M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies

What better way to spend part of a Monday than baking large chocolate chip cookies?  Very few that I can think of.

I tossed in some mini m&ms too.  You can add different flavors of chips or nuts if you want too.  I used my quarter cup cookie scoop and chilled the individual doughs over night to keep them puffy. Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Do not pour into your measuring cup.  Packed in flour could lead to a dry cookie. 

  • 8 tbs butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1  cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbs water
  • 3 1/2 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup mini m&ms

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, crisco, sugar and brown sugar.   Add eggs, vanilla and water.  Blend in dry ingredients.   Fold in chips and m&ms.  Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Chill a few hours or overnight.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners or parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on prepared sheets.  Bake 12 to 14 minutes, no longer. 

This is what I mean by staggering cookies

Cool completely.   Store in covered container. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Remember to be kind!  Wishing you a day of peace, love and joy

Football friday #20 – Divisional Playoff weekend – oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

Not sure if you have heard, but we have a little game set for Orchard Park, NY Sunday night – Bills – Ravens.  Last game of the weekend.  I am excited.  Should be a good one! 

To celebrate, I am bringing in oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for football friday.  These are very easy to make.  Instead of butter or crisco, these use vegetable oil (i am sure another oil would be fine too). 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend chilling the individual doughs for a few hours before baking to help them stay puffy.  And preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 2 1/2 cups oats (i used instant)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, blend oats and dry ingredients.  Mix in oil, eggs and vanilla.  Fold in chips.  You may need to mix the dough with your hands to help it come together.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or nonstick baking liners.  Bake 10 to 11 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Remember to be kind!  Go Bills!

Victory Monday NFL wildcard treat # 3 – Easy brownie cookie sandwiches

The hat trick of treats for the Bills victory Monday- brownie cookie sandwiches.  These start with a brownie mix, also use some hot fudge.  And the filling is a basic buttercream. 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also, no need to chill the dough.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 brownie mix
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • 5 tbs water
  • 1/4 ,cup hot fudge (room temp)
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine brownie mix, flour, oil, egg and water.  Blend in hot fudge.   Fold in chips. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Scoop out 2 tbs dough.  Line cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Stagger on sheet.  Bake 9 to 11 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

  • Filling ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbs heavy cream

In a bowl, blend powdered sugar and butter well.  Add vanilla and heavy cream.  Spoon between 2 cookies.  Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Black cocoa snowball cookies

I got a new container of black cocoa today and wanted to put some of it to use, so I made some black cocoa snowballs with mini chocolate chips.  Always good to heat up the oven on a very chilly day!

You can also use regular unsweetened baking cocoa or special dark cocoa if you want.

Remember to scoop your flour and cocoa from their containers into your measuring cups so you get the right amount.  Also, make sure your oven is preheated before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 1/4 cup black cocoa
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbs water
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

In a bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients (this may take a while.  Dough will be crumbly).  Add water.  Fold in chocolate chips.  Scoop out 2 tbs of dough.  Chill.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or nonstick baking liners.   Stagger doughs on sheet, like this.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.  Sprinkle hot cookies with powdered sugar.  the powdered sugar melts into the cookie and makes them even sweeter!

Cool completely.   Sprinkle with more powdered sugar.  Store in covered container.

Football friday # 16 – Fudge stuffed snowball cookies

I made some fudge last night and thought I would use some of it to stuff in  snowball cookies (still plenty of fudge left over. ).  The cookies spread a little more than I prefer, but I was in a bit of a hurry and didn’t have time to chill or freeze the dough. 🙂

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend freezing or chilling the dough in the fridge for a few hours to try to keep the cookies puffy.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 4 tbs sugar
  • 6 tbs powdered sugar
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • Fudge, cut into small cubes
  • Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, shortening, sugar and powdered sugar.  Blend in flour.  Scoop out 2 tbs dough and divide in half.  Flatten each half.  Put a cube of fudge in between 2 halves and seal cookie.  Chill or freeze a few hours.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners or parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 12 to 14 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.  I popped mine in the fridge to firm them up.  Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping  by today! Go Bills!

Football Friday week 15 – stuffed chocolate snowball cookies

What could make a chocolate cookie better?  An oreo inside!

A rather simple treat for football friday 15 – chocolate snowball cookies stuffed with a hershey kiss or an oreo!   I used a sugar cookie mix to make thing easier.

Another big matchup for my Bills Sunday – at Detroit.   Should be a great one! 

Remember to scoop your flour and baking cocoa from their respective containers into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I also recommend freezing the individual stuffed doughs for a half hour to keep them from spreading.  Also, don’t bake any longer than 10 minutes.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 sugar cookie mix
  • 1/4 cup baking cocoa
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 -2 tbs water
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Hershey kisses or other candy
  • Oreos

Directions – in a bowl, combine sugar  cookie mix, flour and baking cocoa.  Stir in egg, butter and water.  Scoop out 2 tbs dough and form around each kiss.  (You will need more dough to cover oreo).  Freeze individual doughs for 30 minutes, at least.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes, no longer.  Immediately sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I wish you a happy day, filled with love, joy and peace.

Chocolate Chip cookie-Oreo-Brownie “cake”

Stepping up my treat game this holiday season.  A chocolate chip cookie crust, a layer of oreo and topped with brownies.  Not sure what to call it!

  • Chocolate chip cookie crust
  • 10 tbs butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 3/4 cups flour (scooped from flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9 inch cake pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.   in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Blend in flour and baking powder.  Mix in chips. Press into bottom and partway up sides of prepared pan.

Top with a layer of  Oreos!

  • Brownie ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup baking cocoa
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 cup flour (scooped from flour bag into measuring cup so you get the right amount)

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter and sugar.  Blend in cocoa, eggs, vanilla, salt and baking powder. Fold in flour.  Evenly spread over oreo layer. 

Bake 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center basically comes out clean. 

Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips (i used milk chocolate)..  Gently press into top brownie layer. 

Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

football friday week 14- Easy Monster cookies stuffed with Reese’s pumpkins

Monster cookies stuffed with Reese’s pumpkins

I can NOT believe it is week 14 already!  Wow.  Football season goes so fast.  One day it’s the preseason opener and in no time at all, the regular season is almost over.   I needed something quick, so I used the Betty Crocker monster cookies recipe and stuffed them with Reese’s pumpkins.  Another day I will post a complete homemade version. 

I am glad the Bills night games are done.  Those are a killer to stay up for and get up early the next morning!  But last week, with Josh’s hat trick of touchdowns (throwing, running and receiving), it was worth it.

These are easy.  I do chill the dough to keep them from spreading too much.  Remember to preheat your oven  before baking

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 peanut butter cookie mix
  • 1 chocolate chip cookie mix
  • 11/2 cups oats (old fashioned or instant)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups m&ms
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • Peanut butter cups

Directions- In a bowl, combine cookies mixes and oats.  Blend in butter and eggs (I used a gand mixer).   Fold in chips and m&ms.  Scoop out 2 tbs dough and evenly form around Reese’s pumpkins.   Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.   Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes (no longer).  Cool completely.   Store in covered container. 

Thank you for stopping by!

XL Snickerdoodles

Shouldn’t snickerdoodles be made with Snickers? 😉

For NFL week 12’s football Friday, I present XL Snickerdoodles with a cinnamon frosting.  These smell amazing as they bake!

The Bills are on a bye this week, so I get a stress free football weekend.  Woo hoo!

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend chilling the individual doughs for a few hours, or freezing them for 30 minutes to try and keep the cookies from spreading too much.

  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 3 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 1/2 cups flour (scooped from flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Cinnamon sugar

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, sugar, crisco and cream cheese.  Add eggs and cinnamon.  Blend in flour, baking powder and salt.  Divide into 11 equal mounds.  Roll in cinnamon sugar.   Chill a few hours or freeze 30 minutes.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 15 to 18 minutes (no longer). Cool completely.   Place in fridge to firm up.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 2 tbs butter, soft
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 to 3 tbs milk

Directions – in a bowl, combine ingredients and mix well.  Frost cookies.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.  Place in fridge to firm up.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.   Please remember to be kind.  We are all fighting some sort of battle and a little kindness can make a big difference

Football friday # 11 – XXXL Frosted M&M Sugar Cookies

For Chiefs week, I am going big, well, it is a huge game.  We are 8-2, KC is 9-0.  And let’s face it, all games between my guys and those guys are massive.  Waiting until 4:25 Sunday isn’t great, but I am glad it is not a night game.

Something cool happened today at work.  I got to interview Bills receiver Khalil Shakir for our ESPN Radio pregame show before KC-BUF Sunday.  Shout out to my friend and producer, Ryan, for letting me do the interview.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also, I recommend chilling the individual doughs to keep them as puffy as possible.  You don’t have to frost them, but I opted to.

  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup M&Ms

Directions – cream butter, shortening cream cheese and sugar.  Blend in eggs and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Stir in M&Ms.    Divide dough into 11 equal pieces.  Chill a few hours.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on prepared sheet.  Bake 15 to 17 minutes (no longer).  Cool completely.  Pop in fridge to firm up.  Frost. If desired.  Store in fridge overnight.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Wishing you a wonderful day filled with joy, love and hope!

Go Bills.