Frosted Banana Cookies

Yum. These turned out great. Gotta sway from the traditional chocolate chip cookie every once in a while. Recipe from the Land O Lakes website.

Preparation time: 30 min Baking time: 8 min

Yield: 4 dozen cookies

Cookie Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 medium (1 cup) ripe bananas, mashed
1 egg
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest (I just used 1 T OJ, but couldn't even taste it)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Glaze Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons half & half or milk
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Grated orange zest, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine 3/4 cup butter and 3/4 cup brown sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add bananas, egg, orange zest and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat until well mixed.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool completely.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add 3 tablespoons brown sugar and half & half. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a boil (1 to 2 minutes). Remove from heat. Add powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; beat until well mixed; cool slightly.
Frost cooled cookies. Garnish with grated orange zest, if desired.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

3 Cups Flour

1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda

3/4 tsp Salt

3/4 tsp Nutmeg

3/4 tsp Cinnamon

1/4 tsp + 1/8 tsp Ginger

(1) 15oz can of Pumpkin

1/2 Cup Oil

1 Egg

2 1/2 Cups Chocolate Chips

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl

2. Combine all wet ingredients in a different bowl

3. Combine all

4. Add Chocolate Chips

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes; makes a lot!! over 3 doz.

6. ENJOY!!

Caramel-Filled Chocolate Cookies

This was my grandmother's recipe and the cookies are a huge hit in my family. For more of a turtle cookie, add some chopped pecans to the dough batter. Yummy!

CARAMEL-FILLED CHOCOLATE COOKIES
1 c. sugar
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. butter
2 t. vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
1 t. baking soda
48 Rolos
1 T. sugar

Combine 1 c. sugar, brown sugar and butter. Add vanilla and eggs, mix well. Combine in small bowl, flour, cocoa and baking soda, mix well. Add to sugar mixture, mix well. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. Heat oven to 375. With floured hands shape 1 T. of dough around 1 Rolo candy, covering the candy completely. Roll in sugar. Bake 7-10 minutes or until slightly cracked.

Cake Batter Cookies- So Many Options!

So these aren't anything fancy, but when it's 8 or 9:00 and I'm ready to watch American Idol with a yummy treat this is a quick option that hits the spot. And if you stock up on cake mixes when they are on sale for 88 cents at the store it's a cheap way to go. Although this might be where the extra pregnancy pounds are coming from...

So you can use any cake batter to make a cookie using the general recipe of

1 cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Then pop 'em in the oven at 350 for about 9 minutes.

I mainly use devils food cake mix but I've also tried yellow cake mix and funfetti. Then I like to get creative with marshmallows on top, different frostings, roll them in sugar or powdered sugar, candy rolled inside (this is the base recipe for Rolo cookies), or last week I threw some extra chocolate chip cookie dough in.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Got this recipe from Better Homes than Yours, oh I mean Better Homes & Gardens

2  cups all -purpose flour

2 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2  tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 1-oz. bottle red food coloring (2 Tbs.)

1 recipe Whoopie Pie filling, below

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment; set aside.  In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high 30 seconds.  Beat in brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating after each addition just until combined.  Stir in food coloring.

3. Spoon batter in 1- or 2-inch diameter rounds about 1/2 inch high on prepared baking sheets, allowing 1 inch between each round.
(I would make them smaller)
4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes for 1-inch cookies or 9 to 11 minutes for 2-inch cookies, or until tops are set.  Cool completely on baking sheets on racks.  Remove cooled cookies from baking sheets.

5. To fill, dollop Whoopie Pie Filling on flat sides on half the cookies.  Top with remaining cookies, flat side down.

Whoopie Pie Filling

In medium mixing bowl beat 1/4 cup softened butter and half an 8-ounce package softened cream cheese until smooth.  Fold in one 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme.

To store, refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days.  Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate Chunk Cookies

This is my new favorite cookie for the week.

You can also see a demo of them being made here. (I think I want their new cookbook now.)

1 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter, softened, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup creamy peanut butter
6 ounces good milk chocolate, coarsely chopped

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside

Beat the butter and sugars together until fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated. The mixture will look light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and peanut butter and beat until just incorporated.

Add half of the flour mixture and mix for 15 seconds. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until just incorporated.

Using a spatula or wooden spoon, fold in the chocolate. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (or grease the pan like I did).

Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons (or use an ice cream scoop) onto the prepared baking sheets, at least 2 inches apart. With the palm of your hand, very gently press each cookie down so it forms a very tall disk shape. Do not press too hard and do not press it flat.

Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with granulated sugar and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the tops of the cookies just begin to brown.

Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Pretty much the best chocolate chip cookies ever. You can use this recipe to make Jenny's big cookie in the post below!

1 lb. real butter

1 1/2 C granulated sugar

2 C dark brown sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp real vanilla

5 C flour

2 1/2 tsp salt

2 1/2 tsp baking soda

4-6 cups Semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cream butter and sugars together until smooth.

3. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

4. In a separate bowl mix together flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add to mixture.

5. Stir in chocolate chips.

6. Line cookie sheet with wax paper (or treat yourself to one of these)

7. Place dough on cookie sheet and bake for 8-11 mins at 350 degrees. Enjoy! (It makes a lot of cookies. I usually give a lot away or freeze some for later.)

Cookie Cake

My mom used to buy these giant cookie pans and make really big cookie cakes for people. I stick to the 9 inch but I think it's a fun idea. I have had a few failed attempts with making these, but I'm getting better with practice so I thought i'd share some tips.

1. Make up your favorite cookie dough.

2. Take a 9 inch (well, whatever size really) circular pan or pie dish and spray generously with cooking spray. Wax paper might work; i haven't tried it.

3. Press cookie dough in the bottom of the pan. I try to make it kind of a thin layer so that it cooks faster and more evenly.

4. Bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes. Check on it and give it more time if needed.

5. Let cool for at least 15 minutes. Loosen up the sides of the cookie with a knife, then invert onto a plate, then invert again onto desired serving dish. As you can see in my picture, I lost one side of my cookie while transferring, so be careful. Sometimes I make them in those aluminum foil pans so that I don't have to transfer it at all.

6. Once cool, decorate with frosting. Usually I just buy the frosting ready-made, but today I halved this recipe:

Cake Decorators Frosting
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. shortening
1 t. vanilla
1/8 t. salt
4 c. powdered sugar
3 T milk

Mix with beaters and add food coloring as desired.

Lemon Cookies

Mmmmmm. More please. I love these cookies. I made them for an Olympics party over the weekend, and they were all gone so quickly.

1 box lemon cake mix
1 egg
8 oz container Cool Whip

Roll balls in powdered sugar and place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 till golden brown, about 12 minutes-ish.

(I know the picture isn't the best. I make no claims at being a photgrapher. But trust me that they look excellent in person.)

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

My grandmother made these cookies every year, and they are a sentimental favorite with my family. My husband loves them as well.

2 ½ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup Crisco
½ tsp. vanilla
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
Additional sugar for rolling cookie dough balls in
Hershey’s kisses

Cream together Crisco, vanilla, sugars, peanut butter & eggs. Combine flour, baking soda & salt and add to creamed mixture. Shape dough into balls and roll in sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Indent Hershey’s kiss into center of each cookie & bake for 2 minutes longer.

Mint Chocolate Cookies

These are super yummy cookies that are perfect for the holidays. So perfect because they are super quick and easy to make! Enjoy them!
Ingredients:

2 chocolate cake mixes
1 brownie mix
3/4 C oil
3 eggs
3/4 C water
Secret ingredient: Andes Mints (shh)

Directions:
Mix everything together. Form 1 inch balls. Bake 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes. While they are baking, unwrap Andes Mints. After cookies bake, immediately lay one mint on each cookie. Wait one minute and spread the mint (like frosting).

Rolo Cookies!

These are fabulous cookies.... not only do they taste fabulous but they are fabulously easy.

1 Box Devil’s Food cake mix
½ cup oil
2 eggs
2 T. flour
1 bag Rolo candies

Mix first four ingredients in a bowl. Batter will be moist. Roll dough into balls. Wrap dough around each rolo. Roll in a bowl of sugar. Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies you have EVER had!!!

No really, they are! My husband told me the other day that he is glad that his (and my) future kids will be able to say that their mom makes the best chocolate cookies ever. They're that good! Anyway, here they are:

1 cup butter (only use butter and it's best if the butter is softened naturally not melted in the microwave)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1 1/2 cup Flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

2 1/2 cups quick oats (ground them up in the osterizer so they are fine like flour)
1 pkg chocolate chips (or however many you want)
1/2 cup nuts (if you like nuts)

Cream butter and sugars
Add eggs and vanilla and beat
Sift dry ingredients and add to sugar mixture
Stir in oatmeal (ground up), chocolate chips and nuts
Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet
Bake at 350 for 11 - 12 minutes

I know, they don't look like much, but just try them!

Surprise Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are incredibly easy and over-the-top delicious. For fresh out-of-the-oven taste, place a cookie on a plate and microwave for about 15 seconds...YUMMY!

2 tubes of chocolate chip cookie dough
30 Snickers miniatures

Cut dough into 15 pieces. Place a Snickers bar in the middle of each piece and wrap dough around it, covering completely. Place on cookie sheets (I always put foil on my cookie sheet to prevent sticking, and I only bake one pan of cookies at a time). Bake at the temperature specified on the dough wrapper (I believe the temperature for Nestle dough is 375 degrees) for about 15 minutes.

Enjoy with milk, ice cream or by themselves!

Sorry, I don't have a picture of them too share. I've eaten too many and am trying to lose weight, so I haven't made them too much lately. The recipe is worth sharing though!

Rolo Cookies

These have replaced chocolate chip as my new favorite cookie. If you knew how much i love chocolate chip you would know this is a big deal. I got this one from Chris's friend Lee.

1 box Devil's food cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1 pckg. Rolos candies

Mix the first three ingredients together and then roll into little balls with 1 rolo inside each ball (i try to make them as small as possible to maximize the rolo to dough ratio). Bake at 350 for 9 minutes.

easy-schmeasy pumpkin cookies

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I am all about super easy, yummy recipes.  This is one of those recipes.  

Thats right... its just 1(regular size) can of pumpkin, 1 box of spice cake, and chocolate chips (in desired amount).  Mix it all together (the mixture will be ooey-gooey) spoon onto cookie sheet (I have also done muffins) then Bake at 350 degrees for 10-20 minutes-they will always be light and fluffy, and super moist!  You cant mess this one up people.   I love these because even if I am out of milk, eggs, sugar and flour I usually have the ingredients for these in my pantry ... give 'em a try tonight!

My Favorite Sugar Cookies

I wish I could say I had made those, but they are way too pretty to be my decorations. Thanks to Jessica for this recipe. These are the best sugar cookies I have tasted, they always come out soft.

Cookies:

3 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup dairy sour cream

Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients and beat for 2 minutes. Add flour mixture and beat until well mixed. Chill dought about an hour. Roll out 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick on lightly powdered board. Cut into desired shapes. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Makes 2 1/2-3 dozen cookies


Frosting:

Combine 1/3 cup butter softened, 3 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoons milk

Yum Yum!