Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups quick-cook oats
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 165℃.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth.
  3. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
  4. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir into the creamed mixture until just blended.
  5. Mix in the quick oats and chocolate chips.
  6. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
  7. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven.
  8. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Chocolate Fudge Topping

    Ingredients

    75 g sugar
    75 ml evaporated milk
    100 g dark chocolate
    40 g butter
    2 or 3 drops vanilla essence

    Method

    1. Put the sugar and evaporated milk into a pan. Bring it gently to heat, stirring until all the sugar is dissolved.
    2. Bring to the boil.
    3. TAKE OUT THE SPOON and boil without stirring for 6 mins.
    4. Remove from the heat and stir in the broken chocolate.
    5. When the chocolate is melted, stir in the butter and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
      • Leave to cool before using.
      • Stirring causes granulation, which make the mixture feel gritty.
      • If doubling the amounts, boil for an additional one or two minutes.
      • Best warm.

      Chocolate and Raspberry Trifle

      Ingredients

      1 packet amaretti biscuits
      1 packet raspberries
      300 ml whipping cream (or mixture of cream and "Dream Topping")
      1 jar raspberry jam
      1 slab dark chocolate

      Method

      (Very simple to make but looks impressive.)

      1. Whip the cream.
      2. Lightly crush the biscuits.
      3. Put the jar of jam into the microwave to heat, with the packet of broken dark chocolate.  Stir until thoroughly mixed.
      4. Layer each of the ingredients in a bowl (or individual glasses) until all are finished.
      5. Top with a few left over raspberries.

      Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

      Ingredients

      225 g plain flour
      175 g caster sugar
      1 tsp vanilla essence
      1 tsp baking powder
      1 egg, beaten
      chocolate, chopped or chips

      Method

      1. Mix the flour, baking powder together and rub in the butter to “breadcrumb” texture.
      2. Stir in the sugar, vanilla and beaten egg.  
      3. Mix to a smooth dough and knead for 2 minutes.
      4. Add in the chopped chocolate.

      This may be eaten as 'dough', or...

      1. Refrigerate for 15 mins, in a 5cm diameter roll.
      2. Preheat the oven to 190℃.
      3. Chop into slices, and place on a greased baking sheet.
      4. Sprinkle with a little sugar.
      5. Cook in the oven for 10 mins or until brown.

      Chocolate Chip Cookies

      Ingredients

      250 g plain flour
      ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
      ½ tsp salt
      170 g unsalted butter, melted
      200 g dark brown soft sugar
      100 g caster sugar
      1 vanilla extract
      1 egg
      1 egg yolk
      325 g chocolate chips

      Method

      Prep: 10 mins. Cook: 15 mins.

      1. Preheat the oven to 170℃. Grease baking trays or line with parchment.
      2. Sift together the flour, bicarb and salt. Set aside.
      3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and caster sugar until well blended.
      4. Beat in the vanilla, egg and egg yolk until light and creamy.
      5. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended.
      6. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon.
      7. Drop cookie dough onto the prepared baking trays, with each cookie around 4 tablespoons of dough (for smaller cookies, drop 1 rounded tablespoonful and adjust baking time as necessary). Do not flatten the dough. Cookies should be about 8cm apart.
      8. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted.
      9. Cool on baking trays for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.