Sugar Cookie Bars

Another Pinterest recipe. From this website that looks really yummy.

1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
5 cups flower
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda

Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time mixing well after each addition. Meanwhile, mix the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl. Add the vanilla to the creamed mixture and then slowly add the dry ingredients.

Press into a greased 13X18 inch pan and bake at 375 for 10-15 min. (Warning the dough will be sticky add a little flour to your hands when pressing into the pan. I added way too much flour to the dough to try to unstick it, don't do that)

Cool and frost.

Frosting:

1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
5 tablespoons milk

In a mixing bowl beat the shortening and the butter until creamy. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar. Gradually add the 5 tbsp of milk until you reach your desired consistency.

Chill and cut.

Big, Fat, Chewy White Chocolate Craisin Cookies

I am not a baker. Every "tried and true" cookie recipe I have ever gotten from anybody I manage to screw up. This is the first cookie I have ever made in my entire life that I actually get compliments on. They are as good as bakery cookies and are SO YUMMY! It's the only cookie I have been proud to take to a party in my entire life. The recipe came from this recipe, but I "made it my own" by adding white chocolate and Craisins. Even if you love chocolate, trust me on this one. Trev loves chocolate chip cookies, but even he likes the white chocolate Craisin version better. Please try it. And then please make sure to compliment me on how fabulous they turn out.

Big, Fat, Chewy White Chocolate Craisin Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups white chocolate chips
• 2/3 cups Craisins
  

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips and Craisins by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

P.S. From Amy (tips learned the hard way)

1. Don't overmix when you add dry ingredients, mix only until JUST BLENDED.
   
2. Grease your pan as it says.
3. I have not made them as big as the recipe says though I'm sure they are fabulous. I use a heaping 1/8 cup (2Tbsp) and they are perfect. I tried to make them smaller once and they were not nearly as good. Don't be afraid to make them BIG.
   
4. I bake mine for 13 minutes. Don't overcook or they will be crispy, not fat and chewy. (This is probably common knowledge, but I learn the hard way. Over and over.) Do leave them on the pan for a minute or two before cooling. This prevents them from oozing through the wires of your cooling rack. (Again, probably common baking knowledge)
   

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I haven't made these yet, but have heard they are AMAZING! I have made a lot of different recipes for chocolate chip cookies so I can't wait to try these. I am posting this so I won't loose the recipe..I am sure I will be making these soon so I will post a pic later!

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs (room temp if possible)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (feel free to throw in the whole bag if you like them super chocolate-y)

Cream butter, brown sugar and white sugar together in a mixer. Then add the eggs, one at a time. Beat until creamy. Add the vanilla.

In another bowl mix the dry ingredients together before slowly adding them to the creamed mixture. When combined, stop the mixer and add the semi-sweet chips. Mix up and then drop by the teaspoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Mold them into a ball as best as you can with the spoon for a more shaped cookie.

Bake on 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

(Make sure you use a high-quality semi-sweet chocolate chip like Ghirardelli. You won't achieve the same results with Nestle or Hersheys sadly)

Moist Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 ½ c shortening
1 ½ c brown sugar (packed)
1 ½ c sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 ½ tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
4 c oatmeal (quick)
1 lb chocolate chips
2 cups of nuts (optional)Cream shortening sugar and eggs. Add vanilla and dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly and then add oatmeal, nuts and chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 min.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

4 C flour
2 c sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp ground cloves
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 (16 oz) can solid pack pumpkin
1 c veg. oil
2 eggs
2 T milk
2tsp vanilla
2 c chocolate chips
1 c chopped walnuts

In mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add pumpkin, oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla: beat on medium speed until well mixed. Stir in Choc. chips, and nuts. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. bake 375 for 13-14 min or until edges begin to brown. Cool for 2 min. remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Sugar Cookies

1 c butter
1 c sugar
2 eggs
½ tsp vanilla
3 c flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
½ c sour cream
Cream butter and sugar together, then slowly add eggs and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together, then add dry mixture to the wet mixture along with the sour cream, mix until smooth.
Chill 2-3 hours.Roll out to ¼-1/3 inch thick depending on your preference and cut into shapes. Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 min or until golden brown on bottom and let cool.

Snickerdoodles

1 c shortening
1 ½ c sugar
2 eggs
2 ¾ c flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp soda
½ tsp saltChill dough. Roll into balls. Roll balls in mixture of 2 T sugar and 1 T cinnamon. Bake at 350 for 8-10 min.