Sugar Cookies!!

This recipe is from my friend Stephanie's website.

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
3 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg 
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Combine sugar, butter, milk, vanilla and egg.  Add dry ingredients.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.  Roll out on a lightly floured surface.  Bake at 400 for 5-9 minutes.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

Crust:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
Cheesecake Filling:
• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Apples:
• 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Streusel Topping:
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
Drizzle:
• 1/2 cup caramel topping for drizzling after baked

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or 2 forks) until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9x13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.
4. In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.
5. For the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. I like to really combine it by using my clean hands to thoroughly combine the butter into the mixture.
6. Sprinkle Streusel topping over apples. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool. Serve cold and enjoy! Make 16 servings.

Read more at http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2010/09/caramel-apple-cheesecake-bars.html#qJp5zP1KCs80z4fT.99

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies

Enjoy!

Reindeer Cookies

(You could make these with sugar cookies too!)
Printable Recipe

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup shortening

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 egg

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

Chocolate-covered mini pretzels

Mini brown M&Ms

Regular-sized red M&Ms

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, milk, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add egg; beat until just blended.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.

Form dough into 1-inch balls. To make reindeer-shaped cookies, pinch the bottom of the ball slightly to form a point, then gently flatten with your hand. Space cookies about 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until set or just beginning to brown. 

Remove from oven and immediately (and gently) press two mini pretzels into the tops of the cookies for the reindeer's antlers. Press two mini brown M&Ms in for the eyes and one red M&M for the nose (or any other color... some of mine ended up with green noses. They might be South Pole reindeer.). 

Allow to cool 2 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack or paper towel to cool completely. 

Makes about 40 reindeer cookies.

Recipe found HERE

Ho Ho Bars

Ahh, Brings me back to my childhood!

Base: (I'm thinking about next time using a chocolate cake mix instead, I think it would taste better, but it's still good this way!)
1 stick marg

1/2 c oil

1 c water

3 T cocoa

2 c sugar

2 c flour

1 t soda

2 eggs

1/2 c buttermilk

Filling:

1 c sugar

1 c crisco

1/2 c evaporated milk

1 t vanilla

1/4 t salt

1 t water

2 c powdered sugar

Frosting:

1 c sugar

6 T milk

6 T marg

2 c chocolate chips

For base:

(If using a cake mix, prepare as directed and bake in a jelly roll pan.  I'm not sure on how long to cook it, so just keep an eye on it)  Combine first 7 ingredients; beat well. Add eggs and buttermilk; beat well.  Spread in 15x17'' greased and floured jelly roll pan.  Bake 20-25 min at 350.  Cool for 1 hour.

For filling:

beat first 6 ingredients for 5 minutes on high.  Add powdered sugar. Beat well and spread on cooled brownies.

For Frosting:

Boil sugar, milk, and marg for 1 minutes.  Stir in chocolate chips and beat until smooth.  Drizzle over brownies.

Chewy Apple Oatmeal Cookies-Stephanie Wright

This recipe is courtesy of Stephanie Wright:

One of Joe's favorite desserts is Apple Crisp.  And let's face it, the best part of apple crisp is the top!  These cookies catch the best part of your favorite fall dessert!

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped apples

In a large bowl cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine the flour, cinnamon and baking soda in a bowl.  Gradually add to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.  Stir in oats and apples.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in apart onto ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  Let stand for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack.

REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER BARS

Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars(from Let’s Dish)

Ingredients
1 cup butter melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (use the boxed kind, or grind them in a food processor. Tiny granules.)
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 cup + 4 tablespoons peanut butter
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners’ sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 inch pan. In a metal bowl over simmering water, or in the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the peanut butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.

Buckeye Brownies

Buckeye Brownies, 


19-1/2 oz. pkg. brownie mix 
2 c. powdered sugar 
1/2 c. plus 6 T. butter, softened and divided 
8-oz. jar creamy peanut butter 
6-oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips 


Prepare and bake brownie mix in a greased 13"x9" baking pan according to package directions. Let cool. Mix powdered sugar, 1/2 cup butter and peanut butter. Mix well and spread over cooled brownies. Chill for one hour. Melt together chocolate chips and remaining butter in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Spread over brownies. Let cool; cut into squares. Makes 2 to 3 dozen. 


Recipe found HERE

Rice Krispie Hearts

Great idea for Valentines Day!

These are a fun idea for anyone who loves Rice Krispies. They are also nice and easy to make like the marshmallow pops and cookie pops. Check out the recipe here!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cereal Bars

Ingredients

• 5 cups Chocolate Cheerios® cereal
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 3/4 cup salted peanuts
• 1 cup corn syrup
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions

1. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, combine cereal, raisins and peanuts; set aside.
2. In 2-quart saucepan, combine corn syrup and sugars. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter.
3. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal mixture; mix until thoroughly coated. Spread evenly in pan.
4. In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips on High 1 minute, stirring every 15 seconds, until melted and smooth. Drizzle over bars. Refrigerate 15 minutes or until chocolate is set.

Recipe found HERE

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Found HERE
1 (18.25) package plain yellow cake mix

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 eggs

1 (12 oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup coconut (optional)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2) Combine cake mix, melted butter, peanut butter, and eggs in a large bowl using a mixer or spoon. Press this into a 9X13 pan reserving 1 1/2 cup of the mixture to crumble on top.

3) In a small pot, melt chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and coconut.
4) Spread chocolate mixture over the mixture pressed in the pan and then crumble the 1 1/2 cups of reserved cake mixture on top evenly.
5) Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

CAKE BATTER PUDDING COOKIES

CAKE BATTER PUDDING COOKIES

• 1 1/2 sticks (or 3/4 cup) butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3/4 cup yellow cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2-1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Stir together flour, salt and baking soda and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars together.

Add in pudding package and cake mix and beat until well blended.

Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.

Add flour mixture slowly until well incorporated.

Mix in sprinkles sprinkles.

Roll into 1" balls and place on greased baking sheet.

Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes.

Recipe found HERE

Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

 These cookies are best enjoyed slightly warm, either from sitting atop your tea mug or microwaved for a few seconds. My favorite method? My tea mug of course. (I even used a pair of chopsticks this morning to suspend my cookie, since it was smaller than my big mug.) The warmth of the rising steam from the tea makes the caramel melt ever-so-slightly into a gooey center, surrounded by a crispy sweet-tart apple flavored cookie. Now tell me you can resist that!

Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

Recipe found HERE

recipe very slightly adapted from The Cooking Photographer

Ingredients

1 cup softened butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 box (7.4 oz) Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Instant Original Drink mix -not sugar free- all 10 packets (I found this in my grocery store near the hot chocolate mixes.)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 cups all purpose flour

1 bag Kraft Caramels (14 oz)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Line cookie sheets with parchment. (You really need the parchment!)
• In a small bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.
• With your mixer (or an energetic spoon) cream together butter, sugar, salt and all 10 packages of apple cider drink mix powder, until light and fluffy.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix well.
• Gradually add flour mixture to butter/egg mixture. Mix until just combined.
• Refrigerate for about an hour. (If you're really impatient you don't have to do this, but it makes it so much easier to work with.)
• When you are ready to bake, unwrap your caramels. 
• Scoop out cookie dough ball about the size of a walnut. (I used a rounded cookie scoop-full. My scoop holds about a Tablespoon.)
• Flatten the ball of dough slightly in the palm of your hand. Press the unwrapped caramel into the center of your dough and seal the dough around it, covering it completely. Place on parchment covered cookie sheets 2 inches apart.
• Bake 12-14 minutes, or until very lightly browned around the edges. Please don't over-bake! Once the cookies are done, slide the parchment off of the baking sheet right out onto the counter. Allow cookies to partially cool on the parchment. When cookies are cool enough to be firm but still slightly warm, carefully twist off of parchment and allow to finish cooling upside down (either on the parchment or on a rack.) If you forget about them and they cool too much and stick to your parchment, put them into the freezer for a few minutes and they'll pop right off.
• Yield: about 4 dozen, depending on how large you make your cookies (or how many caramels have been snitched out of your bag before you begin.) Store in an airtight container.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bowls

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 325° F. Grease twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups.

Prepare your favorite Cookie Dough recipe.  Grease muffin pan, or it has been suggested to use cupcake liners to make it easier to get out.  Fill muffin pans 1/2 to 3/4 full. I haven't made these yet, but supposedly the middle will indent.  However, to make bigger bowls, I imagine you can press it up the side or even flip your cupcake pan upside down and form them over the outside of the cups and cook them.  If you try this, you could also try putting a cupcake liner over the outside of the pan before you form the cookie dough to make it easy to get it off.   You may also have to adjust cooking time accordingly.  It probably won't take as long that way.

BAKE for 20 to 24 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack*. Center of cups will indent slightly upon cooling. With tip of butter knife, remove cookie cups from muffin pan.

FILL cookie cups as desired.

Yogurt & Fruit Cookie Cups: Top each with a spoonful of yogurt and cut-up fresh fruit of choice.

Ice Cream Cookie Cups: Top each with a small scoop of Ice Cream (any flavor). Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.

* Rocky Road Cookie Cups: Immediately after cookie cups come out of the oven, top with a mixture of  Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, mini marshmallows and chopped nuts. 

This recipe was found HERE

Andes Mint Cookies

This is my go-to cookie whenever I need to bring cookies to something or take cookies to a neighbor. They are AMAZING! (And very rich . . . warning- you WILL need a glass a milk to go with them!)

1 Devil's Food Cake Mix
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 package of Andes Mints

Mix cake mix, oil, and eggs together. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-9 minutes. Don't cook any longer than that! You don't want them to be overdone!
Take sheet out of oven and while the cookies are still very hot, place an Andes Mint on top of each cookie. In about 5 minutes, the mint will be melted. Take a spoon and smooth out each mint like frosting.
These are so yummy when they are warm and gooey!! They are also delicious when they set-up for a little while . . . who am I kidding? They are divine no matter their temperature . . .



Recipe Found HERE

Cherry Chocolate Kisses

Cherry Chocolate Kisses

Servings: approximately 36 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened, but still cool

1 cup powdered sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons maraschino cherry “juice”

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped

Granulated sugar, for sprinkling the cookies

36 milk chocolate kisses, unwrapped

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2. In the bowl of your standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter at medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute.

3. Reduce the speed to the lowest setting and slowly add the powdered sugar and salt.

4. Add the cherry juice and the almond extract until combined.

5. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the flour, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

6. Increase the mixer speed to medium and add the cherries.

7. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls, and place the balls on a baking sheet, approximately 2 inches apart.

8.  Using your thumb, gently press each cookie in its center until the cookie is about 1/2-inch thick.

9.  Sprinkle each cookie with a little granulated sugar.

10.  Bake the cookies until the bottoms are lightly browned, about 14 minutes.

11. Once removed from the oven, immediately press a chocolate kiss into each cookie’s center.

12.  Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

 Recipe Found HERE