Chocolate Chunk Brookies

Ever since I heard the term "brookie," I was hooked.  Cookies and brownies combined must mean awesome, right?

Well...

While I'm not saying these aren't good, I'm just saying I don't like these that much.  I mean, I'm so not a blondie fan it's unbelievable.  Unless it has white chocolate in it.  Then yes.

And these brookies tasted like blondies with chocolate chunks.  (Yes, yes, I know, it's supposed to be chocolate chips but I made do with what I had on hand at the time.  Chunks work just fine.)

I got this recipe from Bakerella, and I'm sure these would have been better if I had her oven.  Like, seriously, hers turned out amazing-looking and absolutely delicious, I'm sure.  But mine... they sort of collapsed and didn't really cook in the middle.  Which is fine and all if it tasted like cookie dough - but it DIDN'T.

Now that I think about it, the edges were really tasty.  But the middle...  And this is coming from the girl who loves cake batter, cookie dough, pretty much anything raw.  This should not be raw.  Nooo.

So, if your oven is like mine, please see the asterisk* for baking instructions.  If your oven runs hot like Bakerella's, use the normal baking instructions.  I really don't know what the difference between our ovens are except that mine is a few years old and not specifically for baking.  I'm not even going to try to guess what other bakers have.  It'll just make me feel inadequate. XP

Anyhoo, here's the recipe if you want to try it.  Not saying you shouldn't, but I'm not saying you should, either.  I'll find scrumptious things to bake yet, don't you worry!

Chocolate Chunk Brookies

REQUIRES SOFTENED BUTTER

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup butter, softened

2 1/4 cups light brown sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups chocolate chunks

1. Preheat oven to: 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl with a fork.
3. In a separate bowl, cream brown sugar and butter.
4. Add eggs one at a time, stirring well after each addition.  Stir in vanilla.
5. Stir in chocolate chunks.
6. Add flour mixture and stir until thoroughly combined.
7. Bake 30 minutes.  If not done in the middle, cover with aluminum foil and bake additional time.  Test with a toothpick every 5 minutes.  Bake until golden brown and do not over bake.

And now I'll break this down for ya - but note that I only made a half-batch!  Maybe that's my problem...

Combine butter and brown sugar...

Add eggs...

Stir well and add vanilla.

Stir in those chocolate chunks...

Add the flour mixture...

And spread into your pan.

Now this is what mine looked like at first...

But unfortunately the center collapsed and I was left with this.  While it does look appetizing, it was only slightly baked.  I.e. almost raw.  And almost raw is wayyyy more nasty than raw.  It is awful.

But the sides came out quite nicely.

If a little crunchy.  You can see the raw-ness inside here.

I wish you luck on this baking endeavor should you choose to try it!

Otherwise, thank you and have a jolly good day!

-JJ

1st Blogiversary!

Wow... It's hard to believe that a year has gone by since I started this blog.  I admit, I haven't done much with it, but now that I'm posting on a somewhat regular schedule, I hope to go further and experiment more in the kitchen.

However, right now I'll post one of my all-time favorite baking recipes: Chocolate Chunk Scones.

Chocolate Chunk Scones
2 cups flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chocolate chunks

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Butter a 9-inch-diameter circle on a wax paper lined baking sheet.
2. In large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cut butter into 1/2-inch cubes and distribute evenly over flour mixture.  Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
4. In small bowl, combine buttermilk, egg, and vanilla.
5. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture and stir to combine.
6. Stir in chocolate chunks.  The dough should be sticky.
7. Spread dough into 8-inch-diameter circle in center of prepared baking sheet.  With a serrated knife, cut into 9 wedges.
8. Bake 17-19 minutes or until top is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into center of a scone comes out clean.
9. Remove baking sheet to wire rack and cool for 5 minutes.  Using a spatula, transfer scones from sheet to rack to cool.  Recut if necessary.  Serve warm or store in an airtight container after cooled.  Makes 8 scones.

Breaking it down:
Combine flour, brown sugar, baking power, baking soda, and salt...

 Cut butter and add...

 Cut in with a pastry blender until it looks like this:

 Combine buttermilk, egg, and vanilla...

 Pour into flour mixture...

...and stir.

 Add chocolate chunks...

 ....and plop onto your prepared baking sheet.

 Spread it out in a (mostly) circular shape...

 ...and cut into 8 pieces with a serrated knife.

Bake for 17-19 minutes at 400 degrees F and remove from oven.

Let cool 5 minutes on a wire rack, then let the individual scones cool the wire rack.  Serve and love every bite of it.

I know I did!
Happy Blogiversary again,
-JJ

Thank You, Nestle

Ever looked at the back of the bag of Nestle Tollhouse Semisweet Chocolate Chunks?  Do.  I did, and I found this recipe - which turned out fantabulous.  (Because that's a word, right? LOL)  But seriously, it's really good.  Try it.  Your friends and family will love you (even more) for it.

You can find the recipe here, but I'll repost it anyway!

Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies
REQUIRES SOFTENED BUTTER

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
11.5 oz. package semisweet chocolate chunks

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Beat butter until creamy, then add sugars and vanilla and mix thoroughly.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well after each addition.
6. Add chocolate chunks and give a final stir.
7. Drop by large cookie scoop/rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
8. Bake for 9-11 minutes (mine took about 9) or until cookies are puffed but their centers are still soft. Cool on sheets for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack.  Makes about 40 cookies.

Breaking it down:
Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt...

Beat butter, then add sugars and vanilla...

Mix well...

Add eggs and mix thoroughly...

Mix in flour mixture and add chocolate chunks...

Drop by large cookie scoop onto cookie sheets...

And bake for about 9 minutes.  Cool on a rack and enjoy!