Katherine's Kitchen: December 2012

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Serving Up {Cookies}: Fudgy Brownie Cookies

I really hope that nobody is completely cookie-ed out. I know there are treats and candies and cookies everywhere you look - particularly the internet. My site is no exception. And while my intention had been to post a hearty soup or meal today, I had two people ask me for this recipe just in the past week so I figured that I better get it posted.

I am a huge brownie fan so I am somewhat leery of cookies that claim being anything close to a brownie...because, well cookies just aren't brownies! Until now. This recipe gets it right. It probably helps that it begins with a brownie mix for it's base, but I am not complaining one bit! Ease in preparation and an amazing outcome! Works for me!

One Year Ago: Loaded Chocolate Crinkles

FUDGY BROWNIE COOKIES

(recipe from Tasty Kitchen)
printable version

1 packaged Fudge Brownie Mix (18-21 ounce size)
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
2 Tbs. water
1 cup chocolate chunks

Whisk brownie mix, flour and brown sugar together. Using a spoon, stir in eggs one at a time and then add butter and water. The batter will be very thick. Fold in chocolate chunks.
Cover batter and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cookie sheet by greasing or lining with parchment.
Drop dough by the tablespoon onto prepared cookie sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool on the pan slightly before transferring to a cooling rack.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Serving Up {Candy}: Grandpa's fudge

When I was growing up, my grandpa was the Christmas Candy Man! Homemade fudge, homemade divinity, homemade caramel turtles. Wow! I still remember the tradition of being at grandma and grandpa's house on Christmas evening and after all the gifts were opened (and there were always SO MANY gifts!) grandpa would stand up from his recliner and would enter the cold storage room just off of the family room. He would come out with a platter of his delicious confections and the platter would get passed around to all. Such a sweet memory!

Sadly I never learned to make the divinity or the caramel turtles, but the fudge is a simple recipe that is perfect for the beginner candy maker. I have played with the recipe by adding andes mints in place of some of the chocolate to make a mint fudge (my hubbies favorite) as well as just placing chopped mints on top of the prepared fudge for a festive look. Festive or not, this fudge is a winner every time and it makes a great addition to any goodie platter that you may be preparing for the holiday season.

(a fun idea from pinterest:
cut the fudge into large triangles and then decorate the cellophane to make little fudge reindeer)

One Year Ago: Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cup Bites

GRANDPA'S FUDGE

printable version

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
7-ounce marshmallow creme
1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips***
1 tsp. vanilla

Prepare a 13x9 glass pan by buttering the sides and bottom generously. Set aside.

Place sugar, butter and milk in a large saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Cook for 5 minutes, still stirring. Remove from heat and add marshmallow creme and chocolate chips, combining by using a wooden spoon. Beat well with spoon for 5 minutes. Add vanilla. Pour into buttered 13x9 pan.
Allow to cool completely before cutting.

***I have substituted a portion of the chocolate chips with andes mints to create a mint flavored fudge with great results***

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Serving Up {Cookies}: Holiday Recipe Roundup

Last December I posted all of the cookie recipes that I had made as part of an annual cookie exchange that I used to participate in. I thought that with us entering that Holiday Cookie Season, it might be nice to post links to each of them again, along with a few additional cookie recipes that would make great additions to a holiday party, a cookie exchange or the perfect accompaniment to a cup of hot cocoa!

Brownie Roll Out Cookie