Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies

Now, when I first started my blog, I had been planning on making raspberry cheesecake cookies for a coworker for her birthday. I was unable to get raspberry chips or find raspberry extract. But while going food shopping about a month ago, with the holidays around the corner, ShopRite must have decided to whip out their "exotic" extracts and I finally found raspberry extract.

This recipe was the other one I was thinking about entering in the cookie contest. But everyone at the office has said to enter my hot chocolate cookies. Guess we'll see when I bring these to work. It looks like I have two different cookies but I just used pink food dye to make them look more raspberry-ish I guess. But that didn't work too well. They look more like red velvet cookies... Oh well. My dad said they still tasted like raspberries so I'll consider that a win. I doubled the recipe, but the recipe below does not reflect that as usual!

 

Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies

 

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup butter, softened [not melted]

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 package [8 oz] cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon pure raspberry extract

1 cup fresh raspberries

white chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside. 

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in one egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.

Whip the softened cream cheese and one egg until blended and smooth. Add the fresh raspberries and blend together, then stir into the dough. [The addition of the second egg causes the cookies to be more cake-like. Use only one egg if you want less cake-like cookies.] Add preferred amount of white chocolate chips to dough.

Spoon a tablespoon of dough onto baking sheets and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

 



Hot Chocolate Cookies

So what is better than a cup of hot chocolate in your favorite mug on a cold, snowy winter day watching a movie or reading your favorite book? How about hot chocolate cookies!? Today is another one of my coworker's birthdays. She's a great and wonderful friend and showed me the ropes when I first got hired at the paper. She has been there through thick and thin and listens to my problems and I do the same for her. She's getting married late next year in May and I am lucky enough to get to be her maid-of-honor. [Though I'm turning into Katherine Heigel from "27 Dresses" because that will be my third wedding in the past two years, with another one coming up in July but I don't think I'm going to be part of that one. Depends.]

Anyway, besides getting a bit distracted on the wedding tangent... When hanging out with a friend of my yesterday, we went to Barnes & Noble to get some coffee. As we were leaving, I noticed they had a box with entry sheets on it. Curious, I went over to look and see what it was about. Apparently, Barnes and Noble is doing "The Barnes & Noble Cookie Bake-Off!"

It seems pretty exciting do I decided that I wanted to enter. I have until Jan. 1 to submit a recipe. Here is the deal: 75 recipe winners will each have their submission published in a book tentatively titled "The Barnes & Noble Customer Cookie Book," to be published on or about Nov. 1, 2015 and will receive one complimentary copy of the book. In addition to the above, three finalists will receive a trip to New York City and be paired with a chef for the presentation phase on or about Feb. 9. [That means transportation to and from a hotel of their choosing to the presentation site, two night standard hotel accommodations and a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK. One grand prize winner will also receive a check for $2,500 and have a version of their cookie sold at Barnes & Noble's cafes nationwide during the next holiday season.

I want to win. That would be amazing. Even to just get my cookie recipe published in the book would be fantastic. It would be a great recognition of my baking skills. I've been bouncing between these and raspberry or strawberry cheesecake cookies. I took a poll on Facebook and most of my friends said they would like hot chocolate cookies.

Hot Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 1/4 cup flour

3/4 cup hot cocoa mix [4 packages]

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup chocolate chunks

1 cup marshmallows [you can use marshmallow bits too]

Instructions:

Beat the butter, sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.

Combine the flour, hot cocoa mix, baking soda and baking powder. Gradually beat into butter mixture until blended. Stir in the chocolate chunks and marshmallows. Cover and chill for an hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Drop to a tablespoon of dough, two inches apart onto a baking sheet. Bake nine to 11 minutes or until edges are slightly browned. Cool on baking sheet for five minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

They didn't work out completely how I would like because I used real marshmallows and not the freeze dried bits or whatever they are. Next time, I'm going to do that and tweak the recipe a bit more. That was way too much flour and it wasn't really cookie batter. Maybe that kind of dough would make a better cake. Back to the drawing board and raspberry [or strawberry] cheesecake cookies are next!

Red and Green Sugar Cookies

I happen to be a big fan of sugar cookies. I didn't used to be because I'm also really crazy about chocolate and would rather eat a chocolate chip cookie any day. But lately, I've been craving sugar cookies. It could be because my editor's mother made delicious sugar cookies for her birthday party. And I haven't made sugar cookies in awhile.

Because Christmas is coming up, there will most likely be an influx of recipes as I begin my total baking regimen. I did four different types of cookies last year and I think I will do that same this year, but do a different variety. Perhaps I will do six different types. I like to bake enough and there are a few different recipes I would like to try. Though I will still probably do chocolate chip and sugar cookies as well. So many choices. Anyway...

What makes these sugar cookies red and green is the colored sugar I used on the outside. I've had the colored sugar for awhile and I don't use it often enough. Sometimes I use it when I'm making Inside Out Oreos and I put it on top of the white chocolate. But this was easy enough to make and they are super festive and cute! I'm hoping to make these again for Christmas in the office and perhaps for when we go to my aunt's house. 'Tis the season for spending all my money on baking things and not presents for those I love and care about!

Red and Green Sugar Cookies 





Ingredients:



1 stick butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

 

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

 

Melt the butter in a large mixing bowl for two 20-second increments. Stir in sugar. Once it is slightly cooled [around three minutes], beat in the egg and vanilla.

 

In a separate bowl, combine the flour and baking powder. Stir this into the butter and sugar mixture.

 

Roll the dough into quarter-size balls and dip in the red or green or both colored sugar. Place the cookie balls on a baking sheet, two to three inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Keep checking them and make sure they aren't burned because burned cookies are unhappy cookies and means an unhappy baker.

 

Fudgy Brownies

There was another birthday in my office last week. One of the reporters turned 23 and I told him I would bake him something, he would just have to give me an idea of what he wanted. After several days of deliberation, he told me he wanted brownies, but not cakey brownies. He wanted fudgy brownies. Now, I'm not 100 percent sure if my normal brownie recipe is more of a cake-like consistency or fudgy. I'm pretty sure they're cakey so I had to look for a new recipe.

So I know that I will have two brownie recipes on this blog but that's okay. It'll give you the chance to make two different kinds. The difference between a fudgy and cakey brownie is the amount of flour used. I'm very excited to serve these at work tomorrow!

 

Fudgy Brownies

 

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup salted butter

8 ounces coarsely chopped semi-sweet chocolate [I used Ghirardelli]

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Instructions:

Melt the butter and chopped chocolate in a medium saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly for about five minutes. Remove from the heat, pour into a large mixing bowl and allow to cool slightly for around 10 minutes.

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease the bottom and the sides of an 11by seven pan and set aside.

 

Whisk the granulated and brown sugars into the cooled chocolate and butter mixture. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking until smooth after each addition. Whisk in the vanilla. Gently fold in the flour, cocoa powder and salt.

 

Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake around 35 minutes or until the brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with only a few crumbs when they are done.

 

Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan set on a wire cooling rack. Once cooled, cut and serve.

 



Mississippi Mud Pie

With it being Thanksgiving [Happy food coma to all and to all a good night!], I baked again for dinner. We always switch between my grandmother's [my dad's mom] and my aunt's [my mom's sister]. My uncle texted me earlier this week and asked if I was going to my aunt's and said the only reason he asked was because he wanted to know if I was bringing Inside Out Oreoes... Of course he was kidding but I just rolled my eyes.

I spent a lot time yesterday trying to figure out what I wanted to bake.  With all my cookbooks and the fact I love Pintrest so much, it would have been easy but it was not. But I actually went back to something I made many years ago for a Christmas party with my friends. I made something known as Mississippi Mud Pie and it is very delicious, albeit rich and very chocolaty. Apparently it gets its name because it looks like the muddy banks of the Mississippi River. According to Wikipedia [but you can't exactly trust them], "it is believed that this dish was created by home cooks after World War II because it was made of simple ingredients that could be found at any supermarket and did not require any special cooking tools. Its earliest known reference in print is 1975."

It's supposed to be a bit gooier than mine came out but I think that is because I made mine last night rather than earlier today. But it was still pretty delicious nonetheless. Everyone that had a piece seemed to like it so, success! I was going to make homemade whipped cream. I bought heavy cream for it but completely forgot to bring it to my grandmother's house so I was only able to use canned whipped cream. I didn't have to double the recipe for the most part. Just the crust because my springform pan was a bit larger than suggested.

I need a new springform pan. I had a bit of a problem getting my pie out of it and I ended up chucking it out. So, for those who know me and read my blog. Baking stuff. Christmas is coming up. That's what I want! So keep a springform pan, a loose-bottom cake pan, mini cake pans and a food scale in mind. [Hint hint, Santa!]

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time with their families. I definitely thanked God for everything that I have been blessed with. My father is alive and as healthy as he can be, my mother is in good health, I have a full-time job and I have quite a few amazing people in my life. I'm very grateful for all the opportunities I have and everything I have been giving. Until next my next baked good my friends! I'm giving you fair warning that there will be a lot of posts for December. 'Tis the season for a butt load of baking!

 

Mississippi Mud Pie

 

 

Ingredients:

[crust]

10 ounces graham crackers [I used two sleeves]

1 cup pecans, finely chopped

2 tablespoons of light brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup butter, melted

[filling]

1 cup butter

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, roughly chopped

1/2 cup corn syrup

4 large eggs, beaten

1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped

 

Instruction:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a nine inch springform pan or loose-bottom cake pan.

 

To make the crumb crust, put the graham crackers, pecans, sugar and cinnamon into a food processor and process until fine crumbs form - do not overprocess into a powder. Add the melted butter and process again until moistened.

 

Tip the crumb mixture into the pan and press over the bottom and about one and one-half inches up the side of the pan. Cover the pan and let chill while making the filling.

 

To make the filling, put the butter, chocolate and corn syrup into a pan over low heat and stir until melted and blended. Let cool, then beat in the eggs and pecans.

 

Pour the filling into the chilled crumb crust and smooth the surface. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until just set but still soft in the center. Let cool on a cooling rack. Serve at room temperature or chilled with whipped cream.

 

 

 

Hell yeah I added sprinkles to that. How could I not? Happy holidays, guys!





Chocolate Cake with Hot Chocolate Frosting

Today was a wonderful day. My beautiful cousin Kelly had her baby shower today. She is due to give birth to a baby boy in January. I'm so excited. Kelly and her husband Jerry are some of the most amazing people in the world and have been there for me through a lot of rough times. I love them like no other.

My aunt and Jerry's mother asked if I would bake a few things for the shower. I wasn't the only one who baked something, but I went all out. This time I made brownies with chocolate chunks and chocolate cake with hot chocolate frosting. And it was delicious. At least I thought so and so did my other aunt and my mother. Jerry and his father seemed to like my brownies, which is always good. He texted me to tell me they were really good. It always makes me happy when people enjoy what I make.

I normally don't make cake. I'm more of a cupcake girl when it comes to the cake variety of things. I mean, as long as I'm baking something, I'm pretty much happy. It also gave me the opportunity to whip out my mixer which hasn't seen some love in a bit. I doubled the frosting recipe because there is never enough sometimes. Except I really should have tripled or quadrupled it. I literally had just enough to cover the entire cake and the inside layers. I was relieved that I had enough, but it would have been better to have a cushion of frosting! No worried about that though.

 

Chocolate Cake with Hot Chocolate Frosting

 

 

Ingredients:

[cake patter]

1 cup butter

1 3/4 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cup milk

2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon salt

[frosting]

2 cups heavy cream

6 packets of hot chocolate mix

 

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, unsweetened cocoa and salt together. Set aside.

 

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at time then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternatively with the milk, mixing until it's just incorporated.

 

Pour into two round greased cake pans. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

 

After the cake cools, cut it in half horizontally so it becomes two layers. With the second layer, cut of the rounded top off the cake. Put off to the side.

 

Place the mixer bowl and whisk in the freezer for 15 minutes until cold. Beat the cream for two minutes on high. Mix in the packets of hot chocolate mix [I used dark chocolate Swiss Miss mix though you can use anything. Three packets equals 1/2 cup of hot chocolate mix.] and beat on high until stiff peaks form.

 

Frost the cake and its layers. Serve, eat and enjoy!!!

 

 

 

She doesn't even look pregnant!

 

So many presents!

 

Everything at the shower was very cute! They live in South Jersey so everything was Eagles and Flyers-themed!

 

Some of the best people in the world! And they're ridiculously cute together.

 

Banana Bread Pudding With Caramel Sauce

Happy belated Halloween to my lovely readers! I like to spend my Halloween down at Danielle's, my college roommate, house. She's one of my best friends and like me, loves to bake. This is the first time in a few years I've been able to get down to South Jersey to see her around this time. We spend a lot of time together when she has off for her job and I'm lucky enough to have a four-day weekend after being weekend reporter. This year we went to a charity Halloween party to benefit the Dream Foundation. My other roommate Shannon and our friend Derek came with us and we had a blast.

Myself and Danielle from Friday's party

Yesterdaywas my last day there before it was back to the daily grind of work. Danielle, her mom, brother, grandma, great-aunt, her grandma's boyfriend and I went to her aunt's house for dinner and we decided to make a dessert. She looked up something up and we ended up combining two. Thus we have our banana bread pudding with caramel sauce. It made the house smell delicious. Like fall! And everyone really seemed to like it. Her grandma even wants the recipe for a church gathering. We didn't have time to make biscuit dough, so we cheated and used Pillsbury Grands biscuits. Next time I make it, I won't cheat! I'll make biscuit dough from scratch.

Banana Bread Pudding With Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

4 bananas, sliced

2 cans Pillsbury Brands biscuits, cubed

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 cup pecans, crushed [optional]

35 Werther's chewy caramels

1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 glass dish with butter or cooking spray. Cube the biscuit dough in one-half to one inch pieces. Slice up the bananas. In a separate bowl, mix together the cinnamon and sugar to make cinnamon sugar. [You can add as much cinnamon as you'd like, but I'm not a huge cinnamon fan.] Dip the dough into the butter, then in the cinnamon sugar mix. Dip the banana in the cinnamon sugar mix as well.

Layer about half of cinnamon sugar-coated dough and all the bananas. Sprinkle in around half of the pecans. Layer the rest of the cinnamon sugar-coated dough over the bananas and sprinkle the rest of the pecans on top.

 

Combine the caramels and cream in a medium sauce pan, stirring continuously over medium-low heat until smooth. Using a large spoon, drizzle a few spoonfuls of the caramel sauce over the dough.

 

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Drizzle caramel over the pure awesomeness and serve!