Gingerbread Cookies

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Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread CookiesFun and Spicy Delicious! This recipe goes way back. During our family’s lean years we decorated our tree with Gingerbread Men, popcorn garland and candy canes. The children loved adding character to these guys but would grow weary after the first two or three … This recipe makes two dozen 4-inch cookies. Dad would get into the decorating too but had to be watched just like the children or we’d come up short. You might imagine the house smelled wonderful!

We haven’t always used icing alone to decorate Gingerbread Men & Women. On occasion we’d use raisins, red hots, and little decorative candies. Helpful Hint: Choose your decorating icing carefully. Make your own thick butter cream if you have the time and decorating tools. It’s just easier to handle. Many pre-made decorating gels and icings have corn syrup and this makes them sticky and stringy. You may need to test different brands to find the one that works for you.

This recipe makes a great sandwich cookie with buttercream filling too. Enjoy!

Decorated Cookie Cakes

You might also like to try these Decorated Cookie Cakes 

 

 

 

 

 

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Simple Desserts To Make

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Simple Desserts To Make

Family Favorite Baking

Simple Baked Desserts

Time intensive? There are only two recipes here that can’t be whipped up in minutes. Nothing like a fresh dessert in minutes. You might be able to tell just by looking which two require a bit more time … soo worth it.

I’m reintroducing family favorite recipes to have on hand during this busy season. So Delicious! Bottom Left: Best Coffee Cake, one of my popular recipes, can’t be beat for ease of preparation, satisfying texture and delicious flavor. Bottom Center: Don’t let the apple shape throw you. Use a baking dish if you’d like instead of this apple mold for this Apple Dessert or Apple Coffee Cake. Bottom Right: One bowl mix for this rich and moist Banana Spice Cake. Center Left: Caramel glaze makes this Banana Nut Cake amazing. Center Right: Pecan Pie Tartlets with a butterscotch surprise. Top Left: Provide a little more time for this Kolacky, a delicious pastry recipe. Top Center: Simple with ingredients and preparation, Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies. Top Right: A very popular cookie recipe, chewy and moist Coconut Cookies.

All are very delicious! Give them a try!

Rustic Yeast Cornbread Portuguese Style

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Rustic Yeast Cornbread Portuguese Style

The Perfect Accompaniment For Fall Soups

Rustic Yeast Cornbread Portuguese StylePerfect bread for soup! This deliciously dense flavorful bread has just the texture I love for a soup accompaniment. You can adjust the recipe to provide more or less cornmeal crunch. It’s up to you. So versatile. I love spooning beans or soup right over a slice. But I love it with butter too. If you want the true rustic crust spray the top of the loaf lightly with water just before baking … and the sides of the oven too every 15 minutes during baking. My recipe will truly become your own.

The prep time is minimal and the 2 rises are fast. Bakes in approximately 45-50 minutes. Allow 2-2 1/2 hours for the complete process. It’s worth it!

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Coffee Rich Devil’s Food Cake

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Coffee Rich Devil’s Food Cake

Made With Your Favorite Coffee

Coffee Rich Devil's Food Cake

It’s probably no surprise this is the busiest time of year for candy, and over 70% purchased will be chocolate. And when you add America’s favorite drink to the mix how can you go wrong. Chocolate and coffee are not only loved they are the classic combination! So why not add brewed coffee in place of water called for in this classic Devil’s Food Cake recipe. Sounds good to me! And add coffee to the buttercream frosting too. WOW! Coffee Rich Devil’s Food Cake, a delicious dessert. You just can’t go wrong! Use your favorite brewed coffee for that hint of favorite flavor. Have fun with it!

Try this Devil’s Food Recipe too.

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Coconut Pecan Topped Pumpkin Bread

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Pumpkin Bread

With Coconut Pecan Topping

 

This is the best Pumpkin Bread! Topped with a deliciously rich Coconut Pecan Frosting. Slather the bread with this topping or go it alone. I’m telling you … You won’t be disappointed! I’m just on this pumpkin thing … trying to bring about Fall for some cooler weather.

Both of these recipes, bread and frosting, I’ve had for years for good reason.

Enjoy!

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

Pumpkin Cheesecake PieOne of my ideas with pumpkin … combine my Pumpkin Pie recipe with my Cheesecake Bars. Pretty easy. And in fact, bars could be made instead of a pie with the very same recipe. I had these leftover gingersnap cookies and used for the crust … Just seemed perfect for this dessert. I’d like to claim originality of this threesome but if you like me do a search … this is a very popular combination. I do admit I keep it simple though … no prebaking the crust and all can be mixed by hand. It’s a quick mix.

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All Things Pumpkin

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Pumpkin & Spice

All Things PumpkinA favorite time of year, The Fall. The weather begins to cool, a must in this part of the country, a new school year begins, the aroma of pumpkin spices fill my kitchen. Here are a few of my favorite pumpkin and spice recipes. I’m adding many more this year. On the search for all things pumpkin.

Until then….

 

Pumpkin Parmesan Cream Soup
Pumpkin Cookies
No Bake Pumpkin Pie with Italian Meringue
Spicy Pumpkin Cupcakes
Pumpkin Spice Cake
Pumpkin Parmesan Cream Pasta Sauce
Pumpkin Pie

All Things Pumpkin

And this beautiful Pumpkin Torte.

 

 

 

Sweet or Savory Tea Ring

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Simple Tea Ring

Make It Sweet or Savory

Sweet or Savory Tea RingThis family favorite can be made just about anytime. The second rising can be delayed by refrigerating over-night (up to 24 hours) for an early morning breakfast addition or a dinner time pleaser. Cinnamon Pecan this time! But another favorite is Turkey Cranberry. Change up this simple recipe to please everyone. This recipe is one you’ll want to add to your favorites. It fills the kitchen with a lovely aroma. And gives the feel of Fall. I bet an apple filling would delight too.

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Olallieberry Bars

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Two Cookies in One Recipe

Olallieberry Bars or Shortbread-style Cookies

Olallieberry BarJust back from Cambria some days ago. If you’ve visited this quaint town on the western central coastline you’ve likely become familiar with the olallieberry. This sweet tart juicy berry is popular in Cambria … made into pies, jellies & jams, syrups and even candies. You might even find olallieberry port.

Olallieberries have been around for awhile … Some 60+ years. They are a cross between a loganberry and a variety of blackberry from another cross. If you taste a bit of tart raspberry in an olallieberry don’t be surprised. It’s genetically about 1/3 raspberry. For this recipe I used Linn’s Olallieberry Preserves, delicious on its own. I noticed the Linn’s jams and preserves are a bit more tart than I remember. This is their fruit forward movement … so I was informed. I’m assuming this to mean less sugar but there may be other changes. Whatever! It’s about the best I’ve ever tasted!

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Whole Wheat and Honey Banana Bread

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Whole Wheat & Honey Banana Bread

And Oatmeal Too!

Whole Wheat and Honey Banana BreadPacked? Yes! Heavy? No! A whole wheat take on Banana Bread. (See my earlier recipe, Hint of Orange Banana Nut Bread, a different approach but equally delicious.) Many old healthy recipes are beginning to fall away with the new thoughts about gluten. I’m still hanging onto this one until a little more data is in. This bread is a great breakfast bread. I just don’t get hungry right after eating. Or experience that crash! No extensive ingredient list and most ingredients are already in your pantry. Yes, this will remain in my recipe box. Hope you enjoy it too!

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