Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

My good friend is getting ready to move. We are having a girls night to say goodbye to her. So I found out from her hubby that she really likes chocolate chip cookies. I also happen to know that she loves all things cupcakes (because really, who doesn't?). So, I found this recipe to make Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes. And I must say, each bite tastes like cookie dough. This was also my first time making cupcakes from scratch..I know...I am awful. The box mix is so good, and so easy. But these were pretty simple, for as many steps that there were.

The first step, making egg-less cookie dough (the recipe is down below). This is for the middle of the cupcake. You should really do this the day before because they need to freeze overnight. You don't include egg (because it's bad to eat raw egg) or baking powder or soda. I was going to just use my own cookie recipe, but I didn't. I used this, and I am glad I did. The dough doesn't bake.

The next step, making mini chocolate chip cookies for garnish. I ALWAYS use the Toll House recipe. It's classic. It's good. I like it. I am sure there are better recipes out there, but this is my go-to, and the husband LOVES my choc. chip cookies. So I just baked 24 mini cookies. I used my smallest scoop to make 2 cookies. Some of them were still a bit big. Just store these until you are ready to garnish them.

Then I made the cupcakes themselves. Again, the recipe is below. These were much simpler than I thought.

After they were done, I frosted them with a Brown Sugar Buttercream frosting. Soooo good!!

So here is the original recipe(s) for you! I found this at Beantown Baker

Egg-less Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough - from Picky Palate
2 sticks softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Combine the butter and sugars in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 mins.

Beat in milk and vanilla until incorporated and smooth.

Beat in the flour and salt until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Using a cookie scoop, shape the dough into balls. Freeze on a parchment lined baking sheet overnight.



Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes - from The Cupcake Blog - makes 24
1 batch egg-less cookie dough, scooped and frozen
3 sticks softened butter
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
4 eggs
2 2/3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare two muffin pans.

Beat butter on high until soft, about 30 seconds. Add sugar. Beat on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Add eggs one at a time, beat for 30 seconds after each.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

Measure out milk and vanilla together.

Add about a fourth of the flour to the butter/sugar mixture and beat to combine. Add about one third the milk/vanilla mixture and beat until combined. Repeat, alternating flour and milk and ending with the flour mixture.

Scoop into cupcake papers about half to three-quarters full. Drop one frozen scoop of cookie dough into each cupcake. Do not press the dough down at all.

Bake for 20-22 minutes until edges start to turn golden.



Brown Sugar Frosting - adapted from How to Eat a Cupcake
Printable Recipe
3 sticks softened butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla

Combine the butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.

Beat in the powdered sugar until smooth.

Beat in the salt, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.




So, grab a glass of milk, and enjoy!!!

Chai Spiced Cookies

Today is my best friends birthday. I wanted to make her something yummy. I was going to make some Chai flavored cupcakes, but I was missing some of the ingredients. So I went to Betty Crocker..I love the recipes there. And I found this one for Chai Spiced Cookies. I couldn't resist. I got right to it. Then I realized that I didn't have Cardamom. So I ended up at the store anyways (and paid a lot for that one little bottle...). But let me tell you, these babies are totally worth it. Not to mention they are so simple. Really. If you like Chai, these are the cookies for you! I saved me a few and plan on having them with a nice hot chai tea. Maybe that will help with the chill (we have been having rain and more rain lately).

The best friend LOVED them and said she was going to stop at Starbucks on her way home!

Here is the recipe:

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons vanilla
2 egg yolks
Coating
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Stir in remaining cookie ingredients.
2. Shape dough by tablespoonfuls into balls. On ungreased cookie sheets, place balls 1 1/2 inches apart.
3. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until very lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack; cool 5 minutes.
4. In medium bowl, mix coating ingredients. Working in batches, gently roll warm cookies in coating mixture. Cool on cooling rack 5 minutes. Roll in mixture again.

* The picture is borrowed from Betty Crocker. See, I took pictures..but I haven't uploaded them yet and I just had to share this recipe. And it's better with a photo. My cookies look like these...just not as good of a photograph! I will post my own pictures soon! I promise. Thanks Betty.

Bridal Shower Cookies

Last Saturday I had the privilege of throwing a bridal shower for a good friend of mine. I am actually doing her cupcakes in a week! I did a Breakfast at Tiffany's Theme Shower. So...we had breakfast. Mini Quiche, Scones, Fruit Salad. But there were favors. To reflect the Tiffany's theme, I made diamond ring cookies.

I must say, I have to thank Bridget at Bake at 350 for all her inspiration. I learned how to do royal icing, flooding, and now glitter from her! These cookies are a result of that! :)

First I made Diamond ring shaped cookies. Then using my small circle cutter I cut the middle of the ring out when they first came out of the oven.

I made the cookies with Better Homes Melt in Your Mouth Sugar Cookies...they are my favorite but they crumble really easily because they are not intended to be shape cookies, but I just like them so much!

I frosted them with Royal Icing. Then after they had dried overnight, it was time to glitterfy them. I brushed the areas with water and a pinch of meringue powder. Sprinkled the edible glitter on (I used Wilton's) and shook it off over a coffee filter to save the extra (thanks Bridget!).

After they dried, I packaged them all pretty. I was so happy with how they turned out. I was a bit nervous as a few crumbled, and some of the glitter didn't work quite right for me. But here is a glimpse for you!

Grandma's Peanut Butter Cookies

My mom has always made the best peanut butter cookies. Turns out, the recipe is from her mom. So Sunday, I pulled out the recipe, realizing I have not had peanut butter cookies in a while.

They were sure yummy and hit the spot!

Ingredients:
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. peanut butter (I use creamy, but my mom uses crunchy)
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:
Blend shortening, sugars and egg together. Add peanut butter and sifted flour with soda and salt. Form into balls the size of a walnut. Press flat on cookie sheet with a fork. Bake in hot oven (400 degrees) for about 10 minutes.

Thanks Grandma for the yummy recipe!

Cookie Book

I just picked up a copy of "Cookie Swap: Creative Treats to Share Throughout the Year" by Julia M. Usher. Actually, my husband picked up this book for me! I have been making more and more cookies. Playing with Royal Icing and learning new techniques. He thought this book would be a great addition! He is right, there are so many GREAT ideas in this book. I can't wait to try them...all.