Chewy Macaroons

Preheat the oven to 325 F (160 C)

2 Baking Sheets lined with parchment paper

Ingredients

6 cups (600 g) sweetened shredded coconut
1 can (14 oz or 300 mL) full-fat sweetened condensed milk
1 TBSP (15 mL) vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a large bowl stir together the coconut, condensed milk and vanilla until the coconut is well coated.

2. Drop in 1-tablespoon (15 mL) mounds onto the prepared baking sheets spacing them about 1 ½ inches (4 cm) apart.

3. Bake one sheet at a time on the middle rack; of the preheated oven; until lightly browned around the edges; about 10 to 12 minutes.

4. Let cool on the baking sheet on a wire rack for 5 minutes before transferring the macaroons to the rack to cool completely.

Tips

1. Be sure to scrape out the tin of condensed milk, I find tiny spatulas ideal for this job. Simply pouring the milk from the can may leave behind a good 2 TBSP (30 mL) and will adversely affect the final results.

2. Substitute 1 ½ teaspoons (7 mL) pure almond extract for the vanilla if you want an almond taste.

3. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Cookbook Library Haul (Dec 20)

1. Delish: 275+ Recipes and Ideas - Joanna Saltz
2. The Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookbook
3. Taste of Home Slowcooker Through the Year
4. Taste of Home Christmas
5. Robin Hood Baking
6. The Pioneer Women Cooks - Ree Drummond
7. Slow Cooker Comfort Food - Hope Comerfold
8. Ainsley's Caribbean Kitchen - Ainsley Harriot

English Toffee

Ingredients 

1 tablespoon plus 2 cups butter, softened, divided
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1.  Grease a 15x10x1-in. pan with 1 tablespoon butter; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, melt the remaining butter. Add the sugar, corn syrup and salt; cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 295° (hard-crack stage). Quickly pour into prepared pan. Let stand at room temperature until cool, about 1 hour.

2.  In a microwave, melt chocolate chips;stir until smooth. Spread over toffee. Sprinkle with pecans. Let stand for 1 hour Break into bite-size pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Editor's Note: We recommend that you test your candy thermometer before each use by bringing water to a boil; the thermometer should read 212°. Adjust your recipe temperature up or down based on your test.

Easy Chocolate Clusters

 

Ingredients

2 pounds white candy coating, broken into small pieces
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
4 ounces German sweet chocolate, chopped
1 jar (24 ounces) dry roasted peanuts

Directions

1.  In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the candy coating, chocolate chips and German chocolate. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 1 hour longer or until melted, stirring every 15 minutes.

2.  Stir in peanuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Let stand until set. Store at room temperature.

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

2 cups milk
2 heaping TBSP cocoa
2 heaping TBSP brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
1/2 cup peanut butter

Directions

Whisk everything together in a small pot and bring to a simmer for a moment or two. Serve in your favourite mugs and share with someone special.

Cookbook Mail (Dec 6th)

From soft and chewy basics to sandwich cookies, biscotti, macarons, and Florentines, easy recipes to help home bakers master the art of cookies, including tips for gluten-free, vegan, and high-altitude baking

With its "baking 101" approach, Cookies for Everyone has something for every baker -- naturally gluten-free recipes, with easy swaps for vegan or nut-free options, even including instructions for baking at any altitude.

Mimi's Tips and Tricks walk readers through key steps and techniques, demystifying baking; her clear instructions cover everything from basic cookies to sandwich cookies and biscotti. And for anyone who thinks more sophisticated cookies (such as macarons and Florentines) are impossible to make at home, let alone for "special diets," think again -- Mimi's excellent counsel will have you baking up a storm in no time.

Guilt-Free Chocolate Cake

 

Ingredients

1 package devil's food cake mix (regular size)
1-1/3 cups water
1 cup reduced-fat plain yogurt
1/2 cup baking cocoa
2 egg whites
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar

Directions

1.  In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, yogurt, cocoa, egg whites and egg; beat on low for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes.

2.  Pour into a 10-in. fluted tube pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

Peanut Butter Granola Mini Bars

 

Ingredients

1/2 cup reduced-fat creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1 egg
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup peanut butter chips
1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1, Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat the peanut butter, honey, egg, oil and vanilla until blended. Combine the oats, brown sugar and salt; add to the peanut butter mixture and mix well. Stir in chips. (Batter will be sticky.)

2. Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until set and edges are lightly browned, 12-15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Cookbook Mail (Nov 8th)

Safe-to-eat cookie doughs and baked treats from the creator of the world's first edible cookie dough shop

Finally, you can eat cookie dough how you've always craved it: straight from the mixing bowl! In her rule-breaking first book, Kristen Tomlan, the Queen of Cookie Dough, spills her secrets about how to make cookie dough safe-to-eat and all of the best ways to enjoy it. Kristen is sharing 110 decadent recipes -- a mix of fan favorites from her famous New York City confectionery and never-before-seen creations -- each with an innovative twist.

HELLO, COOKIE DOUGH is filled with recipes for cookie dough lovers at every age and skill level. All 40 flavors, spanning the classic to the wildly creative, are ready to eat off the spatula OR can be baked into perfect, chewy cookies. Kristen's baked creations are equally tempting, with treats like cookie dough-stuffed cinnamon rolls, deep dish skillet cookies, and molten cookie dough cupcakes. Sprinkled throughout are her tips on perfecting your confections plus easy swaps to make the recipes gluten-free or vegan. Since cookie dough is best when shared, Kristen is serving up inspiration for all your party needs, including ideas for baby showers, weddings, ice cream parties, and the all-important girls' night in.

This is the unconventional baking book every person with a sweet tooth will love. Join Kristen on her mission to make cookie dough all about joy, transforming this once-forbidden treat from a "no-no" to HELLO!

What if you CAN eat all of your favorite desserts and still be healthy and fit into your skinny jeans?

Meet Katie: a girl who eats chocolate every day and sometimes even has cake for breakfast! When Katie's sugar habit went too far in college and left her lacking energy, she knew something needed to change. So she began developing her own naturally sweet recipes and posting them online. Soon, Katie's healthy dessert blog had become an Internet sensation, with over six million monthly visitors.

Now, in her first cookbook, Katie shares over 80 never-before-seen recipes, such as Chocolate Obsession Cake, Peanut Butter Pudding Pops, and Ultimate Unbaked Brownies, that use only real ingredients, without any unnecessary fats, sugars, or empty calories. These desserts prove once and for all that health and happiness can go hand-in-hand-you can have your dessert and eat it, too!

Pan de Muertos

 

Prep Time: 20

Total time: 65 minutes

Ingredients 

One quart cup of margarine
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup warm water
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons anise seed
1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons orange zest
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest

Instructions

1.  Melt the butter and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and add warm water.
Combine the flour, yeast, anise, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Beat in the warm butter-milk mixture.

2.  Add eggs and orange zest until well combined.

3.  Place the dough on a lightly flour coated surface and knead until smooth.

4.  Let it dough rise by covering it in a covered grease bowl.

5.  After 2 hours, place it on a baking sheet and let it double in size.

6.  Bake for 45 minutes in a preheated oven set at 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

7.  For the glaze, heat one-quart cup of sugar, orange zest, and orange juice until it thickens. Brush over warm bread

Nutrient Information

Per Serving: 207 calories; 5.1 g fat; 35.7 g carbohydrates; 4.8 g protein; 31 mg cholesterol; 156 mg sodium.

Leftover Halloween Candy Brownies

 

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's)
1/2 cup chopped peanut butter cups (such as Reese's)

1/2 cup chopped chocolate-covered crispy peanut butter candy (such as Butterfinger®)

1/2 cup chopped milk chocolate candy bars (such as Hershey's)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch square baking pan.

2. Whisk 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Beat brown sugar, butter, and vanilla extract together in a separate large bowl using an electric mixer until creamy; beat in egg.

3. Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture until batter is just combined; fold in candy-coated milk chocolate pieces, peanut butter cups, chocolate-covered crispy peanut butter candy, and milk chocolate bars. Press batter into prepared baking pan.

4. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in pan for 10 minutes on a wire rack.

Footnotes

Cook's Note:

If you want it a little healthier, use Smart Balance® butter instead of regular butter.

Partner Tip

Reynolds® Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier.