Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Ok, so everyone has been asking for this recipe and I have just have to share it! If your a cookie dough lover like us then you will LOVE these!

First step, Egg-free chocolate chip cookie dough is mixed up, scooped into cookie dough balls and FROZEN. The freezing will help the cookie dough STAY COOKIE DOUGH during the baking process.

If you’d prefer to bake your cookie dough a little bit, let the cookie dough peek out the top of the batter like this.  The top of the cookie dough will bake into a cookie-like texture, while the bottom will stay more cookie dough-like.  If you’d rather have more of a raw cookie dough in there, poke the dough underneath the batter.

I made mine so they baked up half and half- a little baked cookie on top and doughy underneath.

The frosting is an absolutely amazing-tasting cookie dough frosting!! 

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                      Couldn't resist posting a picture of the inside. Amazing!

                                                            The End Result!

Chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes

Yield: 1 dozen cupcakes

Prep Time: 45 min + freeze time

Cook Time: 25 min

Ingredients:

COOKIE DOUGH FILLING:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

CUPCAKES:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup hot water
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

COOKIE DOUGH FROSTING:
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

GARNISH:
additional mini chocolate chips
12 mini Chips Ahoy cookies

Directions:

1. Prepare the cookie dough filling (see *Tips below): In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to stir together the butter, sugars, milk and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients and the chocolate chips. Refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes, or until the cookie dough is firm. Scoop out dough in 2 tablespoon scoops and place it on a cookie sheet. Freeze until firm, at least 30 minutes.

2. Prepare the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cupcake pan with 12 liners. Place the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda and salt in a blender. Blend to combine. Add the water, oil, egg and vanilla. Blend to combine, scraping down the sides as needed a couple of times until all is well mixed. Divide the batter between the 12 cupcake liners. Drop a ball of frozen chocolate chip cookie dough into the center of each cupcake. If you would like the cookie dough to bake up slightly, keep the top visible as pictured in the post. If you'd like to keep the cookie dough somewhat raw, push it to the bottom of the cupcake wrapper, making sure that the batter comes up and over the dough.

3. Bake the cupcakes for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cupcake portion of the cupcake (not tested through the center where the dough is), comes out fairly clean. Cool the cupcakes completely before adding the frosting.

4. Prepare the frosting: In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter and sugars until smooth and creamy. Mix in the flour, milk and vanilla and continue to mix until all is well combined.

5. Assemble: Frost cupcakes with a knife or scoop the frosting into a piping bag and pipe it on decoratively. Sprinkle mini chips on top and garnish with a small chocolate chip cookie.

Tips:

*You don't necessarily have to melt the butter and refrigerate the dough before scooping. The melted butter just helps the sugar dissolve a bit more so you don't have that grainy texture in the cookie dough. It is necessary to freeze it though.

Its Fall Y'all!

Its Fall time! Love when the weather starts changing and the leaves turn colors. I love when you get all excited to turn your fireplace on for the first time, get in your pj's, and read a good book (or read blogs all night like me lol!) Guilty!

I changed up the decor a bit from last year and added some leopard in. Here are some pictures........

My First Fall Tree 

Next was decorating my porch. I found an old planter at the thrift store.

It had a lot of character so I knew with a little bit of spray paint it could turn out awesome!

I was so happy with the finished product! =))

I needed something on the other side of my porch so I spiced up my lanterns a bit with fall decor too .

         Well there is a little peek into some of my fall decorating this year. Thanks for following :)

Walking on Sunshine ~ Summer 2012

I cannot believe the last time I wrote was in May! The summer just flew by. We had a wonderful summer this year. One of the big highlights was we purchased a pool! We had perfect weather for it and had SO much fun swimming literally every day. I loved having the company over, enjoyed the laughter and great weather. We loved it so much that our plan is to put one in the ground for next year. Let the digging begin!

In July we went to California for 10 days with our whole family. My aunts, uncles, and cousins all came to visit too! We celebrated the 4th and my Mom's birthday with everyone. We had SUCH a blast and relaxing time! My Grandma, Grandpa, and Parents spoiled us rotten. We went to California Adventure and Disneyland. My dad had booked us all a suite at a resort across the street so we were real close. We all had so much fun we didn't want to come home!

One of my favorite days in California was when our family went to the beach and my brother Mark took Dan and I's pictures. We had so much fun and I am SO happy with them! I could literally look through them every day!

In August my beautiful sister-in-law Beth got married to the man of her dreams. Welcome to the family Jerome! They had a beautiful wedding and everything was perfect! I am so thankful that when I married Dan, I was blessed to be welcomed into a wonderful family and to have gained many more brothers and sisters!

Now you can see why I haven't updated lol! We had such a wonderful and busy Summer.  Now I'm super excited Fall is here. :)  More writing to come!

Reece's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Many of you were asking me how to make that yummy Reece's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake so here is that recipe I promised! It was so much fun to make!!

Reece's Cup Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

For the cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt.
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (optional)

For decorating:
1 1/2 - 2 batches peanut butter frosting
miniature Reese's cups, halved and/or chopped

1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream

Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.



For the cake, center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9x2" round cake pans, dust the insides with flour, tap out the excess and line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper. Place the pans on a baking sheet.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add the sugar and beat for about 2 minutes, until thoroughly blended into the butter. Add the eggs and yolks one at a time, beating for one minute after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk; add the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the buttermilk in 2 (beginning and ending with the dry ingredients). Mix each addition only until it is blended into the batter. Scrape down the bowl and add the melted chocolate, if using, folding it in with a spatula. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans.

Bake for 26-30 minutes or until the cakes feel springy to the touch and start to pull away from the sides of the pans. Transfer to wire racks to cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up.

To assemble the cake, place one cake layer on a cardboard circle covered in foil. Spread peanut butter frosting on top of the cake layer. (If desired, sprinkle with chopped Reese's cups). Place the second cake layer on top of the frosting. Frost the top and outside of the cake with remaining peanut butter frosting. Decorate with halved and chopped Reese's cups as desired

(The only reason mine seems a bit different is that I only have crunchy peanut butter.)

Enjoy!!!!!!

Spring and Life Long Friends!

We have FINALLY been getting some sunny, gorgeous days around here!!! My house has been decorated for spring for a bit now but its definitely starting to feel like it!

   

Decorating is so much fun!! Love spring colors!

My Spring Mantle!

                                                 

Today was another beautiful day! Hubby went off to Motocross at Qwest Field in Seattle with the guys and the girls got together for dinner at Red Robin. 

There was about 6 of us girls that grew up together and others have joined as well. We are all married now, some have started families and some have moved. We have made it a point to get together for dinners every now and then when everyone is here. We always have a blast and have so much to catch up on. I feel so blessed for this group of girls in my life! Even though we don't see each other all the time and have been through a lot together, we always pick up right where we left off and have so much fun.

 I love seeing my girlfriends now as moms or newlyweds. There are so many laughs about marriage, weight, babies, and just life. 

I was disappointed we didn't get pictures of all us tonight. We were too busy having fun, but here are some of all of us over the years.

Love you Girls!!!!!!!!