M&M Oatmeal cookies, topped with melted milk chocolate

We had one last bag of leftover candy from Halloween – a bag of plain m&ms.   so I thought “why not bake with them?” 

Note the colors in the middle – red and blue!  Go Bills!

Instead of the usual chocolate chip cookie recipe, I went with oatmeal, for something different.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Chill the individual  doughs for a few hours.  And preheat your oven before baking

  • Ingredients list
  • 8 tbs butter, softened
  • 2 1/2 tbs crisco
  • 1 cup plus 2 tbs plus 2 tsp brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbs honey
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 1 1/3 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2  cups oats (I used quick pats)
  • 1 cup m&ms

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, crisco and brown sugar.  Add egg, honey and vanilla.  Blend in flour, salt and oats.   Mix 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.  flatten cookies to desired thickness.

Bake 10 minutes, no longer. Cool completely.

Top with melted milk chocolate.

Store in covered container

Ganache and mini m&m topped brownies for ALCS Game 3

Today, I present brownies, topped with ganache and mini m&ms for my coworker friend Eric’s birthday and game 3 of the ALCS between the Blue Jays and Mariners.

What is ganache,  you ask?  Why a combo of chocolate chips and heavy cream heated and then poured over brownies that are completely cooled.  And frankly, m&ms make everything better, so that’s why I added them.

Remember to scoop your flour and cocoa from their containers into your measuring cup so you get the right amounts.   Also preheat your oven to 350 degrees before baking.  And, I made the ganache while the brownies were baking so it thickened up a little more.

  • Ganache ingredients
  • 1/4 heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a microwave safe bowl, heat cream for 1 minute.  In another microwave safe bowl, heat  chips 1 minute.  Pour hot cream over chips.  Let sit for 5 minutes.   Stir until smooth and set aside.

  • Brownies ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, melted
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 3/4 cups unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 2 tbs corn syrup
  • 1 1/3 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbs cornstarch

 directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper and spray with baking spray.  Set aside.  In a bowl. Combine butter, sugar, brown sugar and cocoa.  Blend in eggs, yolks, vanilla and corn syrup.  Stin in dry ingredients.   Batter will be thick.  Evenly spread into prepared pan.   Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.  Cool completely.   Top with ganache.   Sprinkle with m&ms.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today

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 Black cocoa sugar cookies

Oreo filling topping

These are a fun cookie.  A chocolate sugar cookie made with black cocoa (regular unsweetened cocoa is fine to use too).   You roll the dough into balls, gently smash them down and then sprinkle with sugar before baking.

Cookie dough topping

Remember to scoop your flour and powdered sugar from their containers so you get the right amount.   I advise chilling the smashed individual doughs for a few hours before baking.  And you can frost these however you want.  I used a homemade oreo filling, cookie dough and peanut butter filling.  And topped them all with melted milk chocolate chips.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 tbs Water
  • 5 1/2 cups flour
  • I cup Black cocoa
  • 3/4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1/2 tsp Baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions- in a bowl, cream butter, sugar, powdered sugar and vwgetable oil.  Blend in eggs, water and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Spray the bottom of a glass with pam and gently flatten doughs a bit.  Sprinkle with sugar.  You may have to re-spray bottom of glass a few times.  Chill doughs a few hours.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 10 to 14 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Frost as desired.  Store in covered container.

Peanut butter topping

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Brown butter chocolate chip cookies

These are an awesome cookie.  Made with brown butter so they have a little different taste.  These also use bread flour, which makes them thick and chewy.

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

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, brown
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbs heavy cream
  • 3 cups bread flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cups)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – in a pan over low-medium heat, cook butter until little brown specs appear.  Remove from heat, place in a bowl and cool 5 minutes.  Add sugar and brown sugar.  Mix in egg, yolk, vanilla and cream.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Add chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Chill a few hours or freeze an hour.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.   Bake 10 to 12 minutes, no longer.   Cool completely.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

XL Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

I have never had much luck making crinkle cookies.  They usually come put flat like pancakes.  These were perfectly puffy.  I think it helped I used cold butter and butter crisco. 

Remember to spoon your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also preheat your oven before baking.  And because these are baked at a higher temp, only bake for 10 minutes.

  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, cold and cubed
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 yolks
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups baking cocoa
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • Extra granulated sugar
  • Powdered sugar

Directions – preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  In a bowl, cream butter, 1/2 cup sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, yolks and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Form 12 even pieces of dough.  Roll in extra granulated sugar then powdered sugar.  Place 6 on prepared sheet, leaving a few inches between doughs.  Bake 10 minutes, no longer.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Let sit on cookie sheet for 15 minutes.   Store in covered container. 

Thank you for stopping by!

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.

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!

Milk Chocolate Chip cookies with finely ground macadamia nuts

I thought it was time for another batch of  chocolate chip cookies.  These are made with milk chocolate chips and finely ground macadamia nuts (I actually ground them in the food processor a little too long, so they were more like a nut butter 😀)

I recommend chilling the individual mounds of dough.  for a few hours or freeze them for 30 to 60 minutes to keep them from spreading. 

I used butter flavor crisco.  You can use regular crisco or butter if you prefer.

Also, you can use a different type of nuts or none at all.

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 cup butter flavor crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar (firmly packed into measuring cups)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips
  • 1 cup macadamia nuts (finely ground)

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter crisco, brown sugar and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Blend in chips and nuts.  Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Chill a few hours. (I froze mine for an hour to speed up the process).  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or nonstick baking liners.  Stagger cookies on sheet. 

Bake 12 to 13 minutes, no longer.  Cookies will be gushy, but bottoms will be golden brown.  gentlt press extra chips on top of cookies.

  Pop cookies in fridge to firm them up.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!