Recipe: Ooey Gooey Cookie Sandwiches

Hey everyone--

This yummy recipe is an adapted mix of two that I found on Pinterest:

1. the strawberry buttercream frosting from Cooking Classy

2. the chocolate chip cookies from Sally's Baking Addiction 

I wanted to make cookie sandwiches but I wanted to fill them with a strawberry flavored buttercream because I was making them for my sweet boyfriend Fred! Strawberries are his favorite so I wanted to add some strawberry flavor to the sandwiches! I think these are a really yummy sweet treat for the summertime.

Note: These are very gooey and will melt in your hands! So keep some napkins close by!

Have a sweet day!

Christina xx

Ingredients:
Frosting: 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp strawberry puree, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/4 cup salted butter, 2 1/2- 2 3/4 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Cookies: 2 cups flour, 2 tsp cornstarch, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 3/4 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup light brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 egg, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Steps:
Frosting: 1. Put the strawberry puree in a small pan and heat mixture over medium-low heat.
2. Stir occasionally and continue to let simmer until it's been reduced by about 2/3 to 3 tsp. This will take about 10 - 15 minutes.
3. Then, pour the puree in a bowl and let freeze until cool.
4. In a bowl, whip unsalted and salted butter together.
5. Mix in 1 cup of powdered sugar.
6. Blend in the reduced strawberry puree.
7. Put in the vanilla extract.
8. Add 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and continue to mix until frosting is fluffy.
9. Add an additional 1/4 cup of powdered sugar until you get the perfect fluffiness.

Cookies: 1. In a large bowl, mix the butter together until creamy.
2. Add in the brown sugar.
3. Add in the granulated sugar and mix all together until fluffy.
4. Mix in the egg.
5. Mix in the vanilla.
6. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt.
7. Add in chocolate chips and mix for about 5 seconds.
8. Cover dough with plastic wrap and let chill for at least 1 hour, 2 hours preferred.
9. Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
10. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
11. Roll the dough into balls.
12. Bake the dough balls for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.
13. Let the cookies cool for at least 30 minutes.

Then: 1. Sandwich the frosting between two cooled cookies to create the sandwich!
& Enjoy!

February's Treat: Sprinkle Surprise Cupcakes

Hey everyone--

Surprise inside cupcakes are my favorite treat to make right now. I made these for Valentine's Day, but you can make them for any occasion! I love these cupcakes because they're fun and sprinkle-filled, need I say more? Follow these instructions to make some of your own!

Christina xx

Ingredients: 

Cake- cake mix, 3 eggs, 1 1/3 cup of water, 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, sprinkles, cupcake liners, cute toppers

Frosting- 1 stick of butter, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 1 two pound bag of confectioner's sugar, 2 teaspoons of vanilla, 1 teaspoon of salt, whipping cream 

Instructions: 

1. First blend dry mix, eggs, water and vegetable oil in a large bowl.

2. Place cupcake liners in  the cupcake/muffin tin cups.

3. Pour mix into cupcake/muffin cups.

4. Preheat oven at 350 degrees F.

5. Bake for approximately 20 minutes at 325 degrees F.

6. Take cupcakes out and let them cool completely.

7. When cupcakes are cool, scoop out the center of the cake and create a deep hole.

8. Next, pour sprinkles into the hole.

9. You're now ready to mix your frosting. Begin by blending vanilla, vegetable oil and butter together.

10. Then, add in salt and powdered sugar.

11. Slowly start adding whipping cream to the mix (about 1 tablespoon at a time). Keep doing this until you reach the consistency you desire. 

12. When you're frosting is fluffy and blended well, frost cupcakes using a piping bag. 

13. Top cupcakes with a themed topper and you're all set! Now enjoy with loved ones and share the surprise!

Cupcake of the Month: Candy Corn

Hey guys--

Today is National Candy Corn Day! I didn't plan to post this recipe because of that, but somehow it worked out perfectly. To celebrate a Halloween classic, follow these steps to make your own candy corn cupcakes!

Cupcake Ingredients: 1 box of vanilla cake mix, eggs, water and vegetable oil that are called for on the cake mix box

Frosting Ingredients: 7 cups of confectioners' sugar, 2 cups of butter, 3 tsp of vanilla extract, 6 tablespoons of whipping cream, orange food coloring, yellow food coloring, candy corn 

Frosting Instructions: 

1. This cupcake has 3 layers of frosting. They're all different colors, so make sure to use different bowls and piping bags.

2. You will make the yellow frosting first. The first step is to use a mixer to whisk together 3 cups of sugar and 1 cup of butter. Mix on a low speed until the mixture is blended and then increase to a medium speed for 3 minutes. 

3. Next, add 1 tsp vanilla, 2 tablespoons of whipping cream and yellow food coloring and continue to whisk on a medium speed for 1 minute.

4. The second frosting layer that you'll make is orange. Use a mixer to whisk together 2 cups of sugar and 1/2 cup of butter. Mix on a low speed until mixture is blended and then increase to a medium speed for 3 minutes. 

5. Repeat step 3 but add orange food coloring instead of yellow.

6. Now you're ready for the last layer, the white frosting. Repeat step 4.

7. Repeat step 3, but don't add any food coloring to your mixture.

Cupcake Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line cupcake tins with paper liners.

3. In a large bowl, use a mixer to mix together cake mix, eggs, water and vegetable oil.

4. Pour the batter into the cupcake cups, fill about 2/3 full.

5. Bake for about 15 minutes.

6. Take the cupcakes out and let them cool down before icing them.

7. When cupcakes are cool, put yellow frosting into a piping bag and frost the first layer of the cupcakes.

8. Next, put orange frosting into a piping bag and frost the second layer of the cupcakes.

9. Then, put the white frosting into a piping bag and frost the third layer of the cupcakes. 

10. Complete your cupcakes by garnishing each one with a little candy corn. Enjoy!

Christina xxoo