Vanilla Bean Snickerdoodles

A twist on an old favorite! As a kid I would read the recipe and wonder how come there are called a Snickerdoodle with no Snicker bars in the list of ingredients.  Not exactly sure how the cookie was named, but Snickerdoodles are amazing.  Sweet, chewy cinnamon goodness now with vanilla flavors.

Vanilla Bean Snickerdoodles

1 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cups vanilla bean sugar
2 eggs with white thingies removed
1 tsp vanilla
2 2/3 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup vanilla bean sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Whip butter and vanilla bean sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well blended. Mix in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and sea salt until a soft dough forms. Shape dough balls using a teaspoon.  Roll dough balls in sugar mixture and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are set. You can freeze dough balls for later use if you desire. 

Red White and Blue Oatmeal Cookies

Patriotic always.  I love being an American.  My Grandparents came from other countries to this great land seeking the American dream.  They embraced the culture of America, but not forgetting their own. These cookies are a blend of patriotic colored dried fruits. Blended together to make a delicously tasty cookie.

Red White and Blue Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried coconut flakes
1/2 cup dried wild blueberries
3 eggs with the white thingies removed
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup softened butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup vanilla bean sugar
2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups oatmeal

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Beat the 3 eggs until well blended.  Add the dried fruit, vanilla and stir.  Set the egg and dried fruit aside.  Allow the fruit to soak in the egg mixture for about an hour. In another bowl cream together the butter and sugars.  Add the other dry ingredients together and mix well. Dough will be very dry. Add the dried fruit egg mixture and mix together.  The dough will still be on the dry side.  Add the oatmeal until well combined. Form balls of dough using a teaspoon.  Place dough balls on parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set.

Simply Delish Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn't love a chocolate chip cookie? There are so many recipes to chose from. This one is my go to recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Crunchy, chocolately, salty, gooey goodness.

Simply Delish Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 cup softened butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup vanilla bean sugar
1 egg with the white thingies removed
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 10 ounce bag Ghirardelli 60% Cocao Bittersweet Chocolate chips
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Blend butter and sugars together until light and fluffy.  Add the egg and vanilla and mix again. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add flour in half cup fulls, mixing after each addition. Once well combined add the chocolate chips slowly until well incorporated.

Using a teaspon measure, scoop teaspoons of dough onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.  If you would like to freeze some dough balls for later use now is a great time.  Otherwise place doughballs 2 inches apart on the parchement and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are set.

Allow cookies to cool and store in sealed container.  Enjoy!

Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter Cookies

I was reading a group text from my siblings regarding food earlier today. After giggling out loud and reminiscing of days long ago. I pulled out the old yellow cookbook and skimmed through it. My sisters and I used this yellow cookbook to make just about everything.

I made some oatmeal cookies the other day. They were absolutely amazing. Aside from chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies, I wanted something different. So... today I was inspired to make some peanut butter cookies. Below you will find the recipe.


Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter Cookies

2/3 cup softened butter
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 egg with the white thingies removed
2 tbs cinnamon honey (mix cinnamon in honey if you don't have prepared cinnamon honey)
1 1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup white sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl whip together the butter and peanut butter. Add the light brown sugar until well mixed. Add the egg and mix well. Add the cinnanom honey. Add the flour by 1/2 cupfulls until all flour is incorporated and you are left with a soft dough. Using a teaspoon measure scoop dough and form round balls. Roll dough balls in the sugar. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Press the top of dough the the prongs on a fork to leave a four line imprint. IF you would like to freeze some cookie dough at this point, you can place dough balls on parchment and store in a freezer bag to bake at a later date. Bake 11 minutes or until edges are set. Allow to cool. Serve or store in a sealed container.

Crispy Chewy Chocolate Powdered Sugar Cookies

I have been on a mission to find a recipe for these cookies a certain bakery on Ventura Blvd makes. No such luck. When I try to recreate them, they turn out funky. So after many tries... this recipe is not at all like them but an excellent substitute. These turn out similar to the Chocolate Crackle Cookie variety.

Crispy Chewy Chocolate Powdered Sugar Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

1 box Brownie mix, milk or dark chocolate (whatever you prefer)
1 cup flour
a few shakes cinnamon

In your mixing bowl combine dry ingredients and mix. Then add the following wet ingredients. Mixing after each addition.

1/2 cup water or milk
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 bag chocolate chips
1/4 cup coconut flakes (optional)
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Powdered sugar

The dough will be sticky using a teaspoon drop spoonfulls of dough into powdered sugar. Roll until dough ball is covered in powdered sugar. Place cookie on parchment covered cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until edges are set. Edges should be a bit crispy and centers chewy and browine like.

I took these to work and no one complained!

God Bless America

Memorial Day Weekend is not just a three day weekend. I think often times, people look forward to long weekends because it's an extra day off. In turn, they forget why mail isn't delivered or banks are closed and might even think of that as an inconvenience.

In Elementary School, every morning after the Pledge of Allegiance, our teacher would let a fellow student pick a Patriotic song to sing in the morning. I have never forgotten this chorus and I think of it often.

And I'm proud to be an American ...where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died...who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up; next to you...and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land...God bless the USA!Chorus from

God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood.

Men and Women serve our great Country. They make personal sacrifices to serve and protect America's Freedom. Some even make the ultimate sacrifice. This Memorial Day weekend take time and reflect. Whether you agree with the current wars being fought overseas, Respect and Remember what these brave Men and Women have done for our Country.

Red, White and Blue Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter room temp
3/4 cup firm packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 packet Maple and Brown sugar Oatmeal
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried blueberries

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a mixing bowl combine butter and sugars. Mix well until fluffy. Add the egg and mix. Add extracts and mix again. In a seperate bowl combine dry ingredients (not chips or dried fruit) and stir. Add 1/2 cup of the dry ingredients at a time and mix after each addition. Do this until all dry ingredients are used up. Fold in the chips and dried fruit.

On a cookie sheet using a tablespoon drop rounds of dough approxiamaately 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are set. When done, remove from oven and transfer from baking sheet to a cooling rack. Eat one when it is still warm.

Chocolate Caramel Chewy Cookies

Chocolate chewy goodness. That is what these decadent chocolate concoctions are. A simple recipe with only a few ingredients. Quick to whip up and not too long in the oven and wha-la, instant YUM.

Chocolate Chewy Cookies

One Box Devil's Food cakemix
one packet Maple and Brown sugar oatmeal
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup milk
1/2 stick melted butter (1/4 cup)
1 tsp Kahlua
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
2 or 3 rolls of Rolo candies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, combine cakemix, oatmeal and cinnamon, stir a bit. Add liquids. Mix slowly. It will start out crumbly add egg and mix until well combined. Fold in nuts and chocolate chips. Unwrap the Rolos and set aside. Spray cookie sheet lighty with cooking spray. Using a small gravy ladel, scoop up some dough. Round it off a bit and place on the cookie sheet. Take a Rolo and place it in the middle of the cookie. Do this until you run out of dough. Approxiamately 18 cookies. You can use a tablespoon if you would prefer smaller cookies. Bake in the oven for 13-15 minutes or until edges are set.

Remove from cookie sheet and cool. Store cookies lined on wax paper in an air tight container.

Almond Shortbread Snowballs

I baked. I made a few cookies that I have not made before. As I child, my big sister would make similar cookies but used pecans. As an adult, I created my own with almonds. They passed the test, my Mom, an almond fan, loved them and ate every last one I gifted her in her tin.

Almond Shortbread Snowballs

1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups unbleached flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup finely chopped raw almonds
powdered sugar to coat cookies

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a bowl combine flour, salt and almond bits. Cream butter. Add p. sugar and mix together. Add almond extract and mix. Slowly add flour mixture until dough is set. Place dough balls on cookie sheet and bake 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven, take cookies from cookie sheet and cool on paper towels. Cool completely and roll cookies in powdered sugar.

Shortbreads With a Kiss

Oh my my. These cookies melt in your mouth. They do. They are flipping fantastic. You must make these immediately. They are that good. Well make them if you like shortbread cookies and Hershey Kisses.

Shortbreads With a Kiss

1 cup unsalted butter room temp
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached flour
1/4 tsp. salt
Powdered sugar in a shaker
Unwrapped Hershey Kisses


Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside. In the KitchenAid mixer, whip up the butter. Add the powdered sugar and whip until smooth. Add the extract and mix again. Slowly add the flour mixture and mix. Once completely mixed shape dough into a ball and wrap it with plastic wrap. Put dough in the fridge for about an hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove dough from frige. Line cookie sheet with parchment. Using a teaspoon, scoop dough. Roll it into a ball and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle cookies with powdered sugar and then press one Hershey's Kiss into each cookie. Allow to cool. Enjoy!

Coconut Ginger Honey Cookies

I love honey and I love coconut. Over the last year or two I have grown to like ginger. This cookie recipe combines all of those ingredients so nicely. This is sure to be a new holiday cookie for me.

Coconut Ginger Honey Cookies

2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter
2 tablespoons finely chopped crystalized ginger
1/4 cup fine grated coconut
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup Wilcox Honey

1/4 cup or more of the fine grated coconut to roll dough balls in

Combine flour, b. soda, and salt in a bowl and whisk. In another bowl beat butter and brown sugar together. Mix until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix. Add ginger and coconut. Mix until those ingredients are incorporated. Add half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed. Add the other half and mix again.

Put dough in the 'fridge for about an hour. Remove dough from the 'fridge. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using a teaspoon scoop dough and shape into balls. Roll balls in coconut and then place on the cookie sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes or until edges are set a bit. Dough will flatten out.

Cool on a rack and enjoy.

Holiday Baking Time

I have this itch to bake. I bake once a week, usually for Sunday dinner. It's Holiday time people. We need to bake something. In previous posts, under sweets you will find some recipes for yummy things that can be gifted.

Super Sweet Bars
Kahlua Coconut Rolo Brownie Cups
Cinnamon Chocolate Fudge for Christmas
Christmas in July Cookies
Variety Brownies in One Pan
Re-Inventing Chocolate Chip Cookies
A Twist on an Old Sweet

Each of the above mentioned would make a lovely addition to any baked goodie gift.

One recipe that always screams Christmas is Sugar Cookies. My Mom would make the dough. She would roll it out and cut it with our favorite cookie cutters. Bake them and once cooled she would let us paint them with Colored Powdered Sugar glaze. Oh the memories!!! We would make such a mess and indulge in a sugar high.

As an adult, I have tried to make sugar cookies and have been unsuccessful. But if you have a recipe, the time and the patience... DO MAKE SOME and make some memories at the same time.

CVS is having a sale on Hershey's Chocolate. Thanks for the CVS tips LifeasMom.com, RUN don't walk over there, as Hershey kisses make an excellent topper on so many cookies recipes. Make Peanut Butter or Shortbread cookie dough, bake and remove from the oven and top the cookie with a kiss. You will be glad you did. And if you purchase $20 worth of Hershey's Chocolate, CVS will give you $10 bucks back in Extra Care Money. Seriously, get a CVS card.

Over the next week or two, I will bake and post my recipes. Embrace the Holiday Season and try to enjoy the rest of 2008.

Christmas in July Cookies

Christmas in JULY? Christmas will be here before we know it! So get ready. Just kidding! But, if you want to, check out LifeasMom.com, there are loads of great Christmas ideas to get you in the pre-holiday planning Christmas Spirit.

This is a Christmas cookie favorite with a twist. Cinnamon and chocolate together? One of my favorite combos.

Chocolate Snickerdoodles! ! !

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs with the white things removed

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups unbleached flour

1/4 cup Valhrona Cocoa

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon mixed together to roll dough in.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In your mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and other dry ingredients. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated. Using a tablespoon, scoop and shape dough into balls and roll them into the cinnamon sugar mixture Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are set. Makes 2-3 dozen.

Re-Inventing Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are awesome. Imagine just adding one or two ingredients and have a new yummy tasting cookie. The buttery chocolaty goodness with ? ? ? ?

Basically, take your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and add some other good stuff.

Cinnamon Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies
I add cinnamon and a packet or two of Maple and Brown sugar oatmeal to mine. They are delish!

Red, White and Blue Cookies
Omit chocolate chip and add a handful of dried cranberries, add 1 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips, and a handful of dried blueberries. That's it and you will have the best Patriotic White Chocolate Chip cookie ever!

Toasted Coconut and Pecan Cookies
Keep the chocolate chips and add 1/2 cup toasted coconut and 1/2 cup pecans. YUMMY!

Caramel Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies
Add 1-2 packets of Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal, keep the chocolate chips in your recipe and then cut 10 or 12 caramels into 4's and mix into your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Add a cup of Peanut Butter chips to your favorite cookie dough or chop up some Reece's Peanut butter cups. OH YEAH!!!

Experiment. Make some unique cookies right now and then share your idea in the comment section. (:

Healthy Cookies That Taste Good!?!

What? Did I just type that. Is that some sort of oxymoron? How could a cookie be healthy? Well, again trying to eat better, and being the sweet lover that I am, I needed to find a way to have a sweet but be healthy about it too. So wha-la here goes my attempt at a sweet that is relatively good for you.



Berry Nutty Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup Organic Kirkland Peanut Butter from Costco
1/2 cup applesauce
1 egg
2 Tbsp. blue agave syrup
1 1/2 cup unbleached flour or wheat flour
3 packets of instant oatmeal (any flavor)
1/2 cup sunflower seeds or pepitas
1/2 cup dried cranberries or blueberries
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup dark chocolate semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix first four ingredients together. Slowly add flour. 1/2 cup at a time. Add remaining ingredients until mixed well. Using a tablespoon scoop mixture and roll dough into a ball. Place on cookie sheet and bake 12-15 minutes. Enjoy! You will have a very soft, tasty, berry nutty cookie.