Acceptable flat chocolate chip cookies

Look at all those chips!

Usually, I prefer my cookies to be puffy, like mounds of sweet goodness. These turned out a little flatter than I prefer, but I still believe the are acceptable to serve to others. And as an extra treat, I melted milk chocolate and coated some on the bottom. Why, you ask? Just because. ☺

  • Cookie ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp hot water
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – cream butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Add eggs. In a separate cup, dissolve baking soda in water. add to sugar mixture. Mix in vanilla. Fold in dry ingredients. Stir in 1 1/2 cups chips. Form 1/4 cups of dough into mounds. Gently add extra chips (from remaining 1/2 cup) into the top of each mound. Chill dough a few hours. Preheat oven to 350 for 20 minutes. Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners. Bake 12 to 14 minutes (light golden spots on top). Cool completely. Optional – combine 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 tbs vegetable oil in a microwave safe container. Microwave in 30 second increments until you can stir smooth. Cover bottoms of cookies. Let set, upside down, until chocolate is solid. Store in covered container.

Frost the bottoms with melted chocolate!

Hat trick of cookies!

Remember to be kind. We are all going through some sort of trial. Some people’s trials are extremely heavy burdens. Give people a break. And give yourself a break too. Wishing you peace, love and happiness. ❤

King Sized Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut butter!

I needed a little something extra to bring into work tomorrow, along with my small batch of ganache-topped fudge brownies, so I thought peanut butter cookies would be a good option. I didn’t want to spend all day baking, so I opted to make only 8! And they are quite large. Instead of topping them with melted milk chocolate, I sprinkled them with sugar.

Reminders 1) spoon your flour from your flour container into your measuring cup, 2) chill the mounds of dough for a few hours before baking So the cookies don’t spread, 3) preheat your oven to 400 degrees for 20 minutes before baking so your oven cycles to the right temperature.

😋
  • Ingredients
  • 10 tbs butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • Extra sugar

Directions – cream butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Fold in dry ingredients. I actually used my hands to completely make sure the dough was blended together. Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each in sugar. Store in fridge for a few hours. Preheat oven to 400 degrees for 20 minutes. On a cookie sheet lined with nonstick baking liners, stagger cookies. Bake 10 to 13 minutes (there will be light golden patches on top and bottoms will be a light golden color). Cool completely and store in covered container.

I think Gracie had some of this cookie!

Remember to be kind. It honestly isn’t that hard. Cut people a break. We never know what is happening with other people. This is a hard time for everyone. We are all doing the best we can, each day. That includes being kind to yourself. You are loved and you matter. Wishing you peace, love and joy today. ❤

Peanut butter brownies with milk chocolate ganache

Peanut butter brownies with milk chocolate ganache

In honor of the Reese’s egg, I present a peanut butter chocolate treat on this Easter Sunday. They are peanut butter brownies made with peanut butter chips. The ganache is made with milk chocolate chips and heavy cream. If you prefer, you can use chocolate frosting or melt 1 cup of chocolate chips with 1 tbs vegetable oil in 30 second increments in a microwave safe bowl until you can stir it smooth.

  • Peanut butter brownies
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1, 10 oz bag peanut butter chips
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • Dash salt

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes to get your oven to the right temperature. Line an 8×8 pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray. In a microwave safe bowl, melt peanut butter chips and butter in 30 second increments until you can stir smooth. Add sugar and eggs. Fold in flour and salt. Spread evenly into prepared 8×8 pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes (edges will be a light golden color). Cool completely.

  • Ganache ingredients
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions – in a microwave safe bowl, heat cream for 45 seconds. Heat another 30 seconds. Pour over chips. Let sit 5 minutes. Stir smooth. Pour over cooled bars. Let set until ganache is firm. (Unlike me). Cut and store,in covered container.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a day filled with joy and love. Whatever struggles you have, I hope your burden is lightened.

White chocolate brownies with milk chocolate ganache and mini M&Ms

I wanted to bring in another treat to go along with the very large chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips. I noticed I have a few bags of white chocolate chips, so I opted for white chocolate brownies. I usually toss in some milk chocolate chips, but decided to instead make a milk chocolate ganache to put on top. And then, top it all off with mini m&ms. Because m&ms make take everything to another level.

Reminders – preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking So the oven cycles to the right temperature. Scoop your flour from your flour container into your measuring cup.

  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 bag white chocolate chips (usually 10 oz)
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips (opt)

Directions – in a microwave safe bowl, heat butter and white chocolate chips in 30 second increments until you can stir smooth. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend in sugar. Stir in flour and salt. Add milk chocolate chips, if using. Line an 8×8 pan with tin foil and spray with Pam. Spread dough evenly. Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center basically comes out clean. Brownies will be light golden on top. Cool completely.

  • Ganache ingredients
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions – heat cream in a microwave safe bowl until hot (45 seconds -1 minute). Pour over chips. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir smooth. Leave in bowl for 10 minutes or so to firm up a bit. Pour over cool brownies. Top with M&Ms.

Let ganache firm on the brownies before cutting them (or don’t and be like Rob, my husband 😏) Store in covered container.

If you are struggling with something today, remember you are not alone. I wish you kindness, peace and love. To quote the great Bruce Springsteen “tomorrow there’ll be sunshine, and all this darkness passed.”