Tag: cookies

Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Delicious Recipes

Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment
Cake Mix Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies | lookingjoligood.blog

Several years ago, I had a version of these cookies while my sister-in-law’s mother was visiting for Christmas. They left such an impression that I’ve thought about them often ever since. Recently, I decided to track down the recipe and give it a try.

Trust me, if you make these Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies, you’re going to have a hard time resisting them. They’re soft, chewy, and bursting with a rich buttery flavor that makes them absolutely irresistible. Perfect for any occasion, they’re the kind of treat that disappears as soon as they hit the plate.

I found this recipe on the Betty Crocker site and wanted to share it with you. I’ve included the link to their recipe and video guide below—happy baking! And don’t say I didn’t warn you—they’re dangerously good!

Ingredients

  • 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ Yellow Cake Mix
  • 1-2 cups powdered sugar (for rolling)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and butter. Use an electric mixer to beat until smooth. Then add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well blended.
  3. Add Cake Mix: Gradually stir in the yellow cake mix until fully combined. The dough will be thick and slightly sticky.
  4. Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes. This step makes it easier to handle.
  5. Form Cookie Balls: Once chilled, scoop out small portions of the dough and roll them into balls about 1 inch in diameter.
  6. Coat in Powdered Sugar: Roll each ball in powdered sugar until fully coated.
  7. Bake: Place the cookie balls on ungreased cookie sheets, spaced about 1 inch apart. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft.
  8. Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Optionally, you can sprinkle more powdered sugar on top before serving.

Tips

  • For variations, consider using different cake mixes like chocolate or lemon.
  • Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for better mixing.
  • Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days (there is no way these cookies are still going to be around three days later. 😉)

Enjoy these delicious gooey butter cookies that are sure to be a hit with family and friends!

Betty Crocker’s recipe:
https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/cake-mix-gooey-butter-cookies/f7a9017b-870f-4b20-b37f-392f53c65fbc!
https://www.bettycrocker.com/videos/cake-mix-gooey-butter-cookies

Laura lookingjoligood.wordpress.com
Creamy Cranberry Dip
Delicious Recipes

Creamy Cranberry Dip

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

I love cranberry sauce! This is tangy and sweet dip that’s perfect for holiday parties.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (15 ounce) can cranberry sauce
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice (optional)

Instructions:

  1. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper. For a sweeter dip, add a bit of orange zest or a splash of orange juice. Beat until smooth.
  2. Fold in cranberry sauce: Gently fold in the cranberry sauce until combined.
  3. Chill: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend.
  4. Serve: Serve with your favorite crackers, vegetables, or chips.
  5. Try not to eat the whole thing yourself 😉
Laura lookingjoligood.wordpress.com
Peppermint Bark
Delicious Recipes

Peppermint Bark

LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

A festive and easy-to-make treat that’s perfect for gifting or enjoying yourself:

Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces white chocolate chips
  • 12 ounces dark chocolate chips1
  • 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candy canes

Instructions:

  1. Melt the chocolates: Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until smooth.
  2. Spread the white chocolate: Spread the melted white chocolate onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  3. Melt the dark chocolate: Melt the dark chocolate in the same way.
  4. Drizzle the dark chocolate: Drizzle the dark chocolate over the white chocolate, creating a marbled effect.
  5. Sprinkle with candy canes: Sprinkle the crushed peppermint candy canes over the top.
  6. Chill and break: Let the bark cool completely, then break it into pieces.

Tip: For a fun twist, add other ingredients like chopped nuts or dried fruit to the white chocolate layer before adding the dark chocolate. 🎄

This recipe is quick, easy, and always a crowd-pleaser!

Laura lookingjoligood.wordpress.com
Gingerbread Cookies
Delicious Recipes

Gingerbread Cookies

LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

I’m in the mood for holiday food. Over the next few days I am going to be sharing some holiday recipes. I love gingerbread cookies! These classic gingerbread cookies are perfect for decorating and gifting during the holidays.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Royal icing (for decorating)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or foil.
  2. Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the molasses.
  3. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until1 just combined.
  4. Roll and cut: Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.
  5. Bake: Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Let cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  6. Decorate: Once cooled, decorate the cookies with royal icing and sprinkles.

Royal Icing:

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons meringue powder*
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5-6 tablespoons water

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and beat with a mixer until smooth and spreadable.

*If you need a substitute for meringue powder, you can use an equal amount of reconstituted egg white powder mixed with water, a slightly smaller amount of aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas), or a gelatin mixture made with warm water and gelatin powder – just be sure to adjust the liquid content accordingly depending on the substitute you choose.

Enjoy these festive treats with a cup of hot cocoa, glass of milk, coffee, or tea!

Laura lookingjoligood.wordpress.com
getting fat | lookingjoligood.blog Ditch the Diet: I’ll Have What She’s Having…
Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Ditch the Diet: I’ll Have What She’s Having…

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

~Ditch The Diet~

Here is another great devotional from the book Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst
ade to crave Lysa Terkeurst | lookingjoligood.blog

I’ll Have What She’s Having

James 1:3-4
3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
“One problem with trying to eat healthily is when you sit down next to a skinny girl who wolfs down everything on her plate. It makes me want to say, “I’ll have what she’s having.” A similar frustration pops up when Ms. Petite picks up her kids in a cute tennis outfit that I could never wear.
The paradox of comparing ourselves to other people is that we become blind to what we already have in the face of what we don’t have. Our hearts are drawn into a place of assumption. We assume that everything is great for those who possess what we lack.
But here’s the kicker. Everyone has not-so-great aspects their lives, things that they will have to learn to surrender or sacrifice. Sure, my size-two friend could eat all the snacks she wanted, but she’s got other struggles for which she has to depend on God.
getting fat | lookingjoligood.blog
For instance, consider that skinny girl in your life who eats whatever she wants and makes you think, “How unfair.” Yet listen to what she might say in return, as someone once shared with me: “I am one of the skinny girls, but don’t mistake skinny for healthy. I battle depression, self-esteem issues, and verbal abuse. The list seems endless. Being little doesn’t make a person any more happy or faithful or joyful. The struggles are similar, just in a different size package.”
Life as a Christ follower will always be a learning process of depending less on our own strength and more on God’s power. James 1:3-4 says,
The testing of your faith develops perseverance, and perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature, complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:3 | lookingjoligood.blog
Why not make this a daily prayer, first thing in the morning: “God, I recognize that I am made for more than the vicious cycle of being ruled by food, body image, and comparing myself to others. I am thankful that You made my body unique in ways that I can serve You and in ways that turn my reliance upon You. I need to eat to live, not live to eat. So I keep asking for Your wisdom to know what to eat and Your indwelling power to walk away from things and thoughts that are not beneficial for me.”
Oh, sweet sisters, this truth should be the cry of our souls and drown out Satan’s lie that “she has it easier.” Our taste buds crave many things to satisfy, but only persevering with God will make us truly full.”

 

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

ade to crave Lysa Terkeurst | lookingjoligood.blog Ditch the Diet: But I Never Feel Full…
Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Ditch the Diet: But I Never Feel Full…

LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

~Ditch The Diet~

It has been a while since I have written a ditch the diet post!

Despite the fact that I constantly preach that “ditching the diet” consists of a lifestyle of making healthy choices, I had not been following my own healthy living advice.  I got to a point where I needed to give myself a chance to rest and mentally reset.  Basically what that means is…I wasn’t exercising and was eating a diet of mostly cookies.  

While I used that time to give myself a break, I knew fully well that there was a definite end to the cookie eating spree. I’m now back on track and making healthy choices… with an occasional cookie or two thrown into the mix.

I love you more than cookies... | lookingjoligood.blog

To help myself stay focused (and stave off those tempting cookie cravings), I have been reading daily devotional excerpts from the book Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst  I really enjoyed this one and I wanted to share it since I found to be really helpful:

ade to crave Lysa Terkeurst | lookingjoligood.blog

But I Never Feel Full

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19

For years, I walked around with a little heart-shaped cup in my soul, holding it out to people or things trying to find fulfillment. Some of us hold out our heart-shaped cup and expect a husband to love us in ways that rights our wrongs and fills up our insecurities. Sometimes, we expect our kids to be successful so that we look good and feel validated by their accomplishments. Or, we hope that a successful career will confirm that we are a valuable human being.

At times, I have asked the impossible of all of these. But my consistent “friend” of choice over the years has been food. Imagine my little heart-shaped cup as a candy dish, using sweets and snacks to soothe my emotions.

However, if we are going to replace destructive cycles with lasting changes in our lives, then we have to empty ourselves of the lie that other people or things can ever fill our hearts. Instead, we have to deliberately fill up on God’s truths and stand secure in His love. Here are some examples of how we can do that:

Old lie: “I am such a failure when it comes to my diet.”
New truth: “I am not a failure. I am a lavishly loved child of God. Part of my right as a child of God is to operate in a power beyond myself. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to me. So it is possible for me to use the self-control I’ve been given.”

Old lie: “I need these Oreos!”
New truth: “The thought that these Oreos will fill me is a lie. They will taste good for just the few minutes it will take to eat them. Then that hollow feeling of guilt will rush in as soon as the chocolate high dissipates. If I truly need a snack right now, I am capable of choosing a healthier option.”

Old lie: “God seems far away and French fries are right around the corner at the drive-thru.”
New truth: “French fries don’t love me. And the only lasting thing I get from them is the cholesterol and cellulite they inevitably leave behind, which will just compound my frustration. God’s love is here in this moment and in many more to come. His love is true and carries with it only positive residual effects.”

Examine how you can replace the lies and rationalizations in your mind with the truth of God’s love. Experience the power of renewing your mind and learning that food was never meant to fulfill the deepest places of your heart. And, as Ephesians 3:19 reminds, may you understand that the only way to true satisfaction is to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

 

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Ephesians 3:19 | lookingjoligood.blog
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19

super simple cake mix cookies whoopie pies | lookingjoligood.blog I Love You Cookies! 🍪🍪
Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

I Love You Cookies! 🍪🍪

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment
super simple cake mix cookies | lookingjoligood.blog
Things I have said recently while eating a cookie…(or two)🍪🍪
“I really need to start eating better…munch munch“🍕🍔
“All I have been eating is junk, no wonder I feel like junk.”🙄
“My skin looks horrible, it’s probably from all the processed sugar I have been eating…chew chew.”🍰🍦
“I used to have such great self-control…used to, what happened?!”💪
“I need to start taking some of my own healthy eating advice!…just let me finish this
cookie first.” 😉

sea salt Nutella chocolate chip cookies | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Here is to resuming healthier habits in 2018!

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram,  Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

super simple cake mix cookies | lookingjoligood.blog Super Simple Cake Mix Cookies
Delicious Recipes

Super Simple Cake Mix Cookies

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

super simple cake mix cookies | lookingjoligood.blogI have been making these cookies for my family recently and they have been loving them!  They are so simple to make and yet so delicious.

I even like to add in some other ingredients like chocolate chips and nuts.  Sometimes I will put two together with frosting in between and make a whoopie pie out of them.

super simple cake mix cookies whoopie pies | lookingjoligood.blogSince there are so many different cake mix flavors, the options are endless!  Some of my favorites flavors to make are devil’s food, funfetti, and white cake with chocolate chips.

If you want your cookies to turn out looking like crinkle cookies, use a chocolate cake mix cookies and roll the balls of dough through a pile of powdered sugar before baking.  They are so good!!!

super simple cake mix cookies | lookingjoligood.blogINGREDIENTS:
  • 1 (18.25 oz) box of cake mix- any kind.
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/3 c. Vegetable Oil (I used grapeseed, but you can use whatever type you like)
  • 1 TBS water
super simple cake mix cookies | lookingjoligood.blogDIRECTIONS:
  1. Heat oven to 375.
  2. Mix cookie ingredients together.
  3. Scoop dough onto cookie sheet.  If you don’t have a scoop just roll the cookies into balls and place them evenly spaced onto cookie sheet.
  4. Cook for 7-9 minutes or until the edges start to brown.

cookie scoops | lookingjoligood.blog
These are the scoops I use.  I bake the cookies for 7.5 min for the smaller scoop and 9 min for the larger scoop.

super simple cake mix cookies | lookingjoligood.blogLet me know if you try them and what you think!  don’t blame me if you can’t stop eating them!

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

super simple cake mix cookies | lookingjoligood.blog

 

Tip Tuesday #39
Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday #39

LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Tip Tuesday: Make up tips and tricks every Tuesday | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

This tip isn’t about makeup, but it is equally as important because it is about homemade cookies.

cookies

While I try to eat healthy most of the time, I have a major weakness for homemade cookies!

bread-and-cookies

If you want your cookies to stay super soft and delicious for as long as possible store them with a piece of bread.  You will be amazed how well this tip works.  The bread will get stale and the cookies will stay soft and delicious!

cookie-container

Let me know if you try it and if you find that it works!  Enjoy some cookies 😉

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