Quick Dinner Goodness

Deep Dish Brownie 

So tonight I wanted to go to froyo life because I have a bad addiction to frozen yogurt, Gina said no why don't we make something here... and so it began. After googling tons of recipes, ranging from baked apples to cookies, she was getting fed up and hungry and proclaimed that she was just going to eat yogurt if I didn't make up my mind. 

This was at 7:36. I decided I had a 8 o'clock deadline for this dessert and ran into the kitchen. I put random stuff in a bowl and put it in the oven for 15min at 350 and hoped for the best. This was far better then the best. It looked so good we forgot to take a picture before we dug in. 

It has mixed flavor. I added cinnamon and apples to the batter. With the chocolate-ly gooeyness the cinnamon flavor really shined. This definitely isn't you're typical brownie but its worth trying. The apple added a nice crunch to the half baked brownie. The peanut butter chips were what really made it a home run. This has become my new go to brownie recipe. Don't be skeptical about the apples, Gina was at first, but then she had no problem scarfing down 3/4 of the pan of brownie.

 My attempt at showing the apple goodness.

This was about 3 min after it came out of the oven....

 You can just see the gooeyness! I love moist, half baked, gooey brownies.

Recipe:

1/4 C butter

1/4 C brown sugar

1/4 C granulated sugar

1/2 C flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon 

1/4 tsp vanilla

1 egg 

1 handful of peanut butter chips

1 handful of chocolate chips

1 diced apple (doesn't need to be peeled)

Directions:

Prepare a 9x5 pan (standard loaf pan)

Preheat oven to 350

1. Cream butter and sugars together

2. Add the egg and vanilla

3. Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon

4. Add in the apple pieces and chips 

5. Bake for 15 min if you want a deep dish gooey brownie, or up the time to 20min if you want slice and serve brownies

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Banana Bread Cookies

Banana Bread Cookies

I made banana bread all the time using leftover bananas so I figured why not try cookies?

The result was very, very goopy dough, that magically became cookies! I was not quite sure if they were going to turn out ok since the dough would not form balls whatsoever but they did!

Recipe:

½ Cup Sugar

¼ Cup Butter

1 Egg

2 Bananas

½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Flour

½ Teaspoon Baking Soda

Pinch of salt

½ cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1)      Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees

2)      Mix sugar and butter.

3)      Add bananas. I just ripped the banana into pieces and mashed in the sugar/butter mixture.

4)      Add flour, baking soda, salt

5)      Mix in egg and vanilla extract

6)      Fold in chocolate chips

7)      Place droplets onto a prepared cookie sheet. I used parchment paper

8)      Bake 12 minutes. The bottoms will turn begin to burn if left too long.

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Oatmeal Cookies Stuffed with Kisses

Oatmeal Cookies Stuffed with Kisses

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These are the best oatmeal cookies. They're thick and soft and full of flavor... and a kiss. If you're not a fan of kisses then feel free to leave them out and just add extra chocolate chips. 

We used pumpkin kisses that were left over from the winter season, we needed some way to get rid of them and since Im in a stuffed cookie craze this was it. 

We made two batches. The first came out a little flat, so i modified the recipe and got the nice chewy fluffy cookie I was looking for. 

Heres the comparison between the before and after modifying cookie. 

Can you tell the difference? I definitely could. The flatter ones are more crisp as compared to the chewiness of the ones on the left. 

 Heres how the flatter ones came out with the kiss inside. They were still super tasty, especially if you like a crunchy cookie.

Since we wanted to change it up, some of the cookies got a chocolate egg put inside them and some got a dark chocolate kiss. 

These are super easy to make too. Oatmeal cookies are typically drop cookies. First you prepare the batter then just grab a scoop and put a kiss inside.

Then you're all set and ready to bake! Just prepare your pan and plop down the dough. 

Put it in the oven for 12 min. and... 

Deliciousness awaits you.

Recipe: 

1 C flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 C light brown sugar

1/2 C granulated sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 3/4 C old-fashioned rolled oats 

1 C chocolate chips

1 bag of pumpkin Kisses (If not in season can use normal kisses, carmel filled would be delicious)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

1. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cornstarch, and spices together

2. In a separate bowl cream the butter and the sugars. 

3. Once mixed add the egg and the vanilla

4. Mix the dry ingredients in with the wet

5. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips

Take a scoop of cookie dough and push a kiss inside, seal it up, and place it on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 12 min. They should appear undone but they will continue to cook while cooling. 

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Double Chocolate Red Velvet Stuffed Cake Ball Cookies

Double Chocolate Red Velvet Stuffed Cake Ball Cookies

Similar to the other post with the chocolate chip cookies stuffed with cake balls, but this time we upgraded to more chocolate. 

These cookies stay soft and moist. The cake ball is a sweet surprise which you don't expect from the round cookie! 

All on the sheet. It's like these cookies have a secret. They're stuffed full of cakey goodness.

Recipe: 

For the cookie:

1 c butter

1 c brown sugar

3/4 c sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/8 c flour

1/2 c cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cornstarch 

Optional: 1/2 c mini chocolate chips

For the Cake ball:

1 package cake mix

1 can of frosting

1 package of candy melts or baking chocolate or chocolate chips

Directions:

Make the cake as called for only the box. Let it cool and then crumble the cooled cake and 3/4 of the can of frosting in a large bowl. Form into balls and refrigerate. Once chilled you can dip them in melted chocolate or stuff them in the cookie as is.

Preheat oven to 350

Then make the cookie dough.

1. Mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and cornstarch in a large bowl

2. Cream together the butter and sugars.

3.Once light and fluffy add in the eggs and vanilla extract.

4. Mix the dry ingredients in with the wet.

5. Fold in the chocolate chips

Once the cookie dough is ready, simply take a scoop of cookie dough put a cake ball inside and seal the edges shut.

Bake at 350 for 10-15min! 

The best cookie ever. Soft inside but still has that cookie crunch. 

Its a match made in the oven.

Bake me! Bake me!

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Red Velvet Cake Ball Stuffed Cookies

Red Velvet Cake Ball Stuffed Cookies

Stuffed cookies are my new favorite thing. I made cake balls and the only logical thing to do with them was to put them in cookies. 

The result is a incredibly soft moist center. It is amazing. If you ever make cake balls and have some left over, why not try it? 

The cookies taste great and even look pretty. If you want to impress people, I'd recommend these. 

Recipe: 

For the cookie:

2 1/4 c flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp cornstarch 

3/4 c butter

1 c brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 c chocolate chips

For the Cake ball:

1 package cake mix
1 can of frosting
1 package of candy melts or baking chocolate or chocolate chips

Directions:

Make the cake as called for only the box. Let it cool and then crumble the cooled cake and 3/4 of the can of frosting in a large bowl. Form into balls and refrigerate. Once chilled you can dip them in melted chocolate or stuff them in the cookie as is.

Preheat oven to 350

Then make the cookie dough.

1. Mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and cornstarch in a large bowl

2. Cream together the butter and sugars.

3.Once light and fluffy add in the eggs and vanilla extract.

4. Mix the dry ingredients in with the wet.

5. Fold in the chocolate chips

Once the cookie dough is ready, simply take a scoop of cookie dough put a cake ball inside and seal the edges shut.
1.                                                                                 2.

All set and ready to go!

Bake at 350 for 10-15 min.

The finished result. Yum.

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Cake Balls

Red Velvet Cake Balls

I fell like everyone has tried these. Since I always see them at Starbucks but have never had/made them, I decided now would be the perfect time! 

They're incredible simple to make. 

All you need is what is pictured below, cake mix, a can of frosting, and some chocolate. 

To make them, bake the cake as instructed. Then wait until it is cool. Once cool crumble it in a large bowl. Then add about 3/4 of the can of frosting and mash it all together. I used my hands. Why not?

Then you form the mixture into balls and refrigerate.

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Once chilled, melt the chocolate you are using as instructed. I used normal chocolate chips and added some vegetable oil to make it smoother. Give each ball a quick dip in the chocolate then tap off the extra chocolate and put it on wax paper to set. At this point you can add sprinkles or whatever decorations you want. 

My sister is completely against sprinkles so we don't keep them in the house. Her theory, developed after seeing sprinkles at self serve yogurt places, is that they are pointless to add because they're just for looks and who cares if you're just going to eat it anyways. 

The finished result. Cake balls are smooth, soft, and it is impossible to eat just one.

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Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Zucchini Cookies

If you love soft cookies, then this is the recipe for you. Don't be hesitant to make these because they're made with zucchini, just think of them as more of a less guilt cookie. They're soft, cakey, and overall delicious. 

Recipe:

1/4 C butter

1/2 C light brown sugar

1/4 C sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg

1 C shredded zucchini (about one whole zucchini)

1 1/4 C flour

2 C old fashioned oats

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 tsp cinnamon

1 C chocolate chips

1/2 C dried fruit (optional, can add in any other mix ins)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

1. In a bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon

2. In a large bowl beat sugars and butter together. Once combined mix in the egg and vanilla extract. Mix well then add in the shredded zucchini.
3. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet.
4. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips. (feel free to add in any dried fruit or any other mix ins)
5. Drop cookies 2 inches apart onto parchment lined baking sheets. The cookies do not spread that much. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.

The batter should come out looking like this.

Dropped onto the cookie sheets. 

Baked until golden!

Additional:

I made these for a second time. They turned out even better then the first! I baked them for a little longer so they were less cakey. 

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Delicious Brownie Pie

Brownie Pie

Oh this thing is good. So good, we made it twice. Once in a pie crust and again without. Its rich, its chocolatey, its fudgy, and its covered in a thick layer of ganache. If you're going to make and eat a brownie pie, it might as well be this one. 

Recipe: 

For the pie:

2/3 C butter

1 1/3 C sugar

1/2 C light corn syrup

2 eggs

1 1/4 C all-purpose flour

1/2 C cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon salt 

3 tablespoon milk

1 1/2 C chopped nuts (optional)

For the Ganache: 

1 C heavy cream

8 ounces semisweet chocolate 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325

1. In a large bowl combine flour cocoa and salt

2. In a bowl cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy

3. Beat in the eggs and corn syrup

4.Slowly add in the dry ingredients to the wet, then incorporate the milk

5. Fold in nuts (if adding)

6. Spread batter into a 10inch springform pan. Or you can use a (inch chocolate pie crust, or a 9x13 glass pan

7. Bake for 35-45 min or until set

While the pie is cooking, in a small pan bring the heavy cream to a boil then remove from heat and stir in the chocolate until it is melted. Set the pan aside to cool. Once the brownie is removed from the pan that you baked it in, slowly pour the ganache over the brownie and let it drip down the sides. It should be like a waterfall of chocolatey goodness. Refrigerate until the ganache is set... if you can wait that long. 

If the easiness of this pie isn't reason enough to go and make it, just look at how excited this girl was to eat it....

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