The cookie Carnival

Fudgy Cats was the selection I made for this months Cookie Carnival (found at midwest living. com).  To be honest, the fudgy brownie was just "eh".  You know, the not bad but not exceptional either type. I like the idea of cutting out cats, or in my case spiders, but I would not make this recipe again.  While not every cookie (or brownie) recipe is a success story, I have found several "keeper" recipes through the Cookie Carnival.   Tami does a fantastic job keeping the momentum going and we are always on the lookout for members.  Come check her blog out here!

Fudgy Cats
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup butter, melted
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder1 teaspoon miniature semisweet chocolate pieces

Directions

1. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil. Grease the foil; set pan aside.

2. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the flour, the 3/4 cup cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine granulated sugar and melted butter. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Add the flour mixture to butter mixture and stir until combined.

4. Spread evenly into the prepared pan. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cover and chill 3 to 24 hours.

5. Uncover the brownie layer. Lift from pan using foil. Cut into cat shapes using a 3-inch cookie cutter or a knife. In a small bowl stir together the powdered sugar and 2 teaspoons cocoa powder. Sprinkle over cat cutouts. Press 2 chocolate pieces into each cutout for the eyes. Makes 14, 3-inch cookies.

Chocolate goody bars

When my mother-in-law mentioned a brownie bar that had layers with frosting and rice krispies, I knew I had to try it.  Brownies are a big hit in the household and I wanted to make a dessert for our July Fourth gathering so it must of been kismet! This recipe was shared with her by a friend of the family.  They had tasted it at another gathering and she said that the pan quickly emptied.  These are amazing! They are soft and crunchy at the same time... I know, How weird is that!!!!  I thought that they were rather rich but solved that problem by adding a nice cold glass of milk t go along with it.  Is it any wonder my jeans are tighter this morning????
Chocolate Goody Bars
 recipe from the Trinity Lutheran Women
1  19.8-oz package fudge brownie mix
1/2 cup cooking oil
2  eggs
1/4 cup water
1  16-oz can vanilla frosting
3/4 cup chopped peanuts
3  cups crisp rice cereal
1  cup creamy peanut butter
1  12-oz package semisweet chocolate pieces

Directions:

Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside( I did 2 8-inch pans instead).
In a large bowl, stir together the brownie mix, cooking oil, eggs and water until well mixed.  Spread mixture into prepared pan.
Bake in a 350 degree F. oven for 28 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool completely on wire rack.

Frost with frosting.  Sprinkle with peanuts.  Cover; chill in the refrigerator.

Meanwhile, place rice cereal in a medium bowl.  In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter and chocolate pieces.  Heat and stir over low heat until chocolate is melted.  Pour over cereal.  Stir to coat evenly.  Spread over frosting.  Cover; chill in refrigerator until chocolate layer is set.  Refrigerate covered left-over bars.
Recipe makes 36 pieces.

mix

layer

indulge!

How exciting! Lisa from Sweet as Sugar Cookies asked me to link up to her Sweets for Saturday.  There are lots of awesome looking goodies there... go check it out!

Cookie Carnival Challenge: Coconut Cherry Bars

This are absolutely heavenly!!

Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about baby!  These bars are the best! What an excellent choice for this month's challenge.  I altered the recipe a bit as I usually do.  Sorry, but I just don't do maraschino cherries - those are just nasty! Besides, why use a jar product when fresh cherries are available??  Didn't make sense to me.  I had a bag of sweet cherries just calling out to me to be used.  The only problem was that my mom and  I are the only coconut fans in the house so we ended up eating the entire pan!

The recipe for the Coconut Cherry Bars, done the Betty Crocker way, is available here. I'm going to put the recipe down that I adapted.  Enjoy!

Coconut Cherry Bars

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter, softened

3 tablespoons powdered sugar

2 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup chopped almonds

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup pitted and chopped cherries

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

1.Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease 8- or 9-inch square pan.

2.In medium bowl, mix 1 cup flour, the butter and powdered sugar with spoon until flour is moistened. Press mixture in pan. Bake 10 minutes.

3.In medium bowl, beat eggs. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spread over baked layer.

4.Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. I cut twenty square pieces.

Now go bake some!!!