Soft Peanut Butter Cookies

These were a healthier peanut butter cookie. I brought them for a sweet afternoon treat during the week. These were moist and very peanut buttery!

Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
From Oh She Glows

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup peanut butter (I used all natural)
3/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup almond milk
Sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick mat. In a medium mixing bowl mix the flour, baking soda and salt. In another large bowl, combine the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla. Stir until combined. Pour the flour mixture over the peanut butter mixture and combine. Place the batter into the fridge for 30 minutes to set.

Remove from fridge and shape into 1-2 inch balls, place on baking sheet. Bake for 11 minutes at 350 degrees and let cool for 5 minutes.

Banana Cream Pie

I got my mind started on pies last week. Not sure what came over me, but all of a sudden I wanted to make and subsequently eat pie. I was having a hard time deciding what kind to make. Should I go with my favorite lemon? Or go with a fruit pie for summer? Spice suggested a cream pie. And Banana Cream Pie entered my mind.

Not sure I've ever had banana cream pie.  Now I have. And, let me tell you, it's delicious!


This was a great recipe. I used my favorite crust recipe and pre-baked it in the oven. It was my first time pre-baking a crust and it went pretty well. I ended up lining the top of the crust with tin foil and filling it with rice to keep shrinkage at bay. Worked like a charm! This recipe has you layer bananas on top of the crust and top with the custard, which was delicious!!! Will definitely be making this one again.


Banana Cream Pie
All Recipes

• 3/4 cup white sugar


• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour


• 1/4 teaspoon salt


• 2 cups milk


• 3 egg yolks, beaten


• 2 tablespoons butter


• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract


• 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked (I halved this recipe)


• 4 bananas, sliced

1. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, flour, and salt. Add milk in gradually while stirring gently. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is bubbly. Keep stirring and cook for about 2 more minutes, and then remove from the burner.


2. Stir a small quantity of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks, and immediately add egg yolk mixture to the rest of the hot mixture. Cook for 2 more minutes; remember to keep stirring. Remove the mixture from the stove, and add butter and vanilla. Stir until the whole thing has a smooth consistency.


3. Slice bananas into the cooled baked pastry shell. Top with pudding mixture.


4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 12 to 15 minutes. Chill for an hour.

Baked: Sweet and Salty Cake

This was maybe the most ridiculous culinary adventure ever. Making this cake was quite the production, and, of course, I decided to undertake it the afternoon after I ran a half marathon. Smart. Real smart.

Spice got me the Baked cookbook for my birthday, and once I saw this cake, I knew it would be the first thing I made from it!

The cake itself is a classic, very moist chocolate. Maybe one of the best chocolate cakes I've ever had. Seriously. Even after a week and a half, the cake was STILL moist!

In between each layer is a layer of salted caramel. Whooo! I could've stopped here and just used the caramel sauce for everyday adventures in the kitchen. I licked the spoon more than once. The frosting is a whipped caramel ganache frosting. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill frosting here! This is so decadent and rich you may roll over in a chocolate induced coma. In a good way.


Sea salt is love. Honor it.


I can't find this recipe printed online with permissions, so I'm not sure I'm allowed to share the recipe, sorry! But you really should go get this cookbook, because it has some real gems in it!

Donuts

I got a donut pan for my birthday a few months ago (thanks Kali!) and just haaaad to make some donuts with them. I chose some very basic donuts for my first go-round.


The donut pan is perfect. I think you can fill the holes with most muffin mixes and they will come out as a donut! Pretty sweet if you ask me!


I sprinkled some chocolate chips on the top of a few as well as some flaked coconut. Both were delicious and a fun surprise for the donuts.

I dipped the glazed part in some chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, which would make them very fun for kids!


Donuts

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon shortening

Glaze:

1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons hot water
Sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly grease the doughnut pan. In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk, eggs, vanilla and shortening. Beat together until well blended.

Fill each donut cup approximately 3/4 cup full. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until doughnuts spring back when touched. Allow to cool slightly before removing from pan.

To make glaze, blend confectioners' sugar and hot water in a small bowl. Dip donuts in the glaze and dip into sprinkles if desired.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Snack Bars

I'm baaack! Sorry the site was down for so long. Believe me, I missed it as much as some of you did! And hopefully there wont be any more unexpected interruptions! Back to the food!

These were a great bar cookie that I sort of used as an energy bar as well. Obviously, with my sweet tooth extraordinaire, I'm always looking for ways to cut back on sugar! I loved these bars and have made them several times.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Snack Bars
Jenna Laughs

3 tablespoons softened butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons milled flax seed
1 cup whole oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed until creamy; 4-5 minutes. Add egg, vanilla and peanut butter. Beat until combined. Add cocoa powder and beat on low speed.

In a separate bowl, combine flours, flax seed, oats, baking soda and salt. Mix together. Combine dry ingredients into wet ingredients and stir until moistened. You may need to use your hands to get it all combined. Add chocolate chips and combine. Pour mixture into an 8-inch baking sheet fitted with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Bake for 18-20 minutes.