12 Days of Cookies

The last day of the 12 Days of Cookies has arrived! I’m sad to have it end, but I’m also excited to get back to regular posting.  I had a total blast organizing the recipes, featuring other amazing bloggers and sharing nearly 30 cookie recipes with you all. I hope you are able to take at least a few and put them to good use this holiday season.

Yesterday I woke up early headed North to hang out with my sister and two nieces for our annual cookie bake (here’s last year’s recap). I figured some pictures from this year’s annual cookie bake would be the perfect way to end the 12 Days of Cookies!

We made 8 different types of treats including sugar cookies, festive Rice Krispies treats, peanut butter blossoms, chocolate chip cookies, trail mix cookies, regular no bake cookies, healthified no bake cookies and the infamous crescent cookies.

We missed mom and nanny this year, but I’m sure they’ll be back in action next year, ready to join in on the fun!

Most of the recipes we used are pretty standard and you can find them on the back of a chocolate chip package or on a box of Rice Krispies, but there are two recipes I plan on sharing – one is for the Healthy No Bake Cookies (made without butter!!) and the other is for my family’s Crescent Cookies. Keep your eyes peeled because I’ll be posting the Crescent Cookie recipe later this week!

Being inspired by a recipe I saw for no bake cookies that used a banana in place of butter, I decided to try my hand at creating a healthier version of our family recipe. 1 mashed banana replaces the 1 stick of butter, the sugar is cut in half and a low fat milk (skim or almond) is used instead of whole or 2%. Of course, there is quite a bit of sugar (1 cup) in the recipe but it’s still much healthier than traditional No Bake Cookies. I think regular old fashioned oats might work in place of the quick oats, but I had quick oats on hand so that’s what I used.

I also created two versions that are quite similar but call for a few different ingredients – depending on how your pantry is stocked. Enjoy!

Healthier No Bake Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana, mashed well
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup non-fat milk
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups instant oats

Preparation

1. Place all ingredients except the vanilla and oats in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat – stirring often.
2. Let the mixture boil for 1 minute, remove from heat and let the mixture cool for 1 minute.
3. Add the vanilla and oats and stir well to combine.
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper and cool to room temperature.

Superfied (& Vegan) No Bake Cookies

This recipe includes some things you’ll need to purchase at your local health food store, for example the raw cacao powder and sucanat.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana, mashed well
• 1 cup sucanat
• 1/4 cup raw cacao powder
• 1/2 cup almond milk (unsweetened vanilla)
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• pinch of sea salt
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups instant oats

Preparation

1. Place all ingredients except the vanilla and oats in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat – stirring often.
2. Let the mixture boil for 1 minute, remove from heat and let the mixture cool for 1 minute.
3. Add the vanilla and oats and stir well to combine.
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper and cool to room temperature.

I really enjoyed the cookies and would definitely make this recipe again and again. After having a few family members taste test the healthy no bakes, most said they could taste the banana but it added a nice flavor. If you don’t like the flavor of banana, I’d recommending subbing in 1/2 cup coconut oil for the banana.

After a day full of baking we headed over to my Aunt’s house for a family get-together.

Twas’ an evening full of family, games, food and laughter.

And Boo Nanny was feeling better so she made it to the party.

Me, Nanny and Sister. <–The more grown up version of Sissy, which I still call her sometimes.

After eating and playing games all night, everyone was wiped out including the pups.

Isaac and I trekked home in the rain, meet up with my BF and her crew (they were out celebrating her bro’s graduation) and then came home and crashed!

So, the 12 Days of Cookies series is officially over so you’ll actually see some savory foods posted here in the next few days, but I promise I won’t forget to share the Crescent Cookie recipe. Enjoy your Sunday!

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