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Posts Tagged ‘cookies’

  1. SRC: Black and White Cookies

    April 16, 2012 by erinRD

    As soon as I saw this cookie recipe, I thought of my friend Jessica who helped to throw me a wonderful baby shower!

    I remember hearing Jess talk about how much she loved these cookies and I realized that I have never tried them myself!

    Secret Recipe Club

    What a wonderful shower! Little Lerner is a loved little boy already! <3

    Anyway, back to these amazing cookies that I found on Vivian’s site “Let’s Try These”. When I saw these cookies for the Secret Recipe Club, I thought I would make them for Jess as a Thank You for helping to throw my baby shower!

    Here’s what went down via text message when I told her:

    Haha! so funny!

    Black and White Cookies
    Adapted from Let’s Try These…

    Cookies:
    1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
    1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
    4 large eggs
    1 1/2 cups skim milk
    1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
    2 1/2 cups cake flour
    2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    1/2 teaspoon baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon salt

    Glaze:
    4 cups confectioners sugar
    1/3 – 1/2 cup hot water
    2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
    1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    1 ounce bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped

    Directions:
    1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray or use a silicone mat.
    2. In large mixing bowl, combine sugar and butter and mix until fluffy. Next add the eggs, milk and vanilla and lemon extracts and mix until smooth. It will be very liquid-y, but don’t worry – you’re going to add a lot of flour!
    3. In medium bowl, combine cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt; gently whisk together.  Add dry mixture to the wet in batches, stirring well after each addition.
    4. Place heaping spoonfuls of the dough 2 inches apart on the baking sheets and bake until edges begin to brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cookies cool completely.
    To make the glaze:
    1. Place the confectioners sugar in a large bowl. Gradually Stir in the hot water (it is best to pour in a bit at a time so that you can keep track of its consistency easier)
    2. Add corn syrup and vanilla extract, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick, smooth, and of spreading consistency. Add more sugar or water if necessary to get the right consistency.
    3. Remove about 1/2 cup of the frosting and place it in another bowl. In a small microwavable bowl, add the finely chopped chocolate. Melt on high for about thirty seconds; stir. Add the melted chocolate to the 1/2 cup frosting.
    4. Spread white glaze over half the cookie. Repeat with the remaining cookies. If the frosting/glaze thickens too much, add a few drops of water.
    5. Once all the cookies are covered with the white frosting, then cover the other half of each cookie with the chocolate frosting. If the chocolate frosting becomes too thick, add a little hot water to thin the frosting.
    Makes 48 cookies.
    Nutrition Notes: Cake flour is a type of wheat flour that is used in making cakes, cookies, and other delicate baked goods. Several characteristics differentiate cake flour from other wheat flours including its low protein content, which results in a light and fluffy cake with a tender crumb. A high protein content promotes the production of gluten, which can make baked goods more tough.
    Taste Test: These are delicious! I can see why they are my friend Jess’ favorite cookie! They are very soft and do have a cake-like consistency. I love soft cookies so these were right up my alley!
    Enjoy!




  2. Campfire Cookies

    June 24, 2011 by erinRD

    My sister-in-law Sheri and I love chocolate.

    A lot.

    In fact we have a lot in common.

    Most of it involves food.

    Obviously.

    Please excuse the Christmas pictures. When we eat together, it usually doesn’t involve cameras.

    When you add in marshmallows and graham crackers, we have hours of fun - especially when a campfire is near!!

    This weekend we are going camping with Wholesome Husbands side of the family! Be sure that a lot of smores will be consumed. My stomach hurts already. Sugar coma anyone? :)

    Campfire Cookies
    Adapted from Keep It Simple Foods

    2 sticks unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
    1 cup sugar
    2 eggs
    1 teaspoon vanilla
    2 cups all-purpose flour
    1/2 cup cocoa powder
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
    1/2 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
    1/2 cup crushed graham crackers

    Directions:
    1. Cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until fluffy.
    2. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined.
    3. Gently fold in the marshmallow fluff, chocolate chips and graham crackers.
    4. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled.
    5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and scoop the dough into 2 inch balls and bake on a cookie sheet for 12 minutes.
    6. Allow to cool slightly before taking off the baking sheet. Makes 3 dozen cookies. 1 cookie per serving.

     Taste Test: How can these cookies be bad? I mean seriously! :) Next time I want to add in a little more marshmallow fluff and not mix it in as much so that you get more marshmallow goodness!

    Have a great weekend!

    Enjoy!


  3. Chocolate Malt Sandwich Cookies

    April 14, 2011 by erinRD

    I love malted milk – Whoppers, chocolate malts, malted milk balls….so as soon as I saw these cookies I knew I had to make them – like immediately! I am a sucker for soft cookies and ones with chocolate and malted milk? Clearly – I’m all in.

    Wholesome Husband doesn’t like malted milk.

    Weirdo.

    More for me! ;)

    Chocolate Malt Sandwich Cookies
    Adapted from Smells Like Home originally from Martha Stewart

    For the cookies:
    2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
    1/4 cup plain malted milk powder
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
    1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
    1 3/4 cups sugar
    1 large egg
    2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    1/4 cup sour cream
    3 Tablespoons hot water

    For the filling:
    10 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
    4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
    1 cup plain malted milk powder
    3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
    1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons half-and-half
    1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    Directions:
    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    2. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, malted milk powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside.
    3. With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Mix in egg, sour cream, vanilla and hot water. Reduce speed to low; mix in flour mixture.
    4. Space tablespoon-size balls of dough 3 1/2 inches apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake until flat and just firm, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on parchment on wire racks.
    To make the filling:
    1. While the cookies are baking, melt chocolate and butter in a pan, stirring constantly. Let cool. With an electric mixer, beat malted milk powder and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth.
    2. Gradually mix in half-and-half, chocolate mixture, and vanilla. Refrigerate, covered, until thick, about 30 minutes. Beat on high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. After chilling, the filling will be very thick and dark but as soon as you start to beat it, the color will begin to lighten and the filling will become very fluffy.
    To assemble the cookies:
    1. Match up cookies of similar sizes into pairs. Using a tablespoon-size cookie scoop, scoop a heaping tablespoon of the filling onto the bottom of one cookie. Sandwich with another cookie until the filling pushes to the edges of the cookies.
    2. Repeat with remaining pairs of cookies. Cookies can be kept at room temperature between layers of parchment in airtight containers up to 3 days.
    Makes 35 sandwich cookies.

    Nutrition NotesMalted milk is a powdered food product made from a mixture of malted barley, wheat flour, and whole milk, which is evaporated until it forms a powder. Originally, malted milk powder was developed as infant food. Malted milk powder has a high caloric content and was suitable for growing children but later adults started consuming it.

    Taste Test: These were so good — too good and tempting! I took the rest to work to share and everyone loved them! :) The filling is creamy and smooth and the cookies were deliciously soft.

    Go make these now!


  4. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

    March 23, 2011 by erinRD

    Why eat JUST chocolate when you can eat double chocolate? :)

    Double Chocolate Cookies
    Adapted from Annie’s Eats

    1 cup (2 sticks) cold, unsalted butter, cubed
    1¼ cup sugar
    2 large eggs
    ½ cup dark cocoa powder
    2¼ cups all-purpose flour
    ¼ tsp. coarse salt
    1 tsp. baking powder
    2½ cups mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

    Directions:
    1. Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
    2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar.  Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
    3. Blend in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed.  Mix in the cocoa powder until well blended.
    4. Add the flour, salt and baking powder to the bowl and mix on low speed just until incorporated.  Mixture will be very thick.


    5. Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.  Transfer the dough to a work surface and knead briefly by hand to be sure the ingredients are well combined.
    6. Divide the dough into 24 portions.  Roll each portion of dough into a ball and flatten just slightly into a disc.


    7. Place on the prepared baking sheets, a few inches apart.  Bake 16-20 minutes.  Let cool on the baking sheets a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes 24 cookies.

    Nutrition Notes: Once you taste these cookies, you’ll realize that they are worth the calories and fat! Definitely a splurge cookie but you can freeze these bad boys and take out one when your chocolate craving hits!

    Taste Test: These are my favorite cookies – chocolate, soft, and little chocolate chips. Soooo good! They are very rich so eating one will satisfy your sweet tooth! Even The Husband liked these and he’s not a chocoholic. Weirdo.

    Make these soon.

    You won’t regret it.

    What’s your favorite cookie?


  5. Almond Butter Cookie Dough Balls

    February 11, 2011 by erinRD

    I made some balls and they were amazing. (I’m trying to be an adult about this). ;)

    If you want your significant other to fall in love with you even further, make these for Valentine’s Day. Or any day, really.

    Trust me.

    Almond Butter Dough Balls
    Adapted from Peas and Thank You

    1/2 cup butter
    3/4 cup creamy almond butter (you can use peanut butter too)
    1/2 cup brown sugar
    3/4 cup powdered sugar
    1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    1 teaspoon baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    3/4 teaspoon salt
    1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
    1/2 cup all-purpose flour
    1/2 cup peanut butter chips
    1/2 cup chocolate chips

    Directions:
    1. Using a mixer, beat butter, peanut butter, sugars and vanilla until fully incorporated.


    2. In a separate bowl, combine baking powder, baking soda, salt and flours. Add dry mixture to the mixer bowl a little at a time and mix until a dough forms.
    3. Add your chips. If dough seems dry at this point add in a Tablespoon of water and mix until dough starts to combine together. Combine and chill dough for 30 minutes.


    4. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Scoop dough with a mini ice cream scoop (or your fingers) and place balls on a cookie sheet.


    5. Bake for 10-12 minutes. They’ll still be soft and look much like they did going in, but don’t over bake. Let the dough balls rest on the pan for a minute before transferring to a cooling rack.
    6. Proceed to eat 3-6 cookies and hold your stomach since it hurts from all that sugar.

    Nutrition Notes:  You can substitute all-purpose flour in place of the whole wheat with the same results, and the calorie count will stay pretty much the same. Most flours vary only slightly by brand, and usually contain between 100 and 115 calories per 1/4 cup, regardless of whether they are white or wheat. The only reason that I use whole wheat flour when baking is because I find it adds a very nice flavor to the baked goods, as well as containing many added benefits that white flour does not provide such as fiber, vitamins, minerals and heart-healthy compounds. But there is a big difference between the whole wheat pastry flour and the regular whole wheat flour. Whole wheat pastry flour is a softer flour and is used in this recipe because it has a higher starch content and a lower gluten content resulting in a softer product. (looove soft cookies!)

    Taste Test: If you like cookie dough and cookie dough ice cream, candy, chocolate…. these are for you. Also, if you are human – you’ll like these :) In all seriousness, these cookies are soft, gooey, chocolate goodness.

    Whip up a batch for the one you love. STAT.