Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookie Ball Jar Mix

For several years now (at least since my husband got me a stand mixer for Christmas), my kids and I have spent time around the holidays making many different kinds of cookies to give to friends, family, and teachers as gifts.  This year, we have decided on a variation of this idea and are giving these beautiful quart ball jars filled with a layered mix for the recipients to make nearly four dozen cookies.  My kids and I have enjoyed the time that we have spent making these gifts, and they have shouted out names that they have assigned to each one as we build them, assembly-line style.  Many of the jars that we have made are going to their teachers, who certainly deserve a treat!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:

• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a 1-qt. glass container, layer flour mixture, brown sugar, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, cranberries, walnuts, oats and remaining chips. Cover and store in a cool dry place up to 6 months. Yield: 1 batch (about 4 cups total).
2. TO PREPARE COOKIES: Preheat oven to 350 degrees In a large bowl, beat butter, egg and vanilla until blended. Add cookie mix and mix well.
3. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.

Feel free to print this tag to use with your cookies!

Difficulty: Easy - my kids helped with most of the prep

Time: Depends on how many jars you are making at a time.  I would estimate less than 10 minutes each.  To make the cookies will take another 20-30 minutes.

Source: www.tasteofhome.com (template for the gift tag is from www.squawkfox.com)

Skinny Chunky Monkey Cookies

I saw these on Facebook a while back when I was trying to detox myself from the holiday sweets.  I had sworn myself to no sweet treats for at least a week, but going cold turkey is tough.  When I saw this ingredient list, I decided that these cookies looked awesome and that I could definitely use them to soothe my cravings.  My kids and I made them together and they loved them.  They happily nicknamed them the "Healthy Cookies" and are thrilled to help make them nearly every time that we have three overripe bananas.  We've made them often enough now that they have earned their own bag in our drawer that we reuse when we make them.  These cookies clearly aren't the same as a sugar-laden oatmeal chocolate cookie, but they are tasty and pretty much guilt-free.  They are great for a snack and before an early morning run, too!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 ripe bananas
• 2 cups quick oats
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup of unsweetened applesauce (a GoGo Squeeze 3.2 oz pouch works perfectly, too, if that is what you have)
• 1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, mash bananas well.  Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
2. Drop by teaspoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  The cookies will more or less keep their shape, so flatten if desired.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Makes about 30.

Difficulty: easy - my kids do most of it

Time: 10 minutes prep, 10-12 minute baking

Source: shared on Facebook; original source unknown (If it is you let us know!)

Abby's Magical Pumpkin Cookies

My son is obsessed with a board book called YUMMY COOKIES: Baking with Kids.  Any guess which children's character decorates the cover?  Andrew pages through until he finds his favorite Sesame Street cast members-Cookie Monster and Big Bird are the ones that get the loudest yells. Now, that he's figured out I can make the pictures in it...I've been busy.

We picked this recipe because I had an open can of packed pumpkin from some experimenting in the kitchen trying to make my own pumpkin pudding.  It's a keeper!  My kids loved helping measure the dry ingredients.  They also helped add the oats and cranberries; each taking turns stirring.  These cookies got high praise from my kids and husband.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 t ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 t ground nutmeg
• 1/4 t baking soda
• 1 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup), softened
• 1 egg
• 1 t vanilla
• 1/2 cup solid-pack pumpkin
• 2 cup old fashioned oats, uncooked
• 1 cup Craisins

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Sift the flour, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and baking soda into medium bowl. 
3. Beat brown sugar and butter in mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (5 minutes)
4. Beat in the egg and vanilla.  Add pumpkin; beat at low speed until well blended.  Add dry mixture; mix until just blended.  Add oats; mix well.
5. Stir in cranberries.  Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.  
6. Bake for 12 minutes.  Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute; transfer to rack to cool completely. 

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 20 minutes prep; 12 minutes baking time
Source:YUMMY COOKIES: Baking with Kids, copyright 2008