Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nothing says fall like pumpkin cookies!!  These have become a staple at our house the past few weeks.  It's good and bad.  Good as in they are my favorite cookie, bad on the diet!!!  I have posted this before, but it's been a few years, thought I would share it again.  This is my recipe I have used for years and it's by far the best that I have found!


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp milk
2 cups chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

1) Pre-heat oven to 375
2) Combine sugar and shortening. Add egg and beat well. Add pumpkin and vanilla.
3) Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and mix by hand until combine
4) Dissolve baking soda in milk and add to above.
5) Add chocolate chips. Mix well
6) Bake for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie

 You can make these yummy cookies like this, as a frosted cookie.  I used toffee sprinkles on top.

Or you can make them into whoopie pies!  They are so good.  The recipe came from Family Fun.

Pumpkin Cookies:

2 eggs
2 cups light brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 15 oz. can of pumpkin
3 cups flour
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
t tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Filling/Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 tsps. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. milk ( I added this, it was way to thick the other way)
4 to 5 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350.  Beat the eggs, brown sugar, oil and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth.  Add pumpkin.  In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.  Add dry ingredients to the egg mixture a 1/2 cup at a time, blending each time until smooth.  (It will be a very sticky dough)

Drop heaping tbsps. of batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  bake the cookies for 12 minutes.  Cool completely.  Fill the middle with cream cheese frosting or frost the top of the cookies.

Cute 4th of July Goodie Plate

I love the 4th of July! I made up these fun little plates to take around to my Visiting Teaching ladies. I absolutely love sugar cookies. I have the best sugar cookie recipe, you can get it here. The cute tags and much more, you can find here.

And this is my new favorite Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting:

Beat 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened, 1/4 cup butter, softened, 2 Tbsp. sour cream and
2 tsps pure vanilla extract in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 4 cups powdered sugar until smooth.

Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles:

3 cups flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1 & ½ cups sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs

¼ cup sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cream of tarter, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Using a mixer, cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add in eggs. Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until well blended.

Mix together the ¼ cup sugar and cinnamon. Shape into 1 & ½ inch balls and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until light and golden. Don’t over bake!! Makes about 3 dz.

I originally got this recipe from Jadi's Recipes.

Lookie What We Made

Remember these? Tuesday morning, I spent my day helping make 40 of these beauties! Mandee and I are the Co-Vice Presidents on the PTO at our school. My friend Shelley wanted to make make these and practice on a few other cookies, so we figured, if were making a few, we may as well make 40!! So we had 4 of us working on these and it took us 2 and 1/2 hours, minus the baking time. Shelley cooked them the night before.
We used a egg to cut out the cookie shape and it was a bit smaller than the one on Bake It at 350. So we didn't have enough room to write popcorn on them. But they turned out way cute anyway.

I had never made royal icing, used meringue powder or floated icing. It was a whole new experience, but very fun! I think we will be dabbling in cookie decorating a bit more. Shelley and I are going to make darling graduation hats for our preschool kids at school. I'll post pictures of those when we get to that. In all our free time, ya know :).

Then the 4 of us met at the school this morning and handed these out to all the teachers and staff. Everyone loved them! Super cute idea. Thanks for Bake It at 350 for the idea!

Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are the best cookies. So soft and sweet. I've had this recipe in my binder for years. I copied it down out of an old cook book that a friend of mine had.

Pudding Mix Cookies:

1 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 box vanilla/butterscotch pudding
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2& 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups chocolate chip (I do 1/2 choc. and 1/2 butterscotch)

Cream butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend until well blened. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until well blened. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

(Sugar Free) No Bake Cookies

I'm on a quest to compile a recipe book full of healthy cookies and goodies!!! Is that possible? I made these the other day and they were so good! They don't harden up the way a normal no bake cookie does. They are pretty soft, but so good! Just a bit crumbly.

I took my original recipe and played around a bit with the measurements. I got about 18 cookies out of this patch. The almonds were an after thought, just to make it a little bit healthier! For the most part, I think this is a pretty healthy cookie!!

Sugar Free No Bake Cookies

1/4 cup butter or margarine

2/3 cup Xgave, or could use 1/2 cup splenda brown sugar

1/4 cup milk

2 Tbsp. + 2 Tsp. cocoa powder
1/4 to 1/2 cup peanut butter, depending on taste
2 and 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Melt butter in a pan. Mix in Xagave, milk and cocoa. You will need to whisk it until the cocoa is blended and no lumps are in the sauce. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Take off burner and stir in peanut butter until smooth. Stir in oatmeal and almonds. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool.

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Hmmm, these were tasty! A bit crumbly, but super yummy! I just came off another round of HCG and am looking for recipes to make. The kids wanted cookies on Sunday so I tried this recipe and of couse had to cheat and try a cookie! I want to try and make them with Splenda and see how they are. I guess I need to run to the store for some white sugar Splenda and try it. They were also very flat and they spread a bunch on the pan, but who cares if they are pretty as long as they taste good!

Flourless Peanut butter Cookies

1 cup all-natural chunky or smooth peanut butter
1 cup sugar (1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup granulated sugar)
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with butter and set aside. In a mixer combine peanut butter and sugars until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add egg and baking soda and mix for another 2 minutes. Roll into walnut sized balls and create a cris-cross pattern with a fork. If Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on a baking sheet for two minutes.

Recipe, via Joy of Baking

Easy Cookie Plate Treats

Chocolate Dipped Oreo's

1 pkg. Oreo cookies
1 bag of almond bark, can use white or chocolate

Melt chocolate down in the microwave, stirring occasionally until smooth. Dip oreo's in chocolate, shaking off the excess. Place on wax paper and sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles. Place in the freezer to dry chocolate quickly.

Place on your neighbors treat plate and steal one for yourself. But only one!! Those puppies are addicting!

Butterscotch Haystacks

Butterscotch Haystacks

1 pkg. butterscotch chips
1 pkg. chow mein noodles

Melt chocolate in the microwave. Stirring occassionally until smooth. Add chow mein noodles and stir until well coated. Place on wax paper and allow to dry.

Easy Peasy Holiday Cookie to share! Just be sure not to eat them all yourself!

Have A WITCHIN Halloween

I saw this idea last Halloween, had it bookmarked, and now I can't remember who to give the credit to. I am so sorry, please let me know if it is you so I can give you the credit. This is what we "booed" our neighbors with lastnight. I thought they were pretty dang cute and I must say they were pretty tasty as well. It is pretty self explanatory but we took a fudge stripe cookie, frosting, and a hershey kiss and made tasty witches hat. Super easy and my daughter had a good time helping me make them. I think it is great for kids to help you give to others, it teaches them to be unselfish and giving of themselves.

Peanut Butter Bars (well kinda)

One of my very favorite recipes!!! I changed it a little bit. All I did was add 2 cups of chocolate chips to the recipe instead of frosting them with peanut butter and chocolate frosting. Makes a great cookie bar!!! LOVE them as peanut butter fingers too! Just depends what your in the mood for. I also break these down and bake in 2 9x13 pans. They cook better this way. I have also done it in a sheet cake size pan, you just have to cook them a little longer.

Peanut Butter Fingers

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal

1 tsp. soda

½ tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, peanut butter, and vanilla; cream. Add remaining dry ingredients. Spread on a sheet cake sized cookie pan. Bat at 350 degrees for about 15 to 18 minutes. Take out of the oven and spread with a thin layer of peanut butter. Let cool and cover with a layer of chocolate frosting.

Gingerbread Cookies

Isn't it funny how recipes can be so similar, but just a little different. Here are both mine and Mandee's recipes for gingerbread cookies. Similar, just a little different. I love these one's because they have the pudding in the mix. I don't like the gingerbread that has molasses in it. I know it's more traditional, but just not a fan.

Brandy’s Gingerbread Men

3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Butterscotch Instant Pudding
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. ground ginger
1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

BEAT butter, sugar, dry pudding mix and egg in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Mix remaining ingredients. Gradually add to pudding mixture, beating well after each addition. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

HEAT oven to 350°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch-thickness. Cut into gingerbread shapes with 4-inch cookie cutter. Place, 2 inches apart, on greased baking sheets. Use straw to make hole near top of each cutout.

BAKE 10 to 12 min. or until edges are lightly browned. Let stand on baking sheets 3 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Decorate as desired. Insert ribbon through holes to hang cookies on tree.

Mandees Gingerbread Men

½ cup shortening

1 & ½ tsp. ginger
1 egg

½ tsp. cinnamon
½ cup brown sugar

½ tsp. baking soda
1 & ½ cups flour
1 pkg. instant butterscotch pudding mix

Mix together egg, shortening, and brown sugar. Add remaining ingredients. Roll out dough and cut into gingerbread men shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Decorate with frosting and candy!

Coconut Macaroons

These are also a huge hit on my neighborhood goodie plates. So easy and delicious.

1 pkg (14 oz) coconut flakes
2/3 C sugar
6 T flour
1/4 t salt
4 egg whites
1 t almond extract

Preheat oven to 325. Grease and flour baking sheets. Mix coconut, sugar, flour and salt in large bowl. Stir in egg whites and almond extract until well blended. Drop coconut mixture inot 36 mounds, 2 in apart, on baking sheet. I use about 1 T per mound. Bake 17-20 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Immediatley move from baking sheet. Cool completely.
I then put a twist on it and melt Bakers chocolate and drizzle it over the cookie. HEAVEN!!! So try this recipe and see what you think. Happy baking.

Cry Baby Cookies

These have been a favorite of mine since I was little and now my kids love them. Each Christmas these are on our neighborhood "goodie plates". I am loving the Holidays so far this year and loving the smells of different yummy cookies. I don't know about you but I can never have too many cookie recipes! Enjoy.

2 C flour
2 t soda
1 t cloves
1 t ginger
1 t cinnamon
1 c sugar
1 egg
3/4 C shortening
4 T molasses

Mix well. Roll into balls and roll in a sugar/cinnamon mixture. Press with fork. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Takes at least this long, but watch closely because they are dark cookies and can easily overcook! Should yield 3 doz. Cookies!

A Fun Twist on Peanut Butter Cookies

Just a little something to share. You'd think we had turned into a cooking blog!!! Promise to be back next week with crafts and more fun. If you haven't entered the giveaway, go above and do so. What fun little lounge pants. They'd make a great stocking stuffer!!!

This is not a new idea, but sometimes we forget the easy stuff!! I also love to do this with Reese's Peanut butter cups!! I got a great deal on Kisses earlier this week. I had a coupon save $1.50 when you buy 3. They had a clearance cart full of Kisses, from the olympics, for $1.50 a bag. I paid $1.00 a bag!! I bought them for our gingerbread houses, but I've got a baptism to go to today and I needed some cookies. If you need a great peanut butter cookie recipe, go here! Just remember not to squish the cookies and make sure you put the kisses in right away!! See you guy's on Monday!

No Bake Cookies

These are seriously the easiest cookies to make. They are what I make when my kids want homemade cookies and time is short. They love them and they are great cookies to let them help with. Although, the mixture is hot when you put it on the wax paper, so make sure they are supervised. I like to eat them while they are still warm. Perfect cookies to cure chocolate cravings and great with a glass of milk.

1 cube margarine
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/3 c cocoa
1/2 c peanut butter
3 1/2 c oatmeal

Melt butter in pan. Mix in sugar, milk and cocoa. Bring to boil and boil for one minute. take off burner and stir in peanut butter and oatmeal. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool.

The Strangest, Most Wonderful, Yummiest And My Favorite Holiday Cookie

Have I piqued your interest with the world's longest post title? These are my favorite Holiday cookie. If you get these on your goodie plate from me, you better know you are loved, because I don't part with these babies easily! I got this recipe from my friend, Tina, several years ago and it has become a Holiday tradition. THEY ARE SO MESSY! And I think that's why the kids like to help make them. I usually only make them once a year, but we had an Enrichment activity cookie exchange and I thought I would share these.

There is no good way to take a picture of these cookies. I tried individually and in groups. I tried a close-up and that was the worst one yet. They don't look like much but boy are they YUMMY!

Candy Cane Cookies

1 tub Cool Whip
1 package mini marshmallows
1 cup crushed candy cane (grind into powder in blender)
1 package deluxe graham cookies, crushed with rolling pin

Mix first three ingredients together, drop by spoonful into graham cookies, roll in crumbs until covered. Place on waxed paper and allow to set for 24 - 48 hours.

Oatmeal Crispies

Sorry about all the recipes, but I'm in the mood to bake. It's that time of year. I originally got this recipe off of Pioneer Woman.


Oatmeal Crispies

1 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 & ½ cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
3 cups quick oats
½ cup pecans (optional)

In a large mixing bowl cream butter with both sugars until well combined. In a separate bowl beat eggs together. Add vanilla and stir to combine. Add to the butter/sugar mixture and mix well.

In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt and baking soda. Mix carefully into the sugar mixture until well combined. Now add the quick oats and mix well again. You can add pecans at this point if you would like.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes until they are golden brown.

(To freeze ~ divide dough in half and place each half of the dough onto a sheet of waxed paper. Roll the dough into a log and then wrap it lightly in the waxed paper. Now you can either chill or freeze the dough until later or you can go ahead and slice the dough evenly into cookie rounds and then freeze.)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Best Ever Basic Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1 cup butter softened
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 Tblsp. Vanilla
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3 cups flour
1 package chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Then add dry ingredients. Mix in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 11 minutes. Cookies won't look done, but take them out anyway and let them sit on the pan for a few minutes.