S’more Bars

These S’more Bars are everyone’s favorite dessert. I am asked for the recipe over and over again! Several years ago I combined what I liked of 3 different recipes. After many tries I came up with this recipe. Always a big success!

S’more Bar Recipe

Preheat oven @ 350. Spray a 9×13 pan baking spray.

1/2 + 2 Tbsp of butter(unsalted)
2/3 C sugar
Beat a few minutes until light and fluffy.
Add:
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Combine until well mixed
Add:
18 whole graham crackers(3 C coarsely crushed). Do not use store bought for pies
1/2 C all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
Mix until well mixed
Reserve 1 C of mixture
Add remaining mixture to bottom of pan. Press into pan until completely covered and even.
Add:
1 C milk chocolate chips (Hershey’s or Toll house work well)
31/2 C mini marshmallows
Sprinkle each one on top of crust
Then crumble reserved crust into little bits over chocolate and marhmallows.

Bake for 20 minutes or until only a few light brown marshmallows have occurred.
Cool, cut into squares or bars and Enjoy!

Simple ingredients make wonderful desserts

I have a 2 really yummy tasting desserts to share today. I have been making these desserts for many years for my family. They are family favorites and requested over and over for various occasions or for “just because” moments. They are both easy to make and basic ingredients are used.
1st one:
Fruit Pizza

Start with the crust. A pre-made sugar cookie dough can be used or when I make this for my family I make the following recipe. You can also make either option into cookies and make small individual pizzas.
Cookie Crust
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
8 tbsp I unsalted/softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Whisk together flour,baking powder,and salt in separate bowl. Add egg and vanilla to sugar mixture. Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture. Mix until well blended. Spray a 10″ or 12″ pizza pan with nonstick spray. Press dough into pan making edges a little thicker like a regular pizza. It might be easier to press into pan with lightly floured hands. Bake in a 350 preheated oven for 10 – 12 minutes. Watch closely after 8 minutes. It is done when slightly brown. Let cool.
Pizza sauce/filling
1 3.4 oz box vanilla or French vanilla jello pudding
***other brands or flavor can be used
2 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup Cool Whip
1 1/2 cups milk(I use skim but any type can be used)
Mix together pudding, milk and vanilla. Add powdered sugar and mix well. Gently fold in cool whip.
Fruit: slice any variety of fruits you prefer. I usually use berries, bananas, and kiwi.
Assemble: add pudding to prepared and cooled crust. Arrange fruit on top of pudding.
Best if refrigerated for 3-4 hours or overnight.

Fruit Trifle or individual parfaits
1 prepared white cake mix or cupcakes.(any flavor can be used). I used coconut oil instead of veg. oil but needs to be liquid form-10 seconds in microwave. Completely cool when done baking. Break up cake into pieces.

Slice any variety of clean fruit. I prefer mixed berries( less cutting up)

Mix 1 box 3.4oz of jello vanilla pudding or any brand/ flavor
1 1/2 cup milk( I use skim)
1 tsp vanilla

Strawberry preserves or any flavor you like. Slightly heat to liquefy
To assemble: put a layer of cake cubes into bottom of trifle or deep bowl. Next drizzle strawberry preserves over cake. Next is a layer of pudding and following with a layer of fruit. Repeat layers until almost top of bowl. Add a layer of cool whip. To decorate you can use toasted coconut, chocolate shavings, drizzle chocolate syrup, sprinkles or whatever you like. For parfaits follow same sequence but in a coffee mug or an other deep clear ( to see layers)cup. Refrigerate 3-4 hrs,
I hope you try and enjoy these deserts.
Enjoy your weekends,

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies with Flax Seed

This morning I had a craving for peanut butter. I decided to make some peanut butter cookies. I have a recipe for a gluten free version. i like this recipe because it has lots of peanut butter taste. On a whim I decided to add flax seed. I think it worked really well. The recipe makes approximately 2 dozen cookies. Perfect amount for not being too time consuming but give everyone around here a treat for a day or two.

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
Mix until combined.

Add. 1 tsp baking soda
1 extra large egg
1/4 cup flax seed
Mix until all ingredients are completely mixed in

*** sometimes at this point I add
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Roll dough into medium size balls.

Put balls of dough on a cookie sheet. For easier clean up you can use silpat,
Parchment paper or as I used nonstick foil. Bake 8-10 minutes–center of cookie should be set and lightly brown on cookie edges.
Enjoy!

Whoopie Pies

I made these Whoopie pies for my daughter’s pompon team. They were soft, rich chocolate flavor and complete deliciousness. I copied this recipe out of a magazine a few years ago so I don’t know the originator of the recipe. There are several similar recipes on Pinterest. Also I made my own creamy filling since I didn’t want to use 2 sticks of butter as recipe had said.

Whoopie pies

1 chocolate cake mix (I used devils food)
3 eggs
1/2cup of water
1/2cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
In a large bowl or mixer add cake mix, eggs, water, and veg. oil. Mix until well combined or approx 3 minutes.

On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper( I used nonstick foil). Silpat could be used too. Use 1 tablespoon of batter onto cookie sheet. Use back of spoon to make round circles.
Bake 8 minutes. Don’t over bake!
Completely cool.

For filling
1 stick of softened butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp of vanilla
I beat all ingredients in mixer. I wanted it to be thicker and fluffier than regular icing so I mixed it for several minutes (5 minutes).

When cookies are done and well cooled I put a dollop of icing on 1 cookie and then gently smooshed another cookie on top of it.
Go ahead and try them. They are so worth the effort!