Desserts – Page 2 – The Pajama Chef

Oooey gooey chocolate cups stuffed with edible cookie dough! These little candies are dangerously addictive, friends!

Cookie Dough Cups

November 27, 2017November 27, 2017 Sarah

Oooey gooey chocolate cups stuffed with edible cookie dough! These little candies are dangerously addictive, friends!

Happy Monday! Happy Monday after Thanksgiving. Back to routine… sigh. But today is a special Monday because we are celebrating! The lovely Kayle of The Cooking Actress is expecting a little boy soon… so some of her blogging friends decided throw her a COOKIE themed virtual baby shower. 🙂 Kayle always bakes the best cookies (and has a slight cookie dough obsession — her words, not mine…) so this theme is PERFECT!

I decided to join the fun by making a no-bake cookie dough treat. Cookie Dough Cups are where it’s at, guys! Think peanut butter cups… but instead of peanut butter, you get cookie dough! These little bites are so easy to whip up and are SO delicious. Plus (and I did this just for Kayle and all my pregnant friends out there)… this cookie dough is absolutely 100% safe to eat by the spoonful. We all know that eating raw eggs, especially during pregnancy, is ill-advised but did you know that eating raw flour is also a hazard? Le sigh. So instead of making cookie dough with regular flour, I decided to make cookie dough with OAT flour. Just pulse some oats in a food processor… and presto! Oat flour. This makes the cookie dough a little less traditional, but the nutty flavor it adds is totally worth it.

These little cookie dough cups would be great to have on hand throughout the holiday season when you need a sweet treat for guests, a unique addition to your cookie plates, or just for a portion-controlled pick-me-up. They are really easy to put together and store well in the fridge or freezer for a few weeks… if they last that long! You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry right now… so please make a batch soon. 🙂

Congrats, Kayle! So excited for you. I know everyone says that girls are “sugar and spice and everything nice” but can I just say that little BOYS are also full of sweetness?? Not just snips and snails and puppy dog tails (whatever that even means)! My little boy is a boy through and through (hello trucks and dirt and messes galore) but he loves hugs, snuggles, and cuddles. So don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! I don’t know if anyone has, but now that I’m a boy mom I feel the need to share my pro-boy agenda with anyone who will listen. 🙂 So glad we could celebrate you today!!

Be sure to scroll down to see what else was cooked up (ha ha ha) for this cookie themed virtual baby shower! 🙂

one year ago: Loaded Cornbread Waffles
two years ago: Mashed Potato Casserole
three years ago: Gingerbread Muffins
four years ago: Harvest Pear Crisp with Crystalized Ginger
five years ago: Teriyaki Meatball Bowls
six years ago: Thai Peanut Ginger Chicken Wings
seven years ago: Blackberry Mustard Marinade

Cookie Dough Cups

Servings: 12
Time: 30 minutes
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cookie dough recipe from Show Me The Yummy; method from my Pumpkin Pie Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
sprinkle of salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon milk
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
12 ounces chocolate almond bark (or chocolate chips)

Directions:

Set out 12 silicone muffin liners on a baking sheet, or line 12 muffin wells with paper liners.

With a mixer, cream together butter and sugars. Beat in salt, vanilla, and milk.

With a food processor, pulse oats until they turn into flour, then fold into butter mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.

Melt chocolate almond bark – I usually do this in the microwave, heating on 50% power in 20 second bursts. Stir well each time and be careful not to overheat. Spoon about 1 tablespoon into the bottom of each muffin liner. Then scoop a heaping 1 tablespoon of cookie dough on top. Press down to flatten, then top with a generous 1 tablespoon of chocolate almond bark.

Allow to fully set before removing from muffin liners, then store in the refrigerator or freezer. If you use chocolate chips instead of almond bark, you may need to allow them to harden in the refrigerator or freezer. You may have a little extra cookie dough or almond bark–enjoy eating it or scrape it together to make an extra cookie dough cup! Enjoy!

Also, check out the rest of the baby shower recipes made by my fellow hosts!

Turtle Thumbprint Cookies – by Confessions of a Confectionista

Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars – by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

Derby Pie – by The Spiffy Cookie

Chocolate Chip Rice Krispies Treat Cookies – by Pies and Plots

Eggnog Crinkle Cookies – by The Domestic Rebel

Cookie Dough Cups – by The Pajama Chef

Homemade Salted Caramel Oreos – by Eats with With Others

Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies – by Blahnik Baker

Desserts, Other, Recipes

Baked Pears and Apples with Crispy Granola Topping

October 31, 2017October 31, 2017 Sarah

My recipe for Baked Pears and Apples with Crispy Granola Topping has been submitted for the Steviva Blogger Recipe Challenge. Product samples received in exchange for posting this recipe as part of the recipe challenge. #steviva #sweetandeasy

Happy Halloween! I love candy as much as the next girl, but if I was being really honest I would tell you that I prefer fruit-based dessert more than chocolate-based desserts. Hence sharing a fruity dessert on the day ‘o candy, right? 🙂 But this isn’t just ANY fruity recipe. It’s a versatile sweet treat that’s healthy enough for breakfast and indulgent enough for dessert. Say whattt? Yup! Breakfast or dessert, it don’t matter. Originally I set out to make an apple crisp–using apples from a recent trip to the apple orchard, natch. But then I spied some pears in the fridge (from my brother-in-law’s parents’ house!) and added those bad boys in. Extra yum!

Since I was making this recipe as part of a recipe contest for Steviva, I wanted to make the crisp topping a little healthier than usual. (If you want, you can find Steviva on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Pinterest, and Instagram.) Instead of loads of butter and sugar in the crisp topping, I decided to toss in additional crunchy elements… chia seeds and sliced almonds, to be exact. And let me say… what a great idea! The crisp topping turned into this fanastic crunchy, granola-y layer. It actually stayed crisp in the fridge for a few days until we polished off the leftovers. Amazing! I used just enough Steviva Blend (erythritol and pure stevia) to sweeten up the topping a little bit. Plenty of warm fall spices and apple and pear flavor come through. This might be one of my new favorite recipes! It’s delicious served with vanilla yogurt or ice cream, and I think it would be perfect with a bit of whipped cream too! Enjoy!

one year ago: Apple Cider Pancakes
three years ago: Honey-Thyme Roasted Pork Tenderloin
four years ago: Sweet Potato Pie with Cranberry Compote
five years ago: Pumpkin, Kale, & Black Bean Stew
six years ago: Individual Pumpkin Pie Parfaits
seven years ago: Aunt Charlotte’s Tex Mex Corn

Baked Pears and Apples with Crispy Granola Topping

Servings: 12
Time: 45 minutes
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Ingredients:

for fruit

8-10 cups chopped pears and apples, unpeeled in 2-3 inch pieces
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger

for topping

3/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup Steviva Blend
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
2-4 tablespoons sliced almonds, optional
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
vanilla yogurt, ice cream, whipped cream, etc. for serving, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 10 inch round baking dish with cooking spray. (A square baking dish or pie pan would also work.)

In a large bowl, toss together pears, apples, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Spread in prepared pan.

In the same bowl, stir together oats, Steviva Blend, chia, cinnamon, and nutmeg. If desired, stir in almonds. Cut butter into small chunks, then use a pastry blender or two knives to cut butter into the oat mixture until it is evenly distributed in tiny pieces. Sprinkle over fruit.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, until topping is golden brown and crispy. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then serve with some vanilla yogurt, ice cream, or whipped cream, if desired.

Cookies! But not just any cookies... these Soft Flourless Kitchen Sink Cookies are filled with oats, peanut butter, pretzels, butterscotch, and CHOCOLATE! Duh. They're absolutely irresistible and a great way to cap off #Choctoberfest!

Cookies, Desserts, Recipes

Soft Flourless Kitchen Sink Cookies #Choctoberfest

October 20, 2017October 20, 2017 Sarah

Cookies! But not just any cookies… these Soft Flourless Kitchen Sink Cookies are filled with oats, peanut butter, pretzels, butterscotch, and CHOCOLATE! Duh. They’re absolutely irresistible and a great way to cap off #Choctoberfest!

Oh guys. I know we’re just chatting through the computer screen right now but I seriously wish I could share a plate of these cookies with you right now. If I had just one word to describe them it would be, without a doubt, irresistible. I mean, just look what happens when a mama lets them cool too close to the edge of the table.

*insert crying/laughing/LOL emoji right here, please*

The little guy doesn’t get too many sweets, but you better believe I just let him go to town on that cookie. He earned it–and it was SO freaking cute to see how excited he got with each chocolately bite. 🙂 🙂 🙂

These cookies are just ridiculously good. Since they’re flourless, they’re loaded with tons of oats, peanut butter, and mix-ins. All of the above makes them crazy chewy and soft. It’s pretty much impossible to walk past a cookie jar full of these babies and not grab one (or three). #provenfact #askmehowiknow

Everyone’s first thought when they see pretzels in baked goods (especially chocolatey ones like these cookies!) is that they’re suddenly a sweet ‘n salty treat. That’s true, but in these cookies, the pretzels almost play a different role… they give the cookies an extra depth of flavor. I would say it’s almost earthy, but who wants earthy cookies? So we’ll just call them good. Very, very, very good. Irresistible, even. Hope you enjoy!

Find more new chocolate recipes at the linky here today.

And don’t forget–there’s one more day to enter this amazing CHOCOLATE filled giveaway! Don’t delay! 🙂

one year ago: Salted Caramel Mocha Overnight Oats
three years ago: Pumpkin Bagels
four years ago: Peanut Butter Apple Oatmeal Cookies
five years ago: 30 Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup
six years ago: Pumpkin Brownies
seven years ago: Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft Flourless Kitchen Sink Cookies

Servings: 4 dozen
Time: 1 hour
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from Mama Gourmand

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup white sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups lightly crushed pretzels – save some to press on top if desired
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips/chunks – save some to press on top if desired
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips/chunks – save some to press on top if desired
1/2 cup butterscotch chips – save some to press on top if desired

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Using a mixer, cream together butter and peanut butter. Beat in brown sugar and white sugar, mixing for 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, baking soda, corn syrup, and vanilla. With mixer running on low, add oats–mix until fully combined. Using a wooden spoon, stir in pretzels, both kinds of chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips–save some to press on top of individual cookies if desired.

At this point, you can shape into 1 1/2-2 tablespoon sized balls and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets OR you can chill the dough for 15-20 minutes if it’s too hard to work with. I preferred chilling it first. Press excess pretzels, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips on top if desired.

Bake for 12-14 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. Don’t overbake! The edges of the cookies should be set and the middle should be slightly overdone. They continue to cook on the cookie sheet, so allow to cool on baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.

Chocolate Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake - Sweet chocolate cake studded with fresh apples and topped with cinnamon sugar... this fall favorite is sure to please! #Choctoberfest #ImperialSugar #sponsored #ad

Cakes, Desserts, Recipes

Chocolate Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake #Choctoberfest

October 16, 2017October 20, 2017 Sarah

This post for #Choctoberfest is sponsored by Imperial Sugar. I have received sample products for writing this post. All content and opinions are mine. Sweet chocolate cake studded with fresh apples and topped with cinnamon sugar… this fall favorite is sure to please!

Yayyy it’s #Choctoberfest, aka a week-long celebration of all things CHOCOLATE! If you haven’t already, please check out the giveaway posted earlier today here. You don’t wanna miss it! #promise 🙂 I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the world’s biggest chocolate fan or anything like that, but I do like a chocolate treat every now and again. Chocolate is my jam when it’s combined with other deliciousness, such as peanut butter, pumpkin, or in this case… apples!

This cake is a riff on one of my favorite fall treats (and one of the most popular recipes on my blog!): Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake. The original cake is a delight… I never can decide what part is best: the cake full of sweet bites of apples or the crunchy cinnamon sugar topping. But guess what guys?? This chocolate-y version might be even better! I made a few changes to the original recipe in order to add cocoa powder to make this incredible cake (using water instead of buttermilk and then adjusting the amount of baking soda and flour) but otherwise this is just a fun twist on the original.

Since this yummy cake has the word “sugar” in the name and uses two types of sugar in the recipe, it’s only fitting that Imperial Sugar has sponsored this post as part of #Choctoberfest. They’re our gold sponsor for the event and are honestly SO great. I’ve been using their sugar exclusively since this event last year. I am not brand-loyal to very many things at ALL and I often buy generic, but when baking, I can tell that the quality of Imperial Sugar far outweighs any other brand I’ve tried. I’m not just saying that because they’re a sponsor… but it is 100% true. Imperial Sugar products are pure cane sugar, not beet sugar, and are GMO-free. I also love the family-friendly focus of their company.

Sweet things happen when families are together in the kitchen. Since 1843, Imperial Sugar has been at the heart of family traditions and celebrations. This holiday season, create some lifelong memories when you bake with love and Imperial Sugar.

I know it might sound a bit cheesy, I was thinking about family as I made this cake. I actually made it over the course of a few hours on Saturday morning. Early that morning, I went running with a friend. My toddler stayed home with my husband, and after I got home, Ben went out for a run. He’s training for a half marathon so I knew he’d be gone for awhile. My son played and ate second breakfast while I ate my breakfast and enjoyed some coffee. We read books for a bit and then I thought it was safe to head to the kitchen to bake. I got about halfway through mixing together this cake when my son’s head collided with a kitchen drawer. Baby tears, commence! He just couldn’t be calmed down with any of the normal methods… so we curled up in an armchair and cuddled. Soon he was out like a light. It’s been awhile since he’s napped in my arms (or taken a morning nap!) so this was a treat. Even though my half finished cake batter was hanging out on the kitchen counter and my plan for the day was thrown off. After he woke up, I was able to return to the kitchen and finish mixing up my cake. When it came out of the oven and I took that first bite, I knew I had a winner. And I’ll always remember the first time I made the chocolate version of cinnamon sugar apple cake with my son playing at my feet. ❤ He won’t remember it, but he loved every bite I shared with him. I know I’ll make it for him again in the future. I hope you and YOUR family/loved ones enjoy this cake!

Check out all the other recipes shared for #Choctoberfest at the linky below!
An InLinkz Link-up

P.S. Looking for some sweet treats for Halloween? Imperial Sugar has you covered! Find out more about Imperial Sugar by following them on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and YouTube.

one year ago: Old Fashioned Chocolate Cobbler
two years ago: Beef Stroganoff
three years ago: Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer
four years ago: Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cake with Nutella Frosting
five years ago: Apple Peanut Butter Muffins
six years ago: Pumpkin, Sausage, and Spinach Lasagna
seven years ago: Southwestern Pepperjack Baked Penne

Chocolate Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake

Servings: 20
Time: 60 minutes
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adapted from my Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed (I used Imperial Sugar)
1 cup water
1/3 cup canola oil
1 egg
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder (not dutch-process)
2 cups chopped apples, unpeeled – I like Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Crispin, Jonagold, Winesap, etc.
1/2 cup white sugar (I used Imperial Sugar)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon melted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, water, oil, and egg. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Mix in flour and cocoa powder. Beat until smooth, then fold in apples.

Pour batter into prepared baking dish.

In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon, then drizzle melted butter over top. Mix gently with a fork to combine, then sprinkle over batter. It will not fully cover the batter, but it will bake up fine.

Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until cake begins pulling away from the edge of the pan and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm or at room temperature. Pairs well with ice cream!

Disclosure: Though I received products for free as part of my participation in #Choctoberfest, I was not compensated in any other way and was not asked to provide positive feedback.

Desserts, Pies, Recipes

Mandarin Pie #CookoutWeek

June 30, 2017June 29, 2017 Sarah

A creamy, dreamy mandarin orange pie made with an Oreo crust and topped off with mini chocolate chips… this cool treat is perfect for hot nights.

A creamy, dreamy mandarin orange pie made with an Oreo crust and topped off with mini chocolate chips... this cool treat is perfect for hot nights. #CookoutWeek 2017

I’ve always been a fan of fruit and chocolate. Separately or together, this combination is pretty great. I can hardly think of a single fruit that doesn’t taste good with a bit of chocolate. Can you? Oranges and chocolate is one of my favorite combos. I love it in these cookies and these muffins, so it should come as no surprise that I also love it in pie form!

A creamy, dreamy mandarin orange pie made with an Oreo crust and topped off with mini chocolate chips... this cool treat is perfect for hot nights. #CookoutWeek 2017

The first time I tried this pie was a pretty bad night. Maybe “pretty bad” is a bit of an exaggeration, but over Christmas, both Ben and I got pinkeye. It was pretty much the worst. We were visiting my parents in beautiful Bluffton, South Carolina when the dreaded infection struck. My eyes looked awful and vacation went from relaxing to constant laundry, handwashing, and disinfecting. I blame the baby. Haha. 🙂 Maybe I’m still exaggerating about how bad it was, but I wouldn’t wish pinkeye on anyone! The only highlight of the evening I spent at urgent care was this dessert that I got to enjoy afterwards. This pie was graciously shared with our family by my parents’ friends. We each got a slice and I was so sad it was all gone. I couldn’t stop thinking about it! Eventually I got the recipe and the rest is history! I forsee a LOT of mandarin pie in my future!

A creamy, dreamy mandarin orange pie made with an Oreo crust and topped off with mini chocolate chips... this cool treat is perfect for hot nights. #CookoutWeek 2017

The goodness of this pie starts off with an Oreo crust. The original recipe suggested a chocolate crust, but I amped it up a bit with some Oreos (or fauxreos, as Ben calls them because in baking, I tend to use the store brand). The crust is then filled with a glorious mixture of cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, orange juice, and sour cream. It’s light and sweet and almost cheesecake-y in texture. Utterly amazing! Fold in some mandarin oranges, spoon into crust, and top with mini chocolate chips and a few decorative mandarin oranges and there you have it! Every bite is filled with chocolatey orange goodness. Since this pie doesn’t require any baking, it’s perfect for summer. This would be a great pie to bring to a cookout, as long as it could be kept cold until serving. Wherever you enjoy this pie, be sure to share it with those you love. 🙂 ❤

I hope you’ve enjoyed all the recipes I’ve shared for #CookoutWeek. Don’t forget to enter the #CookoutWeek 2017 giveaway, happening NOW! Lots of great prizes and an easy entry!

Check out some other delicious cookout recipes shared today for #CookoutWeek here!

Tell me: what’s your favorite no-bake dessert for cookouts?

two years ago: Iced Coconut Mocha
three years ago: Chewy Coconut Oil Granola Bars
four years ago: Coconut Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Crumb Cake
five years ago: BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad
six years ago: Lemony Roasted Vegetable Couscous

Mandarin Pie

Servings: 8
Time: 30 minutes plus time to chill
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from my mom’s friend Karen – addition of the Oreo crust by yours truly

Ingredients:

for Oreo crust (can also substitute your favorite chocolate crust or a storebought one)

25 Oreos
5 tablespoons butter

for pie

8 ounces cream cheese, softened (I use Neufchâtel)
1 – 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup sour cream
8 ounces frozen whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed
1 – 15 ounce can mandarin oranges, divided
1 ounce semi sweet chocolate OR a handful of mini chocolate chips

Directions:

Begin by preparing crust. Crush Oreos in a food processor to form fine crumbs. Transfer to a bowl. Then melt butter and drizzle into Oreo crumbs. Use a fork to combine, then press into a 9 inch pie pan. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes before using.

To prepare pie filling, beat cream cheese in a stand mixer until fluffy. Add sweetened condensed milk, orange juice, and sour cream. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.

Transfer half of the pie filling to crust, then top with most of the mandarin oranges. Reserve eight oranges for the pie topping. Cover with remaining filling. Depending on how deep the pie pan is, you may have a little leftover. Top pie with mandarin oranges and mini chocolate chips.

Instead of mini chocolate chips, you can also melt 1 ounce of semi sweet chocolate (a baking square if possible) and drizzle over the pie. Either way tastes great!

Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before slicing. Best enjoyed the same day, especially for presentation, but leftovers are also good for ~48 hours.

I haven’t made this, but I think this pie filling would also be amazing as parfaits: Oreo crumbs, pie filling, mandarin oranges, chocolate chips, and repeat. Yum!