Chocolate Mint Candy Cookies

These are my contribution to my cookie exchange this year.
I made a "test batch" about 2 weeks ago, and they lasted all of 10 minutes, I swear!!

My sister-in-law, Karen, used to make these every year.
They are my niece, Leah's favorite cookie.

You don't have to sprinkle the candy canes on them, but I thought it made them more festive!





Chocolate Mint Candy Cookies

3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 Tablespoons water

2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 teaspoons soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 packages Andes Mints

Crushed Peppermints or candy canes (optional)

In a saucepan over medium heat, cook sugar, butter and water, stirring occasionally until butter is melted.  Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips until melted. Let cool for about 10 minutes.

In your mixer, pour the chocolate batter.  Add and beat each egg one at a time.  Stir in flour, baking sod and salt.  Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.

Roll dough into walnut sized balls and place two inches apart.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. 

DO NOT OVER BAKE.

Place one Andes Mint on top of each cookie, let sit for about a minute to let it get all melty.

Swirl with the back of a spoon.

Top with crushed peppermint if you desire.

These are my contribution to my cookie exchange this year.
I made a "test batch" about 2 weeks ago, and they lasted all of 10 minutes, I swear!!

My sister-in-law, Karen, used to make these every year.
They are my niece, Leah's favorite cookie.

You don't have to sprinkle the candy canes on them, but I thought it made them more festive!





Chocolate Mint Candy Cookies

3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 Tablespoons water

2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 teaspoons soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 packages Andes Mints

Crushed Peppermints or candy canes (optional)

In a saucepan over medium heat, cook sugar, butter and water, stirring occasionally until butter is melted.  Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips until melted. Let cool for about 10 minutes.

In your mixer, pour the chocolate batter.  Add and beat each egg one at a time.  Stir in flour, baking sod and salt.  Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.

Roll dough into walnut sized balls and place two inches apart.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. 

DO NOT OVER BAKE.

Place one Andes Mint on top of each cookie, let sit for about a minute to let it get all melty.

Swirl with the back of a spoon.

Top with crushed peppermint if you desire.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Nutter Butter Acorns

We made these the last couple of years, I don't know why I never took pictures of them?

I think they are ADORABLE.

And 

so.darn.tempting.

They are so little you can just pop 'em in your mouth!

Perfect blend of peanut butter and chocolate.

I think you should make some of these up for the kids at Thanksgiving...

or anytime really?

NUTTER BUTTER Acorns

Taste of Home

1/2 cup chocolate chips, + 48 pieces

48 Mini Nutter Butter Cookies

48 Hershey Kisses, unwrapped

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.

Melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave.

Dip the flat end of the kiss in the melted chocolate and stick to one side of the Nutter Butter and place on the cookie sheet.

Place in refrigerator until set.

Do the same thing with the chocolate chips to make the "stem."

Put back in refrigerator to set completely.

Pop one in your mouth and say thanks!!

Sometimes it's ok to talk with your mouth full!

We made these the last couple of years, I don't know why I never took pictures of them?

I think they are ADORABLE.

And 

so.darn.tempting.

They are so little you can just pop 'em in your mouth!

Perfect blend of peanut butter and chocolate.

I think you should make some of these up for the kids at Thanksgiving...

or anytime really?

NUTTER BUTTER Acorns

Taste of Home

1/2 cup chocolate chips, + 48 pieces

48 Mini Nutter Butter Cookies

48 Hershey Kisses, unwrapped

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.

Melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave.

Dip the flat end of the kiss in the melted chocolate and stick to one side of the Nutter Butter and place on the cookie sheet.

Place in refrigerator until set.

Do the same thing with the chocolate chips to make the "stem."

Put back in refrigerator to set completely.

Pop one in your mouth and say thanks!!

Sometimes it's ok to talk with your mouth full!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Hosting a Holiday Cookie Exchange

I have hosted a Cookie Exchange for the last 16 years.

It's been a lot of fun and has totally evolved throughout the years.

When I started, we all had little kids and I had it with my stay-at-home-mom friends.

Everyone would come to my house, and I would have breakfast food, the kids would play and the moms would have coffee and chat.

As the kids got older, I would still have it in the morning, some would be in pre-school/grade school and some were home.  People that came could make with at some point, with or without their kids.

Now, many of my friends have gone back to work, we all have school aged kids or our kids are out of school and we just want to go OUT.

So, for the last few years I have had my Cookie Exchange at my Sister-in-Law (to be)'s Wine Store.

Yes. Wine + Cookies= HAPPY WOMEN

Every year I have good intentions of taking photos of the event, and every year, I start having fun and completely forget.

I did manage to find a couple of photos from last year, and incorporated some cute ways to package cookies for gifts or an exchange.

Links to the yumminess, too!!

So, I will type up here on this post what I do to organize the event, so maybe you and your friends can have one, too!

Hosting your own Holiday Cookie Exchange

The month of December always fills up fast for everyone.  I always try to get my date on the calendar by mid-November.

Since the invention of facebook, I typically do a facebook event, almost all of my friends have facebook, and the one that doesn't, well it just gives me an excuse to chat with her on the phone! *smile*

I always try to select my date as close to Christmas as possible, my exchange typically falls somewhere between the 18th and the 21st.  That way guests have goodies for their family and friends during the holidays.

Each guest RSVP's with what cookie/candy they plan to bring.  I try REALLY hard to not get duplicates, or "all chocolate" or too much mint, or too many things with nuts.

Many of the people that come only bake for this, and when they return home with all of their goodies, I don't want their platter of treats to be all brown because everything is chocolate. *wink*

I want there to be a nice assortment of flavors and colors for everyone's cookie platters.

So, it's a first come first serve thing.  If you planned on making peanut butter kisses, and someone else signs up first, you go back to the drawing board and find something else.

The number of people changes every year.  Some years I have had as many as 15 people, other years there are only 8.  Whatever number of people in attendance there are, that's how many dozen cookies you will bring of your cookie.

Caramel, Toffee and Pecan Fudge boxed with a bow

For example, there are 10 of us coming, myself included, and  I am making sugar cookies, I bring 9 dozen of my cookie to the party.  Friend A brings peanut butter kisses, 9 dozen, friend B is bringing fudge,  9 dozen pieces, and so on.

Great Aunt Vern's Sugar Cookies in a tin

Everyone brings their candy/cookie wrapped/boxed with one dozen per package.  Some place theirs in bags, some boxes, some on plates and some in tins.  Whatever they decide.  On their packages, they attach their recipe for their baked good inside.

gift or bring candies like Peanut Brittle in mason jars with ribbon attached

Up-Cycled Pringles cans I made with recipe attached for my exchange last year

Turtle Bark in a tin

Everyone brings their own baked good (all 9 dozen) in a big box or basket.  I line them up, and at the end of the evening everyone takes one package from each guest (except themselves) and then leaves with 9 dozen different kinds of cookies, and all they did was make one kind.

See?

Everyone is welcome to bring an appetizer to share, and we sip wine and relax.  

Who doesn't need to relax a little by the middle of December??!!

One other fun thing we added a few years back, is we do a gift exchange.

Everyone brings a wrapped gift (dollar amount is about $15) and we place them on a table.  

We draw numbers and start at 1 and that person opens a gift.

Person number 2 can either steal the gift from the person who opened it, or open their own.

If there are 10 people, we play from 1 up to 10 and back down to 1 so everyone gets a chance to steal.

But the gift can only be stolen twice.

It's a lot of laughs!

Toni got a great HUSKER bag...too bad she's a huge Iowa State fan! Ha!

It's a fun activity, and there always seems to be something new and creative!

Fun to shop for , too!! 

So in a nutshell that is how I do my cookie exchange.

I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I enjoy hosting it!

girlfriends cookie exchange 2012

I have hosted a Cookie Exchange for the last 16 years.

It's been a lot of fun and has totally evolved throughout the years.

When I started, we all had little kids and I had it with my stay-at-home-mom friends.

Everyone would come to my house, and I would have breakfast food, the kids would play and the moms would have coffee and chat.

As the kids got older, I would still have it in the morning, some would be in pre-school/grade school and some were home.  People that came could make with at some point, with or without their kids.

Now, many of my friends have gone back to work, we all have school aged kids or our kids are out of school and we just want to go OUT.

So, for the last few years I have had my Cookie Exchange at my Sister-in-Law (to be)'s Wine Store.

Yes. Wine + Cookies= HAPPY WOMEN

Every year I have good intentions of taking photos of the event, and every year, I start having fun and completely forget.

I did manage to find a couple of photos from last year, and incorporated some cute ways to package cookies for gifts or an exchange.

Links to the yumminess, too!!

So, I will type up here on this post what I do to organize the event, so maybe you and your friends can have one, too!

Hosting your own Holiday Cookie Exchange

The month of December always fills up fast for everyone.  I always try to get my date on the calendar by mid-November.

Since the invention of facebook, I typically do a facebook event, almost all of my friends have facebook, and the one that doesn't, well it just gives me an excuse to chat with her on the phone! *smile*

I always try to select my date as close to Christmas as possible, my exchange typically falls somewhere between the 18th and the 21st.  That way guests have goodies for their family and friends during the holidays.

Each guest RSVP's with what cookie/candy they plan to bring.  I try REALLY hard to not get duplicates, or "all chocolate" or too much mint, or too many things with nuts.

Many of the people that come only bake for this, and when they return home with all of their goodies, I don't want their platter of treats to be all brown because everything is chocolate. *wink*

I want there to be a nice assortment of flavors and colors for everyone's cookie platters.

So, it's a first come first serve thing.  If you planned on making peanut butter kisses, and someone else signs up first, you go back to the drawing board and find something else.

The number of people changes every year.  Some years I have had as many as 15 people, other years there are only 8.  Whatever number of people in attendance there are, that's how many dozen cookies you will bring of your cookie.

Caramel, Toffee and Pecan Fudge boxed with a bow

For example, there are 10 of us coming, myself included, and  I am making sugar cookies, I bring 9 dozen of my cookie to the party.  Friend A brings peanut butter kisses, 9 dozen, friend B is bringing fudge,  9 dozen pieces, and so on.

Great Aunt Vern's Sugar Cookies in a tin

Everyone brings their candy/cookie wrapped/boxed with one dozen per package.  Some place theirs in bags, some boxes, some on plates and some in tins.  Whatever they decide.  On their packages, they attach their recipe for their baked good inside.

gift or bring candies like Peanut Brittle in mason jars with ribbon attached

Up-Cycled Pringles cans I made with recipe attached for my exchange last year

Turtle Bark in a tin

Everyone brings their own baked good (all 9 dozen) in a big box or basket.  I line them up, and at the end of the evening everyone takes one package from each guest (except themselves) and then leaves with 9 dozen different kinds of cookies, and all they did was make one kind.

See?

Everyone is welcome to bring an appetizer to share, and we sip wine and relax.  

Who doesn't need to relax a little by the middle of December??!!

One other fun thing we added a few years back, is we do a gift exchange.

Everyone brings a wrapped gift (dollar amount is about $15) and we place them on a table.  

We draw numbers and start at 1 and that person opens a gift.

Person number 2 can either steal the gift from the person who opened it, or open their own.

If there are 10 people, we play from 1 up to 10 and back down to 1 so everyone gets a chance to steal.

But the gift can only be stolen twice.

It's a lot of laughs!

Toni got a great HUSKER bag...too bad she's a huge Iowa State fan! Ha!

It's a fun activity, and there always seems to be something new and creative!

Fun to shop for , too!! 

So in a nutshell that is how I do my cookie exchange.

I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I enjoy hosting it!

girlfriends cookie exchange 2012

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Regency Ginger Crisps

I've talked about my friend, Gerry, before in other posts.

She has introduced me to many authors that I love!

I have only read the first in this series, from Joanne Fluke, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.

All of the books in this series are named after baked goods and are based on a girl named Hannah Swensen, who owns a bakery in Minnesota.

Gerry knew I'd love these books, not only because they are clever and funny, but because after she talks about making something in the book, it shares her recipe for it.

This past weekend, I had a taste for ginger cookies.

I was going to see Gerry that night, so early that morning, I mixed up a batch of these Regency Ginger Crisps from the book to bake that afternoon and take to her that night.

They were REALLY yummy!

Joanne Fluke - Hannah Swensen Mysteries

The recipe says to flatten the cookie down with your spatula before baking, I sort of missed that part.

Maybe next time I will try that on one pan and see how they turn out?

I loved that they were crunchy on the outside , and yet soft on the inside.

Regency Ginger Crisps

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder - Joanne Fluke

1 1/2 sticks melted butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 large egg, beaten

1/4 cup molasses
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon ground ginger

2 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar, for coating

Melt butter and mix in brown sugar.  Let mixture cool, and then add egg.  Add soda, molasses, salt and ginger. Stir it thoroughly. Add flour and mix in. Chill the dough for 4 hours or even overnight.

Preheat  oven to 375 degrees.

Roll dough into walnut sized balls with your hands and roll them in sugar. 

Place on greased cookie sheet.

(original recipe says to flatten with a spatula, I did not.  mine were more puffy)

Bake for 10 minutes or until nicely browned.

Cool on cookie sheets for no longer than one minute, or they will stick.

I've talked about my friend, Gerry, before in other posts.

She has introduced me to many authors that I love!

I have only read the first in this series, from Joanne Fluke, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.

All of the books in this series are named after baked goods and are based on a girl named Hannah Swensen, who owns a bakery in Minnesota.

Gerry knew I'd love these books, not only because they are clever and funny, but because after she talks about making something in the book, it shares her recipe for it.

This past weekend, I had a taste for ginger cookies.

I was going to see Gerry that night, so early that morning, I mixed up a batch of these Regency Ginger Crisps from the book to bake that afternoon and take to her that night.

They were REALLY yummy!

Joanne Fluke - Hannah Swensen Mysteries

The recipe says to flatten the cookie down with your spatula before baking, I sort of missed that part.

Maybe next time I will try that on one pan and see how they turn out?

I loved that they were crunchy on the outside , and yet soft on the inside.

Regency Ginger Crisps

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder - Joanne Fluke

1 1/2 sticks melted butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 large egg, beaten

1/4 cup molasses
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon ground ginger

2 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar, for coating

Melt butter and mix in brown sugar.  Let mixture cool, and then add egg.  Add soda, molasses, salt and ginger. Stir it thoroughly. Add flour and mix in. Chill the dough for 4 hours or even overnight.

Preheat  oven to 375 degrees.

Roll dough into walnut sized balls with your hands and roll them in sugar. 

Place on greased cookie sheet.

(original recipe says to flatten with a spatula, I did not.  mine were more puffy)

Bake for 10 minutes or until nicely browned.

Cool on cookie sheets for no longer than one minute, or they will stick.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Candy Corn Salted Nutrolls

My recipe for Salted Nutrolls is a favorite here on my blog!

I make them EVERY year at Christmas and they are one of the first things gone from the cookie plate!

Here is the link to the post I did for them one Valentine's Day:

LINK to Post Click HERE

We were invited over to the neighbors for a football party last weekend.

He was christening his new out building.

I decided to make a platter of Salted Nutrolls but add some candy corn to make it festive!! 

These are a fun fall treat.  If you love Salted Nutroll or Payday candy bars...you'll go nutty for these!!

Candy Corn Salted Nutrolls

Click HERE to view the recipe for Salted Nutrolls

I added the candy corn version to the bottom.

My recipe for Salted Nutrolls is a favorite here on my blog!

I make them EVERY year at Christmas and they are one of the first things gone from the cookie plate!

Here is the link to the post I did for them one Valentine's Day:

LINK to Post Click HERE

We were invited over to the neighbors for a football party last weekend.

He was christening his new out building.

I decided to make a platter of Salted Nutrolls but add some candy corn to make it festive!! 

These are a fun fall treat.  If you love Salted Nutroll or Payday candy bars...you'll go nutty for these!!

Candy Corn Salted Nutrolls

Click HERE to view the recipe for Salted Nutrolls

I added the candy corn version to the bottom.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Death by Chocolate Cookies

Unless you hate chocolate

(GASP!!)

Who wouldn't want to try a cookie names after a heavenly way "to go?"

Need to curb a chocolate craving?

These will do the trick, 

Take my word.

Grab a big glass of milk, or your favorite "cuppa, " and enjoy!!

Death by Chocolate Cookies

from the domestic rebel

1 box devils food cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine the cake mix, eggs and oil. Add the 3 kinds of chips and stir until incorporated.

Drop dough  by heaping Tablespoon full onto prepared baking sheet, about 2" apart.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing.

Store in an air tight container.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Unless you hate chocolate

(GASP!!)

Who wouldn't want to try a cookie names after a heavenly way "to go?"

Need to curb a chocolate craving?

These will do the trick, 

Take my word.

Grab a big glass of milk, or your favorite "cuppa, " and enjoy!!

Death by Chocolate Cookies

from the domestic rebel

1 box devils food cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine the cake mix, eggs and oil. Add the 3 kinds of chips and stir until incorporated.

Drop dough  by heaping Tablespoon full onto prepared baking sheet, about 2" apart.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing.

Store in an air tight container.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Lemon Whippersnappers

Talk about a cookie that's sweet in more ways than one!! 

Not only are these lemony cookies covered in powdered sugar, 

they are sweet to make!

Only 4 ingredients and one of them is a cake mix!

I made these about a million years ago for a Christmas Cookie exchange when I was looking for something different to bring.

I tucked the recipe away and ran across it again not too long ago and decided to WHIP-ersnapper some right up!!

They are soft and sweet... I hope you enjoy them!! 

Lemon Whippersnappers

1 box of lemon cake mix (don't use the kind with the pudding)

1 egg

2 cups of Cool Whip

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together cake mix, whipped topping and egg.

Spoon Tablespoon sized portions of dough, and roll into a ball.

Roll in powdered sugar and place on a GREASED cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Talk about a cookie that's sweet in more ways than one!! 

Not only are these lemony cookies covered in powdered sugar, 

they are sweet to make!

Only 4 ingredients and one of them is a cake mix!

I made these about a million years ago for a Christmas Cookie exchange when I was looking for something different to bring.

I tucked the recipe away and ran across it again not too long ago and decided to WHIP-ersnapper some right up!!

They are soft and sweet... I hope you enjoy them!! 

Lemon Whippersnappers

1 box of lemon cake mix (don't use the kind with the pudding)

1 egg

2 cups of Cool Whip

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together cake mix, whipped topping and egg.

Spoon Tablespoon sized portions of dough, and roll into a ball.

Roll in powdered sugar and place on a GREASED cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Iced Snickerdoodle Bars

I did a trial run on these bars a couple of weeks before my son's graduation party.

My family loved them!!

I decided they would be gracing my dessert buffet for sure!

I thought and thought about what I wanted for desserts and I decided to do an assortment of cookie bars.

Here's the recipe for these.

Iced Snickerdoodle Bars

recipe from Betty Crocker

2 1/3 cups flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup butter softened

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 eggs 

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cinnamon Filling

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 Tablespoon sugar

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 13x9 pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

In your mixer combine butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until creamy.

Slowly add in dry ingredients until combined.

Spoon and spread half of the batter into the bottom of the pan.

Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.

Dollop the rest of batter evenly in teaspoon sized amounts over the top of the cinnamon sugar.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool for one hour.

Stir mixture for glaze and drizzle over the top of the bars.  

Cut into squares.

Makes 24 bars.

I did a trial run on these bars a couple of weeks before my son's graduation party.

My family loved them!!

I decided they would be gracing my dessert buffet for sure!

I thought and thought about what I wanted for desserts and I decided to do an assortment of cookie bars.

Here's the recipe for these.

Iced Snickerdoodle Bars

recipe from Betty Crocker

2 1/3 cups flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup butter softened

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 eggs 

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cinnamon Filling

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 Tablespoon sugar

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 13x9 pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

In your mixer combine butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until creamy.

Slowly add in dry ingredients until combined.

Spoon and spread half of the batter into the bottom of the pan.

Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.

Dollop the rest of batter evenly in teaspoon sized amounts over the top of the cinnamon sugar.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool for one hour.

Stir mixture for glaze and drizzle over the top of the bars.  

Cut into squares.

Makes 24 bars.

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Sugar Cookie Bars with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Happy Easter from my family to yours!!

Everybody loves a sugar cookie right?

Well I took this recipe that has been made time and time again, and changed it up once I spotted those White Chocolate M & M's on the shelf!!

I am just going to post the links for you to both recipes found here on my blog.

Just make the cookie bars according to recipe. (I used the vanilla version)

Top them with White Chocolate Cream Cheese frosting and M&Ms!!

The kids (and grownups) will love them!!

Happy Easter!!

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Happy Easter from my family to yours!!

Everybody loves a sugar cookie right?

Well I took this recipe that has been made time and time again, and changed it up once I spotted those White Chocolate M & M's on the shelf!!

I am just going to post the links for you to both recipes found here on my blog.

Just make the cookie bars according to recipe. (I used the vanilla version)

Top them with White Chocolate Cream Cheese frosting and M&Ms!!

The kids (and grownups) will love them!!

Happy Easter!!

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Coconut Macaroons

Chocolate Drizzled Coconut Macaroons

Always a favorite on my holiday trays.  

These sweet little coconut morsels are drizzled with just a little bit of chocolate fudge!

My friend, Toni, made these for my cookie exchange many years ago.

My father in law LOVES them!!

I always seem to have extra coconut left after I make my husband's 

Chocolate Macaroon Tunnel Cake 

for his birthday, so I whip these up at Christmastime!

Coconut Macaroons

4 c flaked coconut

1 cup sugar

1/4 c + 2 Tbls flour

1/3 t salt

6 egg whites

1 t vanilla

melted chocolate fudge canned frosting for drizzle

In a medium bowl, combine coconut, sugar, flour and salt, mix well.

In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and vanilla til blended.

Pour egg mixture over coconut mixture and blend well.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool.

Drizzle with melted chocolate frosting.

Chocolate Drizzled Coconut Macaroons

Always a favorite on my holiday trays.  

These sweet little coconut morsels are drizzled with just a little bit of chocolate fudge!

My friend, Toni, made these for my cookie exchange many years ago.

My father in law LOVES them!!

I always seem to have extra coconut left after I make my husband's 

Chocolate Macaroon Tunnel Cake 

for his birthday, so I whip these up at Christmastime!

Coconut Macaroons

4 c flaked coconut

1 cup sugar

1/4 c + 2 Tbls flour

1/3 t salt

6 egg whites

1 t vanilla

melted chocolate fudge canned frosting for drizzle

In a medium bowl, combine coconut, sugar, flour and salt, mix well.

In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and vanilla til blended.

Pour egg mixture over coconut mixture and blend well.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool.

Drizzle with melted chocolate frosting.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

I pinned these on Pinterest last year, and have always wanted to try them.

The recipe comes from A Little Bit Crunchy, A Little Bit Rock 'n Roll

I decided to whip them up yesterday for the kids for a fun Halloween treat.

They were super easy, and the kids loved them.  

Plus, they make a bunch!!

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla (+1/2 tsp almond extract, optional)

5 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream together butter and sugar.  Add vanilla and eggs, and beat well.

Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, and gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well.

Spread into greased 13x18 pan, bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cool, and then frost.

Frosting

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

1 teaspoon vanilla or 1 teaspoon almond extract

pinch of salt

4 cups powdered sugar

5 Tbls milk

food coloring (optional)

sprinkles (optional)

In a mixer, cream together butter and shortening, add vanilla and salt.

Add powdered sugar and milk a little at a time, mixing until fluffy.

I tinted mine orange for this batch and topped with Halloween sprinkles.

The second batch I made (4 days later!!) I varied a bit. had a friend make them and add almond extract to the batter and to the frosting.  So I gave it a whirl.
YUM!!

I baked these up for a function at my husband's office tomorrow, 

I tinted them lime green!!

So, with or without the almond extract, they are SUPER YUMMY!!

Tiffany blue with multi -colored sprinkles

At Easter I made them with my White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting and added White Chocolate M&Ms!

These were ESPECIALLY GOOD!!

Can you say bake sale??

:)

I 

I cut them with my pizza cutter!!

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

I pinned these on Pinterest last year, and have always wanted to try them.

The recipe comes from A Little Bit Crunchy, A Little Bit Rock 'n Roll

I decided to whip them up yesterday for the kids for a fun Halloween treat.

They were super easy, and the kids loved them.  

Plus, they make a bunch!!

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla (+1/2 tsp almond extract, optional)

5 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream together butter and sugar.  Add vanilla and eggs, and beat well.

Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, and gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well.

Spread into greased 13x18 pan, bake for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cool, and then frost.

Frosting

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

1 teaspoon vanilla or 1 teaspoon almond extract

pinch of salt

4 cups powdered sugar

5 Tbls milk

food coloring (optional)

sprinkles (optional)

In a mixer, cream together butter and shortening, add vanilla and salt.

Add powdered sugar and milk a little at a time, mixing until fluffy.

I tinted mine orange for this batch and topped with Halloween sprinkles.

The second batch I made (4 days later!!) I varied a bit. had a friend make them and add almond extract to the batter and to the frosting.  So I gave it a whirl.
YUM!!

I baked these up for a function at my husband's office tomorrow, 

I tinted them lime green!!

So, with or without the almond extract, they are SUPER YUMMY!!

Tiffany blue with multi -colored sprinkles

At Easter I made them with my White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting and added White Chocolate M&Ms!

These were ESPECIALLY GOOD!!

Can you say bake sale??

:)

I 

I cut them with my pizza cutter!!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Cookies

I haven't done a bake along in a while, life has just been BUSY!!

But I knew I needed to make these when I saw them.

Love me some peanut butter cups!!

So, thanks to Danielle from Hugs & Cookies XOXO for sharing her recipe!!

If you don't follow her...you simply must.  

She has some wonderfully sweet creations!!

When I posted the recipe I doubled her recipe on her site, because she said that it didn't make many.

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

from Hugs & Cookies XOXO

2 Sticks butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 t. salt

2 t. vanilla

2/3 c unsweetened cocoa (I used Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa)

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 t. baking soda

1 bag (12 ounce) peanut butter chips

1 bag mini Reeses Cups, slightly chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a mixer, combine butter, sugar, salt and vanilla.  Slowly add cocoa, eggs, flour and soda, stirring to combine.  Fold in your peanut butter chips.

Scoop large scoops of dough onto cookie sheets.  

Bake for 12-14 minutes.

I cooled for just a couple minutes on the cookie sheet, then pressed chopped peanut butter cups into the top of each cookie.

Remove to rack and cool completely.

Pour yourself a big 'ol glass of milk and ENJOY one (or 3!!)

Made 3 dozen cookies.

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Cookies

I haven't done a bake along in a while, life has just been BUSY!!

But I knew I needed to make these when I saw them.

Love me some peanut butter cups!!

So, thanks to Danielle from Hugs & Cookies XOXO for sharing her recipe!!

If you don't follow her...you simply must.  

She has some wonderfully sweet creations!!

When I posted the recipe I doubled her recipe on her site, because she said that it didn't make many.

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

from Hugs & Cookies XOXO

2 Sticks butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 t. salt

2 t. vanilla

2/3 c unsweetened cocoa (I used Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa)

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 t. baking soda

1 bag (12 ounce) peanut butter chips

1 bag mini Reeses Cups, slightly chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a mixer, combine butter, sugar, salt and vanilla.  Slowly add cocoa, eggs, flour and soda, stirring to combine.  Fold in your peanut butter chips.

Scoop large scoops of dough onto cookie sheets.  

Bake for 12-14 minutes.

I cooled for just a couple minutes on the cookie sheet, then pressed chopped peanut butter cups into the top of each cookie.

Remove to rack and cool completely.

Pour yourself a big 'ol glass of milk and ENJOY one (or 3!!)

Made 3 dozen cookies.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Holiday Highlights from An Affair from the Heart

all packaged up for delivery

I have been busy busy baking and baking. Then Tuesday night I had my cookie exchange.  

Wednesday morning,  I spread my platters out on my kitchen table and began filling them up.  

We made 5 huge platters, two small containers and several little plates of goodies.

My twins and I loaded them up and off we went to deliver!

I decided to share with you the holiday things that I have been making in one spot.

So, here you have a Holiday Recap!

Holiday Recap 2011

Spice Cookies with Pumpkin Dip

Candy Bar Fudge

Caramel Toffee and Pecan Fudge

Almond Raspberry Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

My Great Aunt Vern's Sugar Cookies

Candy Coated Crispix Mix

Click on the Crispix Mix to see this cute way to decorate a Pringles Can for your cookie Exchanges.  How cute are these?!?

Grandma Davis' Frosted Sugar Cookies

Karen's Gngerbread

Rainbow Cookies

Pecan Caramel Bark (Turtle Bark)

Festive Cherry Pie Jell-O

Home Made Sugar Scrubs

From myself and my family,  to all of you who take the time to follow my blog and facebook pages, 

Happy Holidays!  It means so much to have you here with me! 

Cheers to 2012!

all packaged up for delivery

I have been busy busy baking and baking. Then Tuesday night I had my cookie exchange.  

Wednesday morning,  I spread my platters out on my kitchen table and began filling them up.  

We made 5 huge platters, two small containers and several little plates of goodies.

My twins and I loaded them up and off we went to deliver!

I decided to share with you the holiday things that I have been making in one spot.

So, here you have a Holiday Recap!

Holiday Recap 2011

Spice Cookies with Pumpkin Dip

Candy Bar Fudge

Caramel Toffee and Pecan Fudge

Almond Raspberry Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

My Great Aunt Vern's Sugar Cookies

Candy Coated Crispix Mix

Click on the Crispix Mix to see this cute way to decorate a Pringles Can for your cookie Exchanges.  How cute are these?!?

Grandma Davis' Frosted Sugar Cookies

Karen's Gngerbread

Rainbow Cookies

Pecan Caramel Bark (Turtle Bark)

Festive Cherry Pie Jell-O

Home Made Sugar Scrubs

From myself and my family,  to all of you who take the time to follow my blog and facebook pages, 

Happy Holidays!  It means so much to have you here with me! 

Cheers to 2012!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad