Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts

Monday, 17 March 2014

KitKat Chocolate Chip Cookies


Guys....I think I may have just found me NEW favourite cookie. I know, I know, I have a lot of them, but I think this might just be it. It's basically a variation of my OTHER favourite cookie recipe with the addition of KITKATS. I mean, KitKat just makes everything better, no?

Exactly.

KitKat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes about 16 cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp honey
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
4-5 mini KitKat Chocolate Bars (or 2 full-size), crushed*

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with a baking mat or parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt with a whisk and set aside. In a stand mixer on medium speed (or by hand, if you're brave!) cream together the butter and brown sugar until evenly combined.

Next, add the honey, egg and vanilla and mix until combined. Scrape down the sides with a spatula to make sure everything in incorporated. Add the flour mixture in slowly until everything is JUST mixed. Again, you may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.

Fold in the chocolate chips & the crushed KitKat (crushed pieces should be no bigger than a penny) with a wooden spoon.You can add more or less depending on the amount of chocolate you like in your cookies!

Using a tablespoon, scoop the dough onto your prepared baking sheets, you should have 14-16 cookies. Put in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. Check them at the 10 minute mark as I found mine burnt a little at the 12 minute mark! 

Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack immediately. Store in an air tight container for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to a month (but good luck having them last that long!!) 



Mmmm yummy! Enjoy!


Thursday, 6 March 2014

{Clean} Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites


Oh. My. Gosh.

I can't even EXPLAIN to you how amazing these bites are. They're like a decadent chocolate bar, mixed with a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup mixed with a little bit of rainbow/sunshine.

I haven't even told you the best part! They are actually GOOD for you. They are filled with fiber, protein and with a coating of dark chocolate, you're getting tons of great nutrients for your body!

Did I mention, they are DELICIOUS?

Now, I've made a couple of changes to the recipe for my home - first, I did HALF of them coated in dark chocolate and half of them coated in milk chocolate (there is only so much "health" my poor hubby can take). I also used whole wheat flour in mine, but if you are gluten intolerant, use coconut flour instead! If you have someone in your life that is allergic to peanuts, you can use a peanut butter substitute in its place (click here for awesome alternatives)

Finally, this recipe requires the use of a food processor. I only have a small one, so I had to do all the processing in steps. I measured out the ingredients first, then put a little of each into the food processor for a total of 3 different batches!

{Clean} Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites
adapted from: cleaneatingmag.com

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups pitted dates
1 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal 
1/2 cup large flake oats (rolled oats work as well)
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp sea salt
9 tbsp creamy, natural peanut butter
1/4 cup raw honey
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
7 oz dark chocolate (just less than 1 cup)
1 tbsp canola or coconut oil

Method:
Put pitted dates in a medium size bowl. Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Pour water over the dates until they are completely covered. Allow to soak for about 5 minutes then remove with a slotted spoon. Save about 2 tbsp of the water and discard the rest.

Meanwhile, in a food processor (see note above), grind together the puffed rice, oats, whole wheat flour & salt until they are fine crumbs. Transfer to a large bowl.

Next, combine the dates, the 2 tbsp of water you saved, peanut butter, honey and vanilla in the food processor and blend until smooth. Transfer the mixture to the large bowl containing the dry mixture. Using your hands, combine the two until everything is evenly mixed.

Line a large baking sheet with tin foil or parchment paper. Using your hands, roll dough into 1" balls and place on the baking sheet. At the end, you should have anywhere between 30-36 balls. Place baking sheet in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

Next comes the dipping! In a double boiler (or a heat proof bowl over a pot of simmering water) add the chocolate & oil and stir until completely smooth. Remove balls from freezer. One at a time, place in the chocolate and roll around until evenly coated. Using a fork, scoop under the coated ball and allow chocolate to drip off. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. If you're having troubles getting them off the fork, gently push them off with a knife.

If you want, sprinkle a little sea salt on top of them to add a little more flavour. 

When done, chill them in the fridge or freezer for about 30 minutes.

Store them in an air tight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks!

Enjoy!