once again, chocolate cookies

i was looking for inspiration for something to bake, and came across the simple, classic chocolate cookie. i decided to have a little fun with it and use some left over candy for half of them, so they are m&m cookies, but the other half are good old classics. chocolate chip cookies.

Chocolate chip cookies:
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup m&m's (or substitute 1/2 cup chocolate chips if you don't want the m&ms.)

• preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• place the butter in the mixer, and mix for a few minutes
• mix in sugars, vanilla, egg.
• mix in flour and baking powder a little at a time until mixed in
• half the mixture and mix in m&m's and chocolate chips into each half.
• place tablespoon of the mixture onto baking sheets.
• bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.
• transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

Homemade twinkies

These guys taste like a grown up version of a Twinkie. The recipe isn't really made to be a twinkie, but the resemblance is pretty close. i changed it a bit by adding chocolate chips. Its a little time consuming, but SOOO worth it.

Chocolate brioche:

pinch of cinnamon (from china)

1 cinnamon stick

pinch of nutmeg

3 tbsp. boiling water

4 tbsp butter, melted

1 3/4 cups bread flour

pinch of salt

i tbsp sugar

1 envelope active dry yeast

2 eggs beaten

6 squares milk or dark chocolate

milk, for glazing

• add the spices to the boiling water and let cool completely.
• lightly brush a muffin pan with butter
• sift the flour, salt, and sugar and stir in the yeast. add the spices (not the cinnamon stick),spice liquid, eggs, and remaining butter to make a soft dough. 
• knead until smooth, then cover and let stand in a warm place for 1- 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size. 
• knead for a minute and then fill each muffin tin 3/4 of the way full. 
• cover and seal withe plastic wrap for 1- 1.5 hours or until doubled in size. 
• preheat the oven to 400 degrees. brush with milk and bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until firm and golden. 
• once cooled fill with "twinkie" filling. you'll need a filling/piping tool to be able to do this. i think these guys are good even without the filling. so if you dont have the tools, don't worry, you can put the filling on as icing, or have it as a dip along side the cakes. 

Twinkie filling:

1/2 cup milk 
3 tbsp. flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Salt

• Cook milk and flour until thick; cool. 
• Beat all together until mixture is fluffy and soft. Add sugar a little at a time (8 to 10 minutes).
•  Can be kept in the refrigerator.