My Favorite Cookies

These are my all-time favorite cookies.  One reason is that they're not very healthy so it's not very often that I make them, which makes them a rare treat.  Second reason I love them?  They're delicious!!!  Something else wonderful about this dessert?  You can layer all of the dry ingredients into a jar to give as gifts!  This is how I first tasted these cookies - the dry ingredients given to me in a jar.  :)

Cowboy Cookies

(Makes about 3 dozen)

2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c vegetable or canola oil
1 c packed brown sugar
1 c white sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 c flaked coconut
2 c quick-cooking oats
1 chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°.  Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Set aside.

In a separate bowl, cream together butter, oil, sugars, and vanilla.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well.  Stir in coconut, oats, and chocolate chips.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper, or using baking stones.  Drop batter by rounded teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet.  Bake 10-12 minutes, until the edges are golden.

Cool on baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Enjoy!

Raspberry Oatmeal Squares

I made these for a bake sale a few weeks ago, and they were delicious! Today I'm going to substitute the raspberry jam with red plum preserves.

Raspberry Oatmeal Squares
from the JoyOfBaking.com

1/2 c butter, room temperature
1 c light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 c all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c old-fashioned oats, divided
1 c raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and place rack in middle of oven. Grease a 9x9 baking pan.

With an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla; beat until incorporated.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, mixing until well-combined. Stir in 1 3/4 c of the rolled oats. Press 2/3 of the dough into the prepared pan. Spread the jam over top.

To the remaining dough, add the remaining 1/4 c of oats. Crumble evenly over the top of the jam. Bake 25-30 minutes, until nicely browned. Place on a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares to serve.

Impossibly Easy Mixed-Berry Crumble Pie

Thank you, Betty Crocker! ;)

Streusel
1/2 c Original Bisquick mix
1/4 c packed brown sugar
1/4 c chopped walnuts
2 tbsp cold butter

Pie
12 oz frozen mixed berries (about 2.5 cups)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 ground nutmeg
1/2 c Original Bisquick mix
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c milk
1 tbsp butter, softened
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray. In a small bowl, stir together 1/2 c Bisquick, brown sugar, and nuts. Cut in cold butter with a pastry blender or two knives until crumbly; set aside.

Mix berries, cinnamon and nutmeg in prepared pie plate. Spread out evenly.

In a medium bowl, stir remaining pie ingredients with a wire whisk until blended. Pour into pie plate. Sprinkle with streusel.

Bake 50-60 minutes or until top is evenly deep golden brown.

Makes 8 servings

*We enjoyed ours with vanilla ice cream. YUM!

Streusel Pound Cake

Adapted from Rival Crock Pot Recipe Card Collection

1 package (16 ounces) pound cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare mix
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 c brown sugar
1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/4 chopped pecans
1 rounded tsp. ground cinnamon
Raspberries
Powdered sugar

Spray the inside of a 2-4 quart slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.

Prepare cake mix as directed on box, mixing in vanilla as well. Stir in brown sugar, flour, pecans and cinnamon. Pour into slow cooker. Cover; cook on HIGH 3-4 hours, or until done. (Mine took three hours.)

Serve with berries and powdered sugar.

Fresh Cherry Cobbler

I've had a LOT of yummy stuff recently, but haven't had time to post, as we've had company for a few weeks now. I'll get it all up as soon as I can!

Fresh Cherry Cobbler
adapted from allrecipes.com

1/2 c butter
1 c all-purpose flour
1 c sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 c milk

2 c pitted cherries
3/4 c sugar
1 tbsp flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place butter in a 8x8 baking dish, then place into oven to melt.

Stir together 1 c flour, 1 c sugar and 1 tsp baking powder. Stir in milk. Pour over melted butter. Do not stir.

Rinse out batter bowl, and dry.

Pour cherries into bowl. Toss with 3/4 c sugar and 1 tbsp flour. Pour over batter in baking dish. Do not stir.

Bake for 50-60 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the cobbler should come out clean.

Oatmeal Cookie Cake

Unfortunately we haven't had anything wonderful this week. I tried a few new recipes, and didn't much care for any of them. Ugh. And I HATE throwing food away! Anyway, I made a treat for my husband today, and he'll be lucky to get any of it. ;)

Oatmeal Cookie Cake

3/4 c flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c butter, at room temperature
1/2 c sugar
3/4 c packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 c uncooked oatmeal
1/2 c dried cherries (I used dried cranberries)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg & salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

Beat butter with an electric mixer on low until smooth. Slowly pour in sugar in an even stream, mixing on high until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Pour in brown sugar, mixing until incorporated.

Beat in eggs, one at a time. Slowly beat in flour until incorporated. Stir in oatmeal, then dried fruit.

Pour mixture into a greased 8x8 baking dish, and bake for 50-60 minutes, until the center is set.

Alternately, freeze dough for up to two weeks for later use, or scoop batter out by the tablespoonful to make cookies (bake 10-12 minutes, or until edges are set).