Lesson #180: Chocolate Brownie Cookies

I had a chocolate craving earlier this week! I whipped up a bunch of these cookies, ate two, and stashed the rest in my freezer for later (probably as part of the dessert table for Thanksgiving).

If you are a chocolate lover, these cookies are AWESOME. They are crispy-chewy like a brownie  - but in a cookie form. GENIUS! They are also studded with chocolate chips just in case the semi-sweet chocolate dough isn't enough chocolate for you. :)

LESSON LEARNED: By freezing the dough in a shallow container for 20 minutes, it makes the dough much easier to scoop.

Recipe for Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Lesson #147: Raspberry Brownies

I made these gooey, raspberry brownies a few weeks ago to bring to my cousin's new house. As soon as she requested brownies, I knew exactly what I would make.

I haven't baked these brownies since my dissertation defense a few years ago -which made me a bit nostalgic. A few years into graduate school I started to have more time to bake and these were one of the few desserts I made time and time again. I used to bring treats to the lab for my undergraduate research assistants (it just occurred to me that I have a soft spot in my heart for feeding college students since I currently make treats for my classes too!).  

If you are in the mood for a combination of fruit and chocolate which will please a crowd, this may be a good recipe to try. Bittersweet chocolate brownie batter is layered between a mixture of seedless raspberry preserves and (my secret ingredient!) raspberry liqueur to create a gooey, fruity bite of chocolate goodness.

LESSON LEARNED: Make sure you bake these brownies until they are set. If you under-bake them, the raspberry filling doesn't set and they will be super messy (but equally delicious!) to cut.

Recipe for Raspberry Brownies

Lesson #33: Peanut Butter Cup Crunch Brownies

If you like peanut butter and chocolate, you'll LOVE these brownies! The bottom layer is a chocolate brownie which is topped with chopped peanuts, peanut butter cups, and a layer of chocolate-peanut Rice Krispies. The texture of the brownies is AMAZING - the brownies are soft & chewy while the peanuts and Rice Krispies add crunch!

LESSON LEARNED: Peanut butter and chocolate are a delicious combination!

Recipe for Peanut Butter Cup Crunch Brownies