Double Chocolate Indoor S’mores

makes about 20 2-inch square sandwich cookies

cookie recipe from: The Essence of Chocolate

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3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cup plus 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

3/4 cup plus 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoons salt

15 Tablespoons (7 1/2 ounces) unsalted butter, but into 3/4-inch cubes, at room temperature (this is important)

Position the racks in the lower and upper thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt and mix on low speed.  With the mixer running, add the butter a few pieces at a time.  The mixture will have a sandy texture at first and then will begin to form peddle-size pieces.  As soon as the dough starts to come together, stop the mixer.  Make sure all the butter is well incorporated.  If there are large butter pockets, mix for a few seconds more.

Form and roll the dough straight from the mixer.  The dough becomes hard to work with if chilled.

Transfer the dough to a board, and knead together.  Use the heel of your hand or a pastry scraper to shape the dough into a block about 5 by 7 inches.  Cut the block into two pieces.

One at a time, roll each block of dough between two pieces of parchment or waxed paper until about 1/8-inch thick.  Use a ruler and pizza slicer to slice the dough into 2×2-inch squares.  Place 1/2 to 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.  Form excess scraps into the second half of dough, and roll again.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through the baking.  Remove from the oven and cool on the sheets for 2 to 5 minutes.  They’ll be too soft to move straight from the oven.  Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and let cool completely.

Once cookies are baked and cooled, melt chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave for 30-45 seconds on 50% power.  Toast marshmallows over the stove flame, or on a cookie sheet under the oven broiler.  If you use the broiler, keep a close eye on the marshmallows.  They toast very quickly.

Spread melted chocolate on underside of cookie.  Top with warm, toasted marshmallow, and top with another cookie.  Eat em up!

Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, Toasted Marshmallow Cupcakes

makes 24 cupcakes

cupcakes from Organic and Chic

meringue from Take a Megabite

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For the Cupcakes:

(if you don’t want to use all organic ingredients… this recipe will still turn out wonderfully)

2 1/4 cups organic all-purpose flour

2 cups organic cane sugar

1 cup organic unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon organic vanilla extract

2/3 cup organic canola oil

2 teaspoons organic white vinegar

2 cups cold water

 

For the Cookie Dough Balls:

1 stick (1/2 cup or 4 ounces) unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda (i know we’re not baking them, it’s for flavor)

3/4 teaspoons salt

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-3 tablespoons natural peanut butter (if you have a nut allergy, 2 tablespoons of yogurt will work as a binder as well)

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

 

For the Meringue:

4 large egg whites

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

large pinch of salt

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

 

For the Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line two cupcake pans with paper liners and set aside.

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, water, vanilla extract and vinegar.

Slowly whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients being careful not to overmix.  The mixture will be quite wet, but that’s ok.

Pour the batter until the cups are two thirds full and place in the oven for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cup comes out clean.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then place on a wire rack until completely cool before topping with cookie dough ball.

 

For the Cookie Dough Balls:

In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment (or with a large bowl and a wooden spoon) cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about three minutes in the machine.  Beat in peanut butter (or yogurt if using) along with the vanilla extract and stir to combine.

Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Add all at once to the butter and sugar mixture and stir until incorporated.  Fold in chocolate chips.

Spoon a scant tablespoons size amount of dough in your hand.  Roll into a ball and place on a cookie sheet.  Make 24 little cookie dough balls, and refrigerate until ready to top the cupcakes.

 

For the Meringue:

In a large pot, bring about 2 inches of water to a simmer.

In a large, heat-proof bowl, whisk together egg whites, sugar, corn syrup and salt.  The mixture will be grainy, because of the sugar.

Place bowl over simmering water and whisk as it heats.  The sugar will dissolve after about 5 minutes.  Keep and eye on the mixture, it shouldn’t get warm enough to cook the eggs.  Yucky.

Transfer the egg white and sugar mixture to the bowl of an electric stand mixer.  With a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, on high, until stiff peaks form (about 5 minutes)  The mixture will be fluffy and glossy and look like melted marshmallows.  It’ll be sticky too.  Beat in the vanilla extract last.   Cover, and set aside until ready to frost cupcakes.

 

To Assemble Cupcakes:

Use a small paring knife to cut a 3/4-inch whole out of the top/center of the cupcakes.  Don’t cut the whole center of the cupcake out… just make a little hole for the dough ball to rest without rolling off.

Place dough balls on top of cupcakes.

Place meringue frosting in a pastry bag (or large Ziplock bag) fitted with a medium-large tip.  Use your instincts for the size of the tip.  Any size (star or round) medium tip will do for frosting these cupcakes.  Pipe frosting around the edges of the cupcake and over the dough ball in a circular motion.  Frost all cupcakes.

Turn on oven broiler.  Yea… it’s about to get real.

Place 12 cupcakes on a baking sheet.  Place cupcakes under the broiler for about 1 minute.  Don’t even close the broiler door.  Keep an eye on them as they toast.  You may need to remove the cupcakes and rotate the pan to ensure that they cook evenly.  Once toasted, remove cupcakes, and toast the remaining 12 in the same fashion.

Serve cupcakes!

Cupcakes will last, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days.  They’re delicious.

Hot Chocolate Popovers

makes:  12  popovers

recipe adapted from David Lebovitz

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2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted plus more for greasing the pan

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional)

2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

12 large marshmallows.

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

I used a standard muffin tin for these popovers.  No fancy popover pan required.  Use a paper towel to grease the individual muffin cups.  Grease well with butter.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract.  Whisk well.  Get an arm workout.

In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, instant espresso powder, salt, cocoa powder, and flour.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until just incorporated and no lumps remain.  I poured my batter in a 2-cup liquid measuring cup and poured the batter into the prepared muffin pan.  Fill cups one-half to two-thirds full.  Place pan in the oven and set timer for 30 minutes.

No peeking.  That’s important.  Don’t open the oven.

After 30 minutes, remove the popovers from the oven and immediately set oven to broiler.

Carefully add a sprinkling (maybe about 5-7) chocolate chips into the center of the popover, and top with a marshmallow.  If you have to press the chocolate in and deflate the popover a bit, use the back of a spoon.  Go for it.

Place pan under the broiler and barely close the door.  Keep and eye on the toasting marshmallows.  They’ll only need about a minute under the broiler.  Feel free to rotate the pan as necessary.

Remove toasted popovers from the oven.  Let cool for about 5 minutes.  Use a butter knife to gently remove the popovers.  Serve warm.

Popovers are best the day they’re made, but they also freeze just fine.  Place in the freezer and reheat wrapped in foil, in a 350 degree oven.

Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake

adapted just slightly from Spike Mendelsohn’s recipe

makes two small or one large milkshake (about 2 1/2 cups)

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8-10 large marshmallows

3 large scoops vanilla ice cream or a heaping 1-cup of vanilla ice cream

1/2 cup of milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place marshmallows on  skewer and toast until slightly charred over a gas flame.  If you don’t have skewers or a gas range, you can toast the marshmallows on a sheet tray in the broiler for 2 or 3 minutes.  Keep an eye on the marshmallows as they’re in the oven.  They’re liable to burst into marshmallow flames pretty quick.  Place on a plate to cool slightly.

In a blender mix together ice cream, milk, vanilla extract and toasted marshmallows.  Save one or two toasted marshmallows to top the milkshake(s).  Blend well.  For a thinner milkshake add more milk.  If you’d like it a bit thicker… add more ice cream.   Pour into glasses and top with toasted marshmallows.  Enjoy on the quick.

S’mores Icebox Candy Bars

adapted from The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook

makes 15 bars

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3 sticks plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup light corn syrup

pinch of salt

1 14-ounce box graham crackers, lightly crumbled

2 big handfuls of mini marshmallows, plus a handful more for sprinkling on top

Line a 9×13-inch baking sheep with parchment paper, set aside.

In a large bowl, crumble the graham crackers into large chunks.  Add two handfuls of mini marshmallows and set aside.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter together butter, cocoa, corn syrup and a pinch of salt.  Stir and heat until smooth.  Once melted, let chocolate mixture cool for 5 minutes.

Pour chocolate mixture over graham crackers and marshmallows.  Stir so that all of the graham crackers are moistened by the chocolate mixture.  Dump into lined baking pan, and a few more marshmallows on top and press down with the back of a spoon.  Cover the top with another sheet of parchment and press with your fingers.  Let cool on the counter for 30 minutes, then place in the fridge to solidify for a few hours or overnight.  Cut into bars.  Wrap individually and store in the fridge.

Graham Cracker Crust

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1 2/3 cups graham cracker crumbs

3 Tablespoons sugar

1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons melted butter

Mix together graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter until well combined

Press into a 9 inch pie pan.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 7 to 9 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let cool completely before adding filling.

Lime Jello Conspiracy Salad

1 (6 ounce) package  Lime Jello

1 cup boiling water

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (15 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained

1 cup Sprite

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1 (8 ounce)  carton Cool Whip, divided

Boil water and add Jello, stir until dissolved.  In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and the vanilla extract until fluffy. Stir in the Jello and beat until smooth.  Add the pineapple, oranges, soda and pecans.  Mix until incorporated.  Chill the mixture in refrigerator for about 30-40 minutes, so that when you lift it with a spoon it’s clumpy.  Fold in 3/4 of the cool whip.

Pour into cooled pie shell and refrigerate for 3-4 hours until firm.  After the pie has firmed up, top with the remaining cool whip, or whipped cream.  I used some left over Seven Minute Frosting that I had in the fridge.  Anything fluffy white topping will do!  Top with as many marshmallows as you like!