Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

The kindness, love and support I've felt over the past week as a result of the bake sale has truly been amazing.  Spending hours upon hours baking this past weekend for a great cause made me one happy gal.  I'll be taking orders through June 28th in case you'd like to get some sweet treats or send a gift to someone! 

**Note:  I've pushed the order deadline back to June 28th as a result of my move to Colorado.  I apologize for the change in dates but I thought it was best for my sanity :) 

Seeing all of the orders come in has also been part of the fun.  The most popular item to-date is the Sweet & Salty Cookies (with caramel, pretzels and chocolate chips) but these peanut butter chunk cookies have also been a hit!  Surprisingly, of all of the cookie recipes I've shared, this recipe has seemed to slip through the cracks.  A thick peanut butter cookie loaded with chocolate chunks AND semi-sweet chips.  Doesn't get much better than that... 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

I want to start by saying THANK YOU.  I have been overwhelmed by the support I've received since announcing the American Cancer Society & Hood to Coast Relay Bake Sale on Friday.  You all are just the best!!!  I'll be taking orders until July 31st so keep 'em coming!  

Now about this cake...

I've been meaning to share this for over a week now BUT every single ounce of free time I've had has been spent baking, wrapping & shipping (and I have LOVED every minute of it!).  Anyways, today is your lucky day.  

You are looking at three layers of chocolate cake, coated with a rich peanut butter frosting and finished off with a layer of mini peanut butter cups.

Super rich... super decadent... and worth every bite!  

Dark Chocolate Pistachio Raw Bars

I have been on a kick making homemade raw bars or homemade "larabars".  First, there were the Chocolate Chip Cookie Raw Bars, and since then I have made a few others varieties -- including Dark Chocolate Cherry and Vanilla Walnut Shortbread.  Loved 'em both!  However, these are my favorite so far.  Its no surprise since one of my favorite snacks is dark chocolate chips, pistachios and dried cherries -- the perfect trail mix blend. 

 

I've made these bars twice now because I love them so much.  That's saying a lot because I normally prefer to experiment with new flavors and recipes.  I prefer to store them in the freezer because they last longer and they get soft at room temp. 

 

If you have any raw bar recipes, send them my way!

 

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Top Cookies with Maple Glaze

I have just the recipe to include in your Easter Sunday brunch!  Since this is a cross between a cookie and a muffin, that makes it perfectly acceptable to serve in the AM.  You could skip the glaze but I highly suggest you don't make that mistake.  

I originally didn't have plans to glaze these cookies.  But then I saw Annie's Eats top her banana scones with brown butter glaze.  Genius.  Well, guess what?  I made that glaze, and sadly, it just didn't turn out the way I had hoped.   Then I thought of banana chocolate chip pancakes covered in maple syrup -- a maple glaze was just what these cookies needed! 

Blondies

 

The blondie is so unassuming. It might be a bold statement but this might be my favorite recipe -- I actually pride myself on it. In fact, if I were to go into business right now, blondies would be my specialty. I've made several variations to the base but the original version is still my favorite -- a chewy bar studded with white AND dark chocolate with sweetened coconut tossed in for good measure. I made these for the bake sale that I hosted a few weeks ago and these were a huge hit.

 

I've shared this recipe before but I feel the need to share it again because I don't think they got the credit they deserved the first time around! My photography skills are slowly beginning to improve so I thought I'd update the pictures too :)

Mini Chocolate-Covered Cheesecake Bites

 

I have a thing for bite-sized desserts (cake balls, brownie bites, mini apple tarts, etc. etc.).  There is something so great about them -- they just always seem to look the cutest.  Not to mention, they are the perfect little bite to satisfy that sweet tooth, with a little less guilt.  So you say you're over cake pops?  Well, I still think they are genius!

 

I made these cheesecake bites last month for Valentine's Day.  Bite-sized perfection.  A simple cheesecake covered in chocolate.  Oh and as you can see in the picture below, these bites even include my favorite part about cheesecake -- the graham cracker crust! 

Peanut Butter Brownie Truffles

 

Happy Friday!  So apparently its National Peanut Butter Lover's Day?  Its very fitting that I had planned to share this recipe with you today!  All of the goodness of a chewy, chocolate brownie, wrapped up in a layer of chocolate -- with a heavy dose of peanut butter, of course.  I also topped these little guys with chopped up peanut butter cups.  You can never have too much peanut butter.

 

Be sure to check out some of my other favorite peanut butter recipes... I have lots of them!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

I'm sure you've all had no-bake peanut butter bars.  You also probably have all of the ingredients in your kitchen to make these right now!  Although I've tried these bars many times, this was actually my first time making them!  This was item #2 to sell out at the bake sale, which is no surprise since we can all agree on the fact that PB and chocolate is the best dessert combo!  

 

Andes Mint Brownies



I've never understood people who don't like mint flavored desserts.   Mint chocolate chip ice cream?  Thin mints?  Our family's mint finale dessert?  Jeni's buttermint ice cream?  Junior mints?  And those soft after dinner mints?!  So I'm not really sure why I haven't made mint brownies sooner!

 

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to host a bake sale at Molly's office to raise money for the Columbus Literacy Council.  We raised nearly $400 in two hours!!  I made a variety of sweet treats, which I'll be sharing over the next few days.  I also made a few of my favorites -- blondies, chocolate chip, caramel, pretzel cookies, cranberry pistachio cookies and, of course, cake pops.

 

These Andes mint brownies were the first to sell out so its only fitting that I share the recipe with you first!  

Chocolate Chip Cookie Raw Bars

If you're a fan of Larabars, I have a great recipe for you today!  I'm big on DIY recipes so when I saw a recipe for homemade Larabars, I knew I had to make them.  I don't know what it is but I just get a great sense of satisfaction knowing I made something from scratch.  My DIY list is growing....

the recent Sweet and Spicy Jerky

various Nut Butters (Honey and Sea Salt Almond Butter & Maple Cinnamon Almond Butter to name a few)

LOADS of Granola

Homemade Graham Crackers

Dog Biscuits

AND I just started a new list of baking projects that I can't wait to tackle (first up, bagels and doughnuts!). 

Dark Chocolate Dried Cherry Shortbread Cookies

Its rare that I make a cookie as simple as shortbread.  However, last weekend I was baking treats for Valentine's Day and really wanted to use these adorable "XOXO" cookie cutters that I found.  (By the way, save yourself the trouble -- this was the most impossible cookie cutter to use).  As you can see, none of the "X's" or "O's" made it to the baking sheet!  Anyways, I didn't want to make sugar cookies since  I just made them.  So.... I decided on shortbread studded with dried cherries.  best.idea.ever.  I finished them off with a dip in dark chocolate.  Some got a full coat of chocolate -- I highly suggest this as well.



 

Caramel, Pretzel and Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

I feel like these cookies don't even need an explanation -- they are thick and chewy and the perfect combination of sweet and salty.  Sweetness from the caramel and chocolate, salty goodness from the pretzels and a sprinkling of sea salt on top. 

 

If you dig this combo, here's a few more recipes for you:

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies with Sea Salt

Soft Batch White Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pistachios and Sea Salt

White Chocolate and Pretzel Peanut Butter Cookies



Peanut Butter Toffee Clusters

 

I still have a few recipes to share with you from my holiday baking spree.  My mom and I made these candy cups for our neighbors.  I love homemade confections!  Chocolate, peanut butter, honey roasted peanut and toffee all in one little bite?  Obviously, with that combination, they are amazing!

Chocolate Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Its the week before Christmas and I finally got around to making a batch of cut-out cookies.  To me, the holiday season would not be complete without making a batch of these cookies.  I went a different route this year and used a chocolate dough. 

Rather than icing the cookies, I dipped half in white chocolate and just sprinkled some with white sprinkles.  I'm really digging the black and white going on in these pictures.  Hopefully you'll have time to make these in the next few days -- the recipe is a keeper!

Peppermint Crunch Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies

 

I have been on a baking spree.  Its literally been non-stop but I've loved every minute of it!  I like to try out new cookies every holiday season and these made it onto the cookie list this year.  I love how they turned out.  They are so festive with their peppermint flavor and decor!  I like peppermint but can't stand when it is overpowering.  The scant 1/4 teaspoon used in this recipe is just right because you get enough peppermint flavor from the peppermint crunch on top!

Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Grahams

 

Feast your eyes on my latest and greatest creation -- chocolate-covered peanut butter grahams.  My mom was hosting a little gathering last week and I was trying to think of a festive, no-bake treat to throw together at the last minute.  I was going to make chocolate covered pretzels until I spotted the graham crackers in the cupboard. 

 

I have since made a few batches with a variety of sprinkles and they look so cute all boxed up!  I can't wait to make many more varieties of these. 

 

I will do my best to provide a tutorial but I kind of made them on the fly.  

Dark Chocolate Chunk Ginger Cookies

 

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, let the holiday baking begin!  I actually made these for Thanksgiving but they are perfect for the holiday season.  I hope to share many great cookie recipes over the next few weeks to help you build your cookie tray. Its obviously very important to show up to the cookie exchange with the best treats ;)

 

I have actually made these twice in the past few weeks and everyone has loved them.  You obviously have to be a fan of a ginger cookie.  These would also be great with white chocolate chips or a combination of both!

 

A little tip for you as you bake up dozens and dozens of cookies over the next few weeks.  I am frequently asked how my cookies stay so thick -- there is nothing worse than a super flat cookie.  I refrigerate my cookie dough every time (for at least 2 hours).  If flat cookies are your thing... then you can skip this step :)

 

Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Bark

 

This pumpkin spice bark would be a great addition to your Thanksgiving spread!  I love to have snacks and appetizers out when guests arrive and its nice to have something sweet and salty!  Place alongside a bowl of salty mixed nuts and you are good to go. 

 

I actually used the bark as a garnish in pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for a co-workers birthday -- they were a hit and the bark made for such a nice presentation.

 

My favorite thing about bark is how quickly it comes together.  Its nice to have a few easier cookie and candy recipes to include in your holiday cookie tray!  The key is not to burn the chocolate and move quickly to spread an even layer of chocolate and get those toppers secured in the chocolate.  My all-time favorite bark recipe is double chocolate salted peanut bark.

 

Chocolate Chip, Pistachio & Cranberry Cookies

Its been quite a while since my last post.  Its not that I haven't been baking, I just haven't been focusing on the blog.  I've actually been baking quite a bit!  Since I know I still have a few followers checking back for updates, I decided I'd share some of the goodies that I've been making.  Also, thank you to Julie for sharing my pumpkin blondies with her readers in her post today!

Now about these cookies.  The flavor combination of nuts, dried fruit and chocolate is spot on and the sprinkling of sea salt on top is the perfect final touch!  I have made more batches than I can count and they have become one of my favorite cookies. 

Almond Joy Cookies

These cookies put a little spin on your traditional chocolate chip variety -- taking flavors from an Almond Joy.  If you love coconut as much as I do, you will love these.  The moisture from the shredded coconut creates a soft and chewy texture.  I'm already thinking of other chocolate chip "candy bar" cookies that I can make -- next up, I think a Snicker's cookie is in order.