Fudge Cookies

Although I’m all for cooking and backing from scratch, there are those times when it is nice of have a go-to recipe that can be accomplished in a short amount of time and still be tasty and ‘homemade’. These of those kind of cookies.

Fudge Cookies

2 large eggs, room temperature
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup melted butter (Margarine is just not as good!)
1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package devil’s food cake mix
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup roughly chopped walnuts or pecans
Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat together the eggs with the baking soda. Blend in the melted butter. Add orange zest, cake mix, and flour. Stir until all ingredients are moistened. The mixture will be a bit stiff. Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts.

Spread out the cookie dough evenly into a parchment paper lined jelly roll-type baking pan. They are usually around 15 ½ x 10 ½ x1-inch. You can use two smaller pans, if necessary.

Bake in preheated oven for approximately 10 to 15 minutes depending on your oven or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove pan to a cooling rack and let rest for about 15 minutes. While still warm and in the pan, cut into 2-inch squares. Sift powdered sugar over the top and let finish cooling.

Ideas:
There is always more than one way to tackle a recipe and make it your own.
-Use white chocolate chips instead of chocolate for a contrast.
-Add 1/4 cup of toffee bits to the recipe.
-Leave off the orange zest and use peppermint or chocolate mint chips.
-Use a yellow cake mix with milk chocolate chips.