C is for COOKIE! | Just About Baked

Almond Moon Cookies

There are very few non-chocolate desserts that I’ll go for. I’ve been working on establishing my love for anything with a crumb topping, so we’re clear on that! And I do have a special fondness for cheesecake, as do most breathing human beings. But along with these exceptions to my rule, I love anything with marzipan or almonds. My German grandparents pretty much made sure of that by passing down their love of almond through my mother and straight to me.

I’m a total sucker for chewy almond cookies, the kind you get at good, old-school bakeries. Sometimes they’re plain, sometimes dipped in chocolate. They come in all different shapes. I don’t really care what they look like, as long as they’re soft. Once they age and get harder, I lose interest. When I was a kid, our local fishmonger used to sell them (no idea why), and his name was Mr. Moon. So, I’ve always called almond cookies Moon Cookies.

Strawberry Crumb Bars

Okay, people. I’m posting two recipes this week that involve a crumb topping, and how can I not? Crumb topping is one of the great joys of life. Any baker knows that when crumbs are involved, the ratio of crumbs to cake has to be disproportionate. As in, tons of crumbs. TONS. And just a bit of yummy cake.

Well, these aren’t cake. They’re bars. But really, who cares? It’s all about the crumbs, baby! And this simple recipe has crumbs upon crumbs to the point that they’re spilling out of the pan and straight into your mouth, where they melt as you sigh in ecstasy.

Soft-Baked Peanut Butter Cookies

There are few snacks quite so satisfying as a pile of soft, chewy peanut butter cookies with a glass of milk (or Ovaltine, in my case). Peanut butter cookies can be made so many different ways, and I’ll be showacasing all of those different methods over the coming months. Sometimes I like the cookies a bit crispier or crumblier. It really depends on my day. But this time, I wanted that melt-in-your-mouth softness that comes with making a thick, gorgeous cookie.

This recipe was featured just a few days ago as part of my Reese’s peanut butter egg cookies, and it works great if you want to stuff anything into the middle. But luckily, this baby is versatile. It’s a great cookie on its own, too!

Peanut Butter Egg Cookies

‘Tis the season. No, not spring! It’s unusually cold for this time of year. Nope, even better! Reese’s Eggs are out! Praise the peanut butter and chocolate gods!

Of all their products, these eggs are my favorite. The ratio of peanut butter to chocolate is a bit different than with their ordinary cups. Translation: there is more of that amazing peanut butter filling in a Reese’s egg, and that equals happiness. Extreme, sweet, peanut buttery happiness.

When I was a kid, my mom would buy us these eggs as a treat, and it was always such a holy moment. I’d unrap the egg slowly and eat it, perfect bite by perfect bite, always sorry when it was over. Actually, not much has changed. I still feel that one egg is just not enough to satisfy my Reese’s-fueled lust for peanut butter.

Twix Magic Bars

Take a deep breath, because you’re in for a shock. Are you ready? Here goes.

I did not try a Twix bar until I was in my late twenties. No joke. Not even a bite. And though there’s usually a reason for travesties like that, I have no real reason to offer. My parents never bought them, I always wanted other candy, and it just never occurred to me to actually eat a Twix bar.

So you can imagine my grief at all the wasted years when I finally tried one. It was such a surprise. Not to shame Rolos, but why hadn’t I tried this caramel (and cookie-infused) candy? Why? Why?!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Cupcakes

March 21, 2014
Mir
C is for COOKIE!, Cupcakes and Cheesecakes
2 Comments

When I was a young and inexperienced baker trying to make up recipes, I didn’t have much success. I mean, I was 15. The process of creaming butter with sugar was a completely terrifying prospect. And whipping egg whites until stiff peaks form? I still remember doing it by hand one day. It worked, but I was traumatized.

Now, many years and one Kitchen Aid mixer later, I am much wiser. But I still remember fondly the recipes that were not epic fails when I was just starting out. And one in particular that I kept making time and time again were these cookie cupcakes. Because they worked. And because they were actually delicious.

These are peanut buttery without being too sweet or over-the-top intense. They remind me of classic peanut butter cookies: same flavor, same happy nostalgic feel, same need for the glass of milk. But there’s more in each serving, more to bite into. The middle is nice and soft while the edges are chewy. And best of all, they have that Reese’s cup in the middle.

M & M Birthday Cake Magic Bars

I just realized something quite shocking. My blog’s been around for all of two weeks and I haven’t posted anything with sprinkles yet! Must fix this problem immediately.

Sprinkles are really magic. I realized a few months back that if I put sprinkles on anything, my kids will eat it. While I’m tempted to test that theory on broccoli, that’s sort of gross. But my son, who pretends to hate chocolate, decided to eat these bars just because of the sprinkles.

See? Magic.

Which is appropriate, considering these are magic bars. The traditional magic bar has a graham cracker crust and then layers of goodness, like chocolate chips and nuts, ending off with a layer of condensed milk. While I don’t always like to mess with success, I’ve found that magic bars can be created in any flavor, anytime, which is why you will probably see a lot of them on this site.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Fudge

Despite my unending sugar addiction, I can resist a whole lot of cookies. Snickerdoodles? Mildly interested shrug. Anything with mint? Keep trying. Peanut butter cookies? Now you’ve got my attention. And…chocolate chip cookies? Forget about it. I’ll eat the whole batch before anyone can blink.

Somehow, incorporating chocolate chip cookie into a baked good is a process fraught with nothing but sheer joy. Chocolate chip cookie cakes, for example, are a heavenly birthday treat. Chocolate chip cookie pie is just…well, let’s just say that if you haven’t tried it, you need to.

Recently, I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies because…oh, come on. Who really needs to ask why? But anyway, I was on my third cookie when inspiration struck.

Aphrodisiac Cookies (Bakery-Sized!)

March 12, 2014
Mir
C is for COOKIE!
3 Comments

Do you remember that urban legend about green M & Ms? You know, the effect they supposedly have on your…ahem?

If we’re being candid, all chocolate has that effect on most women, right? Regardless, the green M & M will always be the sexy one. It’s her lot in life.

It’s a green kind of week. St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, and while I have absolutely no Irish blood in me, I love the green. It gives me hope for spring.

These cookies came from that sudden hankering for all things green. At first, I was actually contemplating sitting around and picking green M & Ms out of a variety bag. Hey, I have plenty of time, right?

Wrong. Luckily, these mint-flavored M & Ms come in three shades of green and do the trick just fine.