Frosted chocolate chip cake bars (week 2 victory treat part 2)

For part 2 of the week 2 Bills victory treats, I present frosted chocolate chip cake bars.  You can use any flavor cake mix (I used French vanilla), any kind of chips (I used traditional semisweet), and any kind of frosting (I used vanilla).

  • Bars ingredients list
  • 1 cake mix
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • Extra chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.  In a bowl, combine cake mix, oil, eggs, and vanilla.  Mix in 1 cup chocolate chips.   You may want to wet your hands for this next part – gently, evenly press dough into prepared pan. Sprinkle extra chips on tip.   Bake 15 to 18 minutes (toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs).  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (scooped from powdered sugar container into cup)
  • Milk or heavy cream

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter and vanilla.  Blend in powdered sugar and enough milk or heavy cream to get the consistency you want.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!  Go Bills!

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!

Week 1 victory treats #1 – chocolate chip cookies

Not a great start for the Bills in the season opener – down at home to the Cardinals 17-3 in the 2nd quarter!   Thankfully, we put it together and pulled out a win, including another Josh leap over a defender play (this one ended in  a td).  Stress inducing for sure, and plenty for the team to clean up before facing the Dolphins Thursday night, but glad to start the season 1-0.

To celebrate, Rob asked for chocolate chip cookies for one of the treats.   I am making two for work tomorrow bc everyone will be in Bristol for the week.  It’s always nice to see old friends on campus, share some hugs, and laughs.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I also recommend freezing the individual doughs for 30 min to an hour to avoid too much spreading.

Ingredients list –

  • 1 cup butter, melted and cooled 10 minutes
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup, honey or corn syrup
  • 3 3/4 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar and sugar.  Add eggs.  Stir in vanilla and maple syrup/honey/corn syrup.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Fold in chips.  Scoop put 1/4 cups of dough.  Freeze 30 min to an hour.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on a sheet.  Bake 11 to 13 minutes, no longer.   They will be a little doughy on top. Cool completley.  Store in fridge a few hours to firm up.  Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Go Bills!  Squish the Fish!

Does oatmeal make these chocolate chip cookies healthy?

Confession – These are huge cookies because I got a late start and used my quarter cup scoop to make the baking process go faster.  I also didn’t have a chance to chill the dough.  So I cut them in half after they cooled down and brought them into work. 

Does oatmeal make them healthier? 😉

  • Ingredients list
  • 2 1/2 cups quick oats
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Mix in vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla.   Fold in chips.  Scoop out quarter cups of dough.  I recommend chilling the dough for a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies in a row of 2, one, two and one, as seen below.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes.  Bottoms will be browned.  Tops may be gushy, but let the cookies cool and pop them in the fridge to firm up. 

Store in covered container.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you have a wonderful day.  Remember to be kind.  Everyone is fighting some sort of battle.

Chocolate chip cookie bars for Sara’s sweet 16

Tomorrow is my goddaughter Sara’s sweet 16 birthday party.  When I asked her what I could bring, she asked for these.  Very simple to make.   I can’t believe she is 16 already.  Seems like yesterday, I met and held her for the first time.  Time goes by too fast!

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed into a measuring cup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups flour, scooped from the flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the correct amount
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.   Set aside.  In a bowl, cream butter, shortening, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.   Mix in 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips.  Evenly spread in prepared pan.  Evenly sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips.  Gently press down on top of dough.  Bake  17 to 20 minutes (edges will be golden).  Cool completely.   Store in covered container. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I wish you a day of joy, peace and happiness.   If you make these, let me know how they turn out. 

Another chocolate chip cookie recipe (this one with condensed milk)

It’s 90 and humid out, so why not turn on the oven and bake cookies?  These are another chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I made them with condensed milk, an ingredient  I have seen used in various brownie recipes.  so i tried it here!   I froze the individual cookie doughs before baking bc I was hoping it would help avoid having them spread.  It did.  These are pretty big and perhaps a little gushy.   I will pop them in the fridge to help them firm up.

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 at least.  And as always, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup condensed milk (almost all of a 14 oz can)
  • 4 1/3 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Blend in condensed milk.  Slowly fold in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill or freeze a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger chilled/frozen cookie doughs on prepared sheet like below.. 

Bake 10 minutes, no longer.  Tops will be gushy,  but bottoms will be browned.   Cool completely.  Chill to firm up if you want.  store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I wish you a day of joy and peace. 

Sheet pan Blondies -Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

What’s better a batch of Blondies/Chocolate Chip cookie bars?  A sheet pan batch!   Because a sheet pan recipe makes so much more.  And if you are going to bake when it’s 100 degrees and humid, you may as well make it worth your while!

Also I wonder what makes a treat a blondie as opposed to chocolate chip?  Perhaps melted butter or extra brown sugar. 

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, melted and cooled 15 minutes
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 yolks
  • 2 tbs milk/water
  • 3 1/2 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet (13×18 inches) with parchment paper and spray with baking spray.  In a bowl, combine melted butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, yolks, vanilla and milk.  Mix in dry ingredients.  Fold in chips.  Evenly press into prepared pan.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly golden on top.  Be careful not to overbake or they will dry out. If you feel they are undercooked, just let them cool completley and pop them in your fridge for a while to firm them up.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  Wishing you a day of peace, love and joy!

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

These oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are one of two treats I am bringing into work tomorrow (the other – dark chocolate bars topped with hershey kisses and m&ms.    These cookies are so simple to make and came out great.  No need to wait for butter to soften.  These use vegetable oil.

Since it was humid today, I  popped the individual doughs  in the freezer for a bit to prevent spreading.   Remember to scoop 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
  • 2 1/2 cups instant oats
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine all dry ingredients, including oats.  Mix in oil, then eggs and vanilla.   Blend in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill or freeze for a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on it.  Bake 10 minutes.  Tops will be a little gushy, but bottoms will be browned. Cool completely.   You can pop these in the fridge for a few hours to firm them up, if you want.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  If you make these, let me know how they turn out.  I wish you a day filled with peace, love and joy.

Celebrating the NHL and NBA postseasons with a classic!

When it comes to the playoffs, bigger is better.  That is my thought process with these cookies.  They are beyond large – 6 inches in diameter when baked.  I made 6 or 7 of these and plan on cutting them into quarters after they cool.  I also will be storing them in the fridge for a few hours to help them firm up a bit.

This is what happens when a certain someone does not let the cookie cool!

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Chill the individual mounds of dough a few hours or overnight.  Preheat oven to 20 minutes before baking so it cycles to the right temp. 

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, cold and cubed into tiny squares
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 3/4 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 2 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 cups chocolate chips
  • 1 extra cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips.

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients.  Fold in 2 cups chips.  Divide dough evenly into 7 pieces.  In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup remaining chocolate chips and mini chips.  Roll tops and sides  of cookie doughs into chips mixture. 

This is how the doughs look after dipped in the chocolate chip mixture

Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.   Place cookies on sheet, leaving plenty of room bc these spread.  Bake 20 minutes, no longer.  Cool completley.  Store in a covered container in the fridge to firm up cookies. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

NFL Draft Day 2024 cookies

To celebrate the start of the NFL draft tomorrow, I made chocolate chip cookies with some ground up chips ahoy mixed in and frosting some of them.  All of them are not frosted because I either make too much or too little frosting.   And tonight, I made too little.  I think the unfrosted ones will still be well-received.

 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I also chilled the individual dough overnight to try and keep the cookies from spreading too thin.  

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 1/2 cups butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 2 cups crushed chips ahoy
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, brown sugar and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Fold in ground chips ahoy.  Mix in chips.  scoop out 1/4 cups dough.   Chill, in covered container, overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger on cookie sheet.  Leave some room.  These do spread.  Bake 10 to 11 minutes (no longer).  Cool completely. 

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 6 tbs butter, melted
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • Heavy cream or milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter and powdered sugar.  Add cream or milk, 1 tbs at a time, to get the consistency you want.  Stir in vanilla.  Frost cookies.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Go Bills!!!