Soft Monster Cookies

This is just the typical monster cookie recipe, and can be altered to fit anyone's tastes.  For my first time with the recipe I decided to follow it exactly.  The result was the best monster cookie I've ever had.  The softness of the cookies makes it slightly different from other methods of preparation, and provided relief from heavier cookie recipes.  Based on the speed with which these cookies disappeared, I'll definitely be making these again in the future.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, room temperature (one stick)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cups peanut butter (creamy)

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cups oats

3/4 cups M&M's (I would recommend minis)

1/4 cup chocolate chips (minis would probably be best, but not necessary)

1/4 cup peanut butter chips

Instructions

Cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.  This can be done with and electric mixer, but if the butter is soft enough it's almost easier to do this with a rubber spatula.  Then add the peanut butter and stir again.

Add the egg and vanilla extract, then stir again.  Mix in the baking soda and flour, then you're done with the boring ingredients (the dough also tastes amazing at this point - highly recommended if you have self-control to not eat all of it).

Stir in the oats, then the M&M's, chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips.  Now you're ready to bake the cookies.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Scoop out about a tablespoon or two per cookie onto a greased cookie sheet (It doesn't have to be greased, mine was fine).  Be sure to press the dough down a little as it doesn't spread out much.

Bake the cookies for 10 - 11 minutes, you want them to be soft so don't cook them longer than 11 minutes.  Let them cool on the baking sheet for 3 or 4 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack.

Enjoy!!

Healthy-ish Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Bars

Everybody loves something that is immersed in chocolate, well, most everybody.  The bonus of this recipe is that while it tastes as if it is the worst for you, it is actually kind of healthy.  The only unhealthy ingredients are the chocolate chips and possibly the shredded coconut if it is sweetened.  Even so, these are a healthier alternative to other chocolate-based recipes.

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup coconut oil (I substituted butter)

2 cups oats

1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped nuts, raisins, or dried fruit (like cranberries)

1 1/4 cups chocolate chips (dark chocolate or semi-sweet)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the oats, shredded coconut, chopped nuts / raisins / cranberries and chocolate chips.  Measure out the peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil (or butter) into a saucepan and melt over medium-low heat.  Watch this carefully and stir frequently to avoid burning it.

Pour the dry ingredients into the melted ones (or the other way around it doesn't matter).  Stir the mixture until all of the chocolate chips are melted. TIP: Don't add more chocolate chips! They will all melt and completely coat the mixture to eventually look like the picture.

Grease a 9 x 13 pan.  The one I used was a bit larger, which I don't recommend.  If you don't have a 9 by 13 pan, go smaller, but not by much.  I'd rather have thick bars than super thin ones.  Pour the chocolate oatmeal mix into the pan, and spread it to completely cover the bottom and be mostly even on top.

Cool the bars in the refrigerator until they are hard.  Be sure to store them in the refrigerator as well, as they will start to melt in a room temperature environment.

Personally, I would have left the cranberries out, and probably will next time.  They are bad, they just don't suit my tastes.  I would probably try making them with nuts and see if that works for me, but they are good without either anyway.

Enjoy!!

Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

In baking, you will invariably come across recipes that at first glance will perfectly suit your tastes, then upon tasting them you will hate it.  I've found one of those recipes, at least for me.  Don't let me discourage you, my dad liked these muffins, so obviously it's not a complete failure.

If you love blueberry muffins, yet want to eat healthier, this is the recipe for you.  While the typical box recipe has tons of sugar and sodium, you can avoid that and make your own from scratch with healthy substitutes for unhealthy ingredients.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups oats

1 cup milk

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 egg whites

1 tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup whole wheat flour (all-purpose is just fine)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup blueberries

Instructions

Measure out the oats, then combine them with the milk in a large bowl.  After mixing gently, allow to sit for 30 minutes.

In another large bowl, measure out the brown sugar, unsweetened applesauce, egg whites, oil, and vanilla extract.  Stir with a whisk to thoroughly blend the ingredients together.  In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

After the thirty minutes, add the oats and milk to the wet ingredients and stir.  Gradually add the dry ingredients, stirring carefully to keep the mix in the bowl.

Add the blueberries, gently folding them into the mixture and distributing them evenly.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and prepare a muffin pan with non-stick spray or muffin cups.  Fill the muffin cups / tins about three fourths of the way, then bake for 20 to 22 minutes.  You should be able to stick a toothpick in and have it come out clean when they are done.

Notes
Now I will explain why I didn't like the muffins.  They seemed to have an odd, kind of rubbery, texture to me, which I attributed to the applesauce and milk-soaked oats.  The tastes didn't bother me, but I can't handle some textures.

Despite my distaste for them, I'm sure others would like them!  They are a healthy alternative to and unhealthy yet delicious food, and are an easy breakfast option for busy people who are always on the go.

S'mores Bars

Okay, I'm posting this recipe despite the major catastrophe it was, because it was a catastrophe primarily due to an idiotic mistake that should have been incredibly obvious.  I've remade the recipe since then, and it was absolutely delicious.  It tastes just like a s'more, but is easier to eat and have inside.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, room temperature (one stick)

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups flour

3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 Hershey's Chocolate Bars

Small jar of marshmallow fluff

Instructions

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, egg and vanilla.  In another bowl, combine the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt.  Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing completely.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Grease a 9 by 9 pan, then press half of the dough into the bottom of the pan.  Lay the chocolate bars on top, covering the majority of the dough.  Spread marshmallow fluff on top of the chocolate bars.  The original recipe called for a half cup, but I just spread it as needed because marshmallow fluff in stubborn and irritating and sticky.  Press the remaining dough on top and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.  The dough should be a golden brown when done,

The marshmallow will most likely erupt on the sides like lava, but that's alright.  In fact, it's awesome.

Enjoy!!