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!

Amazing Bean Brownies

Happy Valentine's Day! Here is a fun treat for your valentine. 'But, beans in brownies?' you may ask. Yes, indeed, and they're actually VERY good. This recipe is adapted from 101 Cookbooks. The texture reminds me of flourless chocolate cake. After I make a batch, I like to cut them up and store them in the freezer. I don't feel quite as guilty eating these brownies because they have some extra fiber...right? What the heck. I'll use any excuse to eat brownies!Amazing Bean Brownies

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate

1 c. (2 sticks) butter

1 (14 oz.) can black or kidney beans, drained

1/2 c. walnuts

1 t. vanilla

1/4 t. salt

4 eggs

1 c. agave (or sugar or honey)

Melt chocolate and butter together. Set aside.

In a food processor, puree beans and walnuts until mixture is somewhat smooth.Add chocolate mixture, vanilla, salt, eggs, and agave. Puree about 2 minutes more until it makes a smooth batter.Pour into a greased 9x13" pan.Bake at 325 F for 30-40 minutes.Cool completely and then refrigerate for a few hours until firm. Cut into squares.I am super excited about this recipe. It's fun and different and a little healthy. I used dark kidney beans but I plan on experimenting with other varieties. 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.

Oatmeal Banana Cookies

This recipe is adapted from one I got from my mom. These little cookies are so good and are full of healthy ingredients. Oatmeal Banana Cookies

1/2 c. coconut oil (or butter), melted

3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

3/4 c. buttermilk

1 1/2 c. mashed, overripe bananas

1 t. vanilla

3/4 c. whole wheat flour

2 1/2-3 c. oats

1 1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/3 c. ground flaxseed

1 c. chpped walnuts (optional)

Combine coconut oil, sugar, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and bananas. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Drop onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 F for about 10 minutes.

These make such a great snack or even breakfast. Enjoy!

New England Jumbles

On Saturday we went to our local thrift store and I found two great cookbooks. One of them is entirely filled with cookie recipes! These cookies are adapted from a recipe I found in that book. If you're a big dried fruit and nut person, these are for you.

New England Jumbles

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened

3/4 c. packed brown sugar

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

1 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. salt

1 1/3 c. flour

1 c. chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)

3/4 c. walnuts, chopped

3/4 c. macadamia nuts, chopped

3/4 c. raw almonds, chopped

1/2 c. dried cranberries

1/2 c. dried blueberries

1/2 c. dried apples, chopped

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg, vanilla, soda, cinnamon and salt.

Mix in flour.

Add the nuts and dried fruit. Mix well.

Pack dough into a cookie scoop and drop onto an ungreased cookie sheet (it's a little tricky since there are so many chunks in the dough, but I just worked with them a little and they baked up just fine.) Bake at 375 F for 10-13 minutes.

These were a fun recipe to try. They reminded me a lot of trail mix...in a cookie!

Enjoy!

No Bake Cashew Flax Bars

These are a fun change from regular old rice crispy treats. Plus they actually have some nutrition! Win win.

No Bake Cashew Flax Bars

1/4 c. (1/2 stick) butter

4 c. mini marshmallows

1 c. oats

1 c. chex cereal (I used corn)

1 c. roasted salted cashew pieces

1/2 c. ground flaxseed

1 t. cinnamon

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat and stir in oats, chex, nuts, flaxseed, and cinnamon. Mix well and press into a greased 8x8" pan. Cool completely before cutting.

Yummy, chewy goodness! This recipe is fun because you could use any cereal or nuts to make it unique. Enjoy!

White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

These cookies were a huge hit when I brought them to a family get together! Everyone loved them.

White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies (adapted from The Kitchen Witch)

1 box yellow or butter flavor cake mix

1 (8 oz.) box cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 egg

1 c. macadamia nuts, chopped

1 c. white chocolate chips

Combine cake mix, cream cheese, butter, and egg. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips.

Scoop 1" balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 F for 10-13 minutes.

Yum yum! These cookies are soft and delicious and taste like they took a lot of work. Enjoy!

Seven Layer Bars

When I was growing up, my mom had this recipe called Hello Dolly Bars (I still don't know why they were called that.) I've also heard them called Magic Cookie Bars, but I call them Seven Layer Bars.

Seven Layer Bars

1/2 c. butter

2 c. graham cracker crumbs

1 c. chopped walnuts

1 c. butterscotch chips

1-2 c. coconut

1 c. chocolate chips

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

Melt the butter in a 9x13" pan.

Pour in graham cracker crumbs, combine, and press to form a crust.

Now layer all the ingredients however you want, with the sweetened milk on top.

Bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and brown.

Cut into bars when cool.

The funny thing about this recipe is that you really could use any nuts, any flavor chocolate chips, vanilla wafers or cinnamon grahams instead of the graham crumbs, and whatever changes you feel like. Enjoy!