what's for your sweet tooth {flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies}.

i've been on a cookie kick lately.

i never had much of a sweet tooth until i got pregnant with bella.  that girl must've been sugar in my womb because ever since she left it, i crave sweets.

i saw this recipe on a blog the other day and i knew immediately i had to try it.  we had all the ingredients in our cupboard, and it was a rainy outside.  our day pretty much begged for some cookie baking.  this recipe is super easy and bella loved helping (and eating chocolate chips as we baked).

there is no butter, white sugar or flour in these babies, so even though it was ten o'clock in the morning when we pulled the trays of freshly baked cookies out of the oven, i felt completely justified in giving one to each of my girls.

yum.

enjoy!

flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

* 2/3 c. quick oats
* 1 t. baking soda
* 1 c. creamy peanut butter
* 2/3 c. brown sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1 1/2 t. vanilla
* 2/3 c. chocolate chips

- combine oats and baking soda, set aside.
- in a large bowl, combine peanut butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth; about three minutes.
- mix in dry ingredients.  gradually fold in chocolate chips.
- scoop cookie dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  gently flatten with the back of a spoon.
- bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes, just until the edges begin to turn golden brown.  cookies may seem a bit underdone, but they will continue to cook as they cool.  makes 16-20 cookies.

* note: these are best fresh outta the oven.  i'm a stickler about eating warm cookies; i love to pop our leftover cookies the next day in the microwave for a few seconds before i eat them.  these are best warmed in a toaster oven--or real oven--to get that golden brown goodness back.  yum.
(that's if you have any leftover)

what's for your sweet tooth {red velvet whoopie pies}.

i am such a sucker for holidays.  valentine's day is no exception.  i totally get that people dislike it for the commercialism and aisles upon aisles of pink and red that flood stores on december 26th, but still.  i love it.  each year, i try to do something special for our family.  little craft projects and baking goodies.  candlelit family dinners and special deliveries.

this year, i came across this recipe on pinterest and i knew i had found my valentine's day goodie.  whoopie pies are a huge thing in maine.  huge.  if you aren't familiar with them, the traditional version is two round chocolate cake flats sandwiched with thick, white creamy frosting.  super yummy.  there have been several variations of these treats, but you will find them in gift stores, bakeries, cafes and even gas stations all across our state.

delish.

i also {heart} red velvet cake.  who doesn't?  after living in texas for seven years, this southern delight has totally made it's way into my dessert favs.  so, this recipe is the perfect marriage of my maine heritage and nick's texan one baked into a delicious valentine's day treat.

here is the recipe, taken from the fabulous site, annie's eats.

red velvet whoopie pies

* 2 c. all purpose flour
* 2 T. cocoa powder
* 1/2 t. baking powder
* 1/4 t. salt
* 8 T. butter, softened
* 1 c. light brown sugar, packed
* 1 egg
* 1 t. vanilla
* 1/2 c. buttermilk at room temperature
* a few drops of red food coloring

- whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
- in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream together butter and brown sugar on medium speed until fluffy; about two minutes.
- beat in egg until incorporated.  then add vanilla.
- with mixer on low speed, add 1/3 of the dry mixture, followed by half of the buttermilk, beating just until incorporated.  repeat so that all of the buttermilk has been added and then mix the final third of the dry ingredients.  do not overmix!
- add red food coloring until desired shade.
- transfer batter to pastry bag (or a plastic bag and cut the corner for a tip).  pipe heart shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- bake 7-9 minutes, or until cookies are set.  allow to completely cool.

frosting:
* 8 oz. cream cheese
* 5 T. butter, softened
* 2 t. vanilla
* 2 1/2 c. powdered sugar

- cream together cream cheese and butter.  add vanilla.
- add powdered sugar and combine until creamy.
- either pipe or spread frosting with a knife and sandwich heart cookies together.  makes approximately 12 whoopie pies, depending on how big you make your cookies

so delish.  definitely an indulgent treat, but it's valentine's day right?

note: the original recipe instructs you to trace a heart template with a pencil onto parchment paper.  flip paper over and use the traced heart as a guide to pipe your batter.  but, really...who has time for that?  i just winged it.  which is probably why i gave up on hearts halfway through and resorted to just doing plain ole rounds.  either way, equally cute, equally delicious.

enjoy!

what's for your sweet tooth {tollhouse pie}.

when you have a serving of this pie, it's pretty much a slice of heaven. yes, that's right. heaven. this was my *favorite* dessert my mom made when i was growing up, and now i love to make it for our family and for guests and friends. it's super duper easy and tastes like an ooey, gooey, warm chocolate chip cookie in a pie crust. ummm... yum.

many people serve tollhouse pie with walnuts mixed in, but i'm just not a fan. i feel like it takes away from the ooey-gooeyness. so, no walnuts for me. but if you'd like, feel free to mix them in to your batter!

and here's the recipe.

tollhouse pie

* 2 eggs

* 1/2 c. flour

* 1/2 c. white sugar

* 1/2 c. brown sugar, packed

* 1/2 t. vanilla extract

* 1 c. butter, melted&cooled

* 1 c. chocolate chips

* 1 unbaked pie crust

- preheat oven to 325 degrees.

- melt butter and set aside to cool. once cooled, add all ingredients but chocolate chips and whisk well. stir in chocolate chips.

- pour mixture into unbaked pie crust (find my recipe here). bake at 325 for one hour, or until middle is set.

serve *warm* with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. i told you. heaven.