Applesauce Quick Bread

Jennifer S.

Made these to take VT since it's Apple Month.

1 cup sugar
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup oil
2 eggs
3 tbls milk
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with pam. In a large bowl, combine sugar, applesauce, oil, eggs and milk with electric beaters until well combined. In a second bowl, combine all dry ingredients and then add to wet mixture; mix well. Spread batter into prepared pan and bake for approx 60 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on wire rack, loosen sides with knife and remove from pan. Cool and slice.

APPLESAUCE MUFFINS

Jennifer S.

•1 1/2 cups sugar
•1/2 cup butter, softened
•2 eggs
•2 cups flour
•1 teaspoon baking powder
•1 teaspoon cinnamon
•1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•1 cup applesauce

Directions
1.In mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter.
2.Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3.Combine dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture alternately with applesauce.
4.Mix just until combined.
5.Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups 2/3 full.
6.Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Chocolate and Almond Brownies

Crazy Cakes Bakery

1/2 Cup Butter
4 Oz. Unsweetened Chocolate
3 Eggs
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Tbsp Vanilla
3/4 Cup Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
3/4 Cup Sliced Almonds
1 Greased 8"x8" pan

Preheat Oven to: 375 Degrees

1. Break the unsweetened chocolate into pieces (or start with unsweetened chips). Melt the chocolate by placing it in a microwave and cook at 100% for 20-30 seconds at a time, stirring after each. Once the chocolate is mostly melted, place the butter in as well for the final spin in the microwave. (It's also possible to melt these together over the stove, but that takes longer.) Set aside.
2. Beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl at high speed for about 10 minutes until it has a fluffy feel. An electric mixer really helps here.
3. Blend in the chocolate mixture from step 1, the flour, and the salt.
4. Lastly, stir in the almonds and pour the mixture into the greased 8"x8" pan.
5. Bake in the over at 375°F for 30-35 minutes. Be careful not to over-bake.

Cowboy Cookies

Crazy Cakes Bakery

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
2 Cups Old-Fashioned Oats
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Cup Unsalted Butter (at room temperature)
3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar (packed)
2 Large Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Walnuts (chopped and toasted)

Don't preheat oven until step 7

1. Whisk flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl until well blended.
2. Beat butter and sugars together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Use an electric mixer if possible.
3. Beat eggs and vanilla in to the butter mixture.
4. Beat in the flour mixture until just combined.
5. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts by hand.
6. Cover this dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
7. Place both oven racks near the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F.
8. Butter two baking sheets.
9. Form the dough into 1/4 Cup balls. And place these balls onto the baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches space between them.
10. Hand-flatten the balls to 3-inch rounds.
11. Bake for 22-25 minutes at 350°F until cookies are firm in the center and their edges are golden brown. Rotate the sheets halfway through the baking.
12. Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool.

Soft Ginger Cookies

Crazy Cakes Bakery

2 1/4 Cups Flour
2 tsp Ground Ginger
1 tsp Baking Soda
3/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Ground Cloves
1/4 tsp Salt
3/4 Cup (1 1/2 Sticks) Butter
1 Cup White Sugar
1 Egg
1 Tbsp Water
1/4 Cup Molasses
2 Ungreased Cookie Sheets

Preheat Oven to: 350 Degrees
1. Thoroughly mix together the flour, ground ginger, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt and set the mixture aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix the butter and sugar together. Keep stirring and mixing until the mixture has a light, fluffy feel. Add the egg and beat it in. Then mix in the water and molasses.
3. Gradually add the dry mixture from step 1. Take your time and make sure that the mix is as even as possible. After this step, you may need to put the dough into the refridgerator for a while in order to prepare for step 4.
4. Place a few tablespoons of sugar in a plate or shallow bowl. Shape the dough into balls about 1" in diameter (slightly smaller than the size of a golf ball). Roll the balls of dough in the sugar to coat them. Place cookies at least 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. You do not need to flatten the balls, they will do so on their own during baking.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees until the top surface cracks slightly. Allow cookies to cool for at least 5 minutes on the cookie sheet before moving them to a wire rack to continue cooling.
6. Enjoy these delicious cookies, and store in an airtight container.

Shortbread Cookies

Jolene P.

1 cup softened butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
**optional ingredients

Cream butter and sugar together, then add vanilla, salt and baking powder. Add flour and stir well. Spoon dough onto plastic wrap and roll into a log. Place in freezer overnight. Slice into cookies, place on greased pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool and eat.

** you can add 1 cup of the following: toffee chips, milk chocolate chips, chopped pecans, chopped cashews, toasted coconut, chopped macadamia nuts, or come up with your own. We've done plain, chocolate/macadamia nuts, macadamia nuts, coconut, and toffee. My fave is the chocolate/macadamia nut, but Kevin LOVES the shortbread plain or with a nut in it.

Have fun with them!

Christmas Tree Cookies

Jennifer S.

Oh Christmas tree cookies! If you're searching for the traditional Christmas cookie, you've found it in this recipe. When it comes to these sugar cookies, you shape their appearance into your favorite holiday symbols. And Santa is sure to love them!

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. almond extract

1. Mix confectioners' sugar, butter or margarine, egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix in flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
2. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Separate dough into halves. On lightly floured cloth-covered board, roll each half out to 3/16 inch thick. Cut into Christmas shapes.
3. Bake on parchment lined baking sheets for 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool and decorate as desired.

Chocolate Snowballs

Jennifer S.

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 egg
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds (optional)OR finely ground crispy rice cereal
1 teaspoon almond extract
60 Hershey's Kisses, unwrapped
3/4 cup powdered sugar

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg, flour, cocoa, almonds and extract until soft dough forms.
2. Shape dough into sixty 3/4-inch balls; wrap each around 1 milk chocolate candy. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
4. Roll cookies in powered sugar. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. Re-roll cookies in powdered sugar. Store tightly covered.

Banana Bars

Aunt Ellen P.

This is a great alternative to making bread or muffins when you have very over-ripe bananas to use up.

Bars
1/2 c milk
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
Add lemon juice to milk, stir and set aside
3 eggs
1 1/2 bananas
3/4 c shortening
1 1/2 c sugar
2 1/4 c flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt

Cream together eggs, bananas, shortening and sugar. Add milk (butter milk) and stir.
Sift together the rest of the dry ingredients and add to banana mixture.
Pour batter into a well greased 15x17 jellyroll pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Make icing while bars are cooling for 10 minutes.

Icing
2 tbs butter, softened
2 c powdered sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 banana

Beat together till smooth and ice bars while still warm.
When cooled completely and icing is set up, cut into bars with plastic knife and enjoy!

HJORTEBAKKELS (Norwegian Christmas Cake Doughnuts)

Grandma Helen Walberg Larsen Evans

Hjortebakkels Pronounced Yoh-tah-bahk-elles literally means "Jesus buckles or Crosses" The shape of the "doughnuts" end up looking like an Ankh (rounded cross).

This makes a HUGE amount, for first time adventures so I ended up cutting the recipe in half. The half recipe is as follows:

Dry Ingredients:
5 C. Flour
½ tsp. Baking Powder
½ tsp. Cardamom
½ tsp. Cinnamon
½ tsp. Nutmeg
¼ tsp. Ground Cloves
¼ tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Cream of Tartar
1 C. Sugar
1 C. Brown Sugar
Sift together in a bowl and make a well to add the wet ingredients.

Wet Ingredients:
5 Eggs
¼ C. Cream
1 stick Butter, melted
½ tsp. Lemon Juice

Knead until dough is formed. Refrigerate over night. Roll dough into ropes (use a little flour), cut into 3-4” lengths. Cross dough and press to make knots. Make 2 slits at top of circle. Dough must be kept cold at all times!! Deep fry at 350° until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe in my Grandmother Helen's handwriting when she wrote the recipe out for me 22 years ago.

 

Helen Walberg Larsen Evans

Nov. 11, 1916 - Dec. 1, 2009

Chewy Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies

Jennifer S.

Ingredients:
4 & 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 & 1/2 cups Butter, softened
1 & 1/4 cups sugar
1 & 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 Eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 (12-ounce) package (1 & 1/2 cups) real semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chocolate chips

Instructions:
Heat oven to 375 F. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda in medium bowl; set aside. Combine butter, sugar and brown sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Continue beating, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Reduce speed to low. Beat, gradually adding flour mixture, until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chunks. Drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until light golden brown. (Do not over bake.) Let stand 5 minutes on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack.

Cassy Hamner's Oatmeal Bars

Submitted by Sara B.

1 C. Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 C. Packed Brown Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
½ C. Margarine or Butter
½ tsp Baking Powder
½ C. Shortening or Veggie Oil
½ tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
2 Eggs
Stir In: 3 C. Oatmeal
1 C. Flour

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients except oats and flour. Stir in oats and flour. Press dough in un-greased rectangular pan, 13x9x2. Bake about 15-25 min or until light brown and done in the center. Cut into 2-in squares while warm. Makes ~20 bars. Enjoy :)

Thumb Print Cookies

Jolene P.

photo by by raspberri cupcakes

1/2 cup softened margarine
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, separated
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
coconut
jam or jelly

Cream margarine, egg yolk, brown sugar and vanilla together. Add flour and salt and mix well. Form into balls and roll in egg white and coconut. Place on a greased cookie sheet and press thumb into each center. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Remove cookies from oven and fill prints with favorite jam or jelly. Cool and enjoy!