Tag Archives: chocolate

April 24, 2012 · 8:00 am

Chocolate Dipped

There is something too perfect about chocolate dipped strawberries.

These I did for my aunt’s Oscars party (a while back!). First time I did little tuxes. Turned out pretty cute!

These were for a 15 year old girl’s birthday party.

I also (finally) got around to dipping my peeps in chocolate. The week before Easter was crazy for me so I didn’t get to it in time. Peeps are a Spring thing not an Easter thing though right? Let’s go with that.

I actually don’t even like peeps. But dip them in chocolate and you make heaven!!

I love sprinkles. They make everything better. And prettier.

Here are all of them together!

I think this guy was my favorite. I got these pretty extra long jimmies at the 99 cent store right before Easter.

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Filed under Marshmallows, Misc

Tagged as chocolate, chocolate covered peeps, chocolate dipped marshmallows, marshmallows, sprinkles, strawberry, white chocolate

February 28, 2012 · 8:00 am

Chocolate Chip Pizookies

For anyone who has not experienced the pure bliss of a pizookie, this recipe is for you! A pizookie is a “pizza-cookie” that is served fresh baked, with a scoop of ice cream on top. (BJ’s Restuarant and Brewhouse is famous for them.)

I made these to bring to a friend’s house for dinner. There were going to be 3 couples there, so I made 3 sharable portions. I baked them in these cute little casserole dishes I bought at Michael’s for $1 back at Christmas time.

Chocolate Chip Pizookies – recipe adapted from Dollhouse Bake Shoppe

Makes 4 large pizookies.

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) + 1 tablespoon of butter, cut into small chunks

6 tablespoons granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg + 1 egg yolk

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

heaping 1/4 tsp salt

heaping 1/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Beat sugars and butter until fluffy (at least a couple minutes). Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.

2. In a separate bowl mix together flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add to cookie mixture until all incorporated.

3. Stir in chocolate chips by hand, then chill for a couple hours.

4. Roll the dough into balls and press a few into the bottom of each dish.

5. Bake dishes on a cookie sheet at 325 for 18-22 minutes, until puffed and slightly golden brown.

6. Set the dishes on a wire rack to cool for just a few minutes, then top each with a scoop of ice cream, and any other toppings you want!

I did make these when we went to a friend’s house for dinner… but completely forgot to take any pictures. So the next night I made the whole recipe again to take to my parents’ house for dinner. Forgot to take pictures again. Who does that?! Luckily there was some dough leftover the second time because I only baked 3, and there was just enough to make a 4th. So a few days later I made the last one and you better believe I took pictures this time! (Not that it would be torture to have to make them again…)

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Filed under Cookies, Misc

Tagged as chocolate, ice cream

February 22, 2012 · 8:00 am

Mini Reese’s Cookies

I had a poll on my facebook page a while back. Rolos vs. Mini Reese’s.

Rolos won.

But my secret? I really planned on doing both all along. I just couldn’t decide which to do first!

My biggest problem is I couldn’t decide what to make with them. I first got the idea to use them in something from Shelly at Cookies & Cups when she made these. I wanted to do something different because I’m not a huge fan of chocolate.

I couldn’t do blondies again, and I didn’t want to do the standard peanut butter cookies, because I don’t love peanut butter that much.

So what to do…

I thought of other things I enjoy with peanut butter and Muddy Buddies came to mind. Chocolate, peanut butter, perfect harmony.

Then I remembered these brownies. The basic ingredient is chocolate cake instead of brownie mix. And they are gooood brownies. So chocolate cake must be okay.

That’s it! Chocolate cake cookies! And then I realized. That is exactly what Shelly made. I made a full loop and ended up back in the SAME PLACE.

So here you have it. Chocolate cake cookies with Mini Reese’s.

Mix a boxed chocolate cake mix (I used Milk Chocolate flavored), 2 eggs, and 1/3 cup of vegetable oil.

Once the batter is all ready, add in the full bag of Mini Reese’s. Mix it up some more, the cups will break up a bit but that is perfectly okay!

Use a cookie scoop (or 2 tablespoons) to form balls and drop on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. These cookies will spread so keep them a couple inches apart.

Bake 9-12 minutes at 350.

These are super fast and easy. Whip some up and don’t forget to share!

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Filed under Cookies

Tagged as chocolate, easy cookies, peanut butter, reeses

February 20, 2012 · 8:00 am

Cookies & Cream Truffles

a.k.a. Oreo Balls or Oreo Truffles.

Chances are, you have had these, or at least seen or heard of them. This is not some new idea or concept that I created. But they are brilliant. And easy. And oh so yummy.

Let’s get started.

We just need 3 ingredients.

An entire pack of oreos. If you must eat one, just buy the 2nd bag. Trust me, you want all the oreo goodness of the entire bag in this!

An 8 oz. block of cream cheese. I used 1/3 less fat. Can’t even tell the difference, so might as well be somewhat healthier, right?

Candy Melts. One bag was not quite enough. You could also use regular chocolate chips, or almond bark. I couldn’t find almond bark at my grocery store so I went with candy melts.

Chop up the oreos in a food processor. If you don’t have one, you could put them in a big zip top baggie and smash them. They don’t have to be perfect smithereens, they will still be amazing.

Mix the oreo crumbs and cream cheese together. I used my Sheila, but a wooden spoon would also be fine.

Pop that in the fridge for 10 minutes or so to firm up a tad.

Roll into balls, set on a wax paper lined baking sheet, and pop it back in the fridge.

At this point I made sugar cookies, so the balls probably sat in my fridge for over 2 hours. I would think 20 minutes would be sufficient though.

Once the balls are chilled, melt your candy melts (or chocolate) and dip the balls one at a time into the candy with a fork, tapping the excess off on the side of the bowl. They don’t have to be perfect.

I started off doing okay, they were looking pretty cleanly/perfectly dipped, but then a couple balls got scraped and the oreo started mixing into the candy melts. I almost started stressing but then I realized it made them look like cookies and cream, which makes perfect sense! So that’s why I decided to call these Cookies & Cream Truffles.

After the balls are all coated, pop the tray back in the fridge to harden up. Once they are set, eat one. Then peel them off the wax paper and break off the excess candy if possible.

Store in the fridge until ready to eat.

I actually made these for my brother (by special request) for his birthday yesterday. Glad I did, they were pretty tasty!

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Filed under Misc

Tagged as candy melts, chocolate, oreos

January 23, 2012 · 11:02 pm

Cookie Dough Truffles

I had a craving for cookie dough.

Not cookies, just dough.

This was the kind of craving that I couldn’t control. So I decided I had to make some cookie dough! I was just going to go from my recipe and wing it a little, but then I remembered about this that I had seen a while back.

By the way, I love Pinterest – if you haven’t noticed. If you’re not part of Pinterest yet and you want another form of internet addiction, then you should sign up! Pinterest is basically a virtual idea board that you can share with everyone. You collect pictures of things or ideas you like by “pinning” them to separate pin boards.

Anyway, back to cookie dough. The recipe I had pinned for cookie dough truffles was safe to eat raw because it does not contain eggs. I decided it was best to go that route. Here is the recipe I used, adapted from eat.drink.smile.

Cookie Dough Truffles

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla
scant 1/3 cup milk (little less than 1/3 cup)

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used reg size but mini would work!)

More chocolate for dipping (optional)

Directions:

1. Beat together butter and sugars until combined.

2. Add vanilla and milk and beat, scraping and cleaning beaters/paddle a couple times.

3. Mix together flour, salt, and baking soda, then slowly add to wet mixture until completely combined.

4. With a wooden spoon or spatula, stir in the chocolate chips.

If you are only making this to eat the dough, you can begin at any time.

5. Chill dough for about an hour.

6. Roll about 1″ sized cookie dough balls, and set on wax-paper lined cookie sheet about an inch or two apart. Put the whole pan in the freezer for 30 minutes.

7. When the cookie dough balls are ready to go, melt chocolate chips with a little bit of vegetable oil in 30 second intervals until it can be stirred smooth.

8. Dunk a cookie dough ball into the chocolate and roll it around until it’s fully coated. Lift the ball out with a fork and tap on the edge of the bowl until all the loose chocolate drips off. Scrape the ball off of the fork and back onto the pan.

9. When all balls are coated, put the pan in the fridge until chocolate is set. Keep cookie dough truffles in the fridge until time to eat.

(They were brother approved!)

Craving challenge dominated!

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Filed under Misc

Tagged as chocolate, cookie dough

January 12, 2012 · 4:40 pm

S’more Pops

S’mores no longer live in just the camping world. S’more treats of all kinds have been popping up everywhere. This little version was fun and easy, and so delicious it might change your life. If you’re into s’mores anyway.

First I crushed up some graham crackers, then put them on a small plate.

Then melt your chocolate. It needs to be pretty deep so that the mallows will dip easily. Next time I will try microwaved instead of melted in my double broiler, cuz it was just a little too wide.

Shove sticks onto your marshmallows. Don’t go more than about 1/2 the way through, or else your pop will become too heavy and slide down the stick. You don’t want to be crying over something as silly as ugly marshmallows… not that I know from experience or anything… (If you plan to have them stick up, shove the stick all the way through to the tip.)

Dip the marshmallow into the chocolate, then immediately roll in graham cracker crumbs. Place S’more Pop either stick up on wax paper, or Pop up into a styrofoam block.

That’s it! Now let’s look how pretty they are.

Ooh, aahh… drooling yet? Make these. Now. I will too. Mine are already gone.

P.S. Like my new stand? More on this soon!

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Filed under Marshmallows

Tagged as chocolate, chocolate dipped marshmallows, graham crackers, marshmallows, s'more

December 31, 2011 · 6:52 pm

Rainbow Treats

Rainbow Treats for a rainbow party!

Cupcakes…

and cakepops!

The purple and red were chocolate…

and the yellow and blue were vanilla cake!

I really ❤ cakepops. Bakerella, you’re a genius!

If you love cakepops too, you should try making them! I have had some hard times, did some troubleshooting, and I updated my cakepop instructions. Let me know if you try them and how they turn out!

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Filed under Cake Pops, Cakes

Tagged as buttercream, candy melts, chocolate, rainbow, vanilla

December 28, 2011 · 8:24 am

The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

My search for the perfect chocolate chip cookie has ended.

This is technically round 3 of my personal chocolate chip cookie challenge. This go-round I combined different elements from attempt 1 and attempt 2. The result is a thick, chewy, loaded-with-good-stuff cookie with perfectly balanced flavors.

Here is my recipe:

1 1/2 sticks butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups + 2 tbsp flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

1 cup oats

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.

2. Melt butter, then set aside to cool down.

3. Mix together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.

4. Mix together the sugars. Add the butter and mix well. Then add the vanilla and eggs and mix well again.

5. Add dry ingredients and mix until completely combined. Stir in chocolate chips, walnuts, and oats.

6. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Use a cookie scoop (or spoon) to make 2 tbsp sized balls and space them about 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.

7. Bake for 12 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes before moving cookies to drying rack.

Self proclaimed challenge complete… now I have to find a new goal to work on…

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Filed under Cookies

Tagged as chocolate, walnuts

December 23, 2011 · 10:52 am

Christmas Coal

This idea I got from Pinterest. It blew my mind, just as much as the cake and soda thing. Sorry there aren’t more pictures, this was kind of a fast process and, well, I forget. You ever forget? It happened to me.

So you take an entire pack of Oreos (double stuf of course) and grind them to smithereens in the food processor. I hope that’s how you spell smithereens. Fun word.

This process is fast, so you want to have your pan ready to go. Take a sheet of wax paper and shove it in a 8×8 pan. (I guess you could use 9×9 but they’ll be a little thinner.) The paper won’t stay, but that’s okay for now. Rub butter all over it so that your treats won’t stick. Trust me, wax paper doesn’t taste so good.

Then in a large microwave-safe bowl, you take 5 cups of marshmallows – I used the minis (and yes this is how I measure a “cup” or marshmallows), and melt it with 4 tablespoons of butter (half a stick) until the marshmallows get puffy and the butter is melted (takes about 2 minutes, at 30 sec intervals).

After it comes out of the microwave, stir in 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract. You can leave this out if you want, but I tried it both ways and with peppermint was much tastier!

Dump in the Oreo crumbles and mix mix mix until you can’t mix any more… It gets very hard, so have a strong man handy if possible to do your stirring. Once it’s good and mixed up, scoop it all into your pan and press it in as hard and as flat as possible. Make sure you get it good in the corners and everything. You want your coal to be pretty, right?

Now comes the hardest part. You have to wait. I did this in the evening and waited until the following evening to cut it. I’m guessing a couple hours would do it though.

Once the waiting is over, pull up the wax paper and pop out the massive chunk of coal and cut up into little squares. There you have it, Chrsitmas Coal!

The texture is kind of like a tootsie roll. Chewy, soft, just a slight minty flavor… and come on – you can’t go wrong with something created from Oreos!

I suspect kids would love this recipe, and it’s something they could definitely help with. Plus, it’s fast and easy, and doesn’t take much planning. I hope you will try it!

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Filed under Candy, Marshmallows

Tagged as chocolate, christmas, marshmallows, oreos, peppermint

December 22, 2011 · 8:22 am