Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Cranberry Orange Dark Chocolate Cookies

A unique flavor combination of orange, dried cranberries, and dark chocolate creates a complex burst of flavor. Try these ...
Cranberry Orange Dark Chocolate Cookies
1 1/4 Cups Whole wheat flour
3/4 Cup White flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup white sugar
1 large egg
zest of one orange (about 2-3 tsp)
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350F and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar, beating with an electric mixer until light.
Beat in egg and orange zest.
With the mixer on low speed, gradually add in the flour mixture, stirring only until just combined.
Stir in the cranberries and chocolate chips.Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls (about 1 1/4-inch balls) onto prepared cookie sheets and bake for 9-12 minutes, until edges are very lightly browned.
Cool for 3-4 minutes on baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Makes about 4 dozen.


White Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies

These sugar cookies have half the fat as usual sugar cookies and have a crisp outside, yet chewy center.
Chewy Sugar Cookies
2 3/4 White Whole Flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups butter
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup white sugar for decoration

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until just blended.
Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets and flatten slightly.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned at the edges. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Whole Wheat Rocky Road Brownies!!



For those of you that like Rocky Road Ice cream, I think you might like these awesomely rich rocky road brownies made out of whole wheat. No one can even tell they are made out of whole wheat because they are so lush with chocolate.
"Rocky Recchiuti Brownies" - adapted from the cookbook Chocolate Obsession by Michael Recchiuti
Flavorless vegetable oil for the pan
5 1/2 ounces unsweeted chocolate, coarsely chopped
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs - room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 Cups sugar
1/3 Cup walnut halves, chopped
6 marshmallows, cut into quarters
Preheat the oven to 325 F. Line the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and liberally coat the paper and the pan sides with flavorless vegetable oil.
Put 3 oz. of the chocolate and the butter in a medium stainless-steel bowl and set over a pot of simmering water. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and butter melt and are fully combined and the mixture is smooth. Lift the bowl from the pot. Set aside.
Sift the flour and salt together into a bowl. In another bowl, combine the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk together by hand until blended. Whisk in the sugar.
Whisk the egg mixture into the chocolate. Add the flour and the remaining 2 1/2 oz. chocolate to the batter and, using a rubber spatula, mix well. Then mix in the walnuts.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Spread it evenly with a small offset spatula. Scatter the marshmallow pieces evenly over the surface and push them halfway into the batter. The tops should remain uncovered.
Bake on the middle shelf of the oven until the marshmallows are browned and a skewer inserted into the center of the brownie sheet comes out with some batter clinging to it, about 45 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.
Run a table knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the sides of the brownie, and then slide the brownie, still on the paper, onto a work surface. Using a ruler to guide you and a sharp knife, cut into 16 2-inch squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.






Sunday, October 5, 2008

Chewy Whole Wheat Oatmeal Raisin Cookies




These cookies are great. They are adapted from other oatmeal cookie recipes, has half the butter and whole wheat instead of white flour. To replace the moisture of the missing butter, water is used, and you can't even tell the difference in these cookies. Also white chocolate chips are added and give a tasty twist on traditional oatmeal raisin cookies.


Chewy Whole Wheat Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
1/2 Cup Butter(1 Cube)
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Sugar
3 Tbs. Water

1 Egg
1 t. Vanilla

1 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg

3 Cups Oats (instant or non)
1 1/2 Cups Raisins
1 Cup White Chocolate Chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In large bowl, beat butter, sugars, and water.
3. Add in egg and vanilla and continue to beat.
4. In a medium bowl, mix together the flou, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
5. Add the dry mixture to the large bowl mixture and blend well.
6. Add in the oats and raisins and blend until uniformly mixed.
7. Drop by rounded tablespoon on to cookie sheet and press down each mound so they are not upright balls but somewhat flattened(because there is less butter).
8. Bake for 8-11 minutes.












Thursday, October 2, 2008

Yummy Whole Wheat Carrot CupCakes

I grew up with this carrot cake recipe that my mother would always make. But she would always use whole wheat instead of white flour to make her not feel as guilty eating such a rich dessert. It is better tasting than any other carrot cake I have eaten, and so I decided to post this first and turn the cake into cupcakes with marzipan carrots on top. Enjoy the recipe:


Yummy Whole Wheat Carrot CupCakes


2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour (Or you could do half white/half whole wheat)
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Cinnamon
2 Cups Sugar

1 Cup Oil (Vegetable or whatever you prefer)
4 Eggs

2 Cups Grated Carrots (About 6 carrots)
8 1/2 oz. Can crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 Cup butter
8 oz. package of Cream Cheese (Or 1/3 less fat cream cheese)
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 lb. Powdered Sugar



Use Marzipan and food coloring to create cute carrots to put on top of the cupcake.


Yum!