Strawberry Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy Valentines Day!
Now I know you're thinking that you don't have time to make anything.
However, these simple delicious cookies only have 4 ingredients and take less than an hour to make so don't you fret!
Kirbie's Cravings  made these cookies with chocolate chips, but I made them even more decadent with dark chocolate chips. Healthier too! I used olive oil so you don't have to feel as bad for indulging. If you're feeling experimental you could make these with white chocolate too.
Now these cookies are quite yummy, but I would change one thing, I had fresh strawberries at home and i really wish I would have chopped them up and added them to the batter for extra strawberry goodness. Next time.
I know that using a box cake mix is technically cheating, but that's what the recipe called for and really how could I resist trying these?! Its like a chocolate dipped strawberry in a cookie! I used Pillsbury box mix and Hershey's special dark chips.

Strawberry Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies 
yields about 2 dozen cookies

1 box strawberry cake mix
halfway between 1/3 and 1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 cup dark chocolate chip cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Mix cake mix, oil, and egg in a large bowl until smooth and without pieces of dry cake mix remains.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Scoop about 2 tbs of dough and roll into a ball.
Place on cookie sheet and make sure dough balls are about 2 inches apart.
Bake about 12 minutes until cookies are set and edges are turning a light brown.
Let cool on baking sheets for about 5 minutes before removing.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

Valentines Day is right around the corner! Less than a week as of today! Do you have special plans with the one you love? Valentines Day is always either my favorite holiday, or my second favorite holiday; depending on my relationship status. Once again I'm single for Valentines Day so it's my second favorite, coming after Halloween but I never let that stop me from celebrating! I know most of my peers think that Valentines Day is cheesy and pointless but being a hopeless romantic I love it! My favorite colors are red and pink and you can find those colors everywhere this time of year, best time to find decor for your house. If you have someone special in your life, you can go all out and be a cheesy as it pleases you, after all that's what February 14th is all about!
The best part of Valentines Day is baking. The only limit you have is your imagination! You can play with flavors like strawberry, raspberry, red velvet, chocolates milk, dark and white, the list goes on!
Check out my Recipe Index for so many more ideas to make for Valentines Day.
I've tried my fair share of different brownies, and these by far are my favorite. They are absolutely addicting. Soft, moist, full of flavor and not too rich. No matter who you make these for you will impress all, no question about it. I found this recipe at Confections from the Cody Kitchen.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

For the Brownies:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
2/3 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Cream Cheese Top:
8 oz cream cheese, (softened)
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Prepare 8 inch square pan by greasing it and lining with parchment paper.
In small heat proof bowl, microwave butter and chocolate until melted.
Stir and set aside.
In separate bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla, and food coloring.
Add chocolate mixture and stir until smooth.
Add flour and salt and stir until fully incorporated.
Pour into prepared pan.
Beat cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla together until smooth
Drop large dollops of cream cheese mixture over brownie mixture.
Use knife to make swirl pattern.
Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool completely before removing from pan.

Get Ready For A Sugar Rush!

Valentines Day is coming up in a few days and it's not too late to make something delicious for your Valentine, whether it be for your significant other, your child, or like me, your friend.
Even if your single you can celebrate Valentines Day! Don't let not having a significant other ruin the big day for you! Call up a friend and make some plans to see one of the movies out or go for lunch!
If you do end of baking for your Valentine, check out these Cotton Candy Cupcakes, I got the recipe off of  Bakingdom, and I love cotton candy so another perk of making them is you get to eat the left overs!

Cotton Candy Cupcakes
makes 14 cupcakes


For the cupcakes:
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, (softened)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
.5 (1/2 cup) ounce cotton candy 

For the frosting:
3 teaspoons heavy cream
1 (1 cup) ounce cotton candy
1 stick unsalted butter, (softened)
8 ounces powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

For the cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line muffin pan with your paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Add the butter, sour cream, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat until smooth.
Scrape the bowl before stirring in the cotton candy, be careful to not over mix the batter.
Scoop 3 tablespoons into each liner.
Bake 18-22 minuets until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:
In a small bowl pour 1 1/2 teaspoon heavy cream over the cotton candy to melt it.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth.
Stir in vanilla and cotton candy.
Beat on medium high until light and fluffy, about 45 seconds.
Add remaining cream if necessary.
Make sure cupcakes are completely cool before frosting.