Peanut Butter Cookies

A while back Jackie asked me to teach her how to make cookies.  I thought it was an odd request but I said ok, we'll schedule a time.  Unfortunately, we have not scheduled a time for cookie class and Jackie needs to spend some time with her family right now, so I don't know when we'll have our cookie making class.  She wanted to learn how to make peanut butter cookies and I wanted to make some treats for her and her family, so I made them a batch of S'more Cheesecake Bars and Peanut Butter Cookies.

I adapted and doubled the recipe from here, because it seemed like a perfect, simple, classic peanut butter cookie recipe.  I love the criss-cross fork lines!  It completely reminds me of making cookies with my mom!  I also gave Christopher a batch for helping me with my computer and he said they were delicious and reminded him of the ones his mom used to make too!

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

Adapted from Simply Recipes

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, room temperature

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 350 °F.

Cream the butter.  Add the sugars and cream together some more.  I do this by hand with a wooden spoon, I really like making cookies that way!  Mix in the peanut butter, eggs and vanilla.  Add all of the dry ingredients and mix until combined.  Roll into 1" balls and then roll in sugar.  Place on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.  Dip a fork in sugar and make a criss-cross patter.  Bake for about 8 minutes and then transfer immediately to a cooling rack.  Cookies should be pale brown.

Makes about 70 cookies!

S'mores Cheesecake Bars

Stacey is an easy person to bake for and is very consistent in her choices of snacks: chocolate, cheesecake, coffee, s'mores, and pretzels.  When I come across recipes featuring 2 or more of these ingredients, I think of her and how much she would enjoy it.  When I saw this recipe over at Annie's Eats, I knew it would perfect, especially considering I have recently purchased a mini blowtorch!

S'mores Cheesecake Bars - Annie's Eats

I followed the recipe as written and it turned out great!  The bars are creamy with a nice chocolate and cream cheese flavor.  Toasting the marshmallow with the blow torch gives the bars the outdoor s'more feel!  This is a great go-to, fun recipe!! I cut the bars into 16 pieces which is small, but satisfying.  If you want more, eat two!!!  I made these a second time, same ease in making and they turned out wonderfully!

Naughty Cupcakes!

Cinnamon is getting married!!!  Hadiya, Theresa, and Shirley planned an amazing night of dance lessons, dinner, and drinking.  I offered to make dessert and because we were in a restaurant, I wanted to make something that was somewhat "tasteful!"  I found the decorations from Ricky's, which carries everything from hair products to nail polish to the back room selection!

Yellow Butermilk Cupcake - Martha Stewart

Dark Chocolate Frosting - Martha Stewart

This frosting recipe is to die for!  It tastes almost like a ganache.  Make sure you pipe or spread it on the cupcakes right after making the frosting because it can get stiff quickly.  Also, try not to refridgerate the cupcakes, or at least let them come back to room temperature, because the frosting will harden.

I cut the cupcake recipe in half and made 12 regular size cupcakes and 24 mini cupcakes.  I only made 2/3 of the frosting recipe.  I have found that if I bake more than I need, I eat more than should.  Luckily, I'm handy with fractions, so I am to cut recipes as I need them!  For all my cupcakes needs I go to Martha Stewart.  If you like to make cupcakes, this book is a must have!

Beach Day Cupcakes

I made these cupcakes for Jackie's birthday.  We've spent many great days on the beach hanging out and when I saw these in Martha Stewart's Cupcakes, I knew I would make them for her!  I simplified the decorations and used crushed graham crackers on half the frosting to look like "sand" and added little cocktail umbrellas for pure cuteness!

Yellow Buttermilk Cupcakes - Martha Stewart
Swiss Meringue Buttercream - Martha Stewart

I cut both recipes in half to make 20 cupcakes.  To dye the icing blue, I used AmeriColor Sky Blue gel color.  The cupcake is a sturdy, but flavorful batter and the frosting is lovely and delicious!