Easy Gingerbread Man cookie glaze

  If you saw my favorite gingerbread man cookie post you will probably be wanting my easy gingerbread man cookie glaze. This is a very simple yet beautifully glossy glaze. I usually help my kids spoon it on and let them go crazy with sprinkles and decorations.  

Favorite Holiday Gingerbread Man cookies

 

 

Can I officially call it Christmas week? With school being out and all other activities being postponed until next year (that sounds weird), presents wrapped and kids at my heels, I have decided we are fully submerging ourselves in everything Christmas.

I am going to find a service project to do with my little ducklings this week but since today is lazy Sunday, we thought it best to spend time together making the cookies we will leave out for Santa. This is a favorite recipe of mine I have been making for years.

Chewy, soft, spiced, delicious, and just plain adorable! I couldn't decide which pictures to cut so I just used them all.

Make these cookies with someone you love! Happy Christmas week.

Chewy and puffy GLUTEN FREE chocolate chip cookies.

 

  If you have ever tried going gluten free, you know that without gluten in baked goods, they can turn out grainy and dry with an odd texture. Gluten provides chewiness in breads and goodies so its tough to find a gluten free recipe that compares.  My Mom was diagnosed with celiac disease 3 years ago (her guest post here) and since then she has put in a lot of hard work and study to find recipes that are as close to the real thing (with gluten) as possible. She drove over to my house late last night to share a few of these warm and chewy chocolate chip cookies with me. As I sat in her dark car and took a bite of this new experiment, she waited anxiously to hear what I thought of them. To my great surprise, these little delights are chewy, puffy, moist and full of great texture and flavor. These are not words that you would normally use in the same breath as a gluten free cookie. If you or someone you know is going gluten free or has celiac disease, you have got to make them a plate of these cookies. I guarantee you will get a big hug because they probably haven't had a treat like this is a while!!

Outrageous Double Chocolate-White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

  I tried a new cookie recipe today from one of my favorite cook books, Betty Crocker Bridal Edition. The name alone sounded too good to pass up, so we had to give them a go.   These little chocolatey delights are a fun change up from the traditional chocolate chip cookie, and the smell in your kitchen as they bake will have you peaking through the oven window begging for them to be ready! I hardly had enough patience to let them cool before diving in to one (hundred)... and I will be sure to share these with my family members or neighbors so I don't end up scarfing them all up myself! This would be a great recipe to make for a party or family event as it makes A HUGE plate!   Have a happy Wednesday  

 

Recipe:

1 bag (24oz) semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 large eggs

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 package (6 oz) white baking bars cut into bite sized chunks

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

 

Heat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat 1 1/2 cups of the chocolate chips on med-low heat stirring consistently, until melted. Cool a few minutes (not long enough to let harden)

Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs and melted chocolate until fluffy. Now add dry ingredients (flour, soda and salt).

Stir in the remaining 2 1/2 cups of chocolate chips and the white chocolate as well as your walnuts or pecans.

 

Drop by cookie scoop onto an ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.

Bake 12-14 minutes or until set (CENTERS WILL APPEAR SOFT)

Cool 1-2 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.

 

**Note, since these cookies are a dark brown chocolate color, you wont be able to tell if you have over cooked them. Be sure to mark your timer so that they cook just until the outer edges are set and the middle is still soft. This will make for a delicious chewy cookie!

 

 

MY VERY FAVORITE Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Have you searched and searched for a great chocolate chip recipe that is fast, easy and delicious!? I have just a recipe for you! Its one of our family's all time favorites and I know you will love it!

 

  



Recipe:
2C plus 2 T flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
12 T butter (1 1/2 sticks) melted and cooled until warm
1 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
1/2 C granulated sugar
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
2 t vanilla extract
1 1/2 C semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

Heat your oven to 325 degrees.
 Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
Next, mix butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Mix in egg, yolk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients; mix until just combined. Stir in chips.
Use a cookie scoop or large spoon and scoop onto a cookie sheet.

 Bake until cookies are set around outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft and puffy, 10-13 minutes. Since cookies are very puffy and soft, let them cool on the baking sheet.
 Serve or store in airtight container.

RECIPE FROM: Our Best Bites

Buttery almond meltaways

 

Tis' the season for all things sweet, buttery, jam filled and delicious.... Am I right?

I was stuck at home this afternoon and decided to try a new recipe. I found it in a 2007 Betty Crocker Christmas cookie magazine.

Such simple ingredients took only a few minutes to mix together, and in no time at all the smell of thumbprint cookies baking on a cold winter's day filled the air.

This is a really fun recipe to make with your kids, as you can have them stamp their tiny thumbs into the cookies to make room for the sweet jam filling.

 

Have a lovely day!

 

 

Recipe:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped nuts (almonds, pistachios, or walnuts)

1 small jar of your favorite flavored jam (I used sugar free strawberry, and peach mango orange)

2 tablespoons powdered sugar (for garnish)

 

 

Mix together butter and powdered sugar. Stir in flour, salt, vanilla and nuts.

Shape dough into 11/4 inch balls about 1 inch apart on a baking sheet.

Press your thumb three-quarters of the way down into the dough, to make an indentation for the jam.

Bake the cookies 15-17 minutes (until set, but not yet browned)

Remove cookies onto a cooling rack, and re-press thumb prints as they have puffed up a bit.

Cool completely, then add jam filling to the centers.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar over jam filled centers.

 

 

Makes about 2 dozen