Tag Archives: M&Ms

Chocolate Cream Cheese MnM Cookies

Posted on by

0

Hello, everyone! We here at Bakers Anonymous have been all over the place lately. Graduate school, moving to Baltimore, applying to jobs in Maryland and oh yeah, work every day!

This is the part where everyone says, “Oh, boohoos for Niki. Her life is so difficult. We pity her.”

“Not.”

Yeah, that’s what I figured. And if that wasn’t enough, I’ve got boy problems! Goodness.

So yesterday while I was at work, all I could think about was M&Ms. Crunchy, melt-y, yummy M&Ms. And cookies. Not like I don’t already have some sugar cookies left over from last week’s baking, but that’s beside the point. I didn’t have anything chocolate!

But now I do. To make these cookies extra moist and thick, I included some dark chocolate cream cheese.

Oh yes. I did just say, dark chocolate cream cheese. Thank you, Kraft Foods for providing the world with the Indulgence line of cream cheeses. My waistline, however, does not thank you.

Chocolate Cream Cheese M&M Cookies

Ingredients
1 box of Pillsbury dark chocolate cake mix
1 8 oz. container of Philly Indulgence dark chocolate cream cheese
1/2 C softened butter
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
1 12 oz bag of M&Ms (I used dark chocolate)
1 C of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Beat together the egg, butter, cream cheese and almond extract.

3. Mix in the cake mix until thoroughly absorbed.

4. Add in the M&Ms and chocolate chips. The batter will be thick.

5. Roll the dough into one-inch balls, making sure to tuck in the M&Ms and chocolate chips.

6. Space out on foil-lined cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

7. Remove to cooling rack.

Makes about four dozen cookies.

Saturday Recipe Round-up, Week 7

Posted on by

0

My dear Bakers Anonymous family, this has been a week of PURE craziness, and I can’t even explain to you why. With grad school (and the BIG move to grad school only a few months away, I’m more stressed than ever. I’m not ready for such a big relocation (a few hours away from my family is a big deal to me!) and all of the projects I want to do just end up piling in the corner, calling out to me, “Niki! Niki, please work on us!”

This is not a positive note when it comes from my clients’ work. :-/

Anyway, next Monday is Memorial Day and I gathered up some delicious red, white and blue recipes for you to enjoy either on Monday or later, for the Fourth of July. Let’s work our way up to the complicated ones, eh?

Red, white and blue strawberries from The Sisters Cafe make for the perfect summer addition to any outdoor lunch or dinner. It’s just the right amount of sweet and healthy to balance out all the hot dogs and hamburgers.

Frankly, this next one from Love Stitched made me drool. M&M’s, pretzels and Oreos? This is the best cookie bark recipe I’ve ever seen!

Firework cookies made from french vanilla cake mix would have a great base that lends itself to any combination of mix-ins. The Cookin’ Cowgirl made these for a friend’s graduation, so feel free to use whatever colors you want.

If a cheesecake pie is more your style, try this centerpiece recipe, the star-spangled pie from Snackpicks.com. Made with just five easy ingredients and a pre-made crust, this pie can even be made the day OF your celebration.

And if you’ve got more than just a little time on your hands, make these tri-colored peppermint patties from Haniela’s Food & Photography. I made my own peppermint patties a few years ago and while they were one of the hardest things I ever “baked,” they were also one of the most delicious.

So there you have it! Enjoy your beautiful weekend folks. Here’s hoping there’s great weather wherever you are.

- Niki 

Saturday Recipe Round-up, Week 6 (evening edition)

Posted on by

1

Today was too lovely to stay at home watching TV and pretending to work like I usually do, so I went to my dad’s house (I call him Popsicle because I’m cool like that. You know, Pop-sicle? Cause he’s my pop? Yeah, moving on…) and went shopping for hours with my sister Brittany! She’s nineteen and we’re finally back to being the same size as the other. It was a lot of fun to be in the dressing room with her and pass dresses back and forth. If one dress didn’t look good on her, it did on me. It all works out in the end.

Except for jeans. Le sigh.

Anyway, hence the lateness of today’s recipe round-up. Usually I’m better about scheduling and writing, but this week was horrrrrrrriffic (thank you, after-commencement madness), so I took the evenings off to sit on the couch, cheer on the Phillies (love me some Hunter Pence, mmm mmm) and eat a lot of Dove chocolate.

It was so worth it.

We have a variety of delicious goodies for you today, starting with my personal favorite, a Coconut Cream Poke Cake from The Country Cook. Is there anything more perfect than a fluffy white cake filled with sweet coconut cream?

Even though I’m not a huge peanut butter fan, I think I could learn to love it with this Peanut Butter Fudge Cake from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen. Aren’t Reese’s peanut butter cups magical? They can solve the world’s problems. Maybe all chocolate can. . . .

Speaking of solving problems, ever have a debate about what kind of toppings/fillings you should use in your baked treats? Never have an argument again with these Monster Cookie Bars from Bakers Royale. Very similar to those seven-layer bars of which everyone has her own version, these monster bars feature M&M’s, almonds and peanut butter cups.

If you’re craving something simple (and need about three dozen cookies), try these Brown Butter Brown Sugar Cookies from Krissy’s Creations. I’ve been meaning to try out browned butter in a recipe for some time now, and these cookies look like perfect medium!

I know I said the first one was my favorite, but this also counts! These Mini-Grasshopper Pies from Bakingdom look so adorable and are my long-awaited reason to purchase other liqueurs besides amaretto (I’m only slighted addicted to Disaronno). Also, I need to buy some tart pans. Or maybe I can use my lined cupcake pans? Hmm.

But that’s a thought for next week. Enjoy your Sunday, folks. It’s going to be another day of perfect weather in New Jersey.

- Niki

Recipe Roundup

Posted on by

0

Welcome to Bakers Anonymous’ first-ever Recipe Roundup, where we here at Bakers Anonymous search out delicious recipes for some of our most favorite ingredients. Today’s featured ingredients have similar flavors, but can be incorporated into a variety of baked goods:

Mint Chocolate M&M's

Candy Cane Hershey Kisses

The mint/peppermint flavor is my most favorite holiday flavor. I just think it encompasses everything wintery and happy, don’t you? When I think of Christmas, I think minty treats. Check out these recipes for great ideas involving these chocolates!

Marbled Brownies – These marbled brownies would be a great canvas for the minty M&Ms. Cheesecake and mint M&Ms? Yes, please!

Mint Chocolate M&Ms Cookies - These simple cookies are made with devil’s food cake mix, a great way to make cookies without making a batter from scratch.

Kisses Candy Cane Blossoms – Not only are these cookies beautiful to look at, but also they are quick to make, quick to bake, and quick to enjoy!

Festive Candy Cane Kiss Centered Brownie Bites - Don’t be fooled by the long name. There are minimal steps in this recipe, but they create a beautiful finished product.

And don’t think these are the only recipes coming out featuring these beloved treats of mine. After I come up with a recipe for my Andes Mints, I will head out to the store to buy a pair of these chocolates.

-Niki