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Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies #kidsinthekitchen

When fall rolls around the tastes for snacks and treats change. When it’s time for dessert its usually fewer requests for ice cream but more for gooey brownies. After School Snacks are now warm or spicy or sometimes a little of both like these oatmeal raisin butterscotch cookies. Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies Recipe, kids in the kitchen, cooking with kids, fall flavors

 Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies Recipe, kids in the kitchen, cooking with kids, fall flavors

With a big dose of cinnamon and a pinch each of chili, ginger, clove and nutmeg they give off a warmth that feels so good especially as the season cools off. Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies Recipe, kids in the kitchen, cooking with kids, fall flavors

Shae saw me bring home a huge container of oatmeal and said she wanted to make cookies. Who am I to deny a girl and her cookies. I gave her all the ingredients, the recipe and let her get to work. Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies Recipe, kids in the kitchen, cooking with kids, fall flavors  Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies Recipe, kids in the kitchen, cooking with kids, fall flavors

Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies-makes 24 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1/2 butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 white sugar
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • pinch each of chili powder, ginger, clove & nutmeg (cardamom would be a great here too)
  • 1/2 salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup butterscotch chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare 2-3 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl cream together butter and sugars till creamy.
Beat in vanilla and eggs till smooth. Occasionally scrape down sides.
In a separate bowl blend together flour, baking soda, spices and salt
Add flour mixture to sugar and eggs slowly to prevent flour from flying into theair. Do not over mix.
Add oats, raisins and butterscotch chips and blend for 10 seconds.
Drop heaping spoonfuls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 11-13 minutes and cool on wire racks. Cookies should be crisp on the edges and bottom and chewy in the middle.

 Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies Recipe, kids in the kitchen, cooking with kids, fall flavors

 These are quickly becoming a family fall favorite. What flavors do you crave in the cooler weather?

Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies

Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Butterscotch Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1/2 butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 white sugar
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • pinch each of chili powder, ginger, clove & nutmeg (cardamom would be a great here too)
  • 1/2 salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup butterscotch chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare 2-3 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a mixing bowl cream together butter and sugars till creamy.
  3. Beat in vanilla and eggs till smooth. Occasionally scrape down sides.
  4. In a separate bowl blend together flour, baking soda and salt
  5. Add flour mixture to sugar and eggs slowly to prevent flour from flying into theair. Do not over mix.
  6. Add oats, raisins and butterscotch chips and blend for 10 seconds.
  7. Drop heaping spoonfuls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
  8. Bake for 11-13 minutes and cool on wire racks. Cookies should be crisp on the edges and bottom and chewy in the middle.
https://lookwhatmomfound.com/2014/10/spicy-oatmeal-raisin-butterscotch-cookies-kidsinthekitchen.html

Come join me and my co-hosts, Paula at Frosted Fingers, Sara at Sensibly Sara, Kate of Busy Bee Kate & Jeannette of EcoIncognito each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

You’ll find these and many more ideas for healthful and unique food fun on the #KidsintheKitchen Pinterest Board.

Follow Melinda Babiak’s board #KidsintheKitchen on Pinterest.
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S’mores Cookies #recipe

In honor of the dad in our home, Rob, we came up with a treat for the nights we don’t get to spend by the fire. You see, we outfitted our yard with a firepit this spring, bought some chairs then bought some vintage furniture and are re-doing it and bought a hammock and got some tree stumps to act as tables so we have a cozy place to hang out as a family. Rob doesn’t like s’mores though. He’ll eat one but that’s it. He does love cookies so here are the S’Mores Cookies we made JUST FOR HIM. Campfire in the backyard S'mores Cookies

It’s a pretty simple recipe actually. I started with my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and doctored it up with some mini marshmallows and a small chocolate piece if you’re trying to please a real chocoholic (Rob)when it was done baking.S'mores Cookies #recipe #cookie #sweettreat

S’mores Cookies (with extra chocolate)

Ingredients

  • graham crackers broken in half (almost whole box)
  • 1 cup softened butter (2 sticks)
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons hot water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  • broken up chocolate bars*

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream butter and sugars together until smooth and fluffy.

Beat in eggs one at a time till combined then add vanilla.

In a small cup dissolve baking soda in 2 tsp of HOT water.

Add baking soda mixture and salt to batter, mix lightly.

Beat in flour till well combined.

Add chocolate chips and marshmallows and mix for a few seconds.

Arrange 1/2 graham crackers close together on an ungreased cookie sheet.S'mores Cookies #recipe #cookie #sweettreat

Drop rounded spoonfuls on graham crackers and bake for 9-12 minutes. This should leave you with a soft gooey center and oozing caramelized marshmallow.

*Top with a piece of chocolate bar(optional) and set aside to cool for 5 minutes and enjoy.S'mores Cookies #recipe #cookie #sweettreat

S'mores Cookies #recipe #cookie #sweettreat

Store in an air-tight container for up to 5 days but are best eaten in the first 2 days.

S'mores Cookies #recipe #cookie #sweettreat




Chewy Coconut Cookies #recipe

I’m a cookie brat. I’m particular about the flavors and types of cookies I eat. I don’t eat packaged cookies except for the occasional Oreo or Samoa. I prefer my cookies fresh, made from scratch and warm. This means homemade cookies often get eaten before they’re even cooled. These Chewy Coconut Cookies are especially good when warm out of the oven.chewy coconut cookies #recipe

I’m really the only one in the house the loves these cookies so that just means more for me.  I realize that’s a curse I bring onto myself but I’m willing to sacrifice for these sweet chewy treats.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups flaked or shredded coconutchewy coconut cookies #recipe

 

Directions

Start by preheating your oven to 350º.

In a large mixing bowl add butter and sugars. Combine till smooth.

Then add egg and vanilla and mix till fluffy.

Gradually add flour/baking powder/baking soda/salt mixture and coconut.

Chill batter for 30 minutes.

Drop even rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet 2″ apart.

Bake for 9-12 minutes till edges are browned. Cool on wire racks.

Cookie should be crisp on edges and underside but chewy in the middle. Store in container with tight-fitting lid. Makes 30 cookies.chewy coconut cookies #recipe

chewy coconut cookies #recipe

chewy coconut cookies #recipe

This cookie is for the coconut lover. Upping the coconut flavor is simple with the addition of coconut extract and more flaked coconut. You’ll end up with something that resembles a macaroon but that’s not a bad thing.

chewy coconut cookies #recipe

 




Mom’s Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies #kidsinthekitchen #recipe

Baking cookies with your kids is probably the most fun you can have in the  kitchen besides eating them. This week for #kidsinthekitchen we made MY favorite chocolate chip cookies. The recipe is simple, but you’ll notice  a little twist in them. I’m not sure it that’s what makes them  my favorite but I’ll keep making them this way.Mom's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies #kidsinthekitchen #recipe #cookies

Mom’s Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • 1 cup softened butter (2 sticks)
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons hot water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped nuts of choice

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream butter and sugars together until smooth and fluffy.Mom's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies #kidsinthekitchen #recipe #cookies

Beat in eggs one at a time till combined then add vanilla.

In a small cup dissolve baking soda in 2 tsps of HOT water.

Add baking soda mixture and salt to batter, mix lightly.

Beat in Flour, chocolate chips and nuts till combined.Mom's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies #kidsinthekitchen #recipe #cookies

Drop rounded spoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 9-12 minutes till edges are just crisp. This should leave you with a soft gooey center and lightly crisp bottom.Mom's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies #kidsinthekitchen #recipe #cookies

Set aside to cool for 5 minutes and enjoy.Mom's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies #kidsinthekitchen #recipe #cookies

Cookie recipes like these are so easy for kids to help with. Ingredients are easy to measure or require little assistance depending on the child’s age. Give your child a spoon and let them scoop up dough to bake. Keep it fun.
Come join me and my co-hosts, Sarah of Play to Learn with Sarah, Paula at Frosted Fingers and Sara at Sensibly Sara, each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

You’ll find so many more ideas on the #KidsintheKitchen Pinterest Board.

Follow Melinda Babiak’s board #KidsintheKitchen on Pinterest.

Linky Rules, #kidsinthekitchen
#KidsintheKitchen Weekly Linky






Making Fortune Cookies, Chinese New Year #kidsinthekitchen

Today is Chinese New Year. It’s the Chinese culture’s most important celebration as it is a time for family reunion. Our plan was to celebrate with a fun food activity, making Fortune Cookies.Making Fortune Cookies #kidsinthekitchen
What I thought was going to be a fun group activity was way wrong. There was nothing kid friendly about it. In fact I should’ve just left the kids out of the kitchen. Things weren’t as “easy-going” as YouTube made it out to be.  The kids did help with the fortunes and cutting them and folding them and adding them to the scorching cookie as I tried to fold them.

Fortunes in a Fortune Cookie #kidsinthekitchen
We started off with a very simple cookie batter recipe then I had to spread 2 circles of batter on a cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes. That turned out to be the longest 12 minutes ever.  As soon as they came out of the oven they had to be handled, bent, shaped and stuffed with a fortune. These babies were HOT. Sabreena was using her sweatshirt sleeves so she didn’t burn her fingers. I was using silicon oven mitts. I always hear about chefs having “asbestos fingers”, I guess I’m nowhere near that level.

Making Fortune Cookies #kidsinthekitchen Sabreena and I thought we had it under control and put 4 circles of batter in at once to speed up the process. We had 2 casualties that time. One cookie that didn’t take on a very good shaped and one that never made it off the baking sheet.

Making Fortune Cookies #kidsinthekitchen Was it fun? YES. Will I ever attempt it again? Probably Not. Best part though is they tasted really good.

Come join me and my co-hosts, Sarah of Play to Learn with Sarah, Paula at Frosted Fingers and Sara at Sensibly Sara, each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

You’ll find so many more ideas on the #KidsintheKitchen Pinterest Board.

Follow Melinda Babiak’s board #KidsintheKitchen on Pinterest.

Linky Rules, #kidsinthekitchen
#KidsintheKitchen Weekly Linky





Valentine’s Day Thumbprint Heart Cookies

To wrap up our week of Valentine’s Day themed crafts and activities we’re showing off our Thumbprint Heart Strawberry Preserve Cookies. As you’ll see Shae and Shaun didn’t really use their thumbs but Fingerprint cookies don’t have the same ring to it.

Strawberry Jam Heart Thumbprint Cookies

We started with a simple soft cookie dough.

Ingredients

  • 1cup butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1tsp vanilla or almond extract
  • 2 egg yolks, room temperature
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup strawberry/raspberry jam or preserves

Directions
In bowl of stand mixer combine butter and sugar till fluffy then add vanilla and eggs, beat till smooth.

Add flour and salt and blend till combined. Set aside in fridge for 1 hour to chill.

Form 1inch balls of chilled cookie dough and place on parchment covered baking sheet .

Strawberry Jam Heart Thumbprint Cookies

Using fingers press a heart shape into the cookie dough. Reform edges if needed.Strawberry Jam Heart Thumbprint Cookies Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Fill with 1/2 tsp of favorite jam.

Strawberry Jam Heart Thumbprint Cookies
Cool and enjoy.

Come join me and my co-hosts, Sarah of Play to Learn with Sarah, Paula at Frosted Fingers and Sara at Sensibly Sara, each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

You’ll find so many more ideas on the #KidsintheKitchen Pinterest Board.
Follow Melinda Babiak’s board #KidsintheKitchen on Pinterest.

Linky Rules, #kidsinthekitchen

#KidsintheKitchen Weekly Linky





Sweet and Salty Chocolate Chip and Walnut Cookies

There’s nothing like a classic chocolate chip cookie but taking that simple recipe in another direction can transform the flavor to something more decadent and appealing for new taste buds. These Sweet and Salty Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies are of course sweet from the chocolate but the addition of coarse salt & toasted walnuts give them a whole new flavor profile.
Sweet and Salty Chocolate Chip and Walnut Cookies #recipe

The basic recipe is one I’ve been making for years. They are my go to chocolate chip cookies and this particular one makes a batch big enough for gatherings or gift giving.

No special ingredients are needed so these can be made using your pantry staples.

Ingredients
1 cup softened butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups flour
3/4 tsp coarse salt
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup chopped, toasted nuts of choice

Sweet and Salty Chocolate Chip and Walnut Cookies #recipe

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°. Cream your butter and sugars till smooth.

Add eggs and vanilla and beat till combined.

Dissolve baking soda in 2 tsp of hot water and mix into mixture.

Blend flour, salt, chocolate and nuts into butter/sugar/egg mixture till well incorporated.

Drop equal spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets 2″ apart.

Sweet and Salty Chocolate Chip and Walnut Cookies #recipe

Bake for 9-10 minutes till cookies have risen and edges are browned. Let them set on cookie sheets for 1 minute then move to a cooling rack for several minutes.

Makes 4-5 dozen cookies.

Sweet and Salty Chocolate Chip and Walnut Cookies #recipe

 

The last minute addition of the course salt gives it little opportunity to melt into dough. This salty bite is a delicious contrast to the expected sweet you get from cookies.

Store in a plastic container for up to a week or package along with recipe for a sweet gift.

Do you have a go-to cookie recipe?




Witch Finger Cookie #FAIL #kidsinthekitchen

A few days ago I shared this link for Skeleton Gingerbread Girls. I showed it to Shae and she said she wanted to try to make them. I happened to buy a set of christmas cookie cutters this week so I was onboard but things went terribly wrong.
Witch Finger Cookies #Fail #kidsinthekitchen

We started with a shortbread cookie. I personally don’t like gingerbread very much and figured shortbread would be simple.

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour

Beat butter and sugar till fluffy. Add vanilla and mix till blended. Add flour and mix till combined.

Witch Finger Cookies #Fail #kidsinthekitchen

Form into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

This is where our experiment came to a halt. I could NOT get the dough to form right, it kept sticking to the counter even with flour. This is exactly why we don’t do rolled cookies. So we switched gears. Witches fingers!! We rolled some finger shapes, added sliced almonds for fingernails and baked them. THEY LOOKED AWESOME

Witch Finger Cookies #Fail #kidsinthekitchen

Another fail! The cookie dough was too soft so it spread out instead of keeping the finger shape. But they tasted good. You can never go wrong with a delicate sweet shortbread.

Shae did most of the work. She made the cookie dough, rolled the dough, tried to pressed out the cookie shapes, formed fingers and added wrinkles and fingernails. Isn’t that what it’s all about.

I have a “gingerbread” house cookie cutter. I’m thinking Haunted Houses would be super cute! Maybe a Sugar Cookie Dough will work better.

Did you have fun in the “kitchen” this week? Did you try a new food or a new kid friendly restaurant? Did your littlest ones use their snacks to count to 10? We invite you to share your experiences, photos, stories or recipes that include your #kidsinthekitchen.

Come join me and my co-hosts, Sarah at Play to LearnPaula at Frosted Fingers and Sara at Sensibly Sara each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

Don’t have a blog? Share an instagram photo or Facebook update.

Linky Rules, #kidsinthekitchen

#KidsintheKitchen Weekly Linky




Gluten Free Chewy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie #kidsinthekitchen

I had my niece Madi over last week for a few hours but my own kids weren’t home so I needed something fun to do. I figured BAKE! Kids like to eat and play with their food so the answer was easy. The problem lies with her Celiac Disease. Madi can’t have wheat, rye or barley. This crosses off most breads, cakes, cookies and treats off the lists of allowable food. This is hard for a 3 year old. She’s a trooper though.

Gluten Free Chewy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie #kidsinthekitchen

As I was scanning labels in my pantry she asked “Are you checking to see if that has gluten?”. I got your back kid! I found a recipe online a Gluten Free Chewy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie.

Gluten Free Chewy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie #kidsinthekitchenAs I got all the ingredients into the mixer she washed her hands and then pulled herself up to the table.
The dough took a couple minutes to put together so I did that on my own but then handed over the mixing bowl and a cookie sheet for Madi to roll the dough into balls.

The recipe can easily be doubled as this only makes 12-15 cookies

Ingredients
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Directions

In a mixer, cream together peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
Beat in the egg.
Add oats and baking soda, and mix until it comes together
Roll dough into 2″ ball and place on cookie sheet
Using a fork press to flatten cookies
Bake for eight minutes or until the cookies turn slightly brown.
Cool cookies on a rack, Enjoy!

Gluten Free Chewy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie #kidsinthekitchenI would make these again. They were easy and they tasted good. I don’t like peanut butter cookies but I ate 2 of these. Next time I’m going to add raisins or chocolate chips and a couple squirts of honey to enhance the sweetness from the brown sugar. These additions will keep it gluten free too!

Did you have fun in the “kitchen” this week? Did you try a new food or a new kid friendly restaurant? Did your littlest ones use their snacks to count to 10? We invite you to share your experiences, photos, stories or recipes that include your #kidsinthekitchen.

Come join me and my co-hosts, Paula at Frosted Fingers, Sara at Sensibly Sara, Lisa of HooplaPalooza and Sarah of Play2LearnwithSarah each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

Don’t have a blog? Share an instagram photo or Facebook update.
Linky Rules, #kidsinthekitchen

#KidsintheKitchen Weekly Linky




Russian Tea Cakes #Recipe #ChristmasCookies

Also known as Mexican Wedding Cookies, butterballs, snow cookies, jumbles and many other monikers, these little sugary buttery cookies are delicious no matter what you call them.

russian tea cakes, mexican wedding cookies, christmas cookies

I’ve seen many variations of this recipe and I love this one the best. These are Rob’s favorite cookies, one of the few good childhood memories he has. Last year he was given a tin of these and the moment I saw him eat them I knew I had to make them . I mentioned to his grandmother that I needed the recipe and she did one better, she gave me the cookbook that the recipe originally came from. She gave it to me so nonchalantly but I was touched. First I was amazed that she had kept this shredded, discolored cookbook for so long but I felt honored that it was now mine.
cookie cookbook, vintage cookbook

Now on to the recipe. I most recently doubled this recipe. Rob eats them very quickly because they are just bite size and it’s too easy not to simple pop them one after another. Secondly, the process of making them a bit tedious so I wanted to get some of the work over with so I doubled the batch. This is a single batch recipe.

Russian Tea Cakes

Recipe Type: Dessert
Author: Melinda@LookWhatMomFound
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4 dozen
just a handful of simple ingredients and you’ll have the tastiest little morsels ever.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup slightly softened butter
  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts or other nut
  • more confectioner’s sugar for coating, approx 1 cup
Instructions
  1. Blend softened butter, 1/2 cup of sugar and vanilla till sugar disappears.
  2. Mix in flour and nuts till well blended and dough is sticking together.
  3. Form dough into a brick shape and chill for 1-2 hours to firm up butter.
  4. Once dough is chilled, use a knife or bench scraper cut dough into more manageable pieces and then cut into 1″ chunks.
  5. Roll each piece into a ball and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  6. These cookies DO NOT spread so feel free pack them onto your cookie sheet.
  7. Bake at 400 ® for 10 minutes till they should look slightly toasted and dry.
  8. Remove them from the cookie sheet right away; they will be a bit fragile.
  9. Let them cool for 15 minutes then toss in remaining powdered sugar.
  10. Then toss them again.
  11. EAT!

Russian Tea Cakes, recipe, christmas cookies

russian tea cakes

 

powered sugar, russian tea cakesTo double the amount of dough I doubled the amounts of  all of the ingredients except the flour.  Instead of 4 1/2 cups of flour I used 4 1/4. I figured I could add a little extra if needed but my dough didn’t need it.  It all depends on the humidity and temperature of your kitchen and of course the butter. Also keep in mind that simple variations can be done like adding anise or peppermint flavors or coating in chocolate or chopped nuts. Different shapes or using cookie cutters are also great ways to personalize for your family.