Hot Cocoa Cookies

I love hot chocolate. It's my winter indulgence. Of course I love fancy, flavored types, but I definitely don't turn my nose up at a Swiss Miss packet! Often, I have more cocoa on my hands than I know what to do with since I'm the only one in the house who drinks it, so I was excited to find a way to use a couple packets for something other than drinking.

For this recipe, I used a combination of these cookies and these cookies, and added a little spin of my own by rolling the cookies in hot cocoa/powdered sugar before baking. They were a hit in our household - Dusty loved them, and the boys kept asking for them . . . It probably doesn't hurt that there's half a marshmallow right on top! The cookies are soft, chewy, and fudgy and sure to please a chocolate-lover. I hope you like them as much as we do!

Hot Cocoa Cookies
1 pkg. brownie mix (dry)
1 1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter, melted
2 eggs
2 Tbls water
2 packets hot cocoa mix
1/4 c. powdered sugar
large marshmallows (about 10)
chocolate bars (probably 2 or 3; cut into about 1 inch pieces)
1. Mix together brownie mix, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and water until a stiff dough forms. Refrigerate 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Mix together hot cocoa mix and powdered sugar. Drop dough by heaping Tbls. into mixture and roll until covered. Place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, cut each marshmallow in half, and stick a piece of chocolate on the bottoms. When cookies come out of the oven, gently press marshmallow/chocolate into the center and continue baking 4-5 minutes.
5. Eat warm for an ooey-gooey treat, or allow to cool.

Hugs and cookies,

Amanda

S'mores Bars

Summer = S'mores, right? Right. These bars are great for summer because they're literally a portable, less messy s'more, and you can make them in the winter to remind you of hot summer days. (Although, I wouldn't want to be reminded of these brutally hot, unforgiving days we've been having lately!)

These were so good I made them twice within a week's time, with a slight variation. The first time, I made them with Hershey's bars as the recipe calls for, the second with Reese's PB cups. Both were delicious Mmmmm, yummy.

If When I make these again, I'll make a couple changes: 1) I would double the original recipe instead of just doing 1 1/2 times, and 2) I would use two jars of marshmallow creme instead of just one so you can really taste and see the marshmallow-y goodness! The recipe below is how I made it both times - the suggestions above would just make it a little better and/or easier, in my opinion.

I apologize that there aren't any pictures!!! Apparently they were so good that I never got any . . . If you follow the link to the original recipe, she has great pictures of what they look like. So sorry about that! I could have sworn I took some. Weird, but not surprising . . . at least for me. I had to post the recipe anyway because it really is a winner!

S'mores Bars (original recipe can be found here)
3/4 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. + 2 Tbls. flour
1 1/4 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
6 regular Hershey's bars or 16 Reese's PB cups
1 jar of marshmallow creme
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 pan.
2. Beat butter, sugars, eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and salt approximately 3 minutes on medium speed.
3. Add flour and graham cracker crumbs and mix until combined.
4. Divide dough in half and spread one half in the bottom of the pan - it will be a thin layer.
5. Place the chocolate evenly over the top, then spread with marshmallow creme.
6. Take remaining dough and roll it between two pieces of waxed paper until it is a 9x13 rectangle. Peel off the top layer, then place the dough on top of marshmallow creme and gently peel off the bottom layer.
7. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool before cutting . . . Or just dig in and experience gooey, delicious, s'more messiness.

Here's what kept the boys busy today . . .

 They moved literally all of their toys into their little pup tent and played in there together for about an hour! And apparently Aiden wasn't happy to be interrupted for pictures. :)

These are the times I'll remember most when they're older!

Hugs and cookies,

Amanda