Sunday, August 12, 2018

FUDGY DELIGHT COOKIES from #Author Catherine Bruns #Giveaway

Thank you to Denise for inviting me here today. As you can probably tell, I love culinary themed mysteries. I’m a huge fan of desserts, especially cookies, so what’s better than writing about them? My main character Sally Muccio runs a novelty cookie shop in Western New York. She and her best friend Josie bake several varieties, one being the fudgy delight. Upstate New Yorkers know these cookies by a different name though—fudge fancies. They are a delicious sugar cookie topped with rich chocolate fudge frosting and were the signature cookie of the Vanilla Bean Bakery, which closed its doors about 10 years ago. The cookies still live on, though. Other bakeries in my area sell them with some varieties being better than others (and believe me, I’ve tried them all!) I’ve asked repeatedly for the recipe and always been turned down. So, with the help of my friend Amy, I created my own version and think they taste just as good as the original.



FUDGY DELIGHT COOKIES
For the Vanilla Cookie:

Ingredients:
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
4 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 ½ cups sugar
3 large eggs
5 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, and whisk together to blend. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar, and beat together on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the bowl as needed. Blend in the vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated and evenly mixed. Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour.









When you are ready to bake the cookies, scoop out the dough into the size of a golf ball, or use a 2-tablespoon scoop for them. Flatten the ball slightly, to about half-inch thickness, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the cookies at least 2-3 inches apart. Bake about 10-12 minutes or just until set. Do not overbake. The edges should be no more than very lightly browned. Let cool on the baking sheet for several minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes between 3 and 4 dozen cookies, depending on size.


For the Fudge Frosting:

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup baking cocoa
1 cup milk
½ cup butter or margarine
¼ cup light corn syrup
¼ teaspoon salt
2 ½ to 3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a 3-quart saucepan mix granulated sugar and cocoa. Stir in milk, butter, corn syrup, and salt. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently. Boil 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla extract with spoon until smooth. Fudge will be runny. Cool in the fridge for a few hours until firm and then frost. There will be enough fudge to frost at least 4 dozen cookies.



 CRUMBLED TO PIECES
In need of some quick dough, full-time baker and sometime sleuth Sally Muccio decides to rent the vacant apartment over the bakery to a friend of her grandmother’s. Allegra Fiato is nothing like Sal’s darling Grandma Rosa, though. She’s mean, dishonest, and harboring a deadly secret.

When the elderly woman is mowed down in a hit and run, it quickly becomes obvious this was no accident. Grandma Rosa asks for Sal’s help to find the killer, which involves a last minute trip to Vegas crashed by Sal’s crazy parents, stolen fortune cookies, and a mysterious missing locket. To add more spice to the mix, a loved one makes a startling admission to Sal that shocks her to the very core. Suddenly, Sal’s world is in danger of crumbling around her. Can she put the pieces back together in time before the killer makes her the next victim?
*Recipes Included!*

You can preorder Crumbled to Pieces here:  https://amzn.to/2tSe4jU






Or start the series with the first book, Tastes Like Murder, which is on sale for 99 cents for a limited time! http://amzn.to/2zVeQyq
Get the Cookies & Chance short story, Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud for free when you sign up for Catherine’s newsletter:  http://catherinebruns.net/newsletter_bruns/newsletter.html




GIVEAWAY
Leave a comment and tell me what’s your favorite cookie. One person will receive winner’s choice: A signed copy of any book in the Cookies & Chance series and one of my measuring spoons. (Please note that if you want Crumbled to Pieces it will not arrive until approximately the first week of October.) An ebook copy will be provided if the winner is located outside the U.S.
Other places to find Catherine:
Author Page - https://bit.ly/2nkm0HN
Twitter - @writesmystery
Instagram - instagram.com/catherinebrunsauthor
Catherine’s Cozy Readers (new group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/241834706420330/

--Catherine Bruns is the USA Today best selling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries. She also writes the Carrie Jorgenson culinary books set in Hawaii and the Cindy York real estate mysteries. Her new series, the Italian Chef Mysteries, releases from Sourcebooks in Summer 2019. Catherine lives in Upstate New York with an all-male household that includes her very patient husband, three sons and several spoiled pets. In her spare time, she loves to read, bake and attend theater performances. She has a B.A. in English and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. 



67 comments:

  1. I like chocolate chip cookies. I would pick Burned to a Crisp for my book. Dbahn@iw.net

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    1. Hi Dianne. I've asked this question several times before and chocolate chip always wins! Thanks for commenting.

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  2. My mom makes a delicious Butterfinger cookie and there is no way you can eat just one. I would choose the first book in the series . Thank you for offering this giveaway.
    Wendy
    clarksrfun at gmail dot com

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    1. Oh those sound great! I love the candy bar so no doubt I'd enjoy the cookie too!

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  3. My favorite would be a good chocolate chip cookie still warm from the oven.
    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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    1. There's nothing quite like warm chocolate chip cookies!

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  4. No matter how many recipes I try my favorite is still my mom's old recipe for chocolate chip cookies. But these cookies look really good. I've never seen these before. Thanks for the recipe. And the contest. If I get picked, I'd like the first book, please. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Hi Riley. Chocolate chip cookies always seems to win, hands down. Good luck!

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  5. I love oatmeal cookies. But when in Amish country it's snickerdoodles. We buy a bunch of them to bring back home. Thank you for the chance in your giveaway. pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Hi Paula. I love snickerdoodles myself. There's a recipe for them in Crumbled to Pieces as well because so many readers have asked for it. Thanks for commenting!

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  6. My favorite cookie recipe has to be my Ozark Honey Oatmeal Cookie. Not only does it taste delicious but it's the most versatile cookie recipe that I have. You can make it way ahead of time because the longer it sits the better it gets. Not like most cookies that tend to try out with age. It takes just about any kind of weather - hot or cold. It both ships and freezes well. Everyone is always asking for the recipe and it's not any harder to make that any other cookie.

    I will have to say that I also love my Teacake recipe that was passed down to me by my Granny. I make it often too since it's a favorite of my husband (along with Snickerdoodle Cookies with extra cinnamon). During the holidays I can add colored sugar to make them festive.

    Thanks for the wonderful chance to win a signed copy of one of your books. LOVE your books and can't wait for the opportunity to read " CRUMBLED TO PIECES".
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Thanks, Kay! Both of those sound really good. Recipes handed down from our ancestors are such a treasure, aren't they?

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  7. My favorite is homemade ginger snaps but I never make them because my boyfriend and I have eaten a dozen and a half in one weekend.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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    1. Hi Sandy. I love ginger snap cookies. I'm planning to feature a recipe for them in Book #8. Thanks for commenting!

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  8. I pretty much never met a cookie I didn't like. Pecan sandies are probably my favorite. rgp1950@yahoo.com

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  9. We are partial to an old Scottish Shortbread cookie. We often add something like Lavender buds (dried & run through spice mill) or another dried flower. They are very delicate. Not at all like the hard stuff you get in a store. And they never last long. Della at deepotter (at) peoplepc (dot) com

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    1. Those sound wonderful, especially with the addition of the buds. I love recipes with unique ingredients. Thanks for commenting!

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  10. I love an old fashion molasses cookie.
    Enjoy reading your books.
    judytucker1947atgmaildotcom

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    1. Thank you, Judy. I haven't featured a molasses recipe yet but it's definitely something I've been thinking about.

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  11. My favorite cookie is a lemon biscuit which is filled with love and perfect with tea. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Those sound good. I'm more of a coffee drinker myself and bet they go great with both!

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  12. I love thumbprints and cut out cookies with frosting. Hard to pick which one is my favorite! I've never heard of the Fudge Fancies, but I look forward to trying them! Thanks for the chance to win!
    ioncookbooks(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Hi Kelly. They are a bit of work but so worth it, in my opinion. Thanks for commenting and good luck!

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  13. Your cookies look delectable and are so great. The little ones love those. I enjoy cranberry cookies. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks so much for commenting. Kids especially love the frosting, I think. And so do I, lol.

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  14. Hi Catherine -- thanks for visiting Mystery Lovers' Kitchen and sharing the yummy fudgy delight cookies -- I can't wait to make them! My favorite cookie is the basic tollhouse chocolate chip cookie, but with different flavors of chips and some espresso added for that mocha taste. bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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    1. Hi Celia. I haven't tried chocolate chip cookies with espresso yet but now I'm going to have to! They sound delicious.

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  15. Looks like a yummy combo of the plain old sugar cookie (my husband's favorite) and lots of chocolate! My favorite is a cake-like chocolate chip. Thanks for the giveaway.
    sallycootie@gmail.com

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    1. That's exactly what they are. The cookie part is not as sweet as some varieties of the sugar cookie, which is a good thing because the frosting more than makes up for it. :)Thanks for stopping by!

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  16. Love this series. My favorite cookie is a simple ginger bread cookie. I always buy three or four packages every winter. They last me a couple of months.

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    1. Thank you, Thomas. I love gingerbread myself and plan on featuring a recipe for it in the next book.

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  17. My favorite cookie would have to be Russian Tea Cookies that my Grandma used to make. My sister has made them in the past from her recipe. They are so flaky and scrumptious.. I wish I was more of a Baker to be able to make them.. I tend to burn cookies and pies.. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️❤
    Thanks for the chance.
    lilyanngill56(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Lily,I have a family recipe for a Maamoul cookie which is somewhat similar to those. The only down side is they take all day to make! Thanks for commenting.

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  18. Honestly, I never met a cookie I didn't like :-)

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  19. I love to make cowboy cookies which is your basic oatmeal cookie recipe that you add a fourth of a cup of chips (chocolate, peanut butter, etc), a handful of dried fruit (raisins, cran-raisins,apricots,etc), a fourth cup nuts, and a sprinkling of dried shredded coconut.

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    1. Hi Sue. I have never tried those. I am not a big fan of nuts in cookies but the rest sounds great, especially the coconut!

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  20. COOOOOKEEEEZ!!! Welcome to the blog, Catherine!

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  21. I am a cookie monster and my favorite is a crunch white chocolate chip pistachio cookie ! Thanks for the chance to win

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    1. Hi Taylor, those sound good. I just made raspberry cheesecake cookies with white chocolate chips. Thanks for commenting.

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  22. Sugar cookies are my favorite. This fudgey frosting will be a yummy addition to try.
    turtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. The Fudgy Delight Cookies are making my mouth water! I haven't read any of the books in this series. I'd love an autographed copy of Tastes Like Murder! Thanks for the chance to win it!

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    1. P.S. Usually, Peanut Butter Blossoms are my favorite cookie.😉

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    2. Hi Nancy, peanut blossoms are delicious. I have a bad habit of eating too many Hershey kisses before I finish the cookies though, lol.

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    3. Hi Nancy, you are the winner! Please contact me at catherinebruns@outlook.com to claim your prize. Thanks!

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  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  25. Chocolate chip nut cookies still warm from the oven.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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    1. Hi Libby. Cookies always seem better when they're fresh out of the oven, don't they?

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  26. I like oatmeal raisin cookies. Silly question but, are those cookies good unfrosted? I'm not a chocolate lover. I could always use a different flavor, of course.
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Linda, it's not a silly question at all. They are quite good without the frosting - the sugar cookie by itself is not an overly sweet one. I haven't tried them with other varieties of frosting but am guessing they'd be delicious with vanilla or strawberry buttercream.

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  27. Oatmeal chocolate chip is probably my favorite, but I love gingerbread ones too.
    browninggloria at hotmail dot com

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  28. my mom's magic cookies or layer cookies goes by either name.
    greeneyes2755(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. The Fudgy Delight cookies look amazing. Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite with my Mom's walnut cookies a close second.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  30. It's a toss-up between intense ginger snaps and oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookies.

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  31. Now I want to eat one of those fudgie cookies, thank you for the recipe. I’d love to win and read one ☝️ f your books. They sound so interesting and fun to read. I’ll look for them. Donamaekutska7@gmail.com my favorite is sugar cookies now I want chocolate on them!

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  32. Those look great. I love hermit cookies and lebkuchen. Thanks for the chance to win! kayt18 (at) comcast (dot) net

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  33. I’m a sucker for a good chocolate chip! Thanks for this opportunity!
    Dm _ richards (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  34. Fudge delight cookies look delicious. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  35. It is a toss up between Chocolate Chip, Molasses Crinkles, or Thumbprint.

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  36. Congratulations on your upcoming book release !
    Thanks for sharing the fudgy delight cookie recipe !
    I will definitely have to try it. I love baking !
    I love about any homemade cookie that lands in front of me.
    If had to pick a favorite, it would be molasses cookies.
    Myndirene(at)yahoo.com

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  37. White chocolate macadamia nut cookies are one of my favorites! bskts4unme@hotmail.com

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  38. I like chocolate chip cookies with dark chocolate and walnuts. Yum!

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  39. How great to see you here today! I would love to win a paperback book of your series!!! I love chocolate chocolate cookies with macadamia nuts!

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