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!

Black cocoa brownies with peanut butter chips and black cocoa frosting

I could not bring in just one treat for a Bills victory Monday tomorrow.   So Rob suggested black cocoa brownies with peanut butter chips and black cocoa frosting.  Black cocoa is what makes oreos taste like oreos.  I found some on Amazon that I like to use.  Of course, my hershey’s classic is my standby/old faithful, but the black cocoa is nice to use once in a while.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 /2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup corn syrup or honey
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup flour (scooped from your bag into your measuring cup)
  • 1/3 cup black cocoa
  • 1 cup peanut butter chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350.  Line an 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.  Set aside.  In a bowl, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar and corn syrup/honey.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in flour and black cocoa.  Fold in chips.  Evenly spread into prepared pan.  Bake 13 to 17 minutes (toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs).  Immediately start prepping frosting.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 3 tbs butter softened
  • 3 tbs black cocoa
  • 1 tsp corn syrup or honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 to 6 tsp milk
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Directions – in a bowl, blend butter and cocoa.  Add vanilla and corn syrup/honey.  Mix in powdered sugar.  Blend in enough milk to get the consistency you want.   Frost warm brownies.  Let cool completely.  Cut and store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Go Bills!

Half Moon/Black and White Cookies

These cookies are magical.  A soft cake-like vanilla cookies with one half frosted with vanilla buttercream, the other frosted with a chocolate fudge frosting.  I actually made these smaller than a traditional half moon/bw cookie and they are still pretty big

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

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 tbs baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup milk

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a bowl, cream shortening and sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients and milk.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Scoop out 2 tbs dough and place on sheet.  Leave some space bc these spread.  Bake 9 to 11 minutes.  Cool completely.

  • Buttercream frosting ingredients
  • 4 tbs butter, softened
  • 2 tbs shortening
  • 1 3/4  cups powdered sugar
  • 2 to 3 tbs milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, cream butter and shortening, add powdered sugar.  Stir in milk and vanilla.

  • Fudge frosting
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2  tbs butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tbs corn syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2  tbs very hot water

In a microwave safe bowl,  chips and butter in 30 sec increments.   Blend in remaining ingredients. You can add more powdered sugar or hot water to get the consistency you want.

To frost, turn the cookies flat side up, like below

frost one half with vanilla, the other with chocolate.  Chill to set frosting.  Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today!

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!

Sugar cookie sandwiches

I needed a part 2 for my treats to bring to work today, so I went with sugar cookie sandwiches.   I meant to color the frosting blue but accidentally grabbed the green tube.  Not that it matters!

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups flour (scooped from flour bag into measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 2 tsp baking powder

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.    In a bowl, cream butter and sugar.   Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in flour and baking powder.  Scoop out 2 tbs dough and roll into a ball.  Stagger onto prepared sheets.  These spread out a little.  Slightly flatten each.  Bake 10 minutes.   Tops will be a little underbaked.   It is ok.  Let them cool 10 minutes and then pop them in a Tupperware container and put in fridge to cool completely.  

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/4 cup butter, softene#
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 to 2 tbs milk

In a bowl, combine butter, powdered sugar and vanilla.  Add milk.  Add more powdered sugar, if needed to get the consistency you want.  Frost between 2 cookies.  I cut the sandwiches in half.  Store in fridge for a few hours. Store in covered container.

Frosted  brownie cookies

A simple, super chocolate cookie made using a brownie mix.  They do not need to be frosted, but I chose to.. and I topped them with m&ms. 

I chilled the individual mounds of dough to keep them from spreading too much.   Also wait until the cookies are completely cooled before frosting.  I was a little impatient with the final batch and things got a little messy!

  • Ingredients list
  • 2 brownie mixes (each one I used was 18.2 oz)
  • 1/4 cup baking cocoa (scooped from cocoa container into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tbs corn syrup, honey, chocolate syrup, (or hot fudge at  room temp)

Directions – in a bowl, combine ingredients.  Scoop out 2 tbs of dough (dough is soft).  Place individual doughs in fridge for a few hours.   Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Just before baking, i formed the doughs into tall mounds.  Line cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Stagger cookies.  Bake 8 to 10 min (no longer)

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 2 cups powdered sugar (scooped from container into measuring cup)
  • 1 /2 cup baking cocoa
  • 2 to 6 tbs water (depending on consistency you want)

In a bowl, combine ingredients.   Frost completely cooked cookies.  Top with m&ms.  Store in covered container.

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

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!!!

Peanut butter frosted Peanut butter bars

For part 2 of the first round of the men’s NCAA tournament and the opening day of the women’s tournament,  I present peanut butter bars with peanut butter frosting and topped with some mini m&ms.  

Remember 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.

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

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.  In a bowl, cream crisco, brown sugar, peanut butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Evenly spread into prepared pan.  Bake 22 to 26 minutes ( no longer).  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 6 tbs  butter
  • 1/3 cup peanut butter
  • 1-2 tbs milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2m3 cups powdered sugar

Directions – in a microwave safe bowl, melt butter and peanut butter 45 seconds to 1 minutes.  Add milk and vanilla.  Blend in powdered sugar.  Add more milk if you want a thinner consistency.    Frost bars.  Cut and store in covered container.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I wish you a day of peace, happiness and love

oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

I was looking for something different to make, so I came across oatmeal chocolate chip cookies when browsing through my recipes. And I decided to frost them. Oatmeal cookies always take me back to when I was really young and my great grandmother used to always make sure she had a bag of frosted oatmeal cookies. They were crunchy and had that hard frosting on them. I can’t remember the brand, but I know they came in a blue bag and I loved them. And I adored my great grandmother. She was a wonderful, kind lady with a big heart and was an incredible cook and baker. I was blessed to know her, as well as all four of my grandparents. I have so many great memories with all of them.

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 overnight. And by the way, you don’t have to frost these. 🙂

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

Directions – in a bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Belong in oil, eggs and vanilla. Fold in chips. Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and form mounds. Chill overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Stagger cookies on sheet. Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Edges will be brown, and tops may be a little gushy. Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 to 3 tbs milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – In a bowl, blend ingredients. You may want to add more powdered sugar and /or milk to get the consistency you want. Frost cookies. Store in covered container.

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

Sugar Cookie Bars

I wanted to make cookies for work tomorrow morning as college football’s championship weekend wraps up, but I am also tired (because i put up one of our Christmas trees), so I make them into sugar cookie bars instead.

My Christmas tree topper!

Remember to scoop from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount. Preheat your oven to 35p degrees for 20 minutes before baking. And, don’t bake these longer than 10 to 12 minutes. They may seem a little doughy, but you don’t want them to dry out.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup butter crisco
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbs water
  • 1 egg
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes so your oven cycles to the right temp. Spray a 9×13 pan with baking spray. In a bowl cream crisco, butter crisco and sugar. Add egg, eater and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients. (If dough seems to sticky, add another 1/4 cup flour). Press evenly into prepared pan. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 to 6 tbs milk (depending on consistency you want)
  • 1 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, cream butter and powdered sugar. Add milk and vanilla. Frost Bars. Cut and store in covered container.