Brownie stuffed M&M chocolate chip cookies for Championship week

This is a big week – championship week in men’s college basketball, amid the start of NFL free agency, and races are tightening in the NHL and NBA ahead of the postseason.  So I felt stuffed cookies were in order.  Specifically – M&M chocolate chip cookies stuffed with a brownie.  Sounds about right. 

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup butter crisco
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 1/4 cups flour
  • 3.4 Oz instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 cups M&ms
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • One batch of brownies cut into small cubes

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, butter crisco, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in pudding mix.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips and m&ms.  Scoop out 1 tbs dough and slightly flatten.  Place a brownie cube on top.  Scoop out another tbs of dough and slightly flatten.  Place on top of  brownie cube and seal edges to hide brownie.  Chill and few hours or over night.  Preheat oven to 350.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Stagger cookies doughs on sheet. 

Bake 12 to 14 minutes, no longer. 

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

Brownie cookies

These cookies are super simple, sweet and chocolatey.   All you need is a brownie mix, 2 eggs, some melted butter and a cup of chocolate chips.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 brownie mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with non-stick baking liners or parchment paper.  In a bowl, combine brownie mix, eggs and butter.  Blend in chocolate chips.  Scoop out 2 tbs dough.  Stagger on prepared sheets.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.    If you feel they need to firm up a little more, pop them in the fridge for an hour or so.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Frosted smashed red velvet cookies

I attempted to make red velvet cookies for today’s treat, but I did not have enough red food color, so I added some blue to try and make them purple velvet.  That did not really work.  But I think they are still good!  I frosted some with a vanilla buttercream and others with a chocolate fudge frosting.

Remember to scoop your flour and baking cocoa from their containers into the measuring cups so you get the right amount.  Also, after scooping and smashing the dough into individual parts, i chilled them  to keep them from spreading too much, but if you don’t have time, that is fine.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 11/4 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tbs water
  • 5 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup baking cocoa powder
  • 1 top cream of tartar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbs food coloring

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and powdered sugar.  Add eggs, water and oil.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Scoop out 3 tbs of dough and roll into a ball.  Using a glass that’s been sprayed with pam, lightly smash each dough ball.  Sprinkle with sugar.  Chill and few hours.  Preheat oven to 350.  Line cookie sheets with nonstick baking liners or parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheets.  Bake 12 to 14 minutes,  no longer.  Let cool slightly and pop into fridge to firm them up.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbs milk

Blend well.  Add more powdered sugar and/or milk to get the consistency you want. Frost cookies.

  • Chocolate fudge frosting
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 3 tbs milk
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions- in a saucepan over low-medium heat, combine butter, milk and sugar, stirring occasionally.  Once it starts to boil, remove from heat and add chocolate chips.  Pour in a bowl and place in the fridge to thicke .  Frost cookies.

Store in covered container. 

Thanks for stopping by today!  Wishing you a day filled with love, peace and joy.

Extra large chocolate chip cookies with extra chocolate chips (and crushed chips ahoy)

What better way to kick off the week than with extra large chocolate chip cookies with extra chocolate chips? These include finely ground chips ahoy cookies.  A neat addition.  

These are 1/4 cup of chocolate chip cookies dough with extra chips pressed into the top before baking. I didn’t opt to chill the dough before baking so they spread a bit more than I prefer, so maybe next time I chill them a but before baking.

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.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar (packed into your measuring cup)
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbs water
  • 2 cups chips ahoy cookies, finely crushed in a food processor
  • 3 3/4 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 2 top baking soda
  • 1 top baking powder
  • 1 top salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, brown sugar and sugar.  Add eggs, water and vanilla.  Blend in half of flour with baking soda, baking powder, salt and crushed chips ahoy.  Mix in rest of flour.  Fold in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Gently press extra chips in tops of cookie dough.  Chill individual doughs.   When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or nonstick baking liners.  Bake 12 to 14 minutes, no longer. 

Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!   Wishing you a wonderful day!

Celebrating Josh’s MVP.  Treat #3 – frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

To cap off the hat trick of treats celebrating Josh’s MVP, I present sugar cookie bars.   Not everyone loves chocolate, so here is the non chocolate option.

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

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract ( you can leave it out if you don’t have it)
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper and set aside.   In a bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and extracts.  Fold in flour and salt.  Evenly press into prepared pan.  Bake 15 minutes (no longer).  Remove from oven and cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 4 tbs butter softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 to 3 tbs heavy cream/milk

bowl, a bowl, cream butter and vanilla.  Blend in powdered sugar.  Add cream/milk.   You may have to add more cream/milk and/or powdered sugar to get the consistency you want.  Frost bars.  Cut and store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please remember to be kind.

A Friday treat (not friday football.  Football and I are on a break right now)

Usually, on Fridays during football season, I bring in a Friday football treat.  But this post contains just  a Friday treat because football and I are taking a break. 

I did have something cool happen today though and it was football related.  Our midday show had Damar Hamlin on as a guest and I told one of our hosts, Joe, to tell Damar I love him.  He did and Damar replied “shout out to Christine.”  Made my day.

This is a simple chocolate cookie cake with a sweet chocolate frosting.  Both are easy.  And I sprinkled some mini m&ms on top.

Remember to scoop your flour and baking cocoa from your containers into your measuring cup so you get the correct amount. 

  • Cookie cake ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 2/3 cups flour
  • 1 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda

Directions- spray a ten inch springform pan (or cake pan) with baking spray, then line with parchment paper.  In a bowl, combine butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Blend in eggs and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Press evenly into prepared pan.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Remove from oven. Now make the frosting.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
This is what happens when the cookie cake is cut before the frosting sets

Directions – in a saucepan, combine butter, milk and sugar over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally.   Let mixture come to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Add chips.  Let stand a minute or two.  Store smooth.  Pour over cookie cake (even if it is warm).  Let frosting set as cookie cake cools  completely.  Cut and store in covered container. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Wishing you a day of peace, joy and love (also wishing for Josh Allen to win NFL MVP tonight)

Football friday #20 – Divisional Playoff weekend – oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

Not sure if you have heard, but we have a little game set for Orchard Park, NY Sunday night – Bills – Ravens.  Last game of the weekend.  I am excited.  Should be a good one! 

To celebrate, I am bringing in oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for football friday.  These are very easy to make.  Instead of butter or crisco, these use vegetable oil (i am sure another oil would be fine too). 

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 before baking to help them stay puffy.  And preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 2 1/2 cups oats (i used instant)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, blend oats and dry ingredients.  Mix in oil, eggs and vanilla.  Fold in chips.  You may need to mix the dough with your hands to help it come together.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill a few hours.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or nonstick baking liners.  Bake 10 to 11 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Remember to be kind!  Go Bills!

Victory Monday treat #2 – stuffed peanut butter cookies

The number two treat for our wildcard victory – peanut butter treats stuffed with reese’s trees (I have a LOT left over!  Also, I was proud of myself for resisting my urge to buy Reese’s hearts or Reese’s eggs at BJs yesterday).

I recommend scooping your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I also recommend chilling the individual mounds of dough for a few hours (I did not for these today). 

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup crisco
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 1/2 cups flour (scooped from flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • Reese’s trees, unwrapped

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix in dry ingredients.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Divide in half.  Place a tree in between two halves and seal edges.  Chill a few hours.   Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Stagger on sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes (no longer).  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Football friday # 16 – Fudge stuffed snowball cookies

I made some fudge last night and thought I would use some of it to stuff in  snowball cookies (still plenty of fudge left over. ).  The cookies spread a little more than I prefer, but I was in a bit of a hurry and didn’t have time to chill or freeze the dough. 🙂

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I recommend freezing or chilling the dough in the fridge for a few hours to try to keep the cookies puffy.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 4 tbs sugar
  • 6 tbs powdered sugar
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • Fudge, cut into small cubes
  • Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, shortening, sugar and powdered sugar.  Blend in flour.  Scoop out 2 tbs dough and divide in half.  Flatten each half.  Put a cube of fudge in between 2 halves and seal cookie.  Chill or freeze a few hours.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners or parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 12 to 14 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.  I popped mine in the fridge to firm them up.  Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping  by today! Go Bills!

Cookie dough brownies

Coolie dough brownies

Cookie dough brownies – super simple and super sweet to help get you through a busy holiday season.  I used a brownie mix, but you can certainly use your favorite recipe for a 9×13 pan (or browse my blog for one).

  • Ingredients
  • 1 brownie mix, prepared and baked in a 9×13 pan, completely cooled
  • 3/4 cups butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tbs milk or water
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 tbs crisco, butter or vegetable oil

In a  bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add milk and vanilla.  Fold in flour.  Spread evenly over cooled brownies.  In a microwave safe bowl, melted chocolate chips and crisco in 45 second increments until you can stir smooth.  Spread over cookie dough layer.  I actually cut the brownies before the chocolate layer hardened because it was easier.  Store in covered container.