Chocolate Oreo Cookie Cake

My brother turned 25 in July and I made him this cake for his birthday.  It was really easy to put together and it looks really fancy.  It's definitely on my list of favorite cakes.  It was delicious; especially if you love Oreos like I do! 

Chocolate Oreo Cookie Cake
source: Sweet Treats and More (Click that link so you can see how awesome this cake looks)

 1 pkg chocolate cake mix
12 ounces milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup whipping cream or milk
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, soft
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups cool whip, thawed
12-14 Oreo cookies, crushed

Preheat oven to 350.

1.  Grease two 9 inch round cake pans and set aside.

2.   Prepare cake mix according to package directions and divide evenly into the two 9-inch round pans. Bake for directed time. 

3.  Cool cakes for 10 minutes before inverting onto cooling racks.

4.  Microwave chocolate chips and whipping cream in a small bowl on high for two minutes or until chocolate is melted (stir every 20 seconds).  Stir until completely melted then let cool for 5 minutes.

5.  Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Gently stir cool whip and crushed Oreos.  Reserve some of the crumbs to sprinkle on top of the cake.

6.  Place one cake layer on a cake plate, spread the cream cheese mixture then place the other cake layer on top.  Spread with the chocolate glaze.  You can cover the sides completely or just spread over the top and let the glaze kind of spill over the edges.

7.  Let stand 10 minutes and refrigerate until serving.

Peanut Butter Marbled Brownies

I made these for my Sunday dessert craving and they were amazing!  My brother said they were the best brownies he's ever had!  So delicious!

Peanut Butter Marbled Brownies
6 oz. cream cheese, softened 
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 Tb milk
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Lightly grease 9×13 inch baking pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a medium bowl, beat together first 5 ingredients until smooth.  Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, 2 cups sugar, and vanilla.  Mix in eggs, one at a time. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; mix into the batter. Stir in chocolate chips.  Spread batter into prepared pan. Drop the peanut butter filling on top by the large spoonful.  Using a butter knife, gently swirl peanut butter filling through the chocolate batter to create a marbled effect. (The batter is stiff so this is a little difficult. The key is not to over swirl it.)  Once you are done swirling, you may need to tap the pan on a towel covered counter to make the batter settle.  Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted one inch from the edge comes out clean.  Cool completely, then cut into small squares.

Recipe from: The Sister's Cafe