Cackadoodles

I know what you’re thinking.  I’ve given up on the ole cookie blog already.  It would appear that as much as I love to bake, finding the time to sit down, go through pictures, write up the recipe and edit is just a near impossibility at the moment.  Spring has officially sprung and we are as busy as ever.  Between birthdays, holidays, races, training, and the overall business of everyday life I have managed to post not one single recipe in about two weeks.  But then I went and made these cookies and I just couldn’t keep them from the blogosphere any longer. 

You see, I knew that cake mix could be used as a quick substitute for cookie dough.  It’s quick and easy and what’s more, it’s delicious.  So the other day, when my sweet tooth awoke to find no snacks around worth partaking in, I was desperate.  I decided to delve into the pantry and see what I could throw together fast.  I had a box of brownie mix and a box of Duncan Hines Spice Cake mix. 

But what I wanted was a cookie.

So then an idea struck me, what if I made spice cookies from that old box of about to expire cake mix.  I mean, we wouldn’t want the cake mix to develop any mold spores sitting on that shelf and I knew I wouldn’t be making Spice cake until fall.  And it is so effortless to turn cake mix into cookies.  Then another light bulb went off in my head, what if I rolled said cookies in cinnamon and sugar much like Snickerdoodles but without all the trouble.

Into a bowl went the cake mix.  Followed by two eggs and a half a cup of canola oil.  Fifty strokes with a wooden spoon later, we had dough.  I then took teaspoonfuls and rolled them in a small bowl of cinnamon and sugar, heavy on the cinnamon.  From there to a cookie sheet and into an oven preheated to 350* degrees for about 9 minutes. 

The result: 

Might I, the biggest fan of Snickerdoodles you’ll possibly ever meet, tell you that these cookies are perhaps, gulp, better than Snickerdoodles. 

Let’s put it this way, the sweet tooth was more than satiated. 

 

 

 

 

Cackadoodles

Ingredients

1 package spice cake mix

2 large eggs

1/2 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350* degrees. Get out cookies sheets and cooling racks. Combine cinnamon and sugar.
2. Mix cake mix, eggs and oil in a medium bowl until combined.
3. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough in cinnamon and sugar mixture.  Place on ungreased cookie sheets and bake 8-10 minutes.

 

Good For You Banana Oatmeal Cookies

I realize that I have sort of gone off tangent, I mean originally this blog was to be all things cookie but I realized too late and yet all too quickly after undergoing this project that I just like more things than cookies. For example, this week I had gotten it in my head to do all things muffins but then I went and caught a bug someplace and have been like a zombie for half the week. I am on my way to recovering but alas this week is half way over so maybe next week.

But I did manage to make these cookies. I started with a recipe out of the Taste of Home Cookbook and decided to add a few spices and make it a 'good for you' cookie. The result was 4 dozen cookies that adults and kids alike could enjoy without worrying about the waistline. Not too much anyways.

These cookies were definitely more of the cake-like variety than the chewy variety but if you're looking for flavorful and healthy dare I recommend you look no further.

Good For You Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup applesauce (I use Mott's unsweetened)

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup eggbeaters (or 2 large eggs)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 mashed bananas (the riper, the better)

2 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 *F. Grease cookie sheets with Baker's Joy or your choice of cooking spray.

2.) Cream applesauce, butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggbeaters and vanilla. In separate bowl combine flours, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Slowly add to creamed mixture. Stir in bananas, oats, chips, and walnuts.

3.) Bake on greased cookie sheets 10 minutes. Remove immediately to wire racks to cool.

Yields 4 dozen cookies approximately.

Banana Bread Cookie

For Christmas this year I received several cookbooks, mostly written by Alton Brown, but a few others including "The Cookie Bible". With over 400 cookie recipes in it I began to wonder who really makes all of these cookies? Thing is though I've met several cookies I didn't particularly care for, I've never met a cookie I wouldn't at least try. I decided then and there that I was going to start giving more cookie recipes a shot, as I can think of only a handful of things better than a cookie (Cherry Coke, Powdered Donuts, Waterstone Hummus).

I was going to wait for the New Year, and a cleaner house, to begin my cookie experimenting when I happened upon these, glaring at me on the kitchen counter.

Any other day I would have thrown together a simple Banana Bread but two things were stopping me. First, I seem to fail whenever I attempt Banana Bread. I get most quick breads like Zucchini and Pumpkin but I have never found that perfect Banana bread recipe that never fails. My nana bread is always just so-so. Secondly, I had just the day before been thinking about my love of cookies and my new willingness to try more recipes.

Without any more thought I decided to attempt a banana recipe without cookbooks or prior experience. The result? A most delectable treat.

These cookies have a very surprising resemblance to Banana Bread so to shake things up a bit and to interest the kids in them, I topped them, quite heavily I should add, with confectioners sugar.

It worked, the kids each ate three and were asking for more, but being only a few hours before dinner I cut them off.

Today the cookies are a tad bit soft, not quite soggy but I think in the future I will freeze whatever won't be eaten right away.

Banana Bread Cookie

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup salted butter

1 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 bananas, peeled and mashed

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour (or all purpose)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup Walnuts

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets with cooking spray.

2.) In medium bowl cream shortening, butter and sugars. Add eggs one at a time, vanilla and bananas.

3.) Combine flours, baking soda, and salt. Blead with creamed mixture. Add walnuts.

4.) Drop by rounded tablespoons on cookie sheets. Bake in preheated oven for 9 1/2-11 minutes or until lightly browned.

Makes 4 dozen cookies.