Double Chocolate Monster Cookies

Did you ever need a cookie in a hurry but haven't got time to do the from scratch baking? Well as I discovered a couple of years ago you can make cookies using a boxed cake mix. By adding just a few extra ingredients to the cake mix you have wonderful cookie dough. Then, browse your pantry to see what other little tidbits you may want to add to the mix like pecans and chocolate chips. Since I only had white morsels that's what I put in these along with chopped pecans which were in my freezer.

I used my 1 1/2" scoop that made monster sized cookies, yielding 26 cookies. If you use a 1" scoop you will obviously get many more out of the batch. But the husband loves his chocolate so I opted for bigger.

This is a great recipe you can make with your kids - they will love to help. These were so delicious and my big kid devoured them.

 When box mixes go on sale or shopping for them at an Job Lot type store saves money. These cookies are easy, fast and inexpensive. Spend the time baking a batch or two on the weekend as a family time activity and you have a treat to add to the kids lunches that doesn't break the bank. This whole batch and surprising including the nuts cost me $4.07. I got 26 cookies for 15¢ each. Now you will probably get almost double the yield of cookies by using the smaller sized scoop. That's a phenomenal savings over buying store bought. You can bring the cost of this recipe down by eliminating the nuts altogether.

• 1 box dark chocolate fudge cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 stick melted butter
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar - pack it firmly
• 1 tsp. vanilla extra
• 1 cup chocolate morsels (your choice)
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (Optional, your choice - I used pecans)

The dough is a stiff dough that you work together using a wooden spoon. These cookies spread while baking because of the butter content. I know parchment paper can be somewhat pricey, so when baking in batches, use the same sheet of parchment for a second round in the oven. I happen to prefer parchment over greasing (lazy - less clean up involved), and the cookies just about slide off the parchment.

1. Preheat your oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease the cookie sheet.
2. In a bowl add in the cake mix, the eggs, the melted butter, vanilla and brown sugar. Work that together until everything is incorporated.
3. Fold in the morsels and the nuts if you are using them.
4. Drop by scoopfuls onto the cookie sheet about 1 inch - 1 1/4 inches apart.
5. Bake in the oven for anywhere from 12-16 minutes. Cool the baking sheets on a wire rack and wait about 2-4 minutes before removing the cookies from the baking sheets.