Triple Chocolate Cookies

Hey Y'all.  I've been talking to a lot of people lately who believe they can't cook or bake.  They think it's super complicated so they don't even try.  That's not the case at all.  I have lots of recipes that are so easy anyone can make them.  Here is a super simple cookie recipe.  It uses a box of cake mix.  I mean, come on, how easy is that?  

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE COOKIES

1 box chocolate cake mix (I used Swiss chocolate mix)

1 stick unsalted butter

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt the butter in the microwave or in a pot on the stove.

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, melted butter, egg and vanilla extract.  You can use an electric mixer on low, but if you don't have one, just stir it until it's thoroughly combined.

Add the chocolate chips and stir to mix them in well.

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto a cookie sheet, leaving room between them.  An easy way to do this is to use two spoons.  Scoop with one spoon then use the second spoon to scrape the dough off and onto the cookie sheet.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven (you want them to go into a hot oven so be sure it's preheated) for 9-11 minutes or until the edges are just starting to brown.

Let them sit on the baking sheet for 1 minute after you remove from the oven.  Then use a spatula to transfer them to rack to cool.  Yields 4 dozen cookies.

These cookies are really yummy and chocked full of chocolate chips!  Awesome with a glass of milk.  Plus, it's so easy!  A great recipe to make with kids or for a party or anytime, really.  So, if you are one of those who think they can't bake, please give this a try.  You'll surprise yourself.

Chocolate Glaze

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  Things have been downright terrible here in South Louisiana.  The horrible flooding that occurred a few weeks ago devastated so many homes, nearly 100,000, including many of my friends and family members.  In fact, my brother and my parents lost everything.  Everything.  Needless to say, it's been a very trying time.  Please keep them in your prayers; they're going to need them.

My Mama and Daddy are living with me for now.  They've had a lot to deal with, naturally, so I thought I'd make them a cake.  Just a little something to say I love you.  I had a box of chocolate cake mix in the pantry so I made it (quick and easy) but needed something to frost it with.  My Daddy is not a big fan of thick frosting on a cake, so I made a simple glaze.  This recipe tastes just like the glaze on a chocolate donut!  So yummy!

CHOCOLATE GLAZE

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
4 TBS cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 TBS milk

Sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa.

Once it's sifted together, add the vanilla and 2 TBS milk.  Stir until it is smooth and pourable.  If too thick, add a little more milk (not too much) and stir until you reach a good consistency.

You can pour this onto a cooled cake and let sit for a few minutes.  It sets up as it sits.

It makes a great topping for a cake, but you can also dip shortbread cookies into it, or glaze donuts with it, or sandwich it between two vanilla wafers, or pour it over ice cream, etc.  It's a really easy, versatile recipe to have.  Make it for someone you love just because.  Sometimes it only takes a tiny gesture to put a smile on someone's face.

Chocolate Glaze

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  Things have been downright terrible here in South Louisiana.  The horrible flooding that occurred a few weeks ago devastated so many homes, nearly 100,000, including many of my friends and family members.  In fact, my brother and my parents lost everything.  Everything.  Needless to say, it's been a very trying time.  Please keep them in your prayers; they're going to need them.

My Mama and Daddy are living with me for now.  They've had a lot to deal with, naturally, so I thought I'd make them a cake.  Just a little something to say I love you.  I had a box of chocolate cake mix in the pantry so I made it (quick and easy) but needed something to frost it with.  My Daddy is not a big fan of thick frosting on a cake, so I made a simple glaze.  This recipe tastes just like the glaze on a chocolate donut!  So yummy!

CHOCOLATE GLAZE

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
4 TBS cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 TBS milk

Sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa.

Once it's sifted together, add the vanilla and 2 TBS milk.  Stir until it is smooth and pourable.  If too thick, add a little more milk (not too much) and stir until you reach a good consistency.

You can pour this onto a cooled cake and let sit for a few minutes.  It sets up as it cools.

It makes a great topping for a cake, but you can also dip shortbread cookies into it, or glaze donuts with it, or sandwich it between two vanilla wafers, or pour it over ice cream, etc.  It's a really easy, versatile recipe to have.  Make it for someone you love just because.  Sometimes it only takes a tiny gesture to put a smile on someone's face.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Clusters

My Mama gave me a big bag of old fashioned oats.  I like to eat oatmeal as much as the next guy but you can only eat so much.  Plus, it's August. In Louisiana.  It's 90 degrees at breakfast time!  Not exactly the "chill in the air weather" that makes you crave a steaming bowl of oatmeal.  So, I made some little treats that are cool, portable and popable.  They taste so good you won't even realize they're good for you!  Bonus:  this recipe has only 4 ingredients!

 

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER OAT CLUSTERS

1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats (quick cook oats will work too)

Melt the peanut butter, milk and chocolate chips in a medium sized pot over low heat.

Stir it often until it is melted and smooth.

Remove it from the heat then stir in the oats.

Mix well to thoroughly combine.

Drop by a Tablespoon (I use a small scoop) onto wax paper (or a buttered plate or a silicone mat).

Chill in the fridge to let them set up (at least 10-15 minutes).  Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container.

These little clusters are like granola bars rolled into a ball!  So yummy!  They have a great chewy texture.  They're not too sweet (no added sugar).  They're chocolatey.  Plus, they are good for you!  That's a win win right there!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy Valentines Day!  I have never been one of those girls that really got into the commercialism of this holiday.  When I was in college, I would wear all black and boycott it.  Now that I'm married, I have a sweet hubby who brings me flowers but I still think it's crazy to expect your guy to spend a fortune on gifts to show his love.  Seriously, flowers die, candy rots your teeth and jewelry is just shiny rocks.  I'd much rather have my guy show his love in little ways everyday than by buying extravagant gifts once a year.  But that's just me.

My hubby loves my chocolate chocolate chip cookies.  They taste like a brownie and a chocolate chip cookie got married and had a baby.  Perfect for Valentines Day, right?

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 stick unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup self rising flour*
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

*If you don't have self rising flour, mix 1 cup all purpose flour with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp baking soda.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the softened butter with sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla.  To "cream together" just means to mix with a mixer on medium-high speed until well blended and fluffy.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa and cinnamon.

Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture until combined.  Don't over mix it.

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop from a Tablespoon, 2 inches apart, onto a cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes.  You want these slightly under done.  If you over bake them, they will get all dried out and that's not good.  Just slightly golden on the edges.

These are so good!  It's like a brownie and a cookie all rolled into one.  If that doesn't say love, I don't know what does?

Chocolate Fudge Cake

The renovations continue and I'm feeling a little closed in.  Since the master bedroom is under construction, I don't have my own space to retreat to.  We are, for the time being, sharing one bathroom and there are boxes everywhere.  Everywhere except the kitchen.  The kitchen has always been my favorite place, now even more so.  It's the one room in my house, right now, that I have total control over.  I can kick everyone out and cook.  By myself.

The other day I decided to make a cake just because I could.  I found a few things in the pantry and threw them together.  The results were pretty good.  Here's what I did:

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE:

1 box devil's food cake mix
4 eggs, room temp*
1 cup milk, room temp*
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 (14 oz) can condensed milk
1 (11.75 oz) jar hot fudge topping
1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
1 cup chocolate chips, optional

*You get better results with room temperature eggs and milk.  Let them sit out on the counter for a little while before using.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease the bottom only of a 9x13 baking dish (or cake pan).  I like to use margarine spread for this.  It works great and gives a buttery flavor.  The reason you only grease the bottom is because you want the cake to grab onto the sides so it can rise evenly.  Ever see a cake that was way higher in the middle than the sides?  Greasing only the bottom helps yield an even cake.  

Mix the cake mix, eggs, milk, oil and vanilla extract on low speed for 30 seconds, then on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Meanwhile, mix the condensed milk and hot fudge topping together until well blended.  Set aside.

When the cake is done, while still hot, poke holes all over with a fork or chopstick.

Slowly pour the condensed milk mixture over the cake.

Spread to evenly cover the cake.

Let it sit and cool a bit.  You'll see the cake soaks up the condensed milk mixture.

Meanwhile, toast the pecans.  This is super easy.  Just throw them into a dry skillet over medium heat.  Stir them often.  It just takes a few minutes for them to toast up.  You'll be able to smell when they're ready.

Chop the pecans and sprinkle them all over the cake.

If you're a choc-a-holic, sprinkle on some chocolate chips,too.

You can top it with anything you have on hand, toasted coconut, mini marshmallows, crushed Oreos, sprinkles, broken Halloween candy, whatever you like.  I had pecans and chocolate chips, so that's what I used.

This cake is so moist and delicious.  I love the crunch from the pecans.  Here's what the inside looks like:

This is a sweet treat that's easy to make and customize with what's in your pantry.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to sit in my kitchen, alone, with a piece of cake and a glass of milk and enjoy the quiet, for now.