Making chocolate chip cookie brownie bars!

This recipe for chocolate chip cookie brownie bars was in the cook book made by Bev Shaffer named Cookies to Die For! When cut up, it can make about three dozen bars.
"Ingredients for brownie

• 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 2/3 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 unbleached, all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

Ingredients of chocolate chip cookie

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups unbleached, all purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13x9" baking pan. Line pan with foil, then lightly grease foil.


For the brownie base: Melt the chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan, over low heat, stirring to blend. Remove pan from heat and whisk in sugar, eggs, and vanilla.


Stir in flour, baking power, and salt. Spread into prepared pan.


For the chocolate chip cookie dough: Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until creamy. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl


Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Top brownie base with spoonfuls of cookie dough, distributing as evenly as possible.


Bake for 55 to 65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted i the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Cool completely on a wire rack.


When completely cool, invert onto a large cutting board and gently remove foil. Reflip onto another large cutting board so the chocolate chip cookie topping is right side up. Cut into bars. Makes about three dozen" (Shaffer 140).


I tried this recipe because I thought it would be something interesting, combining brownies with cookies. Although combining the two doughs was tedious, the flavors were definitely worth it. At first I though that the brownie had overpowered the flavor of the cookie, but when I tried both flavors separately I noticed they combined quite well.

For once, I almost completely stuck to the recipe given. But, I was bringing these to a get-together and I was running short on time due to the long bake time. So, I was supposed to let the cookie/brownie cool on a large cutting board and then cut them into bars (Shaffer 140). Instead, I grabbed the pan with a towel and put them into my car so I wouldn't be even more late. I then cut them into bars at the get-together.

As much as I love this recipe, it proved to be challenging in some cases. If not cooled as supposed to, it is quite challenging to cut and remove bars out of the pan, while not shredding the foil everywhere. Also, throwing spoonful's of cookie dough on top of the brownie mix was painstaking and not very precise. Although I liked that certain parts had different ratios of cookie to brownie, it wasn't visually pleasing. I thought this especially about the areas I got little to no cookie dough at.

Hopefully, I will be able to do this recipe again. In which case, there are probably some different actions I would take. First off, I would actually let the everything cool properly, then remove and cut the bars. I would also try a different way to more evenly distribute the cookie dough, possibly by trying to give it some shape or roll it out and then place it on top of the brownie mix. Then I might try to mix up the flavors, maybe using larger chocolate chips in the cookie dough or maybe adding flavored chocolate chips to my brownie mix.

How do you think I could make the bars more flavorful without ruining the combination of cookie with brownie?

Shaffer, Bev. Cookies to Die For! Gretna, LA: Pelican Pub., 2009. Print

Bakin' Brownies

   In honor of the holidays I decided to bake Peppermint Stick Brownies for my family and friends! In many different areas around the world you can almost guarantee the presence of brownies in parties for people of all ages. Thanks to the book Cookies Cookies Cookies By Shelli McConnell I figured out a way to bake brownies for my family and friends and add a little holiday spin on them!

A sample of how the final product
will turn out to be 

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 & 1/2 cups all purpose flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 & 1/4 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup margarine or butter
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup mint-flavored chocolate pieces 
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans 
• Fudge Frosting 
• 1/2 cup broken peppermint sticks or coarsely crushed striped round peppermint candies 

Recipe 

Step 1: Pour and stir together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Step 2: In a large sauce pan combine the sugar, margarine or butter, and cocoa powder. Place sauce pan over medium heat and stir constantly until margarine or butter is melted. Remove from heat.

Step 3: Add eggs and vanilla into the same sauce pan from step 2. Use a wooden spoon and lightly beat just till combined (don't overbeat).

Step 4: Add the milk and the newly formed chocolate mixture alternately (adding in the two new substances in small amounts while switching between the two). Beating after each addition. 

Step 5: Stir in chocolate pieces and walnuts or pecans. Spread batter into a greased baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-28 minutes or till a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Step 5: Stir in chocolate pieces and walnuts or pecans. Spread batter into a greased baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-28 minutes or til wooden tooth pick inserted near center comes out clean.

 Step 6: Cool brownies in pan or wire rack. Frost with Fudge Frosting. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint. Cut into desired bars.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Step 6: Cool brownies in pan or wire rack. Frost with Fudge Frosting. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint. Cut into desired bars.

Want your brownies to have even more holiday spirit then it already does? Shelli McConnell has created a way for that very thing to be possible, "here's a secret, mint-flavored chocolate pieces are nestled in the center of these chocolaty brownies" (McConnell 16). My loved ones fell in love with the sweet surprise that was found in every delicious peppermint stick brownie, and because of that I can promise that your loved ones will too! 

Did you bake anything special for your loved ones in honor of the holidays?

If so what did you bake? Did your family enjoy it?

Happy Holidays Everyone!

McConnell, Shelli. Meredith Corporation. Des Moines: Meredith Corporation, 1992. Print.

Brownie Points

Baking has been an essential part of cultures throughout the entire world. It is a cherished hobby for its delicious treats and ability to bring cultures and people together. It is an art that takes minutes to love, but years to master. That is why I was drawn to baking. Time-consuming occupations are drawing to me and I hope more can enjoy them as well

Brownies are a delectable treat that everyone enjoys. As Sally says, "There is nothing in this world that compares to a homemade brownie" (MckKenney 43). We will be diving into her Death By Chocolate Brownies recipe. Ingredients required are as followed:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick or 115g) of salted butter
• 80z of coarsely chopped semi-sweet chocolate
• 1 cup (200g) of granulated sugar
• 3 eggs (cold)
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup (95g) of all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp of salt
• 1 1/2 cups (225g) semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chocolate chips

The prep time should take 20 minutes and the total baking time is around 65 minutes. This recipe makes about 20 brownies (McKenney 43).

Recipe:

1. To begin, melt the butter and chopped chocolate in a medium saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, pour into a large bowl and allow slight cool for 10 minutes. 
2. Then, adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the bottom and sides of an 11x7 in baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. Set aside.
3. Stir the granulated sugar into the cooled chocolate/butter mixture. Add in the eggs, one at a time, whisking until smooth after each addition. Whisk in the vanilla. Gently fold in the flour and salt. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 37-45 minutes or until the brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan. Tip: A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with only a few moist crumbs when they are done (McKenney 43).
   
4. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack. Lift the foil out of the pan using the overhang on the sides and cut into squares. The brownies will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week. 
   
5. Enjoy!
   

The brownies were a success! The baking was time-consuming, it being my first time baking, but the final product was worth it and delicious.

If I were to do this recipe again it would have been easier if I had my supplies handy and ready before I started cooking. It was a struggle having a cracked egg in my hand while trying to find whisk. Also, I would have let the brownies sit and cool longer because the cutting got messy when my knife slice through the center and chocolate goop was dripping from the knife. 

If you are looking to indulge yourself into to baking I would highly recommend McKenney's brownie recipe because it is easy for beginners and an enjoyable experience. 

What is your favorite homemade dessert? Do you like chocolate? Or are you more of a vanilla type person? 

Thanks for reading!

McKenney, Sally. Sally's Baking Addiction: Irresistible Cookies, Cupcakes, & Desserts for Your Sweet-tooth Fix. New York, NY: Race Point, 2014. Print.