Best Baker on the Block

I LOVE to bake. Anything. Am I a pastry chef ? Heck No ! Do I have any formal training ? Well, I did do an apprenticeship under a top notch baker for several years during my youth (My Mom), but I have no *official* culinary training. I just love to bake my Mom's recipes as well as those that I find online (OMG you can find just about ANYTHING online !). I have all of my recipes on 3x5 cards, but they have gotten messy over the years, so I thought what better way to keep track of my favorite recipes than post them all in one place and share them with others ?!

I know you will find something that you like !!!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

I will admit it. I dread when my kids say that they want chocolate chip cookies. For some reason, they just never turn out as well as my Mom's. I don't know if the butter gets too soft or if I over mix them, they usually come out flat. So, when my son asked for them yesterday, I thought that I might try making them as a bar cookie, hoping that they might turn out a little better. My family LOVED them !!! Even I ate a bar (ok, 3). I am super critical of my own baking, so if I ate 3, you KNOW they were good !! ;)

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.)  Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. 

GREASE a 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. (Be sure to use this size or you might not get a good result. Trust me on this one !)

BEAT butter, sugars and vanilla in large bowl. 

ADD eggs, then beat in flour mixture. 

STIR in morsels and nuts (if you want them). 

SPREAD into prepared pan.

BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown (I cooked them for 22 minutes and they were perfect !). Cool for about 15-20 minutes, then cut into bars.

Nestle Toll House - Gotta give credit to the experts on this one !!!

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

That's a mouthful. And so are these cookies ! Seriously, these have to be my absolute favorite cookies ever ! They always turn out well and are a real crowd pleaser. I personally like to use crunchy peanut butter, but you could use smooth. It is hard to tell (My kids don't even know that I use chunky),  but it adds a little extra crunch. I also like this recipe because you can vary the cookie size depending on what you are making them for. I tend to make a smaller ball than usual so that the cookie is bite-sized and you can just pop 'em in !

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter 
• 1/2 cup sugar 
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter 
• 2  eggs 
• 2 tablespoons vanilla 
• 2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 Bag or 2 cups)

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 350°F.

CREAM butter and sugars until smooth.

ADD peanut butter and mix until combined; then add eggs and vanilla

BEAT in oats, flour, and baking soda.

STIR in chocolate chips.

DROP (or gently roll) small balls onto ungreased baking sheets. Leave about 1 inch in between balls.

BAKE  10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned but still soft in the center.

Thanks, MyRecipes.com !

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

As you may have guessed, I am a cookie girl. Love to bake them and eat them. Whenever we have a family gathering, some people bring a side dish, I always bring dessert :). One of my most requested cookies for family parties  are my peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. The trick with these is not to over mix the dough or soften the butter. If you do, the cookies end up being kind of runny. If it does happen, add some flour or throw the bowl in the refrigerator until the butter re-solidifies (wait, is that a word ? You know what I mean :). 

One other thing to keep in mind is that some packages of store brand chips may be a larger sized bag (2 cups). This recipe is for the 10 ounce Reese's Peanut Butter chips (1 2/3 cups).

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

 Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/4 cups butter  
• 2 cups sugar
• 2  eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla  
• 1-2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. 
CREAM butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until fluffy. 
ADD eggs and vanilla; beat well. 
ADD dry ingredients, beating well. 
STIR in peanut butter chips. 
DROP by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. 
BAKE 8 to 9 minutes. 

Helpful Hints: 

Do not overbake; cookies will be soft. They will puff while baking and flatten while cooling. 
Cool slightly on the cookie sheet, then remove. These cookies take a minute to set up after they come out of the oven. If you try to take them off too soon, they will fall apart. 
Enjoy !!!

Thanks, Hershey's Kitchens !