Oatmeal Craisin Cookies

I made these cookies this week and I'm already trying to find another excuse to make them again! They're the perfect treat during this chilly weather! These cookies go great with the holidays and will be great for gifting! The recipe is simple and yields about a dozen and a half to two dozen cookies depending on the size you make them.

You will need:

1  1/3 cup rolled oats

1  1/4 cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. butter

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1  1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup craisins (dried cranberries)

2/3 cup white chocolate chips (optional)

To start:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the egg, vanilla, brown sugar, honey, applesauce, and butter. It's best to use an electric mixer for this. 

3. Next, add in the baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually mix in the flour with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. 

4.  Fold in the oats until evenly distributed.

5. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon (a spatula would be best) mix in the cranberries and pecans.

6. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper and spoon the dough onto the pan in 2 inch circles about 2 inches apart. 

7.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are solid.

8. Let the cookies cool for 10 minutes before packaging.

I hope you found this recipe useful! Happy cooking!

Coconut Crepes

I just recently a recipe for crepes (see here), but the other day I was feeling creative and decided to jazz them up a bit!

You will need:
1 cup flour
1 tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1  1/3 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. imitation coconut extract
3 eggs
3 tbsp. of melted coconut oil (Melted butter will work fine)
Additional sugar for sprinkling.

To start:
1. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Pour the milk into a medium sized measuring bowl. You'll want to let the milk sit out for about 10-15 minutes before adding oil. Add the coconut, vanilla, eggs, and oil and whisk with a fork. When hot oil comes into contact with cold milk, the oil thickens and ruins the consistency of the mixture.
3. Pour the dry ingredients in with the wet and whisk until there are no lumps.
4. Grease a small frying pan and turn your stove to medium heat.
5. Once the pan is heated, pour about a 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan. Tilt the pan until the batter is spread over the whole pan.
6. Let it cook until you can see it solidifying and the edges are slightly brown. Sprinkle some sugar over the surface of crepe then, using a spatula, flip the crepe. Sprinkle more sugar on the other side.
7. Once the crepe is fully cooked on both sides (it should look a lot like a flour tortilla), flip it once more to make sure the sugar melts on both sides.

These coconut crepes are absolutely heaven! They don't even need any toppings because they are already so sweet! Not a fan of coconut? Not a problem! You can use whatever kind of flavouring you like! Almond, coconut, or strawberry extract can all be found on the baking aisle, among other flavours. I hope you found this recipe helpful and enjoy your crepes!

Happy cooking!

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Hello! I'm so excited about this new raisin bread recipe! I've made it three times already this week. Its so sweet and has a warm taste. I've gifted it a few times and have gotten great responses! It's a fairly simple recipe and I hope you enjoy it!

You will need:

1/2 cup applesauce
1/3 cup oil (or melted butter)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. of cinnamon
1 tsp. of baking soda
1  1/2 tsp. vanilla
a pinch of salt
1  1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup of raisins
OPTIONAL: Cinnamon sugar for sprinkling.


To start:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix the brown sugar, applesauce, egg, and oil together on low speed.
3. Next, blend in the cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and baking soda. Use a rubber spatula to smooth out any clumps that might form.
4. On medium speed, blend in the flour.
5. Mix in the raisins on low/medium speed.
6. Grease a loaf pan. OPTIONAL: Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on the sides and bottom of the loaf before pouring the batter. Once batter is poured, sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top as well.
7. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Happy Baking!

The BEST Sugar Cookies.

If you love sugar cookies, this is the recipe for you! It's perfect for Christmas cookies and they're super easy to make (not to mention SO YUMMY!)  This recipe is great when using cookie cutters and they're easily decorated. :)

 You will need:

8 ounces (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature (salted or unsalted.)

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 3/4 cups flour (plus some for sprinkling.)

OPTIONAL: 1 tbsp. milk

 

Getting started:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F.

 2. First, leave the butter out for about 30 minutes so it can get soft. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.  For drop cookies, add some milk to this step.

3. Next, add in the flour. If it's too much to add in all at once, feel free to add about a half cup at a time. *You may need to knead the dough with your hands. 

4. Sprinkle some flour on a clean surface. Rub some flour on a rolling pin and roll out some of your dough to about a half inch. Using a cookie cutter of your choice, cut out some shapes and move them to a greased cookie sheet. 

5. Put in cookie sheets in the oven for about 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

6. Decorate your cookies with cookie frosting. Click here for the recipe.

I love this recipe so much and it yields about 36-42 cookies depending on the size of your cutter. It's great for Valentine's, Christmas, or any time of the year. I don't think I'll ever use another sugar cookie recipe again! I've made them several times and everyone absolutely loves them! I hope you found this recipe helpful and enjoy making these sweet cookies:)  

Happy Cooking!

The Best Banana Bread

I made this today and it was a huge hit! If you like banana bread, you're sure to love this!

You will need:
1. 3-4 ripe bananas
2. 1/3 cup melted butter
3. 1 cup sugar
4. 1 egg
5. 1 tsp. vanilla
6. 1 tsp. baking soda
7. A pinch of salt
8. 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

OPTIONAL: For a healthier alternative, can use Splenda instead of sugar. I did and it tastes heavenly.

To start:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
2. Mash up bananas in medium bowl and mix with butter.
3. Next, add in the sugar, egg, and vanilla.
4. Now, mix in the baking soda and salt.
5. Lastly, mix in the flour.
6. Grease a small loaf pan and pour contents of the bowl into it.
7. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

This recipe makes one loaf, but you can double it for two. I definitely recommend using Splenda. It's light and sweet: total yum-fest! I hope you enjoy this recipe! Happy Cooking!