Nutella Cake Balls

Ever since I went to Italy in 2005 I have been OBSESSED with Nutella. It baffles my husband that I go through a jar of Nutella so quickly when he doesn't eat it. I also love cake and have tried many times to create a successful cake ball. I have failed and failed, until I discovered a Nutella cake ball recipe from, www.bakedperfection.com. 

Nutella Cake Balls

• Ingredients
• 
  

8 oz of Nutella

8 oz of melted milk chocolate (white chocolate would be good too)

• • 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 2/3 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups sifted cake flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/3 cups milk
• 
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13 x 9.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. 
4. Immediately take half of the cake and put in a bowl combining it with the 8 oz of Nutella. 
5. Stir together until well blended. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on cookie dough sheet and let cool. 
6. Once the Nutella balls are cool, melt chocolate stirring every 15 seconds to avoid burning. Dip the cake ball into the melted chocolate, decorate if desired. 
7. Cool for a few hours.
8. EAT!!!!! 

If I were to do it over, I would probably use white chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Regardless, they are yummy! 

Oreo Truffles

These are so easy anyone can do it! I found many recipes for Oreo Truffles but the one I decided to go with was from www.bakerella.com (can you tell I love her website?) They are extremely easy to make and extremely hard to put down once you start eating. They are officially a staple in our household for everyday and the holidays.

Oreo Truffles

Ingredients
1 package of Oreo Cookies
8 oz of cream cheese, softened
8 oz melted white chocolate

Directions

1. Place all but 5 Oreo's in a food processor and grind to crumbs. Save the 5 Oreo's for garnish (although I can never wait for the garnish)

2. Combine the Oreo crumbs and the softened cream cheese and mix. I used my KitchenAid mixer instead of my own muscle.

3. Once combined evenly, roll into 1 inch size balls and let cool. I stuck mine in the freezer for about 10 minutes to speed up the process.

4. Meanwhile, melt the white chocolate in 15 second increments. Once melted, cover each Oreo ball in the melted chocolate.

5. Let cool and eat!

Pillow Cookies

I have a habit to browse other baking and cooking blogs for unique recipes. I came across the recipe for Pillow Cookies on www.bakerella.com. I was intrigued by the name, maybe because I haven't been getting much sleep lately, but probably because it combines 2 of my favorite baked goods......brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Yes, brownies AND chocolate chip cookies! I know it sounds impossible but I have proof that it's possible.

Pillow Cookies


Ingredients
1 box of brownie mix (feel free to make your own brownies if you are ambitious)
Recipe to your favorite chocolate chip cookies--I always use the one from the back of the bag of chocolate chips

Directions
Bake the brownies according to the box and let cool. Once cool, cut into 1 inch by 1 inch squares.

Meanwhile, mix up the ingredients to your chocolate chip cookie recipe. Once dough is made, take 1/2 cup scoops of dough and flatten. Take a brownie and place it in the middle of the chocolate chip cookie dough. Form the dough around the brownie to close the brownie in. Shape the cookies as close to a ball shape as possible.

Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. The time will depend on how big each cookie is. Keep a close eye out!

Let them bake, cool, and enjoy!

Welcome!

I recently had a friend of mine from high school ask me to be a guest blogger for her blog, Mom Taught Us. Starting a blog has been something that I had been thinking of for quite some time and Holly allowed me to have a taste of blogging. I have always loved to bake but recently I have discovered how much I LOVE to bake! I have piles of recipes that I have yet to try and I plan to document their success or failure to share with you!