Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

INGREDIENTS:
*Makes 4-5 dozen
1 cup (16 tablespoons) butter, softened to room temperature
2 cups smooth or chunky peanut butter
1 ½ cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ tablespoons milk
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl combine the butter and peanut butter and beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy (you can do this with a hand mixer or with an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment).
3. Add the brown and white sugars and mix until well combined.
4. Add the eggs and mix for 1-2 minutes, until the mixture is well combined and light in color.
5. Add the milk and vanilla and mix.
6. Add the dry ingredients and mix just briefly. While there are still large spots of flour, add the chocolate chips (or peanut butter chips or both) and mix until the flour is completely mixed in and the mixture is well combined.
7. Let the cookie dough sit for 15 minutes before scooping onto the baking sheets. It will firm up as it sits. When ready to bake, scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto silpat or parchment-lined baking sheets leaving about 1 to 2 inches in between the cookies to allow for spreading as they bake. Bake for 10-11 minutes, taking care not to overbake in the slightest! Leave the cookies on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes after baking before removing them to a cooling rack. This will help them set up and be firm enough to transfer without having them overbake in the oven. The cookies may look slightly underbaked but they will firm up as they cool. Resist the urge to eat them warm as they taste much better cooled.

Healthy Honey Oatmeal Cookies

Healthy Honey Oatmeal Cookies
from Megan Smith

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 TBS butter

1 1/2 TBS unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

2 egg whites

1 TBS water

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat your oven to 350.

2. Mix together butter, applesauce, brown sugar, honey, egg whites, and water.

3. Add in your dry ingredients, and then your oatmeal and chocolate chips.

4. Spoon onto cookie sheet (sprayed with Pam) and bake for 12 minutes.

For only 69 calories a piece, these cookies were pretty good! My husband said that they are healthy because you only want to eat one, but I seriously liked them- a great alternative for a healthier cookie!

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
from Mom

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 TBS whipping cream

DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended. Mix on medium speed for 3 minutes.
2. Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute.

The Best Sugar Cookies

The Best Sugar Cookies
from Mom

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake 6-8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
from Our Best Bites

INGREDIENTS:
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1/4 cup Smart Balance margarine (or similarly high-quality margarine)

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 c. Heath bits

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Combine brown sugar, white sugar, butter, margarine, and vanilla in a large bowl until well-blended. Add in eggs and beat well. Slowly add in flour mixture and mix until combined. Add in chocolate and white chocolate chips and then mix the toffee bits until they're just combined.
4. Drop dough onto the cookie sheets and bake 8-10 minutes until the cookies are lightly brown. Allow to cool on cookie sheets for about 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely. The cooling rack is very important in this recipe because the toffee will make the cookies stick to the pan if you're not careful.

*I used light brown sugar and all butter because I didn't have margarine. These cookies were yummy (especially the dough)! You obviously can't go wrong with chocolate, white chocolate, and toffee!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies (Joe's favorite!)
from All Recipes

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup white chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth.
3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
4. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture.
5. Mix in the macadamia nuts and white chocolate.
6. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
7. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

No Bake Cookies

No Bake Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
1 3/4 up sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 TB cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
3-4 1/2 cups quick oats

DIRECTIONS:
1. Melt all ingredients in a pan over medium heat.
2. Spoon drops onto wax paper.
3. Let cool and harder.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 package chocolate chips
2 1/4 cup oatmeal

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Mix together.
3. Form into balls.
4. Bake for 9-11 minutes.

Homemade Oreos

Homemade Oreos

INGREDIENTS:
2 packages Devils Food Cake
5 eggs
1/2 cup melted shortening

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat over to 350.
2. Mix together until dough forms.
3. Roll into balls and roll in sugar. Flatten slightly.
4. Bake for 10 minutes.
5. Put two together with white frosting.