WarmBrownieCup

These individual soft-centered cakes are known commercially as warm brownie cup or lava cake. I prepare them in small ramekin dishes, perfect for parties. My friends just love this!

1c butter (softened)
2c brown sugar

4 eggs
1.5 tsp vanilla

1c all purpose flour
3/4c cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp instant coffee powder

vanilla ice cream

Preheat oven at 350F for 30 minutes.

1. Sift the last 4 dry ingredients in a medium bowl, set aside.
2. Cream butter and brown sugar.
2. Whisk in the eggs one at a time then add the vanilla into the cream. Beat lightly.
3. Whisk in the dry ingredients, little by little to avoid crumbling.
4. Put mixture in oven-proof cups, ramekins or souffle dishes.
5. Bake for 15 to 30 minutes depending on the size of your dish; until cakes are puffed and crusty and tester inserted into center comes out with thick batter attached. Don't overbake to keep the center moist.
6. Remove from oven, let it cool for a few minutes. Best served warm, topped with vanilla ice cream.

adopted from epicurious.com

DoubleRichChocolateCookies

If you're not content with the usual chocolate chip cookie, try this.

2 1/2c all-purpose flour
1tsp baking soda
1/4tsp salt
1/2c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4c brown sugar, firmly packed
1c salted butter, softened
3 large eggs
2tsp vanilla extract
2c (12oz) semisweet chocolate chips
(for variation, add nuts, marshmallows &/or raisins)

Preheat oven to 300F.

1. In a medium bowl, sift then whisk dry ingredients: flour, soda, cocoa powder & salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix sugar and butter to form a grainy paste.
3. Add eggs and vanilla entract and mix at medium speed until just blended. Do not overmix.
4. Add the dry ingredients and mix at low speed until just combined.
5. Fold in chocolated chips.
6. Use ice cream scooper or drop by rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet, two inches apart. As they bake, the cookies will spread quite a bit.
7. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Transfer to a cool surface or cake rack to cool.

Yield: 4 dozen

Adopted from Mrs. Fields' Cookie Book.

ChocolateChipCookies

2 1/2c all-purpose flour
1tsp baking soda
1/4tsp salt
1 1/2c brown sugar, firmly packed
1c salted butter, softened
2 large eggs
2tsp vanilla extract
2c (12oz) semisweet chocolate chips
(for variation, add nuts, marshmallows &/or raisins)

Preheat oven to 300F.

1. In a medium bowl, whisk dry ingredients: flour, soda & salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix sugar and butter to form a grainy paste.
3. Add eggs and vanilla extract and mix at medium speed until just blended. Do not overmix.
4. Add the dry ingredients and mix at low speed until just combined.
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Use ice cream scooper or drop by rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet, two inches apart. As they bake, the cookies will spread quite a bit.
7. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Transfer to a cool surface or cake rack to cool.

Yield: 2 1/2 dozen

Adopted from Mrs. Fields' Cookie Book.

SuperFudgeBrownies

6oz unsweetened baking chocolate*
1c salted butter, softened
4 large eggs
2c brown sugar
1tbsp vanilla extract
1/2c all purpose flour
1c semisweet chocolate chips (for variation, use nuts or white chocolate)

Preheat oven to 300F. Grease an 8x8 inch pan.

1. Combine unsweetened baking chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Melt** over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until pieces are almost melted. Remove from heat and stir until smooth. Cool at room temperature.
2. In a large bowl, on medium speed, beat eggs until light yellow in color (about 5 minutes). Add sugar and blend on low until thoroughly combined.
3. Add vanilla and melted chocolate to the egg and sugar mixture at low speed until smooth.
4. Add the flour and mix. Fold in a few chocolate chips.
5. Pour batter into greased pan. Smooth surface with a spatula, and sprinkle uniformly with chocolate chips.
6. Bake on the center rack of the oven for 45-55 minutes.
7. Test for doneness, insert toothpick in the center, it should come out clean. Do not overbake.
8. Cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. Cut and serve chilled.

Adopted from Mrs. Fields'Cookie Book

*To make 1oz unsweeted baking chocolate, mix 3tbsp unsweetened cocoa with 1tbsp shortening.

**Warning:
Chocolate has a very low melting point. Always melt over very low heat, in a double boiler - over hot but not boiling water.

Moisture in melting chocolate can cause the mixture to stiffen. Don't let any water get into the chocolate (that's why you shouldn't cover the double boiler; condensation will drip in).