Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Strawberried Peanut Butter M&M Cookies

Posted by Laura at 9:14 PM 0 comments
From the moment I first laid my eyes on these M&Ms, I knew I had to make them into a cookie.



But what kind of cookie?
Peanut Butter?
Oatmeal?
Chocolate Chip?

In the end, I settled on a recipe for M&M cookies, which is basically your ordinary chocolate chip cookie. This recipe yields a cookie that is not overly sweet, but just as tasty as any other cookie. At some point I might try an oatmeal or peanut butter (or a combination of both) with the other bag of M&Ms I purchased.

A few things to note:

1. The original recipe is supposed to yield 50 cookies. Mine yielded about 3 dozen average sized cookies. Clearly we have very different ideas of what is meant by "heaping teaspoonfuls." I think I would have ended up with bite-sized cookies if I had followed their idea of "heaping." Quite frankly, I am much happier with my interpretation. :)

2. The recipe calls for the cookies to be baked for 10-13 minutes. I enjoy a softer cookie, so I always go slightly under what they consider to be the minimum baking time. But to each his own.






Strawberried Peanut Butter M&M Cookies
(Source: Adapted from Red's Ultimate M&Ms Cookies)

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups Strawberried Peanut Butter M&M’s
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips


1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. In large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. In medium bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt; blend into butter/sugar mixture. Stir in M&M’s and chocolate chips. Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

3. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and centers are still soft. Do not overbake. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; cool completely on wire racks. Store in tightly covered container.

Make approximately 3 dozen.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Cookbooks

Posted by Laura at 8:15 PM 0 comments


I have a serious love-hate relationship with cookbooks. I love the idea of them - a bunch of great recipes, all in one place and organized in a way that always makes sense. But the reality of it is, in any given cookbook, there are always only a handful of recipes that make it onto my "must try" list and this frustrates me to no end.

I have finally found the perfect solution to my problem.

The library.

The freaking library.

It's the best solution a baker like me could ask for. You can check out as many books as you want for 3 weeks as many as 3 times in a row (that's 9 whole weeks, providing no one else wants the book during that period), which gives you ample time to try as many or as few recipes as you please. If you're anything like me, you will get a little carried away and wind up with 7 different cookbooks (6 of them baking-related) at once that need to be plowed through.

The best part is this: when I have tried all of the recipes I am interested in, I can simply return the cookbook and pick out a new one. It's no big deal if I only try one or two recipes out of a book because I didn't spend a ridiculous amount of money on it. And, let's face it, cookbooks can be expensive. And of course, if I like the book enough, I can always add it to my personal collection later on.

Below is a helpful list of cookbooks broken into 3 pretty self-explanatory categories: My Personal Collection, Tried-and-True, and Must-Try. At some point I may get into reviewing cookbooks I've used, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

My Personal Collection:
The Essential Wok Cookbook
The Essential Asian Cookbook
The Essential Baking Cookbook
The Newlywed's Cookbook
Betty Crocker's Cooking for Two
Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook 14th edition
Stir Fries: Best-ever Wok & Pan Recipes
If I Gotta Cook Make It Quick!
Fix-it & Forget-it Slow Cookbook: Feasting with Your Slow Cooker
Pancakes & Waffles
Cupcakes!
Recipe File

Tried-and-True:
Betty Crocker Cookie Book
The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion: The Essential Cookie Cookbook
Pillsbury Best Cookies Cookbook: Favorite Recipes from America's Most-Trusted Kitchens
The Candy Bar Cookbook
Pillsbury Baking
Best Ever Cookie Book
Mrs. Fields Best Cookie Book Ever!

Must Try:
Muffin Bible
Baking By Flavor
The Essential Christmas Cookbook
Pillsbury Holiday Baking: Treats Filled With Cheer For A Magical Time of Year
The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook: Recipes from the Classic Cookie to Mocha Chip Meringue Cake
Big Fat Cookies
Big, Soft, Chewy Cookies
KitchenAid Baking Companion
Kitchen Aid Great Baking and More
Ultimate Mixer Cookbook
The Mixer Bible: Over 300 Recipes for Your Stand Mixer
Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off Cookbook: Recipes from America's Favorite Cooking Contest
The All-American Cookie Book
The Good Cookie: Over 250 Delicious Recipes from Simple to Sublime
Cookies: More Than 70 Inspiring Recipes
Great Cookies: Secrets to Sensational Sweets
Bake Me I'm Yours...Cookie
Field Guide to Cookies: How to Identify & Bake Virtually Every Cookie Imaginable
S'mores: Gourmet Treats For Every Occasion
The Weekend Baker: Irresistible Recipes, Simple Techniques, and Stress Free Strategies for Busy People
How Baking Works: Exploring the Fundamentals of Baking Science
Martha Stewart's Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share
101 Easy Peasy Cookie Recipes
King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking
King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion: The All-Purpose Baking Cookbook
Crazy About Cupcakes
Cookies, Brownies, and Bars
Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make
500 Best Muffin Recipes
The Ultimate Muffin Book
Pillsbury Best Muffins & Quick Breads Cookbook
Pillsbury Best Cookies Cookbook
Martha Stewarts Cupcakes: 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone's Favorite Treat
Mom's Big Book of Cookies
Coffee Cakes: Simple, Sweet, & Savory
Betty Crocker Cookies Cookies: 100 Recipes for the Way You Really Cook

Betty Crocker Cookies Cookies
Bite-Size Desserts
The Complete Baking Cookbook
500 Cookies
No-Bake Cookies
Betty Crocker Just Cupcakes
Betty Crocker Simply Dessert
Marshmallows: Homemade Gourmet Treats
Cupcakes
Cupcakes, Cupcakes, & More Cupcakes!
The Cake Book

Saturday, June 13, 2009

S'mores Cookies

Posted by Laura at 4:34 PM 0 comments
The key to making these cookies is to omit the marshmallows and Hershey's bars until the cookies are almost done baking. This ensures 1) the marshmallows don't get too chewy and 2) the milk chocolate does not get dried out, resulting in a cookie that tastes just as good as the real thing.



S'mores Cookies
(Source: Cookie Madness)

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate (I used milk chocolate and only 1/2 cup)
1 cup miniature marshmallows (approximately)
2 Hershey Bars, broken into pieces (or other favorite milk chocolate)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. Cream butter and both sugars with an electric mixer; beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in salt and baking soda making sure they are well distributed and free of lumps; stir in the flour, followed by graham cracker crumbs. Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets, spacing about 3 inches apart. Bake for 9 minutes. Remove and quickly press marshmallows and chocolate into cookies. Return to oven and cook until done (about 3 or 4 more minutes)

Makes about 2 dozen


Cinnamon-Caramel Swirl Shortbread

Posted by Laura at 1:29 PM 0 comments
You may think pairing cinnamon and caramel is odd, but in reality it is a perfectly matched combination of flavors. I've never made shortbread before, but I found this recipe to be surprisingly easy. The topping was probably the hardest part, mainly because you have to constantly stir the mixture so it doesn't stick in a clump to the bottom of your pan and I had some serious issues with the drizzling. I would have liked to see a little more detail on what they think the best way to drizzle is. Using a spoon to drizzle resulted in blobs of caramel, which was not as aesthetically pleasing but still resulted in a tasty treat.

Cinnamon-Caramel Swirl Shortbread

1/4 cup cinnamon sugar

Dough:
1 cup unsalted butter
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

Topping:
14-16 vanilla caramel candies
1 Tbsp cream or milk


1. Preheat the oven to 35o°F. Lightly grease two 9-inch round cake pans. Sprinkle the bottom of each pan with about 1 Tbsp cinnamon sugar.

2. In a medium sized bowl, cream together the butter, salt, sugar, and vanilla, then beat in the flour. Divide the dough in half, and press it into the prepared pans, smoothing the surface with your fingers. Sprinkle the top of both pans with the remaining cinnamon sugar. Prick the dough with a fork in an attractive pattern.

3. Bake the shortbread for 35-4o minutes, until it's golden brown around the edges. remove from the oven and loosen edges with a knife. Wait 5 minutes, then carefully turn the shortbread out onto a clean work surface, all in one piece.

4. Using a pizza wheel, baker's bench knife, or sharp knife, cut each round into 12 wedges (Do this while the shortbread is still warm; if you wait until it's cool, it won't cut easily). Transfer the wedges to a rack to cool.

5. Heat the caramels and milk in a microwave-safe bowl, or in saucepan set over low heat. Stir until the caramels melt and the mixture is smooth. Drizzle the topping over the cooled shortbread wedges. If it becomes too thick to drizzle, reheat briefly. Allow the caramel to set before wrapping the shortbreads for storage.


Makes 2 dozen wedges.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Great Grandma's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Posted by Laura at 8:15 PM 0 comments
My Great Grandma loved to bake. Perhaps that's where I got my own love of baking. She made wonderful birthday cakes for all of the kids and would frequently stop by with a fresh batch of cookies.

For my dad's birthday (which is today), I decided to bake him his own personal batch of his all-time favorite cookies, using the same recipe my Great Grandma used. This recipe is from the back of the Quaker Oats box which, my uncle swears, is the recipe she always used.



Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
(Source: Quaker Oats Box)

1/2 cup + 6 tbsp butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups Old Fashioned Oats
1 cup raisins

1. 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.

2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Our Favorite Blueberry Muffins

Posted by Laura at 3:10 PM 0 comments
I haven't made muffins in practically forever...I think since Christmas. I love them, especially hot out of the oven with a tall glass of cold milk.

Did you know the Blueberry muffin is the official muffin of Minnesota? While that's not the reason I made them, it would certainly be a compelling reason to. I just like them. A lot. Even though I otherwise hate blueberries.



Our Favorite Blueberry Muffins
(Source: King Arthur Flour)

6 tbsp butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups All-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 1/2 - 2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
1 tbsp sugar mixed with 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease muffin cups.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in milk, vanilla, and almond extract, mixing only until smooth. Quickly stir in the berries.

3. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 to almost full. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar (I used white sparkling sugars). Bake the muffins for 25-30 minutes or until light golden brown. Place the pan on a rack to cool for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, run a knife around the edge of one muffin, and try to lift out of the pan. If the muffin lifts out of the pan without crumbling, remove all of the muffins and cool completely on a wire rack. If the muffin sticks or the top peels off, allow them to cool an additional 10 minutes, then try again.

Makes 12 Muffins (or 6 Jumbo Muffins)

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Mrs. Fields Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Posted by Laura at 9:07 PM 0 comments
You can never go wrong combining peanut butter and chocolate. These bars are much like the peanut butter balls you see at Christmastime, only they have a crunchy cookie layer which, in my opinion, almost makes these bars better. These bars are incredibly rich and oh-so-delicious and you won't want to stop at just one.




Mrs. Fields Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
(Source: Mrs. Fields Best Cookie Book Ever!)

Cookie Base:
8 med Butter Cookies (I used 12 Market Pantry Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies)
1/4 cup salted butter (I used unsalted butter with a pinch of salt)

Chocolate Layers:
2 1/2 cups Milk Chocolate Chips

Peanut Butter Filling:
1 1/2 cups creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
3 cups Confectioners' sugar
2 tsp vanilla

1. Crush cookies until finely ground. Add butter and mix. Press crumb mixture into bottom of 8x8 pan and bake 10 minutes and 325°F. Cool to room temperature.

2. Melt chocolate. Pour half into pan and smooth evenly over cookie crust. Place pan in refrigerator. Keep remaining chocolate warm.

3. With electric mixer, blend peanut butter and butter together until smooth. Slowly beat in confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Spread mixture over chilled chocolate layer.

4. Pour remaining warm chocolate over top and spread smoothly. Chill in refrigerator 1 hour.

Makes 24-36 bars.

 

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