Rainbow Swirl Cookies

Recently on Pinterest I found this idea for rainbow cookies and this idea for homemade cookie mixes. I mashed the two ideas together and VIOLA! Boy, do I love Pinterest!

 Rainbow Swirl Cookies
3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 eggs
1 t. almond extract
food coloring

In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, soda, baking powder, and salt.

Stir in butter, eggs, and almond extract.

 Divide dough into 5 bowls. Add desired food colorings and mix.

 Roll each color into a log and lay them tightly side by side.

 Carefully roll into a log about 18" long (the length really doesn't matter too much, as long as it's all rolled together.)

 Cut into 24-30 pieces. You can do more if you want smaller cookies.

Roll each piece into a log about 6" long. 

 Starting at the middle, coil each piece into a spiral on an ungreased cookie sheet.

 Bake at 350 F for 8-10 minutes.

 My little girl chose the goodie today. She was really happy with these cute cookies. I like to cut them in quarters so they look like little rainbows.

 Enjoy!

Toffee Nut Butterballs

A few weeks ago I bought 12 cookbooks! They were on sale, don't judge me! :) Anyway, I keep finding awesome recipes that I must try. These little cookies are a blend of toffee, pecans, and shortbread. Delightful!

Toffee Nut Butterballs

1 c. butter, softened (not unsalted)
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1 small box instant vanilla pudding (lemon or butterscotch would be great as well)
1 t. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. toffee bits
1/2 c. milk chocolate chips

In a mixing bowl combine butter, sugar, pudding, and vanilla.

 Add remaining ingredients and mix until it forms a dough.

 Drop rounded tablespoons on an ungreased cookie sheet.

 Bake 325 F for 12-15 minutes.

These are a fun and delicious little shortbread cookie. Enjoy!

Soft Vegan Ginger Cookies

Hmmmm, cookies with no eggs, no wheat, no butter or oil, and no dairy... it can't be done! That was my first thought when I found this original recipe from Happy Herbivore. But as it turns out, you absolutely CAN! And let me just say that these little cookies are mighty delicious. With only 65 calories and 2 grams of fiber a piece, I think I'll go ahead and eat five or six of them thank you very much!Soft Vegan Ginger Cookies

2 c. oats (processed into flour using a blender)

2/3 c. ground flaxseed

2 T. cornstarch

2 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. ground ginger

1/2 t. ground cloves

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. refried beans (make sure the only ingredients are water, beans, and salt)

1/2 c. molasses
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce

1/4 c. packed brown sugar

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. If batter seems too runny, add some more flaxseed.

Use a cookie scoop to drop onto a greased cookie sheet.Bake at 350 F for 8-10 minutes. Cookies might seem underbaked, but that's good! They tend to dry out as they cool.Well, maybe I'm weird, but I actually really like these cookies. It's always fun to try new things and if you're vegan or have a vegan friend, these would be the perfect little treat to share. Enjoy!

Whole Wheat Fig Newton Cookies

I love figs and those crunchy seeds. Today when I realized I didn't have any raisins, I used dried figs and the end result was great! These chewy cookies really do remind me of fig newtons.Whole Wheat Fig Newton Cookies

1/2 c. butter, melted

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1 egg

1/4 c. milk

1 t. vanilla

1 & 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

1 c. oats

1/2 c. ground flaxseed

1 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

1/8 t. salt

1 c. packed chopped dried figs

Cream together butter and sugars. Add egg, milk, and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients.Bake in a greased cookie sheet at 350 F for 10-12 minutes.Enjoy!

Flourless Almond Cookies

After making Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies, I wanted to use that same idea with almond butter. These cookies turned out wonderfully! They're chewy and very almond-y!Flourless Almond Cookies

1 c. unsalted almond butter (I used freshly ground almond butter from Winco)

1 c. packed brown sugar

1 egg

scant 1 t. salt

1 t. almond extract

20 sliced almonds

Mix all ingredients together except sliced almonds.

Roll into 20 balls. Place on a greased cookie sheet and top each with a sliced almond.Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheet for about 10 minutes before removing.If you use salted almond butter, reduce salt to 1/4 t. Enjoy!

Double Chocolate Flax Cookies

This recipe is adapted from Eat Good 4 Life and I love it! Lately I've just been eating the cookie dough... :) These are great with any variety of nuts or no nuts at all.Double Chocolate Flax Cookies

1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. ground flaxseed
1 c. oat flour (or grind 1 c. oats in a blender/food processor)
1/2 c. cocoa
1 c. packed brown sugar
2 t. baking soda
1/2 c. oil
1/4 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans
1 c. dark chocolate chips

Mix dry ingredients and then add wet ingredients.

Stir in nuts and chocolate chips.Drop onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes.These are a fun snack for the whole family and they actually have some nutrition in them. Yay for healthy cookies! Enjoy.

Cherry Cordial Cookies

I love making goodies for Valentine's Day! These are so fun because they are made with hugs and kisses...the chocolate kind.Cherry Cordial Cookies

1 c. (2 sticks) butter, melted

1 c. powdered sugar

2 1/2 c. flour

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. chopped maraschino cherries

2 t. maraschino cherry liquid

1 t. almond extract

25-30 chocolate hugs or kisses

Prepare maraschino cherries and set aside.Mix together all ingredients (except chocolate candies) adding cherries last.Roll into 1" balls and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 F for 8-10 minutes.Immediately press chocolate candies into warm cookies.I absolutely LOVE these cookies. They are the perfect mixture of cherries and chocolate. Enjoy!

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

These are such simple cookies. Mine turned out really tender and fall-apart-in-your-mouth. Delicious! Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

1 c. natural peanut butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

1 egg

1 t. baking soda

Stir all ingredients together.

Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet and press lightly with a fork.Bake at 350 F for 8-10 minutes.Enjoy!