with the listed ingredients.  Bake according to the box.  I did 2 - 8in pans and it was about 30 minutes each.
2. For the buttercream, cream the butter with the whisk attachment of your kitchen aid until light and fluffy.  Alternate adding the wet ingredients and the dry until everything is in the bowl.  Whip up until desired consistency, add more milk if needed.  
3. Frost you cake, and ENJOY!

Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies

I made these cookies last week for some of the clients at my work.  Everyone raved about them!  One clients said "congratulations" on the delicious cookie.  They almost taste like a brownie more then a cookie, but that's not a bad thing.  I would highly recommend these cookies!!

Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies - Adapted from All Recipes

Yield: 3 Dozen

Ingredients:

1 Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
2/3 Cups White Sugar
2/3 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2 1/4 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 2/3 Cups White Chocolate Chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. 
3. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Fold in the white chocolate chips. 
4. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto a prepared cookie sheets.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are set. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. Enjoy!!

Guinness Brownies

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Here is a great easy recipe for a St. Patty's Day party!  The beer flavor is there, but very subtle.  Very festive if you are drinking Guinness today!

Guinness Brownies,  Adapted from Heatherchristo.com

Yield: makes 16 brownies

Ingredients:

6 oz dark semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup, plus 1 Tbs butter, soft
1 1/2 cups sugar

1/3 cup Guinness Beer
1 eggs
2/3 cups flour
4 Tbs dark cocoa powder
6 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Take an 8x8 pan, and put a sheet of parchment paper down on the bottom of the pan. I then spray the top of the parchment, and the sides of the pan with non-stick baking spray.
3. Take the chopped chocolate and microwave it for 90 seconds.  Whisk the chocolate until very smooth. Set aside to cool.
4. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, whip the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy. Add the beer and beat until well combined.
5. Beat the eggs in one at a time, until they are completely mixed in, then slowly beat in the cooled melted chocolate.
6. Sift the flour and coco together, and then slowly add it to the batter, mixing in until it is just combined.
7. Add the chocolate chips, and mix until just combined.
8. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and spread evenly to the edges.
9. Bake the brownies at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Do not over bake!
10. When the brownies are finished, let them cool completely before cutting into them for the cleanest cut.
11. Enjoy responsibly!

Vanilla Cupcakes With Chocolate Buttercream

Happy 21st Birthday Desiree

I made these cupcakes for a coworkers birthday.  She said she liked white bottom with chocolate frosting.  I decided to make the vanilla bottom that I love, and I found a new recipe for the buttercream.  The cupcake is light and fluffy as always, so good you can eat it plain.  The buttercream turned out perfectly chocolatey and smooth.  Best chocolate buttercream ever.  I sprinkled some decoration on top and ta-da, they were finished.  These taste better then store bought but are just as easy!!

Vanilla Cupcakes - Adapted from my Churro Cupcakes
Yield: 12 cupcakes
Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Butter, unsalted and room temperature
1 Cups Sugar
2 Large Eggs, separated
1 1/3 Cup Flour
3/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Pinch of Salt
1/2 Cup Milk
1 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350˚F and line a muffin tin with baking cups.
2. Beat the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed. Once the butter is smooth and creamy, turn the mixer to low speed and add the sugar. Keep beating the butter and sugar mixture until light and fluffy. 
3. Add the egg yolks one at a time, making sure to mix well after each addition. 
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. In a small bowl, stir the vanilla into the milk. Alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk mixture to the butter-and-sugar mixture. You’ll want to start and end with the flour, and mix just until incorporated after each addition.
6. In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. It’ll be white and foamy. Fold the egg whites into the batter.
7. Fill your lined muffin cups about ¾ full of batter. Bake for about 18 minutes or until a cake tester stuck in the middle comes out clean. 
8. Let cupcakes cool completely. Frost.

Chocolate Buttercream - Adapted from Savorysweetlife.com

Yield: 3 Cups - too much for 12 cupcakes...

Ingredients:
1 Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
3 1/2 Cups Confectioners Sugar
1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
3-4 Tablespoons Milk

Directions:

1. Cream butter for a few minutes in a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Turn off the mixer. 
2. Sift 3 cups powdered sugar and cocoa into the mixing bowl. Turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the dry ingredients do not blow everywhere) until the sugar and cocoa are absorbed by the butter. 
3. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add a little more sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add additional milk 1 tablespoon at a time.
4. Frost!