Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Posted by: Annie

I found this recipe on Paula Deen's website, and it is definitely a keeper!

Not only are these truffles incredibly easy to make, but they are equally delicious! I brought these to work, and they were gone in minutes!

What you'll need:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 1/2 pounds chocolate bark candy coating, melted

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add in the vanilla, and gradually mix in flour and milk. Add the chocolate chips and pecans, mixing well. Using your fingers, (I rolled my fingers in flour, because the dough was so sticky) shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper, and chill for two hours.

After the dough has chilled, melt the chocolate bark candy in a double boiler and dip the cookie balls into the melted chocolate to cover. Return to waxed paper and chill for an additional hour.

Birthday Cupcakes

Posted by: Maggie

I used a boxed mix and canned frosting for these birthday cupcakes, but I wanted to post photos anyway to provide decorating ideas to anyone who happens upon the blog :)

Left to right: Reese's chunks (I froze regular sized Reese's cups and chopped into sixths), mini-chocolate chips, Cookies & Cream (I pulverized Oreo cookies in food processor, mixed with vanilla frosting, and topped with an Oreo half), Vanilla icing piped on with a star tip, topped with nonpareils.

Left to right: Mini-chocolate chips again (The missing cupcake was the result of the Heath bar chunks not working, and completely causing the icing to slide off), Chocolate frosting with nonpareils and M&M decoration, Multicolored nonpareils, Vanilla frosting with M&Ms (I would recommend using minis if you can find them - the regular sized were way too heavy and those cupcakes turned out a bit messy looking)

Some close ups:

Chocolate Cookies

Posted by: Maggie


Source

What you'll need:

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, roughly chopped (I used Baker's)
4 T unsalted butter
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 t vanilla extract
1 package (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat chopped chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second increments, stirring in between, until almost melted; do not overheat. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla on high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; beat in melted chocolate. Mix in flour mixture until just combined. Stir in chocolate chunks.

Chill dough for 1-2 hours.

Roll dough into walnut sized balls, and place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies are shiny and crackly yet soft in centers, about 10 minutes. Cool on sheets 10 minutes; with a thin metal spatula, transfer to racks to cool completely.