October 27, 2015

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread


This might be my one and only pumpkin recipe this year.  I love pumpkin breads and muffins but I'm not a pumpkin pie fan.  I think its a texture thing for me.

Anyway, in my constant quest to find things for quick breakfasts I stumbled up this recipe.  Thank you Pinterest!  I figured since it had chocolate chips in it there was a pretty good chance my daughter would eat it, and I was right!  Yay!

I love how moist the bread is and how it stays that way even days later.  I store mine in a sealable plastic bag in the refrigerator and it's still as delicious as it was on day one.  The chocolate chips are great for obvious reasons but they do offer a little change in the texture and appearance too.  I'm thrilled with this bread and will make it again for sure.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread


Ingredients
  • 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup dark or light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil, canola oil or melted coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Cooking Directions
  1. Lower the oven racks to the lower 3rd of the oven to prevent over browning.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350º
  3. Spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with non-stick spray, set aside
  4. In a large bowl add the first 6 ingredients and whisk together. 
  5. Mix the eggs and both sugars together in a medium bowl.  
  6. Add the pumpkin puree to the egg/sugar mixture.  
  7. Add the oil and orange juice to the wet mixture. 
  8. Combine the wet and dry mixes together, do not over mix. 
  9. Carefully add the chocolate chips. 
  10. Pour the batter in the prepared loaf pan and bake for 60-65 minutes - tent aluminum foil loosely over the bread about halfway through baking to prevent over browning. 
  11. Begin checking for doneness at 55 minutes by using a toothpick in the center. 
  12. Remove from the oven and let cool before removing the bread from the loaf pan. 

October 20, 2015

Vanilla White Chocolate Drops


When I go grocery shopping, I usually get stuck in the baking isle for a while.  I love the chips area because, hello, so many choices and possibilities (yes I'm aware I have a problem). I almost always have a bag of white chips in my pantry but I don't usually use them that often.

So there I was, cleaning the pantry, when I noticed this bag of white chips I needed to use.  Oh the excitement that ran through me (yeah I know, weird).

I jumped onto the Internet and did a quick search and quickly found these.  I was sort of unsure at first but the idea of making a cookie with no chocolate was intriguing. I mean, NO chocolate! Whoda thunk it?

Then, as I was reading I saw that the dough is best when it's been refrigerated for 48 hours.  What? Really? Apparently it works because these cookies were a hit.  The original recipe says you CAN of course cook them immediately but they tend to be a super sweet cookie at that point.  If you let the dough refrigerate for 48 hours it mellows the sweetness.  How bout that?

Well, obviously I didn't compare but the refrigerated cookies were delish!  I brought them to a football party this past weekend and they all disappeared.

I love this recipe and I will make them again.


Vanilla White Chocolate Drops
Recipe from King Arthur Flour


Ingredients
  • 6 Tbsp butter, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 2/3 unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups white chocolate chips
Cooking Directions
  1. In a bowl, combine the butter and sugar, beat until it is combined. 
  2. Add the eggs and vanilla and combine. 
  3. Add the remaining ingredients (except for the white chocolate chips) and mix well. 
  4. Add the white chocolate chips and stir with a spatula to combine.  Place the dough in a bowl with a lid and refrigerate for 48 hours. 
  5. Preheat the oven to 375º
  6. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or Silpat's. 
  7. Use a small cookie scoop or a teaspoon to make a 1 inch ball and place on the cookie sheet. 
  8. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes.  The cookies will remain pale in color but should be lightly golden brown on the bottom. 
  9. Let rest about 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. 

October 13, 2015

Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies


I have a weakness for cookies.

I have a weakness for caramel too.

These cookies were a perfect fit for me.  I did save myself some but I sent most of them to my gramma for her 95th birthday.  We both have a huge sweet tooth and I think caramel is right at the top of the list.

The cookies were the perfect chocolate chip cookie, chewy and delicious.  Add caramel to the combination and you have a little bit of heaven.  I have definetly got to try to stuff caramels into more cookies. ;)

Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe from Cake N Knife


Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup salted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips
  • 1 - 14 oz bag caramels, unwrapped
Cooking Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 325º
  2. Line cookie sheets with Silpats or parchment paper
  3. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together and set aside. 
  4. In the bowl of your stand mixer add both sugars and the butter and beat until combined.
  5. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix. 
  6. Slowly add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and blend on low until combined. 
  7. Add the chocolate chips and mix in using a spatula. 
  8. Use a cookie scoop to put a ball of dough into your hand, put a caramel square into the dough ball and then use your fingers to seal the opening shut. 
  9. Place seam side up on the cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on the bottom. Leave on the cookie sheet to cool a little before moving to a cooling rack. 
  10. Let cool a little before eating. 

October 5, 2015

Healthy Breakfast Cookies


In an attempt to find more healthy breakfast alternatives for my family I stumbled upon this recipe.  We all like all these ingredients to this could be a winner.

I loved the way the cookies turned out.  Full of peanut butter flavor and the chocolate combination was wonderful.  My daughter wasn't a huge fan but she's super picky.  I shared some with my neighbor and she loved them too.

These cookies are super easy to assemble and quick baking.  You need to love peanut butter to enjoy these cookies which (usually) isn't a problem here.  I love that there isn't any flour and that there is very little sugar.  Definitely will make these again, even it they are just for the grown-ups.

Healthy Breakfast Cookie
Recipe from Chelsea's Messy Apron


Ingredients
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 4 Tbsp light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp old fashioned oats
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter + chocolate chips combined or pick your favorite
Cooking Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350
  2. Stir together the peanut butter and honey without heating up either of them. 
  3. In a large bowl combine the oats, salt, vanilla extract and stir together.  Add the peanut butter mixture in with the oat mixture and stir together. 
  4. In a separate bowl whisk the egg and then add it to the mix. 
  5. Now add your mix-in's.  You can use chips of any flavor, raisins or other dried fruit, coconut, etc. 
  6. Stir together, the dough will be thick and hard to stir. 
  7. Use a cookie scoop or two spoons to get a ball of dough out and make sure it's a tight ball when you place it on the cookie sheet or else these tend to crumble. 
  8. Bake for 7-9 minutes, slightly underdone will keep them from crumbling as much. 
  9. Let cool completely.