KC Masterpiece' s Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie

Serves 12

Recipe Ingredients

15 chocolate sandwich cookies

1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts

vegetable cooking spray

4 tablespoons butter or margarine

3 quarts chocolate ice cream

(7) 1.8 ounce packages milk chocolate covered peanut butter cups

(1) 8 ounce jar milk chocolate fudge topping

1/4 cup strong brewed coffee

2 tablespoons coffee flavored liqueur

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a food processor or blender, blend chocolate sandwich cookies and peanuts until finely chopped. Spray 9-inch pie plate with vegetable cooking spray. Reserve 1

tablespoon cookie mixture for garnish. In pie plate, mix butter or margarine and remaining cookie mixture by hand. Press mixture onto bottom and up side of pie plate. Bake 8 minutes. Cool crust completely on wire rack.

Meanwhile, place chocolate ice cream in refrigerator about 40 minutes to soften slightly. Coarsely chop milk chocolate covered peanut butter cups. In a large bowl mix softened ice cream with chopped peanut butter cups. Spoon ice cream mixture into cooled cookie crust. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture on top. Freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or overnight.To serve, let pie stand at room temperature 15 minutes for easier slicing. Meanwhile, in a 1-quart saucepan over low heat, heat milk chocolate fudge topping until hot; stir in coffee and liqueur until blended. Cut pie into wedges and serve with warm fudge sauce.

Girl Scout Cookies Thin Mints

If those cute little cookie peddlers aren't posted outside the market, it may be tough to get your hands on these - the most popular cookies sold by the Girl Scouts each year. One out of every four boxes of cookies sold by the girls is Thin Mints.

This recipe uses an improved version of the chocolate wafers created for the Oreo cookie clone in the second TSR book "More Top Secret Recipes." That recipe creates 108 cookie wafers, so when you're done dipping, you'll have the equivalent of three boxes of the Girl Scout Cookies favorite. (See? That's why you bought those extra cookie sheets.)

You could, of course, reduce the recipe by baking only 1/3 of the cookie dough for the wafers and then reducing the coating ingredients by 1/3, giving you a total of 36 cookies. But that may not be enough to last you until next spring.

Chocolate Cookie Wafers

1 18.25-ounce package Betty Crocker chocolate fudge cake mix

3 tablespoons shortening, melted

1/2 cup cake flour, measured then sifted

1 egg

3 tablespoons water

Non-stick cooking spray

Coating

3 12-ounce bags semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

6 tablespoons shortening

1. Combine the cookie ingredients in a large bowl, adding the water a little bit at a time until the dough forms. Cover and chill for 2 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out a portion of the dough to just under 1/16 of an inch thick. To cut, use a lid from a spice container with a 1 1/2-inch diameter (Schilling brand is good.) Arrange the cut dough rounds on a cookie sheet that is sprayed with a light coating on non-stick spray. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the wafers from the oven and cool completely.

4. Combine chocolate chips with peppermint extract and shortening in a large microwave - safe glass or ceramic bow. Heat on 50 percent power for 2 minutes, stir gently, then heat for an addition minute. Stir once again, and if chocolate is not a smooth consistency, continue to zap in microwave in 30-second intervals until smooth.

5. Use a fork to dip each wafer in the chocolate, tap the fork on the edge of the bowl so that the excell chocolate runs off, and then place the cookies side-by-side on a wax paper - lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm.

Makes 108 cookies.

Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies

Serving Size : 1

Categories : Desserts Cookies Low-Fat

Recipe Ingredients
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 pound Butter or margarine
1 cup Light brown sugar -- packed
1 cup Sugar
3 Eggs
3 cups Bisquick
1 cup Cornstarch
1/2 cup Nonfat milk powder
2 tablespoons Sanka or coffee powder
1 tablespoon Unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon Vanilla
1 Package semi-sweet chocolate pieces -- (12 ounces)
4 ounces Pecans -- well-chopped

With electric mixer, high speed, cream butter until light and fluffy. Beatin sugars, beating until very creamy. Beat in eggs, then each remainingingredient, except chips and pecans When dough is smooth, work in chips and pecans with spoon. Make grape-sized pieces of dough for each cookie , placing 1" apart on ungreased sheet. Bake at 350~ for 14 minutes or untilgolden brown. 12 dozen itsy bitsy cookies. Freeze unbaked cookie dough to thaw, shape and bake in 4 months.

Dive S'mores

You don't need a campfire, wire hangers or long sticks to make this popular marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker dessert. Steven Spielberg's Dive! chain of theme restaurants is the inspiration for this week's clone recipe, pulled from the third TSR book,Top Secret Restaurant Recipes (which includes otherclones from the chain as well). You need only four ingredients, an oven with a broiler, and a serious sweet tooth to put together this delicious dessert previously enjoyed only camping trips and at beach parties.

2 whole graham crackers (4 sections, not separated) two

1 1/2-ounce Hershey milk chocolate bars

16 large marshmallows

2 tablespoons Hershey's chocolate syrup, in squirt bottle

1. Preheat the broiler. Arrange the graham crackers side by side on an oven-safe plate (such as ceramic). You can also use a baking sheet.

2. Stack the milk chocolate bars side by side on top of the graham crackers.

3. Arrange the marshmallows on the chcocolate in 4 rows -- 4 across, 4 down.

4. Broil the dessert on the middle rack for 1 to 3 minutes or until the marshmallows turn light brown on top.

5. Remove the dessert from the oven. If you used a baking sheet, carefully slide the dessert onto a serving plate. With the squirt bottle, immediately drizzle the chocolate syrup over the marshmallows in a sweeping back-and-forth motion. Drizzle the chocolate diagonally across the dessert one way, and then the other, creating a cross-hatch pattern. Allow the chocolate to over-shoot the dessert so that it creates a decorative pattern on the serving plate as well.

Serves 2-4.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT CRUNCH COOKIES

Categories: Cookies
Yield: 4 dozen

Recipe
2 c Flour
1 ts Baking soda
1/4 ts Salt
1 c Butter; unsalted, softened
3/4 c Brown sugar
2 Eggs; lightly beaten
2 ts Vanilla
1 ts Almond extract
2 c Coconut; shredded
12 oz Chocolate chips
1 1/2 c Almonds; lightly salted dry roasted, finely chopped

Preheat the oven to 300. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In a medium bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and almond extract. Mix on low speed until blended. Add the flour mixture and mix just until blended; do not overmix. add the coconut, chocolate chips, and almonds and stir just until blended. Drop the dough by rounded tbsp 2" apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes.

Boston Chicken Saucer Sized Chocolate Chip

Categories: Desserts, Cookies
Yield: 1 servings

4 oz Nestle's Milk Chocolate bars
4 oz Baker's german sweet choc
4 oz Dove milk chocolate
Cookie dough
Use your own recipe

Melt 3 chocolates, stirring until smooth. Pour into greased 9" metal pie pan and refrigerate until hard. Hammer into pea-sized bits. Store refrigerated until ready to use. Use 1/3 c dookie dough, flattening to a 3-1/2 to 4" round. Bake at 375 for 16 to 18 minutes or until golden brown but not overbaked or cookies will be hard as rocks when cooled. The cookies will look almost "RAW" at the end of 16 minutes if you make them big enough and will continue to bake in their own heat as they cool on the sheets a few minutes.

Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Cake

Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Cake

Traditional white birthday cakes are pretty boring by themselves. Scoop a little ice cream onto the plate and I'll perk up a bit. But, hey baby, bring a Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake to the party and I'll be the first one in line with a plastic fork.

This 4500-unit ice cream chain stacks several varieties of pre-made ice cream cakes in its freezer, but I've discovered the most popular version, over and over again, is the one made from white cake with pralines and cream ice cream on top. So that's got to be the version we clone here. But don't think you're locked into this formula - you can use any flavor of cake and ice cream you fancy for your homemade masterpiece.

Just be sure the ice cream you choose comes in a box. It should be rectangular shape so that the ice cream layer stacks up right. Then you'll want to find a real sharp serrated knife to cut the ice cream in half while it's in the box. And check this out: That white stuff that coats the cake is actually softened ice cream spread on a thin layer like frosting, and then re-frozen.

After it sets up, you can decorate the cake any way you like with pre-made frosting in whatever color suits your festive occasion. Voila You've just made an ice cream cake at home that looks and tastes like those in the stores that costs around 35 buck each.

Cake

1 box white cake mix

1 1/4 cups water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 egg whites

1/2-gallon box pralines and cream ice cream

4 cups (2 pints) vanilla ice cream

1 12-ounce container white frosting

Optional

colored frosting

A sharp bread knife makes box slicing easy

Ice cream on top of the cake, and all the trimming

1. Make your cake following the directions on the box. If you are making the white cake you will likely blend the cake mix with water, oil, and 3 eggs. Pour the batter into a greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. This will make a thin cake for our bottom layer. When cake is done, let it cool to room temperature.

2. When the cake has cooled, carefully remove it from the pan and place it on a wax paper-covered cookie sheet, or a platter or tray that will fit into your freezer.

3. Use a sharp serrated knife (a bread knife works great) to slice the ice cream lengthwise through the middle, box and all, so that you have two 2-inch thick sheets of ice cream. Peel the cardboard off the ice cream and lay the halves next to each other on the cake. Slice the edges of the cake all the way around so that the cake is the same size as the ice cream on top. Work quickly so that the ice cream doesn't melt. When the cake has been trimmed, place it into the freezer for an hour or two.

4. When you are ready to frost the cake, take the two pints (4 cups) of vanilla ice cream out of the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes to soften. Sitr the ice cream so that it is smooth, like frosting. Use a frosting knife or spatula to coat your cake with about 2 cups of ice cream. Cover the entire surface thoroughly so that you cannot see any of the cake or ice cream underneath. Pop the cake into the freezer for an hour or so to set up.

5. When the cake has set, fill a pastry bag (with a fancy tip) with white frosting to decorate all around the top edge of the cake. Also decorate around the bottom of the cake. Use colored frosting and different tips to add inspired artistic flair and writing on the cake, as needed. Cover the cake with plastic wrap and keep it in your freezer until party time.

6. When you are ready to serve the cake, leave it out for 10 minutes before slicing. Cut the cake with a sharp knife that has been held under hot water. This recipe makes 1 large cake (16 - 20 servings).

Tidbits

You may wish to use another flavor cake mix such as chocolate or devil's food for this dessert - even low-fat cake mix works. It's up to you. Just follow the directions on the box for making the cake in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. You can also use any flavor of ice cream. Just be sure to get it in a box.

Bailey's Irish Cream

Bailey's Irish Cream

Yield: 1 Servings

1 c Light cream
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 2/3 c Irish Whiskey
1 ts Instant coffee
2 tb Hershey's chocolate syrup
1 ts Vanilla1 ts Almond extract

Combine all the ingredients in this recipe to a blender set on high speed for 30 seconds. Bottle in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate. The liqueur will keep for at least 2 months if kept cool. Be sure to shake the bottle well before serving.Makes 4 cups.

Baby Ruth Candy Bar

Baby Ruth Candy Bar

Beneath the chocolate of Nestle popular candy bar is a chewy, peanut-covered center that resembles Hershey's PayDay. To clone this one we'll only have to make a couple adjustments to the PayDay clone recipe, then add the milk chocolate coating.

Even though the wrapper of this candy bar calls the center "nougat," it's more of a white or blonde fudge that you can make in a saucepan on your stovetop with a candy thermometer. This recipe will explain it all.

Centers

1/4 cup whole milk

5 unwrapped caramels

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

1 teaspoon butter

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
20 unwrapped caramels

1 1/2 teaspoons water

2 cups dry roasted peanuts

1 12-ounce bag milk chocolate chips

1. Combine all ingredients for the centers, except the powdered sugar, in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir often as the caramel slowly melts. When the mixture is smooth, add 3/4 cup of powdered sugar. Stir. Save the remaining 1/2 cup of powdered sugar for later.

2. Use a candy thermometer to bring the mixture to exactly 230 degrees, stirring often, then turn off the heat.

3. When the temperature of the candy begins to drop, add the remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar to the pan, then use a hand mixer on high speed to combine. Keep mixing until the candy cools and thickens and can no longer be mixed. That should take a minute or two.

4. Let the candy cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it can be touched. Don't let it sit too long - you want the candy to still be warm and pliable when you shape it. Take a tablespoon-size portion and roll it between your palms or on a countertop until it forms a roll the width of your index finger, and measuring about 4 1/2-inches long. Repeat with the remaining center candy mixture and place the rolls on wax paper. You should have 8 rolls. Let the center rolls sit out for an hour or two to firm up.

5. Combine the 20 caramels with the 1 1/2 teaspoons of water in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir often until the caramels melt completely, then turn off the heat. If you work fast this caramel will stay warm while you make the candy bars.

6. Pour the peanuts onto a baking sheet or other flat surface. Using a basting brush and working quickly, "paint" a coating of caramel onto one side of a center roll. Quickly turn the center over, caramel side down, onto the peanuts and press gently so that the peanuts stick to the surface of the candy. Paint more caramel onto the other side of the roll and press it down onto the peanuts. The candy should have a solid layer of peanuts covering all sides. If needed, brush additional caramel onto the roll, then turn it onto the peanuts to coat the roll completely. Place the candy bar onto wax paper, and repeat with the remaining ingredients. Place these bars into your refrigerator for an hour or two so that they firm up.

7. Pour the milk chocolate chips into a glass or ceramic bowl and zap it in the microwave for 2 minutes on 50 percent power. Gently stir the chips, then heat for an additional 30 seconds at 50 percent power. Repeat if necessary, stirring gently after each 30 seconds. Don't overcook the chips or the chocolate will burn and seize up on you.

8. Drop a candy bar center into the melted milk chocolate. Cover the candy bar with chocolate using two forks, one in each hand. When the candy is covered with chocolate, balance the bar on both of the forks, one at each end of the candy bar, and tap the forks on the top edge of the bowl so that much of the chocolate drops off. Carefully place the candy bar onto wax paper and remove the two forks. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, and then chill the candy bars until firm.Makes 8 candy bars.

Arby's Jamocha Shake

Arby's Jamocha Shake

Okay, wash out the blender; this recipe has been begging to be cloned for years now. Arby's famous Jamocha Shake was one of the first frozen coffee drinks to gain popularity, even before Starbucks pummeled us with Frappuccinos.

This thick drink is actually more milk shake than coffee drink, but if you like the original, you'll love this easy-to-make clone that serves two.

1 cup cold coffee1 cup low-fat milk

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

3 cups vanilla ice cream3 tablespoons chocolate syrup

1. Combine the coffee, milk, and sugar in a blender and mix on medium speed for 15 seconds to dissolve the sugar.

2. Add ice cream, and chocolate syrup then blend on high speed until smooth and creamy. Stop blender and stir mixture with a spoon if necessary to help blend ingredients.

3. Pour drink into two 16-ounce glasses.Makes 2 large drinks.