Lemon Pignole Nut Cookies Recipe

Easy and good, these cookies take awhile to bake/dry but very little effort.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Learn how to bake perfect soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies with startcooking.com. This recipe video shows you how to combine the right ingredients to make delicious cookies everyone will enjoy.

The Perfect Treat for Your Sweetheart

Celebrating Valentine’s Day with tempting chocolates, cookies and heart shaped cakes can be challenging on New Year’s resolutions, but now you can satisfy your sweet tooth with a little less guilt.

For anyone who likes to indulge while controlling their sugar intake, the maker’s of Pillsbury baking products, one of the biggest names in baking, recently introduced reduced sugar cake mixes and frostings. Sweetened with Splenda instead of sugar, these delicious desserts have 50 percent less sugar than regular Pillsbury cake mixes and frostings, but still have the same great taste. So, this year, you and your sweetheart can have your cake and eat it too.

“We’re excited to introduce reduced sugar cake mix and frosting,” says Maribeth Badertscher, director of corporate communications for The J.M. Smucker Company. “We strive to offer consumers a full range of choices while maintaining our commitment to quality. Now, they can enjoy the same great taste with half the sugar.”

Pillsbury offers two cake varieties to mix and match with frosting flavors. Pillsbury Moist Supreme Reduced Sugar Cake Mix is available in Classic Yellow and Devil’s Food, and Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Reduced Sugar Frosting is available in Vanilla and Chocolate Fudge. Try them alone or as part of a delicious new recipe like this one for a reduced sugar indulgence any time of the day:

Pillsbury Reduced-Sugar Zebra Biscotti

Ingredients:

Crisco No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 (18.25 oz.) Pillsbury Reduced Sugar Devils Food Cake
1/2 cup Crisco Butter Shortening
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon water
1/3 cup Pillsbury Reduced Sugar Vanilla Frosting
1/3 cup Pillsbury Reduced Sugar Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Preparation Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray large cookie sheet with no-stick cooking spray. Place cake mix in large mixing bowl. Melt shortening in microwave-safe bowl in microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir until smooth. Add melted shortening, eggs and water to cake mix. Stir with wooden spoon until evenly moistened. Batter will be stiff. Spray hands with no-stick cooking spray. Work dough with hands until cake mix is totally absorbed.

Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 9x3-inch loaf on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool on cookie sheet for 15 minutes. Cut each loaf into 3/4-inch slices. Stand upright on cookie sheet. Bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool 10 minutes.

Place each frosting in a separate quart-size resealable freezer bag. Close. Microwave on high for 8 seconds or just until soft. Knead gently in bag. Press frosting to one corner of bag. Cut very small opening off the corner. Drizzle each frosting over cooled biscotti to make stripes.

Pillsbury reduced sugar varieties are now available nationwide in the baking section of local retailers. For a product locator, more delicious recipes and cooking tips, log on to www.pillsburybaking.com.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup miniature marsmallows
• 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
• 1 tablespoon margarine

Directions:

• Melt margarine in a small saucepan over medium heat
• Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted
• Remove from heat
• Stir in Rice Krispies
• Dip Rice Krispie treat out onto wax paper

Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 stick margarine
• 1/4 cup powedered sugar
• 1/2 teaspon vanilla
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

• Cream together margarine and powdered sugar
• Add vanilla
• Stir in flour
• Stir in chocolate chips
• Roll into tiny balls and put i n a square pan
• Freeze for making cookings in the future

How to Cut Calories, But Not Your Fun during the Holidays

You may relish holiday office parties, neighborhood gatherings, family meals and the annual New Year’s Eve bash. But how happy will your holidays really be if all those extra calories you consume during seasonal festivities go straight to the portion of your anatomy that could least use the extra padding?

Holiday weight gain will be an unpleasant reality for many Americans this year. It is possible, however, to trim the calories and still enjoy holiday merriment. Just keep in mind these “Four Cs” to help curtail calories at holiday parties, Weight Watchers advises:

1. Cocktails

Some people forget to keep tabs on liquid calories. Since they don’t usually make you feel full, it’s easy to forget that holiday spirits and cocktails can be high in calories. To limit liquid calories, keep sugary mixers like Triple Sec, Grand Marnier and Crème de Menthe to a minimum. Opt instead for lower-calorie substitutions.

For example, instead of a cosmopolitan, which packs 179 calories in just 3 ounces, go for a mimosa that offers just 105 calories in 6 ounces. Spiced tea with an ounce of rum adds up to just 70 calories and is a good replacement for eggnog, which pours on 186 calories per half-cup serving.

2. Cookies

Santa Claus isn’t the only one who loves holiday cookies. They are a seasonal “must have” for many. Don’t deprive yourself completely; deprivation tends to lead to overindulgence. Pick one cookie and savor it. To create a little more cookie control, bring your own renovated recipe, and follow these tips to lighten up these holiday favorites:

* Top it – Sprinkle chocolate chips, nuts or dried fruit on top of cookies instead of mixing them into the batter. This will reduce the amount used of these high-calorie add-ons.

* Toast it – Bring out the flavor of nuts or coconuts by toasting them before adding them into the recipe. This will also allow you to use less of them.

* Substitute it – Egg and sugar substitutes can help reduce calories and fat.

* Shrink it – Cut calories in half by reducing the size of the cookie, so you can still enjoy the flavors of your favorite holiday treat.

3. Candy

Chocolate goes with the holidays like Santa and his red suit. But you’ll consume fewer calories and feel satisfied longer if you substitute a long-lasting holiday candy, like a candy cane, for chocolates. Also, look for ways to incorporate sensible snacks with a touch of indulgence, such as chocolate-dipped pretzels.

4. Couture

Don’t bow to baggy sweaters and stretchy fabrics that make it easier to overlook your figure flaws. You might think twice about grazing at the holiday party buffet if you’re wearing your “skinny” jeans. Also, buy a party dress or a fantastic outfit that makes you feel great now and hang it on the bathroom door as a reminder that you want to look and feel your best this season. For instant inspiration, you can find tips to dressing “five pounds lighter” on WeightWatchers.com.

For more help managing holiday calories, visit www.weightwatchers.com, and try this reduced-calorie holiday treat:

Classic Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup Neufchatel cheese
1 cup sugar, granulated
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg(s)
1/2 cup fat-free skim milk
1 tsp all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar, colored (for decorating)

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Set aside. Place butter and cheese in a large bowl, and cream using an electric mixer. Add sugar and beat until batter is pale yellow. Beat in vanilla extract and egg.

Add about 1/3 of flour mixture and 1/3 of milk to cheese mixture. Mix batter on low speed until just combined. Repeat with remaining flour and cheese mixtures.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Frosted Christmas Cookies Recipe

Nothing signals the beginning of the holiday season like a plate of homemade cookies. In this delicious recipe, cookies are topped with homemade frosting.

Ingredients:
1½ cup softened butter
1 cup White granulated sugar
1 cup Confectioners sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla extract
5 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp. Salt
cookie cutters
parchment paper

Frosting Ingredients:
8 tbsp. Butter
2 tsp. Milk
2 tsp. Vanilla
about 2 cups confectioners sugar

Directions:
In a large bowl beat the butter and sugar until you get a smooth creamy mixture, beat in you eggs and vanilla, mix in your flour, baking powder and salt, cover and chill for an hour. After the dough has been chilled preheat oven to 400 degrees. Measure a piece of parchment paper so it fits your cookie sheet. Roll your dough so it’s ¼ inch thick instead of using floor to keep your dough from sticking use confectioners sugar. Use cookie cutters to make shapes, peel up excess dough leaving only your shapes. Once you have enough cookies place in oven for 6 to 8 min. once cookies have bake for 6 to 8 min transfer them to a cooling rack for 10 min and then frost your cookies.

Frosting Directions:
Melt the butter in your microwave about 30sec should do it. Add the rest of the ingredients and whisk until they are well combined. If the frosting is too watery add more sugar until it thickens up. If you want different colors separate the frosting in different bowls and add food coloring.

Tasty Tips for Last-minute Bakers

The holiday baking frenzy is in full swing. Get out your measuring cups and a mixing bowl -- with a few helpful tips and these fool-proof recipes, your baking endeavors are sure to be a delicious success.

Award-winning pastry chef Mindy Segal, owner of HotChocolate restaurant in Chicago, shares her favorite holiday recipe for Gingersnap Cookies. Five different spices, including a pinch of pepper and a generous dose of ginger, give these buttery little cookies a flavorful kick.

Coffee lovers will enjoy the Whole-Wheat Caramel Lattes. This thumbprint cookie has a rich dough with hints of coffee, a caramel filling and is topped with a chocolate-covered coffee bean.

Before the baking begins, here are some tips to help deliver tasty results:

* Baking is a science; the more accurate your ingredient measurements, the better your end product.

* Never use spreads or margarine to replace butter in a recipe. Spreads contain less fat and more water than butter and will not perform the same.

* Keep your cookie dough chilled in between baking batches. Only work with one small piece of dough at a time; keep remaining dough in the refrigerator.

* Prevent cookies from sticking to baking sheets by covering sheets with a layer of parchment paper or greasing the sheet with butter.

* Cookies turn out best when the dough is placed on cool cookie sheets.

* Store soft cookies in a container with a tight lid, and crisp cookies in a container with a loose lid.


Visit http://www.butterisbest.com/ for more baking tips and delicious holiday cookie recipes made with real butter. Here are some tasty recipes you may want to try:


Gingersnap Cookies (Makes 4 dozen cookies)
by Chef Mindy Segal

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 3/4 teaspoons cinnamon, divided

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

1/2 cup sugar


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, cream butter and dark brown sugar; add molasses and beat until blended. Add egg and mix until combined.

Combine flour, baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon and ginger, cloves, nutmeg and pepper in a separate bowl; add to butter mixture and mix well.

In a small bowl, combine remaining 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, then roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place dough on parchment-lined cookie sheets.

Bake 10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Store cookies in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to one week.


Whole Wheat Caramel Lattes (Makes 3 dozen cookies)

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup café mocha instant coffee crystals

1 egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups whole-wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

18 caramels

1 tablespoon heavy cream

42 chocolate-covered coffee beans


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and instant coffee crystals together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until blended. Combine flours in a separate bowl and add to butter mixture; mix well.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls, and place 2 inches apart on parchment-lined cookie sheets. Press thumb into cookie center. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until cookies begin to brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.

In a small saucepan over low heat, heat caramels and cream; stirring frequently. Using a teaspoon, drop melted caramel into each thumbprint, placing a chocolate-covered coffee bean on caramel immediately.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Cookie Basics

Learn the basic tricks and tips of baking cookies. Its imporant to start with the right ingedients. Like butter - it should always be soft and remember dont pack the flour when measuring.

Chocolate Cookie Bark Recipe

Here's a treat: not just cookie bark but chocolate cookie bark. This recipe is great for the holidays or any time.

Ingredients:
8 squares of baker’s semi sweet chocolate
6 squares of bakers white chocolate
2 tsp. Peanut butter
Oreo cookies

Directions:
Melt chocolate in microwave in separate bowls mix in your peanut butter with the white chocolate. Mix in 10 coarsely chopped Oreo cookies evenly in to each bowl cover a baking sheet in wax paper now drop spoons full of dark chocolate then drop the white chocolate on to the dark. Take a knife and draw it through your chocolate to get the marble look. Place in fridge for an hour once cooled enjoy.

Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

Every Christmas cook needs a gingerbread cookie.

White Chocolate Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Recipe

These cookies are perfect for Christmas, the white chips and cranberries make for a very festive look.

Ingredients:
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 ½ cup oats
1 ½ cup flour
1 tsp. Baking soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 bag of cranberries
2/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees using a mixer beat in your butter and brown sugar until it is light and fluffy add the eggs, now add the oats and mix. Now add the flour, baking soda and salt. Next add the cranberries and white chocolate chips along with the chopped walnuts. Place rolled up cookie mix on no greased cookie sheet, now bake for ten to twelve min or until golden brown.

Sugar Cookies Recipe

A Christmas video recipe on how to make sugar cookies. Sugar Cookies are a must have for any Holiday Kitchen.

Ingredients:
1 cup softened butter
1½ cup confectioner’s sugar
2 tsp. Vanilla extract
½ tsp. Almond extract
1 egg
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tarter
¼ tsp. salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees in a large mixer bowl add your butter, sugar, vanilla, almond extract, and an egg. Stir until well mixed. In a second bowl mix flour, baking soda, cream of tarter, and salt stir just to combine, divide the dough in half, cover and refrigerate for half an hour. On a lightly floured workstation roll the dough to a ¼ inch thick, cut the dough in to desired shapes place on parchment covered cookie sheets separate them about an inch apart cover in granulated sugar or colored sugar bake for 7-8min or until the edges are light brown. Once done place on cooling racks.

Amy's Super Secret Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

Most who have tried em say they'd kill for the recipe. All you have to do is grab a pen, watch and take notes as The original Hellraiser Homemaker shows you how it's done... mmmmm.... Peanut Butter Cookies!

Oatmeal Lace Cookies Recipe

So easy, yet so classy and elegant.

Pumpkin Cookies Recipe

Tired of pumpkin pie? Sue from ohio shows us how to make her mom's spectacular pumpkin cookies.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:
1 egg
½ cup of butter (soft)
½ cup sugar
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
3 tsp vanilla
5 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 Package Krusteaz Pumpkin Spice Quick Bread Mix
1 Cup Quick Oats
1 11oz package of Butterscotch Morsels

Directions

Mix these ingredients for at least three minutes with a hand mixer:
1 egg
½ cup of butter (soft)
½ cup sugar
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
3 tsp vanilla
5 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon baking powder

Add 1 Package Krusteaz Pumpkin Spice Quick Bread Mix and 1 Cup Quick Oats

Mix all together until mixing is complete.

Add 1 11oz package of Butterscotch Morsels.

Baking Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough into balls. Pour sugar into a bowl and roll balls in sugar until completely coated. Place on cookie sheet. Using a fork, press down twice to create a criss-cross design. Bake for about 11 minutes.

Madeleines Recipe

French butter cookies, shaped like seashells and oh - so good!

Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

Learn how to make delicious oatmeal cookies from scratch.

Chocolate Cookies Recipe

TipVision host Charlie Stone and Chef Eddie Holloway make chocolate cookies an even tastier treat.