Thick Triple Chocolate Cookies

Triple chocolate cookies are honestly one of my top 3 favorite cookies. It has taken me years to find a recipe with the perfect chocolatey taste that bakes up nice and thick! These babies are a chocolate lovers dream!

Adapted from Love From the Oven

Cookie Dough:

1 c. Cold Butter, cut into cubes

1 1/4 c Sugar

2 Eggs

1 tsp. Vanilla

1/2 c. DARK Cocoa (do not use regular it is not the same!)

2 1/4 c. Flour

1/4 tsp Salt

1 tsp, Baking Powder

White Chocolate Chips

Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

1. Beat the cold butter until smooth. Add in sugar and beat on high for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy.

2. Mix in the eggs and vanilla.

3. In a separate bowl whisk together the DARK cocoa, flour, salt and baking powder. Add to the butter/ sugar mixture.

4. Stir in chocolate chips. I would start with 1 cup each but I always say more is better!! 

5. Roll into balls, 2 Tbs each and place onto a pan with parchment paper.

6. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Once removed from the oven, let the cookies sit for 5 minutes before removing them.

(Always better to underbake then to over bake a cookie!)

Iced Oatmeal Cookies

Ive been eyeing these sweet confections around Pinterest for awhile now! But after a few Pinterest fails, I blame the magic of photography. (If only their beautifully edited photos were equal to their recipes taste!) haha!
This recipe is definitely a keeper! Hints of cinnamon and nutmeg were warmly welcomed on this chilly afternoon! And the cookie dough alone is to die for!

Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Recipes adapted from Saving Room for Dessert

For the cookie dough:

• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt 
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Place oats in a food processor for about 10 seconds. You don't want it all powdery but you do want different sizes of oats. 

2. In a bowl, whisk together oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

3. In a separate bowl, beat butter, brown sugar and white sugar for 3-5 minutes until fluffy.

4. Add in eggs and vanilla.

5. Mix in flour mixture into the butter mixture until just combined.

6. Roll the dough into 2 Tbs balls of cookie dough, place on parchment paper and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Watch carefully as you do not want to over bake these cookies.

7. Once out of the oven, let the cookies rest on the pan for 5 minutes before removing them.

8. When the cookies are fully cooled, frost or dip them into the icing. Recipe follows.

Cookie Icing:

2 cup Powdered Sugar

2 tsp Corn Syrup

6 Tbs Milk

Vanilla Bean (optional)

Mix powdered sugar, corn syrup and 3 Tbs of milk together in a bowl. Add the remaining milk 1 Tbs at a time until a thick frosting texture is acquired. Add in a little vanilla bean and frost the cookies once they're cooled.

Halloween Themed Dinner

I loooove a good holiday theme dinner but this is the one I anticipate ALL year long! 

Darrens mother started this tradition I have just ate it up{literally!} the idea is that you "code name" everything on the menu including drinks and utensils! Then you order each item in turns! If there is a big group then we pair up and get 2 items at a time to make it go by faster. You can serve everyone yourself or have everything covered and labeled on the counter and have the pairs go up and serve themselves.

Here is the "coded" menu! 

Snake on a Stick (twisted Italian breadsticks- recipe from my guest post here http://www.lemonbabydesigns.com/2015/02/twisted-italian-bread-sticks.html?m=1)

A Blithe Apparition (dipped strawberries an idea I found on Pinterest)

The Kraken- Main Course (dyed spaghetti idea from http://www.the36thavenue.com/halloween-spaghetti/ )

Egyptian Curse (adult version- jalapeño poppers idea from http://www.thehopelesshousewife.com/?hhw_recipes=halloweeno-jalapeno-popper-mummies. Kid version- mummy cookies from http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/yummy-mummy-cookies/5887ff6f-bce8-4e40-b2c9-7758bc0b696b)

Spider Eggs in Nest (jello recipe idea from 

http://www.aspicyperspective.com/2012/10/halloween-dessert-spider-treat.html?m p.s. I subbed the "tapioca pearls" for a tsp of cottage cheese! Worked great!!

Goblin Fingers (cooked asparagus! Super easy!)

Transylvanian Bite (main dessert! I was planning on using plastic vampire teeth but then I found a vampire teeth chocolate mold! WIN!! I used my favorite cake recipe and a chocolate mousse frosting! Idea from http://thissillygirlslife.com/2013/09/vampire-kiss-cupcakes/ )

The Black Plague (chocolate mice! Made with a Hershey kiss, a dipped maraschino cherry with stem, and sprinkle eyes! I got this idea from my mother in law!)

Cadaver Look Sees (meatballs!! I found this awesome recipe from allrecipes.com it's the very best but I can't find the link to the same recipe so I guess I'll just have to make a post on my favorite spaghetti and meatballs recipe soon!!)

For Melted Witch I used a quick green punch recipe! It's 1-2 liters of ginger ale, 1 frozen limeade and 1 lime sherbet mixed together. 

And I bet you guessed the fork (Devils pitchfork) and the spoon (gravedigger.)

It was a fun night and I loved sharing it with our friends and neighbors!!! 

 

Monster Cookie Dough Frosting and Ice Cream

You should lock me up and throw away the key for sharing this tantalizing recipe!! {I call it cookie dough crack!} it's amazing stuff! You can use it as frosting on top of your favorite peanut butter cupcakes{here's my new favorite peanut butter cupcake recipe, just swap the frosting http://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/2014/08/13/triple-peanut-butter-cupcakes/,} you can sandwhich it between 2 peanut butter cookies, you can roll it into balls and dip in chocolate, you can refrigerate and roll it into balls and mix into your favorite homemade vanilla/ peanut butter ice cream or you can simply eat it right out of the bowl until your spouse questions your sanity! {these are just the ideas I've had for it so far!}

***look below for Chocolate Chip Monster Cookie Dough Ice Cream***

Here is the life altering recipe from wishes dishes.com! If you have little to no self control like I do, you should half this recipe! 😉

Ingredients:

8 oz Cream Cheese

1/2 c. Peanut Butter

1/2 c.  Butter, softened

3 Tbs. Flour

3 Tbs. Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

1- 1 1/2 c.Oats**

1-2 c. Powdered Sugar **

1/2 bag of Mini M&Ms

1/2 bag Mini Chocolate Chips

** if you're making a frosting, use less of these ingredients in the suggested measurements given.

Directions:

1. Use the paddle attachment of your stand mixer and beat the cream cheese, peanut butter and butter for about 5 minutes, scraping down the bowl every little bit. 

2. Mix in the flour, brown sugar and vanilla.

3. Mix in the powdered sugar.

4. Stir in the mini M&Ms and mini chocolate chips.

Chocolate Chip Monster Cookie Dough Ice Cream

This is my absolute favorite ice cream recipe!! No cooking, no raw eggs, just simple ingredients that come together quickly! I found this little gem from Allrecipes.com! 😉

Ingredients:

1/2 batch of Monster Cookie Dough (above)

1/3 c. dark Chocolate Ghirardelli Chocolate Wafers (these are THE best but you could use semi sweet hoc plate chips)

2 c. Heavy Cream

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 c. Milk

1 Tbs. Vanilla

1 pinch of Salt

1. Mix together half a batch of Monster Cookie Dough. roll into 1/2 inch balls and place in the fridge.

2. Melt the Ghirardelli chocolate then spread into an even layer over parchment paper. Place in the freezer.

3. In a bowl, whisk together heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, milk, vanilla, and salt. Pour into your ice cream maker per manufacturers instructions. 

4. While the ice cream is churning, take the chocolate form the freezer and crumble into half inch chunks.

5. When the ice cream is done, mix in cookie dough and chocolate chunks. freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.

{Cake Mix} Triple Chocolate Cookies

Ohhhhhhh people, these cookies are chocolate heaven!! And their simplicity only adds to their appeal!! Try to eat just 1, seriously, I dare you!! 

I've tried a few cake mix cookie recipe but I always come back to this one, because it's the best! Obviously!! {I even had a cake mix cookie recipe cook off one day! Because I have so much time on my hands! 👐 What with my newborn and 3 other small children. I've got time to waste people!!! Lol. But really my kids LOVE helping me cook so it's fun for everybody!! Until we're done and they're fighting over who gets to lick the bowl/ spatula/ beater. Then it's full on sibling war!}

Soooo back to these amazing cookies, try them! Love them! Then hide yourself in the pantry and save the bowl for yourself! 😜

Ingredients:

Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Cake Mix (this is important! Don't get skimpy!)

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 c. Butter

2 Eggs

White Chocolate Chips

Semi- Sweet or Milk Chocolate Chips

Directions:

1. In a bowl, whisk together the cake mix and baking powder.

2. Mix in softened butter and eggs.

3. Stir in the chocolate chips. I will let you be the judge of how much of each you want! 😉

4. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. 

How easy is that!? For a flatter cookie, use melted butter, for a thicker cookie refrigerate the dough before baking! 

White Chocolate Raspberry {No Bake} Cheesecake

If you know me then you know I'm a fan for anything involving chocolate and raspberry together! Yum! So when I saw this recipe on Pinterest I knew I would one day have to make it, and that day was today!!! {que triumphant music!} 

Looking over the original recipe I quickly realized how many ingredients there were! And also how much time she put into each step. {ain't nobody got time for all that!} I put to good use my super talent {laziness} to cut a few corners. Okay, I'm not really lazy but extremely busy so I need things to get done fast!!! 

I want to add that if you don't own a springform you can half the recipe and pour the cheesecake directly into the premade Oreo crust! 👍

White Chocolate Raspberry {no bake} Cheesecake

Ingredients:

1 Pre made Oreo Pie Crust {or make your own}

Fresh Raspberries for Garnish {optional}

1/2 c. Raspberry Pie Filling {but I highly suggest you make your own with the super easy recipe below!}

1/2 c. Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers {sold in the baking isle}

1/4 c. White Chocolate Chips

2 pkgs, 8 oz. Cream Cheese

1 pkg. White Chocolate Jello Instant Pudding Mix

1 c. Sugar

1 container of Cool Whip

1 Tbs. Melted Butter

DIrections:

1. Melt the Ghirardelli chocolate wafers, spread evenly on parchment paper and place in the freezer.

2. Melt the white chocolate chips and set aside to cool.

3. In a mixer beat cream cheese until smooth.

4. Mix in melted white chocolate, pudding mix, and sugar. Beat until smooth.

5. Gently mix in Cool Whip. 

6. Take the chocolate out of the freezer and crumble it into chunks. Stir these into the cheesecake mixture.

7. Reuse the parchment paper and line your 9 inch springform pan. Then, crumble up the Oreo pie crust iced with 1 Tbs melted butter and evenly press into the bottom of the pan.

8. Layer as follows: cheesecake raspberry pie filling, cheesecake, and raspberry pie filling. {next time I make this, I will probably drizzle it over top and skip the middle.}

9. Top with fresh raspberries, drizzled melted chocolate/ white chocolate and possibly some Redi Whip!! 

10. Place in the fridge to set for at least 2 hours {self control people} before eating.

Easy Raspberry Sauce:

1. In a saucepan place raspberries, 2 Tbs water and 1/2 c. Sugar.

2. Boil the raspberries until they break down.

3. At this point you can choose to seive out most or all of the seeds. {I like to keep about 1 tsp. of seeds in the sauce.}

4. Return to heat and add 2 tsp. cornstarch. Simmer until thick. 

The Perfect Peanut Butter Cookie

Look no further for that perfect peanut butter cookie! This is it people! After trying several recipes (including my own personal variations to the following recipe) I have found it!!!! 

Thanks to Dessert Now Dinner Later. {http://www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com/2015/05/thick-and-chewy-peanut-butter-cookies/}

You know it's a sure winner when you seriously question your self control! I mean, it's a good thing this recipe only makes 19 cookies!

This recipe on its own is GREAT but I've tried it a variety of ways. I've added mini m&ms which were good but not great. I was kinda bummed the chocolate took away from the peanut butter flavor. So *lightbulb* I decided to use a peanut butter candy and what better than Reese's pieces!! These took this cookie to a whole new level! And added some color which I love! I have also made them into sandwich cookies using Nutella in the middle!!!! WOW!

Try them for yourself! And if you think you have a better peanut butter cookie recipe, let me know because I love trying new cookie recipes! :D

The Perfect Peanut Butter Cookie

Ingredients:

1/2 c. Butter, unsalted

1/2 c. Sugar

1/2 c. Brown Sugar

1/2 c. Peanut Butter

1 Egg

1 tap. Vanilla

1 1/2 c. Flour

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Salt

Mini Reese's Pieces- optional

Mini Chocolate Chips- optional

Directions:

1. Cream the butter, sugar and brown sugar in a mixer for about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides at the 1 and 2 minute mark. 

2. Add in egg and vanilla and mix.

3. In a seperate bowl mix together the flour, baking soda and salt.

4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined.

5. Stir in the Reese's Pieces and Chocolate chips if you wish to add them.

6. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring.