Easy Applesauce Cookies
Posted: November 23, 2011 Filed under: Cookies, Dessert, How-To, Snacks, The Smart Cookie Cook, Vegetarian | Tags: baking, Christmas, Christmas cookies, cinnamon, cookies, dessert, easy, food, snacks, Sugar 9 Comments »
Have you ever looked at a recipe and immediately felt skeptical? I have. Did you then say things to the recipe like, “What? Are you sure?” I have. Did the recipe talk back?
…neither did mine.
Anyway, I had one of those experiences when I looked at the recipe for these Easy Applesauce Cookies. There were no eggs, few ingredients, it used powdered sugar instead of granulated, and no mixer/beater was required, only good ol’ elbow grease. Typically, I don’t delve into anything I’m too uncertain about (I’m not a big risk-taker), but this recipe was sent to me by a reader, yankeegospelgirl, who spoke very highly of it. Who am I to doubt one of you little cookies? And so, I set aside my skeptical attitude and tackled these cookies with confidence.
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Sweet & Simple: 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Rice Pudding
Posted: November 16, 2011 Filed under: Dessert, Healthy, Snacks, Sweet & Simple, The Smart Cookie Cook | Tags: cinnamon, dessert, easy, Fall, food, healthy, low calorie, low fat, pudding, pumpkin, rice pudding, simple, snack 12 Comments »
Contrary to what some people may think, having a food website does not mean you cook and bake elaborate eats every single day. In fact, with life constantly forging ahead at full-speed, I usually wind up eating quick and simple things more than I do the fancy and indulgent. This is especially the case when it comes to dessert. I rarely have time to make a fancy dessert, so I find myself getting creative. If you want a delicious dessert to curb your craving for something sweet at the end of your day but don’t have time to bake, then you’ll have to work with the time you’ve got.
That, my little cookies, is where this 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Rice Pudding comes in. You need only 2 things to whip it up: pumpkin butter & a rice pudding snack pack. Stir it up and eat up! And, if you’re feeling extra indulgent, you can add a dollop of whipped cream.
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Thanksgiving Dessert: Personal Pumpkin Poke Cakes
Posted: November 14, 2011 Filed under: Dessert, Holiday, Vegetarian | Tags: baking, buttercream, butterscotch, cake, caramel, cinnamon, dessert, food, frosting, nuts, poke cake, pumpkin, Thanksgiving 10 Comments »
When I say “personal,” I mean these cakes could easily feed two people, but why would you ever want to share? Having your own personal cake allows you to either indulge in the whole sweet treat in one fell swoop or pace it out and prolong the enjoyment. The choice is yours, my little cookies.
Regardless of how you choose to scarf ‘em down, you simply must make these Personal Pumpkin Poke Cakes. They are so good, unlike anything I’ve had before. It’s a whole new pumpkin experience, which I am always happy to partake in.
The cakes are so incredibly moist, and why wouldn’t they be? You’re almost always guaranteed a moist, delicious cake when you bake with pumpkin. Then, the cakes are poked & soaked with a sweet cinnamon-caramel sauce, along with sweetened condensed milk. It’s totally indulgent, but surprisingly, not overly so. It is just sinful enough.
Seriously Cereal: Cascadian Farm’s Organic Cinnamon Crunch Cereal
Posted: October 21, 2011 Filed under: Breakfast, Healthy, Seriously Cereal, Snacks, The Smart Cookie Cook, Vegetarian | Tags: breakfast, cereal, cinnamon, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, food, healthy, organic, snack 3 Comments »Seriously Cereal is a new series to The Smart Cookie Cook. It explores all things cereal & is devoted to all you cerealists (cereal-enthusiasts) out there. We’ve got to stick together!
I’m sure that many cerealists like myself will agree when I say that General Mills’ Cinnamon Toast Crunch is one of the greatest cereals of all time. Those crunchy squares sprinkle my memories of childhood with sweet cinnamon-sugar bliss. Is it their pleasant crisp texture that made them so delightful? Is it their ribbed surfaces, all the more better for trapping sweet coating? No, as important as these components are, it is clearly that visible layer of cinnamon-sugar cradling each square that made them so darn tasty. What person, especially a child, doesn’t love pure sugary goodness?
Just because I’m technically an adult doesn’t mean I don’t still adore Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Age doesn’t affect deliciousness. I’m crazy about cereal, and I’ll still happily shovel in spoonfuls of the sweet stuff. However, if you’ve ever looked at the nutrition facts on Cinnamon Toast Crunch, then you know it’s pretty horrifying:
A teeny-tiny 3/4 cup serving has:
- 130 calories
- 3 grams of fat
- 10 grams of sugar
Now, let’s consider the fact that most people are probably going to eat TWICE that. Then we’re looking at almost 300 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 20 grams of sugar, and that’s not even counting the milk. Moreover, the ingredient list contains many scary, unidentifiable words, which is never reassuring.
When you’re a kid, none of this matters. You can inhale a swimming pool of ice cream or gallons of soda and not receive the slightest consequence, or judgment for that matter. When you’re an adult, it’s different. According to cultural standards, you aren’t supposed to eat sugary, indulgent things for breakfast. Plus, your metabolism starts taking time off and you find yourself becoming more health conscious.
So what do you do when you need your crunchy, cinnamon-sugar cereal fix?
Like this:
Apple Cider Pound Cake w/ Sweet Cinnamon Glaze
Posted: October 17, 2011 Filed under: Dessert, Holiday, Snacks, The Smart Cookie Cook, Vegetarian | Tags: apples, baking, cake, cinnamon, dessert, nuts, pound cake, sweets 22 Comments »
There are many kinds of cakes in this world. I’m not talking about vanilla, chocolate, sponge cake, pound cake, birthday cake and the like; I’m talking about the overall demeanor that a cake possesses: mighty, intimidating, tall, enormous, elegant, petite, dainty, light, dense, sophisticated…you get the picture. It’s that feeling that halos a cake when it’s sitting atop a cake stand, tucked inside its paper lining, or perched upon a dessert plate.
Of all these descriptions, only one is befitting of this Apple Cider Pound Cake w/ Sweet Cinnamon Glaze: glorious. This cake is glorious.
With just one look, a beam of sunlight shines directly onto the cake just as an angelic chorus swells in the background. What can I say? It’s a beautiful cake.
But it’s not just on the outside that this cake shines. There is one reason, and one reason only, that I make this Apple Cider Pound Cake every year around this time: it is darn good. It is so moist and delicious, just as a pound cake should be. Moreover, the apple cider provides a heavenly apple accent that’s subtle, but unmistakably present. The cider is further complimented by a beautiful blend of spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and clove. This creates a warm, sweet, and spicy harmony. The taste of these comforting spices reminds you of Fall time, the holidays, and treats your grandma used to make.
