Holiday Baking: Bite-size Monster Cookies

YUMMY!  and you don't have to wait for the holidays.  You can use regular candy pieces and bake year-round, especially with the Nana's Apple Cake Mix being in our standard line of products.

Ingredients:

1 pkg Nana's Apple Cake Mix
1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs
2 c quick cook oatmeal
1 c red & green chocolate candy pieces (such as M&M's)
1/2 c semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

Instructions:

1.  In large bowl, combine Nana's Apple Cake Mix, butter, peanut butter and eggs.  Mix until well combined.

2.  Gradually stir in oatmeal.  Stir in chocolate candies and chocolate chips.

3.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto a greased large baking sheet.  Bake 10-12 minutes.

4.  Let cool on baking sheet 1 minute.  Remove to cooling rack.  Store in an airtight container.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Make Ahead & Freeze:  Prepare through step 2.  Form into 1 1/2 inch balls.  Place in a gallon freezer bag or storage container between sheets of wax paper.  Seal well, label and freeze.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and continue with step 3, adding 1-2 minutes to bake time.

Nana's Apple Oatmeal Cookies

This recipe came from our Freezer Cookie Workshop.

Ingredients:

Nana's Apple Cake Mix or Gluten Free Cinnamon Apple Cake Mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
1 egg
1 3/4 cups quick cook oats
1/2 cup Craisins (optional)

Directions:

In medium bowl, combine first 3 ingredients; blend well.  Gradually add oats (and craisins, if desired); stir until combined.  Scoop by level teaspoon onto press n'seal, flatten slightly.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Partially thaw cookies, slide onto parchment-lined cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  Makes 2-3 dozen cookies.


GF option:  bake 15 minutes.  Makes 2 dozen.

I did the gluten-free option as well as using unsalted butter and egg substitute.  I did not use Craisins but may consider adding chocolate chips next time.