Chocolate cake balls/pops

This recipe is for all the chocolate lovers like me..Chocolate inside and out..yummmm 
It is not hard as it looks(don't get scared by number of steps).

Chocolate cake pops/cake balls

Yields:35-40 cake balls
 
Ingredients:
1 box of your favorite chocolate mix 
Chocolate frosting 
Lollipop sticks/tooth pics/sucker sticks 
1 package chocolate bark/candy melts

Method:
1. Bake cake according to the package instructions. Let it cool to room temperature.
2. In a large mixing bowl break up the cake into crumbs using fork or hand. Mix just enough frosting into the cake crumbs until you get perfect texture (moist), you should be able to make balls out of the mixture. 

3. Roll out small round firm balls/pops from the cake mixture line them on a cookie sheet /wax paper.
4. In a microwave safe deep bowl melt chocolate until smooth (mix after every 30 seconds to avoid burning of chocolate)
5. Dip stick into the chocolate and press into the center of the cake ball and allow chocolate to harden completely by putting these balls in the freezer for 30min before moving onto the next step. Don’t skip this step.

6. Now pick up each cake ball by its stick, dip in the melted chocolate. Tap off the excess chocolate and press onto a piece of Styrofoam (even block of thermocol works).
7. If you are not using any sticks just use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate. Lay them on a cookie sheet
8. Refrigerate cake balls until ready to use.

Tips:  
1. Use few pieces of chocolate bar at a time to melt, because it starts to cool off and thicken.
2. If using any sprinkles for decoration, sprinkle them before chocolate coating cools down. 
3.You can mix and match cake and icing flavors and also the coating.Red velvet cake balls goes well with cream cheese frosting.

Easy Chocolate Cookies

These are semi homemade cookies.Yummy cookies.. will be ready in minutes.

Chocolate cookies for thanksgiving

Ingredients:

1 Chocolate cake mix box

2 eggs at room temperature

½ cup vegetable oil

1 and ½ cup chocolate chips(milk or dark)/nuts.

Method:

1.Take the cake mix in a bowl (sift cake mix to avoid lumps)to this add all the other ingredients. Mix all till they are well co operated (not more than 2 minutes).

2.Make small balls.Place them on the cookie sheet(aluminum foil) couple of inches apart. Slightly press on them.

3.Bake for 10-12 minutes.Take them out and allow them to cool down.

4.Store in a air tight container.Makes 15-18 cookies.

Almond Macaroons

Almond Macaroons

Ingredients:
1 and ¼ cup of whole raw almonds
¾ cup of powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 tablespoon of cooking oil for rolling
few almonds for decoration


Method:
1.Preheat your oven at 350F.
2.Grind the almonds to get fine textured almond powder.
3.Grate the peel of the lemon to get the lemon zest.
4.Separate the egg yolk from the egg white.
5.Mix the egg yolk with the almond powder, powdered sugar, lemon zest, and the baking powder.
6.Whisk egg white separately until you get a thick white foam.(beating with a hand whisk will take a long time,for this it is better to use a electric mixer)
7.Pour this over the mixture and use your hands to mix the dough to ensure that all ingredients are well incorporated(just for a minute)
8.Take equal amounts of the dough and make small balls(apply oil to your palms to avoid sticking), flatten them a bit, and place them on a baking tray with wax paper or foil.
9.Leave some space between the cookies. Decorate the cookies with almonds.
10.Bake them for 15 minutes in 350F preheated oven.