Snow Day Cookies

I have been wanting to make these cookies for awhile because the base for these cookies are a little different than most.  The recipe uses corn starch, which I guess creates the thickness and fluffiness of these cookies.  They are also super soft and chewy - which I read is created by the higher ratio of brown sugar to white sugar (who knew?).  Anyways, they are really good and I am anxious to use this base for different types of cookies now!  

These were the perfect cookies to make today because it was snowing this afternoon (and the cookies have Snocaps in them!).  Snocaps are not a candy that I have ever bought.  I couldn't even tell you the last time I had one.  So, when I went to the store to go purchase them, I couldn't find them.  I tried Target, Wal-Mart, & Hy-Vee.  I mentioned something to my dad about it and was able to find some at Walgreens (thanks Dad!).  If you do not have all the baking chips that are listed in the recipe, feel free to use whatever you have on hand - anything will work!  I used dark chocolate, semi-sweet, and white chocolate (hence, the name triple choco-chip). 

Snocap Triple Choco-Chip Cookies
{Adapted from: Sally's Baking Addiction}

3/4 c. unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 c. dark brown sugar (light brown sugar works too, but dark is preferred)

1/4 c. sugar (I used baking splenda)

1 large egg, room temperature

2 tsp. vanilla

2 c. flour

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt (I only used 1/4 tsp)

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 c. dark chocolate chips

1/4 c. white chocolate chips

1/2 c. Snocaps

In a large bowl, mix together (with a stand mixer or hand mixer) butter and sugars, until well combined and fluffy on medium speed.  Then, mix in egg and vanilla. 

In small separate bowl, add flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Simply stir ingredients together. 

Slowly add in flour mixture to large bowl with butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla - mix together on slow speed until well combined.  Then, stir in chocolate chips and snocaps. 

Refrigerate dough for minimum of 30 minutes -- you can refrigerate dough for up to 3 days.  I wrapped mine up in that press-n-seal wrap and let it chill for about 2 hours.  

When ready to bake cookies, preheat oven to 350ºF.  Use parchment paper or a baking sheet to bake cookies on.  Scoop about 1.5 Tbsp of dough onto sheet for each cookie (slightly flatten out -- just a little bit, though!)  

Bake for 8 minutes.  They may appear slightly under cooked, but do not let them crisp at all!  I just let mine sit on the baking sheet once out of the oven for a couple minutes then remove to cool. 

The recipe states - Do not drop dough onto warm cookie sheets to bake.  Make sure the cookie sheets are completely cooled before baking. 

Enjoy!!!

Favorite Things: Baking Essentials

Since baking is one of my favorite things to do and I have a lot of desserts and baked goods that are on here, I thought I would share a few of my favorite things.  I buy a lot of my kitchen stuff and baking supplies at Sur La Table (favorite store!) and Crate & Barrel - my top 2.  Other stores I frequent include: Pier 1 Imports, Bed Bath & Beyond, and William-Sonoma. 

A Few of my Favorite Things

{1} Pier 1 Glass Chalkboard Jars - these jars are fabulous! Not only are they practical, but they are stylish and affordable!  I use them for flour, sugar, etc.  I highly recommend these glass jars, but any type of a jar or container for your ingredients is a must have. 

{2} Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer - I know these are pricey, but they are worth it if you bake and cook a lot.  There are all sorts of attachments you can purchase, which creates all sorts of ways you can use this.  I love my mixer - the only thing that is unfortunate is that I don't have much counter space or storage in our kitchen for it.  However, Chris knows how much I want an appliance cabinet in our next house! :)  And that will allow for it to be more convenient for me to use!

{3} Adjustable Pie Crust Cover - if you bake pies a lot, definitely go out and purchase one of these!  It will prevent your crust from burning.  The adjustable ones are highly recommended because you can use them on all different sizes.  I used to try to wrap my crusts with foil, but this works so much better!

{4} Baking Mat - I purchased this from Crate & Barrel and it's wonderful.  Another popular one is the Silpat ones which you can find at Bed, Bath  & Beyonds, Kohls, Target, etc.  Plus, they are dishwasher safe, which is always a perk! 

{5} Spatula Spoon - I recently purchased this from Sur La Table and love it.  I need to get another one! I use it for baking and cooking.  It's super strong and is great to mix things with or scrape bowls.  (Also dishwasher safe!)

{6} iPad Easel - my sister bought this for me from Bed, Bath & Beyond and it comes in handy.  I find a lot of my recipes online, so if I haven't printed it out then I use the iPad to follow the recipes. 

{7) Parchment Paper - I don't know how I just discovered parchment paper in the past year.  It's amazing! I use it mostly for baking with cookies but it allows for easy clean up and it helps protect cookie sheets.  It won't burn your cookies either.  You can purchase this at any kitchen store, Target, or even your local grocery store. 

{8} Brown Sugar Terracotta Bear - Before I put this bear to work, I used to go gather my ingredients for what I was going to bake only to find that my brown sugar is rock hard.  I now use these terracotta bears to prevent that from happening and to keep my brown sugar fresh.  I have 2 of them because I have both light brown sugar and dark brown sugar in my cabinets. 

{9} Marble Pastry Board - I just got this for Christmas this past year.  If you are looking to purchase one, I recommend the one from Sur La Table.  I found that it is the most reasonably priced, it's a great size, and great quality.  The only problem is that is weighs a ton!  I keep it in the basement at this time because it's too large to store in our kitchen and it's pretty heavy to haul up and down the stairs.  I use this when I'm baking with pie crusts mostly.

{10} Better Batter Whisks - recent purchase from Sur La Table, as well.  These work as whisks, spoons, and a beater.  It is great for mixing ingredients and keeps your mixture fluffy.  (Dishwasher safe, too!)

{11} Cookie Spatula - these are nice to have to transfer cookies after baking them.  It prevents cookies from crumbling or falling apart. 

{12} OXO Non Slip Mixing Bowls - I got these bowls at one of my bridal showers and they are from Bed, Bath & Beyond.  They are coated in a non slip material, which is great when your mixing ingredients.  They are very durable, too.  Another perk, once again, that I love is that they are dishwasher safe!!

Those are just a few of my favorite things that I have for baking that I would recommend.  As you can see, I love gadgets and tools that are dishwasher safe.  It is always a nice option to have!  One more thing I recommend that I don't have in the picture is regarding your cookie sheets - make sure that you invest in some nice cookie sheets - it will make such a difference!! As well as other bakeware - pie pans, bread pans, cake pans, etc.  

Snow Day

It snowed about 8-10 inches on Thursday.  Unfortunately, I had to work both Thursday and Friday.  It wasn't too bad getting to and from work.  Chris was kind enough to take me and pick me up each day.  Also, the streets were plowed pretty good by the time I got off work Thursday, which made the drive do-able.  I love snow a couple times each winter; but, I don't love snow when I have to work -- hospitals don't close, so we never get a snow day.  

This little lady loved the snow:

   

She had a blast running around in it!  Chris & I would make snow balls and throw them - she loved chasing after them and she would try to attack the snow ball.  Some of the photos are so funny - she looks like such an attack dog. 

 

{Aren't you going to throw it again, dad?}

It's supposed to snow again on Monday & Tuesday, so I'm sure there will plenty more play time in the snow! 

You're My Sweetheart: Valentine's Day Free Printable

{Source: Valentine's Day Free Printable}

How cute is this?  And I love this song, too! 

A free printable to decorate a little for Valentine's Day.  You can download this print for free, here: Sweetheart Free Printable

Impress Your Honey: Easy Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

While grocery shopping a couple days ago, I stumbled upon a limited edition Pillsbury cookie dough - Red Velvet.  I am not one who loves to make cookies from cookie dough.  I would rather put in the extra elbow grease and bake them from scratch.  However, I picked up a roll of the dough to try out.  Also, my sister is a huge fan of red velvet desserts - it's her favorite - so, I knew she would be excited to try these out.  These whoopie pies are so easy to make!  Like I said, the dough is a premade dough and the icing that I used in the center is also Pillsbury.  While they may look a little fancy, they are the easiest things to make!

The only ingredients you need: 

Red Velvet Cookie Dough & Easy Frost Icing

Impress Your Honey:

Red Velvet Cookie Whoopie Pies

1 pkg of Red Velvet Cookie Dough

1 can of Easy Frost Icing

Bake cookies according to package. 

Once cooled, fill the center with icing and sandwich two cookies together.

Optional: Decorate with sprinkles, sugar crystals, etc. 

Enjoy!!!