Gourmet Cookie Bouquets Recipe Blog

Archive for February, 2008

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups margarine

• 3 cups sugar

• 3/4 cup cocoa

• 6 eggs

• 3 tsp. vanilla

• 2 1/4 cups flour

• 3/4 tsp. salt

• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Cream together margarine, sugar and cocoa. Add the eggs and vanilla mixing well either by hand or with a mixer on low. Stir in the salt and then add the flour a little at a time until completely mixed together. Finally fold in the walnuts. Pour the brownie batter mixture into a lightly greased 10x15” pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 350° F. Cool prior to frosting.

Frosting

• 6 Tbsp. margarine

• 1/3 cup milk

• 1 1/2 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Bring margarine, milk and sugar to a full boil in a heavy saucepan. Once the mixture reaches a full boil, time it for 30 seconds, then remove immediately from the heat. Add the gourmet chocolate chips stirring vigorously until smooth and creamy. Spread frosting onto the cooled brownies.

For another delicious recipe, try this recipe for Coconut Macadamia Nut Brownies.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup evaporated milk

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• 2 3/4 cups flour

• 1/2 tsp. soda

• 1 tsp. salt

• 1 cup chopped pecans

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugars and shortening. Add the eggs, milk and vanilla stirring thoroughly. Sift the flour, soda and salt together and then add to the wet ingredients mixing well. Finally fold in the nuts. Cover mixing bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Drop dough by spoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes.

Glaze

• 2 Tbsp. butter, melted

• 1/4 cup evaporated milk

• 2 cups powdered sugar

To make the glaze - mix together the butter and milk, then stir in the powdered sugar a little at a time until you get a thin glaze consistency. Pour mixture into a plastic sandwich bag and clip a tiny hole in the corner. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies.

For truly unique cookies, try this recipe for Rainbow Sugar Cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs white candy coating or plain white almond bark

• 2 cups miniature marshmallows

• 2 cups Captain Crunch cereal

• 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal

• 1 cup peanuts

Melt the candy coating or almond bark in the microwave in a glass container (about 5 minutes on medium power). In another bowl, mix cereals, marshmallows and gourmet nuts together. Pour melted candy over cereal mixture and stir well making sure all pieces are coated. Drop as clusters on wax paper and cool quickly buy placing in refrigerator. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container.

NOTE – For a fun variation during the holidays, use Christmas Crunch

Berry cereal instead of Captain Crunch because it has the red and green ‘berries’ in the cereal.

For more delicious Christmas recipes, try:

• Christmas Spritz Cookies
• Christmas Wreaths
• Frosted Cream Cheese Christmas Cut Out Cookies

Caramel isn't just for gourmet caramel apples anymore! This recipe for caramel nut candy bars will leave you speechless.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces caramels (about 30)

• 3 Tbsp. milk

• 3 Tbsp. margarine or butter

• 1 cup sifted powdered sugar

• 2 1/2 cups peanuts

Directions:

In top of double boiler or in a microwave safe bowl, combine unwrapped caramels and milk. Melt either in double boiler or microwave (on high in 30 second intervals) stirring occasionally until caramels are fully melted. Remove from heat or microwave. Add margarine and mix well. Stir in the powdered sugar beating by hand until smooth. Stir in peanuts. With buttered fingers, press mixture in lightly greased 8” square pan. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Another great recipe for a caramel dessert is Caramel Apple Oat Bars.

A great treat for those with special dietary needs. These bars use Equal sweetener making them a sugar free alternative to regular carrot bars. These diabetic carrot bars are the perfect healthy gifts for your loved ones.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs

• 1 1/2 tsp. Equal sweetener

• 3/4 cup oil

• 1 cup grated raw carrots

• 1/4 cup raisins (optional)

• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

• 1 1/4 cups flour

• 1 tsp. soda

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• Dash of salt

In a large mixing bowl, blend together the eggs, Equal, oil and carrots (and optional raisins and chopped walnuts). Add the soda, cinnamon and salt mixing well. Add the flour until well mixed. Pour the mixture into a greased and floured 8” square pan. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until firm in the center.

For more diabetic recipes, try some of the following:

• Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies (Diabetic)
• Diabetic Ginger Cookies