Pumpkin Cookies!

Welcome to Simply Sweet Sunday!

If you've been on pinterest at all lately you've seen the pumpkin explosion that's been going on there.  Pumpkin decorations, pumpkin parties, and pumpkin recipes galore!  Fall is truly in the air! So we're jumping on the band wagon and sharing our best pumpkin recipes.  Today it's our favorite pumpkin cookies. 

My mom got this recipe from our neighbor who was pretty much like family to us.  They are so good! The recipe makes a good 5 to 6 dozen cookies which is perfect if you're hosting a Halloween party but not so perfect if you just want a cookie or two.  These are not the type of cookie where you can stop after one!  The recipe can be halved fairly easily but I like to freeze about half the dough and then it's ready to go for the next time.

Here's what you'll need:

1 cup shortening
3 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
5 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons all spice
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons nutmeg
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons cloves
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 large can of pumpkin (about 2 1/2 cups)
2 cups chocolate chips

Super simple instructions.  All you have to do is first cream shortening and sugar.  Next mix in eggs and vanilla.  Then stir in flour and spices then the pumpkin and chocolate chips.  Easy peasy!  Bake these tasties at 375 for 15 minutes on a greased cookie sheet and then enjoy a taste of the season!

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Q&E Cookies

Welcome to this week's Friday's Five Favorites!  This week (as they usually do) completely got away from me.  The days and nights all seemed to run together and I can't even believe the week is almost over!  Lately, it seems like there are never enough hours in the day to get everything I need and want to get done.  I think most people feel this way at some point, but at the same time we have a desire to do certain things, such as make a fun treat for an after school snack or family activity.  Because of this I decided this week's five favorites would be QUICK & EASY cookies for just such occasions.  I must add, that quick and easy are two of my favorite words in the dictionary!

1. We'll start with something new!  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip!  I know what you're thinking, "that's not a cookie" but remember this in my blog and I make the decisions! :)  This fun dip can be whipped up in 10 minutes and tastes a whole lot like cookie dough.  It's so good nobody is even going to notice the difference.

 Here's what you'll need:

1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 8 oz block of cream cheese
1/2 cup of powdered sugar
3/4 cup of mini chocolate chips

Start by melting the butter over medium heat, once the butter is almost completely melted add in the brown sugar and mix well.  Once the brown sugar has dissolved mix in the vanilla, then set it aside.  Next cream the cream cheese and powdered sugar together using a mixer.  Then add the butter/sugar mixture to the cream cheese and cream again.  Now all you have to do is finish it off by adding the chocolate chips! Piece of cake!

You can serve this divine dip with vanilla wafers, graham crackers, or almost any type of fruit.  It's the perfect after school snack or fun to take to a potluck party!


2. Easy Snickerdoodles!

Oh how I love the simplicity of these tasty treats.  They are made from a cake mix and need very little help.  They are soft and go perfect with milk!  In general cake mix cookies are always a great quick and easy cookies, you usually only have to add some oil and eggs and then you're good to go.  For this full recipe go here.

3. No Bake Oatmeal Cookies!

These were always my mom's go to quick and easy cookie, therefore we ate a lot of these growing up and I'm not complaining!  These are especially great for summer when you don't want to add to the heat in the house by turning on the stove.  Go here for the recipe!

4. Tortilla Cookies!

I'm not sure these could technically qualify as a cookie but at our house we call them a cookie and since this is my blog they will be considered a cookie! These are one of the best "quick treats"! You can throw one together in just a few minutes and they are also dirt cheap!  The full instructions are here.


5. Homemade Oreo Cookies!

These delectables are Many Many Hats most popular cookie and for good reason.  They are also made from a cake mix and if you want to make them even easier you can cheat and use a store bought cream cheese frosting as well.  These cookies are also always a hit at parties and bake sales! This is a recipe you won't want to miss out on, so go here!

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Mini Fruit Pizzas!

Welcome to another Simply Sweet Sunday!  We're glad you made it!

Here's another summertime classic to add to your collection.  Mini Fruit Pizzas are just like the original fruit pizza but better for a small group and can cater to individual tastes.  They are simply divine!

Here's what you'll need to make these little goodies;

Sugar Cookies (go here for my favorite recipe)

For the frosting you'll need:

8 oz cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring

To make the frosting, start by simply beating the cream cheese with a mixer until it is fluffy.  Next add in the sugar, vanilla, and almond flavoring and mix again until there are no lumps.  Then, with the mixer running slowly pour in the whipping cream.  Mix well but don't over beat.  Now you're ready to frost your cookies!

I also have to add I've been using this recipe for a few years and I feel like it's much better than most fruit pizza frosting recipes out there.  I found it at this great site The Changeable Table.  I have changed it up a little by adding a little more almond flavoring because I LOVE that stuff!

Once you've frosted your cookies top them off with your favorite fruits (you can use thawed frozen fruits as well!)  There's so many options for these yummies!  When I make them for my kids I often do fun flowers or faces.  These would a be a great snack when teaching kiddos about colors or feelings.  You can also set up a fruit pizza bar and let people choose what fruits they want on their treat, choices make everyone happy!

For a reception or party I like to make them look a little nicer.  You will want to eat these soon after making them, they don't store well for a long because the frosting makes the cookies a little soggy.  That's why I like the minis so much; we can make one batch and then freeze the frosting and dough for another day.

Enjoy!

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Easy Snickerdoodles

Life is a little better than last time I posted.  I don't feel like I'm in survival mode anymore but I do still feel the need to get things more settled.  Since I'm ready to act like a real mom again but still needing to catch up on a 100 other things, I've been trying to keep things simple.  And nothing is more simple than a cake mix cookie recipe.  I'm usually a little bit of a snob about homemade is so much better than pre-made mixes but these really are as good as the real thing, and the big bonus is that they are much quicker!

Here's what you'll need:

1 white cake mix
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon

All you have to do is mix together the cake mix, oil, eggs and vanilla.  Next roll the dough into little balls and cover with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes. 

You'll have a tasty treat in no time.  It's an easy way for me to trick my kids, ok and myself, that I can really do it all!  Enjoy!

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No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

When it's too hot to bake and I'm craving a chocolate treat these are what I make.  I love these chewy not too sweet chocolate cookies.  I've tried other no bake cookies but this is my family's favorite.  Maybe because there's no peanut butter in these.  My husband doesn't like peanut butter desserts but likes peanut butter sandwiches, go figure.

1 cube margarine
1/2 cup milk
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups oatmeal

Melt margarine in medium saucepan. Add milk, sugar and cocoa. Bring to a boil.  Boil for 3 minutes, stirring often so it will not burn.

Take off burner and add vanilla and oatmeal. Spoon onto cookie sheet and refrigerate.  I like to use
a 2 tablespoon scoop to make them all the same size and to save time.

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Jelly Bean Nest Cookies

My sister-in-law makes these yummy, cute cookies every year for our extended family Easter egg hunt.  She is a wonderful aunt to make these every year for her nieces and nephews!

1 cup butter or margarine
8 oz. cream cheese
2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 1/2 cups flour

small jelly beans (Starburst Jelly Bean or Jelly Belly size)
flaked coconut (tinted green)
green food color

To tint coconut green, place coconut in a plastic bag with several drops of green food color and  shake to coat.

Beat together margarine and cream cheese.  Add sugar, egg, vanilla, coconut and almond extracts.  Mix till creamy.  Add baking powder and flour, add flour one cup at a time beating well after each addition.  Roll the dough into small balls.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Cookies will not brown on top and remain a creamy white color.  Remove from the oven and immediately scoop the top out of each cookie.  Fill the top of each cookie with tinted coconut to make a nest.  Place 3 jelly beans on top.

Note: To use this recipe when it is not Easter time, omit coconut and jelly beans and stir in 12 oz. package of chocolate chips into the dough.
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Homemade Oreos

 

These delectable little goodies are so hard to resist!  My cousin gave me this recipe when I first got married and because I wanted to impress my new hubby with my cooking skills (which were pretty much non-existent at that point) I made them.  They were a hit and we've been mixing them up often (probably too often) ever since.  The reason why I was able to succeed back in the day with these yummies is because they are so very simple!  The cookies only have 4 ingredients!

Here's what you'll need:

2 Devils Food cake mixes
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup shortening

All you do is mix the ingredients into a fairly sticky dough.  Roll into small balls, about 1 in.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Do not flatten.  Bake at 350 for 12 min.

You can use store bought frosting but I LOVE homemade too much, so here's the recipe for the filling that we love oh so much!

8 oz cream cheese
1 stick marg
3 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Mix up the filling and then once the cookies have cooled slightly spread the filling between 2 cookies like a sandwich.

There you have it! Everyone will be so impressed with your homemade, and if I may say so, much better, oreos.  I will warn you that this recipe makes more than enough for one family so if we're not planning on sharing our goods then I usually half the recipe.  I can't resist them sitting around! The best part about these cookies is that they are even BETTER the next day.

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The Best Sugar Cookie Ever!

I LOVE sugar cookies!  They are probably my favorite cookie out there and because they are my favorite I'm a little picky about them.  I DO NOT like a crunchy sugar cookie.  To me a sugar cookie should be soft and pillow like.  This recipe is the perfect combination and I've realized it's because it has a magical, secret ingredient sour cream!  Don't count it out until you've tried it.  Some of my favorite baked goodies have sour cream in them such as Banana Cake.  I promise if you try it you won't regret it!

Here's what you'll need:

5 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream!!!

Cream shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Next mix in the sour cream! In a seperate bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Slowly add dry ingredients until well blended.  Refrigerate the dough so it is easier to handle.  Once it's chilled roll out dough on a floured surface to about 1/3 inch thick.  Cut and bake at 375 for approximately 10 minutes or until edges start to brown.  These cookies are best if not browned on the top, only the bottom.  Let them cool, then frost and decorate!

Enjoy!

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