Blondies

Blend together (you can warm these up a bit to help with blending, but make sure not hot before adding eggs):

2 C. Brown Sugar

2/3 C. Butter

Add to Brown Sugar & Butter:

2 Eggs

2 t. Vanilla

2 C. flour

1 t. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

6 oz. SemiSweet Choc. Chips

(1 C. chopped nuts, optional)

Cook in 9x13 greased pan

Bake at 350 deg. for 25-30 min (should be golden brown on top)

chocolate covered caramel apple bites

our best bites recipe

1. apples
2. caramel
3. chocolate chips (any kind), melted
4. medium-length wooden skewers

Instructions

1. Skewer apples and dip in caramel. Place in fridge until caramel is firm and then slice and core apples. Skewer each slice and dip in melted chocolate. Place on a silicone mat or parchment and leave to set up. Sprinkle with sea salt, sprinkles, toffee, candies, etc. as desired.

Notes To make chocolate easier to dip, feel free to add 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil per 1 cup of chips

Best Chocolate Cake Ever

Devil's Food Cake Mix
 - prepare as directed

ADD:
3 ounce box of chocolate pudding
1 cup sour cream
1 cup chocolate chips

Bake as directed then turn down to 300° for 10 minutes

Sara's granola dough

1  cup dry oatmeal

2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes

½ cup peanut butter

½ cup ground flaxseed or wheat germ

½ cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

Stir all ingredient together until thoroughly combined. Let chill in refrigerator for half an hour.

Roll into balls. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Fudge-Filled Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies

Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 1/2 cups Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
1 stick Crisco® Baking Sticks All-Vegetable Shortening OR 1 cup Crisco® All-Vegetable Shortening
2 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3 1/2 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
FILLING
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. HEAT oven to 375°F. Coat baking sheets with no-stick cooking spray.
2. For Cookies: BEAT peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs. Beat just until blended.
3. COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Add to creamed mixture on low speed, mixing just until blended. Drop by level tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
4. BAKE 6 to 7 minutes or until set and just beginning to brown. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.
5. For Filling: MICROWAVE sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips in medium microwave-safe bowl on HIGH for 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth when stirred. Stir in vanilla. Let cool 15 minutes. Spread generously on flat side of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat side down, to form sandwich cookies.

Oatmeal Carmelitas

Original recipe makes 3 dozen small bars
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup quick cooking oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x9 inch square pan.
2. Combine the 1 cup flour, baking soda, oats, brown sugar, salt and melted butter. Mix to combine, mixture will be very crumbly. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes.
4. Let cool slightly then sprinkle over the crust the chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Mix the caramel ice cream topping with the 3 tablespoons of flour and drizzle over the chocolate chips. Top with the remaining oatmeal mixture. You will need to break it into small pieces to cover.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes. Let bars cool before cutting.

Hot Chocolate Cookies

from Pennies on a Platter
Yield: 3 1/2 dozen cookies
Serving Size: 2 cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
4 packages (or 1/2 cup plus 3 Tablespoons) Hot Chocolate Mix (store-bought or homemade)
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then blend in the vanilla.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, hot chocolate mix, and baking soda and salt. Slowly add to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Drop dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 7 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven. Working quickly, carefully add about 5 to 7 miniature marshmallows to the top of each cookie, and gently press. Return to the oven and bake an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until the marshmallows start to puff. Remove from the oven and let cool on the cookie sheets for 10 minutes before removing. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

R-Bars

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup melted margarine
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and peanut butter. Add melted margarine and mix well. Spread out in a PAM’ed 9x13 pan. Melt chocolate chips (cook 1 minute at a time and stir in microwave – they can burn) and spread over peanut butter mixture. Cut into bars so that you can re-cut them when the chocolate  hardens without breaking the chocolate.

Let harden and serve.

Mini Maple Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffins.

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons sugar

2/3 cup buttermilk

1 egg

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons melted butter

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a medium bowl. Sift together with a wire whisk. In another bowl, stir buttermilk, egg, maple syrup and melted butter until just combined. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir with a spoon until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake for 8-9 minutes.

Makes 24 mini pancake muffins.

Let cool slightly and remove from the pan. You may need to use a toothpick around the edges to separate the pancake muffins from the pan.

Serve immediately with warmed butter if you like or even just with maple syrup.

Candy Treat

1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups Special K cereal
1/2 package chocolate chips
1/2 package butterscotch chips

Add sugar and corn syrup to a pot and bring to a good boil.  Add peanut butter and stir until it melts.  Pour over cereal and lightly press into a greased 10x13 pan.
Mix and melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together and spread over the top of the cereal mixture and allow to set.   Cut into squares and serve.

** Don’t put this into the refrigerator or it will be VERY hard to cut into squares.

Earthquake Cake

1 cup nuts

1 cup coconut

German Chocolate Cake Mix (oil, egg,)

1 cube margarine

8 ounces cream cheese (softened)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup chocolate chips

 

Generously grease and flour 9x13

Sprinkle nuts and coconut in bottom of pan and set aside

Prepare box of German chocolate cake mix according to the directions. Pour over the nuts and coconut.

In separate bowl, mix margarine, cream cheese , vanilla,  and powdered sugar. Mix well then add chocolate chips.

Drop by teaspoonful onto batter. Bake at 350 for 50 min.

Dessert Cheeseball

1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
2-8oz packages of cream cheese
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Beat these ingredients until fluffy.

Then add:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar

Beat until combined.

Stir in 1 1/2 cups mini semi sweet chocolate chips.

Cover and refrigerate for two hours.  Remove dough, shape into a big ball and refrigerate for another hour.  Roll ball in two cups chopped pecans just before serving.  Serve with graham cracker sticks.

Pine Bark

By Paula Deen
Submitted by: Kristina

35 Saltine Crackers  ***(I use about 48 to cover the cookie sheet)
1 Cup (2 Sticks) butter
1 Cup packed light brown sugar
½ teaspoon pure almond extract
1 package of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a 15 x 10 x 1 inch jelly roll pan with tin foil.  ***(I use a cookie sheet.)  Lightly spray foil with a nonstick cooking spray.

Place saltine crackers, salty side up, in prepared pan.  In a saucepan, boil butter and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract.  Pour over crackers and bake for 6 minutes.  Remove from oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the crackers.  Spread the chocolate evenly over the crackers as it begins to melt.  Cool slightly and transfer onto wax paper.  Allow to cool completely.

Caramel Chocolate Cookie Bars

50 caramels, 14 oz. pkg.
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 package German chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup butter or marg., melted
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup chocolate chips
In heavy saucepan, melt caramels and 1/2 cup evaporated milk. Set aside. Grease and flour 9 x 13 inch pan. In bowl combine dry cake mix, melted butter, 1/3 cup evaporated milk and nuts. Stir until dough holds together. Press 3/4 of dough into pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 6 minutes. Sprinkle chips over crust. Spread caramel mixture over chips. Crumble remaining dough over top of caramels. Bake 15 to 18 minutes longer. Cool slightly, then refrigerate 30 minutes. Cut into 36 bars. Keeps well in cool place or refrigerator.

Caramel Bars

· 32 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped

· 5 tablespoons heavy cream

· 1 cup all-purpose flour

· 1 cup rolled oats

· 3/4 cup brown sugar

· 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

· 1/4 teaspoon salt

· 3/4 cup butter, melted

· 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

· 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt together the caramels and heavy cream, stirring occasionally until smooth.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in the melted butter until well blended. Press Half of the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan. Reserve the rest.

3. Bake the crust for 8 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove and sprinkle with chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour the caramel mixture over the top and then crumble the remaining crust mixture over everything.

4. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 12 minutes, or until the top is lightly toasted. Cut into squares while it is still warm.

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

1 1/2 cup butter
4 1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp baking powder
3 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp ginger
3 tsp cinnamon
7 1/2 cup flour
3 eggs
3 tsp vanilla
1 large can pumpkin
1 package milk chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar, add dry ingredients and mix well. Add eggs, pumpkin, chocolate chips, and vanilla. Mix well. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 egg

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Mix ingredients until moist, should be lumpy. Fillmuffin cups 2/3 full. Sprinkle 1/4 tsp sugar over batter in eachcup. Bake 18-20 min at 400 degrees. Remove from pan immediately.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

2 Cups flour
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 Cups canola oil
1 Cups sugar
1/4 Cups brown sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 Cup sour cream
3 Cup grated zucchini
3/4 Cup mini chocolate chips

Topping:
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 Tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 2 loaf pans and set aside.
Mix topping ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Place flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

With a stand or hand mixer beat oil, white sugar, brown sugar, and eggs until combined and slightly fluffy, 1-2 minutes.

Add vanilla and sour cream and mix until combined.

Gently stir in the grated zucchini.

If you only have regular chocolate chips, or a chocolate bar, just give it a chop so it's the size of mini chocolate chips. Stir remaining flour mixture into batter and mix just until combined. Add chocolate chips and stir to combine.

Divide the batter between the two pans. Sprinkle topping over each.

Bake in your preheated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes. I set my timer for 45 minutes and then keep an eye on it for the remainder.

When it's done a toothpick or skewer should come out without goopy batter on it and the top will be gorgeous and cracked with sugar.

Let it cool on a rack for 5-10 minutes and then remove from pans. You definitely have to eat a slice warm. And slathered with butter.

Makes 2 loaves

recipe by Our Best Bites Cookbook

Magic Cookie Bars from Eagle Brand

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 (14 oz) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees (325 for glass dish). Coat 9X13 baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
2. Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with a fork.
3. Back 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars or diamonds. Store covered at room temperature.

Double Chocolate Filled Strawberries

45 large fresh strawberries (2 pounds)
1/4 cup cream cheese
1 cup milk, divided
1 pkg white chocolate instant pudding
1 cup thawed cool whip
1 tsp lemon zest
1/8 cup chocolate chips

Cut the stems off the strawberries. Set the strawberries on a tray with the cut side down. Cut an "X" in the point part of each strawberry, gently spreading the opening so the strawberry has a flower look.

Whisk together cream cheese and 1/4 cup milk until well blended. Gradually add the remaining milk till well blended. Add the dry pudding mix. Beat two minutes. Fold in the cool whip and the lemon zest.

Spoon this mixture into a sealable plastic bag. Cut off a small corner of the plastic bag and pipe the filling into the center of each "X" on the strawberry.

Melt the chocolate chips for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave, stirring them in between. Put the melted chocolate in another sealable plastic bag. Cut off a very small corner and drizzle the chocolate over the strawberries.

Note: You can use vanilla or cheesecake flavored pudding. You can also use sugar free white chocolate pudding and sugar free cool whip.

The strawberries cannot be made more than an hour in advance. The filling starts liquefying.