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.

Beyond XL milk chocolate chip chocolate cookies

A chocolate treat request from Rob ahead of game five of the NHL’s Eastern Conference Final.   These are very large chocolate cookies with milk chocolate chips.   I made them a lot larger than usual so I cooked them at a higher temperature (410).   These only need 9 minutes to bake, max.  They may seem undone, but the bottoms will be cooked enough.  I let them cool completely and then  popped them in the fridge to firm up a bit.  I cut them into smaller chunks because these cookies are about  as big as my fist. 

Remember to scoop your flour and baking cocoa from their respective containers into measuring cups so you get the right amount.  I also popped these in the freezer for 20 minutes to help prevent spreading. And preheat your oven to 410 degrees for 20 minutes before baking.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, cold and shredded with a cheese grater or cut into tiny cubes
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 5 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips (plus extra if you want to roll tops of cookies in more chips)

Directions- in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients. (It may take a while for dough to come together.  I mixed in  half the flour with the cocoa, baking soda, cornstarch and salt, then I added the rest of the flour).  Fold in chips.  Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and form tall mounds.  Roll tops of cookies into additional chips if you want.  Freeze 20 minutes while you preheat oven to 410 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Place 4 cookies on a sheet and bake (I only baked 4 at a time).  Bake 8 to 9 min (no longer).  Cool completely.    Pop in the fridge for a half hour or so.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Wishing you a day of peace, love and happiness.

XL chocolate cake

I have a litany of baking items I rarely use – like a twinkie pan, whoopie pie pan, churr bake, cake pop maker and this 18×13 cake pan that I bought I long time ago for some reason.  So I put that 18×13 cake pan to use today and make a very large chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (hersheys recipe).  I am bringing in to work tomorrow for my espn radio friends working on Memorial Day.

You can also use a standard 9×13 pan, but obviously,  your cake will be thicker and take longer to bake (maybe check after 25 to 30 minutes, with the toothpick test)

  • Ingredients
  • 2 cups flour (scooped from flour bag into your measuring cups so you get the right amount)
  • 2 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups hot water or coffee (coffee can bring out extra chocolate flavor)

Directions – line  a 18×13 pan with parchment paper.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a bowl, blend dry ingredients together.  Mix in milk, oil, eggs and vanilla.  Blend in coffee or water.  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake 20 minutes for 18×13 pan.  Check after 25 minutes for 9×13 pan (toothpick will come out with moist crumbs).  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vania

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter and cocoa.  Blend in powdered sugar and milk.  With a hand mixer, beat to desired consistency.  Blend in vanilla.  Frost cake.  Store in covered container.

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

Brownie stuffed peanut butter cookies

The other cookies I made using small brown squares – peanut butter!   Few things go together like peanut butter and chocolate.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into you measuring cup so you get the right amount.   Chill your brownie stuffed cookie dough overnight to prevent spreading.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees for 20 minutes so it cycles to the right temp.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbs milk
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Brownies cut into 1 inch squares

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco and peanut butter.  Blend in sugar and brown sugar.  Add egg, vanilla, and milk.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Scoop out 2 tbs dough.  Divide in half and slightly flatten. Place a brownie piece between 2 flattened halves and seal edges around brownie.  Chill a few hours or overnight.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees for 20 minutes.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes (no longer).  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Reese’s Egg filled Monster cookies

I saw the super XL size of Reese’s eggs at BJ’s and felt I HAD to buy them.  I think because they’re the world’s best candy.  I know Reese’s has the classic cup, and all the holiday shaped versions,  but the eggs are the beat.

This recipe is super easy.  The cookies, though, come out huge!

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 pkg chocolate chip cookie mix
  • 1 peanut butter cookie mix
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups M&Ms
  • 1 1/2 cups quick cook oats (not prepared)
  • Reese’s eggs!!

Direction – preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  In a bowl, combine cookie mixes.  Blend in butter and eggs.  Fold in oats, then M&Ms.  Scoop out 4 tbs dough and form around Reese’s eggs.  Stagger on prepared sheets.  Bake 12 to 13 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake

I noticed about abundance of neufactel cheese in our fridge (I buy it instead of cream cheese to bake with because it has   a lot less fat and calories), so I asked Rob if he wanted a chocolate cheesecake or a regular cheesecake with stuff in it.  He chose option b and the stuff he chose – chocolate chip cookie dough.  

Use a springform pan with this recipe.  I have 8, 9 and ten inch.  I went with the  nine inch pan this time.

The neufactel does make the cheesecake softer.  You can certainly use regular full fat cream cheese if you’d like.

**** I recommend lining your springform with tin foil and spraying it.  I also placed a cookie sheet directly under the springform pan as the cheesecake cooked in the oven.  

  • Cookie dough ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 tbs milk
  • 1 1/2 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl,  cream butter, brown sugar and sugar.  Add vanilla and milk.  Fold in flour.  Stir in chips.  Scoop out 1/2 tbs of dough.  Roll into balls.  Place on a tray and freeze at least 15 minutes.  As the doughs freeze, make your cheesecake

  • Crust ingredients
  • 3 cups finely crushed oreos
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 5 tbs butter, melted

Directions – line a 9 inch springform pan and spray with baking spray.  in a bowl, combine ingredients.  Press into prepared pan.  Place in fridge while you make cheesecake mixture

  • Cheesecake ingredients
  • 32 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tbs flour
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 yolk
  • 1 tbs vanilla

Directions- remove cookie doughs from freezer and set aside.   Remove cookie crust from.fridge and set aside.  in a bowl, cream sugar, flour and cream cheese.  Add heavy cream.  Blend in eggs, yolk and vanilla.  Mix in cookie doughs.  Spread evenly over cookie crust.  Place cookie sheet in oven and Place cheesecake in springform pan on top.  Bake 55 to 60 minutes.  Edges will be golden, middle will be a little wobbly.  Turn oven off.  Leave door ajar.  Let cheesecake stay in oven for one hour.  Remove from oven and cover.  Place in fridge for an hour.  Remove from springform pan.   Store in fridge.  This keeps for about a week.

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

Cutout sugar cookies for Valentine’s Day

This cookie is my all-time favorite to make, and I use it all throughout the year because I have a billion cookie cutters for each season.  Plus, it brings back many memories of baking with my mom and they were my dad’s favorite cookie. 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I also recommend chilling the dough for a few hours or overnight.  And most importantly, remember to use plenty of flour on your countertop when rolling out the dough so it doesn’t stick when you use your cookie cutters.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups crisco
  • 1 1/3 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tbs vanilla
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt

Directions – in a bowl,  cream crisco and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients.  Cover and store for a few hours or overnight.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Sprinkle plenty of flour on the  surface you will roll out the dough.   I like the cookies on the thicker side.  Roll out dough and cut.  Bake 6 to 8 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

Frosting – combine 1/2 cup softened butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla and 1 to 4 tbs milk.  You may add more or less powdered sugar to get the consistency you want.  Color as desired.  Frost cookies. Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Puffy peanut butter cookies topped with melted Hershey Kisses

For treat #2 of Super Bowl at ESPN Radio, I present puffy peanut butter cookies topped with melted hershey kisses.  Usually they are topped with a hershey kiss, but I decided to melted a bunch this time instead 🙂

Also delicious without chocolate!

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

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup crisco
  • 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 tbs milk
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt

Directions –  preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  .  in a bowl, cream crisco, peanut butter, brown sugar, and sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla, and milk.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Scoop out 3 to 4 tbs dough and form tall cylinders.   Roll in sugar.  Stagger on prepared cookie sheets.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes (no longer).  Cool completely.   Top with melted chocolate.  Store in covered container.

Thank you for stopping by today!

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.

Chocolate chip cutout cookies

Wrapping up my Christmas cookie cutouts with a chocolate chip version. These are awesome and a fun variation of cutouts. Use mini chocolate chips to make it easier to use your cookie cutters!

Honestly, I make sandwich cookies with cutouts because my decorating skills are a disaster!

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. Also, preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking so it cycles to the right temp.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tbs water
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1/8 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chip

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add eggs, water and vanilla. Slowly blend in dry ingredients. Fold in chips. Sprinkle your countertop with flour. Roll out the dough and cut. Place cutouts on prepared sheets. Bake 6 to 8 minutes, depending on thickness of cookies. Do not bake longer. Cool and frost or use frosting between 2 cookies for sandwich cookies.

Santa!

Thanks for stopping by today!