Chocolate Fudge Bars

This recipe comes from Bonnie who recently started at work as the receptionist. She is always smiling and is such a warm spirit in which I admire her. She brought these bars in one day and they are simply amazing!

12 oz chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 T butter
1 tsp vanilla

Melt in medium saucepan until smooth

2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 c margarine
2 c flour
3 c oatmeal
1 tsp vanilla
nuts - optional

Mix ingredients together - it will be a little sticky. Pat 1/2 of mixture into a 10x16 pan. Spread on chocolate mixture. Drop remaining dough by spoonfuls on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes

Heath Cake

We made this one night after Charlie had it at work - someone brought one in for a birthday and he just raved about it. Now if you know my husband he DISLIKES chocolate so of course I allowed him to try this recipe on us. We didn't add the caramel that is typically in the recipes found online and only added the toffee chips instead of actual candy bar pieces. Can you believe Savannah doesn't like caramel? I guess the caramel was too sweet for Charlie too. Oh well, maybe I can get some on the side with mine.

1 box chocolate cake mix, any flavor
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 container whip topping
Heath toffee chips

Make cake according to directions on box, remove from oven and immediately poke holes in the cake with a fork...or you can make bigger holes with a wooden spoon handle, your preference. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top making sure each hole is covered and sides. Let cool and put whipped topping and candy chips on top to your desire a little or a lot just before serving however it is yummier to let it sit overnight in the fridge as it takes time to soak up the milk.

Keep in mind the toffee chips that sit a while will start to melt, which is okay, but they are better crunchy. Super easy and super yummo!

Hot Fudge Brownies/with Milk

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup milk, at room temperature
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 cups boiling water
Whipped cream or ice cream

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together flour, next 3 ingredients, and 3/4 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl; stir in milk, oil, and vanilla. Spread batter in a lightly greased 8-inch square pan.
2. Combine brown sugar, cocoa, and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a small bowl; sprinkle over batter in pan. Using a spoon, gently drizzle 1 1/2 cups boiling water over batter, being careful not to disturb layers. (Do not stir.)
3. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a cake layer forms on top and layer springs back when touched. Let cool on a wire rack 25 minutes.

Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

Chocolate-Cherry Pudding Cake:
Thaw 1 (12-oz.) package frozen dark, sweet, pitted cherries; drain. Pat cherries dry with paper towels. Prepare recipe as directed through
Step 2, gently sprinkling cherries over batter in pan. Proceed with recipe as directed.

Mocha Pudding Cake: Substitute hot freshly brewed coffee for boiling water. Proceed with recipe as directed.

Oreo Torte

Jake made this for us over the weekend. It was so good!

First Layer
1 (2 lb) packages Oreo cookies, crushed in food processor
1/2 cup butter, melted

Second Layer
(8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 (8 ounce) containers whipped topping

Third Layer
2 (4 ounce) packages instant chocolate pudding mix
3 cups milk

Fourth Layer
1 (8 ounce) containers whipped topping

Directions

1. FIRST LAYER: Take out 1/2 cup crushed cookies and set aside for 4th layer.
2. Mix the remaining crushed cookies and margarine.
3. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 pan and chill for 1/2 hour.
4. SECOND LAYER: Beat cream cheese and sugar together until creamy.
5. Fold in whipped topping until well blended.
6. Spread evenly over the 1st layer.
7. THIRD LAYER: Blend pudding and milk at medium speed for 4 minutes.
8. Spread over the 2nd layer.
9. FOURTH LAYER: Spread whipped topping over the 3rd layer.
10. Sprinkle the 1/2 cup cookie crumbs on top.
11. Chill and serve.

Single Serving Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie

Tracy passed this recipe out at work the other day. What a great idea for a cookie single serving recipe to take care of that sweet tooth after dinner. Even better that it's my favorite cookie.

1 Tbsp butter, melted
1 Tbsp white sugar
1Tbsp brown sugar
3 drops of vanilla
pinch of salt
1 egg yolk
1/4 c flour
2 Tbsp chocolate chips

Microwave 40-60 seconds in a cup or bowl

Tracy's Pretzel Treats

Tracy brought these into work one day. I don't know what she calls them but I asked her for the recipe. I love the sweet buttery caramelly chocolatey salty crunchiness of these. They are delicious!

 

2 sticks of butter & 1 cup brown sugar – med heat until smooth and mixed (just a little bubbly) – mmmm instant caramel :)

 

Parchment paper (or aluminum foil) lined cookie sheet – line with pretzels (the square ones work the best, you can double layer too for more crunch)

 

Pour caramel over pretzels – bake at 350 degrees for 5 min

 

Pour one bag of chocolate chips on top – back in oven of 1 min (semi sweet or milk)

 

Smooth chips with knife

 

Freeze for at least an hour – then break into pieces

Double Chocolate Brownies

This recipe was given to me by Savannah's Sunday School teacher a few weeks ago. Savannah raved and raved about it and begged her to get the recipe for me. I thought, "Eh, I am sure it is a standard brownie recipe." But when she gave it to me the next week at church, I was amazed at how indifferent it was to any other recipe I had ever made. I can't wait to try it!

Blend:
1 cup & 2 Tablespoons flour
3/8 teaspoons of baking soda
3/8 teaspoons of salt

In Saucepan:
1 cup & 2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/8 cup & 1 Tablespoon water
Bring to a boil and remove from heat.

Add:
1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Stir until chips are melted. Transfer to a mixing bowl.

Add 3 eggs, one at a time and beat in. Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips and 3/4 cups chopped nuts (optional).

Spread in greased 13 x 9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool and frost.

Frosting: 1/4 cup butter and 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate melted in microwave. Cool slightly. Add 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2-3 cups powdered sugar (enough to make frosting spreadable)

Jenny's Cookies 'n Cream Brownies

Jenny, my co-worker, brought these brownies for her 28th birthday. Of course me and Oreos are best friends and when she told me how to make them I naturally could not wait to post the recipe here:

Fudge brownie mix with a cup of crushed oreos mixed in the batter, bake the brownies as directed on the box. Wait till the brownies cool complete, then spread vanilla frosting on top then  put another cup of crushed oreos over that.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

A favorite treat at Christmas time and so easy to make! From Crisco found on Foodnetwork.com:

1/2 cup Crisco Butter flavored shortening

1/2 peanut butter (I prefer to use my favorite -Jif)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
small amount of sugar in a small bowl (to roll the cookie dough in)
48 Hershey's kisses (Charlie likes me to use the almond ones) unwrapped

Heat oven ton 375 degrees, cream together shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar and 1/2 cup white sugar. Add egg, milk, and vanilla. Beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Beat on low speed until stiff dough forms. Shape into 1 inch balls, roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 - 12 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Top each cookie immediately with a chocolate piece, pressing down firmly so cookie cracks around edge. Remove from cookies and let cool.

Aubrie's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

So living in Wisconsin there are some definite differences in the food out here. For example there is a lot of sausauge and beer. For dessert you have danish and all sorts of other types of pastries. Very German I guess? But what I can't fathom is no pumpkin chocolate chip cookies? I searched and searched at the stores they didn't one single type of cookie that came close! So a past co-worker of mine (and great baker I might add) sent me a recipe for a quick and easy cookie to get my craving taken care of. I have yet to try it of course.

"Hey Tammy! I hope that you had a fun Halloween yesterday. You said that you were craving pumpkin-chocolate-chip goodness? Here is the recipe that I always use for cookies/muffins. So easy and delicious:

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 pkg (18.25 oz) spice cake mix
Chocolate chips (however many you want, I usually use 1 - 2 cups of semi-sweet).

Mix them all together (the batter will be really thick, but don't add any water/oil/eggs/etc. like it says on the cake mix, just use the dry mix!) and drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes or until nice and puffy. For muffins just put them in muffin liners (12 of them) and bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes or until the tops spring back when you touch them.

Enjoy! I hope that things are going well for you!"

Double Chocolate Cookies

1 1/4 c granulated sugar
1 c butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 12 oz package of semisweet chocolate chips

Cream sugar, egg, butter and vanilla. Beat in flour, cocoa, soda on low speed. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8 - 11 minutes. Cool.

Ultimate Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Some of the best recipes are on the bags and packages of the stuff you use to bake with. As I was making the Chocolate Lovers Brownies recipe that I got off a cocoa box and have kept ever since (it is super easy and fast to make!) I found this on the flour bag so I wanted to post it here for when I get the ingredients needed (chocolate chips) we can try it!

Ultimate Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/4 packed light brown sugar
3/4 c butter flavored Crisco shortening
2 Tbs Milk
1 Tbs Vanilla
1 large egg
1 3/4 all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 semi sweet chocolate chips
3/4 semi sweet mini chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sugar, shortening, milk, & vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat egg into creamed mixture. Combine flour, salt, and baking soda together in another bowl then mix into creamed mixture until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 -10 minutes for chewy cookies, longer for crisper cookies.
Cool and enjoy!

Becky's Chocolate Zucchini Cake

I met Becky as a child when attending the LDS church. We are now friends on Facebook and am pretty sure that she mentioned this recipe online as we often do post food there off and on as our status...being on FB I find this is something that happens off and on. Food is always a subject.

Becky Hancock Hubbard also commented on her status: "did I mention it was still warm when we ate it? yummy. Tammy, here is the recipe:

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

½ cup margarine
½ cup oil1
¾ cup sugar
2 egg
2 cups
grated zucchini
2 ½ cup flour
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup sour milk (1 ½ tsp lemon juice or vinegar with milk, let stand 5 minutes)
½ cup cocoa
½ tsp cinnamon
½ salt1 tsp soda
1 tsp baking powder

Stir cocoa and sugar together. Combine all ingredients. Pour into greased and floured 9x13 pan. Make a topping of:
¾ cup each chocolate chips, brown sugar, chopped nuts
Sprinkle over the top of cake batter and bake at 350 for 40-45 min. Cool.

Peanut Butter Fingers

INGREDIENTS

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups peanut butter (divided)
2 cups oatmeal (not quick)
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup milk
1-2 teaspoons vanilla (depending on your taste)
3 tablespoons cocoa
2-3 cups of powdered sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream the sugar, brown sugar, and butter together. Add the vanilla, eggs, and 1 cup peanut butter and stir to combine.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix together.

Spread dough on a greased jelly roll pan (18x13x1"). Bake for 15 minutes (until golden brown).
While hot spread the other 1 1/2 cups peanut butter on top - it helps to drop spoonfuls all over the top of the bars, then spread after the peanut butter has started to melt.

Let cool until the peanut butter has become solid again.
.
While cooling, mix together frosting ingredients with a hand mixer and then spread on top of bars.

Chocolate Lover's Frosting

3 c powdered sugar divided
2/3 c cocoa
½ (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
5-6 Tbsp milk, divided
1 tsp vanilla
Beat 1 cup powdered sugar, cocoa, butter, 2 Tbsp milk and vanilla in small bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in remaining sugar and milk until smooth.

Chocolate Lover's Brownies

1 2/3 c granulated sugar
¾ c (1 ½ stick) butter or margarine, melted
2 Tbsp water
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 ½ c flour
¾ c cocoa
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¾ c chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350, grease 13 x 9 pan
Combine ingredients
Bake for 18 – 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool and sprinkle w/powdered sugar or frost.