S'mores Cookie Bars

Summer brings on thoughts of camping (which is something I prefer to just think about, not actually do).  Thoughts of camping bring on thoughts of campfires and the wonderful gooey goodness of that all American treat, S'mores.  Since I don't do alot of camping, I wanted to find a way to enjoy the taste of S'mores without having to brave the 100 degree Texas heat and smokey campfires.  These cookie bars are a wonderful way to bring the great taste of camping inside!!

S'mores Bars

2 cups flour
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups mini marshmallows
2 cups milk chocolate chips (or chopped Hersheys bar)

Preheat your oven to 350°.  Line a 9-by-13 inch pan with foil, leaving a 2 inch overhang on 2 sides.  Spray foil with cooking spray. This step will make it easier to remove your bars from the pan and cut them once they have cooled.

Crush your graham crackers into crumbs.  You can use a food processor for this, or for easier clean up I like to use put the crackers in a gallon ziplock bag and crush them using my rolling pin.

In a bowl combine your flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. 

Beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light.  Beat in the eggs.  Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add the flour/crumb mixture.

This dough is seriously good.  Honestly, I think I could eat the whole bowl!!

Divide the dough in half.  Press one half into your prepared pan so that it is even and flat.  Moistening your fingers with a small amount of water will prevent the dough from sticking.

Sprinkle with the marshmallows and chocolate. 

Top with the remaining dough. I use my fingers to tear and press pieces, then lay them evenly over the top of the marshmallows and chocolate.

Bake until the top is golden brown, 30-35 minutes.  Remove from the oven and cool completely. 

Lift the cooled bars out of the pan using the foil edges.  Peel off foil and cut into bars.

Grab a plate with some S'mores bars on it. . .

Come back here, have a seat, play the video below and have your campfire and s'mores - all from the comfort of your own home :)

Tips:

These are easier to cut when they are cooled or chilled.
Use a layer of marshmallow cream under the chocolate chips and marshmallow layer for extra gooey yumminess in the final product.

Quick Cookie Cake Decorating

My daughter stayed up late one night to make this cookie cake for one of her teachers - and yes, she is the "Teacher's Pet."  It has been long enough ago, that I cannot remember the occasion for the cookie cake, but I do remember that I ended up having to decorate it for her in the morning before she went to school.   Now, mornings around here are quite busy getting 4 kids off to school, so I had to come up with something easy and quick.  Thank goodness for canned frosting (both chocolate and white) and some yellow food coloring.  I also have one of these handy dandy decorating tools that made piping very quick - much easier than filling plastic decorating bags!

Now, I know it's no work of art, but it's cute nonetheless - don't you think?

For some reason I feel like shopping at Walmart now. . .

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies

With a fond and wistful farewell to the Christmas holidays I wanted to blog one of our favorite holiday recipes.  These cute reindeer have been a part of our Christmas tradition for many years now.  Even the smallest children can create these cute guys without needing much help.

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies
1/2 cup margarine
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
mini pretzel twists
m&ms® plain chocolate candies, brown eyes, red nose

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Beat margarine, peanut butter, sugars, and egg. Mix all dry ingredients and add to margarine mixture.

Roll dough into 24 large balls approx, 1 1/4 inch diameter and 24 small balls approx, 1 inch diameter. Positoin one samll ball under one large ball on a cookie sheet, then lightly press down and together to form shape of reindeer. Press two pretzels into the top ball for antlers; add candy pieces for nose and eyes. Bake for 10- 12 minutes..

Now it's time to enjoy or share with friends.  I look forward to seeing these little guys again next year :)

Snickerdoodles

My daughter Melanie makes the best Snickerdoodles!! She treated us to a batch yesterday, and as I was enjoying my 2nd (or was it my 3rd) cookie, I wiped the crumbs from my mouth and thought that maybe I should share. Well since I can't actually give you a cookie (there's none left, sorry) you'll have to settle for a picture (my mouth waters just looking at it) and the recipe. This is such a simple recipe, but the results are fabulous!

Are you hungry yet?

Snickerdoodles

1/2 cup shortening

1 stick softened butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3 T sugar

1 T cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat together the shortening and butter.  Add the 1 1/2 cups sugar and beat until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs and beat well.  Mix in the flour, baking soda and salt and blend until smooth.

Mix the 3 T. sugar and 1 T. cinnamon in a small bowl.  roll the dough by hand into 1 1/2 inch balls.  Roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar.  Place the balls on your cookie sheet and flatten.  Bake 10-12 minutes.