Recipe #17: Chocolate Cobbler

Absolute decadence. This cake/pudding is exactly what I needed for a chocolate hit. It is more of an English pudding style, so it's kind of gooey underneath and cakey on top. I think a dob of only slightly sweet whipped cream on top would just bring this up to a while 'nother level.

Ingredients

*1 1/4 cups sugar

*1 cup all purpose flour

*7 tablespoons cocoa powder

*2 teaspoons baking power

*1/2 cup milk

*1/3 cup butter, melted

*1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

*1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

*1 1/2 cups hot water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. In a bowl, stir together 3/4 cup sugar, flour, 3 tablespoons cocoa, and baking powder. Stir in milk, butter, and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Poor into ungreased 8x8 ince glass baking pan.

3. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 4 tablespoons cocoa and brown sugar. Sprinkle evenly over the batter.

4. Poor hot water over the top. DO NOT STIR. Bake for 40 minutes, or until set in the middle.

Recipe #16: Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Last night I had that killer craving for chocolate that couldn't be denied. Now, I could have gone down the street and picked up some M&M's or something, but that wouldn't have been as much fun. So instead I scanned the internet for recipes, but alas, my kitchen is lacking in ingredients at the moment. I then scanned my chocolate cookbook (yes, I have a chocolate cookbook), and was still left with nothing quite right. Rummaging in my baking cupboard, I found chocolate chips and the recipe for their usual chocolate chip cookies on the back. Finally, inspiration had struck! I changed the recipe around, halved it, and came out with these chewy, chocolate cookies. These would probably great if you added some nuts (1/3 cup)!

Ingredients

*1/2 cup butter, melted

*1/2 cup brown cup

*1/4 cup white sugar

*1 egg

*1 teaspoon vanilla

*1 teaspoon milk

*1 cup flour

*1/2 tsp baking soda

*1/4 cup cocoa powder

*1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.

2. Blend butter, brown and white sugar together. Cool in the fridge for about 20 minutes.

4. Beat in egg, vanilla and milk until smooth.

5. Combine the flour. baking soda and cocoa powder, and gradually blend it into the creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips (and optional nuts).

6. Drop dough by tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 7-8 minutes. Makes 16 cookies.

Recipe #10: Vegan Chocolate Almond Cookies

Found these cookies on a favourite baking blog. I thought I would try some vegan baking for a change. However, I forgot how much I dislike molasses. UGH. However, the cookies came out really chewy, which I love in a cookie. I would suggest for those that don't love molasses like me to try out less molasses, more syrup and MORE chocolate. There is definitely not enough chocolate in this recipe for me, but it might be enough for others.

(Shout out to my CBC Calgary mug from the 80's! Heck yes!)

Ingredients

*2 cups all-purpose flour

*2 tsp baking powder

*1 tsp baking soda

*1 tsp sea salt

*1/2 cup granulated sugar

*1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I would up this big time)

*1 tsp ground cinnamon

*2/3 cup maple syrup

*1/2 cup molasses (I would halve this myself)

*1/2 cup vegetable oil

*1/4 cup sliced almonds

Directions

1. Sift together all dry ingredients (minus almonds) into a medium mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together all wet ingredients until oil no longer separates. Add to dry ingredients; stir in almonds. Mix by hand until completely combined. I recommend chilling the dough for a less sticky rolling experience, because this dough is STICK-EE!)

2. Form dough into 1-inch balls; place onto cookie sheet at least 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 for NO MORE THAN ELEVEN MINUTES. (Any longer, and they’ll burn!) Remove from oven. Cool on cookie sheet for 3 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely (if you don't do this, they will stick to the sheet like the dickens). This recipe makes 20 good sized cookies.

Recipe #8: Cocoa Chews

This is a recipe that I always associate with my mom. The only copy of it I have is handwritten by my mom into the ancient, printed upside down Mary Moore cookbook she bought years ago. It has no directions, it just has the list of ingredients. However, I watched her and have made these chews, so many times, that instructions are pretty much unnecessary. However, for you guys, I shall type 'em out! They are the easiest thing to make, and are so tasty.

Ingredients:

*1/4 cup butter
*3/4 cup sugar
*1/4 cup milk
*1 1/4-1 1/2 cups oats
*1 cup coconut
*1/4 cup cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Melt butter in large pan on low heat. Add sugar and blend together.

2. Add cocoa, coconut, and oats gradually stir together. Slowly mix in the milk and soon you will get a slightly cohesive mound of chocolate goodness.

3. Spoon dollops of mix onto a cookie pan and put in the fridge until solid. After about 45 minutes, you can shimmy them off the cookie pan and eat away!

I recommend keeping them in the fridge. They just taste better. They stay fresher and together. The coconut is really light and you can barely taste it. I also find getting the unsweetened is great, and I actually use a little less sugar than what the original recipe calls for (1 cup). Makes about 18 chews.

Recipe #6: Ridiculous Brownies

These brownies are called "best brownies" on the website I found them, but really they're just ridiculous... ridiculously good! These are NOT healthy at all, but easy and sososososo good! I didn't make the icing because honestly, you don't need it. Annnnd I made a double recipe because I had one of those huge glass brownie dishes. They were moist and addictive. And now I am hungry and want to bake them again!

Ingredients

*1/2 cup butter
*1 cup white sugar
*2 eggs
*1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
*1/2 cup all-purpose flour
*1/4 teaspoon salt
*1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan.

2. In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.

See? Easy!!