Cookie Butter Treats

Have you ever been to Trader Joe’s?  If yes, then you know all about cookie butter. If not, you may be asking what is cookie butter?  It is spreadable Speculoos cookies.  Speculoos cookies are a classic Belgian cookie that are crunchy and have a hint of gingerbread with a caramelized finish.

Cookie butter is a versatile food item.  You can spread it on toast or waffles for a yummy breakfast.  Use it as an ice cream topping or dip pretzels in it for a salty sweet snack.  You can also bake with it, as I did.  I made cookie butter squares and cookie butter cookies with toffee bits.

Cookie butter oatmeal squares

Cookie butter cookies with toffee.  

These treats were gone in no time! =)

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Easter Baking Insanity

Baking inspiration for me comes in waves sparked by different things.  Sometimes,  it’s out of necessity i.e.: a specific baking request from someone for an event.  Sometimes,  it’s because I have seen something on tv or in a book and want to try it.  Sometimes, I bake something as a present for people in my life that I care about.  Sometimes,  it’s because I crave something and I would rather make it than buy it.  And sometimes, it’ just because I have stuff in my kitchen I want to use up.

Easter weekend was a combination for baking for those I care about and wanting to use up ingredients in my kitchen.  I decided to put together some Easter gift bags for the my little nieces and nephews and their parents (my friends) got some treats too.

Not sure what made me think I would eat 3 pints of strawberries.  Clearly I was enticed by the juicy redness and sweet smell they emitted.   They became more ripe by the day and I realized the time to use them up was now or they would be banished to the composter.   The result was strawberry muffins. Perfect for breakfast or a quick afternoon pick up.

How beautifully red are these berries?!

 

 

All ready for the oven

Just took them out. Smells like berries and sugar.

Being Easter, of course I had bags of Easter candy lying around.  Cadbury Mini Eggs are always a favourite.   Having already devoured bags of other sweets, I had to use these up somehow and get rid of them or risk going into a sugar overdose.  Why not make cookies with them!  A different spin on the traditional chocolate chip cookie.

All mixed up.  Adding the mini eggs last and letting the mixer do its thing.  Some stay whole, others get crushed.  But it’s all chocolatey goodness. 

So hard to leave these alone to let them cool.  

So worth the wait. 

I used to be a notorious breakfast skipper.  Nothing but a coffee until noon.  Those days are gone and even if I don’t feel like it, I force myself to have something more substantial than just caffeine.  Lately, I’ve become obsessed with overnight oats (post to come).  So, of course, this meant tons of oatmeal on hand.  But oatmeal isn’t just for breakfast.  It’s also for cookies!

Classic oatmeal chocolate chips waiting to go into the oven.

I love how they spread out and their crispy edges, soft middles. Look at all the mini choco chips!

I kept this one for me.  Doesn’t it look like a heart? Kinda?  #seeitineverything

The Easter gift bags were a success and the little cookie monsters seemed excited about their treats and that made me smile.

=)

 

Cookies Class – Shortbread

I am back to class – Cookies Class!

It felt nice to put the chef’s uniform back on.  This first class was about shortbread.

A simple recipe made up of butter, sugar, bread flour and rice flour.

The dough is rolled out and then scored.

It is then baked until golden.

Last step is to cut the cookies and then you have shortbread =)