Double Chocolate Coconut M&M Cookies

Not that I think you stalk me or anything, but if you have been wondering where I've been lately you should know I've been sulking over the closure of Picnik.

Also over Facebook's  new Timeline feature.

And Blogger's new interface.

Maybe sulking isn't the right word.  Maybe a better word is incapacitated.

If you are imagining me hiding in a closet eating chocolate chip cookies and trembling over all the unnecessary change that's going on right now then you have a pretty accurate picture of how I've spent the last 2 months. I did warn you I don't deal well with change.

Also I thought my  kids and yard were needing some attention.

Regardless of what I was actually doing,  I'm back and I have lots of delicious recipes to share with you.  Just in time for summer! You know these cookies will help you fit into your swimsuit, right?

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Chocolate-Dipped Peeps

Yes, I know everyone and their mom posted chocolate-dipped peeps about 2 months ago but with this blog's namesake,  I really have no choice but to put up my version sometime.  

Whenever someone refers to their friends as "peeps" I picture these in my head and wonder if they like to take bites out of their friends.

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Jelly Bean Spoons

For Easter this year the kids and I made jelly bean spoons and wrapped them up in little cello bags with ribbon tied around them.  They are super cute favor and a huge hit with kids although personally I can't stomach the chocolate/fruit combination.  I think a Sixlet version is much more suited for adults although you can really put anything on them you want.  

 

The key is to use a really nice chocolate, especially if you are giving them to adults.  

It's sooo adult-like to eat candy off of spoons.

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Cadbury Mini Egg Cookies (with a Double Chocolate Sprinkle Birthday variation)

I've been making Cadbury mini egg cookies for a few years now, but have never found the "right" chocolate cookie recipe to pair them with.

This is it!

I used a Wilton whoopie pan to bake these in thick uniform circles (this method is an OCD person's dream) and just pressed Cadbury eggs on top of the dough before baking.

I also made a sprinkle version that uses chocolate chips in the dough and is super cute for a birthday or any time you can't find Cadbury eggs at the store.  

*Cough* Dumbest idea ever, corporate America. *Cough*

Yes, apparently I am a seventh grade boy and like to send bullying passive-aggressive messages via coughing.

Anyway, this is a super double chocolate cookie any time of year and with any topping.  Mix and match with M&Ms, sprinkles, anything you like.

Because I wanted the Cadbury eggs to really shine, I omitted the chocolate chips for my Cadbury cookies.  If you want a super chocolatey cookie, and don't care about being a purist, you can add about a cup of the chocolate chips into the dough before pressing into the pans and before adding Cadbury eggs.

These are best within the first few hours after baking, but are fine a few days later.  They tend to dry out a bit, and the chocolate is best melted, so feel free to pop one in the microwave for a few seconds before eating.

Or, of course, I will not judge you if you try to eat them all right out of the oven.

Happy first day of Spring!!

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Caramel Turtle Cheesecake

It's unfortunate that I forgot to take a picture of this cheesecake when I cut it.  The inside is really the impressive part.  Just imagine gooey caramel spilling out of the shortbread crust and little dots of pecans above that.  Pretend I photographed it.  Then make this. 

No  need for Cheesecake Factory really.

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S'mores Cupcakes

The bad news is I live in one of those school districts that doesn't allow "homemade treats" for class birthday and holiday parties.  Just pretend I don't complain about this every other day.  Who the frikk am I supposed to bake for if not a bunch of sugar-loving little kids?? 

The good news is I have a husband who is basically a big kid and who lets me bake him treats to take to work.

Yes, I realize how backwards this is.

I made these for him to take to work on his birthday.  They were pretty good.  Not my favorite marshmallow frosting ever but I have aversions to eggs and now that I realize marshmallow is made of eggs I may never eat it again. 

Sometimes it's blissful to be ignorant.

I chopped up some nice bittersweet chocolate for the inside, which makes a nice grown-up version of S'mores cupcakes, but if you want it to taste like an authentic campfire s'more you will probably want to use a little chunk of a Hershey's bar or kiss in each liner instead.

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Strawberry Cheesecake

Some days you just need a big fat slice of delicious strawberry cheesecake.

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St. Patty's Mint Chocolate Cupcakes

Just in case you're wondering, I did not forget pi day.  Girls that like pie as much as I do don't just forget pi day.

Continuing my quest for the perfect coconut cream pie I made two different coconut cream pie recipes for pi day.  Yes, I know this is a little bit ridiculous when there are only four people in your house and two of them are under the age of 4.

Unfortunately neither of them was the pie.

I'm going out of my mind here people!!  If you have a great coconut cream pie recipe please send it my way!  I can't keep making coconut cream pies every other weekend.


Anyway, since pi day got kicked out the window this year I figured at least I'd better post a St Patty's recipe before tomorrow.  You can make these for St Patrick's Day and put a gold coin in them, or you can make them any other day of the year and put a Thin Mint or Keebler Grasshopper in them.  (Crushed Thin Mints in the cake batter certainly wouldn't hurt either.)

Have a very happy St. Patty's!

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Light and Airy Vanilla Cupcake Frosting

Just because I love you I thought you probably needed this cupcake frosting recipe. It is so delicious and so light.  (Frosting is probably actually a misnomer because it's so light.)

This is the frosting for people who hate frosting.  

It can be flavored with extracts, and holds up well if you refrigerate your cupcakes after frosting.  At room temperature it is roughly the consistency of stabilized whipped cream.

Sprinkling with Nerds is optional.

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Reeses-Stuffed Chocolate-Dipped Marshmallow Pops

Anybody remember back when we invented stuffed marshmallow pops?  I tried a Reese's version last week for my brother-in-law's birthday, and they were even better than the original.  Super sweet, but seriously loved these!

Visit this post for full instructions and pictures of how to make stuffed marshmallow pops.  Just replace the Oreo/S'more filling with chopped Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, and drizzle with melted peanut butter chips once chocolate has set.

The Reese's cups worked great because they "packed down" better than the cookie versions so they had lots more flavor.  Feel free to substitute with any candy or filling you prefer.  I'm thinking Milky Way needs to happen soon.

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