Best Soft Cookies

There are so many cookies recipe out there. I found this soft cookie recipe somewhere on Pinterest and tried, it is the best I think...easy,simple, less time to make, and yummy!

You will need...

• 1 block(8 Tbsp) butter, unsalted
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Make it...

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
2. Place butter in a large bowl, microwave 30 seconds. Remove from microwave, add white sugar and brown sugar, mix well. Then add egg, vanilla extract and salt, mix and blend well.
3. Add flour and baking soda. Mix well to a soft dough. Mix in chocolate chips.
4. Divide dough into 12-18 piece and make into golf ball size balls. Place on a large cookie sheet.
5. Bake at 350 F degrees for 15 minutes. Cool and ready to eat!

Tips...

- you can add nuts, raisins, dry cranberries, etc. into the cookies dough.

- if too buttery for you, you may add 1/2 cup more flour. Cookies turn out less flat and more doughier taste, still taste great though :)

Toffee Bars

I found this Toffee bars recipe on Pinterest and tied. Turn out really good! It is very simple and easy to make.
All you need...

• 1 cup brown suger
• 1 bag milk chocolate chips ( I tried with half milk chocolate and half bad of white chocolate chips, turned our less sweet and I liked it)
• 90 rectangular crackers
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 can condensed milk
• 1/4 cup milk

Follow the directions on Pinterest and you will make a great tasting snacks.

Blueberry Bread Pudding 蓝莓布丁

Adopted from Pinterest

I found this yummy bread pudding receipt from Pinterest.com and it is very easy to make. I made few changes from the original receipt since I like it little lighter taste.

You will need...
For Pudding:

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 package white chocolate baking chips (10 to 12 oz.)
• 4 large eggs
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 loaf French Bread (1 lb.), cut into small cubes
• 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• For sauce:
• 1 package white chocolate baking chips
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

How to make it...

• In a large mixing bowl, combine milk and 1 pkg white chocolate chips, warm in microwave for 1-2 minutes, stir until baking chips are melted. Add sugar and Chill. Add whipping cream, vanilla extract, and eggs, stir and mix well. Stir in break cubes, let stand for 15 minutes or until bread is softened.
• Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Stir in blueberries. Transfer all mixture to a greased 13x9 inches baking pan.
• Bake, uncovered, 50 minutes until golden brown, or a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

For Sauce:

• Place baking chips in a small bowl.
• Heat whipping cream just to a boil (or microwave 1-2 minutes). Pour over baking chips, whisk until smooth.
• Serve over bread pudding. Taste better when it is hot or warm.

Mochi 雪媚娘

Adopted pictures from here

Mochi wrapper

• 3/4 cup mochi flour
• 1/4 cup corn starch
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tbsp cooking oil or melted butter

Put together...

1. Mix all above ingredients until well blend. Steam for 15-20 minutes till solid dough. Cool in refrigerator about 30 minutes. 
2. Scoop a table spoon size dough, flatten with a rolling pin or hand. 
3. Fill the middle with Red Bean paste or lotus seed paste ( can be purchased at Asian Grocery stores). 
4. Pinch the edge together to close the bottom. 

Keep cool in the refrigerator or eat at room temperature.

Puto

Puto is Filipino steamed rice cake. It is easy to find Puto mix in a box in the Asian grocery stores, contains 2 packs (200g. each). You can follow the directions on the box to make bite size puto. I recently bought a stream-bun-maker 馒头机 and have so much fun to make all kinds of steamed buns, cakes, and other Asian dessert. I use this machine made this big puto...so big and so cute, fluffy and so easy to make.

You will need...

• 1 box of White King Classic Puto Mix
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar (use 1/2 cup sugar if like less sweet)
• 1/2 cup cooking oil

Easy to make...

1. Combine all ingredients together and mix until smooth.
2. Pour into the steam-bun-maker. Set the function on "Western Cake" and just wait for the beep...about 56 minutes...and come out like this big cute puto!

Steamed Cake with Steamed Bun Maker 九阳馒头机蒸蛋糕

In China, people eat steamed bread, called 馒头 everyday, but take time to make them. I recently bought a 馒头机 steamed bun maker and have so much fun making all kinds of bread. Using 九阳馒头机 make steamed cake is so easy and tasty. Recipe is very simple and you may already have them at home.

You will need...

• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup cake flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup cooking oil
• 1 tsp. baking powder

Easy to make...

1. Mix eggs and sugar with an electric mixer, beat until mixture turn white/pale paste, thicken and see bubbles. That will help cake to have fluffy texture. 
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, mix again until well blend and smooth.
3. Pour into the steamed bun maker. Follow the instruction for making "Western cake". It will be done in 56 minutes.

Best Cobbler

I adopted this easy cobbler recipe from www.rachelschultz.com and claimed as the "best". I try it and turn out very satisfy. I use the biscuit cutter to cut into round pieces to serve and look very cute.

Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 canned peaches (I use sliced mango instead in the picture)
• 8 oz.cream cheese, at room temp.
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• optional: vanilla ice cream

Easy to make:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. 
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, butter and 1 egg. Mix with a fork until crumbly. Separate 1/2 cup of crumble for topping. Press remaining crumble into a base of 9x13 glass baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. 
3. Meanwhile, slice fruit into small 1-inch pieces.
4. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar together with an electric mixer, then add egg and vanilla, continue to beat until creamy.
5. Layer the fruit on the top of lightly baked crust. Spread cream cheese mixture on the top of the fruit. Top with reserved crumbles.
6. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for additional 30 minutes. Serve with ice cream and yummy...

 
Tips:
You may use any fruits, such peaches, mango, pear, apple, mix berries, etc. canned or fresh, as long as cut them into small bite sizes.

3-ingredients Roulade with Cream Cheese Filling

This roll cake is made from 3-ingredients cake with 3-ingredients cream cheese filling...no eggs...easy to make. It can be used ice cream or gelato. Gelato is Italian style ice cream and will give the cake a velvety texture. You may use any of your favorite ice creams or fillings to make this roll cake. 

For the cake:

• 1 pint (1 1/2 cup) chocolate ice cream
• 1 cup cake flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. Baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a parchment paper on a jelly roll baking pan or cookie sheet. Lightly spray with no-stick cooking oil.

Leave the ice cream at room temperature until melt. Add cake flour and baking powder. Whisk until well blend and no lumps. Pour the batter on the baking pan and spread with a spatula. Bake for 12-15 minutes until a toothpick come out clean. 

Roll the cake sheet while it is warm. Set aside or in the refrigerator until cool. Then, open the cake roll, spread cream cheese filling over and roll it back to a roll. Leave in the refrigerator for about an hour before cut into slices.

 For cream cheese filling:

• 1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar (more or less to fit your sweet tooth)
• 1/2 stick (4 tbsp.) butter, at room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

Mix all ingredients with an electric mixer until well blend and creamy. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use. If you like to have less filling, you may use half of this recipe for one roll cake only.

Fudge Brownies

These brownies are made from cake flour and cake flour. Always taste better after overnight.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted and cool
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup flour 
• 1 cup cake flour
• 1/2 coco powder
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Make it...

1. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add vanilla and eggs. Mix until well blend. Add the rest of the ingredients. Continue to mix until well blend to creamy batter.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray a bottom of 9x13 baking pan. If you like it with walnuts, place a layer of half walnuts on the bottom of the baking pan. Pour the batter over and flatten with a spatula.
3. Bake for 30-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool before cut into squares.

For nuts lovers: you may fold in some chopped nuts in the batter before baking.

Caramel Popcorn Cookies

Another easy and simple cookie recipe. If you like it sweet, you may add more sugar to it. But I like it less sweet with a little salty...so that I can eat more :)

Simple ingredients: (makes 24 cookies)

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup caramel popcorn, roughly chopped

Easy to make:

1. Cream the butter and sugar together with a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer. Add vanilla extract and egg, blend well until creamy. Fold in chopped popcorn.
2. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until just blend.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line parchment paper on cookie sheets. Scoop about 1 Tbsp. cookie dough and drop on the cookie sheet(s) with 1-inch apart. Sprinkle some salt on the top of the cookie balls.
4. Bake for 12 minutes or turn lightly brown. Remove from oven and chill on cooling rack.

Easy Baklava (reduced sugar)

Store brought baklava always very sweet. I enjoy the nutty texture, but not too sweet...less sugar, better for your health, too. I used 5 phyllo sheets for each layer. If you like more crunchy of phyllo, you may double the layers of phyllo sheets.

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 1 cup almonds
• 1 cup raw or roasted walnuts
• 1 cup raw or roasted pistachio
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 package of phyllo sheets, thawed (2 packages in one box)

For the syrup:

• 1/2 cups honey
• 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

Make it...

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place the almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and sugar  into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, but not pasty or powdery, approximately 15 quick pulses. Set aside.
3. Trim the sheets of phyllo to fit the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch metal pan. Brush the bottom and sides of the pan with butter; lay down a sheet of phyllo and brush with butter. Repeat this step 4 more times for a total of 5 sheets of phyllo. Top with 1/3 of the nut mixture and spread thinly. Layer 5 more sheets of phyllo with butter in between each of them. Repeat with another 5 sheets of phyllo, butter, and remaining nuts. Top with 5-8 sheets of phyllo brushing with butter in between each sheet. Brush the top generously with butter. 
4. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cut into 28 squares. Return pan to the oven and continue to bake for another 20 minutes or until golden brown. 
5. Remove pan from the oven, pour the cooled syrup evenly over the top of the baklava, allowing it to run into the cuts and around the edges of the pan.

Make the syrup while the baklava is baking in the oven. Combine the honey, water, sugar, and cinnamon in a 4-quart saucepan and set over high heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Once boiling, boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Allow the pan to sit, uncovered until completely cool. Cover and store at room temperature for at least 8 hours and up to overnight before serving. Store, covered, at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Optional: dust some powdered sugar for decoration before serving.

Easy Almond Cookies

There are many Almond Cookie recipes. But this is the EASIEST and healthier recipe that I comp up with. Almond is one of the supper food and I like to eat everyday. This is a fun and tasty way to eat more Almonds.

Simple ingredients: (makes 16 cookies)

• 1 block (1/2 cup) butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 egg white, at room temperature
• 1 cup cake flour
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder (optional)
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda (optional)
• 1 cup sliced Almond
• 1 cup dry cranberries

Easy to make:

1. Cream butter and sugar with a stand mixer or an electric mixer until well blend. Add vanilla and egg white. Blend well. Add flour, cake flour, baking powder and baking soda, mix until just blend. Fold in Almond and cranberries. Leave in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line parchment paper on cookie sheet(s). Drop about 1 Tbsp. size cookie balls on the cookie sheet(s), 1-inch apart. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool in the cooling racks. 

Optional: drizzle some chocolate or dust with powdered sugar for decoration.

Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Made with cookie dough and layer of cheesecake in the middle. Easy and delicious...don't eat too much at once, even I know you can't help it to have more.

Simple ingredients:

• 2 packages of refrigerated chocolate chips cookie dough, at room temperature
• 1 package of cream cheese (8 oz), at room temperature
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, at room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Tips: you may substitute with other cookie dough, such as peanut butter cookie dough, sugar cookie dough, white chocolate macadamia cookie dough, or home made cookie dough.

Easy to make:

1. Line a parchment paper in a 8x8 metal baking pan, lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Place 1 package of cookie dough on the bottom of the pan. Flatten with your hand or spoon evenly to fit the size of the pan.
3. In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar together with an electric hand mixture until smooth. Add egg and vanilla, beat together again until smooth. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the cookie dough in the pan.
4. Use your hands to form "clumps" from the other package of cookie dough, smoosh it together and flatten them out. Place the teaspoon-sized clumps onto the top of the cheesecake batter.
5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Bake for 30-45 minutes until the top turns lightly golden brown.
6. Chill in the refrigerator overnight or at least for a couple of hours until firm before cutting into squares.

Oreo Pudding Cheesecakes

For this recipe, I add Oreo Pudding in the basic cheesecake recipe. It is light and fluffy.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Oreo cookie crumb (crush about 12 Oreo cookies with a food processor)
• 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
• 2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 box of Jello Oreo Pudding
• 1/2 cup milk

Make it:

1. Spray 6 mini foil loaf pans with non-stick cooking oil. Place 3 mini pan in a 9x13 baking pan. other 3 in another 9x13 pan.
2. Mix cookie crumb with melted butter and press on the bottom of each mini loaf pan. About 2 Tbsp. in each pan.
3. Cream sugar and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl with a standing mixer or an electric mixer. Then, add one egg at a time and 3 eggs are will blend. Mix in sour cream, vanilla and Oreo pudding mix until blend. Slowly add 1/2 cup milk, continue to beat until well blend and fluffy. Evenly pour the filling to each mini loaf pan.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add 1 cup of water into each 9x13 pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool before top with chocolate mousse toppings. Chill in the refrigerator until toppings set. Sprinkle with coco powder.

Here is how to do the "water bath" easy way:

White Chocolate Cheesecake with Blueberry Bottom

Like making any other cheesecake, it takes time to make a GOOD one, but it worth it! Place fresh or frozen blueberries on the bottom, it makes this cheesecake with soft and juicy crust. Serve with some sliced almonds and give you some crunch for each yummy bites...enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of crushed cookie crumb (any kind you like, crush with a food processor)
• 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
• 2 cups blueberries, enough to cover the bottom of baking pan
• 4 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 5 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 Tbsp. flour
• 1 bag white chocolate chips, about 2 cups.
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Make it...

1. Place a parchment paper on the bottom of 9-inch spring form baking pan, lightly brush oil or butter on the side of the pan.
2. Combine cookie crumb and 2 Tbsp. butter in a small mixing bowl, then press them down with a spoon on the bottom of the prepared pan. Chill in the refrigerator while preparing filling.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and cream cheese together with a stand mixer. Then mix in vanilla and lemon juice. Add one egg at a time, beat until blend, then add another egg. After all eggs well beat and blended, add sour cream and flour, mix few minutes until well blend and fluffy.
4. Crush 1 cup white chocolate chips with a food processor, and mix in cheesecake mixture.
5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place a pan of water on the bottom rack of the oven.
6. Take the pan out of the refrigerator, place the blueberries on the top of the cookie crust. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the blueberries. Place it on the middle rack of the oven.
7. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake to cool in the oven until cool completely.
8. Place other 1 cup of white chocolate chips with 1/2 cup heavy cream in a microwave. Heat 1-2 minutes until melted. Pour over cheesecake and place in the refrigerator for at least overnight, until set firmly before cut into slices.

Captain Crunch Cookies

This cracked and cakey cookies are easy to make. I put this recipe together just because I had some leftover ingredients from previous baking, and want to clean up my cabinet. But they turn out really good! I can't help it to have more than one cookie...

 

Simple ingredients:

• 1 stick butter (about 1/2 cup), at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. lemon juice (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups Captain Crunch cereal, crash with small food processor
• 1 1/2 cups ground almond meal
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup raisin, or cranberries (optional)

Easy to make:

1. Cream the butter and sugar with a stand mixer, then add egg and vanilla, blend well.
2. Add the rest of all dry ingredients in the wet mixture and mix well.
3. Roll the dough with hands into balls, about 1 Tbsp. size. Place on cookie sheet with lined parchment paper 1-inch apart. They should be easy to roll into balls without stick on your hands.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly brown. Remove from oven, cool until you can touch with your hands, but still warm. Coat warm cookies with powdered sugar.

Neiman Marcus Cookies

I found this delicious cookie recipe on Pinterest.com and reduce the original recipe in half for smaller batch. Just happened that I have all the ingredients at home from previous baking. They are great for school bake sales or office parties, etc.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, soften
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 2 1/2 cups blend oatmeal (no sugar added)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 12 oz. chocolate chips
• 4 oz. Hershey bar, grated
• 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts

Easy to make:

1. Cream butter and both sugars, then add eggs and vanilla. Blend well.
2. In another bowl, mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Pour into wet mixture and mix well.
3. Fold in chocolate chips, grated chocolate and chopped nuts.
4. Scoop and roll into balls. Place 1 inch apart on cookies sheets.
5. Preheat oven to 375 F degrees. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool on a cooking rack.

Chestnut Balls 香栗酥

I saw these ideas from a Chinese food website. The variation of the fillings are not limited to chestnut, you may use peanut butter balls, meat balls (as shown in one of my pictures below), or any other nutty balls.You can also make different shapes...it is fun!

Simple ingredients:

• 1 box Pie crust (normally including 2 sheets), defrosted
• 1 package Roasted chestnuts without shells(can be purchased in Asian grocery stores)
• 1/4 cup sugar (white or brown; add more if you like sweeter)
• 1 egg for coating

Easy to make:

• Crush the chestnuts in a food processor, add sugar and blend together with the same food processor. The mixture should be soft enough to roll into balls (1 Tbsp. size).
• Cut the pie crust into stripes (about 3-inches long and 1/2-inch wide). Use 8 stripes to make one ball as shown in the pictures below.

See more how-to pictures on sbar.com.cn

• Place the balls on a cookie sheet and brush with the egg. Bake at 350 F degrees for 25 minutes.

Easy Berry Dump Cake

No kidding! This cake doesn't need any electric mixer or whisker to mix, not even mixing bowl, my hands not even get messy. Just dump everything in a baking pan and bake it! It turns out SO yummy...specially with a scoop of ice cream...hmmmm...feel like in a dessert heaven!

Simple ingredients:

• 1 box of classic yellow cake mix (or white cake mix)
• 1 bag of frozen mixed Berries (about 12 oz.)
• 1 stick butter (about 1/4 cup)

Easy to make:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Lightly spray no-stick cooking oil over a 9x13 baking pan.
2. Sprinkle some cake mix on the bottom pan with a thin layer. Spread frozen berries all over the pan. Then evenly dump the rest of the cake mix all over the mix berries.
3. Cut butter in to small pieces and spread over the cake mix, place in the preheated oven.
4. Bake 40-50 minutes until the top turns golden brown.

Optional: drizzle some honey or caramel while it's hot to give little more flavor.
You may also use apple, pineapple, cherry, peach or other your favorite fruit for this cake. I like Berries because they are rich with Antioxidants.

Moist Sour Cream Pound Cake

This pound cake takes some time to make, but it worth to wait for. You may already have the ingredients in the house...why wait! I made two loaves with this recipe. They maybe serve warm or cold.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
• 6 eggs, separated whites and yolks
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3 cups flour, sifted
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Make it:

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter; add egg yolks one at a time and beat well after each addition. Blend in vanilla, lemon juice and sour cream.
2. Add shifted flour, baking soda and salt into the batter. Continue to beat until well blend.
3. In another medium mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peak form.
4. Fold the egg whites into the cake batter. Then pour into two greased and floured loaf pans evenly.
5. Bake at 325 F degrees with water bath (place a pan of water on the bottom shelf of the oven) for about 1- 1 1/2 hours  or until cake tests done.