Payday peanut butter cookie bars topped with mini Mr. Goodbars

I wanted to go a little outside the box with incorporating candy into my treats, so i picked up some payday bars

And mini mr goodbars. 

I mixed in some cut up  paydays in a peanut butter cookie bar recipe, baked them and gently pressed in mini mr goodbars right after removing them from the oven. Perfectamundo, to paraphrase the Fonz, Arthur Fonzarelli.

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

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown  sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Cut up payday bars
  • Mini mr goodbars,  unwrapped

Directions – preheat oven yo 350 degrees.  Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper and set aside.  In a bowl, mix melted butter and peanut butter.  Blend in sugar and brown sugar.  Mix in eggs and vanilla.  Fold in dry ingredients, then cut up paydays. Evenly press into parchment lined pan.  Bake 23 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.  Immediately after removing from oven, gently press mini mr goodbars on top. 

Cool completely.   Cut and store in covered container.

Brookie Cookies

These are cookies for when you can’t decide if you want chocolate chip or chocolate chocolate chip.  This provides both for.   Really easy to make too!

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

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup crisco
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup bread flour (or you can use entirely all purpose flour)
  • 2 tbs flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, crisco and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in 3 cups flour, 1 cup bread flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Divide dough in half and place one half  in separate bowls.  To one half, add the 2 tbs flour and 1 cup chocolate chips.  To other half, add cocoa and 1 cup chocolate chips.

Scoop out 2 tbs of chocolate chip cookie dough and 2 tbs chocolate chocolate chip cookie dough.   Roll into one large ball of dough, like below.

Chill individual doughs for a few hours.   When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.

Bake 13 to 15 minutes,  no longer. 

Cool completely and store in covered container.

Chocolate s’mores cookies

What’s better than a humid 90 degree day?  Turning on your oven to bake cookies and heat your houseboat even more.   Although these have smores cookies, which are a summer staple, so perhaps that makes it all ok. 

I used chocolate graham crackers in these, but regular grahams are just fine.

These feature mini marshmallow bits.  I don’t recommend mini marshmallows because I think they would get all melty during the baking process.  If you don’t have or can’t find marshmallow bits, perhaps toast some marshmallows ans put them on top of cookies after baking.

I also used 1 cup of bread flour, but feel free to use entirely all purpose flour.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring. Up.  And chill the individual doughs before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup bread flour
  • 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 cups crushed chocolate graham crackers
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1 cup marshmallow bits
  • 14 mini hershey bars, chopped

Directions- in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients then graham cracker crumbs.    Fold in chips, bits and hershey bars.  Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Chill a few hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet. 

Bake 11 to 13 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely.  Store in covered container

.

Thanks for stopping  by!

Victory treats for game 4 – sabres  sugar cookies

For our game four win in Montreal last night, which tied up the series 1-1, I present Sabres sugar cookies.  What makes them Sabres sugar cookies – the blue and yellow sugar sprinkled on top.

Last night was stressful, but the result was worth it.   A lot of penalties called.  Our guys need to be more disciplined moving forward, for sure.

These are easy to make and require no chill time.   They do use cake flour though.

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

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 egg
  • 2 cups plus 3 tbs cake flour
  • 1/4 plus 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 plus 1/8 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Directions – preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.   In a bowl, cream shortening, sugar and powdered sugar.  Add 1/2 egg and vanilla.  Mix in dry ingredients.   Scoop out 1/4 cups dough, roll into balls and slightly flatten.  Stagger on prepared sheet.  Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake 10 minutes, no longer.  Cool completely and store in covered container.

Thanks for stopping by!  Go Sabres!

Almond m&m milk chocolate chip cookies

Rob bought some almond m&ms and I thought they would be perfect in a cookie!

   I used a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe, instead of vanilla, I used almond extract.   I also used part bread flour along with all purpose flour.  They spread out a little more than I prefer, so maybe next time I add a little more flour and bake  the dough frozen to see if that helps.

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount, freeze the individual doughs before baking and preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter,  softened
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup bread flour
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup of almond m&ms
  • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, sugar, and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients then m&ms and chips.   Scoop out 1/4 cups of dough and freeze.   When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger dough on sheets.  

Bake 10 to 12 minutes, no longer.  Immediately gently press extra chips into tops of cookies. 

Cool completely.  Store in covered container.

Malted brown butter Special Dark brownies

I picked up some malted milk powder recently, after seeing it is a nice addition to cookies, brownies and cakes, especially when using brown butter    I know Rob loves brownies so I thought I would try adding malted milk powder to a brownie recipe.

Remember to scoop your flour, baking cocoa and milk powder from you containers into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also preheat your oven to 325 degrees before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 eggs and 1 yolk
  • 1 tsp chocolate extract (or vanilla)
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1/3 cup malted milk powder
  • 2 tbs cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions – preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper and spray with baking spray.  Set aside.  in a pan, over low-medium heat, brown butter.  you heat it until you start to see some brown specs lile below.  Remove from heat.

Pour into bowl and stir in powdered sugar.  Mix in eggs, yolk and extract.    Fold  in dry ingredients, then chips.  Evenly press into prepared pan.  Bake 28 to 33 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Immediately sprinkle powdered sugar on top. 

Cool completely.    Cut and store in covered container.

Mini Peanut butter m&m peanut butter cookies stuffed with Reese’s eggs

My other treat for work, in honor of opening day of the NHL and NBA Playoffs and my Sabres first playoff game in forever, is for all my peanut butter loving friends- peanut butter cookies with mini peanut butter m&ms

And stuffed with reese’s eggs.  

Boom!

Remember to scoop your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also firmly packed your brown sugar into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Chill the dough at least a few hours before baking to keep them puffy and preheat the oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbs milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup peanut butter mini m&ms
  • Reeses eggs, unwrapped  (not the regular size ones)

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and sugar.  Add egg, vanilla and milk.  Blend in dry ingredients then m&ms.   Scoop out 1/4 cup of dough and divide in half.  Flatten each half.  On one half, place a Reese’s egg.  Place other half on top and seal edges. Chill a few hours.  When ready to bake,preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet. 

Bake 11 to 13 minutes, no longer.  cool completely.  

Store in covered container.

Italian (olive oil) chocolate chip cookies

In honor of opening day of the Stanley Cup and NBA playoffs and my Sabres first playoff game in more than a decade on Sunday, I present italian chocolate chip cookies.  What makes them Italian, you ask?  I used olive oil instead of butter or crisco 😉

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Firmly packed your brown sugar into your measuring cup.  I used mini chocolate chips, but you can use regular.  I do recommend freezing the dough for a half hour to an hour, or chilling it in the fridge for a few hours. And preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbs vanilla
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, ground

Directions – in a bowl, combine oil, sugar and brown sugar.   Add egg, vanilla and water.   Mix in dry ingredients.   Fold in chips and nuts.  Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Freeze 30 minutes.   Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.

Bake 10 to 13 minutes, no longer.  

Cool completely.  Store in covered container.

Sugar cookie yellow cake mix (blue and gold version)

I recently bought extra large cake pan and wanted the first thing I baked in it to be a  cookie cake.  

I though I would make one using a yellow cake mix,  sugar cookie mix, some eggs, melted butter, vanilla and top it with a simple vanilla buttercream frosting and sprinkle it with yellow and blue colored sugar (Go Sabres).

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 yellow cake mix
  • 1 sugar cookie mix
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 tbs vanilla

Directions – preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a large round cookie pan with tin foil and spray with baking spray.  Set aside. 

In a bowl, combine cake and cookie mixes.   Blend in eggs, one at a time, then butter and vanilla.  Press evenly into prepared pan.  Bake 18 minites, no longer. Cool completely.

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbs milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – in a bowl,  mix butter and powdered sugar.   Blend in milk and vanilla.  You can add more milk and/or powdered sugar to get the desired consistency.  Frost cooled cookies. 

  I sprinkled colored sugar on top.

Cut and storte in covered container.

Baby food carrot cake cookies with mini chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting

For Sabres victory treats, Rob chose carrot cake cookies with mini chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting.  Grating carrots is not my favorite thing, so I used baby food carrots!

I used a combo of bread flour and all purpose flour.  You can use entirely all purpose flour.  I ran out of time to chill the dough, so they spread more than I prefer.   I recommend chilly individual mounds of dough for a few hours before baking.  Also preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 3/4 cup shortening
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed into measuring cup
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 2, 4 oz jars carrot baby food
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup bread flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions – in a bowl, cream crisco, sugar and brown sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Blend in dry ingredients then baby food.  Stir in chips.  Evenly divide into 12 doughs.  Chill a few hours.   When ready to bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet. 

Bake 12 minutes, no longer.

Cool completely.  

  • Frosting ingredients
  • 6 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter and cream sugar.  Blend in powdered sugar, slowly.  Add vanilla.  Frost cookies. 

Store in covered container.