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You know I love baking from scratch.
I also love to save time in a pinch when necessary.
Combine the two and you've got something I call "Halfway Homemade" or "Pretty in a Pinch".

I've used this technique many times throughout the years to create delicious things to eat by combining something store-bought with something homemade. (ex. Salted Caramel Mini Apple Pies, or these Chocolate Peanut Butter Mini Oreo Pies, and this Pretty In a Pinch Cake).

It's kind of the same thing as buying pre-packaged pastries or baked items and then making them feel homemade by removing them from their bulky, plastic packaging and placing them in a cute basket lined with a pretty linen napkin. If you're going to a potluck adding a handwritten label to identify the baked goods adds even more charm. I've done this plenty of times.

So...today's example of Halfway Homemade are these monster-sized cookies which I appropriately named "Wickedly Delicious Monster Cookies".

You are essentially taking chocolate chip cookies and elevating them to an entirely new level. They are comprised of store-bought chocolate chip cookies, store-bought frosting in the middle, one side dipped in melted chocolate and sprinkled with crushed cookies. Wicked good my friends.

The finished product looks impressively homemade or even like something you'd find in a made-from-scratch bakery. I love that.

The idea behind these cookies is to gift them during the Halloween season. So I'm also sharing how to package them up to make them frightfully cute too - including the FREE Wickedly Delicious Monster Cookie Tags I made. I used these for our Phantom Pumpkin night but these are also perfect as sweet treats for teachers, co-workers, and friends too.

I shared this idea about 5 years ago and thought I should update the post to include even more straight-forward instructions and additional ideas for simplifying the process. (for instance, substituting the homemade buttercream with store-bought).

So let's get going...

SUPPLIES NEEDED (makes 5 monster cookies)

The Cookies
12 - oversized chocolate chips cookies from the bakery section of your grocery store
       2 for every cookie you want to make PLUS 2 or 3 cookies crumbled
Buttercream frosting from the bakery section of your grocery store
       they sell it already mixed up in tubs - one tub should be enough
1 - 12oz. bag of chocolate chips for melting + dipping - semi sweet or milk chocolate
Wax Paper to cover your work area and cookie sheet PLUS for wrapping finished cookies.
Cookie sheet for transporting cookies to and from freezer
                     make sure it'll actually fit inside your freezer first.

The Packaging
These items can be found at your local craft store but I've included some Amazon links here for those of you who prefer online shopping.

Striped black and white bags
Wax Paper or Parchment paper for wrapping cookies
Ribbon for finishing
Wickedly Delicious Monster Cookie Tags

INSTRUCTIONS
Cover cookie sheet with wax paper.
Arrange 6 cookies bottom-side up
Spread on buttercream frosting on all 6 cookies - enough so it will show after being sandwiched.
Top each cookie with another cookie.
Freeze for 10-30 minutes.

Melt chocolate chips using double boiler or microwave
Dip one side of frozen cookie into melted chocolate.
Place dipped cookie on wax paper and top with cookie crumbles.
Cool until set - approximately 30 minutes.

Wrap set cookies in parchment paper - secure with tape or twine if necessary.
Slip wrapped cookie into favor bag and fold to close. - tape if you'd like.
Wrap with ribbon.
Print + cut Wickedly Delicious Monster Cookie tags
Tape to bag as a finishing touch.
Done!

I hope these simplified instructions inspire you to try them out this year - if you haven't already.
Halloween is right around the corner...let's get freaky my friends!

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I thought I coined the term "Halfway Homemade" but then googled it.
There's a cookbook called Halfway Homemade. *eyeroll*
BUT I do have to say most of the things I'm seeing are from 2017, 2018 - sooo...since I used it back in 2013 should I still get the credit? *giggling*

PS - Not a lick of Halloween or fall decor out yet.
Wrapping up a Christmas project for Hershey and THEN the decorating will begin!!
Oh! And Ella wants to be a "goddess" for Halloween this year. I'd better start figuring that out.
Except she has me all pre-occupied with her double-digits birthday party coming up in November. *wink*

SUGAR | No-Bake Easy to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Mini Pies

I'm back with one more deconstructed halfway-homemade, last minute mini holiday dessert idea to help keep you out of the kitchen and mingling with your family, friends and guests.
You can whip up these impressive little bites in minutes and they are packed with flavor!
This MIGHT be my favorite deconstructed dessert idea I've shared...since it's all about my favorite flavor combination: chocolate + peanut butter. (not to mention it includes my very favorite candy bar: Snickers Peanut Butter Squared).

Chocolate + Peanut Butter Oreo Mini Pies

These are so seriously easy…you can thank me later.
Here's what you need to make them...

SUGAR | Super Easy No-Bake Salted Caramel Mini Apple Pies

We are days away from Thanksgiving and time is a-tickin'!
If you haven't quite figured out what you want to make for dessert yet or maybe you've been scouring Pinterest for something super simple but with some "wow" factor…stop looking. This is it.

I'm back with another "deconstructed" dessert idea that's soooo easy it just might be illegal.
Okay, I'm exaggerating but you may want to keep the easy part a secret for a few days to allow your guests to continue to rave about how awesome you are for slaving in the kitchen during the busy holidays just to make these special treats for them. (Ha!)

No-Bake Salted Caramel Mini Apple Pies

I've definitely been on a "no-bake" kick lately - looking for easy alternatives that are high on taste and low on time in the kitchen. You KNOW I love being in the kitchen and I prefer "from-scratch" any day over items that are store bought. Let's be realistic though. There are certain instances when from-scratch just isn't going to happen so instead of letting that push me to buy a box of cookies or a boring store-bought pie, I've found it equally satisfying to find ways to create things that are half-way homemade. You know what I mean…buying store-bought items and throwing them together to make them LOOK and almost TASTE homemade. It's a great way to still feed that creative urge I have for whipping up special treats (and making them look pretty). It also allows me to feel like I still had SOME sort of input on the overall taste of the dessert.  Maybe it's just a way to get rid of the guilt for not having time to do homemade? Regardless, I'm loving the turnout! (and so is my family). *wink* Here's all you need for making these darling Salted Caramel Mini Apple Pies...