"Hiya Chuck!" It's Peppermint Patty Cookies

If you have not worked with concentrated oils before, they are a great alternative to extracts.  Extracts usually give me a hard time because of the alcohol content.

I can usually find oils at candy making shops, including Joann Fabrics and Wilton.

3/4 cup margarine
1/2 sugar
1/2 cup sugar combined with 1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 egg replacer egg
1/6 teaspoon oil of peppermint (If you have a child's medicine syringe, that works GREAT)
1-3/4 cup GF baking mix
1/4 cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 and line baking sheets with parchment (or lightly grease).  Combine the sugars and margarine in mix.  Add egg replacer and oil of peppermint.  If you want to go lightly on the peppermint at first and taste it, you can always add more.  Combine the baking mix, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda.  Add to wet ingredients and combine.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Roll into 1" balls and place on lined cookie sheet.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Allow to cool on pan for 2 minutes then remove.

They get that crackled on the top and look so pretty.  They look like Italian Chocolate Cookies to me but with a little surprise of peppermint.

Make these for your Charlie Brown or Marcie!

Ancient Italian Secret...  A cannoli cake gets it trade mark-can't-put-my-finger-on-it flavor from a few drops of oil of cinnamon.

Bob's Red Mill

I am waiting for the delivery of my baking supplies! I wanted to make doughnuts tonight...

Hopefully, tomorrow, and  Saturday, and Sunday I will make some goodies.  I am going to try something with oil of peppermint.  I used to drink this Jingle Java many moons ago.  And who doesn't like Frango Mints or Meltaways?  I miss them all!

It was a busy day so maybe it was best I am low on supplies. It is nice to sit with my kitties, give them a good brushing and nurse this headache.

Hope to post some items  this weekend! It is Friday, payday, and the last day of November! Let the holiday countdown begin!

Can Do Biscuit Make Over with PB & C

There is definitely a Nutella craze going on.  Even Jif has its own hazelnut spread now.

Since Bub and I are tree nut free, I have made us a peanut butter version.

 I am jumping on the Nutella bandwagon, licking my fingers along the ride! I saw a recipe like this on Tumblr and changed it up to make iit safe for us.

In a microwave safe bowl put the following:

1/2 cup peanut butter (we use Skippy Natural)
2/3 cup chocolate chips (Trader Joe's )

Heat the above at 20 second intervals until melted. Stir until smooth.

You can firm it up in the fridge but store at room temperature for spreading. I popped mine in the microwave to use this morning in a Can Do Biscuit makeover.

Mix Can Do Biscuits as directed and drop onto cookie sheet lined with parchment as normal. Press a little well in the middle of each biscuit with the spoon.  Spoon a little PB & C in the well. Use your fingers to fold the biscuit dough onto itself, burying the filling somewhat, and then reshape into rounds. The filling can ooze out the sides a bit so don't try to completely bury it in biscuit dough. If you want extra special, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before baking.

Bake as normal too. Serve warm.

Unexpected Spectrum Cookies

These little rainbow sugars by Dean & Deluca make me smile when I see them. Such a simple accent makes basic cookies something special.

Release your inner child and bake a smile!

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg replacer egg
2-1/2 to 2-3/4 cups GF baking mix (see note below)
Rainbow sugar

Preheat oven to 325.

Beat together sugar, margarine and shortening until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg replacer egg and blend well.  Stir in GF baking mix until dough is stiff and no longer sticky.  Shape into one inch balls and place two inches apart on cookie sheet.  Flatten slightly with bottom of glass then press some rainbow sugar into the tops of the cookies. The sugars do not stick to the bottom of the glass I am using so I just used my hands to get the rainbows on top.

Bake at 325 for 8-9 minutes. Cool one minute on pan then remove to cool completely.

See! They made you smile right?



Note: Remember  to make your two test cookies.  If they run, add more baking mix.  I ended up needing the full 2-3/4 cup baking mix today.