OH MY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH BALLS!!

The original recipe I found on Joy the Baker's Blog, but I decided to change it a little since I have a huge sweet tooth. These suckers are AWESOME!!! I made a bunch of little ones and brought them to a Crossing Choir rehearsal, they went every fast.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

1 stick (1/2 cup or 4 ounces) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (i know we’re not baking them, it’s for flavor)
3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips, melted for dipping

In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment (or with a large bowl and a wooden spoon) cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about three minutes in the machine. Beat in yogurt or applesauce or peanut butter along with the vanilla extract and stir to combine.

Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add all at once to the butter and sugar mixture and stir until incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips and pecans.

Scoop small teaspoons scoops onto a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Spear each dough ball with a cute toothpicks. Place in the freezer overnight or until frozen, at least three hours.

When ready to dip the balls, melt chocolate chips in a small saucepan over a low flame or in the microwave. Remove balls from the freezer and dip into warm chocolate. Return to the lined cookie sheet and return to the freezer to harden. Serve cold from the freezer.

Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin Cookies:
2 cups (260 grams) all purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/4 cups (260 grams) light brown sugar
1/2 cup (120 ml) canola oil or corn oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (215 grams) canned pumpkin puree

Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 ounces (115 grams) room temperature cream cheese, regular of low fat
2 tablespoons (25 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (55 grams) confectioners' (powdered or icing) sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla

For Pumpkin Cookies:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and place oven rack in the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and salt.
In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until light and smooth (about 2 minutes). Beat in the oil, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. Using 1/4 cup of batter (can use a small ice cream scoop or measuring cup) place small mounds of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches (5 cm) apart.
Bake for about 15 - 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cookie comes out clean. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter until soft and creamy. Beat in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla until the frosting is soft and creamy.

Makes about 18 cookies.

Sources:
Klivans, Elinor. Big Fat Cookies. Chronicle Books. San Francisco: 2005.Read more: http://www.joyofbaking.com/PumpkinCookies.html#ixzz12GCG45vJ

Maple Buttercream Frosting
1 cup Butter (Softened)
2 3/4 cups Powdered Sugar
2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
2 tablespoons Maple Syrup
2 tablespoons honey whiskey

Place softened butter in a large bowl. Beat with electric mixer for 30-40 seconds until whipped. Scrape sides of bowl. Sift the powdered sugar into the bowl. Beat with mixer for 30-40 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and add the brown sugar, maple syrup, and whiskey. Beat for 2-3 minutes or until mixture is fluffy; scraping sides of bowl as needed.