Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Cookies’

I needed to bake a treat for someone as a thank you gift, but couldn’t make my mind up on what I wanted to fix.  You can never go wrong with one of Bakerella’s recipes, so I decided that these cookies were the perfect thing.  Oh, my goodness…these are little pillows of chocolate heaven. The recipient loved them and so did I!  Thank you, Bakerella!!!!

Chocolate Chip Comfort Cookies

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup cocoa

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup butter, slightly softened

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

10 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips (The original recipe calls for dark, but I didn’t have any.)

IMG_8460

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare 2 cookie sheets.  In a small bowl, mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt with a wire whisk and set aside.

IMG_8462

In another bowl, cream the butter, sugar and peanut butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Add the eggs and vanilla; stir until combined.

IMG_8474

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until combined.  Add the chips.

IMG_8476

Roll the dough into about 1 1/4 inch balls.  I used a cookie scoop to measure the dough and then rolled the scoop into a ball.  Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool before devouring!!  This recipe made about 36 cookies.

IMG_8480

Chocolate Chip Comfort Cookies 1

Read Full Post »

How’s that for a recipe name?  Let me tell you, it is dead on because these cookies are chocked full of chocolate!  Bless you heart, Pioneer Woman, for coming up with this recipe that went straight to this chocoholic’s heart. These are amazing!!!  I really need to stop with the exclamation points, but these deserve all of them and more.

Pioneer Woman Chocolate Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

2 whole eggs

3 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 cups white chocolate chips

(Get good quality white chocolate chips.  Kroger’s Private Selection chips are wonderful.)

IMG_6310

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat.  Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, scraping the sides once.

Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.  Mix in vanilla.

Sift the dry ingredients together then slowly add to the butter mixture.  Gently blend in the chips.

IMG_6314

IMG_6318IMG_6316

IMG_6320

Using a cookie scoop, dollop the cookie dough onto the baking sheet.  Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until the cookies are done, but still soft and chewy.  Let cool before snarfing them all down!  (Insert Cookie Monster noises here.  Nom, Nom, Nom!) Makes approximately 36 cookies.

IMG_6332

Pioneer Woman Chocolate Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Read Full Post »

It is sweet treat month here at Picture Perfect Cooking!  I tried so many new tasty treats over the Christmas holidays, I decided to make all of the February posts extra sweet.  Make these for your sweetie or yourself!

I found these little beauties on the Taste of Home website and I think they are so pretty with the crushed peppermint candies on top.

Peppermint Meltaways

For the cookies:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

For the frosting:

2 tbsp. butter, softened

1 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar

2 tbsp. 2% milk

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies

IMG_6353

For the cookies:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a baking sheet. Sift the flour and cornstarch together onto a paper plate and set aside. In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioner’s sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Add extract.

IMG_6357

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar mixture and mix well.

IMG_6363

Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.  Move the cookies to wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

IMG_6370

IMG_6373

For the frosting:

In a small bowl, beat the butter until fluffy.  Add the confectioner’s sugar and extract.  Beat until smooth.  Spread the frosting over the completely cooled cookies and sprinkle with crushed peppermints. Store in an airtight container.  This recipes makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

Peppermint Meltaways

Read Full Post »

Since it is now February (Wow, how did that happen so fast?), I decided to share a few sweet treats I made during the Christmas holidays.  These were awesome at Christmas, but I bet someone would love getting these homemade goodies for Valentine’s Day as well?  Hint, hint! Winking smile 

I usually make candy bags for my co-workers at Christmas, but the rainy weather just wasn’t cooperating so I turned my attention to COOKIES instead.  This recipe comes from Two Peas And Their Pod and they are so good.  The dark brown sugar and toffee combine to give great flavor and the texture is perfect.  Try these…soon.  Yes, that is an order!

Brown Sugar Toffee Cookies

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cornstarch

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup Heath toffee bits

Extra dark brown sugar for rolling cookies, about 1/2 cup

IMG_6265

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat if you have one.  (I have two and they are nice.) 

Sift together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, salt and cinnamon.  Set aside. Beat the butter and 1 1/4 cups brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Turn off the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl.  Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.

Reduce the speed to low and slowly add the dry ingredients.  I like to sift my dry stuff onto a paper plate so then it is easy to transfer to the mixer.  See:

IMG_6271

Stir in the toffee bits.  Form tablespoon size balls of cookie dough then roll the dough balls in the remaining brown sugar.  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges.  Don’t over bake the cookies.  You want them to be nice and soft.  Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days (if they last that long).

IMG_6288

IMG_6290

IMG_6302

Read Full Post »

While browsing on Pinterest one day, I came upon a pin for these iconic New York deli cookies called, simply enough, Black & White Cookies.  The recipe was posted from Brown Eyed Baker and the cookies looked so yummy!  I pinned the recipe for later and decided to try it one Sunday afternoon.

These are somewhat of a classic cookie so I am glad I tried them, but I am not sure if I will ever make them again.  The cookie is just your basic butter/sugar cookie with black and white frosting on them.  The white portion of the frosting turned out great but as soon as I added some of the white in with the melted chocolate to make the black frosting, disaster struck. 

My chocolate seized and there was nothing I could do to make it smooth again.  I put the bowl over another bowl of simmering water to loosen it and that didn’t work.  I even tried microwaving it for a few seconds and NOTHING!  So, the “black” part of my cookies is just melted semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Don’t get me wrong…the melted chips worked find, but it just wasn’t the same.  Oh, well, you win some and you lose some.

I am listing the original recipe, but there won’t be any photos of the chocolate frosting.

bwcookies

For the cookies:
4 cups cake flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup milk

For the frosting:

2 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, finely chopped

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup light corn syrup

5 cups powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

IMG_3345

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a cookie sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

Beat the butter at medium speed for 30 seconds then gradually add the granulated sugar.  Slow increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for about 3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the eggs and vanilla extract.  Beat at medium speed for about 30 seconds.  Scrape the sides of the bowl again.  On low speed, add the flour mixture and milk alternatively, starting and ending with the flour.  Mix just until combined. 

IMG_3348

IMG_3353

IMG_3357

IMG_3362

Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet.  Gently press each cookie dough mound until it is about 2 1/2 inches wide.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until the edges are set and light golden brown.  Cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet and then put on a wire rack to cool completely.

IMG_3369

Now let’s make the icing: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the water and corn syrup to boil.  Remove from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar and vanilla.  Transfer 3/4 of a cup to another bowl.  Melt the chocolate and add it to the 3/4 cups of frosting.  Combine and that makes the chocolate frosting.  (That is also where mine seized and wouldn’t do a thing so I just used melted semi-sweet chips instead.)

IMG_3371

IMG_3373

IMG_3375

Ice half the cookie with the white frosting and half with the melted chocolate.  Allow the cookies to dry completely before eating or storing.  They will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days.

IMG_3379

bwcookies

Read Full Post »

If you are a chocoholic like I am, I have the perfect cookie for you!  I found this delectable little treat over at Tracy’s Culinary Adventures and it is a winner.  With this much chocolate and butter, you just can’t go wrong.  One little word of warning…this recipe makes a LOT of cookies so you may want to find some people to share these with.  Trust me.

choctrufflecookies

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
20 oz. (567 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 1/4 cups sugar
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups mini chocolate chips

IMG_1857

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare two cookie sheets.  Sift the first 4 ingredients together and set aside.  Melt the semi-sweet chips in the microwave at 50% percent power for 45 second increments until the chips are soft enough to melt when stirred.

IMG_1861

Look at that beautiful chocolate goodness.  Mmmm.

IMG_1867

Cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until well combined, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate before adding the next. Increase the mixer to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes. Add the melted chocolate and vanilla and beat just until incorporated. Add the dry ingredients and the mini chocolate chips. 

IMG_1866

IMG_1875

IMG_1877

IMG_1878

IMG_1887

Using a small cookie scoop, portion out the dough on the cookie sheets.  I put about 14 cookies on each sheet.  Cook one at a time for 12-14 minutes. I let the first sheet cool for a few minutes while the second sheet cooks.  Then just reload and put the sheet back in the oven.

IMG_1892

IMG_1903

IMG_1905

Read Full Post »

Good and pretty food at the state fair…

IMG_8501

IMG_8491

IMG_8674

IMG_8695

IMG_8698

IMG_8699

IMG_8704

IMG_8706

Read Full Post »

I am not usually a cookie baker, especially sugar cookies.  Not that I don’t like cookies, I DO, but I usually have better luck with other baked goods.  When I found this recipe from Annie’s Eats on Pinterest, I really wanted to try my hand at sugar cookies one more time.  These turned out really well and were a great addition to my Christmas cookie/candy tray, hence the red and green frosting!

For the cookies:
4½ cups all-purpose flour
4½ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
1½ cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1½ cups sugar
3 large eggs
5 tsp. vanilla extract

For the frosting:
5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/3 cup (5 1/3 tbsp.) unsalted butter, melted
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
7-8 tbsp. milk (plus more, as needed)
Food coloring (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)

IMG_1381

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt, and whisk together to blend.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar and beat together on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the bowl as needed.  Blend in the vanilla.  With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients mixing just until incorporated and evenly mixed.  Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour.

IMG_1393

IMG_1398

IMG_1402

After the chill time, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and prepare 2 cookie sheets.  Scoop a scant 1/4 cup of cookie dough and roll it into a ball.  Place the ball on the cookie sheet and press it out gently to form the cookie.  Leave about 2 or 3 inches in between each cookie.  Bake for 10-12 minutes and then cool on a wire rack.

IMG_1461

For the frosting, place the confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl.  Add the melted butter, vanilla, and milk to the bowl and whisk until smooth.  Whisk in additional milk as necessary, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.  Tint with food coloring if desired.  Use an offset spatula or spoon to frost the cooled cookies.

IMG_1486

IMG_1491

\IMG_1500

IMG_1503

And, yes, I have had this recipe to post since Christmas, but others seemed to take a front seat.  Oh, well, at least you will have this for NEXT Christmas.

 

Please join me at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage for Full Plate Thursday.

Read Full Post »

Last Christmas, I was looking for a few new sweets to try and I kept seeing this recipe again and again.  It looked so good and pretty simple, too, so I decided to add it to my holiday cookie/candy tray.  You can’t go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate and this little cookie is no exception.  I really liked it and will definitely be making it again!

40 HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

IMG_1406

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.  Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

IMG_1410

IMG_1416

IMG_1419

IMG_1420

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.

IMG_1425

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Unwrap the chocolate Kisses while the cookies are baking.  Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. I had to play around with my camera while I was waiting for the cookies to bake.

IMG_1426

IMG_1436

IMG_1451

IMG_1475

Please join me and other wonderful cooks over at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage for Full Plate Thursday.

Read Full Post »

Today I am joining up with other food bloggers to participate in the International Food Blogger Cookie Exchange hosted by Lori over Fake Food Free who happens to be a fellow Kentucky food blogger.  Everyone that is taking part had to email a favorite holiday cookie or candy recipe to another blogger.  Then that blogger has to make the treat and post about it on their site.  I received a recipe from Joanne at Eats Well With Others and this is the link for the original recipe.

Now, I am going to be totally honest with all of you…I am not a big pumpkin fan so when I received this recipe, I was a little hesitant.  I had no reason to be though.  These little cookies don’t scream “pumpkin” when you take a bite; they are just soft sweet little cookie pillows.  The texture was amazing and the brown sugar glaze finished them off perfectly.  Delicious!!!

Note: The only change that I made from the original was the kind of nuts I used.  Joanne used hazelnuts, but I didn’t have any so I used toasted pecans instead.  Other than that, I followed her original recipe.

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp. milk

3/4 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

DSC01458

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, cream butter and combine with sugar on high speed for about 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.  Add egg, pumpkins, and vanilla.  Beat well.

DSC01461

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.  Combine flour mixture with the butter/sugar/pumpkin mixture until just combined.  Stir in nuts. 

Drop batter in heaping tbsps. onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. (I used a small cookie scoop.) Bake for 10-15 minutes (mine took about 14) or until just starting to get a bit brown around the edges.

Before:

DSC01465

After:

DSC01472

Cool on a wire rack.  While the cookies are cooling, make the frosting.  In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, milk, and butter over low heat, stirring, until the butter is melted and the brown sugar is dissolved.

DSC01467

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and confectioner’s sugar, whisking until no lumps are present.  Ice the cookies with the frosting.

DSC01470

DSC01476

DSC01477

Read Full Post »