Chocolate Orange Cookies

These cookies are so yummy and a great way to start introducing  some summer flavors into your baking.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons orange zest (for me that was the zest of 2 oranges)
2 cups chocolate chips

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  

2.In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

3.In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. 

4.Gradually add flour mixture until combined. Stir in orange zest and white chocolate chips.

5.Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Do not flatten cookies; it will make them dry. 

6.Bake 8 - 10 minutes or until golden brown around edges. Do not overcook! Cookies will be plump. Cool for several minutes on cookie sheets before transferring to rack to cool completely. Store in airtight container.

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Cinnamon Roll Bread

This loaf is fantastic! My sister had a really early morning baseball game this weekend, so I made this and brought it and everyone LOVED it! Everyone said it was amazingly moist and the flavor was out of this world!( It paired great with the huge cups of coffee we were all drinking). So of course I had to share it with you guys. I hope you enjoy:).  

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
 1/2 teaspoon salt 
1/2 cup granulated sugar
 1 egg – room temperature, lightly beaten
 1 cup milk – I used 1% 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 1/3 cup sour cream 
1/3 cup granulated sugar 
2 teaspoons cinnamon
 2 tablespoons water



Directions

1. Pre-heat our oven to 350 degrees and prepare a bread pan by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray or lightly greasing it with butter.

2. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. 

3. In a small bowl combine egg, milk, vanilla extract and yogurt or sour cream. Add the dry ingredients into the wet and stir to combine. You can use a large wooden spoon for this if you wish, no mixer is required.

4. In a small bowl combine swirl ingredients together – 1/3 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 2 tablespoons water. Use a tablespoon to drop spoonfuls of this mixture over the bread, then use a knife to make swirl designs to incorporate the cinnamon mixture into the bread. 

5.Bake for 45-50 minutes or until you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean. Remove the bread from the oven and transfer it to a cooling rack to cool for 15 minutes.Remove the bread from the pan and allow it to continue cooling completely. 


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Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Muffins

These muffins are SO yummy and with no butter or oil, it feels oh so good to indulge in one or a few in my case :). My family has been having these muffins for breakfast everyday this week and they are loving them. The muffins pair perfectly with a smoothie for a breakfast that will really help you jump start your day.

Yield: 18 muffins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons apple sauce
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed banana ( about 3 bananas)
6 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 cup buttermilk


Directions

1.Preheat the oven to 350F. Line 18 muffin cups with liners.

2.In a medium bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir together with a fork to blend.

3.In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the applesauce, brown sugar, eggs, banana, peanut butter and buttermilk until smooth. 

4.Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients and mix just until incorporated and fully blended.

5.Divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.



Share and enjoy :)