Chocolate-Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

These are one of favorite cookies..ever! Spring is here, and Summer is fast approaching, and these are perfect picnic and BBQ snacks. They take practically no ingredients and they are so light and cute and just plain delicious :) Being so scrumptious, I'd say that sharing is not necessary, and truthfully, you know they will disappear ever so suddenly!

Oven: 350
Yield: about 2 dozen
Bake: 15-18 min

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
- vanilla extract
- 3/4 C sugar
- 2 1/2 C flour
- 2 eggs *
- raspberry jam
- chocolate chips

Pre-heat the oven to 350. Cream the softened butter and the vanilla extract. Add the sugar and blend until well combined. Then add the flour and eggs alternately until all mixed and smooth. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and roll the dough in about 1 in. balls. Then take your thumb and make a well in each ball. Place a few chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark - whichever is your fav.) in each well and then cover with jam. Be careful to not overfill with jam. Bake in the oven until cookies are golden brown.

* I used 2 becuase I had small/medium eggs in the fridge, so if you have large eggs on hand try one and see if the dough is moist enough.


Thats it. So simple right! And the pay off is so amazing.
Enjoy [:

Devil's Food Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting

Peppermint and Chocolate - a classic combo that is so delish!! This recipe is from 500 Cupcakes...one of the greatest little cupcake recipe books ever!

Oven: 320
Yield: 18
Prep: 10-15 min
Bake: 20 min

Ingredients:
- 2 C cake flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 C packed light brown sugar
- 1 C butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, seperated
- 3 1/2 oz. semisweet chocolate, melted
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 C milk

Preheat oven.
Sift the baking powder, salt, and flour; set aside. Cream the butter and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Add egg yolks and beat well. Add melted chocolate and vanilla. Add flour mixture and milk, alternating until all well combined. Beat egg whites in seperate bowl until soft peaks form. Fold into batter. Pour batter into prepared baking pan and bake for about 20 minutes.


Frosting:
For this one you can use any frosting of your choosing..whether that it's cream cheese or buttercream or even out of a container (I won't tell :] ). Just substitute the vanilla extract with peppermint..but remember to be conservative with the peppermint..you can always add more but can't always take out.


Enjoy!!