Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

Okay, so there's this website...Pinterest, Basically a website that you wonder where the last 2 hours went because you were on it. It's a site FULL of neat ideas, crafty fun projects, DIY, style, food, etc. Best thing since sliced bread, no joke. Anyway, I tried this basic recipe to see how it worked out and goodness gracious! These things are little balls of HEAVEN. They taste just like cookie dough, AND they're safe to eat (no egg!). This is a fantastic recipe to do with kids (if you can keep them from eating it all), and SO versatile! My mind is reeling from all the possibilities...peanut butter cups, butterscotch, almond extract, peppermint patties, walnuts...I could go on forever! I dipped mine in chocolate, but they are delicious without it as well! Below is the base recipe, but let me know what amazing concoctions you come up with!

RECIPE

1 cup salted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups flour

3/4 cup chocolate chips (mini work best, but regular size is just fine too)

• Blend together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add vanilla, flour and chocolate chips. Mix together until the batter looks crumbly.
• Form into one inch balls and place onto a cookie sheet. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

That's it! At this point you can dip them in chocolate, or just drizzling them with melted chocolate is a little less messy but just as good! Happy Baking!

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

After a long hiatus, Ashley's Sugar Shack is definitely back in the blogging business! I've been baking, but just haven't found the time between the holidays and other things to sit down and officially blog. BUT that's changing as of...now! Here's the first recipe of the new year...a yummy banana chocolate chip bread. It's delicious warm with a pat of butter, or even with a la mode for a decadent dessert! This recipe is also VERY versatile - try using peanut butter chips to replace the chocolate chips. YUM! The recipe is below.

I'm so happy to be back blogging - I didn't realize how much I missed it. Look for lots more yummy recipes in the future! 

RECIPE

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg, at room temperature

1 tablespoon sour cream

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

4 very ripe bananas

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Powdered sugar to garnish

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease one 9x5 loaf pan.
• In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until well incorporated. Beat in the egg.
• Stir in the sour cream, vanilla and bananas. Blend until all ingredients are incorporated.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gradually add the flour mixture to the banana mixture until just combined. Do not over-mix.
• Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Put mixture into greased loaf pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 55-70 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for half hour in the pan before removing to a wire rack to completely cool. Enjoy!

HAPPY BAKING!!