Extreme Bookies

So, a couple of weeks ago I blogged about Bookies. (1/2 brownie, 1/2 cookie) Check them out if you haven't yet because they were so good. So good, I couldn't get them off my mind. I decided to take it up a notch. Oh-boy what a notch!
Picture please:

So here's the dish on how you make these. I hope you have plan for hiding them because once your family/friends/coworkers get a taste - you're going to have to work hard to keep them to yourself.

What you'll need:

1 brownie mix and oil/water/eggs to make mix

1/2 batch of back to school cookie dough

12 Oreo's (I used double stuffed because let's be honest we aren't trying to save any calories here)

1 7 oz jar of marshmallow cream

What you do:

Prepare the brownie mix according to package directions. Pour into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch, greased pan. Lay Oreo's in batter. Drop spoonfuls of marshmallow cream between Oreo's but don't let it touch the side. Roll out cookie dough like you would sugar cookies. Lay it accross the top of the Oreo/cream/brownie  layers. Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes or until cookie dough is golden brown. Cool before serving. (Or, for heaven's sake, grab a large spoon and just dig in. Oh, darn, I just had a wicked thought. Top with chocolate ice cream and hot fudge.) 

Introducing: BOOKIES!!!

A Bookie: a combination of brownies and cookies. (Two of my favorite things.)

 

My excitement runneth over. Squeal!

I like to experiment in the kitchen, everyone knows that. But what you don't know, is that my experiments are controlled. I don't go throwing together random ingredients hoping things turn out well. I research, plan, premeasure and meditate over a recipe before I give it a test run. So this was a bit odd for me - and look how good it turned out.

To make your own Bookies. You will need one Pillsbury brownie mix (family size) and the ingredients called for on the back of the box. One 1/2 batch of my Back to School cookie recipe found here. You'll want to use chocolate chips instead of the M&Ms this time. Oh, I used a dark chocolate that was melty good. Lastly, you'll need square muffin pans.

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
2. Make the cookie dough according to the recipe. (Only make a half batch. Or, brainstorm, you could make a full batch, use half now and freeze the other half to bake later.)
3. Mix the brownies according to package directions.
4. Spray your square muffin pan with non-stick spray.
5. Fill each square 1/2 full of brownie batter.
6. Roll cookie dough in 1 inch balls. Squish the balls just a little and place on the top of the brownie batter in the pan. Repeat for each square.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes or when the cookie dough is cooked through and the brownie starts to pull away from the sides of the pan.
8. EAT!

You can eat them warm or cool. I couldn't wait to taste one so I ate one warm, but I found that I liked them better after they had cooled off. You can store them in an airtight container - if you have any left that is.

Over-the-moon Brownies

I needed something a little more decadent than the regular brownies I normally make for family night. Sooo... I pulled out the mix I concocted last week and created this:

Looks good - don't it.

Alright, here's how you put it together. I recommend sharing as this thing is full of calories.

What you'll need:
1 brownie mix and the eggs/water to make the mix. (You can make your mix by following the recipe here.)
1 cup milk chocolate chocolate chips
1 package mini-marshmallows
1 batch of chocolate butter cream frosting.
1 cup chopped walnuts.

Mix the brownie mix; add chocolate chips. Pour into a 10" spring-form pan and cook according to package directions. While the oven is till on, cover the brownies with one layer of mini marshmallows and return to oven.



Cook until marshmallows double in size but do not let them turn brown. Cool and allow marshmallows to set. (Takes about 3 hours) Frost with chocolate frosting and top with chopped nuts. Cut into wedges to serve.

Brownie Mix

As you may have figured out, I go through baking supplies pretty quick. One thing I like to have on hand for the kids to mix together on their own is brownie mixes. My two oldest have learned how to read the instructions on the back of the box. Let me tell you, they can mix up a mean batch of brownies.

I've also found brownie mixes to be handy for those days when I need to throw something a little more ambitious together and don't want to make the brownies from scratch. Sometimes a mix works just fine.

I was feeling a little over the top the other day. I wanted to put together a brownie as rich as Uncle Scrooge. But I was out of mixes. I could have made from scratch, but instead I decided to mix up my own mix. I have several books with recipes in them. I perused the two best and ended up combining them to make the recipe below. I store the mix in an old hot cocoa can, but you could use a #10 can or tupper ware or just a zip lock bag.

As you can kind of see, I write the instructions for baking on the can. That way I don't have to pull out my book every time I want to make brownies and the kids can easily find the directions.


Brownie Mix:

2 3/4 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
4 cups sugar
4 oz unsweetened cocoa powder (I uses a dark chocolate powder)

To make brownies:
1/4 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups brownie mix
1/4 cup water

Mix everything together in a medium sized bowl. Pour into an 8 inch greased and floured pan. Bake 30 minutes (or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean) at 350 degrees.

Brownie Bites - why haven't I done this before?

After inheriting a mini muffin pan, I put it in the cupboard and forgot about it for a while. Then, while spring cleaning, I found it like the little treasure it is. First I made regular muffins in it and the kids thought they were super. So I decided to try making brownie bites, because, well why the heck not?

I just used a brownie mix. No sense melting my good baking chocolate if I was going to burn the dickens out of something. I don’t know if you’ve had the same problem, but with Pillsbury mixes, I think the box is wrong. They always call for a half cup of oil and then my brownies end up holy and not in the good way. I still buy the Pillsbury brand, but I half the oil and they turn out great.

There isn’t a time on the box for mini brownies. Inconvenient to say the lest. I set the timer for 15 minutes; checked the brownies with a wooden skewer which is a fancy name for a toothpick; and pulled them out when the stick had only a few crumbs on it. With brownies, I’ve found, you have to leave them a little crumby or they are too hard.

Once cooled. I doll-uped a bit of cream cheese frosting before turning my munchers loose.

Peanut butter comfort brownies

Sometimes things don’t turn out the way they should, so I make brownies. Brownies always turn out the way they should. Here is a fantastic recipe for peanut butter brownies. They are thick, but not gooey. They are peanut buttery, but don’t stick to the top of your mouth. They are a fantastic way to add a smile to your kids face.

Instead of the nuts I added 2 cups of peanut butter chips. (My kids/hubby hate nuts in brownies – weirdoes.) It was a lot of chips, but it was so good.




Just follow the link below, bake the brownies, and enjoy!

http://bakedecoratecelebrate.com/recipes/brownies.cfm

What are you leaving for Santa?

We had a huge debate last night over the type of cookies to leave for Santa. It seems each child (er Hubby too) has their own ideas on Santa's favorite.

Colkie wanted gingerbread men. He liked the idea that we would spend hours decorating them. Of course the more time you spend on the cookies the more gifts you get... ahem.

Bug thought we should make donuts. Really? Yeah. He thinks Santa gets bored with cookies because everyone leaves him cookies.

Rub, honestly didn't care as long as he got to lick the bowl - I love that kid!

Hubby thought that Santa should have super-duper sugar cookies. For some reason he thinks those are Santa's favorite.

I would have thought to leave something more like this...




A decadent choco-holic brownie with cream cheese frosting and candy cane sprinkles. MMMMM. Now that says "Santa's Favorite" all over the place. Don't you think?
(To make brownies: Use your favorite brownie mix, a tub of premade cream cheese frosting and crushed candy canes. For that extra special look, cut the brownies before frosting and pipe using a star tip. Sprinkle with mints.)

Well, in the end, we compromised. The donuts were nixed. Hubby is on the "Naughty List" for claiming Santa is too fat for donuts, but that's his
problem. ;-)

We compromised between the cookies. We will do sugar cookies in the shape of gingerbread men. (Post to follow.)

Merry Christmas planning!

Cake mix cookie bars

I made these, because the picture in the magazine looked darkly rich. But I found them to be oily. They practically slid out of the pan and the glaze had a hard time staying put when I frosted them. So, if you like cookie bars like that. This is the recipe for you.

P.S. My kids like them.