While stuck in quarantine, it is easy to get bored and run out of things to do. One of the things I have loved to do while in quarantine is a lot of baking. It’s a fun way to pass time, and of course your whole family benefits from having the delicious treats in your house.

Monster Cookies

I love these cookies because they are amazing and a little more interesting than just chocolate chip. If you prefer a pre-made mix I definitely recommend Meli’s Cookie Mix.

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups peanut butter (I prefer using creamy, but you can use crunchy)

3 large eggs

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats 

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup M&M’s

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° 
2. In a bowl, mix butter, sugars, peanut butter, and eggs 
3. Add baking soda, vanilla extract, and gluten-free oats and mix
4. Stir in chocolate chips and M&M’s
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown

My Tips: 

• Add more peanut butter for softer cookies 
• The more M&M’s and chocolate chips the better
• Make sure not to add too much egg or else the cookies will fall apart

Chocolate Loaf Cake 

If you like chocolate, you have to try this recipe because it’s super easy and tastes delicious. 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cups butter 

3/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 large eggs

1 1/4 cups flour 

3/4 cup milk

Glaze Ingredients: 

2 cups confectioners’ sugar

6 tbsp butter

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (optional if you want vanilla glaze)

1/4 cup milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° 
2. In a bowl, beat butter and sugar
3. Add salt, vanilla extract, baking soda, baking powder, and cocoa
4. Add eggs, flour, and milk
5. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 60-65 minutes
6. In a bowl, mix butter, milk, and cocoa powder
7. Add sugar and more milk if desired 
8. Drizzle glaze on cake 

My Tip:

• Make sure to let the cake cool for 10-20 minutes so that it doesn’t fall apart when you take it out of the pan

Buckeyes

These peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate are so addicting. And a quick bonus- they don’t require any baking at all!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

1 cup butter

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. salt 

6 cups powdered sugar

3 cups chocolate chips 

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix peanut butter and butter
2. Stir in vanilla extract, sea salt, and then powdered sugar 
3. Form dough into little balls and place on cookie sheet 
4. Put a toothpick into the dough and chill for 40 minutes
5. Melt chocolate 
6. Dip the balls into the chocolate 
7. Once chocolate has dried, then remove toothpick 

My Tip: 

• Make sure not to take the toothpick out before dipping in chocolate or else the dough will fall apart

Brownie Cookies

These cookies are so easy to make because all you mainly need is boxed brownie mix. 

Ingredients:

1 box Ghirardelli/Duncan Hines Brownie Mix (these brands work the best) 

1/2 cup flour

2 large eggs

5 tbsp vegetable oil

1 water

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients
3. Add in eggs, oil, water, and finally chocolate chips  
4. Scoop dough onto cookie sheet
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes 

My Tip:

• Be careful trying other brownie mix brands because the cookies could end up too flat

Nutella Cookies

These cookies only have four ingredients so they can be made super fast – yet they still taste so good!

Ingredients:

2 tbsp brown sugar 

1 cup Nutella

1 large egg

1/2 cup of flour 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. In a bowl, mix ingredients together
3. Freeze dough for 10 minutes
4. Roll dough into balls and place on cookie sheet
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes 

My Tip:

• These taste best a little undercooked than overcooked so make sure not to bake them too long
• Add more flour for fluffier cookies 

If you ever get bored, definitely try out a few of these recipes because they are all so tasty. Have fun!