Vanilla Maple Pecan Cookies

This recipe belongs to a dear old friend.  I've been thinking about these cookies for quite some time but didn't have an excuse to make them until my girlfriend at church asked me to bring a batch of bars or cookies to share at our Christmas Eve Service.  And of course, I said "Yes"!

So, here they are...in all their splendor!

Here is how to make them:

Vanilla Maple Pecan Cookies

Ingredients:

Cookie:

1 cup shortening

1/2 cup margarine, softened

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon maple flavoring (a little tricky to find, but it's out there!)

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups white chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Frosting:

1/4 cup margarine, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon maple flavoring

4-6 Tablespoons milk

1/2 cup pecan halves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, cream the shortening, butter, and brown sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.  Beat in vanilla and maple flavoring.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour and baking soda.  Gradually add to the creamed mixture.

Stir in the white chocolate chips and pecans.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart onto non-greased baking sheets.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool for 2 minutes on cookie sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and powdered sugar.  Beat in maple flavoring and enough milk to achieve a spreading consistency.  Frost cooled cookies and top each with a pecan half.

Note:  This recipe makes 7 dozen...yes, about 84 cookies so feel free to halve it if you need less.

Enjoy!

Favorite Things Friday #6 & White Chocolate Cherry Almond Cookies

Happy Friday!

Any chocolate lovers out there?...

One of my favorite things is chocolate especially white chocolate or any chocolate where caramel is involved! :)

It just so happens that the cookies I made for the Pinterest Party last weekend included white chocolate...and cherries and almonds!  Yum :)

Chewy and fruity...just right for the holidays!

The recipe I followed for these White Chocolate Cherry Almond Cookies can be found here or on my Food pin board.

The recipe makes 72 cookies!  I made a half batch and that was plenty to go around.  You could make the full batch and give them away in little gift boxes.

If you love white chocolate, you might also like these Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cupcakes,

this White Chocolate Snack Mix,

or these Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti dipped in white chocolate!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Enjoy :)

Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

Yes!  Finally!  Ask and you shall receive! :)

These cookies are always a hit and they go way back.  I would make these occasionally all the time when I was in high school.  I loved to bake even back then.  My friends and family never complained.  :)

I have to give a BIG shout out to my beloved high school girlfriends.  All 8 of us are still very close and try to get together a couple times a year even though we are spread across 5 states.  When we reunited, it's just like old times.  There is something deep about those friendships you make early on in life and have made a commitment to maintain over the years.  I love each of you very much and miss you everyday.  We have so many spooner memories I will cherish forever.  I hope you make these cookies and think about all the school days, weekends, and summer nights we spent living, exploring, and growing together.

Here is how to make them:

Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened (not melted)

2 eggs

2 cups brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups old-fashioned oats (not quick-cooking or instant)

1 package of Heath toffee bits (8-10 oz.) *You can usually find these near the chocolate chips at the grocery.

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease a cookie sheet.  Beat butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla together.  Add the dry ingredients.  Add the oats and toffee bits.  Drop rounded tablespoon size balls onto the greased cookie sheet.  Bake 8-10 minutes.  I usually take them out after 9 minutes even though they don't look quite done.  Cool 1 minutes on the baking sheet then remove to a wire rack.  I use a thin, metal fish spatula to get them off the tray easily.  The toffee can be sticky until it cools to a chewy consistency so you may need to wipe the spatula off after each cookie removal.  Makes about 36 cookies.

Enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Coconut Blossoms

Before I made these, I should have found out if my family liked coconut.  Turns out...they don't.  :(  But oh well!  To each their own and more for me!  And believe me, I had my fair share of these delicious little Dark Chocolate Coconut Blossoms!  One evening I even warmed two up and put some vanilla ice cream on top!  Yummo!

Here's how I made them:

Dark Chocolate Coconut Blossoms

Ingredients:

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut

1/8 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

18 dark chocolate Hershey's Kisses

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a cookie sheet.

In a large bowl, stir flour, coconut, and salt.  Add condensed milk and vanilla; stir until well combined.

Drop batter in about a tablespoon size balls an inch apart onto the cookie sheet.  Bake 15-17 minutes until done with golden bottoms.

As soon as they come out of the oven, add a dark chocolate Hershey's Kiss to the top and press down slightly.  Let cool about 5 minutes on the cookie sheet then transfer to a wire rack.  Makes 1 1/2 dozen.

If you like coconut, you will love these!  I did!  Next time, I'm thinking about adding an almond on top to make an Inside-Out Almond Joy!  Wouldn't that be amazing?!

Enjoy!

Original macaroon recipe adapted from Good Housekeeping Magazine

Linking up at Foodie Friends Friday Daily Dish

Bird's Nest Cookies for Easter

Easter is this Sunday, March 31st!  To celebrate the Risen King and spring on the horizon, what will you be making?

Last year, I make these adorable Bird's Nest Cookies.

I'm still trying to decide what to make bake this year?!  I think I've decided but you'll have to check back to find out!