Cookies

Blueberry Muffin Cookies

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Blueberry Muffin Cookies

Blueberry muffins were a Sunday morning staple in our house – so easy to throw in while scrambling eggs and maybe cooking up some bacon.  I still find blueberry muffins to be such a comfort food – and nothing is better than when you have fresh berries to make them in the spring/summer!  This cookie spin on the old classic gives you all that soft, comfort food goodness and elevates it with a bright, scrumptious glaze and a little kick of lemon in both the cookie and glaze. You aren’t going to believe you’ve made it your whole life up to now without these.  ~Kathy

Cookie Ingredients:

  • ½ c. salted butter, softened
  • ¾ c. sugar
  • ½ c. light brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 heaping T. lemon zest
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 ⅓ c. all-purpose flour
  • ½ c. sour cream
  • 2 c. fresh blueberries
  • 2 T. coarse sugar

Glaze Ingredients:

  • 1 ¼ c. powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp. lemon zest
  • ¼ tsp. vanilla
  • 2-3 T. lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best)
  • pinch of salt

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Mix (hand mixer or stand mixer both work fine) until light and fluffy.
  • In above bowl, mix in eggs and vanilla well.
  • With the mixer on low speed, gradually add flour (about ¼ at a time). Mix until mostly combined (a few dry streaks are ok). Mix in half of the sour cream followed by another portion of your flour. Mix in the last half of the sour cream and then the last couple of portions of your flour slowly until well-combined (no dry flour when you are mixing).
  • Add the blueberries and fold in gently (do NOT use the mixer for this portion – a spoon will do).    
  • Scoop the batter in large mounds (two or three tablespoons) and place well apart to accommodate spreading during cooking. Sprinkle the tops of the cookie dough with coarse sugar.
  • Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes until the top springs back lightly. 
  • Move to a cooling rack once cookies are cool enough to relocate (a few minutes should be okay).  
  • For the glaze, in a small bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon zest, vanilla, lemon juice, and salt. It should thicken but definitely needs to be a consistency that you can drizzle over the cookies.
  • If needed, add a little powdered sugar (a tablespoon at a time) to thicken; add a little lemon juice if you need to thin it (just a teaspoon at a time – don’t want to overdo it).
  • Generously drizzle the tops of the fully cooled (otherwise it will melt off) cookies with the glaze but don’t try to heavily coat them; you still want to be able to taste those beautiful cookies too! 

Classic Holiday Thumbprint Cookies

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We love all cookies at our house, especially those that are part of a holiday tradition. These are a simple recipe that taste like they are very complicated. They’re the perfect whipped shortbread cookie that isn’t overly sweet, but is filled with jam and rolled in pecans and delicious coconut. As the cookie bakes the coconut and pecans become toasted.  Delish!  Our favorite filling is plum jam, but other great options would be strawberry, blackberry or raspberry.  This recipe can also easily be doubled.  Any way you make them, they will be fabulous! ~Kathy

½ c. butter, softened

½ c. shortening

½ c. brown sugar, firmly packed

3 egg yolks

1 ½ tsp. vanilla

¼ tsp. salt

2 c. flour

¾ c. coconut

½ c. finely chopped pecans

½ c. plum jam, stirred smooth

Heat oven to 350˚ F.

Beat butter, shortening and brown sugar in large bowl with mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, vanilla and salt. Mix on medium until combined.  Add flour and mix just until blended.

Mix coconut and pecans on a plate. Roll dough into 1” balls. Roll in coconut and pecans to coat. Place on cookie sheet. Using your knuckle or fingertip, make an indentation in the center of each cookie.

Bake for 8 minutes and remove from oven. Press indentations carefully again if needed. Spoon ½ teaspoon jam onto the center of each cookie. Bake an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until the cookie is just slightly browned.  Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.  

Scotcharoos

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The Scotcharoo recipe was originally printed on the side of a Rice Krispies box in the mid 1960s.  That recipe became an instant classic, but we’ve updated our version to make it even better!  One of the best things about these treats is that they’re the perfect dessert for a hot summer night when you don’t want to turn on your oven. Our version adds the perfect amount of gooeyness that we always thought was missing from the original recipe.   Even if you once thought you didn’t love Scotcharoos, we think you’ll love ours. Make them when you want something sweet that also has a sense of nostalgia!   ~Kathy

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1 c. creamy peanut butter

1 c. plus 1 T. light corn syrup

¾ c. firmly packed brown sugar

3 T. butter

1/8 tsp. salt

½ tsp. vanilla

1 c. miniature marshmallows

5 c. Rice Krispies cereal

1 c. chocolate chips (I prefer milk chocolate, but semi-sweet would work fine)

½ c. butterscotch chips

Instructions:

Spray a 9×13 pan with non-stick spray.

In a heavy large pot combine the peanut butter, corn syrup, brown sugar, butter and salt. Place over medium high heat. Stir continuously; the sugar should completely dissolved and the mixture should be smooth and creamy. Remove from heat just as it begins to bubble. Immediately add marshmallows and vanilla. Stir until they are completely incorporated. Add rice cereal and mix carefully to completely coat.

Spread into prepared pan using a spatula. Be careful not to compact it tightly.  Set aside to cool.

In a microwave safe bowl, microwave chocolate and butterscotch chips in 30 second intervals, stirring between, until it is completely melted and smooth. Pour over cereal mixture and spread evenly.

Allow to cool (or refrigerate briefly) until the topping is set. Cut into bars and enjoy!

Coconut Lime Bars

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At my house, it’s definitely not close to being spring.  I absolutely love the intermountain west, but this has been a LOOOONG winter.  There is NO sign of green grass here.  Seriously, we are still completely covered in snow!!!  I start to crave warmer days and “summer food”.  So until the snow is gone, these Coconut Lime bars are helping fill my need for warmth. Travel through food when necessary, I say!   You can eat these bars as soon as they are done, but I highly recommend letting them chill several hours before devouring!  ~Kathy

Ingredients for Bars:

  • 1 stick butter, softened (8 oz)
  • 1 1/3 c. light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp. lime zest
  • 2 1/8 c. flour
  • 1 ½ tsp. baking powder
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 3/4 c. coconut toasted
  • 3 oz. white baking chocolate, finely chopped

Ingredients for Frosting:

  • 1 pkg. cream cheese, softened (8 oz)
  • ¾ c. powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp. fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 1 tsp. lime zest
  • 4 oz. white baking chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
  • ½ c. toasted coconut

Preheat oven to 350°.   Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.  

Start by making sure butter is extremely soft, just shy of melting.  Mix together softened butter and brown sugar in a large bowl.  Add in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla and lime zest.  

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt.   Add to butter mixture and mix, just until combined.  Gently fold in coconut and white chocolate.

Spread the batter into prepared pan.  Bake for 19-23 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

For the frosting, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth.  Add in powdered sugar and lime juice.  Mix in zest and cooled melted white chocolate, combine well.   Spread over cooled bars and top with toasted coconut.   Chill 4 hours or overnight before serving.

Orange Cranberry White Chocolate Bars

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Each year, I search and search for a recipe to send out with my Christmas cards. I found a similar recipe to this, tweaked it just a bit, and perfection was born. These have a ton of great flavor…they are a little sweet and a whole lot of delicious! You can use light or regular cream cheese for the frosting, add a little more or a little less orange zest, depending on your taste. Completely customizable to your tastes.  Plus, they turn out really pretty. Great for a holiday cookie exchange, gifts to neighbors, or to devour yourself! They are ah-maz-ing!! ~Kathy

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Blondie:

  • 1 stick (8 Tablespoons) butter
  • 1 1/3 c. packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. freshly grated orange zest
  • 2 1/8 c. flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 c. dried cranberries, coarsely chopped (this helps distribute them more evenly throughout
  • the batter)
  • 4 ounces white baking chocolate, coarsely chopped or 1/2 ­ 2/3 cup white chocolate chips

Frosting / Topping:

  • 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened (regular or light)
  • 3/4 c. powdered sugar
  • Pinch salt
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp. freshly grated orange zest
  • 4 oz. white baking chocolate, melted
  • 1/2 c. dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

Instructions: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F and lightly grease a 9×13 ­inch pan with cooking spray.
  2. In a microwave­-safe bowl, melt the butter.
  3. Stir in the brown sugar until well­-combined.
  4. Whisk in the eggs, vanilla extract and orange zest.
  5. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon until well combined; then fold in the cranberries and white chocolate.
  6. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
  7. Bake for 18­-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist (not gooey) crumbs. Do NOT over bake!!!
  8. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.
  9. For the frosting, using an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer), beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and salt together until light and fluffy (about 2­-3 minutes).
  10. Mix in the vanilla.
  11. Add about half of the melted chocolate and mix until creamy.
  12. Spread the frosting onto the cooled bars.
  13. Sprinkle with cranberries and orange zest and drizzle the remaining white chocolate over the top. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set.
  14. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

3C Oatmeal Cookies ~ Chocolate, Coconut, Cranberries

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I bake cookies.  Often. OK, too often.  Actually, I take that back – it’s always a good time for cookies!  I definitely have my favorite recipes, but often, when I try something new, I’m left a little disappointed that I didn’t make one of my standard favorites.  So, this time, I decided to create my own recipe combining some of my favorite things (there’s a song in there somewhere, I think). The result was this plate of cookie perfection!  This cookie is the perfect blend of chewy and chocolatey, while including the perfect hint of tart flavor with the dried cranberries. Even for folks who don’t like raw coconut, the toasted coconut in these cookies provides the perfect amount of nuttiness.  Try ‘em today! ~Tracy

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Ingredients:
  • 1 c. stick butter, softened to room temperature
  • ¾ c. brown sugar
  • ½ c. granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 ½ c. all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 2 ½ c. quick cook oats
  • 1 c. dried Cranberries
  • 4 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped into small chunks
  • 1 ½ c. toasted coconut (see note)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Beat eggs and sugars together until creamy.
  3. Add eggs and vanilla.
  4. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Pour into butter mixture and mix well.
  5. Stir in oatmeal and cranberries just until mixed into cookie mixture.
  6. Gently stir in the toasted coconut to avoid breaking it up.
  7. Drop by generous tablespoons full onto sprayed or parchment lined cookie sheet.
  8. Bake approximately 10-12 minutes (cooking times vary by oven).
  9. Cool on rack before serving.

Note: To toast coconut, thinly spread coconut in medium skillet. Cook on medium to low temperature until coconut begins to brown slightly. Stir coconut occasionally until all turns a golden brown color. Watch the coconut closely and adjust temperature to avoid burning. Once most of the coconut is toasted and golden (you may have a few pieces that stay somewhat white), remove from skillet and spread on wax paper or parchment paper and allow to cool before use.