Tag Archives: chocolate

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie {recipe}

Cookies,

My favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe

My favorite dessert is definitely a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie.  When I don’t know what to bake for friends and family, I default to chocolate chip cookies.  When it’s cold and snowy outside, there is nothing more comforting and delicious than baking up a batch of my favorite treat.

Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have tried to turn many many recipes for these perfect treats from dairy to dairy free and most come out fine.  Replacing the butter in cookie recipes is not always so simple. Then one day I stumbled upon a recipe that called for a secret ingredient: vanilla pudding. I gave it a shot, replacing the butter for margarine, and now it’s my favorite recipe.  I even developed a Passover version that my family has dubbed “I can’t believe these are not chometz cookies”.

Non-Dairy Chocolate Chip CookiesThese cookies come out thick and soft in the center with crispy edges.  They don’t spread too thinly in the oven, and they freeze beautifully.  My favorite feature of this recipe is that there is no need to chill the dough before baking.  When I’m in the mood for these beauties, I mix up a batch, scoop them out, and after 9 minutes in the oven, they are ready to devour.  Here is my dairy free and printable recipe; enjoy!

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My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie {recipe}
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 3 dozen
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) margarine
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp, vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 2¼ cups flour
  • 1 package vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ¾ tsp. salt
  • 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  3. In the bowl on an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the margarine with the sugars and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Add in the eggs, one at a time, and mix until combined.
  5. Mix in the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, and salt, and mix until combined.
  6. Add in the chocolate chips and mix just until combined, trying not to break up the chips.
  7. Using a 1½ Tbs. size cookie scoop or spoon, scoop cookie dough onto parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 8-11 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet to firm up a bit. Enjoy!

Here are some more comfort foods for you to try!

Peanut Butter Chanukah Gelt Cookies

Cookies, ,

Peanut Butter Chanukah Gelt Cookies

I love these cookies.  They are a stroke of genius!  Too bad they were not my ingenious idea though.  I cannot take credit for them, the original  recipe comes from Miriam of Overtime Cook.  I have been making peanut butter blossom cookies (a peanut butter cookie rolled in sugar and topped with chocolate kisses or chips) for years.  But a few years ago Miriam decided to press a piece of Chanukah gelt into the cookie and life has never been the same!  I love this idea and was so bummed that I didn’t think of it first!  Since then, Chanie of Busy in Brooklyn made olive oil crinkle cookies sprayed with edible gold shimmer and topped with chocolate gelt, and again I was blown away.  Finally Miriam was back this year with a new version of her original: melt-in-your-mouth Chanukah cookies and I knew it was time for me to join the party.

Blue Sugar Peanut Butter Cookies

My twist on the original is pretty cute.  Instead of rolling the cookies in plain white sugar, I rolled them in two different colors or blue crystal sugar before pressing a delicious piece of gelt in each one.  I think this really gives them a festive vibe.  They would also look gorgeous rolled in gold or silver sugar or even clear crystal sugar.  I love that these can be made to match any party decor.  Thank you Miriam and Chanie for your inspiration!  Here is my non-dairy recipe adapted from Hershey’s.

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Peanut Butter Chanukah Gelt Cookies
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Serves: 3½ dozen
 
Ingredients
  • ½ cup shortening
  • ¾ cup peanut butter
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbs. soy milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1½ cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • crystal sugar for rolling
  • 30-40 unwrapped large chocolate gelt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat shortening with the sugars until light and fluffy.
  3. Add in the egg and beat until combined.
  4. Add in the soy milk and vanilla and stir to combine.
  5. Add in the flour, and baking soda and mix until dough forms.
  6. Using a 2 tsp. size cookie scoop or regular spoon, scoop batter and roll into balls.
  7. Roll each ball in crystal sugar, place on parchment lined baking sheet and gently flatten slightly.
  8. Bake for 7-9 minutes until the edges are slightly browned and cookies is cracked.
  9. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 to 10 minutes before pressing each chocolate on to the cookies.
  10. Allow to cool completely, you may place cookies in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to help the chocolate firm up.

Hot Chocolate Pudding Cake

Cakes

Hot Chocolate Pudding Cake-Lil' Miss Cakes

I love hot chocolate cake. I’m not sure when this fad in restaurant desserts began but I’m sure it is here to stay. Almost every restaurant will offer some sort of delicious hot and gooey chocolate dessert and that is what I always order; even if I’m not hungry. I somehow manage to make room for this sweet and decadent delight.

Hot Chocolate Pudding Cake
I don’t often make this dessert at home, but whenever I do, I use a super simple recipe I adapted from Hershey’s Classic Recipe cookbook. Not only is it easy to make, but it is non-dairy and vegan! It’s baked in a plain old square pan. Once it comes out of the oven it can be spooned into any fancy serving dishes. No need to buy special ramekins or bakeware! This recipe could not be easier and it is so easy to dress up. Just add some fresh fruit, whipped cream, your favorite ice cream and you are sure to look like a pro. The hot chocolate pudding forms underneath the cake as the cake is baking, so just be sure to drizzle plenty of it over the top. Hot chocolate pudding cake is definitely one of the best things I have ever eaten. Treat yourself to some today!

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Hot Chocolate Pudding Cake
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Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 9
 
Ingredients
  • 1¼ cups sugar, divided
  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ cup cocoa, divided
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ½ cup soy milk
  • ⅓ cup coconut oil, melted
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1¼ cups hot water
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Stir together ¾ cup sugar, flour, ¼ cup cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Stir in the soy milk, coconut oil, and vanilla and mix until smooth.
  4. Pour batter into ungreased 8 or 9 inch square baking pan.
  5. Stir together the remaining ½ cup sugar, brown sugar, and remaining ¼ cup cocoa and sprinkle evenly over batter.
  6. Pour hot water over the whole top and do not stir.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the center is almost set.
  8. Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before spooning into serving dishes. Be sure to spoon the hot chocolate pudding from the bottom of the pan.

Tips and Tricks:
*The recipe can be prepared ahead of time, just prepare up until adding the hot water. About 30 minutes before you are ready to serve, pour the hot water over the top and bake as directed.
*The cake can be made ahead of time and kept warm in a 200 degree F oven.