Notes

Soft Oatmeal Cookies
makes 2 dozen

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups quick cooking oats

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, cream

together butter, white sugar, and

brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a

time, then stir in vanilla. Combine

flour, baking soda, salt, and

cinnamon; stir into the creamed

mixture. Mix in oats. Cover, and chill

dough for at least one hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie

sheets. Roll the dough into walnut

sized balls, and place 2 inches apart

on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie

with a large fork dipped in sugar.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in

preheated oven. Allow cookies to

cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes

before transferring to a wire rack to

cool

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Dark Chocolate Bacon Cupcakes
makes 2 dozen cupcake

12 slices bacon
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 eggs
1 cup cold, strong, brewed coffee
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa

powder, for dusting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

(190 degrees C). Place bacon in a

large, deep skillet. Cook over

medium-high heat until evenly brown.

Drain, crumble and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the

flour, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, sugar,

baking soda, baking powder and

salt. Make a well in the center and

pour in the eggs, coffee, buttermilk

and oil. Stir just until blended. Mix in

3/4 of the bacon, reserving the rest

for garnish. Spoon the batter into the

prepared cups, dividing evenly.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until

the tops spring back when lightly

pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in

the pan set over a wire rack. When

cool, arrange the cupcakes on a

serving platter. Frost with your

favorite chocolate frosting and

sprinkle reserved bacon crumbles on

top. Dust with additional cocoa

powder.

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Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
makes 4 dozen

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

(175 degrees C).
2. Cream together the butter, white

sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.

Beat in the eggs one at a time, then

stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking

soda in hot water. Add to batter

along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate

chips, and nuts. Drop by large

spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.
3. Bake for about 10 minutes in the

preheated oven, or until edges are

nicely browned.

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Chocolate Cupcakes
Original recipe makes 16 cupcakes

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.
3. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Frost with your favorite frosting when cool.

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Super Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
Original recipe makes 18 cupcakes

3/4 cup shortening
1 2/3 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water


Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 12 cup muffin pans or line with 18 paper baking cups.
2. In a medium bowl, beat the shortening and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla, instant coffee and cayenne pepper. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter, alternating with the water, just until blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter and frost as desired.

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Method One: Basic Chocolate Frosting Ingredients

1 cup of granulated sugar
6 tablespoons of butter or margarine (softened)
1/2 cup of cocoa powder
1 cup of powdered sugar
1/3 cup of milk (whole or 2%—not skim)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Method Two: Creamy Frosting Ingredients

6 tablespoons butter, softened
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2-3/4 cups powdered sugar
5 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Enjoy!!

Method Three: Fudgy Frosty Ingredients

3 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Method 1 of 3: Basic Chocolate Frosting

Cream butter. In a large bowl, whip butter at medium speed with an electric mixer, or with a whisk, until it is fluffy.

Blend dry ingredients. In a small bowl, sift or whisk to combine cocoa and granulated sugar.

Combine ingredients. Add the cocoa/sugar mix alternately with milk. Do not add too much milk, or the mixture will become too thin.

Beat until the mixture is spreading consistency. If too thick, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time. If too thin, add more cocoa/sugar mixture.

Add 1 tablespoon vanilla. Blend well.

Add powdered sugar. Whisk in the powdered sugar, blending well so there aren't any clumps.

Spread it on your cakes! (Or just eat it with a spoon!) Have fun and enjoy the delicious taste of this special treat.