20+ Awesome Cookie Swap Recipes from Iowa Bloggers

Mixers are mixing and ovens are heating up this holiday season.  If you are looking for some great recipes for your cookie swap or to keep for yourself, you've come to the right place. 

I am showcasing recipes from my fellow Iowa bloggers.  There is certainly something here for everyone!

Visit their pages for more yummies and crafts!

Make the best of everything

The Gingered Whisk

Ally's Sweet and Savory Eats

Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids

Been THERE, Baked THAT

Sawdust and Embryos

Simplify, Live, Love

donnahup.com

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Bars

One day I had a craving for brownies but then I had a thought that chocolate chips cookies sounded good too.  Then I wondered if I could combine them both in one recipe.  I took my great grandma's Congo Squares recipe and my Coffee Cream Brownie recipe and got to stirring.  The end result was better than I imagined it would be so I had to take my few pieces out of the pan and send the rest with my husband to work. He said they didn't last long before they were all gone and the plate was empty. 

Soft and chewy with a little bit of crunch from the nuts and the cookie bar dough on top makes this a taste for the senses! 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Bars                                                    Printable Recipe

Cookie Layer:

2-3/4 cups flour

2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup shortening

2-1/2 cups light brown sugar

3 eggs

1 cup nuts, coconut and/or chocolate chips

Brownie Layer:

1/2 cup butter, cut up

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate broken into pieces.

3 eggs

1-1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup flour 

3 Tablespoons finely chopped nuts

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

I saw these cookies at a local gas station one day when I came in get a bottle of water.  The clerk told me these cookies were fantastic so I had to try them out.  I have to agree, they were quite delicious.  The next time I came to the gas station I found they had the cookies again.  This time with an ingredient label on the package.  To my dismay, there weren't strawberries in them at all.  It was some concoction to make strawberry "bits" and a list of ingredients that was crazy long.  The dried strawberries I found at the store are made of  real strawberries and cane juice.  I thought they tasted like fruit roll-ups!  You can also find them online, but watch the ingredients and also make sure they aren't freeze dried.

I set out to make a similar cookie so we can enjoy them at home. This base makes a thicker cookie than they had but are still tasty. You could easily switch out the strawberry bits and white chocolate chips for other delicious add ins and have a whole new flavor of cookie.

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies                                                      Printable Recipe

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 – 2/3 cup chopped dried strawberries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Top 10 Recipes of 2014

2014 is drawing to an end and I thought we should take a look back at some of the fan favorites.  Most of them are from this year but a few from last year snuck in. 

I hope you enjoy the look back with me. Click on the title to see the recipe or click on the "pin it" link to go right to Pinterest to re-pin for later!

Turtle Thumbprint Cookies

 I love the classic “turtle”combination of caramel, pecans and chocolate so I decided to put them into a cookie!  I used the original thumbprint base, changed up the nuts, added caramel and then a finishing drizzle of melted chocolate.  Your friends and family will think you are a gourmet but won't believe how easy they are to make.  Bite sized and super delicious!

Turtle Thumbprint Cookies (28-30 cookies)                                   Printable Recipe

2/3 cup butter
1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites, beaten
pecans, finely chopped
24 caramels
2 Tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup milk chocolate chips (or semi-sweet or dark if you prefer)

Candy Cane Biscotti

Biscotti means twice-baked.  The traditional recipe uses no form of yeast or fat  but I added a little butter to my dough. These crunchy little beauties are great dipped in your coffee or hot cocoa or wrap them up and give them as gifts for others to enjoy.  

Candy Cane Biscotti                                                                                   Printable Recipe

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon mint (or peppermint) extract

2-1/4 cup all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/16 teaspoon salt

6 candy canes

1/3 cup milk chocolate

1/3 cup white chocolate chips

2/3 Tablespoon shortening, divided

1 candy cane crushed (optional)

Peanut Butter Candy Bar Brownies

I used up the leftover chocolate and caramel candies from Halloween in the Loaded Monster Cookie Bars.  This brownie recipe will use up all of your chocolate and peanut butter candies!

Peanut Butter Candy Bar Brownies                                                  Printable Recipe

1 stick butter, melted

2 eggs

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup all purpose flour

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Reese's Fast Break Bars

1/3 cup Reese's Pieces 

Loaded Monster Cookie Bars

Every year it happens.  People buy bags of chocolate goodies to give out and they over buy. Not as many kids show up as they thought.  Maybe they did run out of goodies to give out.  So off to the next day to get hit the 50% off sale off of leftover Halloween treats.  Either way, this bar cookie is easy to make and will use up the leftover chocolate bars and candies or that "on sale" bag that just had to be bought.  If you have a lot of peanut butter and chocolate candies leftover try my Peanut Butter Candy Bar Brownies.

Loaded Monster Cookie Bars                                      Printable Recipe

1/2 cup butter

1 egg

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup quick oats

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

Mini candy bars (IE. Snickers, Milky Way, Nestle Grand, Hershey’s Chocolate Bar)

2 small pkts M and Ms (or approximately 1/3 cup)

Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

The only thing that would be better than a tall glass of milk is sandwiching a little bit of ice cream in the middle of two of these and making an ice cream sandwich!

Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies                                     Printable Recipe  

1-1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1-1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups mini semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Mug

Most people crave a little something sweet now and then.  The bad part about making your own goodies is that the recipe makes either a whole cake or 2 dozen cookies.  This little treat in a mug will satisfy your sweet tooth, makes a minimal mess, and controls your portion. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Mug                                                              Printable Recipe

1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
pinch salt
1 egg yolk
3 Tablespoons flour (Jovial einkorn flour can be substituted)
1 Tablespoon mini chocolate chips

In your mug, melt butter (takes about 25 seconds if cold, check often so it doesn't boil.) Add sugars, vanilla, and salt.

Chocolate Star Cookies

Chocolate and peanut butter marry beautifully in this soft cookie.  This is a recipe my mom has used for years and always uses chocolate stars and not kisses.  They are flatter which means they stack nice on plates and gift boxes.  It is also easier to get a bit of chocolate in each bite!! I hope you enjoy one of our family's holiday treasures. 

Chocolate Star Cookies (makes 6 dozen)                                          Printable Recipe

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3-1/2 cups flour
bag of milk chocolate stars

Mix together butter, peanut butter, and sugars until creamy. Then add in eggs and vanilla.

Sugared Chocolate Cookies

There is no need to dunk these cookies in milk.  They are perfectly soft and have just the right amount of sweetness.

Sugared Chocolate Cookies (approx 30-35 cookies)

2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt 
White sugar, for garnish

In a large bowl, add the butter and sugar and cream together with a hand mixer. Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and mix until combined.

In a medium bowl, mix the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, and salt. 

Slowly add the dry ingredients and continue mixing until incorporated.

Roll the dough into 2 logs that are about 2-inches high and 1-foot long. Wrap them in waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Once thoroughly chilled, slice the cookies into 1/2-inch thick rounds.  I used a small piece of paper to guide my cuts to keep my cookies uniform size.

Cover all sides in sugar.

Place on a greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Let set for 2 minutes and then remove to a wire rack to cool. 

This made cookies approximately 3-1/2 inches in diameter.  You could probably make the logs a little smaller and bake the cookies less time if you wanted a smaller cookie.

Washington County Fair Blue Ribbon in Chocolate Brownie Cookie Category

2014

Mexican Wedding Cakes

These cookies are a holiday favorite but could be made any time of the year.  It is a very delicate, light, melt in your mouth cookie. You'll find yourself eating more than one!

Mexican Wedding Cakes (makes 50+)

1-1/2 cups butter, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups flour
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans can be used)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Additional powdered sugar for dipping

Cream butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.

 In separate bowl combine flour, nuts, and salt.

 Stir (or beat on low) into butter mixture. 

 Scoop 1" balls (small cookies scoop heaped a little.)  

Roll smooth and place on ungreased cookie sheets. You can put them fairly close as they do not spread.

 Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes until lightly browned. 

 Roll in powdered sugar while they are still warm.

 Cool on wire racks. (Can be frozen at this stage)

 Roll in powdered sugar again.

Makes great gifts!

Pecan Pie Thumbprint Cookies

 I love my mom's family thumbprint recipe but how to change it up?  The base is great so let's change where the nuts go and the kind of nuts from walnuts to pecans.  A-ha!  One of my favorite pies in a cookie. 

Pecan Pie Thumbprint Cookies                                                               Printable Recipe

2/3 cup butter
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites, beaten

Filling:
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons corn syrup (light or dark)
3 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans 

Beat butter until creamy. Add half of the flour with sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla. Beat until thoroughly combined. Beat in remaining flour. Cover and chill for 1 hour or until easy to handle. 

While you dough chills make your filling.  In a small saucepan, combine powdered sugar, butter and corn syrup. Stir until melted and just boils on the edge. 

Remove from heat and stir in pecans. Set in fridge on a hot pad, cooling for at least 30 minutes.

Time to make the cookies!! Shape into 1 inch balls (slightly overfill small cookie scoop.) 

Roll in egg whites or you could brush it on.

Press center down with your thumb. 

 You can smooth the edges a little with your thumb and finger.

Bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes.  Remove from oven so you can fill centers.

You may need to make your dent again.  If it weren't holding a caramel type filling I wouldn't worry about it but this one can ooze out.

Add a heaping 1/4 teaspoon of your pecan pie filling. Don't add too much or it will bubble over your cookie.  That little guy in the left has too much! They are still edible just not as pretty.

Bake for 5-7 more minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on sheet for 2 minutes.  Remove to rack to cool.

Makes 28-30 cookies.

I came out with extra filling but it's yummy as is. Almost like a caramel pecan candy. Enjoy!

Pin it:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/273593746086323339/