Candy Overload Cookies

Did you have less trick or treaters than expected? Did your children come back with too much candy? Or did you get overly excited with the Halloween candy at the store's clearance racks?

I've got a solution to this candy overload. Make cookies!

You've seen M&M cookies, so why not Kit-Kat cookies? Reese's cookies? Whopper cookies? Maybe Kit-Kat, Reese's, M&Ms and Whoppers in one cookie!

Just follow this recipe then add any candy of your choice.

Cookie recipe modified from Cake Boss: Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup light-brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
candy of your choice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Put butter, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer. Paddle at medium speed until ingredients come together.
3. Add eggs one at a time. Add flour and mix until thoroughly integrated.
4. Chop the candy that will be used for the cookies and mix into batter.
5. Spoon batter into baking trays covered with parchment paper.
6. Bake 12 to 15 minutes.

I used Whoppers, Reese’s, chocolate M&Ms and peanut butter M&Ms. I also placed some batter in a separate bowl before adding all the candy to make different cookies.

Whopper cookies, Whopper and M&M’s cookies, Reese’s cookies, Reese’s and peanut butter M&Ms cookies.

What’s your favorite Halloween candy?

Dirty Halloween Cupcakes

What comes to mind when you think about Halloween? Candy, costumes, pumpkin carving, creepy creatures...

For my work's Halloween party, I signed up to take dessert. Surprised? Chocolate is popular at work so I made chocolate cupcakes. To give them a Halloween twist, I used chocolate "dirt" and creepy worms for decoration.

What's your favorite Halloween treat?

Worms and dirt cupcakes:

chocolate cupcakes

frosting

chocolate cookies

gummy worms

Bake chocolate cupcakes according to directions and wait for them to cool before decorating. (If you don't, the icing will melt) Then ice the cupcakes with the frosting of your choice.

Finely chop chocolate cookies (I used chocolate Oreos.) to be used as dirt. Spread cookie crumbs on frosted cupcake. Then place a gummy worm on top.

You're done! It is an easy idea to dress up your Halloween cupcakes.

Welcome!

It’s National Dessert month, and it was my birthday yesterday. I’m starting a new year with a blog sharing my sweet encounters with desserts and wine. My favs!

On Sweet Sundays, I will post dessert recipes that I try, and come with delicious results. Maybe it will become an addition to your recipe collection! When I visit sweet shops, I’ll review the desserts I taste and give you the 411. You’ll get to see the behind the scenes and how-to’s on some of the custom sweets I create. This is a special treat for my blog followers and not seen on my facebook page. :)

I also enjoy tasting new wines. I am a beginner when it comes to wine and wish to become knowledgeable on the subject. Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month will be Wine Wednesday. You’ll join me as I travel the road to understanding the complexity of wine. I will share information on wine tasting events, wineries and trying new wines. Fortunately, I live in the San Joaquin Valley which is surrounded by many vineyards. I travel to the central coast throughout the year, giving me the perfect chance to visit vineyards and try wines from the central coast!

I hope I’ve peeked your interest!

See you Wednesday for an overview of Fresno's Fall Wine Cornucopia...