Milk chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies

All that gushy goodness!

Today’s treat – milk chocolate chip cookies with finely ground macadamia nuts.  I wanted to make something a little different, and milk chocolate chip cookies are a good way to do that…plus I had a half bag of macadamia nuts to use up!

Yes it is hotter than hell again (thanks climate change), and yet I turned on the oven. 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also, chill the individual doughs at least a few hours so they don’t flatten too much.  And preheat your oven to 375 degrees before baking.

  • 1 cup butter, cold and cut into cubes
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cups
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups flour, scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup macadamia nuts,  finely ground

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips and nuts. Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill individual doughs in fridge a few hours.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet, like in picture below, a row of 2, then a row of one, another row of 2 and then a row of 1.  (I usually fit 8 cookies total on a sheet). 

Bake 10 to 12 minutes. let set a few minutes on sheets.  Cool completely.   I popped mine in the fridge to firm them up (not easy baking conditions in the humdiity). 

Store in covered container.  I will be keeping mine in our fridge until I bring them to work tomorrow.

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

XL Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

I have never had much luck making crinkle cookies.  They usually come put flat like pancakes.  These were perfectly puffy.  I think it helped I used cold butter and butter crisco. 

Remember to spoon your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also preheat your oven before baking.  And because these are baked at a higher temp, only bake for 10 minutes.

  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, cold and cubed
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 yolks
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups baking cocoa
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • Extra granulated sugar
  • Powdered sugar

Directions – preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  In a bowl, cream butter, 1/2 cup sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, yolks and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Form 12 even pieces of dough.  Roll in extra granulated sugar then powdered sugar.  Place 6 on prepared sheet, leaving a few inches between doughs.  Bake 10 minutes, no longer.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Let sit on cookie sheet for 15 minutes.   Store in covered container. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Black cocoa fudge cake

Thick.  Dark chocolate.  Fudge.  Cake.  With chocolate ganache.  Not much else to say, really.  If you love chocolate, you will love this cake.

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

And I recommend making the ganache while the cake is baking so it can thicken up for when you are ready to frost the cake.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter,  melted
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup black cocoa
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a round 8″ cake pan with parchment paper.  In a bowl, combine melted butter and brown sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla and warm warmed.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Evenly spread into prepared pan.  Bake 25 to 32 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

  • Ganache ingredients
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 1/3 cups dark chocolate chips

Directions – in a microwave safe bowl, heat heavy cream 2 to 3 minutes (make sure bowl is big enough so cream doesn’t boil over and make a mess in yiur microwave).  Add chips and stir until chips and heavy cream are fully blended.  Let it firm up while the cake bakes and cools.  Frost cake.

Thanks for stopping by!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Rob requested chocolate chip cookie bars.  He will only eat one, so the rest will come in to work with me tomorrow.  These are easy to make and are a big hit.   Instead of scooping and baking cookies on a few cookie sheets, you just spread the dough in one baking pan and bake. 

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.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, melted and cooled for 10 minutes
  • 1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed into your measuring cup)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into measuring cups so you get the right amount)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper and set aside.  In a bowl, combine butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Mix in eggs and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips.  Evenly spread dough into prepared 9×13 pan.  Sprinkle remaining 1 cup chips on top and gently press down into dough. Bake 26 to 28 minutes, no longer.  (Edges will be golden brown).  Cool completely.  Cut and store in covered container.

Sugar topped puffy peanut butter cookies

Did  I like it being 40 degrees a few weeks ago while we walked Gracie in the morning?  No.   Do I like it being over 100 degrees this week?  Also, no.  But this heat  has not stopped me from baking.  These are peanut butter cookies topped with sugar.  They are for a work friend’s birthday tomorrow.

I used crisco, but you cam use butter.  Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Chill the individual  doughs at least a few hours.  Preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar (firmly packed into measuring cup)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Extra sugar for sprinkling on top

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Mix in flour, baking powder and salt.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and tip tops in extra sugar.  Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 11 to 13 minutes, no longer. Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Fudgy brownies filled with chocolate chip cookies and topped with melted Hershey Kisses

When it’s 100 degrees outside, some people may hesitate wanting to turn on their oven.  I am NOT one of those people.   So today, I made fudgy brownies, pressed pieces of chocolate chip cookie dough on top and topped them with melted hershey kisses after they are baked and cooled.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flower bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also preheat your oven before baking so it bakes these treats properly.

  • Chocolate chip cookie ingredients
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar,firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco, butter and brown sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla.   Blend in dry ingredients.  Fold in chips.  Set aside

  • Brownies ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, melted
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 1/2 cups flour (scooped from flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.  In a bowl, blend melted butter and sugar.  Add baking cocoa and vanilla, then eggs, one at a time.  Blend well.  Mix in remaining dry ingredients.   Evenly spread into prepared pan.

Spread pieces of cookie dough on top. 

Bake 27 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.  Cool completely.  

Top with melted chocolate. 

When it’s top hot to turn on the oven….

Summer officially began on Friday and it has made it’s presence known.  Here in Connecticut, like many parts of the country, it is going to be in the triple digits the next few days, with the heat index factored in.  So I decided to go with a no bake treat.  Chocolate covered peanut butter treats.  Super simple and require only a few ingredients.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter melted
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 2 sleeves graham crackers, finely crushed (2 cups finely crushed)
  • 1 3/4 – 2 cups powdered sugar (scooped from your container into your measuring cup)
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter, brown sugar and vanilla.  Blend in powdered sugar and cracker crumbs.  Scoop out 2 tbs, roll into balls and slightly flatten.  Pop in fridge for a half hour or so.  Cover with melted chocolate.  Pop back in fridge to firm up chocolate. Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Instead of making a carrot cake, I thought I would make carrot cake cookies.  With mini chocolate chips.  And cream cheese frosting.   I have to be honest, I don’t make carrot cake treats too often because grating carrots is not fun, although I do have a delicious carrot cake recipe using carrot baby food.

On the topic of carrots, you must grate them.  Don’t buy the shredded carrots from the grocery store.  They won’t work in this or most carrot treat recipes.

If you want to use chocolate chips, I find  the mini ones work best.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount (same for the powdered sugar in the frosting).  I recommend chilling the individual doughs for a new hours to keep them puffy.  And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 2 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 2 cups grated carrots

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients. Fold in carrots then mini chips. Divide into 12 equal mounds of dough. Chill for a few hours.   When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 15 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 8 Oz  cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter and  cream cheese.  Add vanilla.  Slowly blend in powdered sugar.  Frost cookies.   Store in covered container in fridge until ready to serve.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Rocky Road Cookies

I know rocky road is a favorite ice cream for a lot of people, so I decided to make it in cookie form. 

Who doesn’t love chocolate, milk chocolate chips, finely ground almonds  and tiny marshmallow bits, and a cookie dough made with black cocoa so it tastes like an oreo? I would imagine very few people!

If you don’t like almonds, you can, of course, leave them out.

Below is a container of  marshmallow bits

Remember to scoop your flour and dark or unsweetened baking cocoa from the container into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  After scooping out the dough (1/4 cup), I chilled them for a few hours before baking to help keep them puffy. And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbs corn syrup
  • 2 1/2  cups flour
  • 2/3 cup black or unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup almonds, finely ground
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup mini marshmallow bits

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla and corn syrup. Blend in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips, nuts and marshmallow bits.   Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and place in fridge for a few hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookie doughs on prepared sheet. 

Bake 10 to 11 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

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

Peanut butter bars with Reese’s eggs, ground peanuts and peanut butter frosting

Calling all peanut butter lovers!  This is for you.  Peanut butter bars with finely ground peanuts, cut up Reese’s eggs smushed on top and frosted with peanut butter frosting.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount (same goes for the powdered sugar.  Remember to preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup oeanut butter
  • 1/2 cup butter crisco, crisco or butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup peanuts, finely ground in a food processor (opt)
  • Reese’s eggs, chopped up (opt)

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 cake pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.  Set aside.  In a bowl, cream butter crisco, sugar, brown sugar and peanut butter.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Mix in peanuts.  Evenly spread into prepared cake pan.  Gently press pieces of chopped up Reese’s eggs on top like so.

Bake for 25 minutes,  no longer.  Let cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 2 tbs milk (or more)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups powdered sugar

Combine butter and peanut butter in a small sauce pan.  Over low-medium heat, bring to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Add milk, vanilla and powdered sugar.  You may need to add more milk or powdered sugar to get the consistency you want.  Frost cooled bars.  Store in covered container.