Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

When your boss has friends who drop off a bag of fresh home grown zucchini the only choice you got is to bake.  

Isn't this zucchini pretty?  Are vegetables pretty?  Who knows.  Did I mention there is chocolate in this recipe?

The batter is a little thick.  Don't worry about it.  

This recipe is suppose to be for a loaf of bread.  But I didn't feel like baking a bread for an hour.  Plus with covid-19 do we all really want to be cutting a loaf of bread?  Just grab your treat and go.   

Zucchini really does help with moisture.  AND you really CANNOT taste it.  Baby Girl didn't even know there was zucchini in it until she saw the green.  

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee powder
• 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F.  Spray a muffin pan with oil.  Set aside
2. Please the shredded zucchini on some paper towels to absorb some moisture.  Do not squeeze.  Set aside.  
3. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, instant coffee, and chocolate chips together.  Set aside.  
4. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg, oil, sour cream, sugar and vanilla together until completely combined.  Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until combined.  Fold in the zucchini.  
5. Use a ice cream scoop to fill the muffin tin.  Make sure to fill to the top with batter.  Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at 425F.  Keeping the muffins in the oven, lower the temperature to 350F and continue to bake for an additional 14-15 minutes.  A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.  

You cannot taste the zucchini in this muffin.  The zucchini is merely a vehicle for moisture.  This was kid tested and approved.   I would say this is a good breakfast for kids.  Chocolate for them and vegetable for the win.  

Keep cooking Friends!

XOXO

Brownie

I have been looking for a home made brownie recipe for a while.  I have been hesitant to try a recipe because they all involve a lot of ingredients.  My friend Linsey sent me this recipe.  

This recipe is super easy.  I had all the items in my pantry and fridge to make this.  Hence I tried it right away.  

I am not a teacher.  I am not a stay at home mom.  So I am bonding with Baby Girl by baking.  This is how we are surviving the pandemic.  

Brownie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 large eggs, room temperature 
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Spray a 9 inch pan with cooking spray
2. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.  Combine until you do not see anymore dry ingredients or egg. Pour into prepared baking dish.
3. Baking for 20-25 minutes.  
4. Let cool and serve!

My brownies were done in my oven in 20 minutes.  Remember all ovens are different and your baking dish matters too.  These brownies are super easy to make that your kids can help too.  I don't think I am ever going to buy another box brownie mix again.  

Keep cooking Friends!

XOXO

Double Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Cookies

So some people have asked to see what the frozen cookie dough balls look like after they are baked.  Apparently there are some doubts about frozen cookies dough. Well here you go!  Here is a plate of the frozen cookie dough baked.  Delicious cookies in a snap! 



Double Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 and 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter, unsalted & melted
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup sugar, granulated
• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles 

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt together.  Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until no lumps remain.  Wisk in the egg, and then the egg yolk until mixed.  Wisk in the vanilla extract. 
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together with a rubber spatula.  the dough will be very soft and thick.  Fold in the chocolate chips and sprinkles.  Scoop the dough out with a cookie scooper.  Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 1 or two hours.  Then take out the dough and roll them into balls.  Put them back into the refrigerator for about another 1-2 hours.  Chilling is mandatory.  This give the cookie dough it's flavor and prevents them from spreading. Now they are ready for the freezer.  Put the cookie dough balls in a ziplock bag, label them with the date, bake time and oven time. 
4. Take cookie dough out and put them in a Ziploc bag.  Unbaked cookie dough balls freeze well for up to 3 months.  Bake frozen cookie dough balls for 14 minutes at 325F, no need to thaw cookie dough balls. 

If you have kids or even if you just love fresh baked cookies, then you must make these for your freezer.  I love being about to have fresh baked cookies anytime I want.  I also love knowing the ingredients in my food. 

Keep baking friends!

XOXO

Double Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Cookies

What's better than chocolate chip cookies?  Nothing!  Well maybe except sprinkles. 

I used my go to chocolate chip recipe and just changed the mix in a little. 

Sprinkles really make Baby Girl happy.  So I decide to throw some in to the cookie dough batter. 

This recipe is super easy and makes the softest cookies. 

These little guys are all ready for the freezer!

Double Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 and 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter, unsalted & melted
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup sugar, granulated
• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles 

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt together.  Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until no lumps remain.  Wisk in the egg, and then the egg yolk until mixed.  Wisk in the vanilla extract. 
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together with a rubber spatula.  the dough will be very soft and thick.  Fold in the chocolate chips and sprinkles.  Scoop the dough out with a cookie scooper.  Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 1 or two hours.  Then take out the dough and roll them into balls.  Put them back into the refrigerator for about another 1-2 hours.  Chilling is mandatory.  This give the cookie dough it's flavor and prevents them from spreading. Now they are ready for the freezer.  Put the cookie dough balls in a ziplock bag, label them with the date, bake time and oven time. 
4. Take cookie dough out and put them in a Ziploc bag.  Unbaked cookie dough balls freeze well for up to 3 months.  Bake frozen cookie dough balls for 14 minutes at 325F, no need to thaw cookie dough balls. 

All this cookie dough making is suppose to be food prep for when Baby Boy arrives.  However, I don't know if these cookies will last until then. 






Keep baking friends!
XOXO

Chocolate Chip Cookie

The way to Baby Girl's heart is cookies.  She has loved cookies ever since she could eat them.  However, Baby Girl also has developed a palate for cookies.  No Nabisco for this girl.  I have been using a super simple chocolate chip cookies recipe that my family loves. 

This is the cookie dough right before I wrapped them in saran wrap and chilled them in the refrigerator.  Once they have chilled for about 1-2 hours I will take them out again and roll them into balls.  Then stick them back into the refrigerator for about another 1 or 2.  Then I will put them in a Ziploc bag label with the date, bake temperature, and bake time.  Now the cookie dough balls are ready for the freezer.  Frozen cookie dough is good for about 3 months.  You just pop however many cookies you want straight out of the freezer and into the oven for super yummy cookies!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 and 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter, unsalted & melted
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup sugar, granulated
• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips 

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt together.  Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until no lumps remain.  Wisk in the egg, and then the egg yolk until mixed.  Wisk in the vanilla extract. 
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together with a rubber spatula.  the dough will be very soft and thick.  Fold in the chocolate chips.  Scoop the dough out with a cookie scooper.  Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 1 or two hours.  Then take out the dough and roll them into balls.  Put them back into the refrigerator for about another 1-2 hours.  Chilling is mandatory.  This give the cookie dough it's flavor and prevents them from spreading. Now they are ready for the freezer.  Put the cookie dough balls in a ziplock bag, label them with the date, bake time and oven time. 
4. Take cookie dough out and put them in a Ziploc bag.  Unbaked cookie dough balls freeze well for up to 3 months.  Bake frozen cookie dough balls for 14 minutes at 325F, no need to thaw cookie dough balls. 

These cookies are a staple in my family.  It's so nice to just be able to pop some cookie dough balls in the oven after dinner and have fresh cookies ready in minutes.  Once you make these you will never use store bought cookie dough even again.

Freezing cookie dough balls is also perfect for the holidays.  This makes having fresh baked cookies super easy AND it makes Christmas cookie platters super easy to make. 

Keep baking friends!

XOXO

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

I recently got a FitBit to track my steps.  I think it's really helping me move more.  10k steps is my goal every day.  I have dropped the pregnancy weight but I still need to drop the "trying to get pregnant" weight.  I totally envy the women who lose weight right after having a baby. 

I made these muffins while El Husbee was giving Baby Girl a bath.  Super easy and fast.  I just took out the eggs and yogurt before we went on our nightly walk.  Then threw everything together when we got back.

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins


Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not dutch process)
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup  semi sweet chocolate chips
• 2 eggs, large room temperature
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup vanilla yogurt, room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F and spray a 12 count pan with non stick spray or line with cupcake liners.  Set aside.
2. Use a couple of paper towels to absorb some moisture from the zucchini.  Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt and chocolate chips together until combined. 
4. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, vegetable oil, yogurt, sugar and vanilla extract until completely combine.  Make sure the ingredients are room temperature so all the ingredients mix well. 
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula.  Fold in the zucchini. 
6. Use a ice cream scoop to fill the muffin pan. 
7. Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at 425F.  Keep the muffins in the oven and lower the temperature to 350F. and continue to bake for another 15 minutes.

The muffins are super soft and moist.  El Husbee and I ate them for dessert with peanut butter spread on them.  We both also took them to work for breakfast the next day. 

I still have zucchini left so I think I might need to make another batch ... you know, for Baby Girl to take to PoPo's to share.  Duh!


Keep baking friends!
XOXO

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

Cookies are great.  But sometimes ... sometimes you just don't have time for a cookie and all the work that comes with it.  Sometimes ... you just want to throw something in a pan and then eat it. 

Bars are the best when you want that cookie taste but not the fuss. 

Plus sometimes bars are like a great marriage of cookie, bar, and cake. 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoon butter, softened

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups old fashion oats

1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1.  Heat oven to 350F

2.  Cream butter and sugars on medium until creamy

3.  Add eggs and vanilla, beat until incorporated

4.  Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl.

5.  Slowly add dry mixture to wet mixture

6.  Add oats and chocolate chips

7.  Cover a 9x13 pan with parchment paper.  Be sure to leave some of the parchment hanging over the pan so that you can easily remove the bars later.

8.  Bake 30-35 minutes or until light golden brown.  Cool 5 minutes in pan and then remove to wire racks. 


Baby Girl got to have a couple of bites of a bar.  I sent some with her when she visited my parents.  I am sure she got much more there.


I do want to try different add ins next time. 


Keep baking friends!
XOXO

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Everyone once in a awhile I crave a oatmeal cookie.  It's not often.  But sometimes it happens. 

There is just something about a chewy oatmeal cookie that can be so satisfying.  But they must contain chocolate chips for me.  NOT raisins.  A warm chewy oatmeal cookie is the best snack. 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoon butter, softened

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups old fashion oats

1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1.  Heat oven to 350F

2.  Cream butter and sugars on medium until creamy

3.  Add eggs and vanilla, beat until incorporated

4.  Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl.

5.  Slowly add dry mixture to wet mixture

6.  Add oats and chocolate chips

7.  drop 2 tablespoons of dough onto cookies sheets covered with parchment paper

8.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until light golden brown.  Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets and then remove to wire racks. 


This recipe makes about 4 dozen cookies.  Perfect for sharing. 


Keep baking friends!
XOXO

M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Homemade cookies are the best.  They beat store bought cookies every time.  There is just something about a warm fresh right out of the oven cookie.  Totally better than some hard crunchy from a bag cookie. 

Many people think that making cookie dough is hard.  It really is not.  Many of us even have the ingredients in our cupboard or pantry to make them.  The key is room temperature ingredients.


M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies


Ingredients:
2 sticks butter (room temp)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
2 eggs (room temp)
3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
12 oz bag mini chocolate chips
1 bag plain M&Ms


Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2.  In a stand beat the butter and sugars until creamy. 
3.  Beat in eggs one at a time until well incorporated
4.  Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl and whisk 
5.  Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. 
6.  Mix in chocolate chips and M&Ms.  DO NO OVER MIX
7.  Scoop 2 tablespoons of batter for each cookie and bake for 9 minutes.  Let the cookies cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before removing them to a rack. 


I put this cookie dough into a Tupperware container and just scooped some dough out every night and made cookies.  Super easy and a great dessert.  A bonus is that your house will smell yummy too.


Keep cooking friends!


XOXO

M&M Mixed Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies are so yummy. They are perfect with milk, coffee, tea ... anything. 

These cookies are super easy to make. It's the perfect cookie dough to keep in your refrigerator for after dinner cookies. 

M&M Mixed Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks butter, melted and cooled (12 tablespoons)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup M&Ms
1/2 cup mixed nuts, chopped
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 325F
2.  In a bowl, mix the flour, baking soda and salt together.
3.  Combine butter and sugars.  Then add egg, egg yolk, vanilla and mix.
4.  Slowly add the dry mixture to the bowl until dough forms.
5.  Fold in M&Ms, mixed nuts, and semi sweet chocolate chips.
6.  Stick the dough in the fridge for about 10 minutes.
7.  Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scooper and scoop 2 scoops on top of each other for each cookie.  Leave about 2 inches of space between each cookie.  Bake for about 12 minutes.

I am super excited to do more baking in 2016.

Keep baking friends!!

XOXO

Banana Bread

My mom dropped off a bag of frozen banana's on Sunday morning.  So what is a girl to do?  Make banana bread of course! 

The mini loves are banana chocolate chip and the medium loaves are banana apple cranberry bread. 

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease a mini loaf pan.
2.  Mix together butter and sugar until fully combined.
3.  Add eggs and vanilla extract.  Mix well.
4. Add mashed bananas and mix until completely combined.
5.  In a separate bowl mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon.
6.  Slowly incorporate the dry mixture with the wet mixture.  Do not over mix!
7.  Pour batter into prepared mini loaf pans.  Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until top is golden and a toothpick test comes out clean.
8.  Cool in pan for about 10 minutes then remove and cool on a wire rack before serving.





Banana, apple, raisin, cranberry bread
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tablespoon + 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup cranberries, dried
1 Fuji apple, grated
3 large bananas, mashed

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 2 medium loaf pan
2.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.  Mix well and set aside.
3.  Combine eggs, milk, oil, vanilla extract, grated apple, and mashed bananas.  Mix well.
4.  Add in the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.  Mix until combined.
5.  Add in dried cranberries.
6.  Pour into prepared baking pan.  Bake for about 45 minutes.

I haven't baked in a long time.  Felt good to bake.  Soothes the soul.  Now that baby girl is older I may start to bake again.

Keep baking friends!
XOXO

Hot Chocolate Dark Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

There is nothing like a chocolate chip cookie after dinner.  Throw in some chocolate chips and you have got a great ending to a night.

Hot Chocolate Dark Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

4 ounces hot chocolate mix (not sugar free)

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup M&Ms

1 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Whisk flour, cocoa mix, salt, and baking soda together

2. Cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes)

3. add eggs 1 at a time.

4. Add vanilla

5. Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture until combined. DO NOT OVER MIX

6. Fold in the M&Ms and semi chocolate chips

7. Chill dough for about 1 hour

8. Pre heat your oven to 350 degrees.

9. Use a cookie dough scooper and drop about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

10. Bake them 1 sheet at a time for about 9 minutes. Let cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

These cookies are super yummy because they are chocolatey without being too sweet.

MAKE THESE COOKIES!

XOXO

Chocolate Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

My favorite snack are chips.  I love all chips.  Not all chips are equal.  But I would prefer a bad chip over some other salty snack.  My husband on the other hand loves sweets.  He has a major sweet tooth.  I have spoiled him with homemade baked treats since we have been married.  Today's recipe that I am sharing is for him.

These chocolate cookies are for chocolate lovers.  There is fudge chocolate pudding in them, semi sweet chocolate chip cookies AND mini M&Ms.  If you don't love chocolate there are not for you.  Also, if you don't love chocolate there is something wrong with you.  

Chocolate Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

Ingredients:
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (3.5) package instant fudge chocolate pudding mix
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini M&Ms

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper
2.  Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. 
3.  Add pudding mix, eggs, and vanilla extract. 
4.  Whisk together the flours, baking soda, and salt. 
5.  Slowly add the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until just incorporated.  DO NOT OVER MIX!
6.  Fold in the chocolate chips and M&Ms.
7.  Using a cookies scooper, scoop 2 tablespoons cookie dough on prepared baking sheet spaced 2 inches apart. 
8.  Bake for about 10 minutes or until lightly brown.  Remove and place on cooling rack.

When baking cookies I highly recommend parchment paper over foil.  Obviously if you do not have parchment paper use foil.  But if you use foil please keep a eye on your cookies as they can easily burn or stick to the foil.  I love parchment paper.  It makes clean up easy and it keeps cookies from burning.  Today I ran out of parchment paper and lined ONE sheet with foil.  The results were a few burned cookies on the foil sheet.  Bah!  You win some you lose some.

Eat well friends!

XOXO

Reese's Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookies

There is just something about candy in chocolate chip cookies that is just so yummy.  I can never resist to add some sort of candy in my chocolate chip cookies.  

Chocolate chips ... Reese's pieces ... what a good combination!

Reese's Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• ¾ cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips
• Reese's Pieces

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a deep dish cookie pan or whoopie pie pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch and salt, and set aside. In a electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugars until creamy, about a minute. Beat in the egg and vanilla to combine.
3. Gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Once dough has come together, stir the chocolate chips in by hand with a spoon.
4. Drop 2 tablespoonfuls of dough into the bottom of each cavity. Gently press it to cover the bottom of each cavity.  Top with Reese's pieces candy.
5. Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes or until the centers are set and the edges are golden and lightly crisped. Allow the cookies to cool in the pan about 5 minutes before gently removing to wire racks to cool completely. You can loosen them from the pan very carefully with a butter knife or dump them over

El Husbee brought these cookies to work on Monday to share with his co-workers.  I need a kid to bad for.  

Enjoy the summer!

XOXO

Chocolate Chip Salt Caramel Ghirardelli Squares Cookies

Homemade cookies are always so good.  I guess when I mean homemade I mean freshly baked.  This cookie snob is not a fan of store bought cookies.

El Husby and I took a trip to World Market over the weekend to look at some outdoor furniture and home decor.  Our trip was not a complete fail as we came home with a bag of Ghirardelli squares.

Sometimes I feel it is hard being the husband of a baker.  First there is a lot of baked goods and if you are not a daily runner it can be hard on your waistline.  Second there is the constant wait for pictures before you can eat anything.  Than last not forget the constant questions on the finish product.  Is it good?  How good?  Would you eat it again?  Is it better than the last batch like it?  Can you eat all of them or should we give some away?

My poor Husbee was told not to eat these candy because I wanted to put them in cookies.  His face was torn between wanting the cookies and wanting to eat the candy in case I got lazy and did not make the cookies.  (I am guilty of this)

Since I yelled at him for letting the d-o-g lick my face/ear I felt bad and decided to make the cookies.

Chocolate Chip Ghiradelli Squares Cookies

Ingredients

• ¾ cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips
• Ghiradelli Salted Caramel squares, unwrapped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a deep dish cookie pan or whoopie pie pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch and salt, and set aside. In a electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugars until creamy, about a minute. Beat in the egg and vanilla to combine.
3. Gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Once dough has come together, stir the chocolate chips in by hand with a spoon.
4. Drop a tablespoonful of dough into the bottom of each cavity. Gently press it to cover the bottom of each cavity. Top with an unwrapped square. Top the candy with an additional tablespoonful of dough and gently press the top dough ball to cover and enclose the candy.
5. Bake the cookies for about 12-15 minutes or until the centers are set and the edges are golden and lightly crisped. Allow the cookies to cool in the pan about 5 minutes before gently removing to wire racks to cool completely. You can loosen them from the pan very carefully with a butter knife or dump them over 

These cookies were super easy to make.  I probably whipped them out in about 1 hour including baking time.  Please please please take the time to let the cookies cool inside the pan.  I know it's tempting to dig right in but the cooling processing is essential to keeping the cookies together.  

The cookies were very tasty.  However, you could not really taste the salted caramel.  I would say maybe night time I would sprinkle some sea salt on top of the cookie before baking.  With that said ... THESE COOKIES ARE DA BOMB!  So thick ... so chocolatey ... so good!  

Make these cookies!

XOXO

Hot Chocolate Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies

There is something about hot chocolate cookies that is just so good.  Maybe it's the richness it adds to the cookie.  Or maybe it's how yummy the cookie dough is.  
 

Hot chocolate cookie dough taste amazing ... and I am not even the type that like to eat cookie dough.  The hardest part of this recipe is chilling the cookie dough.  I am a very impatient person.

But I have found that chilling cookie dough for at least 1 hour minimum makes cookies so much richer in flavor.  So if you have the time ... and the patience chill your cookie dough. 

Hot Chocolate Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

4 ounces hot chocolate mix (not sugar free)

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup raisins

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Whisk flour, cocoa mix, salt, and baking soda together

2. Cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes)

3. add eggs 1 at a time.

4. Add vanilla

5. Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture until combined. DO NOT OVER MIX

6. Fold in the raisins and semi chocolate chips

7. Chill dough for about 1 hour

8. Pre heat your oven to 350 degrees.

9. Use a cookie dough scooper and drop about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

10. Bake them 1 sheet at a time for about 9 minutes. Let cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

I am working on incorporating local produce into my cooking.  When the new Fresno State market opened I had went and purchased some raisins.  Let me tell you, I will never purchase regular raisins again.  The raisins that I got from the Fresno State market were huge, juicy and sooooo yummy!  There was no sugary white film on the raisin that you can something get with regular store bought raisins.  Buy local friends!  Buy local!

I brought these cookies to Mother's Day dinner with my family and my little cousin JakeEE gobbled one up.  I would say they were a hit. 

Support local business!
XOXO

Coconut Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

It's been a long time since I last blogged.  I know that one of my new years resolutions was to blog more this year.  However, I have been busy and have not had any time to bake.  Which also means not much to blog about.

I have been trying to eat right because I put on quite a few extra pounds over the winter.  This means keeping the house stocked with green bananas.  Green bananas are a healthy snack and also great before a workout.  However, brown or ripe bananas are full of sugar and not so great when on a diet.  

So what do you do with ripe bananas?  YOU MAKE BANANA BREAD!  Okay no banana bread because it takes too long to bake.  What does that mean?  MAKE MUFFINS!

Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients:
3 large very ripe bananas
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shredded coconut, plus extra for sprinkling
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Spray muffin pan with vegetable oil
2.  Mix bananas, sugar, and brown sugar in a bowl until smooth.
3.  Add eggs one at a time.
4.  Mix in vegetable oil until well combined. 
5.  Whisk cinnamon, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl.
6.  Mix in dry ingredients with banana mixture.  Do not over mix.
7.  Add coconut and chocolate chips by hand.
8.  Use a ice cream scooper to scoop batter into greased muffin pans.
9.  Sprinkle additional coconut on top
10.  Bake for about 21 minutes.
11.  Remove from oven and cool on rack for about 10 minutes.
12.  Remove muffins from pan and cool completely.

This muffin hit the spot.  So satisfying I ate it as my dessert.  This is a recipe that one should keep in their recipe box/binder.  It's fast and easy to make.  

Khloe the pup is patiently waiting for spring/summer.  This week we have gone on 3 walks so far and that makes everyone happy.  

Keeping cooking friends!

XOXO