As if I don't have enough things happening in my kitchen right now, I had to test a recipe that's been playing in my mind for a while. Lately I've noticed that I have been craving more complex flavors and textures. Not sure if that is a sign of my age or the broadening of my horizons, but either way, I'm stretching myself.
I have a basic chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe that I've tweaked to my version of perfection. To make it even better, I added Walnuts and Dried Cherries. In excess!!! I promise, you need to add LOTS of hunks of yumminess to make this a "gourmet" cookie.
I could only fit 8 on a cookie sheet at a time and I rolled them like meatballs. And I'm not kidding you, there were not little meatballs! Yea... we've already determined I like my sweets! Whatever you do, don't give me a cookie that's gone in 2 bites!
So here it is! My recipe for a YUMMY spin on a Chocolate Chip Cookie. These delicious cookies will grace the treat boxes I'm handing out to family and friends this year.
Happy Baking!
Chewy Cherry, Walnut, Chocolate Chip Cookies By: Stacey Hill, Truly Custom Cakery, LLCIngredients:
* 4 1/2 cups bread flour
(I use bread flour for a chewier cookie due to the high gluten content)
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* ½ teaspoon of salt
* 2 cups butter, softened
* 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
* 4 eggs
* 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
* 4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
* 2 cups of dried cherries
* 4 cups chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, combine the flour and baking soda, baking powder, and salt then set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips, cherries, and nuts. I roll big balls of cookie dough to meatball sizes and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 12 - 16 minutes (depending on size) in the preheated oven. Edges should be lightly golden brown. DO NOT OVERBAKE or you will not have a chewy cookie!
Back in the winter of 2008 I saw a cookie on the Cake Central Website (Mr. Melty above) and fell in love. true to form, if I see something I like, I use it as a launch pad for creativity. 
Fast forward to 2009 and I decided to make those cookies again. They turned out soooo cute this time and when I posted them, there was quite a fuss. Everyone wanted to know how I got the marshmallow on and made it look like it was also melting. After receiving an over abundance of e-mails, private messages, and comments, I decided that rather than sending one message at a time explaining the process, it would be easier to put together a tutorial showing how I made them.
It took off and my marshmallow headed snowman cookie has gone bonkers all over the internet. BUT if you will remember, I mentioned at the very beginning that I originally saw a cookie that inspired all of this. At the time, I was not aware who the creator was, that she had a blog, or that she had a tutorial for the original. Had I known all of that, I may have handled things differently. 
As if I don't have enough things happening in my kitchen right now, I had to test a recipe that's been playing in my mind for a while. Lately I've noticed that I have been craving more complex flavors and textures. Not sure if that is a sign of my age or the broadening of my horizons, but either way, I'm stretching myself. 
Here it is, the tutorial you've been waiting for! The Centerpiece Melted Candle Cake Tutorial! Happy Baking!!!!
If so, then I would love to hear from you! I have something that I'd love to send you 100% FREE of charge. BUT in return, I need you to use your outlets to share your review/feedback/thoughts on the product. 
