Frosted chocolate chip cake bars (week 2 victory treat part 2)

For part 2 of the week 2 Bills victory treats, I present frosted chocolate chip cake bars.  You can use any flavor cake mix (I used French vanilla), any kind of chips (I used traditional semisweet), and any kind of frosting (I used vanilla).

  • Bars ingredients list
  • 1 cake mix
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • Extra chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.  In a bowl, combine cake mix, oil, eggs, and vanilla.  Mix in 1 cup chocolate chips.   You may want to wet your hands for this next part – gently, evenly press dough into prepared pan. Sprinkle extra chips on tip.   Bake 15 to 18 minutes (toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs).  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (scooped from powdered sugar container into cup)
  • Milk or heavy cream

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter and vanilla.  Blend in powdered sugar and enough milk or heavy cream to get the consistency you want.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!  Go Bills!

Week 2 victory treats

Since the Bills win over the Dolphins ended after 11 pm, there was no time to make victory treats.   I needed to go to bed because I had a 430 am wakeup to work out!   Oh, and  I do not believe in premature baking of the victory treats.   They can not be made until the victory is complete.  The football gods must not be angered.  So these will be brought in Monday.   Dark chocolate brownies, requested by Rob. 

Couple of notes – these bake at 325, lower than most brownie recipes.  Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the correct amount.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 1/3 cups dark chocolate chips
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 2 tbs water
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3/4 cup flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Additional 1/2 cup chocolate chips (opt)

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8×8 square pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.  Set aside.  In a microwave safe bowl, heat in 45 second increments – – 1 1/3 cups dark chocolate chips, butter, sugar and water until you can stir mixture smooth.  Add eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients.  Mix in additional chips, if using.  Evenly spread into prepared pan.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.  Cool completely.   Cut and store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I wish you peace, love and joy today.   Remember to be kind.  We are all fighting a battle and some are more difficult than others.

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.

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. 

Hot Cocoa Brownies

A while back, I bought some hot cocoa packets to bake with.   I never really used them, so I thought tonight I would use some of them up.  So I made these hot cocoa brownies.  Very easy to make.  I put some mini marshmallow bits in them and topped them with milk chocolate chips as soon as they came out of the oven.

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

  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup hot cocoa mix
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup mini marshmallow bits
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line an 8×8 pan with tin foil.  Spray with baking spray.  In a bowl, combine butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients then marshmallow bits.  Spread evenly into prepared pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.  Upon removing from oven, Sprinkle with chips.  Cool completely.  Cut and store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Wishing you a day of love and joy.

Chocolate filled blondies

I wanted to jazz up some blondies/chocolate chip cookie bars, so I decided to put some milk chocolate chips in the middle for a chocolate layer.

These are very easy to make.  I think I would bake them closer to 20 minutes next time.  I baked these for 22.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.  In a bowl, combine butter, brown sugar and sugar.  Blend in eggs and vanilla.  Stir in flour and salt.  Fold in mini chips.  Spread half of batter in prepared pan.  Evenly spread milk chocolate chips on top.  With remaining dough, grab handfuls and lightly flatten.  Press on top of milk chocolate chips.  Bake 20 minutes.  Will seem a little gushy.  Cool completely.

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

These oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are one of two treats I am bringing into work tomorrow (the other – dark chocolate bars topped with hershey kisses and m&ms.    These cookies are so simple to make and came out great.  No need to wait for butter to soften.  These use vegetable oil.

Since it was humid today, I  popped the individual doughs  in the freezer for a bit to prevent spreading.   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 for 20 minutes before baking.

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

Directions – in a bowl, combine all dry ingredients, including oats.  Mix in oil, then eggs and vanilla.   Blend in chips.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill or freeze for a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on it.  Bake 10 minutes.  Tops will be a little gushy, but bottoms will be browned. Cool completely.   You can pop these in the fridge for a few hours to firm them up, if you want.  Store in covered container.

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

Beyond XL milk chocolate chip chocolate cookies

A chocolate treat request from Rob ahead of game five of the NHL’s Eastern Conference Final.   These are very large chocolate cookies with milk chocolate chips.   I made them a lot larger than usual so I cooked them at a higher temperature (410).   These only need 9 minutes to bake, max.  They may seem undone, but the bottoms will be cooked enough.  I let them cool completely and then  popped them in the fridge to firm up a bit.  I cut them into smaller chunks because these cookies are about  as big as my fist. 

Remember to scoop your flour and baking cocoa from their respective containers into measuring cups so you get the right amount.  I also popped these in the freezer for 20 minutes to help prevent spreading. And preheat your oven to 410 degrees for 20 minutes before baking.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, cold and shredded with a cheese grater or cut into tiny cubes
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 5 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips (plus extra if you want to roll tops of cookies in more chips)

Directions- in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients. (It may take a while for dough to come together.  I mixed in  half the flour with the cocoa, baking soda, cornstarch and salt, then I added the rest of the flour).  Fold in chips.  Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and form tall mounds.  Roll tops of cookies into additional chips if you want.  Freeze 20 minutes while you preheat oven to 410 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Place 4 cookies on a sheet and bake (I only baked 4 at a time).  Bake 8 to 9 min (no longer).  Cool completely.    Pop in the fridge for a half hour or so.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Wishing you a day of peace, love and happiness.