Tag: Desserts

Black Cat Cookies

If a brownie married a sugar cookie, you’d get these wonderful chocolate cookies. I think these are called “Black Cat Cookies” because they started as a recipe from one of those Halloween recipe books many years ago, like the small ones you’d find at the checkout stand. I remember the cats had candy corn eyes and red hot candies for a nose. We’ve made those, but I’ve also used cookie cutters to make bats, witches, cats, and vampires. The dough holds pretty well with the cookie cutters even after baking in the oven–I don’t bother rolling out the dough; I just smash pieces of the dough flat with a cup and then cut them out with the cutter.

If you’re making these gluten free, they turn out pretty well but do tend to crack a little. Just replace the flour with cup for cup gluten free flour and add a few tablespoons extra–and cook it the full amount of time, not the minimum. Here’s how the gluten free ones turn out:

Black Cat Cookies

  • Servings: 24
  • Difficulty: medium
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Rich, chocolatey, and great for Halloween.

Ingredients

  • 1 c. Butter, softened
  • 2 c. Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 3 tsp. Vanilla
  • 3 c. Flour (or gluten free flour with xanthan gum, plus a few tablespoons extra)
  • 1 c. Baking Cocoa
  • ½ tsp. Baking Powder
  • ½ tsp. Baking Soda
  • ½ tsp. Salt

Directions

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Roll dough into 1 ½ inch balls. Place 3 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar. Pinch top of cookie to form ears. For whispers, press a fork twice into each cookie. Alternatively, you can press dough into cookie cutters, then remove and place on the cookie sheet and decorate with sprinkles. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set. (Optional decoration: Immediately after removing from oven, press on candy corn for eyes and Red Hots for noses.) Makes 2 dozen.


 

Apple Crumb Pie

It isn’t Thanksgiving without apple pie. And for those of us who prefer their pie topped with sweet crumbles instead of dry pie crust, this is the winner. We make this every year the night before Thanksgiving, sometimes even making two pies. Just make sure to test your apples so they’re done to your level of preferred softness. This recipe is adapted from the famous Better Homes and Gardens red checked cookbook. That thing is full of lots of great recipes!

Also, of course apples vary in size. So I like to cut apples one at a time and place them in the pie crust before mixing with anything, just so I can make sure it’ll fit. It seems like a waste of apples if you cut them all only to find that they won’t all fit.

I haven’t made this one gluten free yet, but it should be easy enough to switch out gluten free flour (and make sure you use a gluten free pie crust). Or if you don’t want to bother with a gluten free pie crust, you can always opt to make gluten free apple crisp.

Apple Crumb Pie

  • Servings: 8
  • Difficulty: medium
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Sweet and perfect for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

  • 2/3 c. Sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. Flour (or gluten free flour)
  • ¾ tsp. Cinnamon
  • 6 to 8 tart Apples, pared, cored, and sliced (6 cups)
  • 1 9-inch unbaked Pie Crust (or gluten free pie crust)
  • ½ c. Flour (or gluten free flour)
  • ¼ c. Sugar
  • ¼ c. Butter (usually use 6 Tbsp. butter for larger crumbles)

Directions

Combine first three ingredients; stir into apples. Then place in pie crust. Combine remaining flour and sugar; cut in butter till crumbly. Sprinkle the mixture over apples. Bake at 400° for 45-50 minutes or till done. If pie browns too quickly, cover edge with foil.


 

Baked Apples

The perfect accompaniment to any cold-weather dinner, either as a side dish or a dessert.

And this one is naturally gluten free!

Make it a meal with:

Baked Apples

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
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Cook time may vary based on the size of the apple.

Ingredients

  • 4 large baking Apples
  • ¼ c. Brown Sugar
  • 1 tsp. Cinnamon
  • ½ c. chopped Pecans
  • 1 Tbsp. Butter
  • ¾ c. boiling Water

Directions

Preheat to 375°. Core apples and make hole 2” wide. You want a nice big hole so you can fit as much filling as possible. In small bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Place apples in 8×8 pan and stuff with mixture. Cut the butter in quarters and place a piece of butter on top of each apple. Add boiling water to pan, bake 30-40 minutes. Test doneness with a knife. When apples are done, spoon the hot juices over the apples.


Orange Juliuses

It was always exciting when Mom would ask if we wanted to make Orange Juliuses, like those fancy drinks in the mall food court that were too expensive for us. Haha, so I’m not sure if these actually taste like Orange Juliuses, but they’re at least a nice orange treat.

And like most drinks, this one is also naturally gluten free.

Orange Juliuses

  • Servings: 2?
  • Difficulty: easy
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A cold, creamy orange drink that doesn’t require ice cream.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 c. frozen Orange Juice Concentrate
  • 3/4 c. Milk
  • 3/4 c. Water
  • 1/4+ c. Sugar
  • ½ tsp. (at least) Vanilla
  • 20 Ice Cubes or until thick

Directions

Mix in blender until drink is desired thickness and ice is all crushed.