Orange Dreamsicle Cookies

       Once upon a time I made Lime Sugar Cookies and I suggested substituting other citruses for the lime. These cookies are just that, but also a couple other changes: instead of lime I used orange, I added white chocolate chips, and I didn't roll them in sugar before baking. Thus Orange Dreamsicle Cookies entered my life. See how fun and easy it is to come up with a completely different dessert/snack?

       For me, what really make these cookies awesome are the white chocolate chips, adding a creamy deliciousness only they can. (Actually, I've decided the only reason I like macadamia nut cookies is because of the white chocolate chips. But that's a whole different story. Speaking of different stories, see that pattern under the cooling rack in the picture? That's my new apron my sister gave to me for my birthday!) The orange comes through nicely, too, creating a refreshing cookie. Betchya never thought you'd hear those two words together. If you really wanted to, I suppose you could add orange food coloring for added "orange" effect, but I like them the way they are. 

Orange Dreamsicle Cookies
Adapted from My Baking Addiction

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup orange juice (one orange)
• Zest of one orange (you can use less if you want, but I like it better with most of the zest)
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

Directions
--Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

--Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and the salt in a bowl and set aside for later.

--In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat until it's really fluffy.

--Add the egg, vanilla, orange juice, and orange zest. Mix until thoroughly combined.

--Stir in the flour mixture a little bit at a time. Combine thoroughly. Mix in the white chocolate chips.

--Roll cookie dough into 1-in balls and place them on the parchment-lined cookie sheets, about 1 1/2 - 2 inches apart.

--Bake for 8-10 minutes.

--Let cool on the cookie sheet for a couple minutes before moving them to a wire rack.

--Enjoy!



Happy Baking!
--H

Banana Cream Pie Rice Krispie Treats

       What can be more simple than Rice Krispie Bars? Melt butter and marshmallows, mix in rice krispies, put in pan, done. Plus, they're delicious. At least I think so. But one day I got to thinkin' that these bars could basically act like monster cookies or kitchen sink cookies in the sense that you can add whatever you like to 'em and voila! A delicious new bar. Well, I got to lookin' at what things I had lying around in the kitchen cupboards and I found some banana cream pie pudding mix, and I thought "hey what a great idea!". So I also found some extra mini marshmallows and I just so happened to have a box of graham crackers and ta-da! I've invented a new bar! Now I'm not so naive to think I'm the only one who has ever come up with these, but I don't care because they make my pride swell and mouth water. 

       These bars taste just like banana cream pie in a convenient "to-go" form. They're chewier than normal Rice Krispie Bars and that's because of the extra marshmallows as well as the added pudding mix. And heck, if you're a fan of key lime pie I'm sure you could even substitute key lime pie pudding mix and have a whole new bar again! I'm partial to the banana, though. ;)

Banana Cream Pie Rice Krispie Treats
recipe by me

Ingredients
3 (1/2) cups rice krispies
1/4 cup butter
1 10oz bag large marshmallows
1/2 of 10oz bag mini marshmallows (about 2 cups)
2 cups large graham cracker chunks
1 3.4oz box banana cream pie pudding mix


Directions
--In a large saucepan (I use a wide, 6 inch deep pot) over low heat melt together the butter and large bag of marshmallows. When the marshmallows are almost completely melted, sprinkle over the banana cream pie pudding mix. Stir thoroughly until completely mixed in and the marshmallows are melted.

--Remove from heat.

--Combine the rice krispies and graham cracker chunks with the marshmallow. Add the mini marshmallows last so they don't melt so bad.

--Spread it all into a 9x9 pan and let the bars completely cool before cutting in to them.




Happy Baking!
--H