Browned  butter peanut butter cookies topped with melted hershey kisses

This variation of peanut butter cookies start with browned butter.  It adds a nice nutty flavor to cookies.  Perfect for peanut butter cookies!   Making browned butter is easy.  You put the butter in a pan.  Turn your stove top burner to medium heat.  Let butter cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally,  until you see tiny brown specks in it.  Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes.

I used finely ground peanuts in these.  You can leave them out if you want.  You could also add peanut butter chips, which I have but forgot to add this time.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also, I recommend chilling the dough at least a few hours.  And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, browned and cooled for 5 to 10 minutes
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed into your measuring cups
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 3 1/2 cups flour (scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup peanuts, finely ground
  • Extra sugar

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Blend in peanut butter.  Stir in eggs and vanilla.  Mix in dry ingredients,  then fold in nuts.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and roll into extra sugar.  Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 14 to 16 minutes (tops will be lightly golden, make sure bottoms don’t get top dark).  Cool completely. 

Top with melted hershey kisses. 

Store in covered container

Chocolate Chip Cookies with finely ground pecans

Before the temps go over 100 again, I wanted to bake some cookies.  I added finely ground pecans to chocolate chip cookies.  The recipe is from my friend, Jeff’s mom.  She was an incredibly, kind, sweet lady and I was grateful she gave me this recipe.  She made these before a bunch of us went to the U2 concert in 1992 in Toronto.  I still remember how good they were. 

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 2 cups chocolate chips
  • 1 cup pecans, finely ground

Directions – in a bowl, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda and vanilla.  Mix in eggs.  Fold in flour and cornstarch.  Blend in chips and pecans.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.   Chill individual doughs in fridge for a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies of sheet, leaving space because these spread a little.  Bake 11 to 15 minutes, no longer.   Let cookies cool.  You can pop them in the fridge to firm then up.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Milk chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies

All that gushy goodness!

Today’s treat – milk chocolate chip cookies with finely ground macadamia nuts.  I wanted to make something a little different, and milk chocolate chip cookies are a good way to do that…plus I had a half bag of macadamia nuts to use up!

Yes it is hotter than hell again (thanks climate change), and yet I turned on the oven. 

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also, chill the individual doughs at least a few hours so they don’t flatten too much.  And preheat your oven to 375 degrees before baking.

  • 1 cup butter, cold and cut into cubes
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cups
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups flour, scooped from your flour bag into your measuring cup
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup macadamia nuts,  finely ground

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips and nuts. Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough.  Chill individual doughs in fridge a few hours.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet, like in picture below, a row of 2, then a row of one, another row of 2 and then a row of 1.  (I usually fit 8 cookies total on a sheet). 

Bake 10 to 12 minutes. let set a few minutes on sheets.  Cool completely.   I popped mine in the fridge to firm them up (not easy baking conditions in the humdiity). 

Store in covered container.  I will be keeping mine in our fridge until I bring them to work tomorrow.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Remember to be kind!

XL Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

I have never had much luck making crinkle cookies.  They usually come put flat like pancakes.  These were perfectly puffy.  I think it helped I used cold butter and butter crisco. 

Remember to spoon your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also preheat your oven before baking.  And because these are baked at a higher temp, only bake for 10 minutes.

  • Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, cold and cubed
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 yolks
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups baking cocoa
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • Extra granulated sugar
  • Powdered sugar

Directions – preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  In a bowl, cream butter, 1/2 cup sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, yolks and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.  Form 12 even pieces of dough.  Roll in extra granulated sugar then powdered sugar.  Place 6 on prepared sheet, leaving a few inches between doughs.  Bake 10 minutes, no longer.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Let sit on cookie sheet for 15 minutes.   Store in covered container. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Sugar topped puffy peanut butter cookies

Did  I like it being 40 degrees a few weeks ago while we walked Gracie in the morning?  No.   Do I like it being over 100 degrees this week?  Also, no.  But this heat  has not stopped me from baking.  These are peanut butter cookies topped with sugar.  They are for a work friend’s birthday tomorrow.

I used crisco, but you cam use butter.  Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Chill the individual  doughs at least a few hours.  Preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar (firmly packed into measuring cup)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Extra sugar for sprinkling on top

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Mix in flour, baking powder and salt.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and tip tops in extra sugar.  Chill a few hours.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 11 to 13 minutes, no longer. Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Fudgy brownies filled with chocolate chip cookies and topped with melted Hershey Kisses

When it’s 100 degrees outside, some people may hesitate wanting to turn on their oven.  I am NOT one of those people.   So today, I made fudgy brownies, pressed pieces of chocolate chip cookie dough on top and topped them with melted hershey kisses after they are baked and cooled.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flower bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also preheat your oven before baking so it bakes these treats properly.

  • Chocolate chip cookie ingredients
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar,firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco, butter and brown sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla.   Blend in dry ingredients.  Fold in chips.  Set aside

  • Brownies ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups butter, melted
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 1/2 cups flour (scooped from flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount)
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.  In a bowl, blend melted butter and sugar.  Add baking cocoa and vanilla, then eggs, one at a time.  Blend well.  Mix in remaining dry ingredients.   Evenly spread into prepared pan.

Spread pieces of cookie dough on top. 

Bake 27 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.  Cool completely.  

Top with melted chocolate. 

Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Instead of making a carrot cake, I thought I would make carrot cake cookies.  With mini chocolate chips.  And cream cheese frosting.   I have to be honest, I don’t make carrot cake treats too often because grating carrots is not fun, although I do have a delicious carrot cake recipe using carrot baby food.

On the topic of carrots, you must grate them.  Don’t buy the shredded carrots from the grocery store.  They won’t work in this or most carrot treat recipes.

If you want to use chocolate chips, I find  the mini ones work best.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount (same for the powdered sugar in the frosting).  I recommend chilling the individual doughs for a new hours to keep them puffy.  And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup crisco
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 2 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 2 cups grated carrots

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients. Fold in carrots then mini chips. Divide into 12 equal mounds of dough. Chill for a few hours.   When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.  Bake 15 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 8 Oz  cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter and  cream cheese.  Add vanilla.  Slowly blend in powdered sugar.  Frost cookies.   Store in covered container in fridge until ready to serve.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Rocky Road Cookies

I know rocky road is a favorite ice cream for a lot of people, so I decided to make it in cookie form. 

Who doesn’t love chocolate, milk chocolate chips, finely ground almonds  and tiny marshmallow bits, and a cookie dough made with black cocoa so it tastes like an oreo? I would imagine very few people!

If you don’t like almonds, you can, of course, leave them out.

Below is a container of  marshmallow bits

Remember to scoop your flour and dark or unsweetened baking cocoa from the container into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  After scooping out the dough (1/4 cup), I chilled them for a few hours before baking to help keep them puffy. And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbs corn syrup
  • 2 1/2  cups flour
  • 2/3 cup black or unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup almonds, finely ground
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup mini marshmallow bits

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla and corn syrup. Blend in dry ingredients.  Mix in chips, nuts and marshmallow bits.   Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and place in fridge for a few hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookie doughs on prepared sheet. 

Bake 10 to 11 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.   Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Wishing you a day filled with peace,  joy and love.  Remember to be kind!

Vanilla cake-like cookies

For my work friends who prefer vanilla treats over chocolate and are not fans of peanut butter.  These are a soft, thick vanilla cookie, with a cake like texture and topped with vanilla frosting.  Frosting is not my strength,  as you can see.  I either make it too thin or too thick.  Regardless,  I think people will enjoy the cookies!

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.   (Same goes for the powdered sugar in frosting).  Also preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup crisco (or butter, softened)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco or butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients.   Scoop out 2 tbs of dough and roll into balls.  Chill doughs  for a few hours in fridge.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and stagger cookies. 

Bake 10 minutes, no longer.  Tops will be gushy.  You can firm them up in fridge or let them firm up at room temp.  Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 to 4 tbs milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, blend powdered sugar and 2 tbs milk and vanilla.  Add more milk ,(or powdered sugar) to get the consistency you want.  Store in covered container.

Crushed oreo cookies stuffed with Reese’s eggs

I know it is June 1st, but I still have a boatload of Reese eggs (that’s what I get for buying the big bag from BJ’s). 

They are good for a while, but thought i would use some up by stuffing them in crushed oreo chocolate cookies.

  I left a few plain without the Reese’s eggs and covered them in m&ms, for the non peanut butter lovers at work.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.   I recommend chilling the individual doughs for at least a few hours.  And, preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 1/2 cups crisco
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 1 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 20 oreos, finely crushed in a food processor
  • Reese’s eggs, removed from wrapper

Directions- in a bowl,  cream crisco, brown sugar and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix in dry ingredients then blend in oreos.  Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and divide in half.  Slightly flatten each half.   Place one half on countertop.

Tops with a Reese egg.

Top with other flattened half

Seal edges so you can’t see Reese egg.

Chill a few hours or overnight.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet. 

Bake 12 to 14 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.  Store in covered container.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!