Sugar topped puffy peanut butter cookies

Did  I like it being 40 degrees a few weeks ago while we walked Gracie in the morning?  No.   Do I like it being over 100 degrees this week?  Also, no.  But this heat  has not stopped me from baking.  These are peanut butter cookies topped with sugar.  They are for a work friend’s birthday tomorrow.

I used crisco, but you cam use butter.  Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Chill the individual  doughs at least a few hours.  Preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar (firmly packed into measuring cup)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Extra sugar for sprinkling on top

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Mix in flour, baking powder and salt.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and tip tops in extra sugar.  Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 11 to 13 minutes, no longer. Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Fudgy brownies filled with chocolate chip cookies and topped with melted Hershey Kisses

When it’s 100 degrees outside, some people may hesitate wanting to turn on their oven.  I am NOT one of those people.   So today, I made fudgy brownies, pressed pieces of chocolate chip cookie dough on top and topped them with melted hershey kisses after they are baked and cooled.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flower bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also preheat your oven before baking so it bakes these treats properly.

  • Chocolate chip cookie ingredients
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar,firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco, butter and brown sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla.   Blend in dry ingredients.  Fold in chips.  Set aside

  • Brownies ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, melted
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 1/2 cups flour (scooped from flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.  In a bowl, blend melted butter and sugar.  Add baking cocoa and vanilla, then eggs, one at a time.  Blend well.  Mix in remaining dry ingredients.   Evenly spread into prepared pan.

Spread pieces of cookie dough on top. 

Bake 27 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.  Cool completely.  

Top with melted chocolate. 

When it’s top hot to turn on the oven….

Summer officially began on Friday and it has made it’s presence known.  Here in Connecticut, like many parts of the country, it is going to be in the triple digits the next few days, with the heat index factored in.  So I decided to go with a no bake treat.  Chocolate covered peanut butter treats.  Super simple and require only a few ingredients.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter melted
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 2 sleeves graham crackers, finely crushed (2 cups finely crushed)
  • 1 3/4 – 2 cups powdered sugar (scooped from your container into your measuring cup)
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter, brown sugar and vanilla.  Blend in powdered sugar and cracker crumbs.  Scoop out 2 tbs, roll into balls and slightly flatten.  Pop in fridge for a half hour or so.  Cover with melted chocolate.  Pop back in fridge to firm up chocolate. Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Rocky Road Cookies

I know rocky road is a favorite ice cream for a lot of people, so I decided to make it in cookie form. 

Who doesn’t love chocolate, milk chocolate chips, finely ground almonds  and tiny marshmallow bits, and a cookie dough made with black cocoa so it tastes like an oreo? I would imagine very few people!

If you don’t like almonds, you can, of course, leave them out.

Below is a container of  marshmallow bits

Remember to scoop your flour and dark or unsweetened baking cocoa from the container into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  After scooping out the dough (1/4 cup), I chilled them for a few hours before baking to help keep them puffy. And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbs corn syrup
  • 2 1/2  cups flour
  • 2/3 cup black or unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup almonds, finely ground
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup mini marshmallow bits

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla and corn syrup. Blend in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips, nuts and marshmallow bits.   Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and place in fridge for a few hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookie doughs on prepared sheet. 

Bake 10 to 11 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Wishing you a day filled with peace,  joy and love.  Remember to be kind!

Peanut butter bars with Reese’s eggs, ground peanuts and peanut butter frosting

Calling all peanut butter lovers!  This is for you.  Peanut butter bars with finely ground peanuts, cut up Reese’s eggs smushed on top and frosted with peanut butter frosting.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount (same goes for the powdered sugar.  Remember to preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup oeanut butter
  • 1/2 cup butter crisco, crisco or butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup peanuts, finely ground in a food processor (opt)
  • Reese’s eggs, chopped up (opt)

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 cake pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.  Set aside.  In a bowl, cream butter crisco, sugar, brown sugar and peanut butter.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Mix in peanuts.  Evenly spread into prepared cake pan.  Gently press pieces of chopped up Reese’s eggs on top like so.

Bake for 25 minutes,  no longer.  Let cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 2 tbs milk (or more)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups powdered sugar

Combine butter and peanut butter in a small sauce pan.  Over low-medium heat, bring to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Add milk, vanilla and powdered sugar.  You may need to add more milk or powdered sugar to get the consistency you want.  Frost cooled bars.  Store in covered container.

Vanilla cake-like cookies

For my work friends who prefer vanilla treats over chocolate and are not fans of peanut butter.  These are a soft, thick vanilla cookie, with a cake like texture and topped with vanilla frosting.  Frosting is not my strength,  as you can see.  I either make it too thin or too thick.  Regardless,  I think people will enjoy the cookies!

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.   (Same goes for the powdered sugar in frosting).  Also preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup crisco (or butter, softened)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco or butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.   Scoop out 2 tbs of dough and roll into balls.  Chill doughs  for a few hours in fridge.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and stagger cookies. 

Bake 10 minutes, no longer.  Tops will be gushy.  You can firm them up in fridge or let them firm up at room temp.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 to 4 tbs milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, blend powdered sugar and 2 tbs milk and vanilla.  Add more milk ,(or powdered sugar) to get the consistency you want.  Store in covered container.

Crushed oreo cookies stuffed with Reese’s eggs

I know it is June 1st, but I still have a boatload of Reese eggs (that’s what I get for buying the big bag from BJ’s). 

They are good for a while, but thought i would use some up by stuffing them in crushed oreo chocolate cookies.

  I left a few plain without the Reese’s eggs and covered them in m&ms, for the non peanut butter lovers at work.

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 at least a few hours.  And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 1/2 cups crisco
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 1 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 20 oreos, finely crushed in a food processor
  • Reese’s eggs, removed from wrapper

Directions- in a bowl,  cream crisco, brown sugar and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix in dry ingredients then blend in oreos.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and divide in half.  Slightly flatten each half.   Place one half on countertop.

Tops with a Reese egg.

Top with other flattened half

Seal edges so you can’t see Reese egg.

Chill a few hours or overnight.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet. 

Bake 12 to 14 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Triple chip cookies

I present a chocolate chip cookie, but with 3 kinds of chocolate chips – semisweet, milk and white.  These are one of Rob’s favorites, so I am asked to make them quite a bit.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend freezing the individual doughs for about an hour or chilling them for a few hours before baking.  And, preheat your oven before baking. 

These are a good size cookie, so I baked them at a higher temp – 390 degrees, but only for 9 or 10 minutes.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup crisco
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup firmly packed Brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbs water
  • 4 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup white chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco, sugar and brown sugar.  Beat in eggs, water,  and vanilla.  Blendnin dry ingredients. Fold in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough. 

Freeze for an hour or chill in fridge for a few hours.  Preheat oven to 390 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on the prepared sheet. 

Bake 9 to 10 min, no longer.  (there will be golden patches on top, bottoms will be browned).  They may seem gushy,  but they will firm up.  You can also pop them in the fridge to firm them up as well.  Cool completely.  

Store in covered container. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Frosted Mud bars

These, dear friends, are somewhere between and brownie and a chocolate blondie.  I frosted them too!  Super simple to make!

Remember to scoop your flour and baking cocoa from their respective bags into your measuring cups so you get the right amount.  And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup baking cocoa
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with tin foil and spray with pam.  Set aside.  Melt butter and place in a bowl.  Add sugar, then eggs, one at a time, and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.   Mix in chips.  Spread evenly into pan.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup baking cocoa
  • 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – in a saucepan, melt butter.  Add powdered sugar, cocoa and milk.  Stirring constantly, bring to a boil.  Boil 1 minute.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Add more powdered sugar if you would like a thicker frosting.  Frost cooled bars.  Cut and store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by!

Browned butter/bread flour chocolate chip cookies

Another variation of chocolate chip cookies.  These use browned butter and bread flour.  The bread flour makes the cookies thick and chewy.  I used a combo of semisweer chocolate and mini chocolate chips.

Browned butter is super simple to make.  You cook the butter over low-medium heat until little brown specs appear.  It take 8 to 10 minutes. 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the correct amount.  I also recommend forming the dough into tall mounds after you scoop it out and chilling it  for a few hours or freezing it for 30 minutes.  And preheat the oven to 350 degrees before baking so they oven cycles to the right temp.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, browned and cooled
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cups
  • 1 egg
  • 1 yolk
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp heavy cream
  • 2 1/2 cups bread flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Blend in egg, yolk, vanilla and heavy cream. Fold in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Form tall mounds.  Chill a few hours or freeze for 30 minutes.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 10 to 11 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today!