dark chocolate cake cookies

Hello there! Happy Friday! Sorry I've been MIA this week... Between Braxton Hicks, swelling, party planning, work, car stuff, and just general business it's been a bit of a crazy week. But, I have cookies for you... Not just any cookies, dark chocolate CAKE cookies. 

A few weeks ago, I was at a cook out and I totally cheated on my diet.  My friend had made these huge gooey cake batter cookies with peanut butter chocolate chips.  I knew they weren't gluten free.  I knew I had already eaten a hot dog, tons of salsa, and pasta salad. I knew they weren't a mid-wife approved snack. Instead, I ate three.

Afterwards, I just couldn't get these cookies out of my head... they haunted my dreams, my late night cravings, I almost spent $8 bucks on a GF cake mix just to see if that would work. So I set about replicating them and with the help of my brilliant mother, finally succeeded.  After a few attempts that produced delicious chocolate cookies but not fluffy cake-like cookies, she suggested using applesauce and baking soda in place of eggs to make the cookies light and fluffy. Genius! These had the perfect cake-y texture.  Every bite was chocolate-y and light. Plus, they are made from scratch instead of a mix so no high fructose corn devil in these babies.

I used bittersweet chocolate chips with this batch, but feel free to get creative with your chocolate chips. Peanut butter, white chocolate, Andes mints... Things could get a little crazy but be sure to give it your own touch.

 

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chocolate chip cookies

Are you a crispy cookie or a chewy cookie person?  I like chewy cookies, a little crisp on the edges but chewy in the center. Crispy cookies just aren't my cup of tea, but that is kinda the great thing about cookies.  You can make them however you like them.  Want chewy, just cut a few minutes off the time... Need crisp, add a minute or two. Simple as that.  If only everything were that easy, right? 

Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite cookies, so when I went gluten-free it took a little while to find a good gluten-free recipe.  The secret is the flour mix.  Brown rice flour, potato starch, and tapiocablend to create a flour that acts like all-purpose wheat flour in most recipes. This particular cookie is packed with bitter chocolate chunks and pecans.  Amazing! Plus, the texture is perfect.  You won't believe these light fluffy cookies are gluten free. They have all these taste of classic chocolate chip cookies. Make them chewy or crispy.  Just make them!

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weeknight wonders: orange-raspberry yogurt pops

I really can't manage to go into Target without buying something I don't really need. So last Saturday, when I was moseying around Target with my mom and I stumbled across a cheery little popsicle maker,  I knew immediately that I was taking that home.  Bright, cute, colorful and only $7. I could justify that. And, the popsicle sticks stand up on there own.  Perfect for the little munchkins in my future. (It's not available online, but it is in the kitchen section at Target.)

Of course, I had to give that baby a test run.  These orange-raspberry yogurt pops are so easy you really don't need a recipe and they would be the perfect after dinner treat.  Just mix honey yogurt with oranges and raspberries.  Pack in your cute little popsicle maker and freeze.  The result?  Healthy popsicles that are simply dripping with flavor.  The orange and raspberry is a pretty dreamy combination of sweet and tart, and they are the perfect way to brighten your work week or end a long summer weekend. Happy Memorial Day!

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