Victory Monday NFL Wildcard weekend treats # 1 – large puffy chocolate chip cookies

Not one, not two, but three victory Monday treats for the Bills win over the Broncos.  My best friend from college and her daughters (my goddaughters) came down for lunch and watched the game with Rob and I.  I have to day i was fairly well behaved.  My swearing was kept to a minimum.   So this treat – large puffy chocolate chip cookies.

I recently discovered something.  The type of flour used in baked goods can make a huge difference.  I usually any  store brand.  I read some flours can make a difference, so I bought a huge bag from BJs of King Arthur Flour. And let me tell you, it made a difference.  Nice puffy cookies.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I also recommend chilling the individual mounds of dough for a few hours.  I did not chill these though.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 cups mini chocolate chips

Directions – in a pan, over low-medium heat, brown butter, stirring occasionally.  Cool 5 minutes.  In a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Stir in dry ingredients, then chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Cook 9 to 10 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.  Store in covered container. 

A classic cookie for a classic NFL rivalry (Go Bills)

Week 2 of the NFL season kicks off tomorrow with my beloved Bills taking on the Dolphins.   The rivalry has so many great memories and moments- from us finally beating the Dolphins in 1980 (ending the 0 for the 1970s) to  Jim Kelly’s late touchdown run in Miami in 1989 to Josh and the current Bills matchups against the Dolphins.  Such a classic rivalry deserves a classic cookie, so I went with one of the chocolate chip cookies in my collection.  These use part browned butter and cold butter cut into small cubes, as well as a tsp of active yeast.  I recommend chilling or freezing individual doughs for a few hours to keep from spreading.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, browned
  • 1/4 cup butter, cold and cut into small cubes
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp active dry yeast
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

To brown butter, place in a pan and heat over low to medium heat until you see brown specs in bottom.  This may take 10 minutes or so.  Let cool 10 minutes.

Directions – in a bowl, combine flour, baking soda and yeast.  Cut in butter.  In a separate bowl, combine browned butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Mix in egg and vanilla.  Add flour mixture.  Stir in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and form tall mounds.  Chill or freeze for a few hours.  Preheat oven to 375.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 11 to 13 min, no longer.  Cool.  Pop in fridge for a few hours to firm up, if they are a little gushy.  Store in covered container. 

Go Bills!

Browned butter/Reese’s pieces/mini M&M chocolate cookies

It is hot and humid today, so why not fire up the oven? 😁 I used browned butter in these because I wanted to speed up the process, as opposed to waiting for the butter to soften to room temp. Browned butter is pretty easy – put it in a pan and cook over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally, just until you see brown specks form. Then immediately remove from heat. I also opted to use Reese’s pieces and mini m&ms, but use whatever mix-ins you want.

Some tips – Remember to scoop your flour directly from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. Chill the individual mounds of dough for a few hours to help prevent spreading. Preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes when you are ready to bake so it cycles to the right temp.

  • 3/4 cup butter, browned
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup Reese’s pieces
  • 1/3 cup mini m&ms
  • Directions – place butter in a pan and cook over low -medium heat until melted and just until brown specks form. Remove from heat and pour into bowl to cool for for 10 to 14 minutes. Add brown sugar and sugar to butter. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Fold in dry ingredients. Mix in candies. Scoop out 1/4 cups dough. Chill in fridge, or freeze, for a few hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Stagger cookies on the sheet, as seen below.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely. Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Remember to be kind. We all need kindness in our lives – in terms of giving and receiving!

Marble cookies for week 18 football friday

Marbled cookies

Today felt like a day for celebration. There was a miraculous update on Bills Safety Damar Hamlin. He collapsed during the Monday Night football game and was rushed to University of Cincinnati medical center. Each day there were updates of reported progress. Then today, the update was on “remarkable” progress, although he still has other progress to be made. One of the things that made me smile – Damar communicated to doctors asking, in writing, “did we win the game?” All the prayers made a big difference. God is good. Thanks to so many people who’s quick actions saved his life. And the outpouring of love for this young man has been overwhelming. All the donations and prayers made in his name and wonderful stories about him are just beautiful. My hope is all the love, kindness, and positive vibes and prayers put out there can remain and make the world a better, friendlier,more loving place.

And with that, I decided to bake marble cookies at 9 pm. Just a cookie made with browned butter and instead of adding all chocolate chips, I melted them and swirled them in.

Notes – I used bread flour in these in hopes they would not spread out too much. I did not have time to chill the dough. Remember to spoon your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. And preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter browned, not cooled
  • 1 1/4 cups butter, browned
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbs cream
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup chocolate chips,melted
  • Extra chocolate chips

In a bowl, combine browned butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add egg, yolk, vanilla and cream. Blend in dry ingredients. Swirl in melted chips to marble dough. Scoop out 2 tbs dough and form mounds. Lightly press a few chocolate chips on top. Chill a few hours. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking. Stagger cookies on prepared sheer. Bake 10 minutes (no longer). Cool completley. Store in covered container.

Chocolate chip/chocolate chocolate chip cookies

While trying to decide between. A chocolate chip and chocolate chocolate chip cookie, I just decided to combine them and present this monstrosity for the Bills victory cookies. Wow, does my mood change after a win.

I decided to brown the butter with these. You don’t have to, but browned butter can give treats a unique and delicious taste. I recommend chilling this dough. Remember to spoon your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup and to preheat your oven to 325 degrees before baking. I baked these for 18 minutes. I have no idea if they are done, but did not want to burn them. I think my ESPN friends will still be happy with them.

Here are some tips to brown butter – cook it in a pan over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until you see little brown bits. Remove from heat and cool 5 to 10 minutes.

Cookie monster!
  • Chocolate chip cookie dough
  • 3/4 cup butter, browned
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine browned butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add egg, yolk and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients. Stir in chips

  • Chocolate chocolate chip cookie dough
  • 3/4 cup butter browned
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup baking cocoa
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine browned butter, brown sugar, sugar. Add egg, yolk and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients. Mix in chips.

Forming the cookies – scoop out 3 tbs of each dough and mold together, forming a tall mounds of dough. Chill a few hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Stagger cookies on it.

This is what I mean by staggering cookies

Bake 15 to 18 minutes (you will see a few golden patches on top). Cool completley. Store in covered container.

Now that’s a cookie!

Thanks for stopping by today!!! Sending you love, peace and joy!