Black cocoa Reese’s Pieces Cookies

I had some Reese’s pieces I want to use to, so I thought putting them in some black cocoa cookies would work just fine.  I also had a few mini m&Ms left so I tossed them in too, along with milk chocolate chips. Feel free to use whatever mix-ins you want.  You cam also use unsweetened or special dark baking cocoa.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your mmeasuring cup so you get the right amount (same goes for the cocoa).  I also recommend chilling the individual doughs for a few hours.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 2/3 cup black cocoa
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups of mix-ins (Reese’s pieces, m&ms, chocolate chips etc)

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Fold in mix-ins.  Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Chill for a few hours.  Preheat oven for 20 minutes before baking.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on prepared sheet. 

This is how I stagger cookies

Bake at  350 degrees 10 to 12 minutes.  Cool completley.  Store in covered container.  If cookies seem to gushy, pop in fridge to firm them up.

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

Cosmic brownie cookies

To celebrate the start of the NCAA basketball tournament as well as the Division 3 frozen 4 (which is being held 10 minutes from where we live), I made cosmic brownie cookies.  They are like the little debbie cosmic brownies, which I loved as a child, in cookie form.  I used dark chocolate chips and black cocoa, but you can certainly use semisweet chips and regular baking cocoa.

Reminders – scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend scooping out and freezing individual dough mounds before baking.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes once you are ready to bake.

  • Ingredients list
  • 12 tbs butter
  • 1 1/3 cups dark chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/3 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup black cocoa
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt

Directions – in a microwave safe bowl, melt butter and dark chocolate chips in 45 second increments until you can stir it all smooth.  Add brown sugar and sugar.  Beat in one egg at a time.  Add vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Scoop out 3 tbs of dough.  Freeze a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Bake 13 to 15 minutes.  Tops will be a little gushy.  Cool completely.   Pop in fridge to firm them up.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup black cocoa
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup warm water

Combine ingredients and frost cooled cookies.  Sprinkle with m&ms. 

Store in covered container.

Reese’s Pieces-peanut M&M chocolate cookies stuffed with Reese’s pb cups

Well, sadly, on this football friday #20, I am not anxiously awaiting a Bills game this weekend. My guys are not playing. It is weird not to be getting excited for one of our games. Honestly, it It is a shock to my system how sudden the season can end this time of year.

Today’s treat is a chocolate cookie,with peanut butter chips, peanut m&ms and stuffed with a Reese’s peanut butter Christmas tree (I still have a lot left over from the holidays and they are good until August). Of course if peanut butter is not your bag, you can use chocolate chips, m&m’s and stuff them with oreos (or keep them plain).

A plain ore for Rob!

Remember to scoop your flour and cocoa from your container into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. I ran out of time to chill the individual cookie dough pieces, but I would next time in hopes of them spreading less. Also, preheat your oven before baking.

Melt your chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 45 second increments until you can stir smooth.

  • Ingredients list
  • 10 tbs butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 2/3 cups chocolate chips, melted
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup baking cocoa
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 bag peanut butter chips (10 oz)
  • 1 bag peanut butter m&ms (9 oz)

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Completely blend in melted chocolate. Fold in dry ingredients. Mix in chips and m&ms. Scoop out 1 1/3 tbs dough (I used a cookie scoop) and slightly flatten

Place a Reese’s tree on top

Top with another flattened 1 1/3 tbs dough

Seal edges

Stagger on prepared cookie sheet.

Bake 10 to 13 minutes, no longer. Cool completely. Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today. Wishing you a day of love, joy and peace.

Magic cookies (hello dollies cookies)

This is a simple recipe – only 5 ingredients (4 if you want to omit the walnuts). They are like magic cookie bars (or Hello dollies as I call them), but in cookie form. My advice is do not bake them longer than 10 minutes and remember to leave them on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes before removing them so they firm up a bit.

  • Ingredients list
  • 4 sheets of graham crackers finely crushed
  • 1 cup chocolate chips (you can also use different flavors, i.e., milk, white etc)
  • 1/2 cup finely ground walnuts (or other nuts or you can omit)
  • 1 1/2 cups coconut
  • 1 can condensed milk (14 oz)

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl. Combine crushed graham crackers, chips, nuts, coconut and condensed milk. Scoop out 1/3 cups of dough (I used a cookie scoop). I got nine cookies. Stagger on prepared cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes (no longer). Let set for 10 minutes. Remove and cool completely. Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today! I wish you a day filled with peace, joy and happiness. Remember to be kind. ❤️💙

Chocolate cheesecake with an oreo crust

I asked Rob what he wanted for Thanksgiving dinner this year, and he said lasagna. He despises turkey and the rest of the Thanksgiving fixings, so the last few Thanksgivings I have worked and we have had lasagna for our dinner on 🦃day. And when it came to dessert, Rob requested chocolate cheesecake. I think I do pretty well, even though I am new to making cheesecakes. (Cheesecake factory has nothing to worry about though) 😉

I pre-baked the oreo crust for 10 minutes because that is what I see people recommending online for cheesecake crusts. Something about keeping the crust from getting soggy.

Here is a peek at the oreo crust
  • Crust ingredients
  • 24 oreos, finely crushed
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line the inside of a 10 inch springform pan with tin foil on the bottom and halfway up the sides. In a bowl, combine crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes. While crust is in the oven, prepare cheesecake.

  • Cheesecake ingredients
  • 24 ounces cream cheese, softened (I used neufchatel, which is softer, less calories, and lower fat)
  • 14 ounce can condensed milk
  • 12 ounce semisweet chocolate chips, melted
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, beat cream cheese smooth. Add condensed milk. Blend in melted chocolate. Beat in one egg at a time. Stir in vanilla. Pour over crust. Bake 70 minutes at 300 degrees. Remove from oven. Cool completely. Store covered in fridge.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Wishing you peace and happiness. And please, remember to be kind.

Mini M&M chocolate chip cookies for football Friday #11

I was a little short on time tonight, so I made mini M&M chocolate chip cookies, using crisco and butter crisco. By using crisco instead of butter, I did not need to chill the dough to keep them puffy.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. Also preheat your oven to 375 degrees for 20 minutes before baking.

  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup butter crisco
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbs water
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup mini m&ms
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, cream crisco, butter crisco, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, water and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients. Mix in chips and m&ms. Scoop out 3 tbs of dough and form tall cylinders. Stagger on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 11 minutes. Bottoms will be golden. Cookies will be a little undone on top, but will firm up as they cool. Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to be kind because everyone is fighting some sort of battle. Go Bills!

Tollhouse cake mix bars

I had 2 yellow cake mixes that are expiring in a few days, so I decided to whip them up and make them into tollhouse bars and frost them with a simple vanilla frosting. Of course, I frosted them when they were warm, so they will be gushy. I think these will go over well at work tomorrow

These use 2 cake mixes, 4 eggs, chocolate chips, 1/2 cup flour, 1 tsp vanilla, and 12 tbs of butter, melted.

  • Ingredients
  • 2 yellow cake mixes
  • 12 tbs butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – spray a 9×13 pan with baking spray. Preheat oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes so it cycles to the right temp. In a bowl, blend cake mixes, flour, melted butter, eggs and vanilla. Blend in chips. Spread evenly into pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes (edges will be golden). Cool completely. Store in covered container.

Brownies stuffed with a whole lotta stuff

These brownies are a creation of my hubby, who discovered “junk bars” at a local cafe. They seemed to be a layer of brownies, topped with magic cookie bars, oreos, marshmallows and then another layer of brownies. So I went to work and tried to make the same thing.

These are very thick. They took 45 to 50 minutes to bake.

A reminder to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. Also preheat your oven for 20 minutes before baking so it cycles to the right temp.

  • Brownies ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup baking cocoa
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 cups flour

Directions – line a 9×13 pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray. in a bowl, combine melted butter, baking cocoa and sugar. Mix in eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Blend in flour and salt. Spread half of mixture evenly in bottom of prepared pan.

  • Magic cookie bar layer
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 3/4 cup coconut
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • Pieces of oreos
  • Marshmallows

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees. cream butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients. Add graham cracker crumbs. Blend in chips and coconut. Spread evenly over brownie dough.

Top with pieces of marshmallows and oreos.

Then drop blobs of remaining brownie batter on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes (toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs) cool and top with melted chocolate.

Store in covered container.

Stuffed Monster Cookies

I haven’t made stuffed cookies in a while, so I figure I would make these monster cookies and stuff them with Reese’s peanut butter cups (and also hershey kisses bc I ran out of Reese’s). You don’t need to stuff these cookies, they are just fine on their own. But I like to step things up a notch, so I stuffed ’em

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. Also, chill the individual cookie dough to prevent spreading. And preheat the oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes so it cycles to the right temp.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 3 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 2 cups m&ms
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • Reeses pb cups or other candy,unwrapped

Directions – cream butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend in flour, cornstarch, and baking soda. Mix in oats. Fold in chips and m&ms. Scoop out 1/4 cup dough. Divide in half. Slightly flatten one half.

Place 1 Reese’s on top.

Place other flattened half of dough on top.

Cover Reese’s completley.

Chill a few hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Stagger cookies on sheet.

Bake 12 to 14 minutes (no longer). Cool completely. Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Oreo magic cookie bars (hello dollies)

My hubby, who is certainly not a huge fan of coconut, asked if I could make “junk bars,” a treat he saw at a local bakery. I had no idea what they were. He said they had a brownie oreo crust and had coconut. A Yahoo search (yup I utilize yahoo) turned up nothing. So I wondered if he meant Hello dollies/magic cookie bars. So instead of a gram cracker crust, I used an oreo crust. They are very easy to put together. And you can have a very sweet treat in no time!

I used a food processor to crush the oreos. You could also put them in a freezer bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

  • Ingredients list
  • 20 oreos, finely crushed
  • 4 tbs butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate whips
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 14 oz can condensed milk (no substitutions)
  • 1 cup coconut
  • 12 oreos, finely crushed

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 pan with tin foil. In a bowl, combine butter and 20 crushed oreos. Press into prepared pan. In a bowl, combine the 3 kinds of chips, condensed milk, coconut, and the remaining 12 crushed oreos. Spread over crust. Bake 25 to 28 minutes. Cool completely. Store in covered container.