Gourmet Cookie Bouquets Recipe Blog

Archive for February, 2008

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 cups flour

• 1/2 tsp. soda

• 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Filling:

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 small can crushed pineapple

• 1 cup chopped dry apricots

First cook the filling by adding the sugar, pineapple with juice and dry apricots to a heavy saucepan and cooking over low heat for 20 minutes – be sure to stir often to prevent burning. Cool completely prior to spreading on the crust. For the crust, cream together the butter and sugar, stir in the flour and soda until well mixed. Spread evenly into 9x13” well greased pan and bake for 25 minutes at 350°. Spread cooled filling over baked layer. Sprinkle over the coconut and gourmet nuts pressing down gently with fingers so it sticks to the filling layer. Bake cookie bars another 20 minutes at 350°. Cool and cut into squares.

For more apricot recipes, try this recipe for Apricot Date Coffee Cake.

Ingredients:

• 1 – 12 oz. bag milk chocolate chips

• 2 – 1 oz. squares unsweetened chocolate

• 1 cup chopped pecans or gourmet nuts
  

• 5 cups corn flakes

• 1 cup chopped and pitted dates

• 1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:

Melt chocolates together in the microwave (be sure to use a glass microwavable bowl). Remove from microwave and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto wax paper. Place in refrigerator chilling until firm. Store cookie delights in an airtight container.

For more chocolate dessert recipes, try out some of the following:

• Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
• Chocolate Mint Brownie Pops
• Chocolate Lollipop Recipes
• White Chocolate: Cookies, Cakes, And More Desserts
• Chocolate Souffle Recipe

A classic cookie for the holidays that both adults and kids will love alike. Santa undoubtedly likes them too - with a big glass of cold milk on Christmas Eve.

• 1 cup butter

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 3/4 cup white sugar

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• 2 eggs

• 2 1/4 cups flour

• 1 tsp. baking soda

• 1 tsp. salt

• 1 bag M&M candies (Christmas Colors)

Cream together the butter and sugars. Add the vanilla and eggs mixing well. Mix in the rest of the ingredients, folding in the M&M’s last so they won’t get smashed. Drop cookies by the spoonful on a cookie sheet. They should be about 2” in size and spread about 2” apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 375°. Recipe makes about 8 dozen festive Christmas cookies.

For more holiday cookie recipes, try these articles:

• Mom's Best Christmas Cookies
• Easy Christmas Cookies - 1 Dough Made 5 Ways!
• Christmas Reindeer Cookies
• Christmas Cookie Exchange Tips

Bottom Layer

• 4 eggs

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 stick margarine

• 1 cup Hershey’s Chocolate syrup

• 1 cup flour

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Middle Layer

• 1 1/2 cups Miniature Marshmallows

Frosting

• 1 1/2 cups sugar

• 6 Tbsp. margarine

• 6 Tbsp. milk

• 3/4 cup chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs well, then add sugar and margarine and cream together. Mix in the chocolate syrup. Then add the flour a little at a time (mixing between each addition). Fold in gourmet nuts. Pour batter into a 9x13” pan and bake at 350° F for about 25 minutes, use a toothpick to test. Remove brownies from the oven and immediately sprinkle the miniature marshmallows on the brownies. Put brownie pan back into the oven (which has been turned off) for a couple of minutes to soften the marshmallows and make them spreadable. Remove from the oven and spread the marshmallows so they are evenly distributed over the brownie base. Cool prior to frosting.

To make the frosting, bring sugar, margarine and milk to boil. Boil for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and add the chocolate chips mixing until melted. Cool frosting until it is the desired consistency so that you can pour it over the marshmallows and spread evenly. Cut into squares and serve.

For more brownie recipes, try this article on Kicked Up Brownie Mix Recipes.

Sometimes all it takes to cheer someone up are some delicious brownie gifts. They're certainly easy enough to make and who doesn't love chocolate desserts?

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar

• 1/2 cup cocoa

• 1 cup melted butter

• 4 eggs

• 2 tsp. vanilla

• 1 1/2 cups flour

• 1 tsp. salt

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

• 1 tub of chocolate frosting

Mix together sugar and cocoa before stirring in the melted butter. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well on medium speed with an electric mixer. Sift flour and salt together and slowly add a little at a time to the bowl beating well between each addition. Once well mixed, fold in the walnuts by hand. Pour the brownie batter into a greased 9x13” pan. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool brownies well and frost with your favorite store bought chocolate frosting. For a gourmet or designer look, cut brownies into squares and place an individual walnut at the center of each one. Store them in an airtight container.

For more brownie recipes, try a few of the best recipes out there:

• Coconut Pecan Frosted Brownies
• Chocolate Brownie Trifle
• Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
• Peanut Butter & Chocolate Brownies
• S'mores Brownies