Gingerbread People Cookies

Gingerbread People Cookies

Gingerbread People Cookies are gingery and spicy, more than perfect for a blustery winter day. These gingerbread cookies are a feast of the holiday season in every bite.

“Not even Christmas and we have presents. I wonder what it can be!”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

A few weeks ago there were super cute jars of little Gingerbread People Cookies at Starbucks. They arrived when holiday thoughts were just a mirage of the cookie making season. Then they were gone. My obsessing about cookies is an annual tradition, Gingerbread People Cookies are this year’s contribution. I adore this time of year, I can bake all the cookies I want without any sideways glances or rolling of eyes about my butter and sugar obsessing. Decorating the jars for gifting was as much fun as making the cookies. READ MORE . . .

Toffee Bar Cookies

Toffee Bar Cookies

Toffee Bar Cookies are fabulous. These Bar Cookies are a blondie type bar cookie with toffee bits folded into the dough. A plus, the recipe comes together quickly. Even the crumbs will disappear.

“The afternoon was golden, for the yellow dust in the sky gilded the light.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I was planning on sharing an autumn salad but the recipe for Toffee Bar Cookies landed in my in-box. I almost forgot about the recipe (I found it in my trash folder) until I saw a vendor at the local farmers market selling toffee. Not just toffee, but bags of broken pieces specifically for baking. Oh, are you making cookies, he asked? Sure! I answered. Obviously this is a regular occurrence at the toffee makers booth. Making toffee laced cookies is not a regular occurrence in my kitchen. But my goodness, these Toffee Bar Cookies are special and worthy of the calorie splurge. Can I say I’m recipe testing for the holidays? READ MORE . . .

The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie

The Amazing Five Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie

The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie is a Smitten Kitchen recipe, adapted from Ovenly’s cookbook. This cookie recipe delivers intense peanut butter flavor with the ease of a simple recipe.

“But places were also named from the way the expedition felt at the time: Buena Esperanza good hope; Buena Vista because the view was beautiful; and Chualar because it was pretty. The descriptive names followed: Paseo de los Robles because of the oak trees; Los Laureles for the laurels; Tularcitos because of the reeds in the swamp; and Salinas for the alkali which was white as salt.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Not sure how I missed the recipe for The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie as I’m always more than happy to try a new cookie recipe. Especially one that promises intense peanut butter flavor with the ease of a simple recipe. The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie is a Smitten Kitchen recipe, adapted from Ovenly’s cookbook. Deb Perlman posted this cookie recipe in 2015. In internet time, its ancient history. The five ingredients, Skippy Peanut Butter (or a similar brand), brown sugar, eggs and vanilla are whisked together in a bowl. Salt is the fifth ingredient and sprinkled generously on top of the cookies before baking. This is the magic ingredient, the salt intensifies the peanut flavor. No mixer is required for The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie. Once the ingredients are gathered, it takes less than five minutes to make the batter. Maybe The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie should be The Amazing Five Ingredient, Five Minute, Salted Peanut Butter Cookie recipe. READ MORE . . .

Chocolate Craters filled with Nutella and Hazelnuts

freshly-baked chocolate craters filled with warm Nutella and nuts

Magnificent Nutella

“Even as a little girl she hungered for learning as a child does for cookies in the late afternoon.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

World Nutella Day, February 5th, was looming on the horizon. Nutella is a chocolate hazelnut spread with a cult like following that shows no sign of slowing. If I ever needed inspiration to bake so soon after the holidays, this was it. And what a scrumptious excuse it was. Searching for that sublime balance of hazelnut and chocolate in a cookie first led me down a path of too much chocolate and then I returned to the charming balance of hazelnuts with chocolate. If you like Nutella, these cookies will be a delight. READ MORE . . .

Oatmeal Cookies with Apricots and Almonds

Oatmeal Apricot Almond Cookies
Freshly-baked oatmeal cookies with apricots and almonds

Makes lots of cookies! About 6 dozen 2-inch cookies

Inspired by The Wild Plum restaurant in Monterey, California.
Their cookies are really good, but so are mine!

Options

These cookies are a bit more sophisticated than traditional Oatmeal Raisin. Although, raisins and walnuts may be substituted and will make a divine oatmeal cookie, just omit the almond extract. For a more unique cookie I use a raisin assortment that includes golden and flame raisins in addition to regular raisins. A sophisticated variation of this recipe is dried tart cherries with almonds but omit the cinnamon. I like these three variations so much I haven’t tried any others. I’d love to hear what you try!

“Lee was stewing apricots. He left the stove and closed the kitchen door and went back to the stove.” READ MORE . . .