Smores graham cracker pound cake

It is a typical summer day here today – hot and humid and close to 100 degrees.  So what better treat to represent such a summer day than smores?  And not just with graham crackers, but a graham cracker pound cake, some pieces topped with fluff frosting and melted hershey kisses and others topped with chocolate fluff frosting.  The pound cake recipe is From one of my grandmothers, given to me a long time ago.

I read the secret to a good pound cake is putting it in a cold oven and then heating the oven to the right temp.  So I tried it.  Also, 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 the frosting.

A bit of advice, apply buttercream first, then melted chocolate.  It is much easier than putting the chocolate on the cake first,  then buttercream, I lesson I learned as seen below.

  • Graham cracker pound cake ingredients
  • 16 tbs butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup flour (scooped from flour bag into measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 1/2 cup finely ground graham cracker crumbs
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Line a 8×5 loaf pan with parchment paper and spray with baking spray.  Set aside.  In a bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and condensed milk.  Fold in dry ingredients and graham cracker crumbs.  Evenly spread into prepared pan.  Place in oven and turn oven to 350 degrees.  Bake 35 to 42 minutes (toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs). 

Cool completely.  I  sliced the pound cake.

and then cut the slices in half

  • Fluff frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar

In a bowl, cream butter, vanilla,  and fluff.  Carefully blend in powdered sugar.   Divide in half.  To one half, add 1/2 cup melted chocolate chips.   frost some cake pieces with melted chocolate

To the other pieces, I topped them with buttercream.

Then scooped some melted hershey kisses on top.

Store in covered container.

White chocolate brownies

I have a few non chocolate loving friends and work, so I wanted to bring in something non chocolate they would enjoy, so I used white chocolate chips and made white chocolate brownies.  Very fudge like.  The only thing missing- sprinkles!

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount, and preheat your oven to 325 degrees before baking

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 1/4 cups white chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup flour

Directions – preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line an 8×8 pan with tin foil and spray with pam.  Set aside.  In a microwave safe bowl, combine white chips and butter.  Microwave in 45 second increments until you can stir smooth.  Add sugar.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Mix in flour.  Evenly spread into pan.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes, edges will be light golden and center will be set.  Cool completely.

  • Topping ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips 2 tbs heavy cream

In a microwave safe bowl, combine and microwave in 45 second increments until you can stir smooth.  Spread on top of brownies.  Cut and store  in covered container.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Black cocoa fudge cake

Thick.  Dark chocolate.  Fudge.  Cake.  With chocolate ganache.  Not much else to say, really.  If you love chocolate, you will love this cake.

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

And I recommend making the ganache while the cake is baking so it can thicken up for when you are ready to frost the cake.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter,  melted
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup black cocoa
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a round 8″ cake pan with parchment paper.  In a bowl, combine melted butter and brown sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla and warm warmed.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Evenly spread into prepared pan.  Bake 25 to 32 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

  • Ganache ingredients
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 1/3 cups dark chocolate chips

Directions – in a microwave safe bowl, heat heavy cream 2 to 3 minutes (make sure bowl is big enough so cream doesn’t boil over and make a mess in yiur microwave).  Add chips and stir until chips and heavy cream are fully blended.  Let it firm up while the cake bakes and cools.  Frost cake.

Thanks for stopping by!

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!

Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Instead of making a carrot cake, I thought I would make carrot cake cookies.  With mini chocolate chips.  And cream cheese frosting.   I have to be honest, I don’t make carrot cake treats too often because grating carrots is not fun, although I do have a delicious carrot cake recipe using carrot baby food.

On the topic of carrots, you must grate them.  Don’t buy the shredded carrots from the grocery store.  They won’t work in this or most carrot treat recipes.

If you want to use chocolate chips, I find  the mini ones work best.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount (same for the powdered sugar in the frosting).  I recommend chilling the individual doughs for a new hours to keep them puffy.  And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 2 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 2 cups grated carrots

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients. Fold in carrots then mini chips. Divide into 12 equal mounds of dough. Chill for a few hours.   When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 15 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 8 Oz  cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter and  cream cheese.  Add vanilla.  Slowly blend in powdered sugar.  Frost cookies.   Store in covered container in fridge until ready to serve.

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!

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!

Chocolate sugar cookie cake mix bars with fudge frosting

This is a twist on a previous recipe -sugar cookie cake mix bars.   This time, I used all chocolate crinkle cookie mix and devils food cake mix.  Super simply and easy.  I opted for a fudge frosting. But you can use whatever flavor you want.  Sprinkling powdered sugar on to would be good too, I think. 

You can use whatever flavor cookie and cake mix you want.

Remember to preheat your oven so it cycles to the right temp.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cake mix
  • 1 cookie mix
  • 2 sticks of butter, melted
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 sheet with tin foil and spray with baking spray. Set aside.  In a bowl, combine all five ingredients, beat on low-medium speed with a mixer just until blended  (Mixture will be thick).  Spread evenly into prepared pan.  Bake 20 to 23 minutes.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 6 tbs butter
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 2 tbs unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1/2 to 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – in a pan, over low-medium heat, melt butter.   Turn off heat, leaving pan on burner.  Add chips, cocoa, powdered sugar, cream and vanilla.  Stir until melted.  Chill 15 to 20 minutes.   Frost cooled bars. 

Store in covered container. Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Black cocoa oreo cookies stuffed with chocolate chip cookies

I made some chocolate chip cookies that did not turn out acceptable (the_ were very gooey, yet browned on the bottoms), so I decided to stuff them in another treat.  I whipped up some black cocoa cookies with crushed oreos, cut the chocolate chip cookies in half, formed them into a square and stuffed them in the black cocoa cookies.  You don’t have to stuff them with anything, or could use candy.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount (same goes for the black cocoa)

After the cookie dough is stuffed. I recommend chilling them for a few hours.  Remember to preheat your oven before baking

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup black cocoa (if you don’t have any, use unsweetened cocoa)
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 25 finely crushed oreos
  • Candy, brownies or whatever you are stuffing the cookies with

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, brown sugar and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.   Mix in crushed oreos.  Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Divide in half and flattened each half.   Place a smushed up piece of cookie. 

Top with other flattened half. 

Seal edges.  

Chill individual stuff doughs for a few hours.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 10 to 14 minutes.  Cool completely.

Thanks so much for stopping by!