Soft Molasses Cookies With Cream Cheese Filling

So I tried to make some cookies the other day that didn't turn out. But what did turn out is the filling in the cookies. Not just any filling. It was a cream cheese filling. Sweet mother of all that is creamy... It was so good. 

So I tossed the cookie recipe and kept the filling. But even though this cream cheese filling is spoon licking good, it needed to go with a cookie.

Enter molasses cookies.

Bingo! Jackpot! So. Good.

Try 'em. Do it!

Cookie Ingredients: Taken from here.

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup (8 TBS) salted butter, slightly softened
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/4 cup molasses

Cream Cheese Filling:

1 - stick butter

1 - 8oz package cream cheese, softened

3-4 cups - confectioner's sugar (depending on desired consistency)

1 - tsp vanilla extract

Cream butter and add cream cheese and mix well. Add vanilla extract and confectioner's sugar. Mix slowly until you reach your desired consistency.

Christmas {Cookies} In July

Last year I was asked to make a lot of Christmas cookies for a local bank Christmas party. I made half of the cookies and the bank bought store bought for the other half.

This is what I came up with.

First up, Jello cookies.

I love these cookies. They are bright and I love the fruity flavors. I did strawberry and lime jello and added food coloring to the dough to make the colors darker. The recipe came from here.


Next up, cake mix sugar cookies.

1 box of white cake mix, 2 eggs, 1tsp. of baking powder, 1/2 c. vegetable oil, 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract and some Christmas sprinkles. 350 degrees, 8-10 minutes and you can use canned or homemade frosting. These were by far the most popular the night of the Christmas party. I added sprinkles on top and crushed peppermints. These were so good!

Next is my favorite! Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I used a chocolate chip cookie recipe but made some minor adjustments. I used mint extract instead of vanilla. I used mint chocolate chips (I also have used Andes baking mints) and used green food coloring to color the dough. I love all things chocolate mint!

Last, I made Amish Monster Cookies; Christmas style with red and green M&Ms.

Recipe is from here. This recipe make a ton of cookies and has a little of everything; peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chips and M&Ms.

This was my kitchen table after making all these cookies.

My cookies were a big hit and I was asked to make all the cookies for the party next year.

I hope you enjoy these recipes because it's never too early to start planning your Christmas cookies!!

Double Chocolate Banana Cookies

So the other day, I noticed I had a couple of sad looking bananas. I didn't want to throw them away, so I decided to bake with them.

I didn't want to make the usual banana bread cookies I usually make and besides, I didn't have any pecans or walnut for those cookies.

So inspired by chocolate banana shakes I used to make when I was younger, I came up with these cookies.

They're chocolatey... they're banana-y? They are a cake-like and moist.

And they have chocolate chips in them!

Try 'em! Do it!

Double Chocolate Banana Cookies

1 C. Sugar
2/3 C. Shortening
1/2 C. Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 C. Mashed Banana
2 1/4 C. Sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/3 C. Cocoa
1 C. Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Blend together sugars and shortening.
2. Add eggs one at a time.
3. Add vanilla and banana.
4. In separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cocoa. Blend together with wire wisk.
5. Slowly mix dry ingredients into the sugar mix and mix well.
6. Blend in chocolate chips to cookie mix.

Bake on lightly greased cookie sheet or parchment paper for 10 minutes.

*Before I baked these cookies, I took a fork, wet it with some water and flattened the cookies a little. I think they turned out prettier.





I'm linking this recipe up to Saving 4 Six for Think Tank Thursday!

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

These are really, really good cookies! I love salty sweet treats like chocolate covered pretzels and these cookies have just the right salty-sweet combo!

And might I go so far to say that Kraft Caramel Bits are a blessed invention! Try these cookies, you won't be disappointed!!!!


Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
Adapted from Diary of Dave's Wife recipe

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups of flour
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup Kraft Caramel Bits
1/2 cup chopped Pecans

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and blend in.
3. Mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda & salt.
4. Stir in chocolate chips, caramel bits and pecans.
5. Drop by spoonful onto cookies sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat mat.
6. Sprinkle dough with a pinch of course salt (I used Kosher).
7. Bake 8-10 minutes until just golden brown. Do Not Overbake.
8. Take out of the oven, let cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool.