Here Are Some Really Good Chocolate Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHEF CAKE

Preheat oven 350 degrees
Grease and flour a 13x9 baking pan
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
4 tbsp cocoa
1 cup water
2 tbsp grape jelly
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp vanilla

Mix dry ingredients together. Add remaining ingredients into dry mixture and mix well. Pour into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Cool and frost with Chocolate butter cream frosting.

1 stick butter (soften)
1/2 cup cocoa
13 3/4 cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla
enough milk or cream to spread

Beat all ingredients together and spread over cooled cake.

TOLL HOUSE BROWNIES
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Brownie layer
1 stick butter
6 ounces chocolate bits
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup flour

Spread in 8 inch square pan.

Toll House layer
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1/4 cup white sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 tsp vanilla
1 large eggs
4 ounces chocolate bits

Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat together with electric mixer butter, sugar, brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix by hand. Put spoonfuls of the dough on top of brownie mixture. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

GRASSHOPPER PIE
24 cream-filled chocolate cookies (finely crusher)
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1/4 cup Creme De Menthe*
1 jar marshmallow creme
2 cups heavy cream

Combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press into 9 inch spring form pan, reserving 1/2 cup for garnish. Gradually add Creme De Menthe to marshmallow creme, mixing until well blended. Beat heavy cream with 1 tbsp sugar until stiff. Fold cream into Creme De Menthe mixture and pour into prepared crust. Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top. Freeze for 3-4 hours

*If you prefer, substitute 1/4 cup milk, few drops green food coloring, few drops peppermint extract, in place of the Creme De Menthe.

TOFFEE BARS
1 cup butter (soften)
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chocolate bits
1 cup pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

Cream butter and sugar in bowl until fluffy. Add egg yolk and vanilla, mix well. Gradually add flour and beat well after each addition. Spread in prepared pan and bake 25 minutes.

remove from oven sprinkle chocolate bits over top; return to oven for a few minutes to melt chocolate. Remove from oven and spread chocolate evenly over bars. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired.

Deanna not only loves to make chocolate desserts but loves to share her cooking and recipes with everyone. If you want more chocolate dessert recipes and a very special chocolate cake recipe visit her website at http://deannamartin.us/?page_id=30 From here you can get different recipes for all occasions not just chocolate or desserts. If you want to turn your passion for chocolate into something more check out her website at http://deannamartin.us/?page_id=24 Enjoy

Original article

Recipes for Making Your Own Delicious Chocolate Candies

Impress your family and friends with homemade candies. With everything from Peppermint Bark to No-Fail Dark Chocolate Fudge, these candies are easy and delicious. And thinking ahead to the holidays, try these recipes now and decide which will be your go-to holiday candy recipes. The Peppermint Bark is a tasty year-round candy but would be an especially good holiday candy and gift. The Marshmallow Truffles are so easy and fun to let the kids roll in colored candies to decorate. Change the colors of the decorative candies to represent whatever holiday is being celebrated. For the fudge lovers, this is one of the easiest, tastiest recipes.

PEPPERMINT CANDY MARBLE BARK CANDY
6 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate
6 squares white baking chocolate
1 cup crushed peppermint candies* (about 50 round peppermint candies)

Put semi-sweet baking chocolate in a microwave proof bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes or until almost melted, stirring after a minute. Stir to melt completely.

Repeat the above process with the white baking chocolate.

Stir 1/2 cup of the crushed peppermint candy into each bowl.

Line a cookie sheet that has sides with waxed paper. Alternately spoon the two bowls of chocolates onto the waxed paper. With a butter knife, swirl chocolates together to create a marble effect. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.

This makes about 1 pound of candy.

*To crush peppermint candies, place candies in a zip-top plastic bag. Crush with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Or you could process in a food processor using pulsing action.

SO EASY MARSHMALLOW TRUFFLES
1 pkg (10-oz) large marshmallows
1 pkg (12-oz) chocolate chips
toasted coconut
various decorative candies (from the cake decorating section)

Arrange the marshmallows on a cookie sheet; freeze for 15 minutes.

Put chocolate chips in a small microwave safe bowl and cook in microwave for about 2 1/2 minutes or until melted. Stir every minute.

Remove marshmallows from freezer and using a wooden skewer dip each marshmallow in the chocolate mixture until the marshmallow is completely coated. Remove the skewer.

Have some toasted coconut in a small bowl, some decorative candies in other small bowls. Roll each chocolate coated marshmallow in one of the bowl to coat. Use a fork to transfer the coated marshmallow to a waxed paper lined cookie sheet or trays. Chill or keep in a cool and dry place.

Yield: 3 to 3 1/2 dozen truffles

NO-FAIL DARK CHOCOLATE FUDGE
1 can (14-oz)Sweetened condensed milk
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
dash of salt, optional
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

In a heavy saucepan melt the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk and salt, over low heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the pecans and vanilla extract. Spread the candy into an aluminum foil lined 8-inch square pan. Chill until firm, approximately 2 hours. Turn the fudge out onto a cutting surface, peel off the foil and cut into squares. Cover loosely and store at room temperature.

Yield: Approximately 2 lbs

Enjoy!

Original article

The Perfect Valentine's Day Fudge Recipes

Nothing satisfies a sweet tooth better than a piece of fudge. Decadently intense chocolate fudge recipes to the sophisticated and elegant vanilla fudge recipes, they are all delicious. Fudge is a creamy, silky smooth treat that is easy to prepare and makes the perfect Valentine's Day gift. Your love will be so impressed with you after making these simple recipes for them.

Double Chocolate Fudge:

Ingredients:

2 cups (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (11 1/2 oz) package milk chocolate chips
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp. heavy cream
2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In saucepan, over low heat, melt semi-sweet chocolate chips with 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk, 1 Tbsp. cream and 1 tsp vanilla.
2. Remove from heat. Spread evenly into foil-lined 9-inch square pan.
3. In another saucepan, over low heat, melt milk chocolate chips with remaining sweetened condensed milk, 1 Tbsp. cream and 1 tsp vanilla. Remove from heat.
4. Spread over fudge in pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting board; peel off foil and cut into squares. Store loosely covered at room temperature. Makes about 2 1/2 pounds.

Some great add-ins to make this fudge even sweeter:

1 cup of walnuts
1 cup of chocolate sandwich cookies crushed
1 cup of pecans
1 cup of chocolate candies
Or you can get really creative and show your love by topping the fudge with conversion hearts. Be sure to let the fudge sit for 30 minutes before topping it with the hearts.

If you love really isn't into chocolate then try this wonderful vanilla fudge recipe or try some of the great flavors you can make with this simple recipe.

Vanilla Fudge Recipe:

Ingredients:

4 cups sugar
2 Tbsp. butter
1 large can evaporated milk
1 small jar marshmallow fluff
1 teaspoon Vanilla

Directions:

1. Cook sugar, butter and evaporated milk, stirring constantly, until a medium firm ball is formed when dropped in cold water (about 25 minutes). Cool slightly.
2. Add marshmallow fluff and vanilla. Beat until cool and creamy.
3. Pour into a buttered 8 inch square pan. Chill until firm.

Make it Coffee
Add 2 Tablespoons of instant coffee dissolved in 1 tablespoon of warm water along with the vanilla.

Make it Maple Walnut
Add 1 cup of chopped walnuts and 2 tablespoons of maple extract.

Make it Raspberry Swirl
After pouring the fudge into the pan drop 5 rounded tablespoons all over the top of the fudge and using a knife gently swirl it around.

Whatever fudge recipe you choose to try homemade gift make the best gifts on Valentine's Day.

Looking to find the best deal on homemade fudge, then visit http://www.84countrystore.com/ to find the best fudge gift basket, for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_L_Hopkins

Original article

Easy Valentine's Day Dessert Recipes

Valentine's Day is the sweetest day on Earth, every February 14th gifts are exchanged between lovers. The sweetest gift you can give is a homemade gift, and what better then homemade desserts. Who doesn't love chocolate so here is a list of easy chocolate Valentine's Day desserts. Chocolate dipped strawberries are a favorite for Valentine's Day and they are easy to make and will look so impressive.

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 to 2 cups (11.5- to 12-oz. pkg.) Chocolate, Milk Chocolate or White Morsels
• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 36 Strawberries Directions LINE baking sheet with wax paper.

MICROWAVE morsels and vegetable shortening in uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 1 minute; STIR. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted; cool slightly.

DIP strawberries about halfway into melted morsels; shake off excess. Place on prepared baking sheet; refrigerate until set.

For a Decorative touch:

MICROWAVE 1/2 cup White or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels or Baking Bars, in small, plastic bag on MEDIUM-HIGH for 1 minute; knead until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to drizzle over strawberries. Refrigerate until set.

You can use many other kinds of fruit such as orange segments, apple slices, or banana slices. To package your gift try looking for inexpensive tins or heart shaped boxes at your local craft store. If you are looking for an interactive dessert you may want to try chocolate fondue. This is another easy yet impressive treat.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 Dark Chocolate baking bars (8 oz.) finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon orange liqueur (optional) or orange juice
• 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
• Items for dipping: Marshmallows, fresh fruit (strawberries, orange segments, kiwi, melon and / or banana), cake cubes, pretzels, potato chips

Directions HEAT cream in small, saucepan over low heat; bring just to a boil. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; stir until smooth. Add liqueur or orange juice and orange peel; mix well.

TRANSFER fondue to fondue pot; place over low heat

Skewer items for dipping and enjoy

If you are not into making your own desserts but want the feel of homemade there are many companies online that offer homemade fudge, chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate dipped pretzels among other confection for delivery. You can purchase these items and add your own touches to them like a handmade card or repackaging them into a box that you made with a picture of the two of you one it. Have fun with it and be creative.

Looking to find the best deal on homemade fudge, then visit 84 fudge to find deals on fudge gift baskets for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_L_Hopkins

Original article

Enjoy These Delicious Chocolate Recipes: Cookie Bars, Turtle Pie, Pinto Bean Fudge

For all you chocoholics, here are some yummy chocolate recipes. From Double Chocolate Cookie Bars made with an Oreo cookie crust to Chocolate Turtle Pie to Chocolate Fudge with a surprise ingredient of pinto beans, you will love these chocolate treats.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIE BARS
2 cups Oreo-type cookies, finely crushed*
1/2 stick butter, melted
2 cups (12-oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can (14-oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the cookie crumbs and melted butter until well mixed. Press onto the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt 1 cup of the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk. Stir in the vanilla. Pour this chocolate mixture evenly over the crust in the pan. Sprinkle the remaining cup of chocolate chips and the chopped pecans over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until set. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into 24 large bars or 36 smaller bars.

These bars are good at room temperature or chilled.

CHOCOLATE TURTLE PIE
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1 prepared graham cracker crust
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 pkgs (4-serving size)chocolate cook and serve pudding & pie filling
3 cups milk
whipped cream, for garnish

Spread the caramel topping over the bottom of the crust. Sprinkle the pecans over the caramel. Refrigerate.

In a saucepan, stir the pudding mix into the milk. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a full boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Stir twice during cooling. Pour into the crust and place plastic wrap on the surface of the filling. Refrigerate about 3 hours or until set. Before serving garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings

PINTO BEAN CHOCOLATE FUDGE
1 can (15-oz) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 tbsp vanilla extract
7 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts

Place the beans in a microwave-safe dish and mash with a fork until smooth. Cover the dish and heat in microwave 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Remove dish from microwave. Add the cocoa powder, butter, and vanilla. This will make a thick mixture. Slowly stir in the confectioners' sugar. Stir in the nuts. Press the mixture into the prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate until firm.

Yield: 3 1/2 pounds

Note: The pinto beans replace some of the butter normally used to make fudge. This fudge is creamy and the walnuts add crunch. No one will believe you made this fudge with beans!

Enjoy!

Original article

Simple Homemade Chocolates Recipes

Everyone loves chocolates. And chocolates make the best gifts that you can every give away to any of your loved ones. If you are thinking of gifting chocolates to someone and do not want to spend much on them then why not gift them simple homemade Chocolates. Your efforts would be appreciated and also you would not have to spend much on them. You can also serve these chocolates to your guests. They will love them. To make your process easy here are a few recipes listed below for homemade chocolates.

Recipe # 1
This recipe takes 30-45 minutes to get ready. And it has 6 servings. The ingredients and the method for making chocolates are as follows.

1/4 cup - cocoa powder
200g - milk powder
1 cup - sugar
1/2 cup - water
1/4 cup - butter
1/2 tsp - vanilla essence
Nuts and raisins as per your wish.

Method:
Firstly take some water and sugar in a pan and allow them to boil until they have reached 1string evenness. Then remove from stove and add butter to it. As it melts down totally add milk powder, cocoa powder and vanilla essence and mix up them until everything blends in to one. Let it cool down for few minutes, slightly grease your hands with butter and pinch small portions of it and give it shapes and also you can place toothpicks in it as, and you can even place nuts and raisins into it as per your wish. After that place them in the refrigerator for a while and then wrap them in color papers or arrange in gift boxes and they are ready to give away.

Recipe # 2
This is the most easy and best recipe to make chocolates at home. You can gift these homemade chocolates to your loved ones or you can serve them to your guests. To make out chocolates you will need the following ingredients.

Ingredients:
160 gm semi sweet chocolate
2 tbsp milk
1/2 cup nuts - chopped
1 tsp Vanilla/almond essence
and a greased plate to keep the chocolates

Method:
Place milk and chocolates in a pen. Turn on the stove and take some in a pen bigger then the one you used before, add some water in it and let it boil for sometime, after that turn off the fire and immediately place the pan containing milk and chocolates over the pan having hot water and stir slowly as the chocolates start to melt. When the mixture is blended well totally into one remove the pan from above the hot water pan and add vanilla and nuts to the mixture and stir well and drop the mixture into the greased plates with spoon and leave it to set. Your homemade chocolate is ready to eat.

Copyright © 2011

Chic Chocolates offer Chocolates for Wedding Favours, Chocolate for Favors and Personalised Chocolates Wedding are exquisitely handcrafted, Belgium & Milk Chocolate bars of all sizes in across the UK.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_A_Chicken

Original article

Tasty Chocolate Recipes: Candy Clusters, Moist Brownies, and Pound Cake

You can make delicious chocolate treats without being an expert cook, candy maker, or baker. The recipes in this article are easy and will produce yummy results. Raisin Walnut Clusters makes great chocolate cluster candies using only 4 ingredients. The Chocolate Syrup Brownies are frosted by sprinkling chocolate chips over the brownies while hot from the oven, and Yummy Chocolate Pound Cake is easy and delicious.

RAISIN WALNUT CLUSTERS
8 oz chocolate candy coating
2 tbsp butter or shortening
1 1/2 cup broken walnuts
1/2 cup raisins

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside.

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate candy coating with the butter or shortening, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, when totally melted. Add the walnuts and raisins mixing well to coat. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least a half hour or until set.

Yield: about 2 dozen candy clusters

CHOCOLATE SYRUP BROWNIES
1 stick butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 can (16-oz) chocolate syrup
4 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 of a small pkg chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, melt butter in the microwave. Remove from the microwave and add the sugar and chocolate syrup; beat well.

Beat the eggs using an electric mixer; add to the chocolate mixture.

Sift the flour and salt together and into the chocolate mixture. Add the walnuts and stir in well. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Cover the pan with foil and let set for 5 minutes. Remove the foil and spread the melted chips over the brownies. Cool before cutting into squares.

YUMMY CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE
1 cup boiling water
2 squares (1-oz each)unsweetened chocolate, cut up
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
powdered sugar for garnish

In a small bowl, pour the boiling water over the chocolate and let stand for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Grease well and flour a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan; set aside.

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together into a small bowl.

In a large mixing bowl, let butter stand at room temperature until softened. With mixer on high speed, beat butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and beat in the flour mixture by fourths, with the sour cream by thirds, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat in the cooled chocolate mixture just until combined. Pour into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Transfer from the pan to the rack and cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar for garnish.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/
For her diabetic dessert recipes and information visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Carol_Wilson

Original article

How to Make Chocolate Recipes Better

When you're wanting to learn how to make chocolate recipes better there are a few things you need to remember.

1. Follow the recipe before you make changes to it.
2. Use good quality, fresh ingredients only.
3. Make sure your measurements are right e.g. tsp is teaspoons, tbsp is tablespoons, gram to cup conversions vary depending upon the ingredient/s.

The main item I would like to focus on here to help us all make better chocolate recipes is the Star ingredient - Chocolate.

Chocolate would have to be one of the best ingredients ever! I thank God for the Theobroma Cacao tree from which chocolate is made. The scientific name Theobroma actually means "food of the gods".

If we stop long enough and just think about chocolate all by itself we would quickly realize what a magnificent food it really is. Here is a food type that will cheer up anyone who is feeling sad. It says "I love you" better than any other food type. When we think of Valentine's Day chocolate, flowers and jewelry usually come to mind.

It also makes an excellent gift for birthdays, Easter, Christmas, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, is a great way to say sorry, makes a good excuse to get together, is delicious with practically any beverage, it markets and sells well generally and for charity drives, has featured in so many movies e.g. Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Like Water for Chocolate, Chocolat, In Search of the Heart of Chocolate and so many more.

Then we start to think of chocolate as an ingredient. Possibly the best place to begin is by thinking about chocolate bars. Brand names like Cadbury, Hershey's, Nestle have made very successful businesses by adding fruits, nuts and flavors to it. Change the shape and sell it again e.g chocolate chips, blocks of chocolate, little chocolate bars, milk or dairy, dark and white chocolate etc.

Put chocolate in biscuits, cakes, drinks - both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, mousse, brownies, pies, icing, desserts and the list goes on.

Chocolate really is superb!

If are wanting to know how to make a chocolate chip cookie recipe you would find a cookbook, website or blog that is dedicated to chocolate. You want to make sure that the author of the recipe/s really knows the ingredients they promote.

Also, remember the guidelines mentioned above - follow the recipe, fresh ingredients and correct measures.

Recently I decided to make chocolate brownies. A friend suggested I double the ingredients, which I did. I poured all of the brownie mix into a deep baking dish and baked it for the suggested time. Because of this the brownie recipe was a flop however, the chocolate lava cake was a huge success - thankfully. My mistake here was I should have stuck to the recipe and poured the mix into two shallow baking dishes just like it said.

Once you are confident, then experiment to your heart's desires. Have a go at using additional ingredients. For example where the chocolate chip cookie recipe calls for rolled oats, try a natural muesli. The addition of fruit, nuts and bran to these cookies is outstanding.

Finally, when most people think of chocolate they think of fun times. Chocolate and cooking are both fun, so relax and enjoy working with different recipes. This alone can improve the quality of your hard work and time in the kitchen.

Hello. My name is Geoff

I am the author, owner and photographer of http://www.chocolate-recipes-galore.com/

I have enjoyed eating chocolate as a child and have worked with chocolate in many different recipes for many years.

My passion for chocolate is seen in the recipes located at the above website. All of the recipes listed on this site are actually made and photographed by me.

I hope you are or become as passionate about chocolate as I am and that you too would share these chocolate tips and recipes with your friends and family.

Original article

Delicious Chocolate Recipes - Truffle Cookies, Frosting Made From Chips, Pudding Pie in Crumb Crust

We chocoholics, and yes there are millions of us out there, are constantly looking for another delicious chocolate recipe! This article is all about chocolate with recipes from Chocolate Truffle Cookies to Frosting Made From Chocolate Chips to a Chocolate Pudding Pie in a Crumb Crust. Chocoholics are going to love these chocolate goodies!

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE COOKIES
1 1/4 cups butter, softened
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa powder
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chocolate sprinkles

In mixer bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and cocoa until light and fluffy. Beat in the sour cream and vanilla extract. Add the flour and mix in well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls; dip in the chocolate sprinkles. Place the balls, dipped side up, on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2-inches apart. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.

Yield: 5 to 6 dozen

NOTE: These make great Fall and/or Halloween cookies when you use the chocolate and orange sprinkles.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING FROM CHOCOLATE CHIPS
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp milk
1 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar

Combine the chocolate chips and butter. Melt in the microwave until chips are melted enough to make mixture smooth when stirred. (Or cook over hot water until melted.) Remove from heat or microwave. Mix in the vanilla and add the salt. Beat in the sifted (important to eliminate lumps) powdered sugar alternately with the milk until of a spreading consistency.

Use this delicious frosting to top off your favorite chocolate, vanilla, marble, etc cake!

CHOCOLATE PUDDING PIE
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Chocolate Cookie Crumb Crust:
1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer cookie crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted

Mix the cookie crumbs and the melted butter together. Reserve a couple of tablespoonfuls for garnish. Press mixture firmly and evenly against the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate to form a crust. Place in the 350 degree oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

Filling:
1 envelope (approx 2-oz)dessert topping mix
1 pkg (4 serving size) instant chocolate pudding and pie filling mix
1 4/5 cups cold milk
6 to 8 nice pecan halves, for garnish

Prepare the dessert topping mix according to the package directions; set aside.

Prepare the pudding mix as directed on the package using the 1 3/4 cups of cold milk. Gently fold 1 1/2 cups of the prepared topping into the pudding, blending together well. Pour the pie filling into the cooled crust. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate about 4 hours or until set. Before serving, pile the remaining topping into the center of the pie and sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the top. Place the pecan halves out from the topping in spoke fashion for garnish, if desired.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/
For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Original article

Cookie Recipes For the Chocoholic in You

Chocolate, now who doesn't love chocolate? And cookies are on of our favorite things from our toddler days to the grave! Chocolate and cookies; two of our favorite things. The recipes in this article will bring the two together for some awesome cookie treats! Whether you like your chocolate in chunks, or chips, there is a recipe here for you! The Mocha Chocolate Chips are made with a healthier cookie in mind. They have both all-purpose and whole-wheat flours, less sugar, and healthy walnuts. Yet they are delicious!

CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES WITH OATS
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup quick oats
1 1/4 cups chocolate chunks

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease 2 large baking sheets; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy. Beat in the egg and vanilla.

Into a small bowl sift the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add flour mixture to the creamy mixture, beating constantly. Stir in the oats and chocolate chunks.

Spoon dough by tablespoonfuls about 2-inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool 1 minute on the baking sheets. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

HEALTHIER MOCHA CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup Splenda Granulated
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup instant coffee powder*
2 squares (1-oz each) unsweetened baking chocolate
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/4 cups chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water and cook, stirring often, until melted; remove and allow to cool.

Mix the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, and salt together in a small bowl; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl beat the butter with the sugar and Splenda, with mixer on medium speed, until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, coffee powder and then add the melted chocolate; beat until blended.

With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the flour mixture just until blended. With a silicone spatula or a wooden spoon, stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop the dough by tablespoonfuls, two inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies puff up and the dough loses its shine. Allow to cool 1 minute before removing from the cookie sheet to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield: Approximately 40 cookies.

*If using instant coffee granules, you need to crush them or powder them in a blend or food processor.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/
For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Original article

Recipes for Delicious Food Gifts But They Are Also Great at Your House, Too!

For all of you out there who, like me, love chocolate. We can never have too many chocolate recipes! The recipe below for a deliciously rich Chocolate Fudge Sauce great as a topping for pound cake, ice cream, etc. It is also perfect to give as a food gift. If you have a chocoholic/s on your shopping list, make up some of this rich sauce and put it in pretty jars. Tie a pretty ribbon around the neck of the jar and stick in a gift basket with a pound cake, etc or just give as is. Great holiday or birthday gift. Also great for housewarmings and hostess gifts. Now we can't discuss chocolate mentioning cookies. The chocolate in the cookie recipe is in the mini M&Ms. This is another great gift idea. You put the mix into a quart jar in pretty layers and attach a card with the baking instructions to the ribbon around the neck. Why not give the chocoholics in your life both of these food gift items?

RICH FUDGE SAUCE (PERFECT FOR GIFTING)
1 cup whipping cream
3/4 cup granulated sugar
8-oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped fine
1/3 cup clear corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
dash of salt

In a heavy saucepan combine the cream and sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Stir in the chopped chocolate, corn syrup, and butter. Lower heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted and ingredients are blended. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Allow sauce to cool to room temperature then pour the sauce into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and store in refrigerator. Or as suggested above, pour into small jars with tight-fitting lids, decorate with a pretty ribbon and a label to give as gifts.

To serve: Spoon into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 15 second intervals, stirring after each, until sauce is pourable. This is very good!

MINI M&M JAR COOKIE MIX
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mini M&Ms

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together.

Layer the ingredients in a jar in the following order: flour mixture, brown sugar, granulated sugar, mini-M&Ms, and chopped pecans.

Put a lid on the jar and cover lid with a pretty piece of cloth or small doily tied on with a matching ribbon. Write the following baking instructions on a card and attach.

Mini M&M Cookies
1 jar of Mini M&M Cookie Mix
1 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixer bowl cream the butter, eggs, and vanilla using an electric mixer. Add the cookie mix and stir in until well blended. Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/

For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Original article