May the Sabres run their winning streak to 10 treats

For my final treat of 2025, I made lemon frosted cake mix squares.  I didn’t have a lemon cake mix, so I used a white one and added some lemon extract, along with the other ingredients.  These are for my friend rib’s birthday and as luck for the Sabres, who go for their 10th straight win tonight against the Stars, one of the best teams in the NHL.

These are super simple, don’t require a ton of ingredients or time.  You can leave them plain or frost them.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 white cake mix
  • 1 sugar cookie mix
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 2 tsp lemon extract

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9×13 pan with baking spray.  In a bowl, combine mixes.   Blend in butter, then eggs and extract.  Evenly spread into prepared pan.   Bake 18 to 20 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tbs lemon juice

In a bowl, combine ingredients.  Frost bars.  Cut and store in covered container.

Go Sabres!!

German chocolate cake mix cookies

The German chocolate cake is a masterpiece of a dessert- German chocolate cake, pecan coconut frosting and chocolate frosting.   The bakery in my hometown of Olean, NY – the former Ried’s food barn- made the nest German chocolate cakes.  And I am sure the now olean food barn does too.

So I made a cookie sandwich version using a cake mix, canned coconut pecan frosting and a homemade chocolate frosting as the fillings. 

You can make a homemade coconut pecan frosting, but I went with canned frosting today
  • Cookies ingredients
  • 1 German chocolate cake mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Set aside.   In a bowl, blend 3 ingredients.  Scoop out 2 tbs of dough.  Roll into a ball and slightly flatten.  Stagger on cookie sheet.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes.  No longer.  Cool completely.

  • Chocolate frosting filling ingredients
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tbs evaporated milk
  • 1 tbs vanilla

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter and cocoa. Blend in powdered sugar, then evaporated milk and vanilla.  Add more evaporated milk or powdered sugar to get the consistency you want.

Place cookies flat side up. 

On one half, spread some coconut pecan frosting.  On another half, spread some chocolate frosting.  

Put two together and voila!

Thanks for stopping by!

Magic Middles take 2

Last year, I tried to make the keebler magic middles cookies.  They were a shortbread cookies with mini chocolate chips, filled with a gushy fudge filling.  Last year, they were more like a stuffed chocolate chip cookie.   Today, I went for a more shortbread cookie, like a Mexican wedding cake.  I froze the fudge filling and cookies before baking.  Next time, I may just fill the cookies with a piece of chocolate baking bar. 

It is important to freeze the fudge filling if that is what you want to stuff the cookies with.  Then once you atuff them in the cookie dough, freeze the doughs before baking.  My goal is to not have the filling spill out of the cookie. 

Also, remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  And preheat your oven before baking.

  • Fudge filling ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a pan, heat cream to a boil.  Remove from heat and add chips.  Let sit for 5 minutes.  Stir smooth and put in fridge for an hour to firm up.  After an hour, scoop out teaspoons of dough, place on a paper plate in freezer for a few hours.

  • Cookies Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 3/4 to 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add vanilla.  Mix in salt, flour and baking powder.  Fold in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Divide in half and flatten each half.   Place a frozen scoop of filling on top. 

Place other flattened dough half on top and seal.  

Freeze for a few hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 25 to 30 minutes.  Edges will be golden.  Cool completely.   Place in fridge to keep filling firm

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Week 15 victory monday cookies – XL puffy chocolate cookies with finely ground walnuts and topped with melted hershey kisses

Today’s game took years off my life.  But a win is a win.  Go Bills.  Also, I  love josh allen.

These are a soft, thick, puffy chocolate cookie with finely ground walnuts.  You can leave them out if you want, use another kind, or throw in some chocolate chips.

These use a mix of bread flour and all purpose flour. 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Chill the individual doughs for a few hours and preheat your oven to 350 before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/3 cups chocolate chips (microwaved in a microwave safe bowl in 45 second increments until you can stir them melted)
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 cup plus 2 tbs bread flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup walnuts, finely ground

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in melted chocolate.  Fold in dry ingredients.   Blend in nuts.   Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Chill a few hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.   Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 13 to 15 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

For topping – in a microwave safe bowl, combine 35 unwrapped hershey kisses and 1 tbs butter.   Microwave in 45 second increments until you can stir smooth.  Spoon on top of cookies. 

Store in covered container. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

XL brown buttter Peanut blossoms

Today’s treat – brown butter peanut blossoms.  I know they are very popular this time of year, so I whipped up a batch this morning.   I added some finely ground peanuts, and rolled the doughs in sugar before baking. And of course, topped with  hershey kisses!  

These are also in honor of my college roommate, Christine, who’s birthday is today and loves peanut butter treats!

I recommend chilling the butter for a bit in fridge after browning, scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount, preheat your team before baking and only bake 8 to 9 minutes.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 tbs water
  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup peanuts, finely ground
  • Extra sugar
  • Hershey kisses

Directions – in a pan, heat butter in a pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally,  until brown specks form.  Pour into bowl and place in fridge at least an hour.   When you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degreesm. In a combine butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, water and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients.   Scoop our 1/4 cups dough and roll tops in sugar.   Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and stagger cookies in a row of 2, then a row of one. 

Bake 8 to 9 minutes, no longer.  Press an unwrapped hershey kisses. 

Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by!  Go Bills!

Brown butter sugar cookies

I brought in monster cookies, so I needed a non peanut butter option for work friends who do not love pb.  So I thought of sugar cookies.  I wanted a little tweak so I used brown butter.  Browning butter is super simple.  Place the amount in a pan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally,  until you start to see little brown specs..

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend chilling individual doughs once you scoop them out.  And preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, browned
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tbs sugar
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbs cornstarch

Directions – in a bowl, combine sugar and brown butter.  Add egg and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.   Scoop out 1/4 cups  dough.  Roll in sugar.  Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet. 

   Bake 10 to 12 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Frost if desired.  Store in covered container. 

Thanks so stopping by!

NFL Sunday, week 13 – Chocolate chocolate chip cake with crushed oreo frosting

If you love chocolate, this cake is for you.  It uses a chocolate cake mix (I used dark chocolate fudge, but any one is fine), and a handful of other ingredients.   The frosting is a buttercream with finely ground oreos. If you don’t have black cocoa, regular unsweetened baking cocoa is fine.  I think I will make a golden oreo version of this with a white cake mix another time.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 chocolate cake mix
  • 1 box chocolate instant pudding mix (3.4 oz)
  • 1/2 cup black cocoa
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a bundt cake pan with baking spray.  Set aside. In a bowl, blend cake mix, pudding mix and cocoa.  Blend in eggs, oil, greek yogurt and milk.  Fold in chips.   Batter will be thick.  Spread evenly into prepared bundt pan.  Bake 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.  Remove from oven.   Cool 15 minutes in pan.  Then pop cake onto a plate and cool completely.

I felt i left this cake in a minute too long, so I found a syrup recipe to help moisten it up.  This is used before you frost it.

In a saucepan, combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar and 1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa.  Whisk constantly over medium heat just until it boils.  Remove from stove.  Pour in a pan and cool completely.   Brush on cooled cake.

  • Oreo buttercream frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 to 6 tbs heavy cream
  • 14 oreos, finely crushed (i used a food processor)

Directions – in a bowl cream butter and crisco.   Slowly blend in powdered sugar.   Add vanilla and 4 tbs of heavy cream.  Mix more cream, one tbs at a time, until you get the consistency you want.  Blend in crushed oreos.  Frost cake.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Peanut M&M, Peanut butter chip brownie cookies

A simple cookies for today’s, but very chocolatey!    Fudgy brownie cookies with peanut butter m&ms and peanut butter chips.  They use a brownie mix, with just a couple of ingredients.    I recommend chilling the individual doughs for a few hours before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 brownie mix
  • 2 tbs flour
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter m&ms

Directions- in a bowl, combine brownie mix, oil, eggs and flour.  Blend in m&ms and chips. Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.   Chill for a few hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and stagger cookies like below. 

Bake 10 to 12 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Double M&M cookies

The first treat of the week – Double M&M cookies.   They are like a chocolate chip cookie, but instead od chips, I used two types of m&ms – mini and regular size.  

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. 

I recommend chilling the dough for a few hours before baking to help keep the cookies thick.   And, preheat your oven before baking so the oven cycles to the right temp and you get the perfect cookie.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted and placed in a bowl in the fridge for 10 to 15  minutes to cool it down
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup mini m&ms
  • 1/2 cup m&ms

Directions – in a bowl, blend melted butter, sugar and brown sugar.   Add egg and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Blend in m&ms.   Divide dough into thirds.  Then divide each third of dough into thirds.  Chills doughs a few hours.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet, like below.  

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, no longer than that.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

M&M Oatmeal cookies, topped with melted milk chocolate

We had one last bag of leftover candy from Halloween – a bag of plain m&ms.   so I thought “why not bake with them?” 

Note the colors in the middle – red and blue!  Go Bills!

Instead of the usual chocolate chip cookie recipe, I went with oatmeal, for something different.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Chill the individual  doughs for a few hours.  And preheat your oven before baking

  • Ingredients list
  • 8 tbs butter, softened
  • 2 1/2 tbs crisco
  • 1 cup plus 2 tbs plus 2 tsp brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbs honey
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 1 1/3 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2  cups oats (I used quick pats)
  • 1 cup m&ms

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, crisco and brown sugar.  Add egg, honey and vanilla.  Blend in flour, salt and oats.   Mix in m&ms.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  flatten cookies to desired thickness.

Bake 10 minutes, no longer. Cool completely.

Top with melted milk chocolate.

Store in covered container