PAZOOKIE Cookie Cups

We are a cookie-loving-family so when I came across this recipe I got so excited!  Sometimes cookies can take a long time to bake, right?  Waiting for all the batches to be done can be pretty time consuming.  But when you want a cookie, you want a cookie!  And then you come to those moments in life when you want a cookie but you're tired of all the same cookie recipes you've been making time and time again.  You need a change, but not too much of a change.  So I introduce my new found love: a Pazookie!  I had never heard of a Pazookie but honestly it has changed my life.  I've made this recipe twice in the same week and will probably make it again later this week.  You can eat them by themselves (that's how my kid's prefer them) but oh my... they are delicious with a scoop of ice-cream on top when they are warm right out of the oven or even microwaved for a bit when you eat what's leftover (if you have any leftovers!).

I love these because they are soooooo delicious, and fun, and fast, and still taste like a cookie, and are a little change up from the every-day chocolate chip cookie.  I've halved the recipe before and they still turn out perfect (making about 10 Pazookie's).  My husband is a huge cookie batter lover.  Ever since my first pregnancy I haven't been able to get myself to eat raw dough, but Colby said this dough was deeeeeeelicious.  Even my boys were sneaking spoonfuls behind my back.

Now a little note... I tried making these as normal cookies and they spread out more than my liking so take my advice and keep them as a Pazookie!  Always!  And forever!  In your life!

See how they each have a little indent in the middle?  That's meant for a scoop of vanilla ice-cream!

Pazookie Cookie Cups

Yield: About 20 Cookie cups

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup butter (2 sticks), at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 eggs

1-2 cups chocolate chips (I've always just done 1)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.  Apply liberally because no one wants their Pazookie's sticking to the pan!

In a medium-size bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt and granulated sugar.  In a large bowl or the bowl of a standing mixer, beat the brown sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs.  Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.  Beat for about 2 minutes until it's creamy.  Once combined and creamy stir in chocolate chips.

Put a spoonful of dough into each muffin tin.  You'll want to fill them 1/2-3/4 of the way full.  The Pazookie's will rise.  Bake for 11-13 minutes or until they are golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Let them cool for about 3 minutes in the tin, then using another toothpick go around each Pazookie to separate it from the tin and remove them to a cooling rack.  Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.  

Source: www.smartschoolhouse.com