Caramel S'more Cups

I hope everyone had a fun Labor Day weekend! My family and I just got back from a fun week at Lake Powell and it's good to be back on solid ground again! I made these cookies before I left and am finally getting a chance to post them. They were as yummy as they look. You can't wrong with a chocolate chip cookie, rolos, marshmallows, and chocolate all in one! 

Ingredients:

1 pouch of Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookie mix

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 egg

24 Rolos, unwrapped

72 mini marshmallows

1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Spray 24 muffin cups with cooking spray.

2. Make cookie dough as directed on package. Shape dough into 24 1 1/2" balls and place into muffin cups.

3. Bake for 13-15 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the edges begin to brown. Remove from oven; firmly press one rolo in the center of each cookie and top with 3 marshmallows. Bake 2-4 minutes longer or until marshmallows are puffy. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before removing from pan.

4. Once completely cooled, melt chocolate chips in a ziploc bag (about a minute). Cut of a corner of the bag and drizzle chocolate on each cookie. Let stand until hardened.

Chocolate Dipped Tofee Sugar Cookies

Mmmm, and just in time for Valentine's Day! I found this idea on Our Best Bites last year and thought they looked so yummy. I used my own sugar cookie recipe and crushed Skor candy bars instead of using Heath bits. I definitely recommend using semi-sweet chocolate or dark chocolate. Milk chocolate just doesn't do it for me. I thought they turned out great.

1 recipe for sugar cookies, you want the cookies a little firm so they don't break when dipping

dipping chocolate, I used Baker's semi-sweet

white chocolate chips or almond bark

Heath bits or crushed Skor/Heath candy bars

1. Make sure your cookies have cooled completely. I baked mine the day before and placed them in a sealed container. If you want to dip them same-day, I recommend putting them in the freezer for a little while.

2. Melt your chocolate according to packaging. Place melted chocolate in a shallow bowl. Dip one-half of the cookie in the chocolate. Smooth out chocolate and remove excess with a small rubber spatula. Place dipped cookie on a lined (parchment or wax paper) cookie sheet. Top immediately with toffee bits. Place sheet of cookies in refrigerator until chocolate sets up.

3. Melt white chocolate according to package. Pour into a ziploc bag and snip corner of bag. Drizzle chocolate over dipped cookies and return to refrigerator to set up.

4. Remove from wax paper and remove any excess chocolate.

*keep refrigerator till ready to serve.

Lemon Cake Mix Cookies

If you are looking for a quick and simple way to make cookies, cake mix cookies are the way to go. These are great for making with the kids as well, so simple and very few ingredients to work with.

Ingredients:
1 box Lemon Supreme cake mix (or flavor of choice)
1/3 cup shortening
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 egg

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients for approximately 2 minutes, or until well combined. Roll into balls and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Using the bottom of a juice glass, flatten the balls of dough. I sprinkled mine with clear decorators sugar. (optional)
2. Bake at 375 degrees for 9-12 minutes. Edges should lightly brown. Let cool slightly before removing from pan.

M&M Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup shortening (I used butter flavored)
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup oil (I used vegetable)
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp salt
m&m's (I used the whole big bag)

Directions:
Combine first 5 ingredients and cream about 2 min. Add vegetable oil & mix well. Sift dry ingredients together and add to dough; mixing just until combined. Fold in m&m's. Place on un-greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 min. (I had to cook mine for 14 minutes.)

Yields 4 1/2 dozen cookies.

I got this yummy recipe from Heidi's blog, Tried-and-True Cooking with Heidi. If you haven't seen her blog, you should check it. She seriously posts something new every day. I was looking for something to make with the kids and these were perfect. Now I need to find someone to share them with so we don't eat all 4 1/2 dozen of these! Thanks Heidi.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, mix together cocoa, sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat eggs in, one at a time. Stir in vanilla.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into cocoa mixture.
3. Cover dough and place in freezer for 30 minutes.
4. Scoop dough into 1 inch balls and coat with powdered sugar. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
5. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Let stand for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheet.

Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 ultra gel (optional, helps soften the cookie)

2 Tbl. sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:
1. Cream together butter, shortening, 1 1/2 cups sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
2. Blend in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and (ultra gel).
3. Shape dough into balls.
4. Mix cinnamon and remaining sugar.
5. Roll each ball of dough in mixture and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees. Remove immediately from baking sheet.

Rookie Cookie's Chocolate Chip Cookies

I got this recipe from the fabulous Rookie Cookie's blog

Ingredients:

2¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

¾ cup packed brown sugar

¼ cup sugar

1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt, set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips.

3. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets (I use silicone baking mats).

4. Bake for 12-14 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be golden brown.

*this recipe made 3 dozen 2" cookies.

Puffy Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup shortening (I use the butter flavored)

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup sour milk (add 1/2 teaspoon vinegar to sour it)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

1. Sift and measure flour; sift with baking soda and salt.

2. Cream butter and shortening. Add sugar gradually, creaming until light and fluffy.

3. Add egg and beat well.

4. Add flour mixture alternately with sour milk. Mix well after each addition.

5. Add extracts.

6. Chill dough for at least 30 minutes.

7. Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness on a floured board/counter. Cut out desired shapes using cookie cutters.

8. Bake on a well greased cookie sheet for 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

9. Cool cookies completely before frosting.

(another one of my MIL's yummy recipes)

Frosting:

4 cups powdered sugar

1 egg

pinch of salt

1/2 cup shortening

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla