Oreo cheesecake topped with cookies and cream mousse and chocolate ganache

After a rough sunday in Miami, I am making a plea to the football gods for my Bills for week 11 and am doing so with this request from my husband and a copycat of the cheesecake factory oreo dream extreme cheesecake.

This does take some time, but is worth it.  I used neufactel cheese, which is lower fat and lower calorie, so I added some cornstarch to help firm up the cheesecake layer.

  • Flourless Cake  ingredients
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 8 tbs butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

Directions – preheat oven to 375 degrees.  in a microwave safe bowl, heat chocolate chips and butter in 45 second increments until you can stir smooth.  Add sugar, salt, and vanilla.  Blend in eggs well.  Line a 9″ round pan with parchment paper.  Evenly spread batter into pan.   Bake 18 to 22 minutes.  Cool completely

  • Ganache ingredients list
  • 2 cups chocolate chips
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Directions – in a microwave safe bowl, heat cream for 3 minutes.  Add chips.  Let sit for 5 minutes.  Stir smooth.   Place in fridge.

  • Cheesecake ingredients
  • 24 oz cream cheese (I used neufactel,  which is softer and lower calorie and lower fat)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tbs flour
  • 6 tbs cornstarch (if you are using neufactel or low fat cream cheese)
  • 3/4 cup greek yogurt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 yolk
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 12 to 16 Oreo cookies

Directions – preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line a 9 inch springform pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.  In a bowl, cream cream cheese, sugar and flour (and cornstarch if you are using a lower fat cheese).  Blend in Greek yogurt and vanilla.  Fold in eggs and yolk.  Pour 1/3 into prepared pan.  Top with 6 to 8 oreos and press down gently.  Top with a other third of batter and gently press 6 to 8 oreos on top.  Top with remaining third of batter.  Bake 55 to 60 minutes (middle jiggles a little and edges are set).  Turn off oven.   Crack oven and leave cheesecake in for an hour.  Transfer to fridge for a few hours.

  • Cookies and cream mousse
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • Crushed oreos (8 to 10)

Directions – in a bowl, whip cream amd powdered sugar to stiff peaks.  Blend in crushed oreos.    Put in fridge.

When ready to assemble – beat chilled ganache for a few minutes so it is spreadable.   Place flourless cake on a plate.  Spread a thin layer of ganache on top.  Gently place cheesecake on top of ganache layer.   Smooth oreo mousse on top of cheesecake layer.  Use rest of ganache on top and sides.  Store in fridge.

  • Layer list
  • Flourless cake
  • Thin ganache layer
  • Cheesecake
  • Cookies and cream layer
  • Frost entire thing with rest of ganache

Thanks for stopping by today!

Frosted Churro Cookies

One of today’s treats are frosted Churro cookies.  Basically a sugar cookie sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and topped with buttercream frosting.  I actually have an electric, plug in churro maker – similar to a foreman grill.  Yet I have never used it!  one of several kitchen gadgets i bought but rarely use, or have ever used

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right eight amount.   chilled them smushed doughs overnight to keep them thick.  Preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 2 1/2 -2 3/4 cups flour
  • Water (might need a tbs or 2 if dough seems too dry)
  • Cinnamon sugar mixture

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, oil, powdered sugar, egg and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Add a tbs or 2 of water if dough seems too dry.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.   Spray the bottom of a drinking glass with pam.  Dip bottom of glass in sugar.  Slightly flatten.  Sprinkle top of cookie with cinnamon sugar.   Chill a few hours. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350.   Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies.  Bake 9 to 11 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

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

Combine ingredients in a bowl.  Frost cookies. 

Store in covered container. 

Snowball triple chip cookies

I wanted to do a different kind of chocolate chip cookie.  These use granulated sugar and  powdered sugar instead of brown sugar.  I used 3 kinds of chips – semisweet, white and milk chocolate.

Remember to scoop your flour and powdered sugar from their containers into your measuring cups so you get the right amount.  Also I recommend chilling the individual doughs for several hours before baking.   And preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 5 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup white chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, oil, sugar and powdered sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.   Fold in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill doughs several hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Stagger cookies on sheet, like below.

Gently press extra chips on top.

Bake 8 to 11 minutes.  Bottoms will be golden brown.  Tops will be a little gushy,  but will firm up as they cool. 

Sprinkle with powdered sugar. 

Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Frosted funfetti cookies, Halloween style, and happy birthday Rachel!

These are a request from my coworker friend Rachel for her birthday.  These are funfetti cookies, Halloween style.  I used these  Halloween sprinkles in the cookies.

And used these on top of the frosting.

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 doughs for a few hours before baking.  And, preheat the oven before baking.

If you don’t have cake batter extract, you can substitute vanilla for it.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp cake batter extract
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tbs cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup sprinkles

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and extracts.  Fold in dry ingredients.   Mix in sprinkles.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on it.  Bake 11 to 13 minutes.  They will likely be a little gushy on top.  Pop them in the fridge to firm them up.

For the frosting i added 1/4 cup homemade white chocolate powder (ground up chocolate chips, powdered milk, powdered sugar and granulated sugar).  Of course, you can leave it out.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp cake batter extract (or vanilla)
  • 2 tbs heavy cream or milk

Combine and frost cookies.  Sprinkle with sprinkles! 

Store in covered container.

Chocolate frosted peanut butter sugar cookies

Another variation of a sugar cookie,  this time with peanut butter.  And chocolate frosting instead of melted milk chocolate.  These are nice and thick and sweet!

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 doughs for a few hours so they spread less.  And preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 2 tbs vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2  cup plus 2 tbs sugar
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbs greek yogurt
  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • Extra sugar

Direction – in a bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, sugar, vegetable oil, and powdered sugar.  Mix in cream of tartar, salt and baking soda.  Add egg, vanilla and Greek yogurt.   Blend in flour.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Roll into a ball.  Spray the bottom of a drinking glass with cooking spray and slightly flatten dough ball.  Sprinkle with extra sugar.  Chill a few hours.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 10 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients list
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 tbs greek yogurt
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tbs unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 2 tbs heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – in a bowl, mix butter, Greek yogurt, powdered sugar and cocoa.   Add heavy cream and vanilla.   Frost cookies.  Store in covered container in fridge to firm up. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Frosted lemon sugar cookies

Changing things up with a non chocolate treat today – lemon sugar cookies with lemon frosting.   And I stepped it up by using lemon juice from actual lemons, as opposed to bottled lemon juice.

Remember to scoop your flour and powdered sugar from their respective bags into your measuring cups so you get the right amount. I also recommend chilling the individual doughs to keep them from spreading too much.  And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 plus 2 tbs vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tbs sugar
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp water
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbs lemon zest
  • 1 egg
  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Direction – in a bowl, cream butter, vegetable oil, sugar, and powdered sugar.   blend in  lemon juice, zest and eggs.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Spray the bottom of a drinking glass with pam and gently flatten cookies (not too flat).  Sprinkle with sugar.  

Chill a few hours. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Kine a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 9 to 11 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 2 tbs butter, melted
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • The juice of one lemon, squeezed

Combine ingredients.  Frost cookies. 

Store in covered container in fridge.

M&M sugar cookies (made with brown sugar because I ran out of granulated sugar)

I wanted to make m&m sugar cookies and frost them.   All well and good, but i did not realize I was out of granulated sugar.   That has NEVER happened to me.  Not sure how I let that happen.   So I just subbed in brown sugar entirely for the granulated sugar.  And, I went and bought 2 huge bags of granulated sugar for future baking.

So I am only bringing in half of these tomorrow, with vanilla frosting.  The other half I will bake in a few days and frost them with chocolate frosting.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the correct amount (same goes for the powdered sugar).  chill your individual doughs and form them even taller before baking to keep them puffy. And preheat your oven before baking

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/4 powdered sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 5 tbs water
  • 2 tbs vanilla
  • 5 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup m&ms

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, oil, sugar and powdered sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla and water.  Blend in dry ingredients.   (It was a little humid the day i made these, so I added an extra cup of flour.  Your call if you want to do that).  Blend in m&ms.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet, form mounds a little taller.  Bake 11 to 14 minutes.  Bottoms with be lightly golden, tops might be a little gushy, but will be fine.   Cool completely.   

  • Frosting ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbs milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla.

Directions- in a bowl, blend all ingredients well.  Frost cooled cookies.   Store in covered container.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Peanut butter black and tan cookies

I wanted to make a different version of the black and white/ half moon cookies.  Honestly, I don’t know the difference between the two.  Anyways, I opted for a  peanut butter cookie base and used a peanut butter frosting and 2 chocolate frosting. One is  with milk chocolate chips and I didn’t make enough, so I made a second batch with unsweetened baking cocoa.  I never get the amount of frosting right.  Either too much or too little.  Ugh.  Oh and while taking a picture for this blog, I dropped a cookie on the floor.  Gracie was not fast enough to get it before i tossed it in the garbage.

For the buttermilk, I used a sacco mix with water.  You can also add 1 tbs or lemon juice or white wine vinegar to the 2/3 cup of milk, let it sit for 5 minutes and that also makes buttermilk.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I also chilled the mounds of dough for a few hours before baking and shaped them a little taller to prevent from spreading as much.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees before baking.  And don’t bake longer than 12 to 13 minutes.  Tops may be a little gushy, but after they cool, pop them in the fridge to help firm them up.

  • Cookie ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, peanut butter and sugar.  Add eggsand vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients then buttermilk.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and chill a few hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and stagger cookies.  Bake 12 to 14 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

  • Chocolate glaze
  • 2/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 tbs butter
  • 1 tbs corn syrup

Directions – melt chips and butter.   Add corn syrup

  • Peanut butter glaze
  • 1/3 cup peanut butter
  • 3 tbs butter, soft
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tbs heavy cream

Blend together.

Place completely cooled cookies flat side up.  Frost one side with peanut butter frosting, the other with chocolate frosting.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Week 3 victory treats – Little debbie cosmic brownie cookies

Another win in the books for the Bills.  One worthy of not one, but two victory treats.  These are a cookie version of little debbie cosmic brownies, one of my all time favorite treats as a kid.   instead of a ganache like topping, I went with a fudge frosting topping.   Not sure if love this frosting.  I may try a different chocolate frosting next time.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Chill your dough for a few hours and preheat your oven before baking so it gets to the right temperature.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup crisco
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs  unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, crisco and sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients. Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies. 

Bake 11 to 16 minutes.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1 1/3 cups  chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup of butter
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1  powdered sugar

In a pot, over low-medium heat, combine ingredients, heat and stir until butter is melted.  Put in fridge until it is a spreadable consistency.  Frost cookies. Top w m&ms. 

Store in covered container

Week 3 victory treats – vanilla little debbie cookies

The other treat for the Bills win over the Dolphins – a vanilla version of little debbie brownie cookies.  I made my own white chocolate cocoa powder and used that.  I probably could have bought white chocolate cocoa at the grocery store,  but didn’t feel like going out again, so I made my own.

White chocolate cocoa ingredients

  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup instant milk powder
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup sugar

Directions – in a food processor, chop up white chips for about a minute.  Add remaining ingredients and run food processor until a fine powder forms. 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.. also, chill the dough for a few hours.  And preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup crisco
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs white chocolate cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions- in a bowl, cream crisco, butter and sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.   Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Chill a few hours. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Stagger cookies on prepared sheets. 

Bake 12 to 16 minutes.  Cool completely

These came out a lot larger than I planned!
  • White chocolate frosting ingredients
  • 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, melted
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbs heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, cream butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla.  Blend in melted white chocolate.   Frost cookies.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!