Peanut butter black and tan cookies

I wanted to make a different version of the black and white/ half moon cookies.  Honestly, I don’t know the difference between the two.  Anyways, I opted for a  peanut butter cookie base and used a peanut butter frosting and 2 chocolate frosting. One is  with milk chocolate chips and I didn’t make enough, so I made a second batch with unsweetened baking cocoa.  I never get the amount of frosting right.  Either too much or too little.  Ugh.  Oh and while taking a picture for this blog, I dropped a cookie on the floor.  Gracie was not fast enough to get it before i tossed it in the garbage.

For the buttermilk, I used a sacco mix with water.  You can also add 1 tbs or lemon juice or white wine vinegar to the 2/3 cup of milk, let it sit for 5 minutes and that also makes buttermilk.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  I also chilled the mounds of dough for a few hours before baking and shaped them a little taller to prevent from spreading as much.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees before baking.  And don’t bake longer than 12 to 13 minutes.  Tops may be a little gushy, but after they cool, pop them in the fridge to help firm them up.

  • Cookie ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, peanut butter and sugar.  Add eggsand vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients then buttermilk.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and chill a few hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and stagger cookies.  Bake 12 to 14 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

  • Chocolate glaze
  • 2/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 tbs butter
  • 1 tbs corn syrup

Directions – melt chips and butter.   Add corn syrup

  • Peanut butter glaze
  • 1/3 cup peanut butter
  • 3 tbs butter, soft
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tbs heavy cream

Blend together.

Place completely cooled cookies flat side up.  Frost one side with peanut butter frosting, the other with chocolate frosting.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Half Moon/Black and White Cookies

These cookies are magical.  A soft cake-like vanilla cookies with one half frosted with vanilla buttercream, the other frosted with a chocolate fudge frosting.  I actually made these smaller than a traditional half moon/bw cookie and they are still pretty big

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 tbs baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup milk

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a bowl, cream shortening and sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients and milk.  Line a cookie sheet with nonstick baking liners.  Scoop out 2 tbs dough and place on sheet.  Leave some space bc these spread.  Bake 9 to 11 minutes.  Cool completely.

  • Buttercream frosting ingredients
  • 4 tbs butter, softened
  • 2 tbs shortening
  • 1 3/4  cups powdered sugar
  • 2 to 3 tbs milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, cream butter and shortening, add powdered sugar.  Stir in milk and vanilla.

  • Fudge frosting
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2  tbs butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tbs corn syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2  tbs very hot water

In a microwave safe bowl,  chips and butter in 30 sec increments.   Blend in remaining ingredients. You can add more powdered sugar or hot water to get the consistency you want.

To frost, turn the cookies flat side up, like below

frost one half with vanilla, the other with chocolate.  Chill to set frosting.  Store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Black and White/Half Moon cookies

Black and white / half moon cookies

I was looking to make something different after a steady trend of baking chocolate chip cookies and brownies. So I went through my recipes and came across one of the black and white/ half moon cookies in my collection. I have no idea why some people call them half moon and others black and white.

This one uses Greek yogurt or sour cream instead of buttermilk or milk. They were pretty thick and did not spread out much at all. It’s probably because I chilled the dough. So the first 2 batches I made are tiny (using 1/2 cup dough), and the other two are much larger and more like traditional bw cookies, courtesy of me combining two dough mounds (1/2 cup dough) and flattening them.

  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups crisco
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tbs cornstarch syrup
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
  • 4 1/2 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt

Directions – cream butter, crisco and sugar. Add eggs, corn syrup and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients, then greek yogurt or sour cream. Using floured hands, scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and flatten. Chill a few hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes so it cycles to the right temp. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or nonstick baking liners. Stagger cookies on prepared sheets. Bake 10 minutes. Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbs corn syrup
  • 4 tbs hot water
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips, melted
  • 4 tbs unsweetened baking cocoa

Directions – in a bowl, combine powdered sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, and hot water. Divide frosting in half. To one half of frosting – add melted chocolate and cocoa powder. Add another tbs of hot water.

Frost cookies flat side up

Flip cookies over, flat side up. On one half of cookie, spread chocolate frosting. On other half, spread vanilla frosting. Let set. Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful day, filled with peace, love and joy

Black and White Brownie cookies (aka half moon cookies)

Black and white brownie/half moon cookies

I know the classic black and white, or half moon cookie, has a vanilla cookie base. But today, I decided to mix it up and go with a brownie base. I also decided to use my whoopie pie pans! Honestly, they are one of the baking tools I have, but rarely use. (Others include a churros maker and mini cake pop maker, both which operate like a foreman grill, and breadmaker).

Whoopie pie pan getting used for the first time in a long time

I used a mix for these, but you could probably use your favorite homemade recipe and add the flour and baking cocoa. Remember to scoop your flour from,you flour bag into your measuring cup and preheat your oven to 350 degrees for 20 minutes before baking. Also, if black and white cookies are not your thing, make whatever flavor filling you want and make whoopie pies.

  • Ingredients
  • 1 brownie recipe, prepared
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup baking cocoa

Directions – preheat oven to 350 for 20 minutes. Spray a whoopie pie pan with baking spray, or line a cookie sheet with a nonstick baking liner. Combine your brownie recipe, along with flour and baking cocoa. Mixture will be thick. Scoop out 2 tbs dough and spread evenly in whoopie pie pan or to a 2 1/2 inch circle. Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes. Tops may seem undone, but that is ok. Cooking too long will dry them out. Let cool completely.

Chocolate frosting – in a microwave safe bowl, combine 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips and 4 1/2 tbs butter. Melt in 30 second increments until you can stir smooth. Flat side up, frost 1/2 of cookie. Let set 10 minutes.

Let the chocolate side set for 10 minutes

Vanilla frosting – combine 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tbs corn syrup and 2-3 tbs heavy cream. Frost other side of cookie. Store in covered container.

The finished product

Thanks for stopping by today! If you make these, let me know how they turn out. Remember to be kind. We are all battling something. And don’t forget you matter and are loved!

et