Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Dr. Chung's Salty Sweets!



Search no further for the ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe! This is my new-found favorite thanks to one of the docs at work that spoils us with these sometimes. The neverending chocolate chip cookie quest has come to an end. I LOVE salty/sweet! The recipe calls for sea salt, I used fleur de sel which also worked great. Any coarse, flaky salt should do the trick!

Dr. Chung's Salty Sweets via Dr. Chung:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup Turbinado sugar
1 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
12 ounces chocolate (with a serrated knife, cut chocolate into rougly 1/2-inch chunks)
sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 F. Set rack in the middle of the oven. Cream the butter and the sugars on medium-high speed until light, 4-5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl a couple of times during the process. Continue mixing while adding the eggs one at a time. Make sure each egg is incorporated before adding the next. Add the vanilla. Scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Combine the flour, soda, and salt in another bowl. Mix with a whisk. With the machine on low, slowly add almost all the flour. Reserve just a bit of the mixture. Remove the bowl from the mixer and add the last but of the flour along with the chocolate. Stir with a spatula just until combined.

Using a large ice cream scoop, scoop out mounds of dough making sure there is about 2 inches between each cookie. Do not crowd them. There is no need to press the dough down. Sprinkle each mound with a bit of sea salt.

Bake sheets, one at a time, until the cookies are lightly golden on the edges and a bit gooey in the center, about 12 minutes. Do not overbake! Remove sheet from oven and allow to sit undisturbed for 2 minutes. Then carefully transfer cookies to a cooling rack, Repeat with remaining sheets.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies with Fleur de Sel



These are REALLY good! I've noticed a lot of people are not as keen on this whole sweet/salty concept as I seem to be... but I have to say, the salt makes ALL the difference! And yes, I did use fleur de sel. And yes, it did cost $10 for salt. And yes, I did go to three stores before I found it. (Thank you Whole Foods.) And YES, it makes ALL the difference. Don't skimp on the salt! These cookies are AMAZE!

Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies with Fleur de Sel via Orangette:

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Red Velvet Sheet Cake



I really should call this my Pink Velvet Sheet Cake... because that is what happens when you are running low on food coloring. The taste was all the same, but I really do love that deep, red color that normally comes along with a decent red velvet. This was also the first time I have tried a red velvet sans cream cheese frosting. This one is a little less traditional in that it uses more of a classic buttercream. But that's what Ree told me to do, so I tried it out! It does work. I have yet to be disappointed by the Pioneer Woman! 

Red Velvet Sheet Cake via the Pioneer Woman:

Monday, September 19, 2011

Chocolate Sweetheart Pie



I made this for a work bbq at a friend's house... afterwards I was wishing I would have made two! It disappeared so quickly! It's rich, but just sweet enough. Who knew Eva Longoria could cook?!

Chocolate Sweetheart Pie via Eva's Kitchen:

6 servings
1 store-bought refrigerated, 9-inch pie crust
8 oz. 60% semisweet chocolate
2/3 cup corn syrup
1 cup heavy cream
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9 inch pie plate with the piecrust, gently pushing it into the edges of the pan. Place in refrigerator until needed.

2. In a heavy saucepan, heat 6 oz. of the chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly, until just melted. Stir in the corn syrup and 1/2 cup of the cream. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. Place the pie shell on a baking sheet and pour the chocolate mixture into the pie shell. Bake until a knife inserted 1 inch from center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let stand on a wire rack until completely cool: the center of the pie will sink as it cools.

4. In a medium mixing bowl, place the remaining 1/2 cup of the cream, the sugar, and vanilla and beat until soft peaks form. Spoon the whipped cream onto the center of the cooled pie. Top with strawberries.

5. Place the remaining 2 ounces of the chocolate in a small dish and microwave on high power just until melted, 30-60 seconds, stopping and stirring every 10-15 seconds. Remove from the microwave, and stir until completely melted. Drizzle the chocolate over the strawberries. Serve at room temperature.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes



If you have any problems with self control, do not even bother making these cupcakes because you will be sorry. I ate three in one day! :-( I couldn't stop myself! The combination of recipes I used to make these little treasures is a bit on the Sandra Lee-esque vibe for me... but they ended up being way too delicious for me to leave out of my blog. The meshing of chocolate and coconut is a perfect match. The devil's food cake is a subtle chocolate flavor and the buttercream with the coconut is divine. I actually even now prefer this over the classic coconut cream cheese frostings. Watch out Sprinkles! Oven Philosophy is in the house!

Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes via Cupcake Blog:


Saturday, September 3, 2011

Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies



I've been meaning to make these for awhile now... like back when they were all the rage on the food blogs. But it took me this long to actually get around to it. In theory, it was a good concept. I did get a lot of good feedback. They seemed well received at work... they were just a little too much for me! First off they are huge! It literally takes 2 already massive heaps of dough to sandwich the oreo. They were pretty rich too. Even with my sweet tooth, I could only finish about 1/3 of one in a sitting. Still though... they're pretty to look at, and people seemed delighted with the little surprise inside. Gotta try everything once!

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies via Very Culinary:

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies




I got a baking itch while I was at my Dad's this past weekend, so this is what I came up with given what we had on hand. Not bad for an improvisation. Warm cookies, I have found, aren't ever greeted coldly. My Dad polished off most of these and I took the rest to Shannon... so I'm sure Matthew ate them. P.S. Congrats to the Shatthew engagement! These will be deemed engagement cookies!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies via Crisco:

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter flavor Crisco
1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 cup. flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 c. chocolate chips

Cream together brown sugar and Crisco until light & fluffy. Add peanut butter, milk, vanilla, egg, baking soda, and salt. Mix thoroughly. Add in flour in three additions. Mix in chocolate chips last just until combined. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls on to a greased cookie sheet and bake forr 10 minutes at 350. Let cook for a minute on cookie sheet before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Snickers Brownies



These are the type of evil culminations I seem to come up with during all my free time now at work. Shameless, I know. I've pretty much come to terms with the lost cause of my vanity versus my necessity for baking. How could I not try though? So tempting! I have to admit I wasn't completely disappointed to discover that there were 6 extra fun size Snickers in the bag after the 12 necessary for this recipe. Damn.

Snickers Brownies via My Baking Addiction:

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Peanut Butter-Banana-Chocolate Chip Muffins



I'm truly starting to believe I may be living a parallel life with Cathy from the Noble Pig. Our food tastes are way too similar for us not to be the same person! I still have yet to make anything that I didn't love from this blog. I saw this recipe while I was at work a couple nights ago and knew that the browning bananas on my counter would be a perfect match. I think these should be renamed Elvis muffins. They're great! I normally love muffins warm, but these were actually better room temperature. Be patient!

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins via Noble Pig:

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Brown Butter Brownies



The process of browning butter is one that can seem daunting to some... but once you do it a couple times, you will have it down pat. Don't be intimidated! Once you try it, you will be so glad you did. Brown butter adds a depth to anything that you could never imagine afterwards without it. I actually have a confession in making this recipe, (something that I still have no explanation for)... I had no vanilla in my pantry! This NEVER happens to me. My only thought is that this whole move has just really put me out of my element. So I had to make a substitution... and an unconventional one at that: almond extract. But I have to say it worked out well. I'm used to a brownie/almond combination anyway... but the extract in the brownie itself was a stretch even for me. Live & learn. 

Brown Butter Brownies via The Parsley Thief:

Monday, April 11, 2011

German Chocolate Cake Cookies



I have to say I almost feel guilty including this entry... a bit too "Sandra Lee" for my style. These cookies really are good though so I didn't want to deprive you of the indulgence. These are probably the most simple cookies I've ever made, and still decadent and soft, just like I love them! Chocolate, coconut, and pecan are a sinful combination.

German Chocolate Cake Cookies via All Recipes:

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies


I had a hankering to do some baking today but I couldn't come up with an inspiration so I ended up just sticking with a classic. I'm not even really that much of a chocolate chip fan, but there really is something to be said about a warm cookie out of the oven on a cool, rainy day. These stayed perfectly soft and moist, and that is a necessity in my cookie rule book. No crunchy cookies allowed!

Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies via the Flick of my Wrist:
(About 32 four inch cookies)

2 sticks of butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 bag semisweet chocolate chips
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Cream butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Add salt, vanilla, eggs, and baking soda. Mix well. Add flour and mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts until thoroughly mixed. Drop by heaping, rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased, parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before transferring cookies to cooling racks to cool completely.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Irish Cream Buttercream


I'm super sad that I'm not home today. This is my first St. Patrick's day away from home. This is growing up I guess. We always do a big, traditional Irish dinner: corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, green beer, shamrock cookies. I wasn't tempted to do the whole feast for myself... but I knew I had to celebrate somehow. Enter cupcake! ...ok I MIGHT have had a shot of Jameson last night. Shame on me. These turned out delicious and I feel like they are the perfect Irish cupcake culmination, definitely celebratory. I'm working tonight, hence my early holiday celebration last night... but I'm taking them into work. Hopefully they will be well received. I miss you Dad! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Irish Cream Buttercream via the Culinary Chronicles:

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Molten Chocolate-Nutella Pudding Cakes


This is decadent and definitely celebration-worthy. It was completely delicious without being too rich. This was the dessert follow-up for my "most perfect meal ever!" ...and what a perfect accompaniment it was. The taste is great the next day, but as a word of caution: the center will collapse it you let it sit. (I.E.: molten) This is best served hot out of the oven. Bon appetit!

Molten Chocolate-Nutella Pudding Cakes via Noble Pig:

Thursday, February 24, 2011

World Peace Cookies


I've been hearing about these cookies for a minute. They have a reputation. The story goes: if everyone was to eat one of these cookies each day, we would achieve world peace. I'm all for supporting world peace through baking. Whatever works! Maybe if everyone in the world was a chocolate lover, this theory might suffice... nice try though. I've been trying to bake something to take to work each weekend I work. This was last weekends entry. They seem to appreciate it. Nothing like a little sugar to propel your adrenaline through twelve and half hours. Maybe I can just bring peace to the halls of the pediatric intensive care unit... is that even possible?!

World Peace Cookies via Smitten Kitchen:

Monday, February 21, 2011

Bacon Fat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies


Don't judge! Open your food mind! Another effort into my quest for the perfect salty-sweet! I made these for Superbowl and they were quite the hit. The bag of cookies got passed all around the bar. I think I've decided I'm going to attach a business card of this blog to treat bags with my baked goods. *Shameless self-promotion.* These were equally as good as the Maple Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies I had previously made... but these had an added texture and heartiness due to the addition of the oatmeal. Take your pick. Salty/Sweet for the win!

Bacon Fat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies via Jules Food:

Friday, February 11, 2011

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies



I know, I know. I'm just going to apologize now... but I had to! How can you resist?! Yes... they are as good as they look, probably a little better. I'm such a sucker for red velvet, even though a perfect red velvet is a difficult task. These did not disappoint one bit. Just enough of that subtle chocolate flavor perfectly balanced out by the smooth, creamy cheesecake topping. My swirls even turned out this time! Let these cool completely before cutting. I found I liked them better the second day (morning). You know I didn't wait a whole day!

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies via Sweet Pea's Kitchen:

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies


I had a hankering for a classic fav and this what I came up with. It always turns out I like the cookie dough way better than the cookies, my stomach however, doesn't agree so much. These stayed pretty chewy, I HATE crispy cookies! I added one cup of chopped pecans and used milk chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet. These made a HUGE batch and didn't even last the morning at work this weekend!

Chocolate Chip Cookies via Epicurious:

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Best Birthday Cake


Today was my Daddy's big 5-4 so you know I had to do it up. I made sure I had the day off of work and have been making preparations since last night. On the menu: Braised beef short ribs over creamy goat cheese polenta, ratatouille, & the best birthday cake EVER! (Recipes to follow.) Sometimes you just have to keep it simple, and that is just the way my Dad likes it. So yellow cake with chocolate frosting it is, can't go wrong with that. And I am happy to report that my layered cake skills are much improved with this cake attempt. It only took how many?! So Happy Birthday Daddy! Hope you enjoyed your dinner... now if only I could get you to read my blog. :-)

Best Birthday Cake via Smitten Kitchen:

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Icebox Cake


I've been wanting to make this cake since the very first day that I discovered the Smitten Kitchen, but I just got around to it yesterday! I don't know what I was waiting for. Nothing could possibly go wrong with the simplicity of this recipe combined with the concept of a giant Oreo cake. The only thing is you do need to plan ahead a little because it has to sit in the fridge overnight to soften up the wafers. Definitely try this out if you are an Oreo lover, it is SO easy!

Icebox Cake via Smitten Kitchen: