Magic Middles NFL Opening weekend 2024

Rob and I were having a discussion about old school treats from when we were younger, and I brought up Magic Middles by Keebler.  They were a shortbread cookie stuffed  with some sort of soft chocolate.  For some reason, Keebler stopped making them.  I decided to try a version of my own.  These shortbread cookies are much softer than the magic middles I remember.  I  stuffed them with a super easy fudge recipe (only 2 ingredients).

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup.  I recommend chilling or freezing the stuffed dough to keep from spreading as much.   Also, make sure your oven is preheated before baking.

  • Fudge ingredients
  • 2 cups chocolate chips
  • 14 oz can condensed milk

Line and 8×8 square pan with tin foil and spray with butter spray or vegetable spray.  Place both ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 45 second increments until you can stir smooth.   pour into prepared pan and set aside.

  • Cookie ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 tbs vegetable oil
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

In a bowl, cream butter, oil, and sugar.  Add vanilla.  Stir in salt and flour.  Blend in flour.  Mix in chips.  Scoop put 1 1/2 tbs dough and divide in half.

Scoop out a small amount of fudge and place on top of one half of dough.

Top with other flattened dough half.

Seal edges to cover fudge.

Chill or freeze doughs for a few hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 11 to 13 minutes, no longer (edges will be golden).  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Have a wonderful day.   And…..

Go Bills!

Does oatmeal make these chocolate chip cookies healthy?

Confession – These are huge cookies because I got a late start and used my quarter cup scoop to make the baking process go faster.  I also didn’t have a chance to chill the dough.  So I cut them in half after they cooled down and brought them into work. 

Does oatmeal make them healthier? 😉

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

Directions – in a bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Mix in vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla.   Fold in chips.  Scoop out quarter cups of dough.  I recommend chilling the dough for a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies in a row of 2, one, two and one, as seen below.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes.  Bottoms will be browned.  Tops may be gushy, but let the cookies cool and pop them in the fridge to firm up. 

Store in covered container.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you have a wonderful day.  Remember to be kind.  Everyone is fighting some sort of battle.

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!

Chocolate chip cookie bars for Sara’s sweet 16

Tomorrow is my goddaughter Sara’s sweet 16 birthday party.  When I asked her what I could bring, she asked for these.  Very simple to make.   I can’t believe she is 16 already.  Seems like yesterday, I met and held her for the first time.  Time goes by too fast!

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed into a measuring cup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups flour, scooped from the flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the correct amount
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.   Set aside.  In a bowl, cream butter, shortening, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.   Mix in 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips.  Evenly spread in prepared pan.  Evenly sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips.  Gently press down on top of dough.  Bake  17 to 20 minutes (edges will be golden).  Cool completely.   Store in covered container. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I wish you a day of joy, peace and happiness.   If you make these, let me know how they turn out. 

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie day 2024!

I thought we already had national chocolate chip cookie day this year, but I saw yesterday that it is August 4th, which is today.    I already had funfetti cookies stuffed with golden oreos, but still whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookies, also including white and milk chocolate chips.  These are made with browned butter and bread flour.  I used a bread flour recipe bc it is terribly humid, again, and I was hoping to keep the cookies from spreading.  I also froze the dough mounds for that same reason. The first batch did not spread at all.  They are large blobs and a little doughy, so I popped them in the fridge. 

These might be a little too puffy!

I have a few different cookie pans, so it might have been that.  😀

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend chilling the individual  dough cookies for a few hours.  Also preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, browned and cooled 10 min
  • 1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbs heavy cream or milk
  • 2 1/2 cups bread flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup white chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions – pour browned butter in a mixing bowl.  Mix in brown sugar and sugar.  Blend in egg, yolk, vanilla and cream/milk.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Stagger cookies on sheet.   Bake 10 to 12 minutes.   Tops will likely be gushy.  Place them in fridge to firm them up.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Wishing you a wonderfully, happy day!

Chocolate triple chip cookies

Another hot, humid day, so why not turn on the oven to bake cookies? 😉

Today, I present chocolate triple chip cookies.  And I topped them with melted chocolate because I have a million hershey kisses in the house.

Melted chocolate makes everything better!

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 7 tbs butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tbs sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbs heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1/2 tbs cornstarch
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 baking soda
  • 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup semisweer chocolate chips

Directions – Pour melted butter in a bowl, add sugar and brown sugar.  Mix in egg, vanilla, and heavy cream. Blend in dry ingredients, then chips.  Scoop out 1 1/3 tbs dough (I used a cookie scoop).   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners. Stagger cookie doughs on prepared sheet.    Bake 8-9 minutes, no longer.   Cool completely.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you have a day of joy, peace and contentment.

Chocolate chip cookie topped brownies

Instead of putting a brownie inside a chocolate chip cookie, I went with more of a brookie (brownie plus cookie) approach.  I made a recipe of a batch of brownies for a 9×13 pan, as well as a recipe for a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  I spread the brownie dough in the pan and then gently pressed blobs of cookie dough on top.  I probably took them out a little sooner than I should have, so I put them in the fridge after they completely cooled down to firm up a bit more.

For the cookie recipe, you will only need half of the dough to top the brownies.  I used the other half and stuffed them with oreos.  Also, I used some homemade maple syrup.  You can use honey or corn syrup.

Remember to scoop your flour and your cocoa from your bag/container into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.

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

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9×13 pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.  In a bowl, combine butter and baking cocoa.  Mix smooth.  Add sugar, salt, eggs (one at a time) and vanilla.  Blend in four and baking powder.  Evenly spread into prepared pan

  • Chocolate chip cookie dough ingredients (you will only need about half of this recipe.  Use the rest as you wish)
  • 1 cup butter, melted and cooled 10 minutes
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup/corn syrup/honey
  • 3 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1-2 cups chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate for these)

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter, sugar, and brown sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla, and maple syrup.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Fold in chips.  Scoop out 2 tbs of dough and place on top of brown batter in pan.  Gently press down. 

Bake in oven preheated to 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes (toothpick inserted in brownie batter basically comes out clean).  (I would not bake longer than 35 minutes, though, because the edges may get too crispy.)  Cool completely. (If the brownies seem doughy after you cut them, pop them in the fridge, in a covered container.)  Store in covered container. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Another chocolate chip cookie recipe (this one with condensed milk)

It’s 90 and humid out, so why not turn on the oven and bake cookies?  These are another chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I made them with condensed milk, an ingredient  I have seen used in various brownie recipes.  so i tried it here!   I froze the individual cookie doughs before baking bc I was hoping it would help avoid having them spread.  It did.  These are pretty big and perhaps a little gushy.   I will pop them in the fridge to help them firm up.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend chilling the individual doughs for a few hours at least.  And as always, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup condensed milk (almost all of a 14 oz can)
  • 4 1/3 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Blend in condensed milk.  Slowly fold in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill or freeze a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger chilled/frozen cookie doughs on prepared sheet like below.. 

Bake 10 minutes, no longer.  Tops will be gushy,  but bottoms will be browned.   Cool completely.  Chill to firm up if you want.  store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I wish you a day of joy and peace. 

Sheet pan Blondies -Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

What’s better a batch of Blondies/Chocolate Chip cookie bars?  A sheet pan batch!   Because a sheet pan recipe makes so much more.  And if you are going to bake when it’s 100 degrees and humid, you may as well make it worth your while!

Also I wonder what makes a treat a blondie as opposed to chocolate chip?  Perhaps melted butter or extra brown sugar. 

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, melted and cooled 15 minutes
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 yolks
  • 2 tbs milk/water
  • 3 1/2 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet (13×18 inches) with parchment paper and spray with baking spray.  In a bowl, combine melted butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, yolks, vanilla and milk.  Mix in dry ingredients.  Fold in chips.  Evenly press into prepared pan.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly golden on top.  Be careful not to overbake or they will dry out. If you feel they are undercooked, just let them cool completley and pop them in your fridge for a while to firm them up.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  Wishing you a day of peace, love and joy!

Hot cocoa cookie sandwiches (Oreos included)

I was looking to use up some hot cocoa so in addition to making brownies, I made these cookies.  I didn’t have time to chill the dough, so they spread a lot.  Because of that,  I made them into sandwiches.

Scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also, I recommend chilling this dough for a few hours.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup hot cocoa
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 10 oreos, crushed
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • (You can add marshmallow bits too if you want)

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco, sugar and brown sugar.  Add egg ans vanilla.   Stir in dry ingredients.  Fold in chips and oreos.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.  Line a sheet with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes.  Cool completely.   Cut each in half.

  • Filling ingredients
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup marshmallow fluff
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • Milk or heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – in a bowl, blend together butter and fluff.  Slowly mix in powdered sugar.  Add enough milk or cream to get the consistency you want.  Add vanilla.  Spread between 2 cookies like this

Thanks so much for stopping by today!