Tag Archives: cookies

Coconut Carrot Cake Cookies!

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Ruthanne

Confession: I hate carrot cake—HATE it. But I love these cookies so much that I could eat a whole plate of them in one sitting- they are so moist and flavorful– and they use a cake mix which makes them really easy to make!

INGREDIENTS:

1 box of Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Mix
12 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese (divided)
1/4c. margarine (plus an additional 2 tbsp)
1 egg
1/2 tsp. of coconut extract (divided)
1/2c. oatmeal
1c. confectioners sugar
1/2c. Wilton White Candy Melts

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together the 1/4c. margarine and 8 oz. of the cream cheese (the remaining will be used in the frosting).
Using a mixer, add in the egg and 1/4 tsp. of coconut extract (the remainder will be used in the frosting)
When the mixture is smooth, slowly add the cake mix until blended (batter will be very heavy)
Fold in oatmeal until well mixed.
Using a small cookie scoop, place scoops of batter on an un-greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. About halfway through, pull the cookies out and gently flatten the tops with a finger and return to oven for remainder of time.
Cool cookies completely on parchment paper.
Make frosting: cream remaining cream cheese with 2 tbsp. of margarine and 1/4 tsp of coconut extract. Add confectioners sugar to a thick consistency.
To put together: turn one cookie bottom up, spoon or pipe a little frosting on it and top with another cookie.
If desired, melt some white chocolate and drizzle it over the top of the cookies.
Makes about 24 cookies.

My thoughts: Mmmmm….I want to have some of these cookies now! I am on a baking freeze because of a kitchen remodel, so I am pulling some recipes from the archives. This recipe was inspired by my friend and coworker Tammy. Her daughter requested carrot cake cookies for a bridal shower, and Tammy (an amazing baker!) created cookies very similar to this. I rethought them a little and added coconut for a recipe contest on Real Women of Philadelphia (RWOP). Whenever I make them people ask for the recipe. They are a little time-consuming, but SO worth the extra time in the kitchen!! I hope you love them!! r-

1 Comment

Posted in Cookies and tagged cake mix, Carrot Cake, coconut, cookies, Cream Cheese, dessert, white chocolate. Bookmark the permalink.

Caramel Chip Bars!!!

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Ruthanne

These chewy cookie bars are packed with 4 types of chips and a thick layer of soft caramel- YUM!!!

INGREDIENTS:

1 box of yellow cake mix

1/3c. oil

2 eggs

1c. each of white chips, semi-sweet chips, milk chocolate chips and butterscotch chips

1/2 c. margarine

32 unwrapped caramels

1 (14oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13pan. Combine cake mix, oil and eggs. Blend well and stir in all of the chips (mixture will be very thick). Press half of the mixture into bottom of pan (it will press into a very thin layer). Bake for 10 minutes.

While this is baking, in a medium saucepan, combine butter, caramels and condensed milk. Cook over low/medium heat until melted and smooth (stir constantly!) Spread caramel over partially baked cake mixture. Top with remaining cake/chip mixture (it will not completely cover, but you can press the mixture flat with your fingers and lay it in sections over the caramel. Bake and additional 25 to 30 minutes. Cool 20 minutes. Run knife around edges. Cool completely before cutting. Makes about 20 bars.

My thoughts: I’ve been making these bars for years and its fun to try them with different types of chips and flavors of cake mix. These were inspired by a recipe given to me by a friend of a friend. Her name is Lily and for years we called these Lily Bars in her honor :0) They have evolved into this recipe (my personal favorite combination of ingredients) –but next time I am adding some coconut! If you like experimenting with flavors, this is a perfect recipe for you! Another note: the caramel sauce used in this is SO good and wonderfully soft that I’ve incorporated it into many other desserts – so when you see this caramel appear in another post you’ll know– it all started here! Have fun with this one– I hope you enjoy it! -r

5 Comments

Posted in Bar cookies, Easy recipes and tagged bar cookies, butterscotch, cake mix, caramel, chocolate, cookies, dessert, milk chocolate, sweet, white chocolate. Bookmark the permalink.

Black-bottom Peanut Butter Cookies!

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Ruthanne

A new twist on the traditional peanut butter cookie!

INGREDIENTS:

2c. creamy peanut butter
2c. sugar
2 eggs
1bag (12 oz) of Wilton Dark Candy Cocoa Melts

DIRECTIONS:

Mix peanut butter, sugar and eggs together in a mixing bowl. Using a Large Cookie Scoop, scoop batter onto cookie sheets and press with fork for surface design. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes. Cool completely.
Melt chocolate candy melts in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between.
Spread parchment paper on a flat even surface
Spoon about 2 tsp of melted chocolate onto the parchment paper
Press a cooled cookie into the center of the chocolate.

Allow chocolate to cool and harden. Drizzle chocolate over the top if desired.
When chocolate is cool and hard, peel cookies off the paper and serve!

Makes about 24 cookies.

My thoughts: I love peanut butter cookies- and this recipe is incredibly simple (even kids would love making this!) I had extra candy melts from another project and that was the inspiration for the “black-bottom” part of this cookie (that, and the fact that I am ADDICTED to Fudge stripe cookies!!!) I wasn’t sure if the cookie and chocolate would stick together well- but they were inseparable! The drizzle on top just adds to the gourmet feel of these cookies. I hope you get a chance to try these– the “WOW’s” when you serve them are well worth the little extra time with the chocolate! Enjoy! r-

13 Comments

Posted in Cookies, Easy recipes, Gluten Free and tagged chocolate, cookies, dessert, gourmet, peanut butter, sweet. Bookmark the permalink.

In the beginning…..there were chocolate chip cookies!

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Ruthanne

Everyone needs a great recipe for chocolate chip cookies. For big chewy perfect-every-time goodness this is your recipe!

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:

2c. margarine (use tubs of Fleishmans for best results)
2c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. sugar
6 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 t. baking soda
2 tbsp vanilla
2c. (one bag) semi-sweet chocolate chips
2c. (one bag) milk chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

Cream together butter and sugars. Add the rest of the ingredients except for the flour and chocolate chips.

Add flour (batter will be fairly dry). Fold in chocolate chips. Drop using a Large Cookie Scoop onto cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes.

My thoughts: I’m starting this blog at the request of many of you who ask for my recipes and ideas. I hope this becomes an easy place for you to find fun and yummy things to bake for your family and friends that make them smile! After all— that’s what baking is all about isn’t it? This cookie recipe is one of my VERY favorite go-to recipes and by far my most requested recipe– so here you go! ENJOY!!!! *hugs* r-