Dark Chocolate Chewy Cookies...

I love chocolate. I mean, most of you probably knew it, but just in case I haven't said it lately, I really love chocolate. I follow a really great food blog called Baked Perfection and everything I have ever tried is really good.

So, I tried  her double chocolate cookies and found that she adds a box of dry instant pudding mix to her cookies. I am telling you what, they really make the cookies soft and long lasting. A really excellent addition.

So, today I made a batch of these wonderful and tried one just to be sure. Yep, they are awesome! You may be saying to yourself, "Isn't she trying to lose weight? Is she cheating on her diet?"

Yes and no.  I am losing weight but I am not cheating. With Weight Watchers you can eat anything as long as you track it and it stays within your point allowance. I have allowed myself to eat two today. One thing I do in order to restrict my eating and yet indulge my absolute love for cookies, is I dip all the dough out into cookie balls and then quick freeze them on a cookie sheet, bag them and then just bake 1-2 cookies when I plan for them. It is a win-win. I mean, if I am going to use 3 points for a cookie, I want it warm and delicious.

Here they are, frozen into balls. You can see I have already bagged a bunch of them. It only takes about 20-30 minutes for them to freeze. When you want a cookie bake the amount you want at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes or so.

So, here is the recipe. Adapted from Baked Perfection.

CHEWY DARK CHOCOLATE-CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Beat together in a mixing bowl till creamy:

            2 sticks butter [1 cup]

            2/3 C granulated sugar

            2/3C brown sugar

            1 tsp vanilla extract

Add:

            2 eggs, one at a time beating after each one

Mix together in another bowl and then add slowly to butter mixture:

            2  C flour

            2/3 C baking cocoa [dry]

                        1 tsp baking soda

                        ½  tsp salt

                        1 package chocolate instant Jello Pudding, the dry mix, not prepared, 4 serving size

            Stir only to combine all ingredients. Do not beat. Add:

                        2 Cups [12 oz] chocolate chips or 1 2/3 Cups M&Ms

                        1 Cup chopped walnuts or pecans [optional]

Stir till chocolate chips are combined. Do not beat or over mix.

Drop cookie dough onto greased or parchment lined cookie sheets. For large [rounded Tablespoon size] cookies for 11-13 minutes till cookies are puffed and centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

And for regular chocolate chip cookies that stay soft and chewy:

CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

           

Beat together in a mixing bowl till creamy:

            2 sticks butter [1 cup]

            ¾ C granulated sugar

            ¾ C brown sugar

            1 tsp vanilla extract

Add:

            2 eggs, one at a time beating after each one

Mix together in another bowl and then add slowly to butter mixture:

            2 ½ C flour

                        1 tsp baking soda

                        1 tsp salt

                        1 package vanilla instant Jello Pudding, the dry mix, not prepared, 4 serving size

            Stir only to combine all ingredients. Do not beat. Add:

                        2 Cups [12 oz] chocolate chips

                        1 Cup chopped walnuts or pecans [optional]

Stir till chocolate chips are combined. Do not beat or over mix.

Drop cookie dough onto greased or parchment lined cookie sheets. For large [rounded Tablespoon size] cookies for 11-13 minutes till cookies are puffed and centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

And for another taste treat I made on Sunday--brownies on the bottom and chocolate chip cookie dough on top, baked till soft and delicious. Also adapted from Baked Perfection.  Also, a bonus recipe of Turtle Brownies.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BROWNIES

(1) Make a batch of the chewy chocolate chip cookies above—you won’t use all the dough.

(2) Make a batch of Brownies for Kids or a box mix [for a 9x13 pan].

BROWNIES FOR KIDS

9x13 pan

1 1/2C flour                 2 sticks butter

2 C sugar                     4 eggs

3/4C dry cocoa            2t vanilla                    

Combine all ingredients.  Beat with mixer for 2 minutes.

Put the brownie batter in a well greased 9x13 or larger pan, I like 10x14 Pyrex and spread evenly. You can either mold the cookied dough into flat sections and place over brownie batter or just drop tablespoons of it onto the brownie batter. Push the dough down so it is even with the brownie batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cookie portion is brown and the brownies are set.

These are delicious and very rich.

TURTLE BROWNIES

Make a batch of Brownies for Kids [above].  Spoon 2/3 of the batter in the bottom of a greased  9x13 baking pan.

Sprinkle 1 cup of chocolate chips [mini or regular size] over batter.

Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and set aside.

Meanwhile in a large saucepan, heat over low heat until melted:

            1- 14oz package of caramels, unwrapped

            1-14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Pour caramel mixture over baked brownie layer. [Optional: sprinkle with pecan pieces.]

 Drop remaining brownie batter over caramel by teaspoonfuls. Spread batter with an offset spatula till even.

Bake 35-40 minutes longer or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs. Do not over-bake. Cook on a wire rack. You may want to sprinkle with Powdered sugar before serving.

Take care,
Jill

Brownies!

Need Chocolate? Want something quick and easy. Here are 22 ways to dress up a brownie mix. I gleaned these ideas from the Sonlighter's Club forum several years ago and put all the ideas and comments into one document. Easy to find if you have a chocolate emergency.


How to Dress Up a boxed Brownie Mix
To one brownie mix--add:

1 Peppermint Prepare as usual - but put half in pan, line it all with unwrapped peppermint patties, then cover with remaining mix - bake as usual. (May bake batter the regular way, then cover with Andes mints when you take it out and when melted spread them for frosting)

2 Extra Peppermint Make brownies, but add 1 tsp peppermint extract. Then as soon as you take them out of the oven, put Andes mints on top - cover the whole thing if possible - let them melt, then spread out with a knife. They are awesome!

3 Brownie Sundae I love to serve make your own brownie sundaes for company desert. Brownie, ice cream, choc sauce, whipped cream, nuts, etc. It is always a big hit.

4 Toffee Prepare mix as usual - but put half in pan, line it all with Hershey Symphony bars, then cover with remaining mix - bake as usual.

5 Peanut Butter Cream Cheese… You make a brownie mix but on a pizza stone (my consultant used parchment paper for quick clean up). Bake & cool. Mix 1/4 C peanut butter w/ 8 oz cream cheese and 1/2 C brown sugar. Top the brownie with it. Chop up a few Reese's PB cups (or some such thing) and sprinkle over the brownie. Add sliced banana, cool whip and chocolate syrup.

6 M&M Recently, we have started sprinkling M&Ms on top of brownies before baking.

7 Chippers- Add chocolate chips, mint chips, toffee bits, etc.

8 Butterscotch If it's 'regular' cheap brownie mix, add one box fudge pudding mix, stir in butterscotch chips. We make triple batches and use a full bag of butterscotch chips.

9 Maple Instead of water, use 1/2 water, 1/2 maple syrup. Ohh-- those are scrumptious! I still use nuts in this one.

10 Peanut Butter and marshmallow Make the mix, half in the bottom of pan, sprinkle peanut butter chips across, then sprinkle mini marshmallows across and carefully put the rest of the brownie mix on top. OH what a nice gooey surprise!

11 Mississippi Mud Pie Mississippi Mud Pie. Brownie for the bottom, good coffee ice cream (I like Breyers), drizzle with chocolate sauce or hot fudge topping (I prefer the latter), sprinkle some chopped nuts and a few dabs of whipped cream (I like real whipping cream, whipped with a drop of vanilla).

12 Peanut Butter Mix your brownies as normal and pour in pan. Melt a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter in the microwave and pour over the brownies. Use a butter knife to marble the peanut butter through the mix. Bake as usual. Enjoy~ mmmmmm

13 Cheesecake Mix 8 oz. softened cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/3 c. sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla until smooth. Add some mini chocolate chips if desired. Now make your brownie mix, spread half in the pan, dollop on the cream cheese (spread as best you can) then dollop on the remaining brownie batter. Swirl through with a knife, then bake--like 10 or 15 minutes longer than usual.

14 Cookie Dough Add a cookie dough layer on top. 1 cup flour, 1/2 c butter, 1/2 brown sugar, and a 1 tsp vanilla and 1 cup chocolate chips. I think you could use this like a frosting after brownies are cooled or put it on before baking.

15 S'Mores A box of brownie mix, then put a package of chocolate chips, some marshmallows and crumbled graham crackers on top and bake a bit longer. It really DOES taste like S'mores, especially if you let the marshmallows brown a bit.

16 Turtle Sunday, I made some vanilla ice cream and topped the warmed brownies with that, Smucker's caramel sauce, and chopped pecans.

17 Cinnamon Once, in middle school, we dumped in a little box of red hot candies. Cinnamon! Yum

18 Dense If you like dense brownies (which I really do) mix the batter with a big spoon, just until mixed (try to get the least amount of air in there). And bake it for the minimum amount of time, so it is a little soft still.

19 Oatmeal Brownies Quick Cooking had a recipe for Oatmeal Brownies that I make quite often.
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1/2 c flour
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 c butter, melted
1 c M&Ms minis or chocolate chips
1/2 c chopped walnuts, optional
Combine, set aside 1 cup for topping, and put remaining in greased 15x10 pan. Spread prepared brownie mix on crust, sprinkle with reserved topping, and bake 350, 25-30 minutes. The crust doesn't always cover the bottom of the pan, maybe a 9X13 would work better. We love this recipe. Enjoy!

20 Dessert w/ Pudding Bake the large 9x13 box...I use a round baker. scoop out center and chop into pieces, combine 1/2 c cold milk, 3 tbsp instant coffee, 3.4 oz pkg of instant vanilla pudding and 12 oz cool whip. Fold in brownie pieces and spoon back into crust.

21 Almond Add some almond extract

22 Mocha Substitute coffee for the water.

I hope you enjoy this list. If you would like me to send you a PDF chart with these in a easy to use chart format, just send me an email. bluegrassjill@gmail.com

Take care,
Jill