Smartie Cookies

I tried a new cookie recipe and we really like these.  It seems like we're forever needing to have something to put into school and work lunches, so I like to change it up once and a while.

- 1/4 cup white sugar

- 3/4 cup brown sugar

- 1 pkg instant vanilla pudding

- 1 tsp baking soda

- 1 cup soft margarine

- 2 eggs

- 1 tsp vanilla

- 2 1/4 cups flour

- Smaries, chocolate chips or anything else you choose (I opted for mini m&m's)

Mix ingredients in order given.  Bake for approximately 12 minutes at 350F.  Watch them closely. Vanilla pudding can be substituted with chocolate for a different taste.

Oatmeal Scotchies

Mentioning that I had tonnes of butterscotch chips to use up and I didn't know what to do with them, my sister-in-law Christina mentioned this cookie recipe.  I love a good oatmeal cookie.  This are a bit different with the butterscotch chips and cinnamon and they're awesome.

1 cup margarine
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cup flour
3 cups oats
1 2/3 cups butterscotch chips

Mix ingredients in order given.  Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes for chewy cookies and 9-19 minutes for crispy cookies.  Makes about 4 dozen cookies.  (Baking times may vary, depending on your oven).

Iced Cinnamon Chip Cookies

 I made these cookies a few years back using ground cinnamon because you can't buy cinnamon chips in Canada, they were good then too. But if you can get to the states and find the actually cinnamon chips they are just that much better!! 

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 package (10 ounces) cinnamon baking chips *

ICING:  **

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1-1/4 cups icing sugar
• 1 Tbsp milk
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in cinnamon chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.

In a small mixing bowl, combine icing ingredients; beat on high speed for 1-2 minutes or until fluffy. Spread over cooled cookies.

Yield: about 3-1/2 dozen

* I would not use a whole bag in one recipe. It seemed like too much so I just added until it met my approval.

** This icing doesn't taste like much on its own, but once you have it on the cookie it comes to life. However, the cookies taste great even without it.

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

My Mom made a version of these cookies a lot when we were growing up.  These are a little different as they have peanut butter in them.  Which is always a plus in our house.  A recipe from my cousin Ashley - thanks!

- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 tbsp cocoa
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 3 - 3 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
- 2 tsp vanilla

Add the first four ingredients to a saucepan.  Bring to a rolling boil and boil for one minute.  Stir in the next three ingredients and drop onto wax paper.  Let cool until set.

Tiny Mini Kisses Peanut Blossoms

These don't last long around my house of peanut butter lovers.
- 1/2 cup softened margarine
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- mini kisses

Cream margarine, sugars and peanut butter. Beat in 1 egg, milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually blend into creamed mixture. Shape dough into 3/4 inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 5-6 minutes or just until set. Remove from oven and immediately press one mini kiss in centre of each cookie.

*Oops! I forgot to roll these in sugar. Oh well, they were still delicious!

Whipped Shortbread

A favorite around Christmas.
- 1 cup butter (not margarine)
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch

Whip butter with beaters until fluffy. Add sugar and cornstarch. Whip. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time. Roll dough into balls (will be very soft) and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Using a fork dipped in four, make cross marks if desired. Bake at 325 for 12-15 minutes.
* Colored sprinkles or crushed candy canes make a nice touch.
** Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Gingerbread Boys

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Jessica, who is the cookie baking queen, much to her nieces and nephews delight. My five year old's request:

• 1 box butterscotch pudding mix (not instant)



• 1/2 cup shortening



• 1/2 cup brown sugar



• 1 egg



• 1 1/2 cups flour



• 1 1/2 tsp ginger



• 1/2 tsp cinnamon



• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Cream shortening and sugar, add egg and mix well. Add dry pudding mix, flour and spices. Mix well. Roll dough 1/8 to 1/4 inch think and cut with cookie cutter. This dough is easy to work with. Bake on greased sheet at 350 for 10 minutes.* Cool and add icing.**

* I baked these for 7-8 minutes so they were still a little chewy
**It's best to add m & m's or whatever you're using to decorate, before you bake these.

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

Classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate! How can you go wrong?
- 3/4 cup margarine
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips

Beat first 4 ingredients until light and fluffy. Blend eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes on ungreased cookie sheets. Let stand a few minutes before removing from sheets.

Whoopie Cookies

• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup cocoa
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup sour milk

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Cool several hours. Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 F for 10-15 minutes.

Filling:

• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups Crisco
• 4 cups icing sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Cookies can still be warm when putting filling on.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is one of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes. Reason being, they never run flat. Ever had cookies run into pancakes in the oven? I sure have. But this recipe has always turned out for me. Nice soft cookies every time. Love to have these in the freezer for hubby's lunches when it's field work time.

• 1 cup margarine


• 3 eggs


• 3/4 cup white sugar


• 1 1/4 cup brown sugar


• 3 tsp vanilla

Mix and add:

• 3 cups flour


• 1 tsp baking soda


• dash of salt


• 1 1/2 cups oatmeal


• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Add smarties if desired (and you do desire them!) Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Peanut Butter Cookies

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 3 cups flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup softened margarine
• 1/4 tsp salt

Mix ingredients and roll into balls. Flatten slightly and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

*I baked these for 8 minutes so they were a nice soft cookie. A nice change from chocolate chip.

Cake Mix Cookies

Easiest cookies ever.

1 cake mix (any flavor)
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (any flavor)

Stir contents until smooth. Add chips. If mixture becomes too sticky add a bit of water or milk. Drop onto greased cookie sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes at 350.

There are lots of variations you can make with this recipe. I usually do a chocolate cake mix with chocolate chips, which is my brothers absolute favorite cookie. This time around I used a cherry chip cake mix and white chocolate chips. My taste tester (my four year old, Dillon) gave this combination the thumbs up. :) Although I found them so be pretty sweet.

This is also a great recipe to use when you're out of a few key ingredients (margarine, flour, sugar,etc) and you need to whip up something quick for company that's on the way or for the kids lunches.

Unbaked Butterscotch Cookies

A delicious change from the ordinary.

Unbaked Butterscotch Cookies

• 2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup margarine
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 3 1/4 oz box butterscotch instant pudding mix
• 3 1/2 cups quick oatmeal

Mix sugar, margarine and evaporated milk in saucepan; bring to rolling boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add pudding mix and oatmeal. Mix thoroughly. Cool 3 minutes. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Makes 5 dozen. Let set until cool.

*Chocolate, chocolate fudge, lemon or coconut instant puddings may be substituted.

Chocolate Brown Sprinkle Cookies

This is a recipe that 5 year old Janae Unrau put together. (Yes she's 5!). Her mom copied the recipe as closely as she could while Janae was busy mixing. The result? Soft and chewy cookies.

Chocolate Brown Sprinkle Cookies

• 1 egg
• 1 Tbsp cocoa
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup chocolate chipits
• 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups flour

Mix together egg, soft margarine and brown sugar. Add vanilla, cocoa and oatmeal. Then add flour, baking soda and chipits.

Bake at 350 for 6 or 7 minutes.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

2/3 cup margarine
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup mashed bananas
1 pkg chocolate chips

Cream butter, add sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix. Add all dry ingredients;flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix well and then add bananas and chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonful onto baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

*You can try and hide these in the freezer, but they're even better frozen. :)

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 1/4 cups marg/butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 tsp baking soda

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffly. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; blend into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes.

Note: Do not overbake; cookies will be soft. They will puff while baking and flatten while cooling. Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Monster Cookies

This is my favorite cookie recipe!

6 eggs
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/2 Tbsp corn syrup
4 tsps baking soda
1/2 lb butter
3 cups peanut butter
2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups smarties
8 cups oatmeal

Mix all this stuff together and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Makes a lot of cookies, 7 or 8 dozen, depending on how big you make them.

Cowboy Cookies

1 cup butter melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1 cup rice krispies
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup coconut
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup raisins

Bake at 350 for 11 minutes.

Sour Cream Roll Out Cookies

These are one of my favorite cookies - Dillon's too! They're an incredibly soft cookie - it's hard to eat just one!
Sour Cream Roll Out Cookies

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter/margarine
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 2 level tsps baking soda
• 3 eggs
• 4 cups of flour*

Mix all ingredients into a soft dough. (*I usually add more flour - the dough seems almost too soft to handle otherwise. Add enough flour to make it managable).

Sprinkle a layer of flour on the countertop, so the dough doesn't stick and roll out half the dough to 1/4" thick, Cut out cookies using your favorite cookie cutter or ikea cup ;). Bake at 375 for 6 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough, making sure to put flour under dough, each time it's rolled out. Let cool, then ice with your favorite icing (homemade is best!).

I like to make these around valentine's day, using heart shaped cookie cutters and sharing with friends and family. A recipe makes about 7 dozen cookies.