Monster Cookies

Monster Cookies

4 c (40oz) creamy peanut butter (sub some with cookie butter or Nutella, opt)

1 1/3 c butter, softened

2 2/3 c brown sugar

2 2/3 c sugar

8 eggs, room temperature

2 t vanilla

2 t corn syrup

5 t baking soda

12 c old-fashioned oats (approx one tub)

4 c "bits" {assorted M&Ms, chocolate chips, caramel bits, Reese's Pieces, toffee bits, etc}

1. In a large bowl, cream butters and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, corn syrup, and vanilla; mix in baking soda and oats.

2. In a giant bowl, combine "bits" together before dumping the dough in.

3. Cover & refrigerate for 1 hour.

4. Preheat oven to 350*. Line a baking sheet or two with parchment paper.

5. Drop 1/4 cupfuls onto baking sheets; bake for about 15 minutes, rotating after 9, until lightly brown.

Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake

CAKE

1/2 c butter, at room temperature

3 T cocoa powder, divided

1 1/2 c sugar

2 eggs

2 t vanilla

2 T red food coloring

1 t salt

1 t baking soda

2 1/2 c flour, sifted

1 c buttermilk*

1 T vinegar 

ERMINE FROSTING

5 T flour

1 c whole milk

1 t vanilla

pinch of salt

1 c butter, softened

1 c sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350*; grease three 9" round pans and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, tapping to coat.

2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar; whip in eggs one at a time; mix in vanilla.

3. In a separate bowl, make a paste of the remaining 2 tablespoons of cocoa and the food coloring; stir into butter mixture.

4. In a third bowl, sift together salt, baking soda, and flour.

5. Stir half of the dry mixture into the butter mixture, stir in half of the buttermilk, and stir in the remaining dry mixture. Add the vinegar to your buttermilk and then stir that into the rest of the ingredients.

6. Divide batter evenly amongst the three pans and bake for 20-25 minutes; cool completely on cooling rack.

7. Make frosting: in a small pot, whisk flour & milk and heat over medium heat until it simmers, stirring frequently until it thickens, almost like a pudding consistency.

8. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla and salt; pour into a bowl, place a layer of plastic wrap in the surface to prevent a skin, and let cool completely.

9. Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy, about 5 minutes; gently mix in the cooled flour mixture, adding a little bit at a time. Continue to beat until it becomes light and fluffy, like whipped cream.

Overnight Baked Cinnamon French Toast

Overnight Baked Cinnamon French Toast
1 loaf crusty sourdough or French bread, cubed

8 eggs

2 c milk

1/2 c heavy whipping cream

1/2 c sugar

1/2 brown sugar

2 T vanilla

Topping:

1/2 c flour

1/2 c brown sugar

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t salt

1/4 t nutmeg

1/2 c cold butter, diced

1. Grease a 9x13 pan and spread bread out in the pan.

2. In a big bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugars, and vanilla; pour evenly over bread.

3. Cover the pan with foil and store in the fridge overnight.

4. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg; cut in butter until the mixture looks like tiny pebbles. Store in a sealed bag or container in the fridge.

 

5. Preheat oven to 350*. Remove the casserole from the fridge and sprinkle topping on evenly.

6. Bake for 45 minutes for a soft, bread pudding-like texture, or for 60 minutes for a firmer texture.

Texas Sheet Cake

Texas Sheet Cake
CAKE

2 c flour

2 c sugar

1/2 t salt

1 c butter

1/4 c cocoa powder

1 c water

2 eggs

1 t baking soda

1 t vanilla

3/4 c buttermilk*

ICING

1/2 c butter

1/4 c cocoa powder

6 T milk

4 c powdered sugar, sifted

1 t vanilla

 

1. Preheat oven to 350*; grease a half sheet pan.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt; set aside. 

3. In a medium pot, combine butter, cocoa, and water; boil for 60 seconds.

4. Stir butter mixture into flour mixture until well-incorporated.

5. Add eggs, baking soda, vanilla, and buttermilk; mix well.

6. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.

7. After you pull the cake out, melt butter, cocoa, and milk in a large pot; bring to a boil over medium heat and then remove from heat.

8. Stir in powdered sugar & vanilla; mix well. Pour over warm cake and spread evenly.

*If you don't have buttermilk, put a splash of vinegar in your measuring cup and then fill to 3/4 cup; let sit for a few minutes and stir before use.

Cookie Truffles

Cookie Truffles
2 c crumbled cookies
1/2 c powdered sugar
4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 T Nutella
Toppings such as coconut, crushed pretzels, etc, opt

1. Mix the cookie crumbs, sugar, cream cheese, and Nutella in a medium bowl.
2. Quickly shape into balls and roll in desired toppings; refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.

I used oat-based cookies, and did not roll in a topping.

Cinnamon Chex Mix

Cinnamon Chex Mix
1 c sugar
1 T cinnamon
1/2 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1/4 c light corn syrup
1- 12 oz box Cinnamon Chex

1. Preheat oven to 350* and line a baking sheet with foil.
2. In a small baggie, combine sugar and cinnamon; set aside.
3. In a large pot, combine butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup; bring to a boil and boil for one minute.
4. Toss cereal in syrup mixture, then stir in cinnamon sugar mixture.
5. Spread cereal evenly on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, then flip, shake, toss with a spatula, and then bake for another 3 minutes.
Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Grilled Peaches

Grilled Peaches
1 stick butter, softened
2 t cinnamon
3 T sugar
4 large peaches, halved and pitted

1. In a small bowl, whip together butter, cinnamon, and sugar.
2. Place peaches, flesh side up, on grill over high heat; grill until golden brown and just cooked through, about 3 minutes.
3. Flip peaches over and spoon butter mixture into pit holes; grill, lid closed, for another minute.

Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate
1/2 c sugar
1 T cocoa powder
2 1/3 c milk*, separated

1. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and cocoa powder; whisk in 1/3 cup milk (sometimes I use half & half or heavy whipping cream if I have it in stock).
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; boil for about a minute or two.
3. Take off the burner and stir in remaining 2 cups milk [this is when I pour it for my toddler]; then place back on burner and warm it up to the temperature you'd like.

*The percentage of milk you use will affect the creaminess of the hot chocolate. I mainly use 1% because that's what we buy and it works great for us.

Fruit Dip

You will never make another fruit dip after you try this one! (Thank you, Paula Deen!)

Fruit Dip
1- 8 oz pkg [light] cream cheese, softened
1 c powdered sugar
1 c heavy whipping cream
1/4 c granulated sugar
1 lemon, zested and juiced
fruit juice, preferably pineapple or orange

1. Whip cream cheese and powdered sugar together.
2. In a separate [chilled] bowl, whip cream and sugar until soft peaks form.
3. Combine cream cheese, whipped cream, lemon zest and juice, and enough fruit juice to achieve desired consistency.
Serve chilled.

Resurrection Rolls

Resurrection Rolls
2 T cinnamon
2 T sugar
1- 10 oz can crescent rolls
8 large marshmallows
1/4 c melted butter

1. Preheat oven to 400* and lightly grease a cookie sheet.
2. In a small bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar.
3. Separate the individual crescent rolls and place on baking sheet.
4. Dip marshmallow into melted butter and then roll in cinnamon sugar; place in the middle of a crescent roll triangle. Repeat for all marshmallows.
5. Carefully wrap the dough around each marshmallow and pinch the seams tightly.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown.

Pecan Pralines

Pecan Pralines
2 c sugar
1 c half and half
1/3 stick of butter
1/8 t baking soda
1 1/2 c whole pecans

1. Combine everything except pecans in a medium saucepan over medium heat; stir constantly until it comes to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to stir until it reaches 240*, or "soft ball stage".
3. Stir in pecans, remove from heat, and stir until creamy, cloudy, and thick.
4. Drop on to parchment paper or a buttered cookie sheet and let cool.

Deep-Fried Doughnuts

Deep-Fried Doughnuts
1/3 c lukewarm water
2 T (or 2 pkgs) yeast
2 T + 1/4 c sugar, separated
1/4 c butter
2 c lukewarm milk
2 t salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 c mashed potatoes
6 cups flour, separated

1. In a small bowl, combine water, yeast, and 2 T sugar; let sit for 10 minutes.
2. In the meantime, melt butter in a medium pan; add milk.
3. Take the pan off of the heat and stir in 1/4 cup sugar, salt, and eggs; transfer to stand mixer.
4. Beat in mashed potatoes and then add the yeast mixture. Add 3 cups of flour, mix until well incorporated, and then add remaining 3 cups of flour. Mix well.
5. Cover the dough and let rise for an hour.
6. Roll out the dough and cut out doughnuts; cover and let rise an additional hour.
7. Heat oil to 375* and fry each doughnut for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side.

Glaze:
2/3 c water
2 T butter
1 t vanilla
pinch of salt
4 c powdered sugar

1. Bring water to boil in a small pot; add butter and stir until dissolved.
2. Take off heat and stir in vanilla, salt, and sugar.
3. Once cooked, immediately place doughnuts in glaze and coat well.
Makes about 40 doughnuts.

Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread

Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread

2 3/4 c plus 2 T flour, separated

1/4 c sugar

2 1/4 t (1 pkg) yeast

1/2 t salt
2 eggs at room temperature
1/3 c milk

1/2 c butter, separated

1/4 c water

1 t vanilla

1 c sugar

2 t cinnamon

1/2 t nutmeg

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt; set aside. Whisk together eggs and set aside. 

2. In a small saucepan, heat milk and 1/4 cup butter until butter has just melted; remove from the heat and add water and vanilla.
3. Let milk mixture stand for a minute or two and then mix it in to the dry ingredients; add the eggs and stir the mixture until the eggs are well incorporated into the batter; add 3/4 cup of flour and stir for about 2 minutes.

4. Place the dough in a large greased bowl and cover with a towel; place in a warm place and allow to rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour. 

5. While the dough rises, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for the filling; set aside. Grease a bread pan; set aside. Melt remaining 1/4 cup butter until browned; go ahead and set that aside too.

6. Punch down the dough and knead in remaining 2 tablespoons of flour; cover with a towel and let rest for a few minutes.
7. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it's about 12x20 or larger; brush butter all over dough and cover with cinnamon-sugar mixture.

8. Slice the dough into 6 strips and slice those strips into 6 pieces each (6x6=36 squares); stack the squares and turn in to bread pan. Place a kitchen towel over the pan and place in a warm place for 30-45 minutes, or until almost doubled in size.

9. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350*. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the top is very golden brown.

10. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20-30 minutes; serve warm.

Mock Tapioca

Mock Tapioca
4 c milk
1/2 c + 1 T sugar
dash salt
6 T Cream of Wheat
2 eggs, separated
1 t vanilla

1. In a large saucepan, combine milk, sugar, and salt; bring to a boil.
2. Slowly stir in Cream of Wheat; return to boil and then reduce heat to medium.
3. Cook until thickened, stirring frequently.
4. Remove from heat, beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Cool to room temperature.
5. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold in to cereal. Serve cold.

English Toffee

English Toffee
2 c sugar
2 c butter, softened
6 T water
2 c chocolate chips
1 c chopped pecans, toasted (opt)
1. Place sugar, butter, and water in a medium pan; stir frequently, if not constantly, with a wooden spoon, over high heat. Toffee will come to a rolling boil.
2. When toffee becomes golden brown, turn it out on to a 9x13 pan.
3. About 3-5 minutes later, sprinkle with chocolate chips; spread melting chips over the entire surface of the toffee and then sprinkle with pecans.
4. Let chocolate cool completely (a few hours) and then break into pieces before serving.

English Apple Pie

English Apple Pie
4 large [Granny Smith] apple, peeled and sliced
1/2 c sugar
2 t cinnamon, separated
1/2 c butter
1/2 c brown sugar
1 c [wheat] flour
3 T water
1/2 c chopped pecans (opt)

1. Preheat oven to 375*.
2. In a large bowl, toss apples in sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon; dump in to pie plate.
3. Using the same bowl (no need to dirty more dishes), beat butter and brown sugar together; mix in flour, water, remaining teaspoon of cinnamon, and pecans.
4. Spoon dumpling mixture over apples, place on the lowest rack in oven, and bake for 45 minutes.

Strawberry Crumb Pie

Strawberry Crumb Pie
Crust:
1 stick cold butter
3 oz cold cream cheese
1 1/4 c flour, plus more for dusting
pinch of salt
Crumb Topping:
3/4 c oats
1/2 c flour
1/3 c sugar
1/4 c butter, melted and cooled slightly
Filling:
6 c (2 lb) strawberries, hulled and chopped
1/2 c sugar
2 t lemon juice
2 1/2 T cornstarch
1/4 t orange zest

1. Whip butter and cream cheese in a food processor until smooth; add flour and salt and process until it forms a ball. Scrape out the dough, shape it into a round disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least an hour.

2. Meanwhile, combine the oats, flour, and sugar in a small bowl; add the butter and stir until incorporated. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 350*. Working on a floured surface, roll out the crust dough and place in a springform pan; return to the fridge for 20 minutes.
4. Bake crust until lightly brown, about 18-20 minutes; let cool on a wire rack.
5. Increase the oven temperature to 375*.
6. Toss the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, and orange zest in a medium bowl. Spoon the mixture in to the crust and spread the topping evenly over the berries.
7. Bake for 60 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the crust and toppings are golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature before serving.

Pumpkin Pie Crescents

Pumpkin Pie Crescents
2 cans crescents
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 c canned pumpkin
2 t + 1 T pumpkin pie spice, separated
1/2 c sugar, separated

1. Preheat oven to 375*; line a cookie sheet with foil and grease.
2. Roll out crescents and cut each in half, lengthwise.
3. Beat cream cheese and pumpkin; stir in 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice and 1/4 c sugar.
4. Spoon mixture on to each crescent and roll up.
5. Combine remaining tablespoon pumpkin pie spice and 1/4 c sugar; roll each of the crescents in the sugar mixture.
6. Place crescents on baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes.

 

Orange Coffee Cake

Orange Coffee Cake
1 can refrigerated jumbo flaky biscuits
1-2 T butter, softened
1/3 c sugar
1/4 chopped walnuts (opt)
1 orange, separated
1/2 c powdered sugar
2 oz [light] cream cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350* and butter a 9" round or square pan.
2. Cut each of the 8 biscuits in half and arrange in the pan; brush butter over biscuits.
3. In a small bowl, combine sugar, walnuts, and orange zest; sprinkle over biscuits.
4. Bake for 20 minutes.
5. In the same bowl, sift powdered sugar over cream cheese and blend well; stir in orange juice.
6. Drizzle glaze over warm coffee cake and serve warm.

Easiest Snickerdoodles

I got this recipe from Cassie Hurst and it's so yummy, and SO easy!

Easiest Snickerdoodles

1 box white (or chocolate) cake mix
2 eggs
.25 c vegetable oil
cinnamon/sugar mix

1. Preheat oven to 400*.
2. Mix all ingredients. Roll into balls and cover in cinnamon/sugar.
3. Bake for 10 minutes on greased cookie sheet.