Thumbprint Cookies-Week 10

One of my favorite cookies...I know, I say that alot, is thumbprint cookies. I am not sure what it is about them that I will choose first off of a goodie tray. I have shown you the Butter Meltaways that were filled with that sweet cream cheese filling, this week I am going with a butter cookie filled with your choice of jam. I have used raspberry, strawberry and apricot and all of them went well together, although my preference would be the tanginess of raspberry.

So here we are at week 10, only 2 more to go. I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season so far!

Giant's Thumbprint Cookies
from: Gale Gand

8 oz. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise, soft insides scraped out
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups plus 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
1/4 cup jam of your choice

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter 3 sheep pans or use 1 pan and bake the cookies in 3 batches.

Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer) until fluffy. Add the vanilla scrapings and salt and mix until incorporated. Add the flour and mix at low speed until incorporated.

Using your hands, roll the dough into golf ball size balls and arrange them 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet flattening them out a bit as you go. Using your thumb, press the top of each cookie to make a shallow well. Roll your thumb back and forth to widen the well. Using a small spoon, fill the wells with jam.

Bake until very lightly browned around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly on the pan, then transfer to a rack to finish cooling. Store in an air tight container.

Week 10 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

Hot Cocoa Bread-Week 9

I know, I am late. I am sorry. With the Holiday and family gatherings..time just got away from me. I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving! I did, and I am sure I added a few pounds around the waistline as well.



This week I decided to do a quick bread. A few weeks ago I was contacted by Allison from Lake Champlain Chocolates asking if I would be interested in sampling some of their cocoa. It is organic and Fair Trade and would be perfect for any baking that I would be doing. Of course, I would love to try it!! And since this bread only uses cocoa, it would be perfect and I was not disappointed! I will be making this bread in mini loaf form, and will add a chocolate ganache to the top and add some mini marshmallows. My boys loved this so much that they finished the loaf in a day, and it was a big loaf! The recipe warned that it would make a big loaf to use the biggest loaf pan, I used the biggest one I had, and should have split it into 2 loaves. It overflowed from the top and took a little longer to bake.


This week is the first of December which means that we only have 3 more weeks of cookies left! And I need to tell my fellow cookie bakers, that I have not been ignoring your posts. My work place has decided to put a new firewall on our computers..which enables me to comment. I can look all day, but it blocks me to leave a comment. Once I get home for the day, the mommy in me takes over and I don't get alot of time to be online to comment. I mean, what do they expect me to do here?? work?? :)


Now, I have a surprise for you...keep reading on down and you'll see!

Hot Cocoa Bread:

from: Chickens in the Road

1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup mini marshmallows

Combine cream cheese, butter, and sugar. Cream with a mixer. Add egg and vanilla. Mix again. Add the cocoa powder and about 1/2 cup of the buttermilk; mix well. Add all the remaining ingredients (except the marshmallows) and stir to combine. Stir in the marshmallows.


Spoon into a greased loaf pan. This makes a large loaf–use your largest loaf pan.
Bake at 350-degrees for one hour.


Storey Publications sent me a copy of this book, A World of Cake to review. It is beautiful! I have to admit, I love a book with pictures...probably, if you don't have pics in the book...I am going to pass it up. The book gives you a world tour in cake form...have you ever wondered how they make the moon cakes that you see on blogland?? The recipe is in the book...funnel cakes?? it's there...name the cake, it is in there! You want a copy??? Just leave me a comment on this post. Tweet it, Facebook it...blog about it, come back and leave me another comment for more chances.

I will draw the winner and announce on This Friday's, December 3rd, cookie post.

Butter Meltaways--Week 7

Can you believe that we are over half way mark? Week 7 and we have 5 more weeks to go. I make these every year for Christmas, these are the ones that will always be on my goodie trays. They are simple and quick and delicious!

Butter Meltaways with Cream Cheese Frosting
By: Paula Deen

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup confectioners sugar

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy.

Separate dough into 4 equal parts and roll each into a smooth log. Wrap each log in flour dusted wax paper. Chill dough for at least 6 hours. After six hours, allow dough to sit out for 15 minutes to soften.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheets.

Slice dough into 1/4 inch thick slices and place on prepared baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks.

Frosting:
1 cup confectioner sugar
1 (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 to 1 drop food coloring

In a medium bowl, combine all frosting ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Pipe or dollop a small amount on top of cooled cookies.

***Here are my notes on this recipe. This recipe calls to make 8 dozen cookies. That is why you roll it into logs. I did not do this. I also did not chill my dough. Once it was mixed, I rolled it into 1 inch balls with floured hands and it worked fine. When I roll it out and cut into shapes, then I chill it, but not for 6 hours. Only until it is firm enough to roll.***

Week 7 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

Cranberry Dark Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Bars-Week 6

Oh my people, we are at week 6 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas cookies! I thought all week that this is week 5, it has been that kind of week. These weeks just keep going by quicker and quicker! I don't know about you, but I am excited to see all the Christmas decorations going up in the stores and I have noticed the holiday commercials starting to show up. :)



This week I needed something comforting and easy. I went back to the Oatmeal Raisin cookies I made for Week 2, subbed the raisins for dried cranberries and added some dark chocolate. I think I like cookie form better than the bar form, but the hubby loved them, even though he doesn't like cranberries.



Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bars

Adapted from: Quaker Oats

1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups oats

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup dark chocolate chunks



Heat oven to 350°F.

In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats, cranberries and chocolate; mix well.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Potato Candy-Week 5

One of things that I remember my mom making every Christmas is this potato candy. She learned from her granny, who is someone I wished I could have known. I hear I am just like she was. Before now, I never could get this candy to turn out. It is strange to me how when you add powdered sugar to a boiled potato, it liquefies...resulting in adding more sugar until it becomes a ball of dough. So before now, I would cheat. I would take a can of vanilla frosting and a 1 lb box of powdered sugar mix it all together until a ball would form. Hey, it worked for me and my mother would always say "your granny would not be proud", in my defense, I never met the woman so how would I know? She should have left me some sort of book. :)

Week 5 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies is here and that leaves 7 more weeks of some yummy things! I can now say that my Great Granny would be proud of me for making this the way she would. I now don't have to buy the canned stuff, because I now have the potato candy making as a success!

I think I should go ahead and tell you that I don't have an exact recipe, I'll just kind of explain how I did it. :)

Potato Candy

1 small potato, peeled, quartered and boiled until done

2lb bag of powdered sugar

Peanut Butter

Put the cooled potato in a medium bowl (I used my mixer with the paddle attachment) slowly add the powdered sugar, the potato will become liquefied, keep adding the powdered sugar until it forms a ball. You won't use the whole bag of powdered sugar, but you may need a little more or less than the 1 lb box. Once you have a ball, lightly dust your workspace with the powdered sugar and roll out the dough to the thickness that you like. Spread with peanut butter, and again, this is to your liking add as much or as little, just make sure that if you add more that your seam is sealed so it doesn't leak out when rolled up. Roll you dough pinwheel style and once rolled slice into slices.

Week 5 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

Candied Ginger Butter Cookies-Week 4

A few week ago Beth sent me a package of candied ginger. I wasn't sure what I would do with it so I thought I might just munch on it...have you ever tried it?? Boy, does it have a bite to it! I don't think that will become my snack of choice. So, while flipping through some old magazines, I came across this cookie and knew that it would be perfect to use the ginger and this weeks cookie.

Yes, we are at week 4 of cookies and I am still just as excited each week as the first to see what everyone comes up with. This cookie was not at all what I expected, but you know what? I love it! It is kind of like a spiced up shortbread, but soft and chewy in the middle. And you know, I really like the bits of the ginger in them. I will be making them again and think I will add a little more of the chopped candied ginger.

Candied Ginger Butter Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups all purpose flour
2 Tbsp crystallized ginger, finely chopped


2 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 tsp shortening


Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla. Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in the ground ginger, the cinnamon, and salt until combined. Using a wooden spoon, gradually stir in flour and the crystallized ginger.



Divide dough in half. On the prepared cookie sheet, press one portion of dough into a 10x2 1/2 inch rectangle. Bake for 22 to 24 minutes or until top is golden brown and edges are set. Cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes. Cut rectangle crosswise into 1/2 inch wide sticks. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool. Repeat with the remaining dough.



Melt the chocolate and shortening in a small bowl in the microwave until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies and let stand until the chocolate sets.

Week 4 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

Whoopie Pies-Week 3

This week I chose to go with whoopie pies. It is my son, Blake's, birthday so these were perfect for today. There are so many ways you can make them. I have made them before a while back, but wanted to go with a "cake" flavor this time around. You can definitely make these festive using Christmas sprinkles or color the batter. The filling possibilities are endless as well.

So, here we are at week 3, leaving 9 more to go!! There are over 50 cookie bakers, so that is alot of cookies each week! I don't think that any of us will have any trouble making our trays for this year!

Birthday Cake Whoopie Pies

For the cookies:

8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1½ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
½ cup milk


Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Blend in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in the vanilla. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; whisk to combine. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients to the bowl, alternating with with the milk, and beating each addition just until incorporated.

Using a cookie scoop, scoop your batter and place an inch or two apart. Bake 8-10 minutes, until the cookies are set (they should not brown.) Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with any remaining batter as necessary.

Buttercream:
1 sticks of butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk

Cream the butter and vanilla together, gradually add the powdered sugar and milk until you get the consistency you want. Add more as needed.

Chocolate Buttercream: Use the above recipe and add 4 heaping Tbsp.

Week 3 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies-Week 2

Here we are at week 2, and that leaves 10 to go...10 week until Christmas!! I have a confession..until now, I have never made an oatmeal raisin cookie. I have been married 16 years and these are the hubby's all time, hands down favorite, and I have never made them! I have not been a very good wifey. :) I guess the reason for that is because I never really like them. I think it's funny how your likings change. I eat things now that I would have never touched maybe 10 years ago. It's a funny thing. :)

Although, I love a good goodie tray with all kinds of fancy things, I also think that sometimes simple is best. I think that every tray should have a simple chocolate chip cookie and now I think they need a simple oatmeal raisin cookie. These cookies are soft and chewy..sweet with a hint of cinnamon and they are just as good the next day.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
From: Quaker Oats

1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats
1 cup raisins

Heat oven to 350°F.

In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins; mix well.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Week 2 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:   

Week 1--Cheesecake Cookies

I know it seem crazy to be talking about Christmas already, but I believe that you can never have too many cookies around the holidays. You may remember last year there was only a handful of us that baked, but I am so excited that this year we have close to 30 of us baking along...I can hardly stand myself thinking of all the cookies that will be made!

We are a family of cheesecake lovers, what better way to start off the first week with a cheesecake cookie? No better time than the present I say. I liked these cookies and will probably make these for my goodie trays this year. The texture reminded me of shortbread with a little tanginess (is that a word?!) from the cream cheese that is added. You could also roll these in any type of coating you want, I chose to go basic with graham cracker crumbs. You could also put some chocolate in the middle..I may go with a rolo candy in the middle the next time. The possibilities are endless on topping/filling combinations. Happy Cookie Baking!!!

Cheesecake Cookies

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
Graham Cracker Crumbs, for coating

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, beat together butter, cream cheese, and sugar. Mix in vanilla extract. Stir in the flour until well combined.

Scoop the dough and form into 1" balls. Roll in graham cracker crumbs so cookie is covered.

Place covered cookie balls onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the tops are slightly puffed.


Week 1 Twelve Weeks of Christmast:

2 weeks and counting.....

We are now on the count down for the first week of the 12 weeks of Christmas cookies bake along. Here is who I have so far that is going to be cookie baker for the next 12 weeks.

Barbara from Barbara Bakes
Megan from Megan's Cookin
Megan from My Baking Adventures
Jamie from Mom's Cooking Club
Tracy from SugarCrafter
Beth from You Know What you Oughta Do
Heidi from With Thankful Hearts
Stephanie from Dispensing Happiness
Katy from Alphabet Soup
Tania from Love Big, Bake Often
Avril from Baking and Creating with Avril
Tracy from Mid-Western Girl with a Texas Address
Randi from Little Food, Lot of Flavor
Lina from Crustabakes
Stephanie from Bite by Bite
Lisa from Sweet as Sugar Cookies
Chaya from Chaya Comfy Cooks
Bree from Baked Bree
Megan from Less Than Adventurous
Pam from From Apples to Zucchini
Melynda from Melynda's Muffins..errr..Food Madness
Dajana from Baker's Corner...Somewhere in my Kitchen
Jennifer from Maple n' Cornbread
Chip from Cooking with Chip
Trisha from My Hobbie Lobbie
Katrina from Baking and Boys
Renee from Flamingo Musings
Krista from Meet the Swan's
Amanda from Fake Ginger
Wende from The Rickett Chronicles
Joy from Joy's Misadventures
Mary from Bites and Bliss
Diana from The Iron Maiden
Maggie from Ceo A's Draiocht
Cara from The Boys Made Me Do It
Erin from Making Memories
Rachael from Rachael Raves
Hannah from City Baked
Sue from Munchkin Munchies
Katie from Level 2 Mommy
Samantha from Bikini Birthday
Bonnie from City Home Country Home
Beth from A Nutmeg Kitchen
Louann from Louanne's Kitchen
Marcellina from Marcellina in Cucina
Lee Ann from C'est si bon Sweets and Treats
Alexandra from Peace Love Sprinkles
Martha from Seaside Simplicity
Mickey from Monster Mama
Rachel from Rachel's Bite
Tamy from 3 Sides of Crazy
Manoela from Dessert First

If I left you off, please, please, please forgive me!!! Also, if you haven't received an email from me, let me know. I have a couple of pieces of info to pass along! I am super excited! :) Start looking through those cookie recipes girls, I have cookie trays to start planning!

As I mentioned before the hubby told me I needed to start blogging again. It is so true. Isn't it funny how blogging becomes a part of you? I love blogging, love the friends that I have made and the ones that I haven't yet and I miss it. But, I also realize that you have life to live. Life just happens. I have to find that balance.

So, today is my anniversary. I have been married 16 years today! Wow, the time flies. Tomorrow TN plays FL and honestly, we are going to lose. And if I am being honest...I don't really like to watch football on TV..I just like to get together with great friends and eat. This weekend is not different, I have officially named it "Glutton Buffet Day" because yes, my friends, we have that much food planned and I will probably gain 10 pounds. So, I should have something new to blog about next week. :) Have a great weekend!