Chocolate Candy Cookies: Recipe

It's been a while since I've participated in my own little Food Friday... which is disappointing since I've still been making things. I just haven't found the time to share the recipes.

Today's is a winner, though - super duper easy cookies... and all that chocolate. Mmmmm.

But really - these are SO easy. I made them when the Air Force Academy flying team was in Ohio to compete at Nationals. Dan was on the team while he was a cadet, so we drove to Columbus a couple times to see some of his friends and watch them compete. And who would I be if I showed up without goodies for them? Exactly. 

They loved these. And they were a big hit with my pregnant taste buds as well. Enjoy.

Easy Chocolate Candy Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package chocolate cake mix

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup (or water if you don't have any)

• 1 1/2 cups M&Ms or other chocolate candies

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350º.

2. In a large bowl, combine the egg, butter, syrup, and cake mix with an electric mixer on low speed until completely mixed.

3. Add candies, a little at a time, and stir in with a wooden spoon.

4. Drop rounded tablespoonfulls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet about two inches apart.

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

6. Cool on wire racks.

Do you like chocolate?

What's your favorite kind of cookie?

Double Chocolate Chip Muffins: Recipe

Welcome to Food Friday! Last week, I promised that I'd be back this week with another muffin recipe... so here it is!

These double chocolate chip muffins are JUST LIKE the ones you find at the grocery store... you know, the really big, dense muffins that feel more like cupcakes but you call them muffins to justify eating so many? Yep, those.

I have been obsessed with all things chocolate lately. Maybe it's the baby, but in reality, I've always loved chocolate. I'm just okaying it a bit more now because I can blame it on the little life inside me! ;-) 

Seriously, though... these are great. I am so glad I finally have a recipe to make these too. I know EXACTLY what goes into them, so I don't have to worry about the ones from the store anymore... because let's be honest: I bought those. Not frequently, but I did. Never again. These are so alike and not difficult at all, so I'll be making them from now on. I may or may not have individually wrapped them and popped them in the freezer so I can that have them whenever I want. Yep. 

Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 2/3 cup cocoa powder

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 2 eggs

• • 3/4 cup milk

• 1/3 cup sour cream

• 2 cups flour

• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I use the mini ones)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350º, and line a muffin pan with 12 liners. 

2. Cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt until light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating with each new addition.

4. Add the milk and sour cream.

5. Add the flour and chocolate chips.

6. Mix until ingredients just combined.

7. Divide batter between 12 muffin liners. *Batter will be VERY sticky.

8. Bake for 25-27 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Are you a chocoholic?

What is your favorite chocolate dessert?

    

Reese's Spreads Brownies: Recipe (and review)

For my weekly installation of Food Friday, I bring you something you'll want to make THIS WEEKEND. Seriously... they were so good. I made a batch of these bad boys while my husband and I were watching the movie "The Right Stuff" (which I also highly recommend), and once they were done, we couldn't stop eating them.

I present to you: Reese's Spreads Brownies.

I had never heard of the brand spankin' new Reese's Spreads until I signed up for Influenster in December. I had seen a lot of other bloggers posting about receiving cool things, so I thought, "what the heck? I'll give it a try!"

I filled out my surveys and stayed active on the website, writing reviews for products I already use. And then I got the e-mail saying I had been chosen to receive a VoxBox. I was stoked because it told me what would be inside... a new spread from Reese's! I LOVE chocolate and peanut butter together... like LOVE it. Obsessed. But I knew it wouldn't be arriving until we got back in town from our winter break trip, so I tried to be patient.

And then it arrived... that beautiful orange box full of goodness.

At first, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my new product. I decided to spread it on graham crackers because I had some in the cabinet and wasn't really feeling the whole apple thing at the moment. Let me just say: it was delicious. It smells (and tastes) JUST like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, and the consistency is similar to Nutella... only far, far better. 

Despite how amazing this concoction was, I wanted something more. This is where my husband gets credit - he really pushed me to try making something more unique with the product. I think he really just had a hankering for some of my baking, but that's another story. I decided on brownies, and I am SO glad I did. I am here to share the recipe with you today. You can find it at the bottom of this post. 

But first, my review! Reese's Spreads gets a 5/5 from me. It's hard to go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter, and to make it spreadable is even better because it opens up more possibilities. You can do anything with this stuff, and I can't wait to use the rest of mine. I am SURE that I'll be buying some as soon as I see it in stores. (It's already out; I just haven't seen it in a local store yet.) 

THE RECIPE

Ingredients

• 1 cup (two sticks) butter
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup Reese's Spread
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 package chocolate chips (or peanut butter chips if you want it more peanut buttery)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350º, and butter a 9x13 pan.
2. In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter completely.
3. Stir in sugar, and continue cooking for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL.
4. Remove from heat, and stir in the Reese's Spread until well combined.
5. Pour mixture into large bowl or stand mixer.
6. Beat in cocoa powder, eggs, salt, baking powder, and vanilla extract until well combined.
7. Stir in flour and chocolate (or PB) chips until JUST combined.
8. Spread into prepared pan. Batter will be sticky.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes - until a toothpick comes out clean.
10. Cool on wire rack for as long as possible before devouring!

ENJOY!

I received a free tub of Reese's Spreads from Influenster in exchange for my honest review.

• Have you tried Reese's Spreads yet?
• Do you use Influenster? 
• Do you like brownies as much as I do?