A Dessert Dip and a Special Cookie GIVEAWAY

Yahoo!!! - another giveaway!  And what a perfect giveaway for the last week of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies because it involves COOKIES!!!  A couple of weeks ago I was sent a lovely box full of treats from Tate's Bake Shop located in the Hampton's, NY.  THREE boxes of cookies and a fabulous cookbook from Tate's was included in that box....everything that you will receive if you WIN!  Yes, a package of 3 boxes of scrumptious kinds of cookies  (Oatmeal Raisin, White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut and  Chocolate Chip) AND a cookbook from Tate's Bake Shop in The Hampton's, NY  goes to the lucky winner of this giveaway.

The cookies were delicious!  The White Chocolate chip Macadamia and Chocolate Chip cookies are tender and sweet with a lovely crispness while the Oatmeal Raisin cookies just melted in my mouth with a softness that can not be resisted.

  And the cookbook is fabulous!  I can not wait to dive into the ear-tagged pages of recipes.  I want to make the White Chocolate Brownies, Raspberry Squares, Hermits, Double Peanut Chocolate Brownies and Toffee Pecan Cookies.....to name a few. ;-) Keep your eyes open for some of these recipes coming your way on my blog in the future.

Here are the rules....

1. All you have to do to enter to win this giveaway is leave a comment at the end of this post.  Tell me anything....what you did this morning, what your plans are for the holidays or even what your most favorite kind of holiday treat there is out there (whether it be a sweet baked goodie or something savory).

2. For an extra entry become a "fan" of Tate's Bakery page on Facebook - just be sure to leave another comment to let me know you have done so.

3. This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents...I'm so sorry to all the foreigners!

4. A 15% off discount at Tate's online store is available up until the 31st of December.  Just enter "cookie" at the end of your purchase.

5. All entries will be accepted up until 12 midnight of Tuesday 12/21/10.  Winner will chosen with the help of random.org.
Now onto my last recipe for the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies 2010....

Goodness it is the LAST week of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies!  How in the world did that happen so quickly?  Wowsers....time flies!  I have had so much fun with this baking group.  I have made many, many new friends, gained access to tons of fabulous blogs and recipes and I seriously can  not wait until next year to participate again!  Many, many thanks to April of Abby Sweets for organizing such a great baking group!

In honor of the last week of this fabulous baking group I would like to share with you a simple and oh-so-d'lish dessert dip called, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip.  I had seen this recipe floating around blog land recently and decided to try my hand at it when I came upon it at one of my very favorite food blogs, Brown Eyed Baker.

Brace yourself for this treat now.  It is super, super easy to whip together and will be a HUGE hit to everyone that dips into it.  They will be begging you for the recipe...yes, begging you. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
(recipe from the very talented, Brown Eyed Baker)

Ingredients:

1 stick butter (I used unsalted)

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 (80z.) package of cream cheese

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat melt butter with brown sugar.  Stir constantly until the brown sugar has dissolved.   Remove from heat and then whisk in vanilla extract.  Set saucepan aside and cool.

2. Beat together cream cheese and powdered sugar while butter/brown sugar mixture is cooling. 

3. Slowly beat in cooled butter/brown sugar mixture into the cream cheese mixture.  Beat for a full minute on medium speed then with a wooden spoon or plastic spatula gently stir in mini chocolate chips.

4. Pour dip into a serving bowl and refrigerate.  Garnish with more mini chips before serving if you wish.  Serve dip with cookies of your choice - graham cracker sticks or vanilla wafers go great with this dip!

YUM!  Enjoy to the fullest!

Happy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip Making!

Week 12 Twelve Weeks of Christmas: